Our History

Ten years ago at this time a few people began gathering in Pastor David Haara’s home on Sunday evenings to begin talk of starting a new church in the New Tampa area. On the last Sunday of November of 1998, weekly worship started at a small storefront in the Pebble Creek collection. At this time property (our present 31 acre campus) was found on Bruce B. Downs and plans began for our first building. The group adopted a constitution and became Family of Christ Lutheran Church in March of 1999. With the blessings of an incredibly beautiful campus on Bruce B. Downs, plans were made to have a church that emphasized youth and children and the family that is created by the grace of Christ. Our first building was a multi-use worship space and classroom facility that ministered to children during the week, and was our house of worship during the weekend. We initially had Early Childhood education and Kindergarten as our first building opened in the last part of 1999. Over the coming years we added a grade each year to the elementary school, and now reach up to include the 8th grade and have further expanded the early childhood education program. The church has continued to grow through all of these years and now we are looking at ways that we can further serve our Savior and this world in the future.

Our Blessings

Four years ago we had a church wide-campaign, “Growing Together in Christ.” The goal was to build our current sanctuary. Due to debt from our property purchase and development of the property and our first two buildings we had little or no credit available. In spite of this Family of Christ as a congregation, decided to build by faith and trust that our Lord would empower the mission of His church. As a family of faith we gave generously to this building program to build our current church. The cost of the building was about one and a half million dollars. With donations of dollars, labor, materials, and furniture we were able to raise almost one million dollars of the cost of the building. For the balance of the building’s costs, members of Family of Christ loaned the church about $550,000.00. These notes we promised to pay back within five years.

Our Plan

This fall we are embarking on another campaign that continues the purpose and vision of our congregation, titled “Growing Together to Serve.” Part of this vision is to pay back all of the member loans within the next three years. We are going to be asking ourselves how have we been blessed by our Lord and what is it that we are able to do to further the work of this congregation. We are also going to be seeking to get at least 80% of those who regularly attend Family of Christ actively involved in some type of ministry. To achieve this we are going to need to start many new ministries. Part of growing in our faith and growing in Christ is taking His words and actions to heart and not as much seeing what I can get from Jesus, but growing to say, “Lord, how and where can I serve?”

Our Future

As a ten year old church in many ways we have the possibilities and potential of a nine-year-old child. It is remarkable what God has done here in such a short time. What God has done in the past is small compared to what God will do and plans to do for each of us. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)