- December 24, 2024
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The new building, at 6500 Belle Terre Parkway North.
The old worship hall, at 200 Belle Terre Parkway.
The new worship hall, at 6500 Belle Terre Parkway.
The old worship hall, at 200 Belle Terre Parkway.
PCUMC's annual football service featuring Bethune-Cookman University's choir.
A scene from 2016: Palm Coast United Methodist Church's Day of Service.
Every month the congregation at Palm Coast United Methodist Church celebrates church-goers’ birthdays by asking them to stand and singing happy birthday to them.
But it’s been a while since Palm Coast United Methodist Church celebrated its own anniversary or birthday serving the community," said Drucilla Singleton. So, Drucilla, who has been a member since 1999, set out to change that. And change she did: Palm Coast United Methodist Church will celebrate its 44th anniversary at a service starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 29.
Palm Coast United Methodist Church typically has two services on Sunday, one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 10:30 a.m. But this special occasion will be celebrated by everyone with the single service at 10 a.m., Drucilla said.
"I am very, very excited about that, adding that she was not aware of any such celebration since she has been a member. Drucilla is the leader of the United Women in Faith of which she has been president of the group for thirteen years. She is also known as the hat lady because she always wears a hat to church.
She said, "It was the Holy Spirit that moved her to work on a celebration of the church anniversary. I always ask God for vision, wisdom, and knowledge. When I do, He reveals visions and what needs to be completed. I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. While working on the history, I became more spiritually engaged. Researching the history filled me with joy."
Palm Coast United Methodist Church began in 1979 as a mission in what was then the former YMCA in the city’s old community center on Palm Coast Parkway.
At the time, Palm Coast wasn’t even officially a city yet.
Members of the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church would pack up candles, Bibles, hymnals and a portable cross and then travel to the mainland to hold a service in Palm Coast led by the Rev. Cheryl Pingel from the Flagler Beach church.
Eighteen people were at the first service in 1979. But the numbers kept growing as Palm Coast grew.
And as the city grew, church leaders decided they needed more than a mission. That led to a Christmas gift for the faithful: Palm Coast United Methodist Church was chartered on Dec. 19, 1980.
The groundbreaking for the new church was on Jan 22, 1981 at 5200 Belle Terre Parkway. The first service was held on June 20, 1982 in what would later become the fellowship hall. The United Methodist Christian School opened on August 25, 1983.
As the congregation kept growing church leaders decided they needed more room. That led to another groundbreaking on Jan. 24, 1993 for a new sanctuary at the campus at 5200 Belle Terre Parkway.
The first service in the new sanctuary was held on Jan. 16, 1994. It was a roomy and airy worship hall touched off with stained-glass.
But the church kept looking toward the future by purchasing 20.2 acres to the north. And in 2022, ground was broken for the new church.
That newest Palm Coast United Methodist Church welcomed worshippers on March 3, 2024 at 6500 Belle Terre Parkway.
During its history, the churches’ members and visitors have been ministered to by the Rev. Cheryl Pingel, the Rev. Robert Finch, the Rev. John Bartha, the Rev. Dr. Wayne Wiatt, the Rev. Frank Edwards, the Rev. Scott Farman, the Rev. Durwood Foshee and the Rev. Dr. Kevin James Sr.
The members of the church reflect the communities’ diversity and its welcoming culture.
And the church continues its various programs and ministries, including Vacation Bible School, Stephen Ministry, Our Father’s Table, worship time at Flagler Pines Nursing Home, a Shut-In Ministry and involvement with the Family Life Center and the Methodist Children’s Home.
Drucilla said, "It’s all part of God’s vision. It's written in Proverbs 29:18 ...where there is no vision, the people perish. We had this vision and we did not perish. The new PCUM church is a dream come true."
“I'm so glad that I am alive to see this,” Drucilla said, “because this is like a dream, because there's a lot more who started out with this dream, and probably wish they would have been here to fulfill it, but they're in heaven. I feel like smiling on us.”
The church is looking toward attracting younger families and members like the Baumert brothers.
Aidan Baumert, 17, and Andrew Baumert, 21, are a great example of the importance and impact of Palm Coast United Methodist Church.
Aidan is dual-enrolled at Daytona State College and at Flagler Palm Coast High School, where he is a senior.
Aidan works on the media team at the church helping with the sound, lights and screen. He is also involved in the youth program.
He said Palm Coast United Methodist Church has made a positive difference in his life.
“It's just made a huge impact in forming who I am, because I've never really been scared to be who I am at church, and the friends I've made through the youth group and the people I've met have just been supportive,” Aidan said.
Andrew is a senior at Florida State University studying biomedical engineering. He said the church has helped him control any worry he may have in academics.
“I feel like the church has shaped my mind to a point where I realize, Ok, I'm really stressed about this assignment, but I don't need to worry, and I want to do well. I don't need to worry because I know God's got me, and whatever happens will happen. I can't really change what God's plans are, so that helps me to not stress out,” Andrew said.
Both brothers have enjoyed attending summer and fall camps at Warren Willis United Methodist Camp. Mission trips have also been rewarding.
“Getting to see people in need who may or may not know about God, and seeing their reaction to random people that they don't know who drove hours just to help them rebuild their homes after a natural disaster, opens your eyes to the church being useful.” Andrew said.
