First Christian Church (DOC) held its final worship service on June 14, 2026. First Christian Preschool, the church's long-running children's ministry, closed at the end of the school year, and the Second Saturday Arts & Farmers Market closed with its last market on June 13. The property is being sold, and the congregation will disband.
We are sad to see the end of our visible ministry in Jacksonville, but we are establishing legacy gifts in our final days so that our love for this community can be a blessing for many years to come.
My story may sound familiar. First Christian has adopted many wonderful people over the years. There has always been a senseo f community that I haven't experienced in other churches. I loved it so much that I joined the staff of First Christian Preschool, a wonderful ministry of our church for 43 years. Like the church, we have been blessed with a great staff over the years. We were a team, sharing in this ministry to teach and care for any children God brought to us. I was there as a teacher for 8 years and served as director for 20 years.
Dave and I have raised 2 kids and 2 granddaughters in this church. There were baptisms and a wedding. I remember many youth productions including a play where David played Gabriel wearing his Air Force jacket with wings attached! There were concerts, many dinners, mother-daughter teas, auctions and other fundraisers, Wednesday Night Friends, Cantatas — so many memories! We even hosted teen sleepovers in the "green room" (which is now blue). Even being on a cooking team was fun.
It has been a privilege to serve the church in multiple positons on the Board. The past 5 years have been difficult, knowing that it would be very hard to recover from COVID. I do feel that Kären was chosen by God to lead us through this heartbreaking time and sense of loss. She answered the call to be our Pastor, and she has blessed us with her caring and nurturing ways (and great sermons). I'm sure she never thought that leading us through the sale of our church property would be required of her — putting her business acumen to the test. This was in addition to her normal duties as pastor.
Now she is leading us in our journey to become a "legacy church." We can be a wonderful blessing to many other ministries, providing funds, prayer, and support. God still has a plan and a ministry for First Christian Church!
Carolyn & Dave Jennings, Co-Chairs of the Board
When I arrived at First Christian Church on May 12, 2003, I felt deeply uncertain. I had no idea what God's plan was for me. I remember being overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone was.
Now, 23 years later, I see why God led me here. I have been so blessed to be part of this ministry for all these years. We began a youth program from scratch and developed Wednesday evening meal teams. We expanded and strengthened Bible Study and choir practice.
I was blessed to have so many helping hands along the way, like the moms who were willing to help on Wednesday evening with the young children, the folks who came back year after year to help with or participate in Vacation Bible School, the Tuesday morning group who helped us care for this property. I am forever grateful for the many people who served this congregation along the way, and I am especially glad to call many of those folks my friends now.
This community has seen me through milestone moments of my own life, too, including my ordination by the Florida Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I treasure my memories of that day, and I must thank Rev. Jeff Smith for his guidance and patience throughout the process of getting there. He became my biggest cheerleader.
After all this time, 23 years of my life with this church, we gather as a congregation one last time on June 14, 2026, to celebrate 143 years of ministry. While today is a day filled with sadness for some of us, it is also a day to celebrate our impact in this community.
You can read about the history of our church in this program. Since forming in 1883, First Christian Church has served thousands upon thousands of people. That is not limited to members or visitors, either.
We have ministered to young children and their families through First Christian Preschool and Vacation Bible School. We have faithfully supported resources like the Mandarin Food Bank and Week of Compassion. We have shared the blessing of this property with nesting congregations like Iglesia Cristiana Faro de Esperanza, led by Pastor Luis. We’ve welcomed recovery groups, the quilters guild, music teachers, line dancers, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and many others who have used this campus as a regular meeting place. We have supported local small business owners through the ministry of our Second Saturday Arts & Farmers Market.
This congregation has also planted several new congregations throughout Northeast Florida, and some of those are still going strong.
Our ministry does not end with the closing of our church, either. With the proceeds from the sale of this property, we will make legacy gifts to ministries like the Florida Senior Enrichment Center, Christmount, and others. Your support for First Christian Church will continue to impact people for many years to come. Thank you.
Rev. Kären Billy, Pastor of First Christian Church