History

1960s

Meeting first in people’s homes, the church began as Davis Islands Community Church (DICC). The worship center was built in 1962, and the church grew as they expanded their property into offices and an education building.

1990s

Early in the 1990s, attendance at DICC dropped below 50 people. The leadership knew something needed to be done, so DICC sought to merge with Idlewild Baptist Church. In November 1995, Idlewild Baptist Church – Davis Islands held its first service as Idlewild’s “satellite” campus. On October 1, 1999, the church became an autonomous congregation and incorporated the name Davis Islands Baptist Church.

2002

The steady growth continued for Davis Islands Baptist Church. Under the pastoral leadership of Jeff Parish DIBC realized that they would need more space and sought the Lord for a solution.

2003

In January, Ballast Point Baptist Church experienced the same situation that DICC experienced in the mid-1990s. They sought out Davis Islands Baptist Church for a merger. Through continuing to seek the Lord’s will for the Ballast Point facilities and the need for space, DIBC began a building program.

2005

The leadership decided that the congregation needed an umbrella name that would identify us as a church regardless of the location. The umbrella name South Tampa Fellowship was adopted and two campuses delineated by adding the tags Davis Islands and Ballast Point.

2007

After two capital campaigns, major renovations, demolition, and construction, South Tampa Fellowship moved to a new Ballast Point Campus in November for the next phase of their growth and to reach a new community with the Good News of Christ.

2009

The Davis Islands Campus reopened for services at 11 a.m.

2012

By Easter, the Davis Islands Campus expanded to an additional service at 9:30 a.m.

2014

South Tampa Fellowship began its first strategic partnership with a church plant, Pangrango Baptist Church, in Jakarta, Indonesia. In December, Pangrango became the first international campus of STF.