First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills

What First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills does

First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills (FMCZ) is a nonprofit religious organization and local congregation affiliated with the Global Methodist Church (Florida Conference). Founded in 1912 by Reverend N. J. Hawley in Zephyrhills, Florida, and operating continuously for over a century, the church transitioned its denominational affiliation from the United Methodist Church to the Global Methodist Church around 2024. Its main campus at 38635 Fifth Avenue, Zephyrhills, FL 33542 comprises a sanctuary (dedicated 1963 with stained-glass windows by Karl J. Mueller), Floyd W. Cooper Hall, the Henry L. Kinnard Chapel, the Christian Education Building, the Roger L. Sibley, Sr. Building, and a separate Thrift Shop location at 11th St. & 6th Ave. The congregation is led by Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Steve Ezra and supported by a 14-person staff covering pastoral, administrative, music, technical, family-ministry, financial, and custodial functions.

The church serves individuals and families across Zephyrhills and surrounding communities through a broad ministry portfolio. Core weekly offerings include a contemporary worship service at 9:30 a.m., a traditional service at 11:00 a.m., age-segmented programs (Nursery for ages 8 weeks to 5 years, Children's Ministry K-5, Youth 6-12), Music Ministry (contemporary praise band Salvation's Rock, traditional choir, bell choirs), Care Ministries (Stephen Ministry, Parish Nurses, GriefShare, AA, Al-Anon, Overeaters Anonymous, TOPS), a community Food Pantry, the Norma Hall Thrift Shop, and the Wednesday Night Refuel mid-week program with paid family meals. The mission program includes a ~17-year sister-church relationship with Amancio Rodriguez Methodist Church in Cuba's Los Tunas District, disaster-relief hosting with Faith Responders for Hurricane Helene and Milton recovery (announced October 2024), and partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Agape Flights, ECHO, Sager Brown UMCOR, and Tool Bank USA.

FMCZ operates a donation-based revenue model with four primary streams: tithes and offerings collected during services, online giving via a Vanco-powered secure platform, planned/legacy giving (bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gifts-in-kind), and in-kind donations supporting the food pantry and thrift shop. The only disclosed fee-based revenue is Wednesday Night Refuel family meals at $5 per person or $10 per family. Distribution is anchored at the single Zephyrhills campus, supplemented by a digital footprint spanning the church website (fmcz.org/live), Facebook livestreams, YouTube archives, a weekly e-Blast, and a monthly Messenger newsletter. Technology is conventional for the segment — standard church management, web, and livestreaming tools — with no proprietary technology, no mobile app, no disclosed API or SDK, and no AI/ML capabilities. Customer revenue, financials, and headcount beyond the 14 listed staff members are not publicly disclosed.

Name

First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills

Legal name

First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills

Website

https://fmcz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills (FMCZ) is a nonprofit Global Methodist congregation founded in 1912 in Zephyrhills, Florida, providing weekly worship, family ministries, care services, food pantry, thrift shop, and local and international mission programs to area residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Worship and Community Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Religious worship services
• Christian community ministries
• Faith-based youth programs
• Church community outreach
• Pastoral care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Zephyrhills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: Traditional Sunday morning tithes and offerings collected during worship services, both contemporary and traditional services.
2. Online Giving: Secure online donation platform available through the church website for one-time and recurring contributions.
3. Planned Giving: Estate planning, deferred gifts, bequests, charitable remainder trusts, and legacy giving opportunities for long-term donor relationships.
4. In-Kind Donations: Donations of food, clothing, furniture, and household items to support food pantry, thrift shop, and mission projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills is a local Methodist congregation that delivers weekly Sunday worship services (Contemporary at 9:30 a.m. and Traditional at 11:00 a.m.), age-tiered family ministries (Nursery, Children's, Youth), Bible studies and small groups, Music Ministry, mid-week Wednesday Night Refuel programming, pastoral Care Ministries, community outreach through a Food Pantry and Thrift Shop, and local/international mission initiatives, all funded primarily by donations, tithes, and planned giving from congregants and supporters.

