Tallahassee congregation launches new church, new buildings on the same day

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee Aug. 19 launched a new church across town, Fellowship of the Hills. Just over an hour later the church broke ground on two new buildings totaling $7.4 million at their own campus.

"Starting a new church across town while breaking ground on children's and music buildings are signs that we are serious about impacting our community with the truth and hope that can change people's lives," said Curtis Clark, senior pastor. "I've never known of another church to have the privilege of birthing a new church on the same day they were breaking ground for new buildings on their own site."

The 40,000 square foot preschool and children's building will double the church's education space for children from birth through fifth grade. The 5,800 sq. foot music building will provide needed rehearsal space and office space for the church's music ministry including the Academy of the Arts.

These buildings represent steps two and three in a four-part plan totaling more than $9.4 million. The first phase included a 15,000 square foot building for middle, high school and college students. The final phase will include remodeling the current preschool facilities for pastoral office space once the new buildings are complete.

The new church, Fellowship of the Hills, meets Sundays at 11 a.m. at Swift Creek Middle School. Clark said it is not an additional campus, but its own autonomous church. Thomasville Road considers itself the mother church and is a primary financial supporter in getting it started, he said.

"We are here to encourage and support them while they get their feet off the ground," Clark said.

Thomasville Road Baptist Church was started as a mission of First Baptist Church in Tallahassee 55 years ago. Fellowship of the Hills is the fourth area church started by Thomasville Road including Bradfordville First Baptist, Sonshine Community Church (which later merged with Canopy Roads Baptist) and CrossRoads Baptist Church in Beachton, Ga. Thomasville Road has also helped to start churches in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Mexico, Costa Rica and Haiti.

"Our church family wants to introduce the people of the Tallahassee region to their Creator. We have the single most important piece of information every person needs to understand and we want to share that truth in as many ways as possible," Clark said. "A new church and new buildings at our church are simply tools that will help us share God's love and train His followers."