A Church on the Lake Since 1885
First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland sits on the eastern shore of Lake Hollingsworth, where trees frame a sanctuary that has anchored this corner of Polk County for nearly a century and a half. The congregation was organized on March 7, 1885, making it one of the older Presbyterian bodies in central Florida. Over four buildings and 140 years, the church has stayed close to its founding purpose: to gather as a family of disciples around Jesus Christ and to extend that life into the surrounding community.
First Presbyterian is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), part of the Reformed tradition of Christianity. It belongs to the Presbytery of Tampa Bay and is also active in the Fellowship Community, a network of churches and leaders committed to proclaiming the gospel. The current sanctuary was dedicated on Christmas Eve 1978, when the Rev. Dr. Henry Dahlberg spoke the first words from the pulpit: "Jesus Is Lord." That phrase, church leaders note, captures the whole arc of the church's history.
From its campus at 175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, First Presbyterian - or FPC, as members call it - serves a broad cross-section of Lakeland. Its ministries stretch from infancy through college and into the senior years, while a counseling center, a preschool, a fine arts series, and an extensive local and global missions program reach well beyond the walls of the sanctuary.
Two Services, One Family of Faith
Worship is offered every Sunday in two very different settings, allowing a single congregation to worship across generations and styles.
The Classic Worship Service meets in the Sanctuary at 8:15 AM and again at 10:30 AM. The service is traditional, anchored by a full choir and the church's Austin pipe organ - an instrument with more than 3,500 pipes that has been expanded and re-dedicated over the years. Classic services follow the church's liturgical rhythm and draw on the choral, handbell, and instrumental resources of the Fine Arts Ministry.
The Vine Worship Service meets at 10:30 AM in Loudon Hall. The Vine is informal and modern, with a worship band, vocals, lighting, and screens leading the congregation through contemporary songs. Both services are also livestreamed on YouTube, Facebook, and a Roku app, so that members at home or in the hospital can join in real time.
Sermons from both services are archived on YouTube. A typical Sunday morning lasts about sixty minutes, and visitors are welcomed warmly by greeters at the doors. Nursery care is available from 8:00 AM to noon for infants through age 4, both in the Sanctuary building and on Wednesday evenings.
What FPC Believes
First Presbyterian's theological identity centers on a simple claim: "Jesus Christ is at the center of everything." The church identifies as a disciple-making body, shaping its ministry around the Great Commission of Matthew 28 to "go and make disciples of all nations." From that mission, the congregation's other priorities flow.
The Statement of Faith articulates a classical Reformed understanding. Jesus of Nazareth is confessed as fully God and fully human, the eternal Son who entered human history and is the only one who can reconcile people to God. God is one, sovereign, and eternal, existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible is described as God's uniquely revealed written Word, "inspired by the Holy Spirit" and the church's first and final authority in all areas of faith and life. Sin is named as the force that has separated human beings from God's purpose, and reconciliation is found through repentance, faith in Jesus, and commitment to His will. The church itself is affirmed as a necessary community, called to gather regularly to worship and encourage one another.
FPC's vision is shaped around four commitments. Compelling Worship aims to provide engaging environments that help people connect deeply with God. Irresistible Community nurtures a growing church family through meaningful relationships and warm hospitality. Developing People activates the God-given potential in each person, equipping them for Spirit-led ministry. Focus on Uncommon Impact channels the congregation's resources into local and global mission, motivated by proclamation, compassion, and justice.
Six core values anchor the church: being centered on Jesus Christ, grounded in Scripture, connected to tradition (both its own history and the broader Reformed and evangelical heritage), building for the future, growing in mission, and uniting in love across the diversity of backgrounds represented in the pews.
The Session, the church's board of elders, has also issued formal position statements on contemporary issues such as abortion and a 2024 Florida constitutional amendment. These reports are written to inform the congregation, and church members are free to express biblical dissent, a feature of the Reformed tradition the church calls "scruples." A covenant titled "Biblical Standards for Teachers" is signed by anyone who leads a small group, Sunday School class, or Wednesday evening class.
