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Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church (KBPC)

In January 1955, Mrs. Wayne Paullus, Mrs. Willis Flick and Mrs. L.C. Arny began to pray and to explore the possibilities for starting a new church on Key Biscayne. The first meetings were held in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Paullus. Later the meetings were moved to the Little Island Playhouse. In July, 1956, the public school was made available.

The first public service was held on July 6, 1955, in the Captain's Room of the Jamaica Inn. The people petitioned Presbytery to become a church on May 31, 1955. There were forty charter members. The first Elders elected on June 19, 1955, were Lester Evans, L.C. Arny and Wayne Paullus. Lster additional officeres were installed. There were Dr. J.W. Fuller, James P. Powell and Stewart Kemp, elders and W.H. Cole, Willus H. Flick, H.W. Major and G.E. Orr as deacons. Coy Barber and W.F. Cleveland were added to the diaconate in January 1956.

Rev. Iverson ably assisted by Mrs Iverson served as supply pastor until November 1956. It was during his ministry that the church had its first ministerial candidate, Todd W. Allen.

The pulpit was supplied by Rev. Frank Havlicek and Dr. Manford Gutzke until January 1958, when Lame Adams was called to the pastorate. The Manse at 755 Fernwood Dr. was purchased and porch enlarged by the men of the church to accommodate the attendance of the mid-week services held at the Manse.

The first missionaries sponsored by the church were Rev. and Mrs. Millen Darnell.

The minister was honored by being asked to speak at the First Laymen's Leadership Institute in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Adams' preached his first sermon as KBPC new pastor on January 12, 1958. His ordination was held on February 9, 1958.

KBPC undertook the sponsorship of additional missionaries, Rev. and Mrs. Dwight Linton and Mrs. Eugene Craven. New Testament and Sunday School material was sent to Cassie Rolle in the the Bahamas.

In 1960, the church began looking for an office. Space was finally made available after a prayer session by the Elders.

The service of music was expanded under the direction of Don Moody.

Kent Kelly and his family were the second family to leave for Seminary and became the second candidate for the ministry.

Dr. Gutzke returned for a series of meetings and Billy Graham spoke at the church. The church participated actively in the Billy Graham Crusade, serving in various capacities. The church employed the "Every Family Plan" for the Presbyterian Journal and the Presbyterian Survey.

The church was enabled to purchase a five acre plot for their building with the assistance of $15,000 from the Board of Church Extension and $5,000 from the Presbytery. The Building Committee commissioned Architect Joseph N. Smith to draw the plans in May, 1961. In September the sale of General Obligation Bonds were begun and in November the contract was let to the G. & N. Construction Company.

Thanksgiving Day 161 ground was broken for the building and Rev. Daniel Iverson gave the message. The sanctuary building was completed in 1962.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred McDowell left for seminary and he become the third ministerial candidate of KBPC.

Rev. Lane Adams began a jail ministry, preaching monthly at the Dade County Jail and holding a weekly Bible study at the jail.

Beginning with assets of $33.50, the church has acquired land for $50,000 and sold $200,000 in church bonds and finished 1962 in financially sound condition. Growth in membership has been from forty to one hundred and eighty-five in six years.

On Sunday April 29, 1962, Dr. Nelson Bell led the Dedication Service for the new sanctuary. In May, an evangelistic crusade was sponsored with Mr. Leighton Ford as speaker.

The church in 1962 supported six missionary couples on the foreign field.

Richard Altork and Robert Hann wer added to the list of minsterial candidates in 1963. Other have petitioned the Session and several young people have indicated their desire for the full-time church service.

On April 10, 1963, Lane Adams preached his last sermon having accpened a call to Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Ben Haden was called to be the senior pastor of KBPC. He served faithfully from June 16, 1963 through September 1, 1967.

The church had been without a senior pastor for a year when John Huffman answered the call. He stayed until November 1, 1973 when he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to serve as the First Presbyterian Church there.

Steve Brown accepted the call the senior pastor and started in January 1974.

In 1978, the member of the Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church voted to separate themselves from the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA) presbytery and enter into the newly formed Presbyterian Church in America(PCA) presbytery.

During Steve's pastorate, the church grew significantly. In 1983 a major building program was undertaken. Then the process sanctuary was greatly enlarged and new educational and administrative facilities were built. Jared Reed, Owen Youngblood, Kent Keller and Matthew Lomineck all became ministerial candidates.

Steve resigned as senior pastor to teach, write and travel with Key Life Ministries on December 30, 1990.

After Steve's departure our search committee diligently sought the man God would have lead KBPC for over a year and half. During that time KBPC was blessed witht he teaching and encouragement of many prominent men, as well as a treasure of wealth from within the congregation. After much prayer and consideration, John Crimmins was called. He was installed on November 1, 1992.