
Author: vancecrains
Vance Rains, is first and foremost a husband to Kelly Rains and a dad to Malinda and John.
Born and raised in Orlando, FL, Vance attended the University of Central Florida, majoring in Communications and Public Speaking. After graduating from college, Vance and Kelly joined the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, where he first sensed his call to ministry, and later served as the Director of Youth Ministry. Vance went to Duke Divinity School, earning a Masters of Divinity, and then earned a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching and Church Leadership at Asbury Theological Seminary. Vance was ordained by the Florida Annual Conference as a Deacon in 1993 and an Elder in 1996.
Vance is currently the Pastor of First Church Coral Springs, and has previously served as Senior Pastor of Ortega UMC, Jacksonville, Pastor of the Wesley Foundation at Florida State University, Executive Director of Higher Education and Campus Ministry for the Florida Annual Conference, Founding Pastor of a new United Methodist congregation called The Grapevine in Port St. Lucie, and as the Minister of Program and Administration at First UMC of Winter Park.
Vance's passions and interests include preaching and teaching, leadership, creative programming, and mission work in Guatemala. In his free time, he enjoys reading, travel, riding his Harley, and tending to his collection of bonsai trees


Advent 2020: Who or what are we waiting for?

Thankful…ish

Pandemic-Induced Ministry Fatigue

“Joseph” – a sermon preached on September 13, 2020, at The First United Methodist Church of Orlando.

“Tower of Babel” – a sermon preached on August 30, 2020, at The First United Methodist Church of Orlando

“Connecting With Grace”: The final sermon in a series called “ConnectAbility,” preached on Sunday, August 16, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando

Sermon: “Connecting with Your True Self” – part of a sermon series called “ConnectAbility,” preached at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, on August 2, 2020

Connecting through Courage: a sermon preached at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando on July 26, 2020.
