Covenant Hope Church family and visitors,
I am writing to share some exciting news about our relocation to Azalea Recreation Center in West St. Pete beginning Sunday, January 5, 2025.
After much prayer, thoughtful weighing of alternatives, and seeking God’s direction, we believe this move is part of His plan for our future and growth.
There are a few reasons behind this decision that I want to share with you.
A Space That Stands Apart
For the last two years, we have been blessed to meet in the Fellowship Hall of Legacy Church at North East Park. Its members have kindly provided us a place to conduct our Sunday worship services, classes, and member meetings. However, sharing a space with another church has constrained our church’s schedule and activities, has often confused people looking for us, and can be unappealing to those considering membership.
In light of those limitations, and as our church’s circumstances and needs have changed, we were led to a new location on the west side of St. Petersburg. Beginning January 5, 2025, we will meet at the located at 1600 72nd Street N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710.
Meeting at the Azalea Recreation Center gives us the freedom to gather for worship and children’s ministry at a time of our choosing and without any other churches meeting in the same space or nearby. That makes us physically distinct and gives us more autonomy. We pray that this will allow us to reach more people and minimize any obstacles that might prevent visitors from finding us.
We also love the amenities provided by this facility and the surrounding area. Within 100 yards of the recreation center there are a playground, two pavilions, and more restrooms. There are also baseball and soccer fields and a disc golf course nearby. This facilitates our interactions with locals and gives us the ability to meet for fellowship before or after our Sunday worship services and various times throughout the week.
Reaching the Lost in a New Part of the City
With current members living in different areas of Pinellas County, St. Petersburg and Tampa, God has kindly allowed us to minister to many. We are excited that this new location will give us the opportunity to touch more lives with the gospel in west St. Pete and beyond. By relocating to a different area of the city, we will also be more accessible to people who have not been able to join us on Sundays before.
Thus, this new location allows us to step into new neighborhoods, reach the lost, and invite those who need Christ into a welcoming space. We are excited to see how God will use this move to further His kingdom.
Giving Back to Our Community
Finally, this move will also help us give back to the community we serve. We have always sought to be a church that not only ministers to our own members and those who gather with us, but also actively serves our neighbors. By establishing ourselves in a new area of St. Pete, we’ll be able to increase our community outreach on the west side of the city, partner with other local organizations, and become an even greater presence for good in the lives of those around us. This is an opportunity to show the love of Christ in practical ways and to be a beacon of hope for all.
We know that change can sometimes be challenging, but we are thankful that God is leading us in this direction and has provided a new place for us to gather. We are excited about the future and the new opportunities that await us.
So, where do we go from here? Please pray with us as we take this step forward, trusting that God will guide us and provide for all our needs. Then, join us Sunday, January 5, as we kick off a new sermon series in 1 John in an all-new place, the Azalea Recreation Center!
Thank you for your continued faithfulness, support, and commitment to our mission. Together, we are moving forward to be a light in our city, and we cannot wait to see all that God will do through this new chapter in our church’s journey.
In the love of Christ,
Ronnie Rentz
Lead Pastor, Covenant Hope Church