At a meeting in August 1910, a board of trustees including D. H. Weyant, F. B. Roberts, P. L. Frazier, E. E. Minton, J. R. Neer, Clayton Unruh, and L. P. Bennett, was elected to organize a church which Dr. Moore, District Superintendent, suggested be called Jason Lee Methodist Episcopal Church. In September, W. C. Stewart was appointed as the first preacher.

Rev. Stewart organized a work crew which erected a 30' x 60' board 'tabernacle.' On October 16, 1910, the first church service was held, and the first Sunday School met with 87 members under the superintendency of C. M. Roberts.

In December, members had subscribed $5,000 to the new building, and in January, 1911, a contract was let to F. B. Roberts, amounting to $13, 160 for a new concrete church building. Construction of the present church began in January 1911 with members of the congregation making concrete blocks with a hand-operated block making machine.

By the fall of 1911 the basement was ready for occupancy. The building was dedicated and ready for using in June 1912.

During its first two years of life, Jason Lee Church owes much to the indomitable spirit of its first pastor, W. C. Stewart, and its early members. He left the church with 207 members, a church fully organized in all department, property valued at $18,000, and a large debt.

Mr. C. M. Roberts continued as Sunday School Superintendent until 1916. Not only did the Sunday School grow in numbers and conrtibute to the buidling fund, they also sent $30.00 for Armenian-Syrian relief in 1917. the Epworth League's 40-50 members contributed their share of money and work to the buidling of the church. Also the church women were hard at work in the Home Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid Society, helping the church, community and the Methodist Home.

In 1918, a new, young Irish pastor, Thomas Acheson, became the minster and remained for 10 years. Membership climbed to 507; a junior church was organized; the Epworth League became three; Sunday School grew to an average attendance of 350.

During this time Jason Lee Church learned new lessons in cooperation and good will through operating a cafeteria during the Oregon State Fair to pay off the church's indebtedness, which was accomplished during the 25 years the booth operated. On November 15, 1932, the church burned the mortgage on the parsonage which was built in 1925-26.

An educational unit attached to the church's east side was completed in 1949. In 1970 the floor of the sanctuary was leveled and a new south entrance built. More recently a ramp and lift to assist the disabled have been installed.

Although membership is smaller now, the Jason Lee congregation retains its mission to serve the community with a food bank (open four days a week), a soup kitchen which serves on Sundays (in cooperation with many other Salem churches), and a local and global missionary by giving support to the United Methodist Women.