Pastors and the Session
The word Presbyterian comes from a Greek word meaning elder, and ruling elders serving alongside teaching elders - the pastors - form the top leadership of the church. All ministry at FPC falls under the responsibility of the Session, a body that meets regularly and divides its work through committees on worship, property, discipleship, and other areas. Each ruling elder serves a three-year term and is grouped by graduating class year.
The Rev. Dr. John H. Fullerton, Jr. has served as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff since September 2019. A native Floridian who grew up in a military family, Dr. Fullerton previously served churches in Scotland, Ohio, Tennessee, and Dunedin, Florida, and has taught in theological seminaries in Madagascar and Russia. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.
The Rev. Dr. Zac McGowen serves as Outreach Pastor. Dr. McGowen came to FPC in 2013 after serving the First Presbyterian Church in Haines City, Florida. A graduate of Florida Southern College - the church's neighbor to the north on Lake Hollingsworth - and Reformed Theological Seminary, he holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has served on the board of the Fellowship Community and the Presbytery of Tampa Bay's Commission on Church Vitality.
Other ministers include the Rev. Richard Phillips, who serves as Care Ministry Coordinator, and the Rev. Dr. Paul Suich, who has directed the St. Andrew counseling ministry since June 2001. Dr. Suich, a North Carolina native, is also a graduate of Davidson College and holds graduate degrees from the Psychological Studies Institute, Georgia State, the University of Georgia, and Asbury Seminary.
Jo Ahearn serves as Executive Assistant and Recording Secretary of the Session, and Matt Ruthven serves as Clerk of Session. The ruling elders are organized into the classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028, with members representing a wide range of professions and walks of life.
Children's Ministry: First Kids and a Preschool
Children's Ministry at FPC is built on the conviction that the formative childhood years are foundational for a life of faith. The Children's Ministry team, led by Director Anna Butler, walks children through Bible stories, worship, prayer, mission projects, and fellowship, with a strong emphasis on understanding the sacraments of Baptism and Communion.
Sunday programming includes First Kids, which meets at 10:30 AM for kindergarten through third grade, and First Kids 45, a 10:30 AM Sunday gathering for fourth and fifth graders that combines devotion, a service project, and games. The nursery is staffed Sundays from 8:00 AM to noon, with qualified childcare providers in each room and at least two adults per room at all times. The same secure nursery is also available during Wednesday evening programs.
On Wednesdays, First Kids Club runs from 6:00 to 7:30 PM for kindergarten through fifth grade, featuring singing, games, mission projects, Bible study, prayer, and pizza. Annual events include the Easter Egg Hunt, the Children's Christmas Workshop, Vacation Bible School, and the Third Grade Bible program. Children also participate in mission projects throughout the year, such as Good Samaritan Shoeboxes.
Little Shepherds Preschool, the church's weekday preschool, serves children from three months through four years of age. The preschool is housed in its own wing on the FPC campus and is led by Director Carrie Joyner and Assistant Director Kimberly McLaughlin, with its own staff of early-childhood educators. Little Shepherds provides quality childcare and Christian instruction grounded in the same mission that animates the rest of the church.
Surrender Student Life Ministry
Surrender Student Life Ministry serves middle and high school students and is led by Director Seth Lail. The ministry's mission is to make and mature disciples of Jesus Christ during the transitional teen years. Surrender is built on five anchors: family focus, discipleship, outreach, transparent life, and community.
The heart of the week is the Wednesday Night Gathering, which runs from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Youth Hall. Students share dinner together, hear devotions, break into small groups, play games, and pray together. Surrender welcomes all students and invites them to come as they are; the hope is that they will not stay as they are. Adult mentors walk alongside students throughout the year, and parents are encouraged to be engaged partners.
Surrender students also have opportunities for service, both locally and overseas. Mission trips rotate between national and international destinations, and the youth regularly partner with the church's broader Missions Ministry. For college-bound students, the Morrison Endowment and the Grady Endowment Scholarship Program have provided more than 20 years of scholarship support.
Reignite: College & Young Adult Ministry
Reignite is FPC's ministry for college students and young adults ages 18 through 29. Its mission is to "reach the lost, equip the found, and faithfully follow God's Word," and the ministry works closely with Florida Southern College right down the road. Director Tim Timmes leads a team that also includes youth ministry support staff and volunteers.
