On the west side of Jacksonville, Florida, just off Normandy Boulevard, First United Pentecostal Church of Jacksonville has planted itself as a diverse, multi-generational congregation with a heart for soul-winning. The church describes itself as a place where people can come as they are and leave brand new, and the pastoral family that leads it, John and Alyson Hopkins, has set the tone for a community that prizes both lively worship and a warm welcome for neighbors who are still exploring faith.
The Hopkins Family and the Jacksonville Call
Pastor John Hopkins III grew up in Panama City, Panama, the son of missionaries John and Aurelia Hopkins who served in Central America. He spent his first 19 years there before spending two years at Florida State University. The pull of ministry drew him to Texas Bible College in Houston, where he met Alyson, the granddaughter of Bill and Molly Thompson, missionaries who founded the Pentecostal work in Colombia, South America. The two were married on December 16, 2000.
Together, the Hopkins helped establish two Spanish-language congregations in Houston and then started a home missions church in Webster, Texas, in 2009. John also served three terms as Regional Youth President of Spanish Ministries in Houston and one term as Regional Sunday School Director. In June 2011, the family moved to Jacksonville, where John and Alyson now pastor. They have two sons, John IV and Thomas, and the family says they want nothing more than to see a great revival in the city.
Sunday on Normandy Boulevard
The church's weekly rhythm centers on Sunday. All Sunday School classes meet at 9:45 a.m., followed by a morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. A second worship gathering follows at 6:00 p.m., with the exception of the first Sunday of every month, when the morning service flows into a fellowship meal and there is no evening service.
Inside the sanctuary, worship is vibrant and the preaching is passionate. Visitors will notice a wide range of attire from suits and ties to jeans and t-shirts, and a congregation that includes friends from other nations and cultures alongside neighbors from the same street. The church is intentional about making each person who walks through the doors feel like part of the family from the very first visit. There are ministries and activities for every age group, from children through adults in their 90s, with weekly opportunities for worship, spiritual growth, fellowship, and friendship.
Midweek Prayer and Bible Study
The week keeps moving after Sunday. Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. are set aside for prayer, and on Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m., the church gathers for Bible study. Both gatherings are open to anyone who wants to dig deeper into Scripture or simply bring a request before the Lord alongside other believers.
What the Church Believes
The church's statement of faith is laid out on six pillars, each anchored in Scripture.
- The Bible is the infallible Word of God. Scripture is the authority for salvation and Christian living, inspired by God and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.
- There is one God. God has revealed Himself as Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifested in flesh, both God and man.
- Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith, based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. The gospel is obeyed through repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- We are to love God and others. Christians are called to a holy life, joyful worship, and openness to the supernatural gifts of the Spirit, including healing.
- Jesus Christ is coming again. He will catch away His church, followed by a final resurrection, a final judgment, eternal life for the righteous, and eternal death for the unrighteous.
Ministries for Every Stage of Life
A leadership team of couples and individuals carries the church's ministries into the week.
Tyler and Lauren Hoepker serve as Youth Director and Ministerial Administrator, guiding the next generation through the church's Ablaz youth program. Mary Brock leads the Ladies Ministry, and Brian Hougland leads the Foundry Men's Ministry, which also has its own line of branded shirts, caps, mugs, and stickers in the church store. Ben and Karissa Meehan head up the Music Team and serve as Promotions Director, while Keia Barber oversees the Media Department and Jordan Rapp directs the livestream ministry, making services available online.
Ronald and Hilda James lead the Outreach Team, and the church operates HOPE Outreach as a distinct arm of that work, with its own branded apparel line in the store. Jimmy Moncayo leads the Spanish Ministry, continuing a legacy of bilingual ministry that runs through Pastor John's own background, his time starting Spanish works in Houston, and his service as Regional Youth President of Spanish Ministries.
Connecting, Giving, and the Calendar
Visitors who want to plug in are encouraged to fill out a connect card so the church can get to know them. The church uses Church Center for online giving, a church-wide calendar, and a connection hub where newcomers can set up a profile. Giving can be made online through the Church Center giving page, and the church's calendar is published online so visitors can see upcoming events alongside the weekly schedule.
A Store for the Family
FirstUPCJax also runs an online shop with branded apparel and accessories. The catalog includes unisex tees in a blue/pink colorway, hoodies, hats, mugs, and tote bags carrying the church logo, along with shirts for the Ablaz youth ministry and HOPE Outreach. Foundry Men's Ministry gear (shirts, caps, mugs, and stickers) sits alongside the rest of the lineup, and a SEEK TRUTH heavyweight tee rounds out the offerings. Apparel is available in a wide range of sizes and colors, and the shop is the easiest way for members and regular visitors to pick up gear between Sundays.
A Vision for the City
At the center of everything is a stated vision to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ by creating environments where people are encouraged and equipped to pursue intimacy with God, community with other believers, and influence with non-believers. The church is explicit about its heart for evangelism and for mending and restoring broken families, treating soul-winning as the heartbeat of both God and the congregation. Once someone's spiritual needs are met, the church believes, they will no longer face a life of heartache and destruction, but look forward to a life of hope and opportunity.
The Hopkins family and the leadership team describe themselves as expecting great things from the Lord in the years to come, and they invite anyone in the Jacksonville area who is curious to come as they are, walk through the doors on Normandy Boulevard, and see for themselves.