Palm Avenue Baptist Church is being replanted as a vibrant, healthy church for one of Tampa's most dynamic neighborhoods — carrying forward a faithful legacy into a new generation.
Organized on February 1, 1900, Palm Avenue Baptist Church grew from seventy-six founding members into one of Tampa's largest and most influential congregations — a faithful witness in the heart of the city for more than a century.
Over time, as the neighborhood changed, the congregation diminished and the facilities declined. But unlike many historic churches whose buildings have become secular properties, PABC's story isn't ending. It's being rewritten.
More than five years ago, Idlewild's pastoral leadership began praying alongside the existing members of PABC. Over time, the Lord moved in the hearts of PABC to ask Idlewild to replant in their facility, with their current membership joining the replant congregation.
Tampa Heights is growing — exponentially. We believe the Lord is calling us to plant a healthy church with Idlewild DNA that can reach this community for generations to come.
To be a compelling community grounded in the Bible, led in prayer, where members are cared for and work together on mission — developing disciples who impact the nations.
Tampa Heights is one of Tampa's most rapidly evolving neighborhoods — home to a growing population of young professionals alongside legacy residents who've shaped this community for decades. Both need the gospel. Both belong at Palm Avenue.
Median age 36 · 40.8% are 25–44 · 60% are renters
12.3% over age 65 · 23% of seniors below poverty line
A clear runway with multiple on-ramps. Whether you want to learn more or commit fully, here's how the next few months take shape.
Two opportunities to hear the vision, meet Pastor Kevin, and ask questions.
Three Sundays to worship together as the replant congregation begins forming.
The replant team is sent and commissioned at the Idlewild Lutz campus.
Palm Avenue's first Sunday worship service — open to all of Tampa Heights.
We're praying for everyone in our congregation to be part of this work — at whatever level the Lord is calling. Start where you are. The Spirit will lead from there.
Lift up PABC, the launch team, and Tampa Heights. We've shared specific prayer points to guide you.
See prayer points →Attend an info meeting on June 7th, 17th or 28th, 2026.
RSVP for a meeting →We're praying for 20+ families and singles who will commit to consistent attendance, service, fellowship, and giving.
Express your interest →Pastor, Ministry Director, Music Leader, and Next Gen Leader roles will open as the launch nears.
Listings coming soonBelow are the questions we hear most. If you don't see yours, reach out — we'd love to talk.
More than five years ago, Idlewild's pastoral leadership began praying alongside PABC's existing members as we observed the growth in Tampa Heights. Over time, the Lord moved in the hearts of PABC to ask us to replant in their facility, with their current membership joining the replant congregation.
Three convictions drive us:
The vision will be the same as Idlewild Baptist Church: to be a compelling community grounded in the Bible, led in prayer, where members are cared for and work together on mission, developing disciples who impact the nations.
The strategy is to infuse this vision — along with our theological and missiological convictions — into the culture of Tampa Heights as a gospel witness. Services will be Christ-centered with expositional preaching and authentic worship. PABC will hold to the same theological positions as Idlewild.
PABC will function as a campus of Idlewild Baptist Church and benefit from Idlewild's leadership and resources as it is established. We expect the initial replant period to last several years as the church establishes itself in the community and as a congregation.
PABC will share the same statement of belief as Idlewild. The campus will fall under Idlewild's leadership, similar to our Hispanic and Sulphur Springs congregations.
Tampa Heights is home to two primary communities, both of whom need a gospel witness:
Young Professionals — The median age is 36, with 40.8% in the 25–44 range. 87.9% work in professional or administrative roles, often with flex-schedule rhythms. They use third spaces — cafes, breweries, co-working spaces — and face isolation in high-turnover rentals, anxiety from financial strain, and overwork.
Legacy Residents — Long-time Tampa Heights residents, many over 65 (12.3% of the population), often on fixed incomes. 23% of seniors live below the poverty line. They face healthcare and mental health needs, housing affordability concerns (median home price $652K), and fear of displacement as the neighborhood changes.
Idlewild is sending a church-planting team and congregation to replant PABC. We expect the majority of the team to be made up of lay leaders from our Lutz campus who feel the Lord calling them to be part of this replant. We're recruiting lay leaders for Next Gen, Connections, Worship, Small Groups, and more.
Kevin Baggett, Global Missions Pastor, will lead the replant of PABC. Our Worship and Next Gen teams will provide leadership in those areas as we hire additional staff. Open positions include:
Initially, Pastor Kevin will be the regular preaching pastor, with other Idlewild staff pastors and cohort members providing occasional preaching.
Significant renovation work must be done on the current PABC facilities. A team from Idlewild is preparing plans to evaluate, restore, and update the buildings so the church plant can eventually meet and worship in the historic church building.
Our goal is to restore the buildings in a way that honors and maintains the history of PABC while modernizing the facilities to accommodate worship services, children's areas, small groups, and common gathering spaces. The completed facilities will be clean, efficient, and welcoming — and we're planning for high usage by both the church and the wider community.
We're planting a congregation of Christ followers — a family of faith — rather than rebuilding a building. We're developing plans to gather in an appropriate space near the current facilities that will offer a clean, inviting environment for worship and Next Gen ministries on Sunday mornings.
Our preliminary plan (if space allows) is one service at 10:30 AM with childcare (birth–PreK), Sunday morning small groups for children, and classes for students and adults before and/or after the service.
Our goal is to begin regular services on August 16, 2026. The replant team and congregation will be commissioned at Idlewild on August 9. Before then:
Our preliminary plan (if the meeting space allows) is one service at 10:30 AM with childcare (birth–PreK). Sunday morning small groups will be offered for children, with classes for students and adults before and/or after the service.
If the space allows and we have sufficient volunteers, we'd love to offer Next Gen activities during the week as well. As part of the Idlewild family of churches, PABC attendees will always be welcome to participate in ministry activities at the Lutz campus.
We know there will be some in our congregation who attend PABC for a season as they discern where the Lord is calling them to worship. But we're also praying for 20+ families and singles to make a deeper commitment.
For those planning to serve at PABC, we're asking for a 24-month commitment that includes:
We're recruiting lay leaders across several ministry areas:
Before we recruit a single team member or renovate a single room, we ask one thing — that you'd join us in prayer for what the Lord is doing in Tampa Heights.
Whether you're sensing a call to the launch team, considering an open staff role, or just curious about what's happening in Tampa Heights — reach out. Every question is welcome.
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