Our Story
A Legacy of Faith, A Future of Hope
Our story at First Presbyterian Church of Ocala goes back more than 165 years—but it’s still being written every day in the lives of the people who gather here.
The church was founded in 1857 by just 11 charter members who felt called to build a Christ-centered community in the heart of Ocala. Since then, the church has grown and changed, with new buildings, new ministries, and new generations stepping into leadership. From the very beginning, women have played a vital role in shaping the life of this church, and their contributions continue to be felt in everything from worship to mission to hospitality.
Faith & Friendships
Of course, the real story isn’t just in the history books. It’s in the friendships formed here, the faith we share, and the way we try to show up for each other and for our city. Over the years, we’ve walked through both challenges and seasons of renewal—but through it all, we’ve stayed rooted in God’s grace and open to where the Spirit leads next.
Rooted in Christ, Growing in Ocala
Our worship is thoughtful and joyful. Our faith is something we try to live, not just talk about. We’re guided by Scripture, grounded in community, and committed to loving our neighbors in real, tangible ways.
And as we look ahead, we’re committed to becoming an even more welcoming, engaged, and inclusive church—one that reflects the hope of the gospel and the heart of Ocala. We know God isn’t finished with us yet.
More Than 165 Years of Faith & Fellowship
What We Believe
Our beliefs about God are too complex to be summarized on a web page. A much better setting to communicate these would be in a series of conversations over coffee. However, we realize that people want to know if our church is stable, grounded and Biblical. To that end, we offer a few of our essential beliefs below.
The Bible
We believe the Bible was inspired by God and written by people—real people with real lives—who were paying attention to how God was moving in the world.
It’s beautiful, complicated, sometimes hard to read, and always worth returning to. It helps us know God better, understand ourselves more honestly, and live with purpose.
Core Beliefs
- We believe in one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe Jesus was fully human and fully divine, and that through his life, death, and resurrection, we see the depth of God’s love for the world.
- We believe the Holy Spirit is still at work—comforting, challenging, renewing, and equipping us to live with compassion and courage.
- And we believe that following Jesus is a lifelong invitation into grace, community, and hope.
Grace + Faith
We believe that salvation isn’t something we earn—it’s a gift.
It’s not Jesus plus anything. It’s just Jesus.
And when we receive that grace, it doesn’t leave us where we are. It starts to change things—from the inside out. Over time, we become more generous, more curious, more rooted in love. Not because we’re trying to prove anything, but because that’s what grace does.
Our Denomination
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Our church is a member of the family of churches known as the Presbyterian Church (USA). It is a historic branch of the larger Jesus family tree. This family provides us with support, encouragement, accountability and resources that help us be more faithful and effective at a local level. It also provides us with theological roots and examples of how our faith family has applied the Bible in times past. Is the PC (USA) perfect? About as perfect as your family reunions. No family of churches is without its faults. One of the unique things about the PC (USA) is that it provides a large umbrella for churches and people with varying beliefs and practices to still unify around the things that matter most…like Jesus and His mission of love. If you are not a fan of denominations in general – don’t let our larger family discourage you from connecting with us and we won’t let your weird family keep us from connecting with you.
In all seriousness, if you have genuine concerns or questions about the PC (USA), please allow us the opportunity to address them before drawing conclusions about FPC Ocala. Email your questions below.