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Rainbow Promise is a body of believers whose mission is:
COMMUNICATING the presence of God in all life.
CELEBRATING God's unconditional love.
CARING for one another with dignity and respect.
CULTIVATING our faith.
CREATING sanctuary for spiritual and personal growth.
CHANGING the community through social action and justice.
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Rainbow Promise MCC is a community of diverse and affirming Christians empowering all seekers to love God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
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"We are the Church Alive, Christ’s presence on This Earth" is the opening of a hymn of affirmation, joy and freedom that can best describe the history of our church, Rainbow Promise MCC.
Under the guidance and leadership of Rev. Homer and Sue Spencer, along with the help of Rev. and Mrs. Phil Peace and Rev Warren Thompson, the church began its formation process. Rainbow Promise was adopted as our name and we became a satellite church of Joy MCC, Orlando, under the supervision of Rev. Jimmy Brock, their senior pastor. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Lakeland offered its facilities for Sunday evening services. A steering Committee was formed and on Sunday June 2, 1996 our first formal worship service was held at the Unitarian Church.
Dedicated pastors like Rev. Tate, and Rev. Rick Sosbee who served as interim pastor from April 1999 to July 2000, gently led the church through its initial growth and first major fundraising program.
Rainbow Promise MCC came under the umbrella of Tampa MCC and their Senior Pastor, Rev. Karen Ducham became interim pastor in November of 2000. Sensing that it was time for a new challenge and because of the potential growth of RPMCC, Rev. Ducham resigned her pastorate at Tampa and became full time Pastor for Rainbow Promise in January of 2001. Her Assistant, Rev. Carol Hale also came to RPMCC and an installation service, attended by Rev. Elder Troy Perry, was held in June 2001.
RPMCC achieved Charter Church Status in July of 2002 and our dreams of growth and a church home of our own became a real priority. A massive building fund drive was undertaken and nearly $85,000 was raised in just a few months. In the fall of 2002 we found a viable property and our bid was accepted. We closed on our first church home on Hwy. 92 on December 30, 2002. Over the next few months the former Varsity Theatre was transformed into a church with a lot of hard work and dedication of an eager, dedicated and talented group of saints.
Members, friends and associates stepped forth not only with muscle and saws but with money and much needed items like a quality piano, one-hundred twenty pew chairs, a church furniture set which included an altar, pulpit and three formal chairs.
RPMCC was definitely a "God Thing," and on March 2, 2003 the new worship space was blessed and dedicated by our Regional Elder, Gillian Storey.
The History of Rainbow Promise MCC continues to be written every day. "We are the Church Alive" and living in the heart of Central Florida and living in the hearts and minds of all who join our living church! |
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