“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” may be a fairly

recent slogan of The United Methodist Church, but it’s

been true here at Trinity for a long time.

We can’t claim to be perfect, or even exemplary, but Trinity

Methodist Church was the only church in Idaho Falls to

open its doors to Japanese-American citizens who had

been interned in the area during World War II. The minister

at the time was Dr. Carl Davidson, who served Trinity

from 1939 to 1945. His leadership in Christian witness to

the community resulted in, among other things, about 60

Japanese-Americans joining our church in 1941. Dr.

Davidson said later, “It was the most creative and memorable

experience in my ministry here.”

Many in the Japanese-American community still consider

Trinity their church home, even if they don’t attend regularly.

Those who do worship here regularly have been an

integral part of our life as a congregation.

Thank you, Dr. Davidson, for welcoming these precious

souls who have been such an important part of Trinity for

more than sixty years!