Fort Pierce, Florida  ·  A Proposal for Ministry Partnership

God Is Not Finished
With This Church.

Southside Christian Church is in the middle of an exciting season of renewal — moving from survival to stability, and from stability into renewal. We are seeking like-minded partners to walk with us into a season of multiplication.

How You Can Partner Read the Story Download the Proposal (PDF)
50 → 140
Average Weekly Worship
over the past three years
20+
Baptisms
in the past three years
22%+
County Population Growth
since the 2020 Census
#1
Never-Churched Area in the U.S.
Barna Group study, 2016

The Story

From Survival to Renewal

Three years ago, Southside Christian Church was facing a prolonged season of decline. There were serious questions about the future. Many wondered if the church's best days were in the past — or if it was still possible that God might use this church and her people in a powerful way.

It was into this context that Lead Minister Paul Huyghebaert sensed a clear calling from the Lord. After a time of prayer and discernment, he and his family relocated to Fort Pierce with the specific purpose of leading a revitalization effort at Southside.

The first season focused intentionally on reestablishing stability — earning trust, building relationships, and creating healthy rhythms of worship, discipleship, and leadership. Over time, that foundation began to bear fruit. Attendance that had averaged around 50 began to grow steadily, and today averages around 140 in weekly worship.

More importantly, there are signs of genuine renewal: stories of life change, renewed commitment to following Jesus, increased engagement in ministry, and more than twenty baptisms in a church that had seen very few in the years leading up to revitalization.

Southside has moved from survival to stability, and from stability into renewal. The question now is how to steward this moment faithfully — not only for the sake of the local church, but for the broader mission God may have in view.

“This was not a career move or a strategic upgrade—it was a conviction. I believed God was not finished with this church and that faithfulness in this season would require patience, presence, and a long-term commitment to renewal rather than quick fixes.”

— Paul Huyghebaert, Lead Minister

Recent Ministry Efforts

  • First VBS in nearly a decade — relaunched two summers ago, welcoming families in a powerful way
  • Four Friends & Family Days each year — natural on-ramps for guests
  • Watchmen — a monthly men's gathering building encouragement and accountability
  • Next — a 9-month leadership development initiative crafting the next generation of leaders
  • Roughly 20% of the adult congregation trained to share the gospel using Trust and Follow Jesus

The Mission Field

Why Fort Pierce? Why Now?

God has not only called us to a church; He has called us to a community — at the heart of Florida's Treasure Coast, one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.

Rapid Growth

Since the 2020 Census, St. Lucie County has grown by more than 22%, adding over 70,000 new residents in five years — many of them families searching for connection, purpose, and hope.

70,000+
new residents in five years

The Highest Need

In 2016, the Barna Group published a study showing the Treasure Coast has the highest percentage of never-churched people of any area in the country — people who have never established a pattern of church attendance in their lives.

#1
never-churched area nationally

Open, Not Hostile

Every month we meet people who are not hostile toward Christianity — they are simply disconnected. Many are new to the community. Others have been hurt by previous church experiences or have never experienced a healthy disciple-making church.

Open
searching for connection and hope

Community Presence

Reaching Beyond the Walls

Renewal is not only about internal health, but about faithful presence and witness in the community.

Schools

Local Elementary Schools

Partnering to encourage and support students and staff.

Recovery

Community Ministries & Recovery Centers

Walking alongside people in need of healing and hope.

Counseling

Local Counseling Ministries

Helping meet deep emotional and spiritual needs in the city.

Kids

Children's Ministry

Building a compelling children's ministry that communicates the gospel with clarity and conviction.

Men

Men's Discipleship

Watchmen and Next — discipling men to follow Jesus, lead their families, and live boldly for Jesus in the community.

Equipping

Training for the Mission

Roughly 20% of adults trained to share the message of the gospel in a compelling way.

Our 3–5 Year Vision

The Next Season: Multiplication

Multiplying disciples, leaders, influence — and in the future, by God's grace, healthy churches.

01

Multiplication of Disciples

Moving beyond addition deeper into intentional disciple-making pathways.

02

Leadership Development

Launching leadership cohorts to raise up new leaders across every ministry area.

03

Strategic Staffing

Adding key staff — such as Next Gen/Family or Discipleship — to expand ministry capacity and reinforce a disciple-making culture.

04

Culture Formation

Embedding values that ensure long-term health and missional focus.

05

Community Impact

Deepening partnerships with schools, community organizations, recovery centers, and counseling ministries.

06

Church Planting DNA

Building Southside to be a sending church, with the dream of planting faithful, healthy churches across the Treasure Coast. Planting is already part of Southside's history.

How You Can Partner

Join Us in This Vision

We are inviting churches who share our heart for renewal and revitalization to join us in three ways.

🙏

Prayer

We cannot do this without spiritual covering and intercession. Our vision is a bold one, and we are grateful for new prayer partners.

💬

Encouragement

Walk alongside us by sharing wisdom, resources, and support — especially those that help us lean more successfully into the mission to be disciples who make disciples.

🤝

Financial Partnership

We are seeking 3 years of outside support to fuel this vision — funding strategic staff additions, outreach initiatives, leadership development, community partnerships, and a long-term vision to multiply healthy churches across the Treasure Coast.

The next strategic investment in Southside is not another program or building project — it is people. A dedicated Next Generation and Family Discipleship leader would help connect new families into meaningful relationships, equip parents to disciple their children, develop volunteer leaders, and make the momentum God has already given sustainable for years to come.

The Financial Picture

Seeking 3 years of outside support toward strategic staffing

Southside is able to commit $20,000 / year
Seeking from partners $70,000
Support term 3 Years

Contributions directly fund

  • Strategic staff additions — especially a Next Gen/Family focus
  • Outreach initiatives to reach the community with the gospel
  • Leadership development for future disciple-makers
  • Community partnerships that open doors for gospel witness
  • Long-term investment in planting, sending, and revitalization

Partnership in this season is not only an investment in one church — it is an opportunity to help shape a reproducible model for church revitalization, learning in real time and sharing what works with other churches pursuing renewal.

The Invitation

Together, We Can See Renewal
Turn Into Multiplication.

By partnering with us, your church can play a vital role in writing the next chapter of this story — one in which lives are changed, leaders are raised up, families are reached, churches are planted, and the gospel spreads across Fort Pierce and the entire Treasure Coast.

Contact Southside Download the Proposal (PDF)

Please prayerfully consider whether you and your congregation might be called to partner with us during this season of renewal. We would love the opportunity to share more details and answer any questions you may have.

Paul Huyghebaert

Lead Minister · Southside Christian Church · Fort Pierce, FL

Southside Christian Church
3822 Edwards Road, Fort Pierce, Florida 34981 · 772-461-6209