Today we’d like to introduce you to Winter Park Christian Church (Disciples Of Christ) Rev. Gail Davidson.
Hi Winter Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Winter Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been a presence on Lakemont Ave. for over 60 years, but we have just opened a brand new church. The old buildings sat far back from the street with little visibility, and the congregation had aged and dwindled. Around 2019, former Winter Park mayor Kip Marchman, moderator of the congregation, had a vision of a new facility which would both help the church financially and reach new people for the gospel. The church took bids from developers and settled on Michael Halpin, who lives in the neighborhood. We worked with an architect to develop a plan for a building which would be user-friendly to those “maturing in Christ” — that is, no balcony for the choir or steps up to the communion table. We sold most of the 5+ acre plot to the developer in return for a “turn-key church” and enough savings to continue ministry for the foreseeable future. We celebrated a “Grand Re-Opening” in November and are looking forward to welcoming new neighbors in what is now “The Enclave.”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The congregation left the sanctuary just as the global pandemic hit, and moved to the fellowship hall. From there, we rented space in several venues for weddings and such, culminating in the final location within the Fashion Square Mall. Three different part-time pastors were involved. There were lots of debates about what to pack and what to give away. We saved the stained-glass window from the rear of the old sanctuary (above the balcony), and it is now the centerpiece of the sanctuary, now facing Lakemont Ave. The congregation has doubled over the last year and spent quality time seeking to know God’s plan for this church in this new space.
So we’re both new and old at the same time! Our current pastor, Rev. Gail Davidson, is a board-certified chaplain for Orlando Health who has also served ten other congregations across the United States. Interestingly, she preached her first-ever sermon at Winter Park Christian Church while a student at the University of Central Florida in the 1990s.
We were able to bless others when we gave away most of the furnishings in the old church, but we have also been the recipients of many gifts. Father Bill Ennis, who formerly served Holy Family Catholic Church, gave us our first piano, and Central Christian Church downtown on Lake Ivanhoe then gave us their grand piano when they re-equipped their sanctuary for the 1122 Church from Jacksonville to move in. First Presbyterian downtown gave our choir some of their hymnals. The choir at Ward Chapel A.M.E. came over to sing at our Grand Re-Opening. The church is also partnering for mission with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) in Florida and the Caribbean, as well as our denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Winter Park Christian Church is “A Place to Belong” for individuals, couples, and families, where “All Are Welcome.” All who believe in Jesus are invited to the communion table weekly (10:30 a.m. Sundays), and we sing traditional hymns and hear Bible-based sermons. A weekly Bible Study meets Wednesdays from 1-2 p.m. in the conference room.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Chaplain Gail Davidson has served Orlando Health in a variety of settings since the early 2000s. She is currently covering shifts at Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and Orlando Regional Medical Center.
The church works in outreach to others globally, within the United States and Canada, and locally through the For Seasons Food Pantry at St. Richard’s Episcopal Church in Winter Park, the Christian Service Center, Seniors First, and Second Harvest. We are affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Winter Park Christian Church is available for weddings and other group activities. Please call us at 407.790.4008, or email wpccflorida@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://winterparkchristianchurchfla.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17wF1cxhP9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
