Miami Beach Community Church stands at 1620 Drexel Ave in Miami Beach, Florida, where it is known for its historic sanctuary and long record of welcome. Its motto is “Faith Will Enlighten You.” Founded in 1921, it was Miami Beach’s first church, and its sanctuary is the oldest in the city. The congregation gathers around worship, discipleship, music, youth and family ministries, sacraments, life celebrations, and direct food support for neighbors. It is a United Church of Christ church that emphasizes the presence of the Holy Spirit, the authority of the Word of God, and the dignity of every person.
The First Church on Miami Beach
The church was founded in 1921 on land donated by Carl and Jane Fisher. It was the first church in Miami Beach, and for years the growing city depended on it as a leader in social and cultural life as well as spiritual life. Its Mediterranean Revival sanctuary was designed by Walter De Garmo, Miami’s first registered architect and an early architect of the style. A full restoration completed in 2019 renewed the building, which now includes state-of-the-art sound and livestream capabilities.
That history continues in the church’s working ministry. The congregation brings people together for Sunday worship, study, music, youth activities, weddings, memorial observances, and assistance with hunger. The historic sanctuary remains central to these activities and to the church’s identity as a gathering place for the community.
A Church for All Christians
MBCC describes itself as “A Church for all Christians.” In 1957, it joined with other denominations to form the United Church of Christ, fulfilling Jesus’ prayer that his followers “may all be one.” The congregation is governed as a congregational church, where everyone has a voice and the community seeks to fulfill God’s will together. People from many denominations and all walks of life are part of the church family.
Its history includes several significant firsts. The church was the first historically white denomination to ordain an African American, the first to ordain a woman, the first to ordain an openly gay man, and the first Christian church to affirm the right of same-gender couples to marry. It also places its work in the anti-slavery and Civil Rights movements. The church presents these achievements as evidence that its response to the demands of faith is woven into the history of the country.
The church values the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, which marks God’s people and manifests itself among them. It treats the Word of God as a steadfast source of truth that sustains people and can transform both personal and cultural life. It values every person, regardless of label or status, as uniquely loved, pursued, and gifted by God. It welcomes all people to Christ’s table and upholds Communion and Baptism. Its aim is to lead people to become radiant disciples of Jesus Christ.
Lead pastor The Reverend Cynthia M. Lee is the fifth pastor in the church’s 97-year history and the first woman and person of color to serve in the role. She earned a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary and is also a gospel recording artist who has toured throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada.
Sunday Worship at 10:30
Sunday worship takes place every Sunday at 10:30 AM in the sanctuary. The service is streamed live beginning at 10:30, and a recording of the worship service is posted no later than 1:00 PM. Visitors can watch the service live, while past worship videos are gathered on Vimeo. The adult choir sings during every service, and the choir and pastor lead the music in a way that complements the scriptural focus of the day.
The repertoire reaches from traditional and contemporary music to hymns, contemporary Christian songs, and classical selections. Music Director Jose Arrebato leads a choir composed of volunteer singers and professional section leaders. It rehearses at 9:00 AM each Sunday for the 10:30 service. Singers do not need to read music; a loving spirit and a desire to express themselves through singing are enough.
Children and Youth Grow in the Light
During the 10:30 service, Youth Coordinator Darline Candio invites children forward for a message just for them. After the children’s devotional, they are dismissed to the kid’s room for the remainder of worship, where the youth coordinator has a lesson and message prepared. The lesson follows the United Church of Christ calendar and aligns with the theme in worship. Activities incorporate art, music, drama, and dance alongside age-appropriate Bible lessons, games, and free snacks. Youth productions at Christmas, Easter, and other holidays, art workshops, solo singing, and choir lessons add further creative opportunities.
MBCC Youth welcomes all ages from nursery to teenagers and describes the ministry as a loving, supportive community of young believers where everyone feels like family. Young people read the Bible, bring lessons to life through skits and creative activities, and explore how faith connects to daily life. Beyond study and worship, the ministry gathers for ice skating, movie nights, family beach days, shared meals, and performances. An annual trip gives young people another chance to celebrate faith and friendship. Children and youth are encouraged to “grow up in the light of God” as kind and caring love ambassadors.
