PHOTOS BY REV. BRIAN TURNER
Members of Blessed Redeemer in Palm Bay decorated a giving tree for the Gifts from the Heart donations. Many gifts were donated.
The Episcopal Church of the Blessed Redeemer in Palm Bay is a Mission of the Diocese of Central Florida, and is on a mission for Christians.
“We’re not your traditional church,” says Rev. Brian Tuner, vicar. “The building is pre-fab and looks like a warehouse. The front is cross-shaped.”
The church was formed in 2003 by Church of Our Savior in northeast Palm Bay. “They realized that they needed to reach out to the neighborhoods in west and south Palm Bay,” Turner said. “Father Ron Manning was the first missioner to the south and west and southwest Palm Bay. The first services were at Bayside High School. In 2005, they were officially recognized as a Mission of the Diocese. The building dedication was in July of 2012.”
Turner is now the church’s third priest. He was preceded by pastor Hazel Kundinger, who served from 2007 until her retirement in 2015. The Mission was in search of a priest until Turner accepted the post in February 2017.
The Mission now serves the Caribbean community of Palm Bay, with 95 percent of the members coming from Jamaica, Trinidad, the Cayman Islands, Barbados, and Haiti. Says Turner: “They moved from the Caribbean to the UK, Canada or America as young adults. There was a big exodus to Palm Bay about 30 years ago when Palm Bay began advertising in the north about the great weather and how enjoyable it would be to live in Palm Bay. This community started moving down here.”
Although the church is only 15 years old and has just 90 members, its unique congregation has a big heart. That heart is visible in the three outreaches they do every year.
The pre-fab building resembles a warehouse more than a church, but the Blessed Redeemer congregation and its work resemble Jesus.
“We collect canned goods for the Child Hunger Project so kids on food stamps or free lunch can take a backpack of food home every weekend,” Turner said.
The congregation also supports Gifts from the Heart Gift Shop and donates new toys to place in it. “Parents with low incomes and kids participating in the Esteem program can buy new, amazing Christmas gifts for their children at the shop for about an 80-percent discount,” Turner said.
The church also annually holds a Harvest Festival celebrating the Caribbean Thanksgiving. “Our members brought in various fruits, vegetables, and baked goods, and we blessed them, giving thanks to God for the earth’s bounty. We sold these items as our main outreach fundraiser of the year, with a portion of the funds raised going toward The Bishop’s Discretionary Fund.”
Long-term goals for the congregation include paying off the building note. Four fundraisers are planned to help with this goal: a Caribbean brunch, a dinner dance, a yard sale, and a picnic.
Members of Blessed Redeemer take part in the market of the Harvest Festival.
Other goals are to become more self-sufficient and go from a Mission to Parish status. “We are trying to reach out to the community. We need to get more people excited about Jesus and build a community for Jesus. We want to reach people with Jesus’ love and mercy,” Turner said.
For more information on Church of the Blessed Redeemer, please call 321-725-6881.