Burnt Store Presbyterian Church

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church

Our Story

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church began with a simple but faithful vision: to plant a Christ-centered, Reformed congregation in the southern part of Charlotte County.

On March 20, 1983, twenty-seven men and women gathered with the hope that God was calling them to form a new church along the growing Burnt Store Road corridor. They could see that Punta Gorda was expanding southward, and they believed this community would need a congregation rooted in Scripture, shaped by grace, and committed to serving its neighbors.

That first faithful step has grown into more than four decades of worship, fellowship, mission, and ministry.

BSPC’s first building was dedicated in 1985, followed by an education facility in 1988. Our current sanctuary hosted its first worship service on November 4, 2001, giving the congregation a beautiful and welcoming space to gather for worship, prayer, and service.

Over the years, God has blessed this congregation through the leadership of faithful pastors, elders, deacons, staff, volunteers, and members. The Rev. John Stump served as the organizing pastor.

What We Believe

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), standing in the Reformed tradition of Christian faith.

At the center of our life is Jesus Christ. We believe that in him, God has come near to us in grace and truth. Through his life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return, we are given forgiveness, hope, and new life.

We believe in the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and we trust the Bible as the inspired and authoritative witness to God’s saving work in Jesus Christ. The Apostles’ Creed offers a helpful summary of the faith we share with Christians across the world and throughout the centuries.

We believe that salvation is God’s gift: by grace alone, through faith. We do not earn our way into God’s love; we receive it with gratitude and respond with lives of worship, service, and discipleship.

We celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and Communion as visible signs of God’s grace. In Baptism, we are claimed by God and welcomed into the covenant community. At the Lord’s Table, we are nourished by Christ and reminded that grace is not merely an idea to admire, but a gift to receive.

We also believe that the Church is called not only to gather, but to go. Jesus Christ sends his people into a broken and hurting world as ambassadors of grace, peace, justice, reconciliation, and hope.

So, whether you are new to faith, returning after time away, searching for a church home, or simply wondering what this whole “church thing” is about, we would be glad to welcome you.

There is room for you here.

Our Logo

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church’s logo brings together two simple, meaningful symbols: the flame and the cross.

The flame recalls both our name and the presence of the Holy Spirit, whose fire gives life, courage, and mission to the Church. Its flowing shape suggests movement – a congregation gathered by God, shaped by grace, and sent into the world with purpose. The three rising forms within the flame also gently echo the mystery of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

At the heart of the logo is the cross, shown in burnt orange. It reminds us that Jesus Christ stands at the center of who we are and all we do – our worship, our welcome, our service, and our hope.

This updated logo honors the spirit of the previous design while giving it a cleaner, simpler, and more contemporary form. As BSPC continues to welcome neighbors, newcomers, families, and friends into the life of our congregation, the new logo helps communicate who we are with clarity: a Christ-centered church, alive in the Spirit, reaching up in worship and reaching out in love.