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Our Church Heritage
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welcome to:
First Free Will
Baptist of Melbourne
First Free Will
Baptist of Melbourne
A Vision for the
World... A Home
for Your Family
World... A Home
for Your Family
Our Heritage
In 1959 George Cloud and his wife Lena Cloud, desired a place to labor in the field of Christian
service, where they could have the freedom to serve as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Not being
able to locate any groups near them, they began a survey and in trying to witness they found several
friends of like faith, also many others of different faith who were sympathetic to their effort in
arranging to begin a series of meetings and were willing to help in their efforts. After several
months of praying and following many leads, they arranged for the use of a small church located at
the corner of 7th Avenue and Highland Avenue and were able to use this free of charge for evening
services.
After several weeks of meeting in the borrowed church, they called on the Central Association of
Free Will Baptists to come set the church in order. On October 10, 1959 the First Free Will Baptist
Church of Eau Gallie was officially organized. That same day the church elected Glen Spence as
Pastor. The charter members were George and Lena Cloud, Glen and Mickey Spence, Dora Sanders,
Mrs. Sheehan, Billy Combs, Jackie Combs, John and Hazel Lafferty, Joyce Smith and Clay and Vernie
Miller. The bible was presented and the group pledged to support and recognize the National
Treatise as their rules and guide. From the borrowed church they met in the American Legion Hall on
U.S. 1 so they could have morning services and Sunday School.
Shortly, the church was able to purchase the property at 938 Lytton Road and constructed the first
section of the building, which was the south wing and would seat about 40 people. Next came the
north wing, which was used for church services and the south wing was used for Sunday School. In
1964 the main sanctuary was built and in 1992 the fellowship hall was completed and made our
building what it is today.
Several Free Will Baptist churches have been started out of this church. Cecil Combs went from this
church to organize the Cocoa Free Will Baptist Church. Ron Newman went from here to organize the
Vero Beach Free Will Baptist Church, Darrell Gwinn went from this church to organize the Titusville
Free Will Baptist Church. Dennis Heath went from this church to start a work in Germany and Paul
Landers went from this church to start a work in Spain.
Glen Spence was the founding Pastor followed by William Turnbough, Willie Jones, Milton Fields,
Darrel Gwinn, Ron Burger, Charlie Charles and the current Pastor, Stephen Berry.
In 1959 George Cloud and his wife Lena Cloud, desired a place to labor in the field of Christian
service, where they could have the freedom to serve as they were led by the Holy Spirit. Not being
able to locate any groups near them, they began a survey and in trying to witness they found several
friends of like faith, also many others of different faith who were sympathetic to their effort in
arranging to begin a series of meetings and were willing to help in their efforts. After several
months of praying and following many leads, they arranged for the use of a small church located at
the corner of 7th Avenue and Highland Avenue and were able to use this free of charge for evening
services.
After several weeks of meeting in the borrowed church, they called on the Central Association of
Free Will Baptists to come set the church in order. On October 10, 1959 the First Free Will Baptist
Church of Eau Gallie was officially organized. That same day the church elected Glen Spence as
Pastor. The charter members were George and Lena Cloud, Glen and Mickey Spence, Dora Sanders,
Mrs. Sheehan, Billy Combs, Jackie Combs, John and Hazel Lafferty, Joyce Smith and Clay and Vernie
Miller. The bible was presented and the group pledged to support and recognize the National
Treatise as their rules and guide. From the borrowed church they met in the American Legion Hall on
U.S. 1 so they could have morning services and Sunday School.
Shortly, the church was able to purchase the property at 938 Lytton Road and constructed the first
section of the building, which was the south wing and would seat about 40 people. Next came the
north wing, which was used for church services and the south wing was used for Sunday School. In
1964 the main sanctuary was built and in 1992 the fellowship hall was completed and made our
building what it is today.
Several Free Will Baptist churches have been started out of this church. Cecil Combs went from this
church to organize the Cocoa Free Will Baptist Church. Ron Newman went from here to organize the
Vero Beach Free Will Baptist Church, Darrell Gwinn went from this church to organize the Titusville
Free Will Baptist Church. Dennis Heath went from this church to start a work in Germany and Paul
Landers went from this church to start a work in Spain.
Glen Spence was the founding Pastor followed by William Turnbough, Willie Jones, Milton Fields,
Darrel Gwinn, Ron Burger, Charlie Charles and the current Pastor, Stephen Berry.
| "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do..." John 14:31 |
| Pastor Berry |
| (321)254-7282 Fax(321)254-7277 |