On the corner of Quesada Avenue and Visacaya Drive in Port Charlotte, Florida, a five-acre property has been home to the same congregation for more than six decades. Port Charlotte Global Methodist Church grew up there from a 1960 storefront start at the local community center into a multigenerational, multicultural church family of more than 700 members at its peak, with a Sanctuary that has weathered two major hurricanes and a sanctuary roof that came off in Hurricane Ian. Today the church is known for offering three Sunday morning services in both traditional and contemporary styles, a full slate of children's, student and young adult ministries, an on-site preschool, and mission partnerships that stretch from Charlotte County to Belize, Angola, Haiti, and Cuba.
From the Woods to a Global Methodist Identity
The story began in 1958 when Dr. Harry H. Waller, superintendent of the Sarasota district, asked Rev. Robert Selle to organize a Methodist Church in Port Charlotte. Selle passed away from a heart attack shortly after accepting, but the Florida Annual Conference pressed on. On June 10, 1960, Bishop Arthur J. Moore appointed Rev. William Lee Knecht as the first pastor, and the congregation was named Port Charlotte Methodist Church. Seven days later, on June 17, 1960, the first service was held at the Port Charlotte Community Center. By October 16, 1960, the church had 92 charter members and 132 members by year's end.
The Mackle Brothers donated five wooded acres at Quesada Avenue and Visacaya Drive, and the property earned the nickname "The Friendly Church in the Woods." Construction on the first building began October 16, 1961, and the first service in the new building was held March 11, 1962, with attendance already at 442. Additions for small groups and Bible study followed on November 1, 1964, and by June 1965 membership had reached 485. Ground was broken for a larger Sanctuary on March 24, 1968, and the first worship service there was held March 2, 1969. That Sanctuary still serves as the worship space today.
In 1968, when the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church, the name became Port Charlotte United Methodist Church. That identity held for more than fifty years. After Hurricane Charley tore through Port Charlotte in 2004, damaging 100 members' homes and causing $400,000 in damage to the church property, the PCUMC Disaster Relief Team was formed within five days. The team helped more than two thousand local families with financial assistance, debris clearing, meals, and temporary salaries for disaster relief workers. Eighteen years later, when Hurricane Ian parked its eye wall over Port Charlotte for roughly nine hours in 2022, the church once again turned outward: offering space for EMTs while hospitals were unusable, providing daily food to the community, and distributing tarps, food, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies.
Throughout 2022 and 2023, the church undertook a discernment process common to many United Methodist congregations and chose to disaffiliate. On April 9, 2023, the name was changed to Port Charlotte Global Methodist Church, joining the newly formed Global Methodist Church, a denomination that holds to traditional Wesleyan teaching.
Sunday Mornings: Three Services, Two Styles
Worship happens three times every Sunday morning. A Traditional service is held at 8:00 AM, a Contemporary service at 9:30 AM, and a second Traditional service at 11:00 AM. The congregation describes itself as a Christ-centered blend of traditional and contemporary worship.
The 9:30 AM Contemporary service is led by the Praise and Worship Team, which rehearses Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM with a devotion and a run-through of the upcoming Sunday's songs. The team welcomes singers and players willing to attend a rehearsal before being scheduled. The Traditional services are led by the Chancel Choir, which is active during the winter and fall months. The choir leads the opening hymn and the offertory anthem and rehearses Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 PM under Music Director Rev. Dr. David deSilva, who also serves as organist. Reading music is recommended for the choir. A Handbell Choir performs a monthly prelude piece during the winter and fall months, with each member covering two to four pitches; the group rehearses Wednesdays at 10:00 AM.
Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month and on special services such as Christmas Eve and Easter. In the traditional services, a liturgist leads a Call to Worship from Scripture and recites an Affirmation of Faith. Worship Servants include an Altar Guild that decorates the Sanctuary and Altar for the seasons, and Communion Stewards who prepare and serve the elements.
What to Expect as a First-Time Visitor
The church's plan-your-visit materials are unusually specific. Guests are greeted at the door by volunteers who answer questions and help with directions. Parking is available on both sides of the building, with guest parking marked near the main entrance, and accessible parking is also provided. During a period of lobby construction, greeters are stationed outside the Sanctuary doors to guide visitors, and coffee and snacks are available in the Fellowship Hall.
The dress code is "come as you are," with everything from casual to dressy in attendance. No one is asked to stand or introduce themselves as a guest, and seating is open anywhere in the Sanctuary. Most services run about 60 minutes, and arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is recommended so there is time to park and check in children. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to noon.
The Sanctuary is wheelchair accessible, with accessible seating and restrooms, and is equipped with a hearing loop (T-coil). Anyone whose hearing aid or cochlear implant has a T-coil setting can switch to it during the service for clearer audio. Services are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook every Sunday morning and are also available as a podcast on Spotify and a full archive on the church's YouTube channel.
