I am a second career pastor. After serving in higher education and the non-profit community, I finally answered God's call on my heart. And, I have never regretted that decision. Not to say that I wasn't a little reluctant to take that step. But, as I always tell new Christians, following Jesus begins with letting go of what we believe to be safe and comfortable. I am blessed to be serving as Senior Pastor at Salem United Methodist Church. Whether preaching on a Sunday morning, joining in fellowship time after worship or watching dedicated folks serving in the food pantry, I am convinced that this is how a Christian community is called to live and serve as disciples. If you join our family, you will rarely hear me talk about myself. Rattling off a resume is hardly the task of a pastor. My task is to shepherd this community of faith and to do so with a humble heart. For in the end, the effectiveness of any ministry is that people know that God loves them so much that he sent His only Son. That is why I minister. If you would like to learn more about the Salem UMC family, please give me a call at (219) 798-9352 or email at [email protected]. Grace and peace, Pastor Tom
Old Salem Church and Cemetery
In 1844 a Presbyterian congregation was established and the first burial took place in the cemetery. The original wooden church was constructed in 1848 by Ananias Freeman in the eastern most section of the current Salem Cemetery, on land donated by Edmund Sheffield. The church received its first Methodist-Episcopal Pastor, Reverend Aaron Conor in 1864. From that time, until about 1880, the Presbyterian congregation and the Methodist-Episcopal congregations shared the church.
During the 1880's, the church building was blown from it's foundation during a storm. Miraculously, there was minimal damage to the structure. The original building was destroyed by fire on May 16, 1903, when a piece of equipment sparked and caught the structure ablaze. The congregation rebuilt the church that year at a cost of $2,500.00. The lovely stained glass windows were purchased by individual families in the congregation. The building was later moved to its' current location on October 6, 1960, adding indoor plumbing, a basement and an office. The old building was used until 2009, when due to rising maintenance and utility costs, the congregation moved their services into their fellowship hall across the street. Today, the old church is maintained by the Salem Cemetery Association, which was formed in 1888.
Salem Cemetery is the final resting place for veterans of every military engagement, from the War of 1812 to the present. The oldest section of the cemetery is on the South Shore Civil War Trail. Several of the Civil War veterans buried at the cemetery fought with the 9th Indiana Infantry and participated in the siege of Atlanta. The Calumet Region Civil War Preservation Project provided new tombstones for many Civil War veterans resting at Salem Cemetery.