Welcome to First Sarasota
Thinking of planning a visit? Find out more info below.
Experience What God is Doing Here
We are Christ-centered multigenerational church located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, and we would love to invite you to visit our family.
Meet our Senior Pastor
Dr. John Cross
Senior Pastor
Dr. John Cross became a follower of Jesus when he was 11 years old while at church camp. Just three years later, God began to tug on his heart with a call to the ministry.
By the age of 17, he began preaching. He is a graduate from Mercer University in 1986 and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1990 and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in 2006. He was the President of the Florida Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in 1994. He was the President of the Florida Baptist State Convention in 2009 and 2010.
Over three decades he has served churches in Georgia, Florida, and Texas.
