Welcome to First Church of Port Orange! Thank you for considering making this your church home. We have exciting worship services and ministry opportunities for all ages. Our small groups offer the opportunity to connect with other Christ-followers in a loving community focused on service to others. Join us as we share life together!
We hope to see you soon!
Tom Nelson
Senior Pastor, First Church Port Orange
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Lay Leadership
First Church is not only comprised of a Staff who sees to the ministries and facilities on a daily basis, we also have a tremendous team of servant leader volunteers who carry on the role as leader over church committees and facility maintenance. These generous servants lead other teams to ensure the church’s ministries can thrive and help fulfill the needs of our each other and our guests. Below is a list of those leaders and a little about them.
Clint Hulcher – First Church Lay Leader
1.) What is the lay leader’s role, in a nutshell?
As Lay Leader, I am to communicate with the laity of the church and to serve as liaison between the clergy and members of the congregation. I am a member of the Family Staff, Facility & Finance, and the Nominations and Leadership Development Teams. I also lead the Servant Leader team (church council).
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-My love for God started early in my life as did my acceptance of Jesus as my Savior. I have served many roles in the three churches I have attended in my lifetime and have had a blessed life. I like to be a part, of sharing people’s experiences with Jesus, with everyone I come in contact.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
-Susan and I have attended First Church Port Orange since 2012 however we moved here to live full time in 2018.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I am retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office after serving 32 years.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-I enjoy the company of friends, theater events, the beach, spending time with grandchildren and movies, not necessarily in that order.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I spent much time in my youth raising and working with horses; riding, training, grooming and even competing. I would race in local barrel racing and pole bending events, with my quarter horse, Buddy.
-To support Pastor Tom. To help provide a connection between congregation and staff. To be available to the needs of First Church.
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-I’ve been a part of the greeting team at First Church where I’m getting to know the congregation, primarily at the traditional service, each week. In my new role I’m getting to know the staff which will allow me to serve as an effective liaison.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
-My wife Sandra, two children Alexandra and York and I moved to Port Orange in 2004. We moved from Monticello Florida which is in Jefferson County, near Tallahassee. We chose Port Orange because of the International Baccalaureate Program at Spruce Creek High School. We transferred our membership, by letter, from the First United Methodist Church Of Monticello.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I’m a consultant Senior Appraiser in the Office of Right of Way with the Florida Department of Transportation. We purchase the necessary rights of way for road improvement projects in Central Florida. The office is in DeLand. I’m very fortunate. I love the work and the people I work with.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-I love to read a good book and I love everything about the mountains of western North Carolina. I love the smell of the mountain air, hiking, fishing, and the sound of a waterfall.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I’m an eighth generation Floridian.
-As Facilities and Finance Chair, I get to touch most things related to finance and facilities in and around the church campus. It is a real learning experience (roofs, toilets, and all construction and maintenance concerns).
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
– I feel that everything I’ve done up to this point in my life (with help from God) has prepared me for this task. Plus, it sure helps to have a knowledgeable and energetic Pastor and Church Administrator to keep me headed in the right direction.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
– My family has lived in the area for 32 years, but I’ve been coming to the Daytona Beach area for the past fifty years or so.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
– I retired in 2013 from teaching, prior to that I tried real estate for a while, but my first real job as an adult was serving as an officer in the Marine Corps.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-I like to spend my time with my family, watching grandkids is the best!
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
– Something not everyone knows about me is that I have lived in three countries (Italy, Japan and Spain). I met my wife Debbie in Japan.
– I hold the office of church treasurer. I review and sign off on all financial statements.
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-Faith! I have been blessed with the interest in helping others, and serving the Lord.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
– I moved to the Port Orange area in April, 2002 from Key West, FL where I was born.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I retired from the Florida State Department of Labor and Security (30) years helping people secure employment then 18 years of residential real estate helping people purchase their dream home.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-I love photography! I have volunteered to handle all photography at the Halifax sports fishing club for the past eight years. I have also volunteered to take pictures at many functions with different organizations around the area.
6.)What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I love to fish as I grew up on the ocean. My largest fish caught was a 426 pound blue marlin in Costa Rica in 2016. I am also an honorary “tail hooker” having landed and taken off of the USS Lexington aircraft carrier!
-The Welcome Servants Team makes people feel welcome and included as they enter our church.
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-God has given me the gift of hospitality. Guess I just really like people.
3.) How long have you lived in the area? -9 years
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I am a retired marketing guy; now I’m a flight instructor training new flight instructors.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role? I love enjoying time with my wife and working at Epic Flight Academy.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I taught Lamaze childbirth class (with my first wife) in Naples, Italy.
