Our Time is Now to
Rebuild for the Future.
For 123 years, First Sarasota has been a pillar of faith in downtown Sarasota. Now, we have the opportunity to reimagine and rebuild God’s house- ensuring it continues to serve and inspire current and future generations to follow Jesus.
What Your Gift Will Do
Rebuild & Restore
Our campus is ready for transformation to meet current standards and practices—by enhancing safety, accessibility, and infrastructure, we’re building a stronger, more welcoming church.
Welcome & Connect
A beautiful new Welcome Center & Coffee Shop that fosters connections and community.
Invest in the Next Generation
New Student Ministry area, cutting-edge technology, and family baptistry spaces to inspire faith and growth.
Expand Our Impact
1,000-person park on Main Street for concerts, family events & community gatherings.
What the Future Looks Like
A Grand First Impression
A beautifully designed Welcome
Center that warmly invites every
person who walks through our
doors from the parking lot or Main Street.
A Place of Worship, Reimagined
A renewed sanctuary with updated seating, lighting, video, and sound—creating an inspiring space to encounter God.
A Hub for Connection
A welcoming area with a coffee shop, handicap accessibility to the Sanctuary & Kids Ministry areas, and much needed restrooms.
An Iconic Structure of Our 123-Year Legacy
A beautifully renovated historic chapel to host weekly worship gatherings, prayer gatherings, and celebrations of life.
A Gathering Place for Our Community
A 1,000-person outdoor park on for concerts, family celebrations, and outreach events- sharing Jesus on Main Street.
A Place to Belong
A bright, connection and
community space where First-time guests feel at home and families can celebrate Believer’s Baptism together.
Our Current Reality
Luke 1:37 “Nothing is impossible with God”
For over a century, First Sarasota has been a place where lives are changed, faith is strengthened, and community is built. Our current reality presents a critical opportunity to address key challenges, bring our church up to code, and ensure that everyone can safely worship together in a welcoming, accessible
space.
✝️ Fire Safety: The Sanctuary & Chapel need fire sprinklers and suppression systems.
✝️ Accessibility: The campus lacks ADA compliance features, including handicap-accessible kids’ spaces.
✝️ Infrastructure: Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems are obsolete and deteriorating.
✝️ Climate Control: AC and heating systems need modern temperature regulation for comfort and efficiency.
✝️ Code Compliance: Our buildings are more than 15 years behind city code life-safety requirements for public spaces.
The Whatever It Takes: Spiritual Growth Initiative was birthed from the heartbeat of First Sarasota—“By faith, doing whatever it takes to make Christ known.” We believe God is already at work through Whatever It Takes and will continue to move powerfully— He wants you to be a part of it!
We are believing God for Luke 1:37: “Nothing is
impossible with God.” The “1” represents the 1 million people within the local reach of First Sarasota who need Jesus, and the “37” represents the $37 million needed to prepare God’s house at First Sarasota to minister to them. Both seem like impossible tasks, but with God, nothing is impossible!
1,000,000
PEOPLE WITHIN THE LOCAL REACH OF FIRST SARASOTA
37,000,000
$37M IS Needed to PREPARE GOD'S HOUSE TO reACH THEM
Whatever It Takes – The Time Is Now.
Now is our time to do for others, what others have done for us in the past. This is so much more than a building project, its a chance to ensure that First Sarasota remains a beacon to downtown Sarasota and beyond for current and future generations.
God has given us the vision. This is our moment to honor Him. To build His house. To do WHATEVER IT TAKES! Will you answer the call?
Watch the video to see how together, we can create a place where faith flourishes, families gather, and the gospel reaches more people than ever before.
“Nothing is impossible with God”
Luke 1:37
What the Future Looks Like
Spears’ Family Journey of Endurance and Grace
A journey of faith, from a courthouse elopement to enduring miscarriages and witnessing miracle pregnancies. Rooted in their First Sarasota Baptist Church community, their story is one of resilience, spiritual growth, and unwavering belief.
Livingston Family’s Journey of Faith Revival
They rediscovered their faith after moving to Sarasota. Through First Sarasota Baptist Church, they rededicated their lives to Christ, embraced obedience, and found blessings in unexpected ways—all while building a faith-filled future for their children.
Naumets Family’s Journey of Faith Refuge
Fleeing war-torn Ukraine, the Naumets found refuge and renewed faith in Sarasota. Their journey—from personal loss to spiritual rebirth—led them to First Sarasota Baptist Church, where they embraced a new mission and community through the “Whatever It Takes” initiative.
Building the Future on a Century of Faith
Longtime members of First Sarasota share stories of faith and family rooted in over a century of ministry. Through the “Whatever It Takes” campaign, they cast a vision to refresh the church campus and ensure its legacy continues for future generations.
FAQ
We understand this is a bold step of faith for First Sarasota, and you may be wondering how it all comes together. Below, we’ve answered the most pressing questions about why we’re rebuilding now, how your support directly impacts our church’s future, and the vital role you can play in this historic moment.
Who is our architect and contractor?
Don Lawson is the principal architect. He is no stranger to our church or city. He has designed buildings across the Southeast and dozens of projects in Sarasota, and he has assisted our church with previous building projects. He has designed over 400 churches across the country.
Our construction contractor is DeAngelis Diamond, the same group that assisted us with the renovation of our children’s building. They are based in Naples, Florida, and have a satellite location in Sarasota.
Each of these companies has extensive portfolios that can be viewed on their websites. lawsongroup.net deangelisdiamond.com
How long will the project take to complete and where will we meet during construction?
We anticipate the project will take 16-18 months to complete. Many factors could affect the timeline such as the availability of materials, weather, and unforeseen challenges.
The classic and modern worship services will be held in the Family Life Center. All other gatherings such as Bible study, meetings, and fellowships will occur in the Annex, children’s building, and offsite locations.
When will construction begin and will we borrow money?
Construction will begin once sufficient resources have been committed and received. If necessary, the finance committee and trustees may propose a short-term bridge loan for church approval to ensure progress during construction. However, we do not plan to take on any long-term debt.
Could we do this project in phases?
By completing the entire project at once, we experience significant cost savings, minimize disruptions by allowing the contractors access to the entire project, and ensure a seamless transformation. Each aspect of the project is interconnected, making a comprehensive approach the necessary path forward. Now is our opportunity to address deferred maintenance and to update our campus for current and future generations.
How did we arrive at this point?
Before Dr. Cross became our pastor in September 2020, he met with leaders to discuss the needs of our church buildings. Later, a Vision Team was formed to investigate how to address deferred maintenance issues and to discover ways our campus could be reimagined for current and future ministry to downtown Sarasota and throughout our region. Throughout this process, the team has and continues to seek guidance from experienced development and construction professionals, ensuring informed and strategic planning.
As mounting expenses and issues continued to rise with our facilities, we have determined that we no longer have time to wait. We must act now to preserve the ministry that we believe God has assigned us.
How long are the pledges and what if I make a pledge and my circumstances change later?
A pledge to this project is between you and God. We are using the total of all the pledges for project and financial planning. You reserve the right to update your pledge at any time, should you need to do so. We are encouraging you to pray for your best upfront offering and a two-year commitment. If completing your pledge within two years isn’t feasible, you’re welcome to extend your commitment beyond that timeframe. We are grateful for your generosity.
Is my pledge instead of my tithe or in addition to it?
A pledge to Whatever It Takes: Spiritual Growth Initiative is in addition to your regular tithe. Our tithe is what we bring to God as an act of obedience and stewardship. A gift to this project should be above your tithe and considered an offering unto the Lord. (Malachi 3:10)
