It may have been at the Suntree Country Club – nobody remembers for sure – where a handful of people decided that the new Suntree community needed a Methodist Church.  The nearest church was 15 miles away.  They contacted the United Methodist Florida Conference and in 1981, under the leadership of District Superintendent Dr. Ed Dinkins, 4.2 acres of land was purchased in the still-rural area of Wickham Road at the corner of Wickham and Waelti Road.

In October of 1982 the Rev. Kenneth Dunn began a door-to-door survey of the community, and in January of 1983 he organized a “gathering meeting” in the Cabana Room of the Suntree Country Club.  Forty people attended. 

On Sunday, January 30, 1983, the first church worship service was held at the Brevard Wildlife Center on Wickham Road near I-95 on the site where the McDonald’s now sits.  The Wildlife Center treated and housed injured animals and birds, and notes from the time recall peacocks, turtles and other patients at the center parading by the doors during the service.

There was space for 75-80 theater-type seats; the overflow sat on a cot or boxes.  Church attendees walked narrow planks across a muddy ditch to get to the building.  There was no air-conditioning.  Worshipers shared 50 used hymnals donated by the First United Methodist Church, Vero Beach.  Jugs of water were brought in for a coffee hour held after the service.  Sometimes following the service, rangers would take worshipers on tours of the wildlife center.  A children’s Sunday school room was set up in the ranger’s office.

Easter Sunday, April 3, 1983, Dr. Glenn Quam became the first appointed pastor.  Early music included Phil Sabelli on his accordion and Dr. Quam on his banjo.

On May 1, Suntree United Methodist Church was chartered at a 4:00 p.m. ceremony at the Suntree Country Club.  During that month, the first potluck dinner was held at the Suntree Fire Station, and the first Vacation Bible School was held with 50 children and workers participating.

With the arrival of summer, the church worship services moved to the Sherwood Elementary School Cafeteria.  The school was air-conditioned.

A building committee formed to plan for a church building and in August, plans were presented for Phase I – the worship center.  Excitement was building; a tight bond existed among the members.  Every Sunday was like a family reunion.

That Christmas, members went “Golf Cart Caroling” in the Suntree neighborhood.  A Christmas social was held at Christine’s Restaurant on U.S. 1.  A Christmas Candlelight Service was held with Lutherans in the Suntree Country Club Cabana Room.  By the end of the year, the church had 105 members.

As 1984 began, final plans were put in place for a church building.  On March 11, members drove golf carts and brought lawn chairs to the site at 7200 N. Wickham Road for groundbreaking ceremonies.  Joe Wickham – for whom Wickham Road was named – joined the building committee and many of the attendees in turning a shovel of dirt.  Dr. Glenn Quam received a plaque for his guidance in starting the church.  Members returned to the Wildlife Center one last time to hold a pock luck supper.

The first worship service was held in the new church building January 27, 1985.  In June 1986, the Quams were reappointed to a church in St. Petersburg and Suntree United Methodist Church welcomed Dr. Jeffrey Hoy as pastor.

As church membership grew, so did the church’s outreach ministries: the United Methodist Women’s group outfitted 13 children at the Florida Children’s Home with school clothes; the youth group raised money for service projects.  A marriage ministry was begun.  In October, the church began offering two Sunday morning worship services with Sunday school in between.

In the second half of 1987 the church made its first commitment to Habitat for Humanity.  A church library was established.  The loan was approved to build an education wing, and construction of a parsonage was begun. 

During the next few years, church members continued to develop ministries as they saw need.  Church members participated in Meals on Wheels, they helped support the Haven shelter, and the church sponsored a Cub Scout troop.  Attendance at Easter services had outgrown the church building so two services were held at the King Center for the Performing Arts, beginning a 20-year tradition of community outreach at Easter.

TNT (Time and Talent), a social group for seniors, was formed, as did United Methodist Women Circles, a Wonderful Wednesday program of dinner and education on Wednesday nights.  Singles and divorced members organized social and support groups, volunteers started Stephen Ministry and Disciple Bible classes.  The preschool started in 1991.  Church membership reached 1000.

By 1993, as the church prepared to celebrate its 10^th anniversary, members learned that Dr. Hoy would be leaving to lead Southside UMC in Jacksonville.  June, SUMC welcomed the Reverend Gary Spencer.  Plans were well underway for a new church building at a new location.  Twenty-one acres of land were purchased for a new Worship and Christian Life Center.  Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on February 18, 1994 at 7400 N. Wickham Road, the church’s present location.

The Cross Tower was the first thing to go up on the new site.  By December 11, 1994, the church was complete and the Reverend Spencer led the flock in an Altar Cross Procession, carrying a cross from the old church to the new church campus.  The first service was held December 18.

The church continued to grow and fellowship groups flourished.  A new Praise and Worship service was added in 1995.  The contemporary music was led by volunteer singers and with music on a keyboard and midi player, affectionately referred to as our band in a box.  As the service developed, musicians were added to the group and the band went to all live music in 2000.

As the church grew, it was determined that more worship space was needed.  Groundbreaking for a new Sanctuary was held February 18, 2001 and the first worship service was held in it on May 19, 2002.  An Educational wing was built to allow expansion of Son City, the children’s Sunday School Program, and the pre-school program.

In June 2003, Dr. Gary Spencer (he got his doctorate in 1996) was called to serve a church in Orlando, and Suntree United Methodist Church welcomed the Reverends John and Terri Hill.  The Hills would bring the church another “first” – a married couple as co-senior pastors.  Both Reverends Hill brought new ideas and new programs to the church, including Theology at the Tavern, a community outreach series.

By November of 2003, Suntree United Methodist Church offered six services every Sunday morning: a 7:00 a.m. Communion service, an 8:00 a.m. Traditional service in the Sanctuary, a 9:15 a.m. Contemporary service in the Worship Center, a 9:15 a.m. Youth IMPAKT service, and an 11:00 a.m. Traditional service in the Sanctuary and an 11:00 a.m. Contemporary service in the Worship Center.

In February of 2004, a 9:30 a.m. Traditional service in the Sanctuary was added, and fellowship time between worship services was begun so that worshippers could gather for coffee and juice on the “front porch” of both the Sanctuary and the Worship Center.

In late August of 2004, Hurricane Frances came ashore in Central Florida and left damage and destruction throughout Brevard County.  Before residents had time to take a breath, yet another storm, Hurricane Jeanne, came ashore.

Church buildings sustained water and wind damage.  But again, the congregation put the spirit of God and the teachings of Jesus above all: as thousands in the county were without electricity and even homes, the church opened its doors to serve hot meals.  Volunteers called elderly members of the congregation and those who lived alone, and helped put tarps on damaged rooftops.  Dozens traveled around the county with help, including food and assistance to homeless migrant workers in Fellsmere.

In 2006, @11, a new contemporary service, was begun.  The worship format is multi-faceted and interactive.

We celebrated 25 years of ministry on May 4, 2008.  SUMC is still young.  What 74 charter members started in 1983 has grown into a source of ministry, support, companionship, education, and services for thousands who come through our door.