- April 23, 2024
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Palm Coast United Methodist Church has cleared and started construction on Phase 1 of its new property located at the north end of Belle Terre Parkway.
The church purchased the property 13 years ago. When the city of Palm Coast realigned Belle Terre Parkway, the church had to revise its site plan, and, in 2007, the city provided the church a settlement of $1.4 million to pay for the section of land to be used in the realignment and to offset architect costs. The church was also given additional land on the southern end of the property.
The 24 acres will eventually be the new home of the church and Christian school, with a space designated for worship, preschool, nursery, youth and adult fellowship areas, offices, a music suite and designated outreach ministry space.
But for now, the focus is Phase 1, which includes a multipurpose field and hard structure, in addition to a pond, sewage, water and electrical lines and parking.
“Part of the journey is figuring out how God wants us to use (the property),” said the Rev. Scott Farman, senior pastor at the church.
Part of what the church is being led to participate in is community outreach and ministry, he said.
“We turn down opportunities all the time because we don’t have the space,” Farman said.
But the new space will ensure the church’s involvement with new ministries, including being site support for the cold weather shelter currently housed at Bunnell First United Methodist Church and possibly starting a food pantry and community garden, Farman said.
But that is a distant future. For now, the church is focusing on building future community outreach through the multipurpose field, set to be complete in June.
Not only will it be a place to host the large events the church already holds, like their annual Easter egg hunt and trunk-or-treat, but Farman is hoping to use the field to start church softball games as well.
“It’s been a lot of talk and people said we couldn’t do it,” Farman said. “It’s been a journey of faith for our congregation. It is easy to make decisions when you have a lot of money in the bank, but through the last 13 years, faith is what got us to this point.”
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