Evangel Baptist Church is an independent fundamental baptist church that began as a Bible study in the home of David and Mary McClintic with the desire to start a church under the umbrella of Continental Baptist Missions. In 1993 a group of 13 believers along with missionaries Bill and Terri Jenkin signed a Covenant of Purpose and established Evangel Baptist Fellowship.

 

Evangel’s first Sunday morning service was in May of 1993 at the Sun-N-Fun RV Resort’s Garden Room. In October of that same year Evangel moved to the Women’s Resource Center in Sarasota, Florida and began meeting on Sunday and Wednesday evenings.

 

In May of 1995 the membership adopted a resolution to form Evangel Baptist Fellowship into a local church with all “the rights and privileges of a New Testament Church.” The Constitution and Statement of Faith was adopted and officers were elected.

 

In 1996 the congregation began using the Out of Door Academy and an AWANA program was established. God allowed the church to grow with individuals who accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

 

The property on Lorraine road in Lakewood Ranch was purchased in 1998 and the building plans began in October of that year.

 

In 1999 Evangel was recognized as an independent Baptist church. We moved to Haile Middle School which allowed for further growth. God began to bring in families to oversee areas of responsibilities. These were all signs that missionaries Bill and Terri were “working themselves out of a job.”

 

Under the leadership of Continental Baptist Missions’ missionary builders and with the help of volunteers, construction began in August 2002. The first service in the new facilities was held on March 30, 2003.

 

In 2004 Pastor Brent Hockema was called to be the pastor where he served until 2007.

 

Pastor Andy Goad was called to Evangel in January of 2009.