God Called Me Here - Ballast Point Baptist and South Tampa Fellowship

In this episode, host Matt interviews Tom Sander, a longtime music minister who helped facilitate the merger between Ballast Point Baptist Church and Davis Islands Baptist Church (an extension of Idlewild Baptist) in Tampa, Florida in the early 2000s. Tom shares the story of how Ballast Point, despite having a healthy congregation, decided a merger was needed for revitalization and greater community impact rather than waiting until desperation set in.

3 Takeaways for Dying Churches:

• Let go.  Tom led Ballast Point through a merger even when it meant losing control and autonomy.  He helped others see that this was more important than their preferences. 
• Steady, committed leadership may be better than having a pastor who is a dynamic speaker.  
• Don't wait until your church is desperate for help. Make the best decisions for the future of your church while you have resources to offer.

Resources:

South Tampa Fellowship: https://stfchurch.com/

Idlewild Baptist Church: https://www.idlewild.org/