Pastor Eric McCrea says farewell to island
After four years at the United Methodist Church on Pine Island, Pastor Eric McCrea is heading out to another church in Hernando, and making way for a newcomer on the island.
“In our system at the Methodist Church, we’re told by our district superintendent where we’re going, when it’s time for a change. I remember the phone call when I was told I was going to be coming to Pine Island, I said, ‘Great. Where is it?'” McCrea said with a chuckle.
Having come from Orlando, McCrea said, although he had heard of Cape Coral, he’d never been quite this far south. He and his wife found out very quickly that this is unlike any other place they’ve lived, admitting there was a bit of a culture shock.
“We immediately fell in love with the people and immediately fell in love with the church, because the church was so committed to the community,” said McCrea. “They’re just looking for ways to help people and that’s not always the case. Sometimes churches are inwardly focused so it was refreshing to be part of a church like that.”
McCrea said he hit the ground running at the church as Hurricane Irma blew through town just a short time after he began at Pine Island Methodist, and he said the family evacuated to his in-laws house in Orlando.
“I remember just eight hours before the storm was supposed to be here, looking at the track, and the track was literally going straight up Stringfellow Road. I thought, well, I know what I’m going to be doing for the next five years,” said McCrea, assuming this might be another Hurricane Charley, which devastated the island a number of years ago.
Shortly after the hurricane, a capital campaign was started in order to renovate the campus facilities, which remains ongoing, and then in 2020, the pandemic hit, forcing McCrea to do things unconventionally in order to continue serving his congregation. Because the church was already focused on people in need, he said, the island adapted quickly to do whatever was necessary to help and feed people.
“Something that helped me and the congregation was that I started writing a daily devotional just to connect with people and encourage them. It turned out to be one of the most well-received things I’ve done,” said McCrea.
One of the things he finds most impressive about Pine Island, McCrea said, is the way islanders seem to rally around one another and ban together in times of trouble, despite varying opinions, which often differ. He admits he’s learned much about ministry in his time here, such as the realization that what won’t work in one place, just may in another.
“I told our leaders about two years in, the things I’ve been told in 25 years of ministry that will not work anywhere, work here,” said McCrea. “It’s taught me not to make assumptions about communities as far as what will and won’t work. Just pay attention to what people are doing and find what might be needed at that particular time.”
McCrea said he believes the reason things work on Pine Island that have proven fruitless elsewhere is because of the various island organizations, adding that it makes sense to partner with all of them.
He said this is what he signed up for and he goes where he’s sent, however, leaving the island is very difficult and he admits he could see himself retiring here very easily.
“I just love this church and this community,” said McCrea. “They rally for each other and I think that’s really cool. I wish every blessing on all the islanders I also wish great success for my successor, Kaylee Vida.”