A Half-Century on Howland Boulevard
On Howland Boulevard in Deltona, Florida, Deltona Presbyterian Church has gathered for worship, Bible study, and service to the surrounding community for more than fifty years. The congregation began in 1974 as a mission of DeBary Presbyterian Church at the recommendation of the Presbytery, and it was officially chartered in 1976. Today it is known for its blended Sunday worship, a food pantry that serves roughly 1,400 families each month, and a self-described sevenfold identity that calls it the "perfect church for iNperfect people."
The story of DPC began when the Session of DeBary Presbyterian Church voted in 1973 to sponsor the new mission and appointed a Pastoral and Meeting Place Search Committee. On June 27, 1974, the Rev. Dr. William Sloan McKee received the call to organize the emerging congregation. Through the generosity of the Southland Corporation, worship services were held rent-free in a vacant 7-Eleven store on Elkcam Boulevard, the very spot where Burger King stands today. The first worship service was held there on September 8, 1974.
Within months, the church was growing. On March 2, 1975, Dr. McKee baptized twin sisters Amy Calista and Elizabeth Ann, daughters of Will and Joan Euverard, who remain faithful founding members of DPC. The Presbytery approved a $50,000 grant in January 1975, and the Mackle Brothers Corporation donated a 5.4-acre parcel at the corner of Howland Boulevard and Austin Avenue. After groundbreaking on February 6, 1976, the congregation held its first worship service in the newly built, mortgage-free sanctuary, affectionately known as "the little redwood church nestled in the pine trees," on August 22, 1976. The Presbytery officially chartered the congregation on September 14, 1976, and Dr. McKee was installed as DPC's first pastor. The first wedding, uniting Reid Wells and Cynthia Ann Cromer, was celebrated on January 19, 1977, at what remains DPC's present location.
As membership grew, classrooms, a children's Bible study area, a library, and a larger sanctuary were added around the original redwood chapel. The Family Life Center was completed in 1997, providing space for fellowship, recreation, and community events. Today the Family Life Center also hosts Alcoholics Anonymous groups, provides worship space for another congregation, and accommodates an independent community preschool that serves local families. Successive pastors have shaped the life of DPC, including the Rev. Joe Gasper, called in 1987, whose thirteen-year ministry included drama productions and Christmas pageants; the Rev. Tom Warren, who began in 2002; and Commissioned Pastor John McLaurin, who in 2008 expanded Vacation Bible School and multimedia resources. Several pastors have provided transitional leadership in recent years, including the Rev. Stacy Chandler, the Rev. Chris Chandler, and the Rev. Dr. Carmelo Mercado. By God's grace, the church is now debt-free, and the Session has established Investment Funds designed to promote lasting sustainability for future ministry.
A Sevenfold Identity
DPC describes its identity in seven interwoven commitments, beginning with being Christian: a community rooted in the story of God's people, from the faith of ancient Judaism to the witness of the early Church in the New Testament, celebrating the two sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper as signs of God's grace and shared life in Christ. The congregation is Reformed, with its heritage flowing from the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, where Martin Luther and John Calvin emphasized the authority of Scripture, salvation by grace alone, and the historic creeds collected in the Book of Confessions. The name Presbyterian points to a representative, democratic form of government drawn from the Greek word presbuteros, meaning "elder," used seventy-two times in the New Testament.
As Protestants, members take the Bible seriously as the authoritative record of God's self-revelation and the supreme witness to Jesus Christ, embrace a joyful relationship with Christ as Lord, affirm evangelism as proclaiming the Good News, and commit to peace, equity, and justice. The church is also Open, with a blended style of worship that combines traditional hymns with contemporary songs, screen projection, and the choir's leadership, all ordered with both passion and integrity. The Intercultural commitment welcomes people of every nation, language, and ethnicity, with a tagline registered as "no matter who you are or where you are from, you are always welcome." Finally, DPC is honest about being Imperfect. As the church puts it, "if you are searching for a perfect church, you will not find it here. But if you are an imperfect person seeking grace, purpose, and community, you will feel at home among us, because we are the perfect church for iNperfect people."