Discipleship on Sunday and Thursday
Discipleship classes are designed to expand knowledge of who God is and how God is at work in life and the world. One class meets in person from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on Sundays in the Green Library, before the worship service. A second class meets by Zoom from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Thursdays. The two schedules are intended to accommodate busy lives. Classes blend fellowship with discussion of the lesson, a weekly spiritual check-in, and prayer. Whether someone is beginning to explore Christian spirituality or wants to study the faith more deeply, the classes seek to renew minds and hearts and prepare people to engage the world with the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Women Inspired Now
Women Inspired Now, or WIN, is a ministry for women of any age that helps cultivate the spirit of Christ and promotes sisterhood among women in the Miami Beach community. Its gatherings combine encouragement, support, and empowerment with opportunities to network, share stories, build confidence, discuss concerns, and gain advice without judgment. The group meets every other month and offers strong peer support for women who have had similar experiences. WIN also coordinates events and fundraisers centered on important women’s issues, creating settings in which women help women and form connections across the community.
M25 Food Support for Miami Beach
Founded in 2016, M25 of Miami Beach was developed to uphold basic human rights and the dignity of especially vulnerable people, with a primary focus on hunger. During 2020, it partnered with Trader Joe’s to provide groceries to church members and neighbors affected by COVID-19. It continues serving individuals and families in Miami Beach. About 90 percent of participants are seniors, low-income families, people who are homeless, seasonal workers, or people seeking short-term help. The ministry also occasionally assists vacationers and spring-break students facing an unexpected crisis. Assigned food pickup dates and times are arranged through the church office.
M25 also focuses on helping children and low-income families through community service projects. Volunteers are sought for grocery assistance and other service work, and contributions can be designated for M25 when giving to the church.
Welcoming Visitors Along Lincoln Road
Ambassadors volunteer to greet people along Lincoln Road and as they enter the sanctuary. Often the first person a visitor encounters, they welcome people with joy, answer questions about the church’s architecture, history, and denomination, and provide reference materials. The sanctuary is also a place for quiet prayer, prayer with someone, or learning more about the church.
Online prayer requests are accepted free of charge, and the church expressly says a person does not need to be Christian or believe in God to have the congregation pray. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The church office is at 1620 Drexel Ave in Miami Beach, and the office phone number is (305) 538-4511.
Baptisms, Weddings and Memorial Services
Baptism as a Public Sign of Grace
The church teaches baptism as a covenant or promise with God and as the outward visible sign of grace. It signifies a personal, public identification with Jesus Christ and joins a person with the universal church, the body of Christ. Baptism represents God’s work of forgiveness, renewal of the spirit, and the call to be God’s people. The church teaches that baptism does not save; salvation comes by faith alone.
Baptism takes place after the worship service. Family members gather around the baptism font, and parents in consultation with the pastor may choose sponsors or godparents for infants, young children, and adults. The pastor asks questions, offers a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing over the water, and baptizes the person in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The person is then introduced as the newest member of the church.
Weddings in the Restored Sanctuary
Marriage is described as a gift from God and a sacred covenant between two individuals. The pastor officiates, and couples must complete counseling sessions. The sanctuary accommodates up to 300 guests and combines the restored building’s historic character with a modern sound system and livestream capability. Wedding packages include sanctuary use, pastor’s fees, an organist or pianist, utilities, maintenance, church staff, rehearsal preparation, an optional kneeling bench and candelabras, and an Order of Marriage ceremony keepsake. Flash photography is allowed during the processional and recessional, while video cameras must be placed on tripods.
Memorial Services and Continuing Care
The church assists families with funeral planning and continued bereavement care. The pastor and music director work with each family to plan a service in the sanctuary or memorial garden, honoring the life of the person through meaningful thoughts for the message or eulogy, Scripture, and hymns. A reception can follow in Scott Hall, with menu guidance and staff handling setup, service, and cleanup. For members and associate members, the memorial garden can include a plaque and burial of ashes. Memorial gifts may also be recorded in the church’s Book of Remembrance.
Spaces for Gatherings and Remembrance
King Chapel is suited to intimate gatherings and holds up to 50 people. Scott Hall, a multipurpose room, accommodates up to 100, and the Memorial Garden welcomes up to 35. Rental arrangements include tables and chairs, event setup and cleanup, and a facility manager. The spaces are used for wedding receptions, anniversaries, birthday parties, baby showers, corporate events, and other social gatherings and celebrations.
A Church for the Real World
Volunteers can serve through M25, WIN, Youth, Choir, Ambassadors, Disciple Class, Deacons, greeters and ushers, Fellowship, the Prayer Circle, and sanctuary video and sound work. Giving is available online as a one-time gift or a recurring contribution, with M25 available as a designation.
At the center of these ministries is the church’s plainly stated calling: to know the Real Jesus, for the sake of the Real People, in and for the Real World. Miami Beach Community Church remains an inclusive, congregational church at 1620 Drexel Ave, seeking radiant discipleship, lifelong spiritual development, and service to its neighbors.