Kingdom Kids and Tribe Students
Children and teenagers are at the heart of the church's week. Kingdom Kids, for ages 3 through 5th grade, meets during the 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday services with interactive Bible lessons, puppets, and games, and on Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 PM with a Bible lesson, a monthly missions focus country, praise and worship, and games. Nursery care is available for infants and toddlers from 9:30 AM to noon. The ministry is directed by Carol Sorbino, who has worked in children's ministry for more than fifteen years.
Tribe Students is the ministry for middle and high schoolers in grades 6 through 12. It meets weekly on Wednesdays for dinner, games, worship, and teaching, and on Sundays for Bible study and discussion. The group's stated values are Boldly Announce God's Truth, Model Godly Character, Freedom to Worship, and Family with Accountability. Student Ministries Pastor Shane Hotchkin oversees the ministry and has served in youth work since 2003. The church maintains separate Tribe Students social channels on Facebook and Instagram for parents and students to follow.
NextGen and Adult Sunday School
NextGen is the young adults ministry for those aged 18 to 35, designed to build community, grow in faith, and serve others. The group meets twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Fridays at 5:30 PM for a Bible study and meal in Meeting Room B at the church, with childcare provided. On months with a fifth Friday, the group gathers for a fun outing. NextGen also partners quarterly with Crossroads Hope Academy, preparing meals and creating opportunities for the boys there to connect outside their daily routines. The NextGen leader is Charity Lewis.
On Sunday mornings, several adult Sunday School classes run at 9:30 AM, including the Bible Discovery Class (Choir Room), the Wesley Class (Robing Room), the Becomers Sunday School (Prayer Room), the Faithbuilders (The Gym), and Meth-O-Mates (Meeting Room B). The Pathfinders class meets at 11:00 AM in the Prayer Room. Classes delve into specific books of the Bible and curated studies led by various teachers.
Small Groups for Every Stage of Life
Beyond Sunday morning classes, the church runs three types of small groups. LifeGroups focus on building friendships and lasting bonds and grow through personal invitations rather than public listings. Short-Term Small Groups focus on a particular study or book of the Bible and meet for several weeks or a few months, often with a sign-up; recent examples include a Lenten study of Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails" for women and a seven-week study called "Gospel on the Ground." Long-Term Small Groups meet on a fixed schedule and cover a variety of topics, with newcomers welcome to jump in at any time.
Named long-term groups include Spiritual Life Support, which meets the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 10:00 AM in Meeting Room B for scripture, devotion, and prayer; Women of Wisdom, which meets Thursdays at 6:00 PM off campus for verse-by-verse study; Iron Men, a Thursday 6:00 AM Bible study in the Prayer Room for men with free mornings; the Reeves Small Group in North Port, which meets every other Wednesday at 1:00 PM; the Kavanaugh Small Group in the Kingsgate area, meeting bi-monthly on Thursdays at 6:00 PM; and the Scheidecker Small Group, which gathers every other Sunday at 5:00 PM for a themed potluck and study of messages from Pastor Robert Morris.
Worship Arts, Music, and Media
Music is woven through every service. Worship & Media Director Aaron Cody leads the contemporary expression and oversees the tech team that runs the soundboard, the media screens, and the Sunday livestream. The tech team welcomes volunteers without prior experience; the team leader, Brett, teaches anyone willing to learn. The Praise and Worship Team is committed to creating a space for focus on God through music rather than performance. The Chancel Choir and Handbell Choir bring traditional choral and bell music to the Sanctuary during the cooler months. David deSilva, who also holds a Trustees' Distinguished Professorship of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary, directs the music program and serves as organist for the traditional services.
Care for Every Stage of Life
Care ministries extend well beyond Sunday morning. The Uplift Ministry for Senior Adults engages older adults in the community through monthly lunch and learning gatherings on the third Friday of each month, with the goal of helping them grow in faith, knowledge, and fellowship. The Hospital Visitation Team visits patients at Fawcett and ShorePoint hospitals to talk and pray. Stephen Ministry provides one-to-one Christian care for people facing grief, divorce, job loss, illness, or other difficult seasons, with trained Stephen Ministers walking alongside care recipients. The Sunshine Ministry visits those who are homebound or in assisted living facilities to keep them connected to the church family.
The church has partnered with Life Coaching and Counseling Centers to provide a space on its campus for Christian counseling. Two clinicians, including Susan Bennett, MA, RMHCI, counsel on site on Thursdays and Fridays by appointment.
