Executive Pastor

We believe, in keeping with Jesus’ Commandment to “Go”, that we have the privilege of speaking blessing, peace, and salvation over our community. As a result, God has given us both favor and opportunity to meet the heartfelt needs of those around us. This is in keeping with our mission statement, “Caring for Individuals and Strengthening Families.”

We lovingly reach out to our neighbors as lighthouses of prayer as well as to our community through Project Light to the homeless and needy, community calls to prayer, and outreaches into the marketplace, schools and those in governmental leadership.

As a result of over a million hours of prayer and meeting the needs of those around us, we have seen God transform our city from being called “deadland” to “DeLand of Milk and Honey.”

Each of our staff has experience in the marketplace before coming to First Assembly DeLand. Our hearts are united in our desire to care for our community. It’s our desire that every person in our city have the opportunity to receive the Love of God and His Salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Our Values

1. JESUS

We are most committed to the preaching of Jesus. Our message is everything. We are Jesus people, not religious people. Methods will come and go, yet our message will remain the same.

2. PEOPLE

Our heart is for ALL people. All people are loved by Jesus. We make no apologies for being specifically focused on reaching the lost. We desire to bring the broken home at all costs. We believe that our light is best seen in the night.

3. GENEROSITY

Generosity is more than giving, it is a lifestyle. Generosity is our pleasure. For God so loved, that He gave. Our generosity is the joyous overflow of love from our forgiven souls. Our lives our models of contagious generosity to all. With freedom and delight we give our time, talent and treasures to the God who gave everything for us.

4. EXCELLENCE

We are always going to do the best with what we have. We are on time, engaged and prepared. We do not do things half way. If we are going to do it, we are going to do it to the best of our ability.

5. SERVANTHOOD

Our lives are aimed at helping others, not using them. We want to help whenever possible. We strive to live as those who bring attention to Jesus through how we serve, and not only by what we say.

6. HONOR

We honor others by accepting who God says they are and viewing them according to their God-given identities. We choose to courageously treat all people according to their eternal identities as free, valuable and powerful children of God. Honor is given, it is never demanded. As we faithfully honor who God says people are, it positions us to receive the gift of who they are in our lives and communities.

7. PASSION

Everything we do, we do it with passion. From our worship to our service, we do it with Holy Ghost energy. Passion drives us. Passion for Jesus. Passion for people. Passion for His church.

History & Vision

Begun as a missions outreach in 1952, First Assembly DeLand is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the tenacity of godly men and women. On at least two occasions, the church was given up for dead. Yet out of the ashes of despair, God has raised up a congregation that is making a difference in reaching a city for Him.

In its first forty years of existence, the church met in at least nine different locations. In 1965, the church was able to purchase land on Hill Avenue (across from DeLand High School)

A period of significant growth occurred from 1979- 1985. Eventually the Hill Avenue church was sold and the congregation moved to temporary locations initially at the Hilton Hotel (now the Holiday Inn), then to DeLand Middle School, and finally to the “Dome Building” at the airport in DeLand Industrial Park. Property was secured on International Speedway Boulevard and on Easter Sunday 1992, the “wandering” congregation had its first service in that building.

In September of 1992, Pastor Michael Modica accepted the call to pastor the struggling congregation. Driven by a vision to reach DeLand with the redemptive message of Christ’s love. Pastor Modica launched a series of strategic initiatives with the intention of bringing unity to the body of Christ. Men and Women were urged to look beyond themselves to a city needing Jesus Christ.

Men and Women were urged to look beyond themselves to a city needing Jesus Christ. And the plans to share that message were bold and unconventional. They included things like:

Pastor’s Luncheons – First Assembly DeLand launched the first luncheon to bring pastors within the city together in 1993

Project Light – In 1993, in an effort to minister to the needy, Project Light began!

Call to Prayer – In 1994, the first city wide Call to Prayer occurred, bringing God’s people and area pastors throughout the city together to seek God’s guidance in how to most effectively reach our city.

Emergency Response – The wildfires in Volusia County in 1998 provided opportunity for the congregation of First Assembly DeLand to care for those who experienced loss by providing clothing and food. Since then, First Assembly DeLand has created a disaster team that is often a first responder to the needs and tragedies throughout the country.

Campus Outreach – First Assembly DeLand has been strategically involved in establishing a campus ministry at Stetson University and is involved in a variety of outreach ministries to young people on high school and middle school campuses.

Shine Florida – In 2001, the prayer outreach “Shine Florida” was launched and quickly found root in other cities throughout the I-4 corridor and was broadcast throughout North America.

Foreign Missions – First Assembly has been supporting and engaging missionaries around the world. Today, the church supports over 200 missionaries in as many as 200 countries around the world, and has committed 30% of its annual operating budget to reach the world with the message of the Gospel!

First Assembly DeLand is characterized as a congregation with a heart for God and a passion for people! While the church’s mission is “caring for individuals and strengthening families” its vision is “to make it hard to go to hell from DeLand!”

The heart of a congregation listening to God has led to great victories. Among those victories have been some financial milestones:

1994 – A 20 year mortgage on the Speedway property was paid in full – 18 years in advance!

1995 – The church moved into a new building at the Speedway Campus

1996 – The older part of the Speedway Campus building was renovated

1997 – An extension facility was purchased on Greensdairy Road, without incurring debt.

1998 – Property was purchased on Kepler Road and paid within 1 year

2005 – Mortgage on Speedway Campus building paid in full, 12 years early!

In 2005, a process begun to develop the Kepler Road property as a result of paying off our mortgage in full. Expanding programs and a passion to reach out to our growing community created strains on the Speedway facility. In an effort to exercise diligence in the stewardship God has granted us, the leadership team at First Assembly DeLand engaged Building God’s Way, a national firm that builds and designs cost-effective facilities that are both beautiful and functional in enabling congregations to minister to their communities.

In June of 2008, we broke ground on the Kepler Campus and the exciting construction process of our new building began. Throughout the process, God has once again proven faithful by pouring out miracles of provision from our own hands. And on January 31st, 2010 First Assembly DeLand opened the doors of the Kepler Campus building for its Grand Opening and Dedication service.

God has done and is doing exciting things! As we continue on this journey of seeking His desires, we continue to love and bless Him, our city and our community.