OUR STORY

     Candlewood Community Church began as a vision statement many years ago at Oakwood Community Church (Carrollwood area of Tampa).  In 2006 it was clear that God was putting together a team to bring it into reality.  Oakwood's Minister of Congregational Life, Pastor Ron Day, and his wife, Ardell, along with a Church Multiplication Task Force were identified as God's appointed leaders to launch a daughter church in Pasco County, north of Tampa.  The target area was broadly defined as Highway 54 north to Highway 52 between the Suncoast Parkway and I-75.

    The Task Force set out to put the wheels in motion for a 2007 launch into weekly services.  Beginning in June 2006 the Task Force busily put together Philosophies of Ministry, Policies, Values, Constitution and Bylaws, Name Selection, Incorporation Papers, Meeting Site Selection, etc. to name but a few of the projects they completed.

    In December 2006 the Task Force hosted several Considering Candlewood sessions at Oakwood to pull together a Launch Team from Oakwood that would make up the core of the new church.  Everyone who lived near the target area was invited to find out all about the new venture and consider their involvement in the new church.  About 35 adults, teens, and children made up the Launch Team from Oakwood.  Others were soon added from the target area.

    Two Preview Worship Services and two Come Get Acquainted with Us events were planned for January and February 2007.  These services and social events were designed to build momentum, provide time for refinements, and introduce ourselves to the community.

    Weekly services were launched on March 4, 2007 at Pine View Middle School (5334 Parkway Blvd) in Land O' Lakes.  A leadership team was formed to function like elders and deacons, but only an advisory group until full autonomy was achieved.  This team was called the T.A.G. (Transitional Advisory Group) Team.  By early November, 2007 it was apparent that full autonomy could be achieved by the new year ~ all of the prerequisites set by the Mother Church were well in hand.  All of the behind the scenes documents and legal steps were in place.  All of the finances were fully covered by the Candlewood family.

    On November 29, 2007 the Elders of Oakwood officially gave their Blessing of Autonomy to Candlewood Community Church at a dinner meeting that included the giving of testimonies of faith in Christ by 24 Oakwood members ready to transfer their membership to Candlewood.  A Considering Candlewood session was held on a couple of occasions preparing an additonal nine members to be added at Candlewood's Annual Family Meeting on December 9, 2007 bringing the Charter Membership to 33.

    Candlewood's T.A.G. Team was dissolved effective January 1, 2008 with full autonomy and membership in the EFCA-SE District of the Evangelical Free Church of America.  Also at the Family Meeting an official call to Pastor Ron Day was affirmed and two Elders and two Deacons were affirmed to form the Leadership Team.  The budget for 2008 (the first full year of operation) was approved as well.

    This is the brief version of our story.  We would love to hear your story.  Perhaps God is planning on combining our stories to His glory!

OUR AFFILIATIONS

We are a member church of the EFCA-SE District of the Evangelical Free Church of America.

OUR BELIEFS

Here is a link to the EFCA Statement of Faith.