1980-1989

U.M.A.R.M.Y.

U.M. ARMY started in 1979 when several Houston area United Methodist churches combined their youth groups to go on a summer mission trip to Athens, TX. Instead of travelling across the country to serve people in need, they determined there was a real need only a few hours away. They spent the week in Athens, and provided some needed home repairs to people in that community. The trip needed a name, and the acronym U.M. ARMY was derived from United Methodist Athens Reach-Out Mission by Youth. Soon the program grew beyond Athens, and the name was changed to United Methodist Action Reach-Out Mission by Youth.

The first U.M.ARMY attended by LCUMC was in 1987 in Atlanta, Texas. The first cake auction to benefit U.M. ARMY was in 1989 and brought in $400. League City UMC has attended U.M.ARMY every summer since. Members of LCUMC have also attended Christmas Break camps and College U.M.ARMY camps.

Rev. Ong Memorial Parlor

Work on the Rev. Richard Ong Memorial Parlor was completed and dedication ceremonies were held April I 7, 1983. Fund raising and remodeling of the parlor were coordinated by a committee that included Mrs. Terry Worthy (chairperson), Mrs. Jeanne Whittle (treasurer), Mrs. Cindy Brizendine, Mrs. Lois Bush, Mrs. Sherrie Hale, Mrs. Eleanor Hyde, Mrs. Vicky Lowrey, Mrs. Mary Norris, Mrs. Linda Porter, and Mrs. Billie West.

The Methodist Bicentennial

The League City congregation celebrated the Methodist Bicentennial. The Methodist Episcopal Church published its first Discipline (1785), adopted a quadrennial General Conference, the first of which was held in 1792, and drafted a Constitution (1808). It also established a publishing house and became a proponent of revivalism and the camp meeting. On April 28, 1985, 200 years of Methodism in the United States were remembered with a covered-dish dinner and songfest and the history of the Methodist Church was recounted.

Hurricane Alicia

Just days after Rev. Espinosa's arrival, Hurricane Alicia swept through the Houston-Galveston area in the early morning hours of August 18, 1983. League City United Methodist Church was not spared. The roof was damaged; carpet and ceiling tiles were ruined; a tree was blown down in the playground area; and the back part of the lawnmower shed was blown away.