- August 13, 2026
One of the most rewarding components of pastoring? Seeing the growth in others, said Amalia Goulbourne, interim senior pastor at Palm Coast Seventh-day Adventist Church.
"I get to see people’s struggles turn into testimonies," she said. "It is so rewarding to see the woman praying for a spouse walk down the aisle, or the man struggling with his faith become a ministry leader. Even the small intervals of growth I get the chance to be present for give me a sense of spiritual awe."
Golbourne has been a pastor for six years and has served the Palm Coast Seventh-day Adventist Church as its interim senior pastor since January 2025. Prior to that, she served as an associate pastor at the church for eight months.
The Palm Coast Seventh-day Adventist Church runs a yearly program called HealthyFlagler program, where multiple courses and resources are dispersed into the local communities.
The program has been in place for the past 10 years, and on Sunday, Aug. 9, a health fair will be held known as, "Healthy Flagler Free Community Health Fair." Multiple booths promoting health and wellness will be present for the event.
Goulbourne recently spoke with the Observer about the congregation’s faith, and its initiative to promote health.
What would you like the public to know regarding the health fair taking place on Sunday, Aug. 9?
Our church is excited to host our free Community Health Fair, open to all on Aug. 9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at our church’s fellowship hall and gym (5650 Belle Terre Parkway). There will be booths to promote organizations and clubs that are also concerned about our community’s wholistic health. There will also be a back-to-school giveaway for students who are going back to school, snacks and juices for those who want to try some healthier food options, and blood pressure checks and vision checks provided by Flagler Free Clinic and Lions Club Flagler & Volusia Counties. Lastly, there will be two free seminars: a diabetes seminar provided by Florida Health and a healthy living seminar provided by a nurse practitioner who began Abundant Life Health.
What is the reason you decided to take your faith into a leadership position?
Growing up, faith was not only something that the community around me believed in, but faith was also something that we actively did. Growing up, I had the opportunity of witnessing many women around me take on leadership roles as faith leaders. This gave me the courage to also explore whether God was calling me to be a leader, and when I accepted that call, I was thrilled to see how faith drove my leadership and how leadership refined my faith.
What is a Bible verse that has helped you in your life recently?
In my home office, I have a pink frame with Psalm 91 given to me by my great aunt. It is a constant reminder of how God is with me, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Has being a pastor been a lifelong dream of yours?
Yes, pastoring has always been a lifelong dream. There have been moments where I wanted to pursue teaching or chaplaincy, but I have no regrets about becoming and being a pastor today.
What are some ways that your church members serve each other, and serve the rest of the community?
As I mentioned before, HealthyFlagler is an amazing program that we run to serve others, but there are so many other ways that members are going out in the community to serve. Our church runs indoor basketball open gyms on Tuesday evenings and soccer games on Monday evenings for community and church members. We have Adventurers and Pathfinders clubs which focus on forming positive moral values and leadership skills for ages 3-18. But, the best way I see our church serving is when individual members serve from the overflow of their own hearts. For example, Ron and Bonnie Cate run an independent homeless ministry up in St. Augustine. Every Tuesday and Friday, they pack up their bikes and give out freshly made food to the homeless population. These kinds of stories make me misty-eyed because it means that we have internalized the mission of our church, and of the gospel.
Considering how much anger there is in the world today, how can we be peacemakers?
Peacemaking takes a considerable amount of patience, grace, and accountability, which can only come from the Holy Spirit. It is different from peacekeeping, because its aim is to grow a world where peace is made for all, not sustain a world where peace is kept for some. I believe everyone can be a peacemaker when they are willing to address conflict directly, have the mercy to see the bigger picture of every person’s story, and do the hard work of loving, reconciling, and promoting justice in our various communities.
What is your favorite part about the HealthyFlagler program?
Over the course of our thirty-seven-year history, Palm Coast Seventh-day Adventist church has played an active part in promoting a healthier Palm Coast community through a ministry called HealthyFlagler. Currently, HealthyFlagler provides a bi-annual healthy living workshop called CreationLife, an annual emotional health workshop called Forgive to Live and an annual mental health workshop called Grief Sessions. Each of these are free for the community in partnership with AdventHealth. It has been amazing to see the change people have had in their lives because of these programs – from losing 100 pounds to reconciling with difficult family members. My favorite part is that HealthyFlagler demonstrates that our church cares about a person’s wholistic health. Physical health, spiritual health, emotional health, and mental health are all important to us.
What are some of your hopes and goals for the future of the Palm Coast Seventh-day Adventist Church?
Right now, we are in the process of looking for a permanent senior pastor with our denomination’s state/conference administration, and I will return to being an associate pastor. Beyond our internal leadership transitions, I would really love to see our church continue to grow, multiply into another church, and become more involved in creating an even better and healthier Palm Coast community.
