"Forever changed..."

PASSAGE Main Sanctuary

PASSAGE commenced its first church service and outreach initiative with 12 partners on March 3, 2002 in northwest Gainesville in the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel and Conference Center.  After nine months of consistent growth, PASSAGE obtained 10 acres of land and contracted to purchase its current 700 seat sanctuary and education center. Over the next two years, partnership grew from 12 to 300.  This rapid growth facilitated the creation of numerous family and community oriented initiatives and programs.

Specifically, PASSAGE operates several outreach ministries and internal programs; these include homeless care, community food pantry, feeding the needy (hot meals), senior citizen assistance, clothing assistance, health care education, prison and jail outreach, individual and family spiritual counseling, neighborhood Bible study, adult literacy, teen and youth development, school supply assistance, academic tutoring and mentoring, computer literacy, disaster relief and recovery, and transportation services. However, these initiatives are merely a glimpse into the programs undertaken at PASSAGE.  From its inception, PASSAGE has emphasized spiritual, academic and professional development.  Other offerings include classes and workshops for FCAT and college exam preparation, tax preparation, family planning, financial stewardship, and discipleship and evangelism training. In the spring of 2004, PASSAGE launched its Ministerial and Leadership Development Institute, an intense two-year classroom based instructional program and one-year internship program, which trains aspiring ministers and leaders.

PASSAGE has worked collaboratively with many other faith-based, educational, and charitable agencies to sponsor various community and educational enrichment programs and events supplying volunteers, funding, and meeting space. For example, PASSAGE has partnered with the Alachua County School Board and donated $100,000, plus volunteer hours to local elementary schools to enhance the students’ educational experience and opportunities. PASSAGE has also partnered with Santa Fe Community College and other area churches for the past six years in developing and implementing strategies to enhance economically disadvantaged sectors of Gainesville and surrounding communities.  Additionally, PASSAGE has expanded its operations to include national and international missions initiatives assisting with the tsunami disaster relief efforts in Asia; Project Rescue Jesus which aided in the reconstruction of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; as well as renovation of homes and churches and health care assistance in Haiti.

Now, with more than 2000 partners, hundreds of supporting families, and a growing network of business associates, PASSAGE is one of the fastest growing entities of its kind in North Central Florida. Having launched a daily radio broadcast and magazine (The PASSAGE Magazine), PASSAGE is able to spread the word of God and "reach" thousands of listeners and readers in the region.  In pursuit to fulfill the divinely inspired vision to do community and economic development work, etc., PASSAGE filed for and received a second 501(c)3 corporation in 2007 -- namely, PASSAGE Family & Community Enrichment Center, Inc.

In anticipation of continued growth, PASSAGE also purchased 40 forty acres of land in 2008 to construct a modern, technologically advanced campus designed to accommodate its ministry, educational, business, missions and community outreach operations. In May 2009, PASSAGE continued its progressive expansion through the acquisition of two other facilities, staff, and an established and successful faith-based after school child development program.