MORE ABOUT PALM HARBOR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Lead Pastor:
Janean Briseno
About Janean:
Rev. Janean Briseno is grateful to serve as the Lead Pastor of Palm Harbor United Methodist Church. She has a deep love for the local church and for helping people discover the ways God is already at work in their lives.
Before coming to Palm Harbor UMC in July 2026, Janean spent 22 years serving at Heritage United Methodist Church, including 18 years in Children’s Ministry before becoming Executive Pastor. Those years gave her a particular love for investing in the next generation, walking alongside families, developing leaders, and helping people find meaningful ways to use their gifts to serve God and others.
At the heart of Janean’s ministry is a deep trust in the grace of God. She believes God meets us where we are, walks with us through every season of life, and continues to call us into something new. She loves opening Scripture with people and helping them see how the story of God connects with the joys, questions, challenges, and ordinary moments of everyday life.
Janean also believes the church is called to be an active and caring presence in the community. She enjoys building relationships beyond the walls of the church, connecting with community leaders and organizations, and finding ways for the church to listen, serve, and be a good neighbor. For Janean, being part of a community means showing up, getting to know people, and looking for opportunities to share the love of Christ in meaningful and practical ways.
Janean is especially grateful for the warm welcome she has received at Palm Harbor UMC and for the opportunity to become part of a church with such a rich history of ministry in its community. She is excited about the season ahead and believes God has wonderful things in store as PHUMC continues to grow together, invest in the next generation, serve its community, and lead people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
More than anything, Janean hopes to be a pastor who walks alongside people, celebrates with them in seasons of joy, supports them through difficult seasons, and reminds them again and again that God’s grace is always at work.
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All Ages, All In
Nearly 125 years ago Palm Harbor United Methodist Church began……
Its roots go back to Florida Southern College, a Methodist College in Leesburg governed by the Florida Conference. In 1902 the college made a decision to move from Leesburg to Sutherland, Florida (the community of Sutherland was renamed Palm Harbor in 1925).
For 19 years church services were held at the school. In 1921 a fire destroyed most of the facilities of the college and Florida Southern College relocated to Lakeland. With a vision of wanting to continue meeting as a church, members met in the school’s undamaged gymnasium. They organized the construction of a new sanctuary. Hand cleaned bricks from the fire-damaged building were used as part of the structure that would become known as “The White Chapel.” Services began in “The White Chapel” in 1925.
In 1965 members recognized the need for a larger sanctuary. A building fund was started, land was donated, and building began. On November 14, 1971 the first service was held in the new sanctuary at the Michigan Avenue site.
At this downtown site the ministries of The Robin’s Nest (our Preschool Ministry) began in 1983. In 1987 our before and after school ministry, Stars & Comets began... and of course Camp CUBBER began in 1992.
In 1985 the congregation agreed to purchase 7.25 acres of property on 21st street near Westlake Blvd. Purchase price of the property was $342,000. They had dreams of a new church costing $2 million. In 1995 worship began at the site on which we currently sit. For over 10 years the church worship was held in what is now our Multi-Purpose Room / Gymnasium.
An Education wing was added and Westlake Christian School began in 1995 (now Kindergarten through 8th grade).
In September 2003 the first worship service was held in our current sanctuary, with a seating capacity of over 1700.
What started as “Yesterday's Vision” became “Today's Reality.” And with Today’s Reality we now focus on our future and God’s vision for ministry and mission.
PHUMC Mission
Leading people to a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
PHUMC Values
At PHUMC we believe anyone can experience the Kingdom of God.
We have five core statements that we value:
Open-Hearted Generosity
We are people who give; sharing our resources wisely and connecting them with people.
Excellence in Christian Development
We relentlessly do our very best to honor God by teaching people the love of Jesus Christ.
Continuous Focus on the Future
We make investments in the next generation, raising children and youth to recognize their calling.
Commitment to Missions
We care for our community through mission and service, pushing through obstacles to connect people to a relationship with Jesus.
Passionate Participation
We are passionate about being involved, using all that we have to inspire people.
Experience Our Sunday Worship @ 10:00 AM
Live in person and streaming online on Facebook and at www.phumc.net
