Emmaus began in the fall of 2011. Members of a bible study that gathered in a living room near Winter Garden, requested that Pastor David start a reformed church in Winter Garden. The Lord had already been working in Pastor David’s heart about doing just that. Led by Pastor David, the little Bible study of 15 people moved forward with the church plant. Now they needed a place to gather.
Pastor David was approached by another church plant in Winter Garden with an opportunity. They were leasing space in an office park off Colonial Drive – across from Maryland Fried Chicken. The location was near downtown Winter Garden, and the church offered to share the space by renting it on Sunday evenings. Emmaus accepted the offer and started meeting on Sunday nights on December 11, 2011.
Emmaus grew slowly and steadily over the next five years, meeting on Sunday evenings, enjoying powerful worship, developing strong relationships, and solidifying a strong church family. Although this was a great space for Emmaus to launch, the evening service – and a children’s room across a dark parking lot – presented challenges.
In the Fall of 2016 Emmaus was approached by the Garden Theatre and asked to consider leasing the theatre on Sunday mornings. Emmaus was currently meeting in a 100 seat space in an office park, using another church’s equipment. The Garden Theatre had 300 seats. This presented a great opportunity for growth – but it would be a major undertaking.
Emmaus would need to purchase its own sound equipment. The theatre was more expensive to rent – and the Winter Garden Church would also need to lease the Garden Ballroom for its children’s ministry. Some of the church leaders were nervous about taking on the added responsibility. After much prayer, and planning, Emmaus decided to answer the call.
The Emmaus community was convinced that God was calling them to gather as a church in the heart of Winter Garden. They entered an agreement to lease the theatre – and the ballroom – in January of 2017. Before moving to the theatre, they would need to raise funds: 6 months of additional rent, and the funds to purchase the sound equipment they need for their new church home.
Emmaus embarked on a fundraising campaign entitled Answer the Call. It included an appeal for donations, a silent auction, and other fundraising events. The Emmaus family raised all of the funds needed to relocate and move its church gathering to downtown Winter Garden. On January 8, 2017, Emmaus had its first church service at the Garden Theatre.
Emmaus continued to grow and thrive at the Garden Theatre, but was interested in having a space more suitable for Sunday afternoon activities, youth and children’s programs, as well as mid-week Bible Studies and other weekly events. Emmaus embarked on a building campaign, however in the middle of the building campaign the church was made aware of an opportunity to partner with Family Christian School at a beautiful facility in Oakland, Florida. The Oakland facility was situated on five acres, included nine classrooms, a spacious sanctuary, a covered picnic pavilion, and grass volleyball and soccer fields. In January of 2024 Emmaus Church entered a partnership with Family Christian School and the church started worshipping and enjoying church body life at our new home on January 7, 2024.
