On the Scent of Souls: First Baptist Fernandina Expands to Reach Central Nassau

When Pastor Zach Terry talks about First Baptist Church Fernandina’s journey to launch a new campus in Central Nassau County, he doesn’t romanticize it. He tells the story with humility, humor, and unmistakable conviction that God was leading each step.

“I wish I could tell you that we fasted and prayed for months and came to that conclusion,” Terry said with a laugh. “We were simply running out of space and out of parking, but not out of people willing to serve.”

That tension between practical needs and spiritual opportunity became the spark for one of the most strategic Kingdom expansions happening in Northeast Florida today.

From Parking Pains to Gospel Possibilities

On the surface, the challenge was clear. First Baptist Church Fernandina’s island campus was thriving but constrained. The worship center could accommodate around 900 people, but the parking lot could only hold 550 cars. “When they built that building, they just didn’t plan for the kind of growth we’ve seen,” Terry explained.

To relieve the strain, the church added a second service, effectively doubling its parking rotation. But both services quickly filled again. When the church later expanded its education space and added a school ministry, the project inadvertently eliminated 50 more parking spaces.

“We were maxed out,” Terry said. “We needed a solution. But even more than that, we needed room for our people to serve.”

Inside the church, the Lord had already raised up a new generation of capable leaders, teachers, administrators, musicians, and ministry coordinators who were eager to use their gifts. “We had guys that if we couldn’t find a place for them, we were going to lose them,” Terry admitted. “They were ready. We just needed space and opportunity.”

The solution didn’t begin with a building plan or a demographic study. It began with a Kingdom vision: What if we could send some of our best to start something new for the glory of God?

The Frontier Instinct

Every pastor knows that certain members are naturally drawn to “new work.” Terry calls them the “frontier-type believers.” “You’ve got about 10 percent of your people that are just wired that way,” he said. “They want to be part of something new, something that hasn’t been done before.”

If a church doesn’t give those believers an outlet, they often drift toward other ministries or new plants to find it. Terry and his leadership team saw that clearly. “If God calls them somewhere else, that’s great,” he said. “But we didn’t want to lose them simply because we hadn’t given them an alternative. So, we prayed and asked God, ‘What would it look like to give them a new frontier right here in Nassau County?’”

That prayer led to the birth of a new campus, First Baptist Fernandina Central Nassau, strategically located in one of the fastest-growing corridors in Northeast Florida.

Counting the Cost and Seeking Counsel

Before launching, the church engaged in an honest evaluation. “We wanted to make sure we had truly maximized everything at the island campus,” Terry said. “Could we park more cars? Could we add another service? Could we build a balcony? We wanted to be sure this wasn’t just the ‘next trendy thing to do,’ but that it was actually needed.”

Once the leadership confirmed that the island campus had reached its limits, they sought counsel from trusted partners. “We began talking with leaders from the Florida Baptist Convention and the North American Mission Board,” Terry recalled.

That’s when former Florida Baptist Executive Director-Treasurer Dr. Tommy Green offered a confirming word: “We love what [First] Callahan is doing [by planting Exchange Church], they’re killing it, but we need about fifteen more churches like that in Central Nassau County. Would you pray about doing something there?”

Those words stuck. “So, we leaned into that direction and started looking for opportunities,” Terry said.

A Different Demographic, the Same Gospel

Central Nassau County is not just geographically distinct from the island; it’s demographically different. The area is booming with new housing developments, young families, and professionals commuting to Jacksonville. “It’s a whole new mission field,” Terry said. “The people we’re reaching there look very different from the people we’re reaching on the island campus. That’s a beautiful thing.”

The new campus allows the church to expand its reach without diluting its mission. Both campuses share one vision: proclaiming Christ and making disciples in their respective contexts.

A Congregation That Gets It

Launching a new campus can sometimes feel threatening to a parent congregation. Would people feel divided? Would resources be stretched too thin?

Not at First Baptist Fernandina. “The cool thing about our church,” Terry said, “is that our people are entrepreneurial. They’re used to taking risks. They’re bottom-line thinkers. They ask, ‘Are we meeting budget? Are people coming to know Jesus? Are we raising up new leaders?

He added, “As long as the plan is working, they’re in. I think they’ll keep supporting new work until we stop being effective.”

Terry laughs when describing the congregation’s simple metric for unity. “I’ve always said most Baptists are happy as long as the baptismal waters are being stirred. But if you stop reaching souls, they’ll start howling at the moon and fighting with each other. We’ve got to stay on the scent of souls, that’s what we were made for.”

Reproduction as the Measure of Health

Behind the practical steps and entrepreneurial spirit is a theological conviction: healthy churches reproduce.

“People have life cycles,” Terry explained. “We’re born, we mature, we reproduce, and then we die. Churches are the same way. If we’re not reproducing, we’re dying. That reality haunts me. I don’t want to be the pastor who buries a church.”

That conviction shapes how the leadership at First Baptist Fernandina thinks about the future. “When a church is healthy, it should already be thinking about reproduction,” he said. “You don’t wait until decline sets in. You reproduce when you’re strong.”

This intentional posture allows the church to view planting and multi-site expansion not as loss but as a legacy. Each new work is a living testimony of God’s continued faithfulness.

A Kingdom-Minded Partnership

As Mission Strategist for the Northeast Florida Baptist Association, I’ve watched this journey with deep gratitude. First Baptist Fernandina’s expansion represents the very heartbeat of cooperative ministry.

Their leadership didn’t launch this new campus in isolation. They sought counsel, invited collaboration, and stayed anchored to the shared mission of reaching people for Christ. Their approach models how churches can work alongside associational, state, and national partners without sacrificing their autonomy or identity.

This is Kingdom cooperation at its best, voluntary, Spirit-led, and mission-driven.

On the Scent of Souls

Terry’s metaphor about his childhood beagle, Barney, captures the essence of their ministry. “Growing up, we had this beagle who was absolutely useless,” he laughed. “He’d howl at the moon and fight with the other dogs. We couldn’t figure out why God made Barney until he got on the scent of a rabbit. Then we realized that’s what he was made for.”

He paused, then said, “Baptists are the same way. When we lose the scent of souls, we turn inward, we fight, and we forget our purpose. But when we’re chasing after lost people, we remember why we’re here.”

That imagery perfectly fits the story of First Baptist Fernandina. What began as a parking problem became a Gospel pursuit. What started as a logistical challenge became a launching pad for Kingdom expansion.

A Word of Gratitude and Challenge

As I reflect on this story, I’m thankful for Pastor Zach Terry and the people of First Baptist Fernandina. Their obedience, their willingness to risk, and their faithfulness to the Great Commission remind us what God can do when a church keeps its eyes on the harvest.

In a time when many churches are struggling to maintain momentum, First Baptist Fernandina chose to multiply it. They didn’t wait for decline; they acted from a place of health. And in doing so, they’ve shown all of us that when the church stays on the scent of souls, it finds life, purpose, and renewed vitality in Christ.

May every congregation in our Family of Churches be stirred by that same Spirit of obedience, to see the fields around us, to raise up leaders within us, and to join God in the ongoing work of Kingdom expansion across Northeast Florida and beyond.