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Church expanding in Trinity

First Christian Church of Tarpon Springs also will change its name when it relocates.

By JODIE TILLMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 31, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - It has all but outgrown its current home, so fast-growing First Christian Church of Tarpon Springs wants to move to a new $17-million campus in the Trinity area.

First Christian, which conducts three Sunday services, has been bursting at the seams at its existing location on Keystone Road, officials say.

One problem is parking.

The church, which has fewer than 200 spaces, has to bus worshippers in from off-site parking at a nearby strip mall.

By contrast, the Trinity campus in southwest Pasco will have nearly 2,000 parking spaces.

So far, First Christian has raised roughly $11-million for the project: $8-million in pledges from individuals and $3-million in proceeds from the sale of its Tarpon Springs property, said Roy Erskine, church business administrator. The church will borrow the rest.

The new facility will have a worship auditorium that seats nearly 1,000 people as well as a cafe and Christian bookstore and meeting areas that could be used by community groups.

The project has not yet won all of its county permits, but officials of the 1,300-member church hope they can start construction in December and finish by spring 2009.

The 30-acre property is on the east side of Little Road, just south of Mitchell Ranch Boulevard and north of Trinity Boulevard. Across the street, under construction, is Trinity Town Center, an upscale shopping center that bills itself as Trinity's "Main Street."

That location is close to the homes of many church members who live in Trinity or Palm Harbor, as well as to other young families, professionals and retirees. And it's near the Suncoast Parkway.

First Christian is nondenominational and features contemporary services meant to appeal to a younger crowd. The auditorium, for instance, will feature a "performing arts" design, stadium-style seating and state-of-the-art sound, lighting and multimedia, church officials say.

"It's a very contemporary building with some pretty sophisticated technology," said Pastor Greg Johnson, who as a missionary in Kenya before joining First Christian five years ago.

The church's move also will mean a new name: Generations Christian Church at Trinity.

"One generation after another will worship in this place," Johnson said.

Once it finishes the $17-million first phase, First Christian also plans to build an administrative wing, an adult worship center and sports fields in future phases over the next decade.

First Christian isn't the first to propose a large church in the Trinity area. The Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg also owns property in the area and hopes to one day build a 1,200- to 1,500-seat church with room for a school and senior housing.

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or 727 869-6247.

[Last modified October 30, 2007, 21:48:28]