PASSAGE Ministries, Inc. was co-founded by George Dix, Jr. and wife, Michele Dix. The inaugural event was a church-style worship experience held on Sunday, March 3, 2002, at the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel and Conference Center in Gainesville, Florida.

 

Approximately fifty friends and family members attended; and twelve persons partnered with PASSAGE on this date. After nine (9) months of active ministry and service to the Gainesville community, PASSAGE purchased its existing seven hundred-seat sanctuary and education center, hired its first full-time office manager, and acquired ten (10) acres of land at a separate location.

Over the next two years, many men and women made decisions for Christ, and partnership grew to over three hundred total souls. In order to prepare for continued growth, in 2004, PASSAGE launched a ministers and leaders center -- The Ministerial & Leadership Development Institute. Soon PASSAGE began to offer other classes, workshops, and outreach programs designed to enrich the lives of individuals, families and surrounding communities in and beyond the Gainesville area. Then, in 2006, in response to rapid growth, PASSAGE began holding two Sunday morning worship services -- 8am and 11am.

In March of 2008, PASSAGE continued its progressive expansion and launched its third regular worship service at another east Gainesville facility. At this time, Pastor George also transitioned to full-time ministry. In June of 2009, PASSAGE acquired a second church campus, located at 5000 East University Avenue, Gainesville, and continued its third worship service at this location. Also, in 2009, PASSAGE acquired and continues to operate, a successful faith-based
after school business called Prime Time After School Tutoring.

In August of 2010, PASSAGE acquired its third church campus, at 5121 East University Avenue, situated on five acres, and converted it to a K-12 private school -- PASSAGE Christian Academy. PCA is proud of a 100% graduation rate, and several local and state awards.

In November of 2011, PASSAGE acquired Cuddy Kids Academy (CKA), an early learning pre-school for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, located at 1023 SE 4th Avenue. Also, in 2011,  Pastor George conducted leadership training sessions and ministered the gospel in various locations in South Africa.

Then in August of 2015 PASSAGE acquired another property, and in 2016 opened The Oak Tree Early Learning Academy, located at 1414 NE 23rd Ave. Also, in 2015, PASSAGE launched a daily radio broadcast reaching multiple thousands of listeners in Alachua County. PASSAGE also launched its second after-school business in September 2017 -- The Oak
Tree 4 Kids for ages 6 to 11 years of age, located in the same facility. Education, outreach, and community development have always been key themes at PASSAGE. We are all about educating children, enriching families, inspiring individuals, and
building community. On a local level, PASSAGE feeds and clothes the homeless, provides PASSAGE Ministries, Inc transportation, and works collaboratively with many other faith-based, educational, and charitable agencies to sponsor various community enrichment programs and events. PASSAGE supplies volunteers, funding, and meeting space to various charitable organizations. PASSAGE has also partnered with the Alachua County School system donating supplies and financial resources for training and student educational trips, and volunteer hours to local schools amounting to over $100,000.00. PASSAGE has partnered with Santa Fe College and area churches for nearly two (2) decades to develop and implement strategies to enhance economically disadvantaged sectors of Gainesville and surrounding communities.

 

With respect to international ventures, in December of 2008, PASSAGE began its global missions and evangelism initiatives in Haiti. PASSAGE has organized numerous mission’s trips to Haiti and to the Dominican Republic, sponsoring construction projects, conducting evangelistic revivals, providing food to villages, schools, and nursing homes, conducting vacation Bible schools, providing medicines and staffing for a medical clinic, etc.

Additionally, over the years, PASSAGE has expanded its US and international operations to include outreach initiatives in Asia, assisting with the Tsunami disaster relief efforts, and in New Orleans with the Project Rescue Jesus effort assisting with reconstruction of the Lower Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina. PASSAGE continues to partner with other global relief organizations building water wells in Africa.

In February of 2018, PASSAGE secured property and a building to launch a school in a highly populated region of Haiti. The school is in full operation as of the end of 2018. A fifth pre-school was opened in Marion County, Florida in October of 2019. And a sixth school is planned for the island country of Jamaica in 2021.

The core values of PASSAGE Ministries, Inc. are excellence, effectiveness, and efficiency in ministry and business. The ministry profile of PASSAGE is best stated in three terms: Word-based, Vision-driven, and Kingdom-focused. The principal pursuit of PASSAGE is expressed in its vision statement: "An ever-expanding global community of Christ's disciples living the victorious life." We call it kingdom expansion. To this end, PASSAGE has purchased forty (40) acres of land to build its international office headquarters, and a new technologically advanced ministry and business campus -- Eagle Village.

As of January, 2020, PASSAGE Ministries, Inc. continues to grow and broaden its reach with an employee count of over fifty (50) employees, combined with a host of additional partners, kingdom workers, and volunteers.
By the grace of God, the best is yet to come!

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updated 5/8/2020