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
SuperSoul Question #1: “What is the Soul?” (Part one, of an eight-part series of posts, based on interview questions Oprah typically asks on her SuperSoul Conversations Podcast.)
Worshipping Ashes
Exploring Shadows
Thankful
Lament
Feliz Dia de Los Muertes (or, for the gringos, “Happy Day of the Dead!”
Stuff: Compulsion and Attachment
Enough’s Enough: Smear Ads, Social Media Posts, Gossip, and Run-of-the-Mill Slander