East Dallas Times

by Andrew Forrest, Pastor, Munger Place: a United Methodist Community of Faith

In our East Dallas neighborhoods, residents are eager to participate in tours of local homes.

We know how much work goes into renovating and restoring an old property, and we are understandably excited to show our neighbors the fruit of all that labor. I know how they feel, although what I’m waiting for is not the completed renovation of a beautiful old house, but a beautiful old church.

Munger Place is an old Methodist church building at the corner of Munger Boulevard and Live Oak Street off of Lower Greenville. We’re renovating and restoring the old building right now, and we’ll be starting a new United Methodist community there when renovations are complete in October. 

Highland Park United Methodist Church is funding the renovation, and Munger Place will be able to draw on the resources of our “mother church,” including the sermons — on video — of Paul Rasmussen, pastor of Cornerstone, the contemporary worship community at Highland Park.

We are proud of the building renovation plans and progress. The project reflects the uniqueness of Old East Dallas. We will maintain the history and integrity of the building’s unique appearance, while incorporating 21st century technology and amenities.

The stained glass, ornate stone and woodwork, dark wood beams and pews will remain, but the church will get a new roof, heating and air-conditioning systems and electrical system.

We want to be a church that serves our neighborhood. To that end, we’ve formed a partnership with our close neighbors at Exodus Ministries Dallas, a non-denominational Christian organization that helps women recently released from prison re-enter society. Exodus aims to assist each woman in obtaining employment and gaining life skills to prevent them from going back to a life of crime. 

Pictures of the renovation are on our Web site and Facebook pages. And when renovations are complete and the church reopens, you are all invited.

Munger Place exists for our community and we look forward to meeting our East Dallas neighbors.

Andrew Forrest is a Junius Heights resident. He spent part of his childhood in Sierra Leone, where his father taught at a Bible college for African pastors and his mother worked in a maternity clinic. He is married, has a newborn son and is working toward his master’s degree at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.