-The Word leaders are responsible for providing Christian education materials. The Advent and Lenten devotionals are through Word Servants. There is a library with study materials, references, videos and lots more. The church also has available Amplify Media which gives you access to all Cokesbury materials.
2.)How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-I helped in the other church I attended. Mostly, I accepted the position and make sure the job is done.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
-For 32 years.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
– I started out as a secretary but ended up being an Administrative Assistant for many years. in law firms and at the Speedway.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-By volunteering in the Church office and at the Thrift Boutique. I also like to read all kinds of books.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I received the Girls Athletic Association award one year when I was at Mainland High School
-I am the Community Servant Leader, as such I am charged with helping First Church reach out into the community by liaising with various agencies and organizations who have knowledge of families and individuals who are in need. Then, aligning those needs with the hands and hearts of First Church so that we may help meet those needs.
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-As a retired teacher I have a soft spot for children. Especially children who don’t always have a voice of their own. God knew that and led me to First Church.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
-My family has lived here since 1990.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I retired as a teacher here in the Volusia County. Prior to that I was a travel agent and was in the Navy.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-I like to travel, garden, challenge myself with different craft/projects to see if I can master it. Visit with family and go to concerts.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-My father worked for the railroad, and we moved often. So, I attended 5 elementary, 2 middle and 2 high schools all in southern California. Always a new challenge of a new school and meeting friends.
-The Hospitality team coordinates various programs at First Church that encourage fellowship amongst our members and visitors, including Cafe in the Hall (a dedicated time on Sunday mornings to enjoy coffee and goodies and share some great conversations with friends), special events and receptions, and potlucks.
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-I have been blessed with a passion for helping others, and I’m happy to be using that joy to continue creating a welcoming environment for all who visit the church.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
-My husband and I have lived in Port Orange for over 17 years with our two daughters (who are active in the youth ministries at First Church). Although I grew up in the dry climate of Las Vegas, NV, I love being so close to the beach here!
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I was a Senior Human Resources Business Partner for several years at Boston Whaler before I left the corporate world to switch gears. I now work from home as a content writer for multiple clients.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-I love spending time with my family at theme parks and the beach as well as finding fun, new adventures for us to try. I also enjoy reading, doing puzzles, and making crafty things on my Cricut machine.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I’ve successfully completed over twenty 5Ks, half-marathons, and other races. I ran two of those in costume at Walt Disney World and one on an island in the Bahamas.
As Lay Delegate to Annual Conference, I attend monthly meetings of First Church Lay Leaders and the Facility & Finance teams. I also serve on the Board of Derbyshire Place, enjoy helping out on the sound board for Sunday services, doing odd jobs around campus and driving bus for the youth group.
How long have you been a member of First Church Port Orange?
After singing in the choir and participating in Discipleship classes, I joined First Church in 1998.
What is your career, or what are you retired from?
As a medical ultrasound tech, I moved from Michigan in 1980 and formed my own company, Mobile Ultrasound Specialists, serving hospitals, physicians offices and Coleman Federal Prison until my retirement in 2015.
How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
I love to spend as much time as possible with my two granddaughters.
The Thrift Boutique is a ministry of First Church. We believe that everything that comes through the doors is a gift from God. We are called to be good stewards of these gifts and to respond to the needs of our community and beyond.
How long have you lived in the area?
We got married in May 2015 and moved from a northeast suburb of Atlanta a few months later. My husband passed away last November from lymphoma.
How long have you been a member of First Church Port Orange?
Since 2016. Before that, Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Buckhead.
What is your career, or what are you retired from?
I am a retired nonprofit healthcare executive.
How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
Volunteering at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, reading, interacting with friends and family, travel and walking my dog.
What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
I was a volunteer and executive during the early days of hospice care. I chaired a national task force and wrote 2 monographs on how to successfully get reimbursed by private insurance and managed care programs.
-My leadership role is the chair of the pre-school board. My job is to lead the board in making sure the finances are in order, and the pre-school runs as smoothly as possible.
2.) How has God prepared you for your service in this role?
-God has prepared me for this role by giving me a passion for working with children. I have been working in the children’s ministry here at First United Methodist for more than 20yrs.
3.) How long have you lived in the area?
-I have lived in the area since 1990.
4.) What is your career, or what are you retired from?
-I have been a pre-school teacher for almost 35 years. I am currently working for the Early Headstart program, I have been there for almost 5 years.
5.) How do you like to spend your time when not volunteering in your lay leadership role?
-In my spare time I love to spend time relaxing with family.
6.) What is one interesting thing people might not know about you?
-I love to ride horses and I grew up in the mountains of West Virginia
