On West New York Avenue in DeLand, Florida, a small congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has built a quiet reputation for opening wide to anyone who walks through the doors. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand gathers each Sunday morning around the Lord's Table, then turns outward throughout the week to feed the hungry, walk alongside those in recovery, support women whose loved ones are incarcerated, and simply keep good company with neighbors near and far. The members describe themselves in one phrase: "a small church doing big things," and it is the keynote for everything that follows.
The Table of Grace at the Center of Worship
The Disciples of Christ tradition centers on one practice above all others: the weekly celebration of Holy Communion. At First Christian Church, that celebration happens every Sunday, and the congregation names it as the central element of worship. Bread and wafers, along with 100% grape juice in single-serving packaging, are served every week in a no-contact format. The Lord's Table is open to all who are followers of Jesus Christ, and the congregation frames its welcome with these words: "We are a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one Body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord's Table as God has welcomed us."
The members teach that, "Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the living Christ is met and received in the sharing of the bread and the cup, representative of the body and blood of Jesus." Communion is at once remembrance and present encounter, and it gives the church its theological center of gravity.
Baptism holds equal weight in Disciples identity. The founders of the tradition taught baptism by immersion as the accepted form, and the church understands baptism as a public act that proclaims God's grace. It symbolizes the burial of an old self and the rebirth of a new life in Christ, and it incorporates the believer into the body of Christ.
Sunday Mornings on West New York Avenue
Sunday morning follows a steady rhythm. Adult Sunday School meets at 9:30 a.m. in Meeting Room 1, giving members time to study and discuss before gathering for worship. The Sunday service begins at 10:45 a.m. in the sanctuary, with Donald Valencia accompanying on piano.
For those who cannot be in the pews, services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. The congregation's Facebook page carries the name "delandisciples," and the YouTube channel keeps an archive of recorded services and community updates.
Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon, and the staff can be reached at (386) 734-0677 or fccofdeland@att.net.
The Bridge: A Steady Presence for Those Without a Home
The most visible partnership is with The Bridge, a community resource located at 421 S. Palmetto Avenue off S. Woodland Blvd., behind The Neighborhood Center in DeLand. The Bridge offers housing and a path toward overcoming homelessness, and First Christian Church volunteers there in three steady ways:
- On the first Tuesday of each month, members prepare and serve a hot dinner that feeds roughly 90 people in need.
- On Thursdays from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., volunteers assist with client registration and provide towels, soap, and other toiletry items. A hot shower is available at The Bridge.
- The Joy Club gathers Bridge residents on the first and last Wednesdays of each month, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., for activities designed to offer encouragement and hope.
The church also supports The Neighborhood Center directly and prepares meals alongside other community groups that share the responsibility of feeding those in need.
BINGO Nights, Narcotics Anonymous, and a Busy Fellowship Hall
The church's Fellowship Hall is a hub for several recurring community programs.
BINGO nights run on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 7 p.m. Cards cost 50 cents each, with proceeds split between winners and a chosen outreach organization. The list of past recipients tells the story of the church's wide interests in DeLand and beyond: The Neighborhood Center, The Bridge Homeless Shelter, Good Samaritan Dental & Health Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Camp Boggy Creek, Journeys End Animal Shelter, H.O.P.E. (Helpers Of People Enslaved), Heifer International, The Retreat at Silver Springs, Foundations To Freedom, DeLand VFW, AM Vets, DeLand Police Athletic League (PAL), Kairos Outside, the Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Coastal Choice Women's Clinic.
Narcotics Anonymous holds two group sessions in the building every week: Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 2. The church also provides space for monthly N.A. area, policy, and committee meetings. All information is kept confidential, and the church office can connect those who are seeking help.
Prayer Warriors, Disciple Men, and Disciple Women
Small-group ministry runs deep at First Christian Church. Several groups meet regularly for Bible study, fellowship, service projects, and mutual encouragement, and new groups form as interests and needs arise.
The Prayer Warriors gather every Monday at 3:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 1. Tanna Gartside facilitates this ministry, and each prayer request is lifted up individually. Anyone is welcome to come and participate.
Disciple Men hold a monthly gathering on the third Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. for a breakfast and a chance to catch up on current events. Bible study and special projects are part of the group's life together. Disciple Women are described by the church as "known for their generosity in mission work locally, nationally and internationally," and the women stay engaged in fellowship, breakfast gatherings, and local service.
Kairos OUTSIDE and Worship at The Villa
Two further outreach ministries reflect the church's commitment to people on the margins.
Kairos OUTSIDE is the branch of Kairos Prison Ministry International that walks alongside women who have a loved one incarcerated. The Central Florida Advisory Council Chair leads gatherings that meet on various Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, following the structured Kairos model of a weekend experience followed by ongoing accountability, support, and prayer.
At The Villa, a local rehabilitation and nursing home, Pastor Pérez leads a worship service on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Elders, Deacons, and lay volunteers offer a brief sermon, singing, prayer, music, and Communion with individual kits that include a wafer and grape juice.
The church also lends a hand at community events like the Mayor's Backpack Giveaway and Prayer Night Out in DeLand.
A Wider Family: Florida Regional Disciples
First Christian Church of DeLand is connected to the wider Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) through the Florida Region. The congregation supports the FL Disciples Comprehensive Campaign, which allocates gifts in its early rounds to capital projects at the regional retreat (70 percent), other regional priorities (20 percent), and outreach beyond the region (10 percent). Youth and young adults are linked to the wider church through events like the Crossroads Youth Retreat.
Locally, the church is raising its own "Fund for the Future" capital campaign to support future needs, additions, or repairs to the church building.
Rev. Carlos Pérez: A Disciples Pastor at Home in DeLand
The congregation is led by Rev. Carlos Pérez, Minister. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Rev. Pérez earned his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando and was ordained into the Disciples of Christ through the Florida Region. Before coming to DeLand, he served five years as a student pastor in Orlando, working with children's ministries, small groups, and hospitality, and helping to lead a visioning team.
His pastoral strengths, the church notes, are teaching, pastoral guidance, and pastoral care. He and his wife have three children, and he brings a steady love of the Lord and his people. Donald Valencia serves as pianist, accompanying worship with skill and consistency.
Pérez puts it this way: "Let's make sure to take the time to stop, inhale, exhale, and pray to the one who knows you better than anyone else and who loves you more than anyone else."
Giving, The Contact, and Getting in Touch
The church offers several ways to support its ministries. Members and friends can give online through Zelle by adding First Christian Church as a recipient with the email firstchristianfinance@gmail.com. Donations can also be mailed to the church at 1401 West New York Avenue or placed in the collection box at the entrance to the sanctuary, the same box that holds prayer cards and connection cards.
A monthly newsletter, The Contact, mails the first week of each month and keeps readers updated on serving schedules, special events, and community partnerships.
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand is a small congregation that takes the Lord's Table seriously and then walks out the door to serve.