Worship on Sunday Morning
Sunday worship is the heart of life at DPC. The single weekly service begins at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary on Howland Boulevard, with a livestream available on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. The service follows a blended style: traditional hymns alongside contemporary songs, Scripture read and preached, unison prayers, responsive readings, and historic creeds. The choir regularly offers anthems under the direction of Music & Choir Director Raymond DeVeau, and the choir is open to all who love to sing.
Worshipers can follow along through a printed bulletin and screen projection, with the audio system, screen, and multimedia elements managed by a dedicated Worship Technology Team. The pastor may wear a robe and stole as symbols of the pastoral office, helping keep the focus on worship and God's word rather than personal style. Holy Communion is celebrated once a month, usually on the first Sunday, with all who wish to participate invited to come forward, including children and guests. Baptism, whether by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, is offered to both children and adults in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Tithes and offerings can be made through a secure giving link that supports PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay, as well as in person during worship.
Feeding the Community: The Food Pantry
For decades, DPC's food pantry has been one of the most visible expressions of the church's mission. Every other Tuesday, a faithful team of volunteers welcomes individuals and families in need to the Fellowship Hall, where canned goods, bread, pastries, and meat are distributed with compassion. The pantry serves approximately 1,400 household members each month and distributes more than 13,000 bags of groceries annually, making it a recognized ministry of outreach within the city and county.
The Care & Missions Team complements this work with prayer, visitation, follow-up, care packages, and Home Communion for those who are bereaved, ill, homebound, hospitalized, or in rehabilitation, extending Christ's love through quiet acts of presence and practical care.
Local Outreach Beyond the Pantry
Around Deltona, DPC extends its care in many directions. Each year the congregation partners with local Girl Scout troops to provide Thanksgiving baskets to more than 120 families, including gift cards for turkeys. Through the Adopt-A-School ministry, DPC supports two local public schools with supplies, classroom needs, and encouragement for teachers. The Fostering Connections partnership with Guardian ad Litem helps children in the foster care system throughout Volusia County by providing essential items, resources, and encouragement.
DPC periodically hosts Pet Shot Clinics on select Sundays, offering convenient and affordable vaccinations for neighborhood pets. Members and friends visit local nursing and rehabilitation centers each Advent to share Christmas carols and holiday cheer. The congregation also partners with a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating human trafficking, providing clothing and donated items in exchange for canned goods to support the food pantry. The Center for the Blind uses DPC's facilities for a six-week program helping individuals adapt to recent vision loss. Alcoholics Anonymous groups meet on the premises in a recovery ministry hosted by the church.
Growing Together: Bible Study and Small Groups
Discipleship at DPC happens in small groups and weekly Bible studies. A Women's Bible Study gathers each Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the library for fellowship, followed by study at 10:30 a.m. A Thursday Night Bible Study meets at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, except during the summer, for discussion and scriptural reflection. Each Wednesday morning, a Bible study is held at a local skilled nursing facility, with DPC members providing Scripture, prayer, and a compassionate presence to residents.
The Choir plays a vital role in leading and enriching worship through anthems and musical selections, open to all who love to sing, and fosters a spirit of fellowship, growth, and joyful service. The Scouting America program, hosted on DPC's campus, welcomes boys and girls for weekly meetings and ongoing community service, with the Scouts recognized during a special Sunday worship service each year.
Children, Youth, and Journey Students
DPC provides childcare during worship for preschool and elementary-aged children, and all volunteers working with children, youth, and vulnerable individuals must complete abuse prevention training, provide references, and pass a national background check.
Middle and high school students participate in Journey Students, a youth ministry that meets each Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center. Journey Students is part of Journey Church, a multi-site Baptist congregation that shares DPC's adjacent Family Life Center. While the two congregations come from different Protestant traditions, they have cultivated a strong, respectful partnership, serving together in the community and walking alongside young people as they grow in faith, build friendships, and connect with adult leaders.
Sharing the campus with DPC is Kidz Connection Learning Center, an independent Christian-based childcare provider that opened a second location on DPC's grounds. Kidz Connection provides care for children ages one through five and offers a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program. While Kidz Connection shares the church campus, it is a separate family-owned organization and not a ministry, program, or operated entity of Deltona Presbyterian Church.
