We are a family of Christ followers committed to making a difference in Ocala and beyond. Together, we seek and serve God, trusting He will multiply our gifts to help others experience the love and truth of Christ.
Our mission is to raise up a godly generation.
Our vision is helping people Connect with God and other believers, Grow in their faith, and find ways to Serve God and others.
Ocala First Assembly was launched in 1935 during the height of the Great Depression. True to those times the church began with the most meager of resources - a small 20’ X 30’ building constructed on borrowed property, lighting provided by oil lamps, benches made from wood left over along with orange crates and flooring covered with fresh sawdust.
There was not much to the facility but that did not stop the word from spreading about the church on the other side of the railroad tracks where God was moving. Soon people began to come from across the city to attend services where many found Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Over the years the church changed buildings, pastors, and locations a number of times until moving to its current campus on NE 14th Street in 1960’s. In the 1980’s it reached the place where it was necessary to construct its current 1,200 seat sanctuary - a big change from its original 600 square foot facility and powerful evidence of God’s blessings on the church.
Regardless of the building, pastor or location, the congregation of First Assembly maintained their determination to be that place where people find Christ and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit as they experience His dynamic power to change lives. From our very earliest days we believe that God raised us up in Ocala to share his Good News, to produce vibrant followers of Jesus Christ, and to raise up a godly generation.
We are committed to living out the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with a mission to raise up a godly generation. At the heart of every disciple are seven key values we uphold.
We desire to see people who love and grasp God’s Big Story, adept at interpreting and applying His Word.
We desire to see people who are born again, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and empowered, led, and purified by Him.
We desire to see people on mission with God in all areas of life, prioritizing local and global missions, and becoming disciple-makers.
We desire to see people who love listening to and speaking with God, deepening in intimacy and intercession, fasting, and crying out for His glory.
We desire to see people who view all of life as a thank you to God's grace, striving for humble service to God and others.
We desire to see people who delight in God and offer all of their life as worship to him.
We desire to see people who, inspired by God’s abundant grace, dedicate all their resources to Him and follow the Holy Spirit's guidance in giving and stewardship.
As a sovereign Assemblies of God church, we adhere to the 16 Fundamental Truths. You can learn more about what believe below.
We believe in the one true, self-existent God—the "I AM"—who is the Creator, Redeemer, and the source of all. Revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God exists in a triune relationship, embodying perfect unity and love. Each Person of the Trinity is distinct, yet fully and equally divine, working in harmony to fulfill God’s eternal purposes. Through Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully man, we see God’s redemptive work and are invited into fellowship with Him, glorifying the Son as we honor the Father.
We believe the Bible is the true, divinely inspired Word of God—our unfailing guide for life and faith. Both the Old and New Testaments reveal God’s character, offering wisdom and direction for our spiritual journey. Through Scripture, we learn how to live, grow, and draw closer to God, deepening our understanding of His love. As the authoritative and infallible foundation for faith and conduct, the Bible is not just a book but a living source of truth, integrity, and relevance for every generation.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the central figure of Christianity, the Word of God made flesh. Jesus was sent by God to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so that we could enjoy an eternal life with Him. Jesus’ teachings on love, forgiveness, humility, and repentance are at the core of our beliefs. We also believe in Jesus’ resurrection, that it was proof of His deity and the promise of eternal life for all those who believe. We are called to follow Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to share the good news of the gospel. As we learn to love and serve others, we are reminded of Jesus’ example of love and sacrifice.
We believe that redemption and the hope of eternal life come only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Salvation is received by repenting and turning to God, and placing faith in Jesus. Through God’s grace, we are justified by faith, renewed by the Holy Spirit, and made heirs of eternal life. The inward evidence of salvation is the Spirit’s witness within us, while the outward evidence is a life transformed by righteousness and true holiness.
We believe in the importance of baptism. Baptism symbolizes a believer's commitment to Jesus and His teachings, and is an outward act of confessing our faith in Him. We believe that baptism is essential to Christian discipleship, and it is a beautiful way to proclaim our allegiance to Jesus. Baptism is a sacred and meaningful experience, and we are deeply committed to helping believers celebrate this important milestone in their journey of faith. By celebrating and honoring baptism, we are proclaiming our faith in Jesus and our desire to serve Him and others.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand and appreciate the Bible, and helps us to live out its teachings in our lives. We believe that the Holy Spirit is with us always, faithfully guiding us in our walk with God. We also believe that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts such as wisdom, knowledge, understanding, healing, miracles, tongues, and prophecy so that we can be used to serve God and spread His love.
We believe that every believer is encouraged to seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit, a powerful gift from the Father promised by Jesus Christ. This baptism was foundational to the early Christian experience, bringing empowerment for life, service, and ministry. Through the Holy Spirit, believers receive spiritual gifts that equip them for God's work. This experience is distinct from salvation and opens the way to a deeper spiritual fullness, reverence for God, dedication to His purpose, and a more passionate love for Christ, His Word, and those who are lost.
With the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes an initial physical evidence: speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. This expression is the same in essence as the gift of tongues mentioned in Scripture, yet distinct in purpose and use, marking the Spirit’s presence in the believer's life.
Supporting Scriptures: Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 1:8, 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12; John 7:37-39; Hebrews 12:28
We believe the Church is the Body of Christ, where God dwells through His Spirit. Every believer, born of the Spirit, is part of the global family of faith written in heaven. As part of God’s purpose for humanity—to seek and save the lost, be worshiped, build up believers in the image of Christ, and show His love to all—the Church exists to fulfill this mission:
1. To provide a community where people can worship God.
2. To be a channel for building a body of saints, growing in the image of Christ.
3. To be a people who actively demonstrate God’s love and compassion.
4. To be an instrument of God in evangelizing the world.
As a church community, we embrace the Holy Spirit’s work, empowering believers to share the gospel with power, deepening our worship, and equipping us to serve others. By fostering the gifts, fruit, and ministries of the Spirit, we strive to edify the Church, reach the needy, and embody Christ’s love in the world.
We believe in the power of prayer, both individually and corporately, as an expression of faith in God's work in our lives. Prayer is an essential part of a Christian life and is used to talk to God and to communicate with Him. We pray for guidance, strength, healing, protection, and for our families, friends, and community. Through prayer, we seek to deepen our understanding of God's will and His plans for our lives. Praying helps us grow closer to God and to gain a better understanding of His will and how we can best serve Him. When we pray, we open ourselves up to God and He will answer us in His own way and in His own time. Prayer is a beautiful and powerful way to communicate with our Heavenly Father and to seek His love and guidance.