Reignite meets on Sunday nights. The night begins at 5:00 PM with an open game room and cafe, followed at 6:00 by a larger group gathering with a message, discussion, and a free dinner. A late-night Bible study runs from 10:00 PM to midnight at varying locations. Weekly men's and women's small groups run alongside, and Reignite adds new groups and classes each semester.
Discussion-based study is Reignite's signature style. Topics range from apologetics questions ("Is God real or man-made?" "Is the Bible trustworthy?") to current events, Christianity 101, mental health, dating, evangelism, world religions, and the problem of evil. The ministry provides resources for participants, including a RightNowMedia subscription, an NLT Bible, a CBR (community Bible reading) journal, and a library of books, DVDs, and study materials. Beyond study nights, Reignite organizes social events such as bowling, laser tag, pool parties, Friendsgiving, Friendsgiving feasts, Christmas parties, scavenger hunts, concerts, and service projects.
Older Adult Ministry: Mind, Body, and Spirit
The Older Adults Ministry (OAM), coordinated by Sandie McRory, addresses the mind, body, and spirit of adults aged 50 and older. The OAM offers a regular rhythm of Bible studies, classes, luncheons, day trips, and an annual multi-day journey.
The "Get You Home Before Dark" Bible study meets Wednesdays at 4:00 PM in the Conference Room and via Zoom. Spirit of Service (SOS) gatherings take place on the second Friday of each month from October through May, combining devotion, singing, a featured speaker or program, fellowship, and a shared lunch. Game Day fills the third Saturday of most months with table games, breakfast treats, and conversation.
Physical activity is woven into the OAM calendar through Bone Builders, a free, low-impact chair exercise class for ages 55 and over that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 AM in Loudon Hall, and BINGOcize, a program that combines bingo with exercises to reduce falls and meets on Mondays and Wednesdays for adults aged 60 and older.
Recurring day trips have included outings to museums, gardens, theaters, and sporting events. Each year, the OAM offers a larger annual trip - past destinations have included St. Augustine, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Savannah, Pensacola, Charleston, and Nashville. The annual Community Senior Adult Health & Resource Fair takes place the second Friday in March, and the OAM also participates in Home Instead's "Be a Santa to a Senior" program each Christmas. The ministry's December tradition of caroling to homebound members is intentionally intergenerational.
Special Needs Ministry
The Special Needs Ministry, directed by Libby Chappell and assisted by Ava Barfield and Kristan Cooper, is dedicated to families whose members have developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, or other special needs. FPC has been certified as an autism-friendly business by the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD).
Sunday support includes the Mini Miracles program for children with special needs, who meet during the 10:30 AM worship hour so that their families can attend services with confidence. The ministry also partners with Nathaniel's Hope to host Buddy Break, a free monthly Saturday respite program during the school year where trained volunteers provide a fun, safe morning for children while their parents and caregivers rest.
On Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, the Shine On Group Bible Study brings older teens and adults with different abilities together for singing, prayer, and Bible study. The flagship annual event is Night to Shine, a special prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older, hosted in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation. Each February the sanctuary becomes a red carpet, paparazzi line, dance floor, and banquet hall for honored guests, supported by approximately 225 trained Buddies and dozens of support volunteers.
The ministry extends into other church programs as well. Friends with special needs are included in worship, Children's Ministry activities, and Vacation Bible School, with supports tailored to each individual.
FPC Care Ministry and St. Andrew Counseling
Pastoral care at FPC flows through two complementary ministries. The FPC Care Ministry, coordinated by the Rev. Richard Phillips, organizes congregational volunteers in visitation, prayer, encouragement, and grief support. Visits are made to members who are ill, hospitalized, homebound, or living in senior facilities. Elders of the church take Communion to homebound members on a regular basis.
Members can submit prayer requests through the church's Communications Card or by contacting the church office; these requests are gathered weekly and distributed to the Prayer Team. Prayer Shawl volunteers knit and crochet shawls that are prayed over and delivered to people going through difficult seasons. Other care teams arrange short-term meals, prepare birthday cards, set up funeral receptions, and provide encouragement in a variety of practical ways.