Product overview

First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills offers a comprehensive suite of faith-based programs and services centered around Sunday worship, with two distinct service styles (Contemporary at 9:30 a.m. and Traditional at 11:00 a.m.). The church provides age-specific ministries including Children's Ministry with Vacation Bible School, Youth Ministry, and Nursery services. Additional programs include Music Ministry (Salvation's Rock praise band, choirs, bells), Food Pantry and Thrift Shop for community outreach, Care Ministries with various support groups, and Missions programs including international partnerships. The church also offers digital engagement through online worship streaming, online giving via Vanco, and a monthly Messenger newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly in-person worship services held every Sunday, including a Contemporary Service at 9:30 a.m. and a Traditional Service at 11:00 a.m. in the Main Sanctuary; open to all members of the community regardless of church membership.
• Online and Livestream Worship Live-streamed and recorded worship services accessible via fmcz.org, Facebook, and YouTube for remote participation.
• Children's Ministry Children's Church for K-5th grade, Sunday school, summer programming, and Vacation Bible School featuring themed faith-education experiences.
• Youth Ministry Faith formation program for grades 6-12, including Sunday classes, Wednesday Night Refuel gatherings, and special events like Rock the Universe.
• Nursery Services Nursery care for children ages 8 weeks through 5 years during Sunday services, Wednesday activities, and special events.
• Food Pantry Ministry Free community food assistance program providing non-perishable groceries to local families in need, distributed monthly on the second Monday through Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Norma Hall Thrift Shop Thrift shop selling gently used clothing, accessories, household items, and books, with proceeds supporting church outreach and humanitarian projects.
• Music Ministry Music programs including Salvation's Rock contemporary praise band, traditional choirs, and bell choirs supporting and enhancing worship services.
• Online Giving Platform Secure online donation and tithing platform enabling one-time and recurring financial contributions to support church mission and outreach.
• Planned Giving Program Estate planning and legacy giving program including bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gifts-in-kind, and other planned giving vehicles for long-term donor relationships.
• Care Ministries Pastoral care and recovery support programs including Parish Nurses, Stephen Ministry, AA, Al-Anon, GriefShare, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Overeaters Anonymous, and TOPS support groups.
• Missions Program Local and global mission initiatives including Project Others sewing ministry, a Sister Church relationship with Amancio Rodriguez Methodist Church in Cuba, and disaster relief partnerships with Faith Responders, Habitat for Humanity, Agape Flights, ECHO, Sager Brown UMCOR, and Tool Bank USA.
• Wednesday Night Refuel Mid-week discipleship program featuring family-friendly meals, children's small groups, youth gatherings, and adult Bible study classes held Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m.
• Messenger Newsletter Monthly newsletter providing updates on church events, ministry activities, and stories about the church community, available in print and PDF format.
• Special Sacramental Services Sacred ceremonies and pastoral services including Holy Communion, baptism, weddings, funerals, and pastoral counseling for individuals and families in life transitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sister church in Cuba grew to over 300 congregants with active Bible study, youth program, deaf ministry, and multiple house church missions launched

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Faith ResponderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024FMCZ partners with Faith Responders as a host site for volunteer disaster relief response and recovery teams working in Central Florida west coast area including Zephyrhills, Dade City, Ridge Manor, and neighborhoods impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The church provides campus facilities for response teams during first half of 2025.
• Amancio Rodriguez Methodist Church (Cuba)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Sister church relationship established approximately 17 years ago with the Amancio Rodriguez Methodist Church in Los Tunas District, Cuba. FMCZ has assisted in buying a small four-room parsonage near the church, helped tear down old dilapidated structure, and created a brand new worship center. The Cuban church has grown to over 300 congregants with active Bible study, youth program, deaf ministry, and multiple house church missions.
• Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partnership supporting affordable housing construction in the community through volunteer labor and donations.
• Agape FlightsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission partner for aviation-based humanitarian support and supply transport to areas in need.
• ECHOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural mission organization supported through church donations and volunteer efforts.
• Sager Brown UMCORminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Methodist Committee on Relief supply depot supported through mission donations.
• Tool Bank USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisaster relief tool lending organization partnered for hurricane cleanup efforts in Live Oak area.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR): United Methodist disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that FMCZ supports through donations and supply drives. Comparable as a faith-based grantmaking/mission organization with overlap in disaster response and community outreach.
• Agape Flights: Aviation-based humanitarian aid organization partnered with FMCZ for missions support. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit operating on donations and volunteer support in similar mission delivery model.
• Habitat for Humanity (East Pasco / affiliate network): Affordable housing mission partner of FMCZ. Comparable as a faith-aligned community-services organization operating through donations and volunteers in similar geographic markets.

Broad incumbents

• North Point Community Church (Atlanta): Multi-site non-denominational church known for contemporary worship, family ministries, and digital engagement strategy. Comparable in community-led GTM motion and online giving/livestream infrastructure.
• Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA): Large multi-site evangelical congregation with comprehensive family ministries, small groups, missions, and online giving. Comparable ministry architecture, though at much greater scale and with different denominational affiliation.

Direct peers

• First United Methodist Church of Lakeland: Central Florida Methodist congregation with comparable worship schedule, family ministries, food pantry, and global mission partnerships. Strong geographic and denominational comparability within the same Florida Conference region as FMCZ.
• Christ United Methodist Church (Fort Lauderdale): Large Florida Methodist congregation offering contemporary/traditional services, comprehensive children's and youth programs, music ministry, and missions. Comparable in ministry breadth and Florida Methodist denominational identity.
• Hyde Park United Methodist Church (Tampa): Historic Tampa-area Methodist congregation with multiple service styles, children's and youth programs, missions, and community outreach. Comparable as a Florida Methodist church with a similar full-ministry footprint and historic presence.
• St. Luke's United Methodist Church (Orlando): Large Florida United Methodist-affiliated congregation offering contemporary/traditional worship, family ministries, missions, and online giving. Highly comparable in worship model, denominational heritage, and multi-stream ministry portfolio, though significantly larger in scale.
• First United Methodist Church of Orlando: Downtown Orlando Methodist congregation offering traditional and contemporary services, children's/youth ministries, missions, and digital giving. Directly comparable as a large Florida UMC/Methodist-affiliated congregation in the same state and conference network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/fumczhills
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-united-methodist-church-of-zephyrhills

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First Methodist Church of Zephyrhills