A pastor from Daytona Beach Shores is retiring after 37 years in service. Rev. Dr. Jeffrey A. Sumner was a young minister when he arrived at Westminster-by-the-Sea Presbyterian Church with his family. 

Leaving Legacy 

In a report with Hometown Volusia, the pastor will give his last sermon on Sunday, Aug. 28. In his 37 years of service, he has preached in churches from Ormond Beach to New Smyrna Beach.

According to the news report, Sumner was instrumental in many of the church's outreach programs. The pastor led the construction of the first Habitat for Humanity house in Port Orange. 

Establishing Place in Community 

As reported, they built the house for a handicapped member of the church. 

The church also helped the local school and has led several clothing drives. They also hold fundraisers to pay for school trips and food programs.

Church organizers also hosted a concert series with the City of Daytona Beach Shores before the pandemic.

The church was also instrumental in launching a health ministry for the public. They established the Body Mind and Soul program, which allowed different professionals to give talks to the community.

The health professionals also provide services, such as skin cancer screenings. 

The pastor said that the church was featured in a book entitled "Building Healthy Communities Through Medical-Religious Partnerships." 

Drs. Richard G. Bennett and W. Daniel Hale authored the book. 

Full Circle 

Sumner and his wife, Mary Ann, were new to the area of the First Presbyterian Church in Malvern in 1985. 

At the time, their three children were young. Their oldest child, Chris, was four years old. 

The pastor said that their children were now grown-up and had careers. He and his wife celebrated 44 years of marriage. 

He added that the three children are married and have their own families. His eldest now lives in Orlando. 

His youngest daughter, Jenny, is an ordained Presbyterian minister. 

The church was founded in 1955. Since its founding, it has seen many changes. 

According to the church website, when Sumner first arrived at the church, membership was 287. In 2019, the church had 777 members. 

As a pastor, Reverend Sumner has conducted 247 baptisms and officiated 267 weddings, according to the first report. 

His wife is a Christian education director and has helped establish a warm and homey feel to the church, including hanging a "We are Family" banner on the fellowship hall.

The pastor began school year confirmation classes in 1993. He wanted to teach the youth the basics of the faith. 

The church has a "wall of fame" section in their fellowship hall that displays pictures of those who attended the classes. 

Some students who attended those classes are still members of the church. These include church secretary and office manager Kristin Downer. 

She said she has been with the church for more than 11 years. She added that it was an honor to work alongside the pastor, one of the kindest persons she had ever met. 

The 66-year-old pastor told the news outlet that he has always listened to God. He admitted that God is yet to write the next chapter of his life. 

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