Reaching Beyond Deltona: Global Missions
DPC's mission extends well beyond Central Florida. The congregation participates in Cents-Ability: Five Cents a Meal, a Presbyterian Church (USA) hunger ministry that supports efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity. Through Central Florida Presbytery's covenantal partnership with El Centro Presbytery in Cuba, DPC joins the Cuba Partners Network to support Cuban pastors and congregations with medical supplies, clean water initiatives, and transportation support.
The church also supports missionaries and global ministries. Through Ethnos360, DPC partners with retired missionary Nordass and active missionary McDaniels serving among unreached peoples. Wycliffe Bible Translators USA is supported through missionary Hersman, who serves overseas in Bible translation work. Jesus Ministry ROLO in Guatemala serves children and families living in extreme poverty through food, clean water, clothing, education, training, and self-sufficiency projects. Interserve is supported through missionary Stocks in South Asia. Alongside Ministries International is supported through Mark and Melanie Stoscher, who serve in Ersekë, Albania, assisting a local Protestant church, a Bible school, and a summer camp ministry. Each year, DPC also participates in Operation Christmas Child, filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and personal notes for children in need around the world.
Leadership and the Session
DPC is led by the Rev. Dr. Carmelo Mercado, who serves as Extended Pulpit Supply Pastor and Head of Staff. Ordained in the Presbyterian tradition, Pastor Carmelo holds a Doctor of Ministry degree and the Chartered Financial Consultant designation. He is also a pastoral counselor, certified financial advisor, adjunct seminary professor, interfaith chaplain at InnovAge PACE/Orlando Health center, and senior chaplain and psychosocial/financial services coordinator for affordable housing at the Presbyterian-affiliated Westminster Communities of Florida. His past roles include hospice chaplain, founding lead pastor of a new worshiping congregation, past moderator of Central Florida Presbytery, bridge pastor of Pineda Presbyterian Church, and sixteen years as senior pastor of El Redentor Presbyterian Church in Oviedo.
Music & Choir Director Raymond DeVeau returned to DPC after leading the music ministry in the mid-1990s. A lifelong musician trained at the Sherwood Music School of Chicago, he began playing organ as a teenager in his hometown of Houlton, Maine, and has spent a lifetime leading congregational song in ways that inspire faith, foster community, and honor God. With a dedicated choir, cherished instruments, and a renewed sense of calling, he continues to use his gifts to lead others in worship.
The Session, DPC's governing council, is composed of ordained women and men, including the Teaching Elder (pastor) and elected Ruling Elders, and makes most major decisions on behalf of the congregation, following the Scriptures, the confessional standards, and Presbyterian polity. A Nominating Committee discerns and presents candidates for ruling elder classes each year, in accordance with the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Joining DPC and Getting Connected
Membership is open to anyone who professes Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. New members may join by profession of faith (with baptism in the name of the Triune God), by transfer from another church, or by reaffirmation of faith. Visitors are welcome to attend, participate, and explore at their own pace without any obligation. Guests are not expected to give an offering or introduce themselves publicly, and questions and doubts are welcome.
What to Expect as a Visitor
The church is wheelchair accessible, with on-site parking that includes accessible spaces. The dress code is simply "come as you are"; some people dress casually, others more formally, and either is comfortable. Childcare is provided for preschool and elementary-aged children during worship, and all volunteers working with young people complete background checks and abuse prevention training. Children are welcome to participate in the Lord's Supper along with everyone else.
Worship services are livestreamed and recorded on YouTube, with a sermon archive available for those who wish to follow along. RightNow Media is available for free to anyone in the church community, offering more than 25,000 video Bible studies on discipleship, leadership, finances, and other topics. Additional resources, including the Revised Common Lectionary, Our Daily Bread devotionals, and Bible Gateway, are shared with members.
Those wishing to learn more may call the church office at (386) 789-3200, email Deltonapc@gmail.com, or visit 2300 Howland Boulevard in Deltona. The pastor and lay leaders are available for prayer, support, and spiritual guidance. Whether a long-time believer, a skeptic with questions, or someone returning to church after many years, the welcome is the same: "All are welcome. Come grow with us."