Widow's Journey, the grief support group, meets on the fourth Friday of each month for study, encouragement, and mutual support, and is open to the wider community as well as FPC members. A four-booklet grief follow-up series is also mailed to more than 40 bereaved members over the year following a loss. Funeral and memorial planning guides are available through the Care Ministry, and a Spiritual Legacy Journal helps families plan ahead.
Pastoral counseling is provided through the St. Andrew Ministry, directed by the Rev. Dr. Paul Suich. St. Andrew offers short-term counseling, referrals to community providers, premarital counseling (using Les and Leslie Parrot's "Save Your Marriage Before It Starts" program), and organizational and denominational consultation. Dr. Suich teaches Bible studies throughout the year on books such as the Life of David, Galatians, and Revelation, as well as studies on character, worship, sacraments, and family life. Periodic community seminars bring nationally known mental health and pastoral leaders to Lakeland.
Music, the Arts, and the Sanctuary's Austin Organ
The Fine Arts Ministry exists to "engage our creative instincts to enhance worship services, minister to our community, and provide meaningful artistic experiences." Classic and Modern Fine Arts staff work side by side to support two very different worship styles under one roof.
Samuel Carlton directs the Classic Worship Arts program, which includes the Chancel Choir. The Chancel Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, gathers 30 minutes before the 10:30 Classic service, and leads the choral music for that service. The children's choir, coordinated by Emily Hammell, meets Wednesday evenings at 5:30 PM. The Festival Ringers, the church's five- to six-octave handbell choir, rehearse every Thursday at 7:00 PM.
Dr. Jennifer Voigt directs the Modern Worship Arts program, including the Vine Band, the Surrender Youth Worship Team, and the worship teams that serve Celebrate Recovery. Worship teams come together two to three times a year to form a choir for the modern service, and technical crews run cameras and sound for both worship services every Sunday. Tom Ingui, the church organist, anchors the Classic services on the rebuilt Austin organ.
The sanctuary's Austin pipe organ has more than 3,500 pipes. Six new sounds, including horizontally mounted En chamade trumpets in the balcony, were added beginning in 2024 to mark the instrument's 30th anniversary. Sam Carlton organizes the church's Performing Arts Series, a year-round slate of free community concerts that draws on Florida-based choirs, organists, vocalists, and instrumentalists. Recent performers have included the Bach Festival of Central Florida, the Festival Singers of Florida, the FSU University Singers, the Stetson University Concert Choir, the Harrison School for the Arts choirs, Southeastern University ensembles, and guest recitalists such as soprano Shudong Braamse, baritone Sam Carlton, trombonist Nathan Reynolds, and trumpeter Jason Aylward. The annual Glory of Christmas concert, now in its sixteenth year, brings together the Chancel Choir, the FPC Chamber Orchestra, and guest soloists for a free holiday gift to the city of Lakeland.
Local and Global Missions
First Presbyterian's Missions Ministry is coordinated by Nancy Bertram and aims to make and mature followers of Jesus Christ through response to mission. On any given week, hundreds of volunteers are serving somewhere in Polk County through a wide network of partner ministries.
Local partners include Parker Street Ministries, Lighthouse Ministries, Talbot House Ministries, Beth-El Farmworker Ministry, Anchor House Ministry, kidsPACK, Laundry Love, the Salvation Army, Viste, Gospel Inc., Cedarkirk Camp, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Polk PEACE, the county's ecumenical justice ministry. Volunteers feed the hungry, minister to homebound members, welcome refugees and strangers, advocate for change, and serve alongside these ministries in tangible ways. Teams such as Pedal Power refurbish donated bikes and scooters for neighbors who need transportation, and the Laundry Love team washes clothes for community members on the last Friday of each month.
Globally, FPC currently supports five missionary families: Myles and Rachael Potgieter in Zambia, Bojan and Rachel Ruvarac in Serbia, Lisa Alfonsi and Clever Sobrino in Peru, Greg and Chris Callison in Iraq, and Phil and Sharla Shaver in Central Asia. Mission partners include the Medical Benevolence Foundation, the Outreach Foundation, Pakistan Forman Christian College, the PCEA Githiga Children's Home, the Presbyterian Education Board, the Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship, and Cuba Seminary & Churches.
