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Christ Fellowship Church is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newly renovated Historic Downtown Campus, a project that has been six years in the making. This exciting milestone will extend the church’s reach and impact throughout the city. The Grand Opening took place on Sunday, December 8th, with services at 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM, and 12:30 PM.
Mayor of Miami, Francis X. Suarez, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and gave a speech saying, “…We can’t do it without Jesus. He needs to help us, he needs to guide us, he needs to lift us, and with his help, we can do anything, we have no limits, and this building is an example of that.”
For over a century, the congregation of Christ Fellowship’s Downtown Campus has been a beacon of hope and light in the City of Miami. The historic building closed its doors in 2018 for a much-needed transformation. After six years of renovations and remodeling, this beloved landmark is now open to all. The church invites the community to attend their Sunday services at 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM, and 12:30 PM.
Location and Parking
The Historic Downtown Campus is located at 500 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132, with complimentary, convenient parking provided for attendees. Christ Fellowship Church encourages guests to arrive early and to attend the 9:00 AM or 12:30 PM services, as space may be limited during their most popular service time, 10:45 AM.
To make planning easy, the church has provided detailed information about their free parking on Sundays. In addition, they have free parking on weekdays for guests attending their Young Adults gatherings and their Wednesday Family Night.
The Journey to Restoration
Just two days before the City of Miami was founded, American businessman John Sewell and Reverend John R. Jester founded First Baptist Church on July 26, 1896. The church did not have a formal building, so the congregation shared a tent with a Presbyterian church until August of 1898. As Miami grew, so did the church, allowing them to secure their own land and eventually build the four-story Neoclassical structure known today as Christ Fellowship Church’s Historic Downtown Campus.
This 1920s landmark was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1989. At this time, the church had been renamed to “Central Baptist Church,” and thousands attended their English, Spanish, French Creole and Portuguese services. However, on October 21, 2007, after years of decline in attendance, Central Baptist Church voted to merge with Christ Fellowship Church.
Over the years, the building had deteriorated and was in much need of updated plumbing and electrical features. Christ Fellowship Church was faced with major structural issues, including a rotted foundation. Hence, the church began calculating what it would cost to restore the building back to its former glory.
To fund the expensive project, Christ Fellowship Church sold the Downtown Campus parking lot to developers, who planned to build mixed-use condos on the land. When all was said and done, and after experiencing two years’ worth of delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, the project would cost upwards of $20 million. The church began renovations in 2018, and over the next six years, they kept as many historic features of the building as possible.
Whatever was original to the Renaissance Revival architecture and could be salvaged, the church kept and restored, such as the 120-lightbulb chandelier, the original organ with over ten miles of wiring, and the same wooden pews that the members of First Baptist Church sat on. As for the rest of the building that had already been updated throughout the decades, Christ Fellowship Church turned it into state-of-the-art facilities for families to enjoy.
This restored campus marks an important step in Christ Fellowship Church’s mission to reach and serve the community. The Historic Downtown Campus is a welcoming space where
individuals and families can come together to experience the hope of the gospel, worship with live music, and form lasting relationships with people.
A Church for the Whole Family
Christ Fellowship Church’s mission, “Helping you and your family follow Jesus,” is the foundation of their three generational ministries—CF Kids, CF Students, and CF Young Adults.
The CF Kids ministry provides a safe and fun Bible-based experience designed for children. This ministry is available to children every Sunday during service for kids as young as newborns to as old as fifth graders. Parents are encouraged to drop off their children in the newly renovated state-of-the-art CF Kids area before the service starts.
Christ Fellowship Church also provides a “Wednesday Family Night” at the Historic Downtown Campus every Wednesday at 7:00 PM. Through their CF Students ministry, this night provides a service designed for middle and high schoolers to worship with live music, make friends, and learn about God. Additionally, on this night, the church offers Small Groups for adults and free childcare from their CF Kids ministry.
On Tuesdays at 7:30 PM, their CF Young Adults ministry is available to all adults in the ages of 18 to 29. A gathering designed to foster community and a sense of belonging, it includes a corporate Bible study and a time for the adults to break out into smaller groups to discuss their thoughts, experiences, and struggles.
A Community-Focused Mission
The Historic Downtown Campus is more than just a new location; it is an opportunity for Christ Fellowship Church to deepen its connection with the city. With its modern amenities, strategic downtown location, and commitment to sharing the hope of Jesus Christ, the campus is set to become a pivotal space for outreach, worship, and service to Miami’s diverse communities.
Christ Fellowship Church also serves the community through its non-profit organization, Caring for Miami. This initiative provides critical resources to underserved communities through its three main programs.
“Weekend Meals for Kids” (also known as “The Backpack Program”) provides free, nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals to children in need at Title I schools when school meals are unavailable. The “Mobile Dental Clinic” provides free comprehensive dental care to low-income and uninsured individuals in Miami-Dade County by way of a mobile unit. Lastly, the “Mobile
Market” addresses food insecurity by distributing fresh, healthy foods at no cost to underserved neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County.
Christ Fellowship Church and Caring for Miami plan to expand these three programs in the coming year by raising $555,500 through their Christmas offering campaign, “For the Least of These.”
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