Our Mission
At Shelby Congregational Methodist Church (SCMC) we are committed to serving our community and sharing the love of Christ. We believe that everyone is welcome in our church, and we strive to create a safe and inclusive space for all people.
Our History
From the inception of Shelby Congregational Methodist Church (SCMC), we have been committed to community development, justice, and growing our congregation in faith, not just in numbers.
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” – Desmond Tutu
The church is located in a historic building that began as the Amanda Smith Hospital, later renamed The Daisy Saffell Memorial Hospital, which operated from 1916 to 1954. The hospital was a refuge for the local Black community in times of segregation, where they otherwise had limited access to white-only healthcare resources. It later functioned as a nursing home serving the elderly, and eventually became Shelby Congregational Methodist Church in 1974 as an offshoot of the First Congregational Methodist Church, Louisville, KY, under the leadership of Reverend Louis Coleman Jr.
See our Voices of Martinsville oral history project for more information about this historic landmark.
Legendary Leadership
Reverend Louis Coleman Jr. was a renowned Civil Rights leader throughout Kentucky and beyond. He made history as the first and only African American to be laid in state at the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda.
Due to his activism, Shelby Congregational hosted world-renowned activists such as Reverend Hosea Williams, Dick Gregory, and Reverend Ralph Abernathy, all who worked closely with Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
Reverend Coleman’s mission was to uplift and serve all people, especially those most marginalized. He organized weekly food distributions, founded a community center, and mentored local youth, offering them opportunities to learn, play sports like boxing, and connect with positive role models. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what contributions Reverend Coleman and Shelby Congregation played in the Martinsville Community.
Reverend Coleman’s legacy of compassion, justice, and service continues to shape Shelby Congregational Methodist Church today. His vision laid the foundation for the ongoing ministry and leadership that guide our church from its founding to the present.