Our Vision
We seek to be a neighborhood church right in the walkable community of Channelside, in downtown Tampa! We love what is happening here in Channelside, and are looking to join in the transformation by working for the spiritual transformation of our great city in hopes of seeing the gospel of Jesus transform us, our city, and our world.
Inviting Neighbors to Find Identity in Jesus Christ
We look to be a hospitable presence by inviting our neighbors into our homes and into our community and helping one another discover a flourishing life with God and an identity transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
We believe this newfound identity "in Christ" is evidenced in at least three ways. In essence, these three identities answer the question for us: "What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?"
Jesus creates a whole new humanity and invites us into a family where we are adopted by God and live amongst brothers and sisters in Christ. This new community shares their lives with one another and cultivates a culture of authenticity and belonging.
We follow Jesus by rehearsing and reflecting the beauty of the gospel in our lives, by seeking to be formed through the spiritual practices, and by obeying all that he has commanded us.
The gospel leads us outward, from selfishness to selflessness, to serve our city and show God’s love in tangible ways by lifting up those in need and doing good work that benefits others.
Our Values
We have six guiding values that we pray will be embodied in our community.
Gospel Centrality
The gospel is the glorious story of God’s saving grace through faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Believers and nonbelievers alike need to constantly behold and be changed by the gospel, so we strive to keep it at the forefront of everything we do in the life of our church.
Christlike Humility
Just as humility is Christ’s cornerstone virtue, we strive for it to be ours as well and our general posture towards the city. Jesus lowered himself for us, so we look to serve rather than be served by others.
Biblical Authority
We don’t change the Bible to fit our lives; we conform our lives to God’s beautiful design as revealed in the Scriptures. The Bible is our ultimate source of truth, reveals the character of God, and directs our every step.
Radical Hospitality
Instead of living behind locked doors, we open our homes and our hearts to get to know our neighbors and all those that God puts in our path. We communicate that we truly care by looking to share our lives with those inside and outside of our faith community.
Spirit Empowerment
We strive to be filled with and follow after the Holy Spirit of God to be empowered for daily living, be united as the family of God, and be emboldened to live as His witnesses in the world.
Transformative Work
The gospel changes why we work, how we work, and how we see our work. This means we integrate our faith and work by stewarding the positions God has given us for the glory of God and the benefit of others.
Our Vision Video
Listen to John share the vision for The Church at Channelside and how you can get involved!