Dreams Becoming Reality
Coastal Community Church of Galveston was founded in 2012 to help people know and follow Jesus. Over the past decade, they have seen hundreds of people come to faith in Christ, grow in their faith, and impact the community through local ministries like the Pregnancy Help Center and the 4B Disaster Response Network. Coastal has also played an active role in multiple church plants in Texas, Louisiana, and internationally.
“It’s overwhelming to think about all the things God has accomplished since we started on January 1, 2012,” states Pastor Sanders. “We launched with a vision to create a ‘church for the unchurched,’ and in many ways, that dream has become a reality. Take one look at the crowd on Sunday morning, and you’ll see a diverse, multi-generational congregation engaged in a worship service that is authentic, relevant, and Christ-centered. Look closer, and you’ll see kids, teenagers, and college students growing spiritually through thriving age-level ministries, volunteers using their gifts to serve others, and friends doing life together.”
Sanders continues, “Although I’m extremely grateful for God’s blessing in and through Coastal, I’m convinced our task is only beginning. The large percentage of unchurched people on the island and in Galveston County is heartbreaking. We cannot rest on yesterday’s success.”
This vision compelled Coastal to find a long-term facility that would create the consistency and flexibility they needed to continue reaching the island for Christ versus meeting in facilities rented from the local school district. Their main challenge: very few large buildings were available in Galveston, and undeveloped land was almost non-existent.
Thankfully, Coastal discovered a historic car dealership that was available for purchase! Galveston loves landmark structures, and the old Buick dealership has long been a Galveston landmark with its neo-modern architecture. Unfortunately, the facility had fallen into severe disrepair and was the source of neighborhood crime, environmental problems, and safety issues. That’s when Coastal reached out to The Foundation.
“The Foundation gave us the capacity and flexibility to move forward with the building renovations and the satisfaction that profits from our construction loan would go back into Kingdom efforts,” says Toby Smith, Executive Pastor.
Remodeling a 70-year-old former car dealership has plenty of unique challenges; however, Coastal has experienced firsthand how God’s provision and timing are so much better than anything they could have planned throughout the entire process. Ironically, the number one question they are asked is, “Will you keep the Buick sign?” And the answer is “Yes.” Still, Coastal wants their community to see their building as a life-giving, gospel-proclaiming church, not a car dealership.
“Even though the process has been arduous at times, we love that this building renovation is a tangible example of what God does in our own lives – bringing the hope and holiness of Christ where it is desperately needed,” states Pastor Smith.
When asked what advice he would give to other pastors looking to renovate a building, Pastor Sanders states, “It almost always will be more expensive and take longer than what you might expect, especially remodeling an unknown existing structure. Cast a big vision, but be careful not to over promise and under deliver. That being said, I think it is worth it. We would never have dreamed up some of the unique features of our building, and the end result is pretty special.”
Coastal Community Church is looking forward to moving into its new facilities before Easter 2022.