Adult mission trips have focused on Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. For more than 30 years, FPC has worked with San Pablo Presbyterian Seminary in the Yucatan to build new churches, and members of all ages join those trips regularly. The youth of Surrender Student Life alternate annually between national and overseas mission experiences.
Celebrate Recovery
On Thursday evenings, Loudon Hall becomes the meeting place for Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program open to anyone in the community struggling with hurt, pain, or addiction of any kind. The program is safe, welcoming, and open to people of all ages and stages of life.
The Thursday rhythm begins at 5:00 PM with a shared dinner. Childcare is provided during the meetings. At 6:00 PM, the large group meeting gathers for worship, teaching, and personal testimony. At 7:00 PM, participants break into smaller step-study groups and open-share groups. Issues addressed include alcohol and drug addiction, food addiction, gambling, relationship and sexual addiction, anger, anxiety, codependency, depression, eating disorders, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and PTSD. Celebrate Recovery's stated mission is to provide "a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling your life."
Teams, Groups, and Classes
FPC encourages members to find a way to serve, grow, and connect. More than a dozen volunteer teams keep the ministry of the church running, including the First Impressions Team, which greets everyone at the door on Sundays; the Missions Team; the Pedal Power Team; the Prayer Team; the Fine Arts Team; Laundry Love; the Praying Pruners (the gardening crew); the Prayer Shawl Team; and the Visitation Team. Technical crews handle cameras and sound for two services a week, and tech volunteers are always welcome.
Small groups meet in homes and on campus throughout the week. Co-ed options include the Parents Grow Group (Wednesdays at 6:00 PM in the Library), the Coed Grow Group (Wednesdays at 6:00 PM), and a Newlywed Grow Group that meets monthly on Sundays. A Men's Grow Group meets Wednesdays at 6:00 PM in Room D, and many women's groups are listed on the Classes & Studies page. Special-needs and youth groups are offered through those respective ministries.
Classes range from Bible studies on the historical books of Scripture to classes on Christian character, marriage preparation, parenting, world religions, apologetics, and the work of Making and Maturing Disciples. Reclaiming Manhood is a men's class that meets monthly and focuses on the biblical picture of a mature man - "strong enough to serve, courageous enough to sacrifice, and humble enough to submit to Christ." PageTurners Book Club meets on the third Tuesday each month in the Parlor, drawing readers of all ages. New members are welcomed through quarterly New Member Orientation Classes, led by Executive Assistant Jo Ahearn, followed by an afternoon reception.
Worship guides for the 8:15 and 10:30 Classic services are posted each week, and archived services complete with audio files are available online for anyone who wants to revisit or catch up on a recent message.
Weddings, Funerals, and the Surrounding Community
Weddings at First Presbyterian are services of worship in the house of God and are open to FPC members and their families. All weddings performed at the church are religious in nature, follow the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Directory of Worship, and must be approved by the Session. The wedding ministry includes the Save Your Marriage Before It Starts premarital program used by the pastoral counseling team.
The Care Ministry also helps families plan funeral and memorial services. A Funeral & Memorial Service Planning Guide, the corresponding service forms, and a Spiritual Legacy Journal are all available through the church to help families through one of life's most significant moments.
First Presbyterian's pastoral team and congregation are active in the wider Lakeland community through the Polk PEACE justice ministry and a host of other partnerships. The church sits directly across from Florida Southern College on the Lake Hollingsworth loop, a short walk from Southeastern University, and is minutes from downtown Lakeland and the Polk County arts corridor. From this lakeside location, four buildings deep and counting, First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland continues to do what the first congregation did in 1885 - gather, pray, sing, and send disciples into the world to love and serve.
First News, the church's weekly email, keeps members informed about upcoming events and ministry opportunities. Registration for many activities, including Bible studies, Grow Groups, classes, mission trips, the Chili Cook-Off, the Performing Arts Series, Bone Builders, and Night to Shine, is handled through the Church Center app, which also serves as the giving platform. Giving is also available online, with an optional memo line that allows donors to direct gifts "In memory of" or note another purpose. Members are invited each fall to make an annual financial commitment for the coming year, and the Acts 2 Fund - the church's internal benevolence fund, named for Acts 2:44-45 - provides short-term bill assistance and Publix gift cards to congregants who are navigating temporary financial hardship.