In 2005, the Tucker’s and Perry’s met through the small group ministry of North Wake Church in Wake Forest, NC. Both families moved to the Wake Forest area for the purpose of attending graduate school at Southeastern Seminary with hopes of being equipped to plant and lead a local church. As our families walked alongside one another in ministry at North Wake, Justin and Drew entered the church planting internship and residency programs under the leadership of the elders at North Wake. Through the direction of the Spirit and the counsel of church leaders and friends, we decided to join together for the purpose of planting Covenant Life Church.
Why Tampa?
We prayed through and compiled a list of characteristics about the type of city that we would love to give our lives to. The profile included:
1. Growing in population
- We moved to Tampa with the idea that we would serve this city for the rest of our lives. With that in mind, it was our desire to start a church in Tampa on the cusp of rapid population growth, understanding that this could be one of the country’s most influential cities 25 years from now.
2. Lacking an urban church planting movement
- With very little to no church planting work happening in urban Tampa, we see an opportunity to, by God’s grace, be on the front end of a church planting movement in and around downtown Tampa for the glory of God.
3. Diverse
- Tampa is rich with diversity across all spectrums – ethnically, socio-economically, and generationally. It is our desire that Covenant Life would accurately reflect the diversity in our city. Tampa inhales the world and we believe has the potential to exhale the gospel.
4. Home to University Students
- The university acts as a missionary sending agency for students with a love for the gospel and local church. We desire to disciple students and send them out on mission as they take jobs across our nation and world.
Not only does this profile capture our hearts desire, but it also characterizes Tampa! In God’s kindness, we are living in and ministering to the city of our dreams! In May 2009, our families relocated from North Carolina to Tampa. For the first few months we began the lifelong process of getting to know the culture and people of our city. God allowed us to meet a vast array of people…people who had prayed for years for a church like CLC, people who would prove to be persons of peace for us in the city, people who would hear the gospel for the first time, and everything in between. It was evident that HE was working here and by His grace we were getting to join Him in His mission here in Tampa.
In September ’09, we began worshipping together as a core group on Sunday evenings, working our way through CLC’s mission statement and values as well as three series: Who is Jesus, New Beginnings, and Why the Church. This time was not a “public launch” rather served as the venue whereby our core group was taught and united until we were ready for the next step. We also began (and still continue) gathering weekly as a missional community whereby we seek to apply God’s word to our lives through study and accountability.
In March ’10, God answered our prayers in providing a meeting space for CLC. The faith family of FBC Tampa agreed to give us access to the Culbreath Chapel for a season. The last Sunday in March ’10 we covenanted together as a church, accepting 13 members. Over the last year we have seen God continue to build his church in Tampa. We are gaining traction in our neighborhoods as we seek to consistently live out the gospel with one another and among those with physical and spiritual needs. We have seen partnerships born with The City of Tampa, Madison Middle School, Trinity Cafe, The University of Tampa, Davis Islands, and several other Tampa businesses & organizations. In April ’11 we celebrated our one year birthday as a church. This year we have grown from 1 missional community to three – and from 13 members to 30 with several regular attenders going through the membership process and we write.
Although brief, our story has been rich in the grace, providence, and kindness of God. We are confident that greater things are to come for Tampa, and are humbled that God would work through us in our city. We invite you to pray for us and join with us as we join God on His mission for redeeming a people unto Himself.
