Sunrise Presbyterian Church

Sunrise Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The church is located in the Miami Lakes and Hialeah area of North Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was one of the earliest multicultural congregations in the American Southeast.

Introduction

Sunrise Presbyterian Church was organized in the Twin Lakes Elementary School in Hialeah, Florida in 1962 as Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The founding pastor was Maxwell P. Smith, who served until 1967. During this time, the church enjoyed a good start as a new congregation. Dick Briggs, one of the church members, was instrumental in helping the congregation find appropriate property for their new church. Before long, the church was able to build a Sanctuary.

When Maxwell Smith left in 1967, the congregation almost immediately received its second pastor, the Reverend Carl Smith (no relationship to the previous pastor), but his was a brief pastorate. He left after only two years. The church began to decline and was struggling to survive. Denominational leaders invited a former Disciple of Christ minister, the Rev. Don Davis, to help restore peace to the congregatin.

The Rev. Don Davis was then serving as an Associate Pastor of the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church and encouraged the Bethany Christian Church to leave the Disciples of Christ in order to join the Presbyterian Church. The church called Don Davis to be its pastor in April, 1970. In May, 1971, the congregation was officially received into the Presbyterian Church. Since the name "Bethany" was already used by a nearby Presbyterian congregation, a new name had to be selected. "Sunrise" was selected when a young church member said the sun filtering through the chancel windows reminded him of a sunrise, signaling the beginning of a new day. Don Davis served this church well for almost 25 years. Under his strong leadership, he directed the church into a period of growth, new construction, and new programs. His son, Mike Davis, served as Associate Pastor.

With the closing of Eastern Air Lines in 1989, the church and its surrounding community began to decline. In 1992, the church had to make the painful decision not to build its long-planned sanctuary. In 1993, Don Davis resigned, followed a month later by the resignation of his son, the church's Associate Pastor. The following month saw the death of Sunrise's long-time Music Director, Bob Stabley. The next month, brought the arrival of a new Interim, Don Purkey. The close of Eastern Air Lines and the rapid developments involving loss of three staff members, the church fell into deep grief and anxiety, creating an era of conflict.

The church called the Rev. Dr. Maynard Pittendreigh as its new pastor in 1996. He was able to lead the church to a time of healing, stopping the decline of membership and worship attendance. With his wife he created new ministries for children. Sunrise began to embrace more completely the multicultural community that North Miami Dade was becoming.

Pittendreigh left in 2003 and was replaced by the Reverend Patricia Ashley, who served as an Interim Pastor. Her presence was felt by the restructuring of church committees enabling the church to be less dependent on the Pastor.

In March, 2006, Pedro A. Rivera was called as the new pastor, bringing a tremendous sense of renewal and enthusiasm. Rivera was the congregation's first Hispanic pastor.

Pastors Who Have Served Sunrise

Maxwell P. Smith, founding pastor, 1962 - 1967Carl Smith, 1967 - 1969.Don Davis, 1970-1993. Donald "Perk" Purkey (Interim Pastor), 1993-1994.Steve Sapp and V. Neil Wyrick (Co-Interim Pastors), 1994-1996.
Maynard Pittendreigh, 1996-2003.
Patricia Ashley (Interim Pastor), 2004-2006
Pedro A. Rivera, 2006-

Associate Pastors Who Have Served Sunrise

Michael Armistead, Associate Pastor for Youth, 1982-1988.Michael Davis (son of Senior Pastor Don Davis), 1989-1993.
V. Neil Wyrick (Interim), 1994-2000.Jason R. Hefner, Associate Pastor for Christian Nurture, 2000-2003.Anette Westermark, Pastor's Assistant, 2003-2004

Church Buildings and Expansion

The Sanctuary was built during the church's period as a Disciples of Christ Church. The first expansion on its facility was in 1972 when Briggs Hall was extended with additional office and class rooms and a fellowship hall and kitchen. Another expansion with the educational building and present offices was done in 1980.

Preschool and Kindergarten

Sunrise Preschool and Kindergarten began in 1974 under the direction of Mae Ferris. Ms Ferris was then in her 70's and she agreed to start the ministry with the understanding that she would only do the work for a year. Penny Ridgeway assumed the role of our preschool director in 1975 until she accepted a position with Florida International University. Nancy Jones arrived in 1978 and was hired as our Director of Christian Education. In this dual role, she supervised the preschool and the Christian Education ministry of the church.

Under the leadership of Barbara Hassall, the school has been expanded from a preschool to an academy, with classes for children in preschool, kindergarten, and 1st through 5th grades.

Preschool Directors include:

Mae Ferris, 1974Penny Ridgeway, 1975-1978Nancy Jones, 1978-1997
V. Neil Wyrick, 1997 InterimTerri Vega, 1997-1999Beth Wilson, 1999-2001Barbara Hassall, 2001- present

Youth Programs

Sunrise started its youth program in 1971 under the direction of Bill and Pat Spencer, a couple from the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church who agreed to follow their former Associate Pastor, Don Davis, when he came to Sunrise. They agreed to provide the youth leadership for one year. After that year, another couple from the Miami Shores Church, John and Harriet Davis, came to serve for several years as the youth directors.

The Kids for Christ, or KFC program, was started in 1998 under the direction of Maynard and Ginny Pittendreigh. KFC is for preschoolers through 5th grade. "'

The Music Program

Sunrise's music program has been served by several outstanding directors, including Bonnie Reed, Ed Sagi, Marla Woeckener, Mark and Phyllis McCabe, Bob and Barbara Stabley, Rex Simon, Sharon Diehl , Cleusa Santos and Mark Husey.

From time to time there have been ensemble groups, including the Sunrise Singers who sang contemporary songs during worship (1993-1995).

The Bell Choir was started in 1981. The Handchimes Choir began in 2000. A new organ was dedicated in 2002.

Drama Programs

Sunrise Presbyterian Church offers two important drama ministries. The Early Christian Dinner was started in 1994. This Good Friday celebration re-enacts the evening of the first Good Friday. The Living Nativity was introduced to Sunrise in 1996.