Missions: Local, National, and Around the World
Missions is one of the church's three core rhythms, alongside Know Jesus and Grow more like Jesus, captured in its motto: "Helping people KNOW Jesus, GROW more like Jesus, and GO serve Jesus." Locally, the church partners with Habitat for Humanity, Residing Hope, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Kingsway Elementary School. The Good News Club sends volunteers to Kingsway Elementary on Mondays from 2:45 to 5:00 PM to teach elementary-aged children about Jesus and the Bible, providing what is for some kids their only weekly encounter with the gospel. The New Movers Outreach Team sends information to people who have recently moved to the area and helps them make connections.
Internationally, the church supports mission partners in four countries. In Belize, it supports Rev. Charles Mulemena, who serves two Methodist congregations, two Methodist schools, and trains leaders in Corozal Town in northern Belize. In East Angola, it supports Rev. Leonardo Garcia, an ordained Methodist minister since 2009 who serves as a clinical advisor with the United Methodist Church and has helped eradicate malaria and typhoid fever in his area. In Haiti, the church supports Pastor Yvon Selin, lead pastor of Global Christian Mission Outreach, which builds new churches and schools to evangelize and educate. In Cuba, the church supports a sister church led by Pastor Luis Miguel Pena Rodriges through the Christ for Cuba organization.
Moms in Prayer meets weekly on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM in the Prayer Room, gathering women to pray for the church's ministries, their children and grandchildren, and other needs as they arise.
Port Charlotte Christian Academy
Sharing the campus is Port Charlotte Christian Academy, the church's own preschool. The school's first building now serves as the VPK and Aftercare room within the education building, a quiet link back to the original 1962 structure. Director Natalie Rodriguez has taught in preschools since 2001 and has been teaching at the church's preschool since 2016, becoming director in April 2022. The preschool is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the phone line reached at (941) 625-7993.
What the Church Believes
The church's beliefs are rooted in Scripture and expressed through the historic Christian faith. Members affirm one God eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach that Jesus was miraculously conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, fully God and fully human, sinless in life, crucified in the place of sinners, raised from the dead, and ascended to heaven, where he will return as judge of the living and the dead. The Holy Spirit is present to convict of sin, guide into truth, and empower Christian living, distributing spiritual gifts for the building up of the church.
The Bible is regarded as God's Word, written by human authors under the Spirit's guidance, containing all that is necessary for salvation and serving as the final authority for Christian belief and practice. Salvation is God's gift, received by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Two ordinances are practiced: Baptism, which marks entrance into the household of faith and is administered once in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and Holy Communion, a remembrance of Christ's atoning work and a real encounter with his presence, received by faith.
The church teaches that human beings are created in God's image and that sin has marred that image, that grace is God's unfailing love drawing sinners toward himself, and that holiness is the Spirit's ongoing work shaping believers into the character of Christ. Marriage is described in Scripture as a covenant between one man and one woman, and singleness as a gift to be honored. Stewardship calls believers to lives of generosity and service rather than the accumulation of material things. The congregation identifies as a multigenerational, multicultural church family holding to the traditional Wesleyan heritage of the Global Methodist Church.
Getting Connected and Giving
Visitors who want to follow up after a service can stop by the Connection Point in the lobby, a place for newcomers to receive a free gift and for anyone to sign up for small groups or volunteer opportunities. A weekly schedule email goes out on Mondays at 5:00 PM, and a Sunday worship resources email goes out Fridays at 5:00 PM; both are available through a sign-up form. The church's online bulletin, newsletter, calendar, sermon podcast, contemporary worship playlist on Spotify, and church map are available.
Giving can be done through an online portal, by texting GIVE to (941) 625-4356, by mail to 21075 Quesada Avenue, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, or by placing a gift in the offering plates or Giving Box during Sunday services. All donations go toward ministries on campus, local and national mission work, and global partnerships.
The Staff Behind the Sunday
Rev. Denvil Farley has served as Lead Pastor since January 2019. A Florida State University graduate and Duke Divinity School alum, he came to Port Charlotte from Christ United Methodist Church in Venice, Florida, and before that served Rehoboth United Methodist Church in Henderson, North Carolina. He and his wife Gwen have five children. Rev. Jim Cochran, Assistant Pastor, joined the church in April 2022 after more than twenty years in The Wesleyan Church, including seventeen as a senior pastor in Radford, Virginia. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering from Asbury Theological Seminary and in nursing. Rev. Dr. David deSilva directs the traditional music program and has been part of the church since July 2014; he is also a Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary and the author of more than thirty-five books. Shane Hotchkin leads student ministries; he joined the staff in October 2022 after twenty years in youth work across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Aaron Cody joined as Worship & Media Director in December 2025, bringing experience as a worship pastor in Central Illinois, Fort Myers, and the Nashville area. Carol Sorbino directs children's ministry; she joined in November 2023 with more than fifteen years of experience with children ages 0 to 15. Natalie Rodriguez has directed Port Charlotte Christian Academy since April 2022 and has taught at the preschool since 2016.