This is part of a series highlighting some PCA churches with significant building projects underway.
The massive steel beam barely fit into the narthex of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church that Sunday in May. Sharpies in hand, congregants gathered around to sign the final structural beam of the new fellowship hall, one of the construction projects in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, church’s capital campaign. The event mirrored a similar occasion early in the renovation when congregants wrote Bible verses on one of the future construction sites, symbolizing the project’s grounding in theology and vision.
“It’s not just about bricks and mortar, but it’s about looking back on how God has used this campus for global transformation. We want to preserve the campus for the sake of generations to come so that this church would continue to be seen as a beacon of hope for South Florida and beyond,” Senior Pastor Rob Pacienza said.
The church building is somewhat of a beacon itself. Its tallest point rises 303 feet and is visible from the ocean. Like cathedrals of old were built in the cruciform shape to demonstrate the cross, Coral Ridge is built in the shape of an ichthus, the fish shape that believers once used as a symbol of identity.
The multi-phase campaign began to take shape in the years leading up to the church’s 60th anniversary in 2020. Pacienza said church leadership saw the anniversary as a chance not just to celebrate God’s work in the past, but also as a chance to look forward.
Church leadership prayed through Psalm 145, and from that sprung both the name “Generation to Generation,” and the vision for the project. While the project addresses needed updates to the campus, it also expands the facilities and sets the groundwork for future renewal, launching what Pacienza calls a culture-shaping movement.
The generations of Coral Ridge can be traced back to May 1959 when 17 worshippers met in an elementary school cafeteria. A year later, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church was officially chartered, with senior pastor D. James Kennedy at its helm. Kennedy pastored the congregation for the next 48 years until his death in 2007.
In 1962, the church dedicated the first building on its own property, but the congregation quickly outgrew the 500-seat sanctuary. Just five years later, the church purchased 10 acres, the same property it currently occupies. In 1973, the first service in its new building drew 8,000 worshippers. Its dedication the following year featured Billy Graham as speaker and drew 11,000 attendees.
Over the years, the campus of Coral Ridge Presbyterian has expanded to accommodate other ministries. In 1971 the church formed Westminster Academy, a K-12 school that now sits on five acres adjacent to the church. Coral Ridge is also renowned for its music program, including its Ruffatti pipe organ, popular concert series, and Diane Bish Center for Music and the Arts.
The church has also prioritized theological training, establishing Knox Theological Seminary in 1990. The Institute of Faith and Culture seeks to equip believers to engage with the culture through “worldview training, leadership development resources, and connecting believers,” according to its mission statement. The institute’s written publications, educational initiatives, and City of God podcast expand the church’s influence beyond the doors of the church.
The capital campaign expands on those Coral Ridge hallmarks with additions like a two-story Education Center which will be home to the Institute for Faith and Culture.
“Coral Ridge has always been uniquely positioned to engage whatever the moment of culture was from a biblically-faithful perspective,” Pacienza said.
Pacienza, senior pastor since 2016, feels the weight of the legacy passed from previous generations to the current members.
“[We] felt that we were being called in the 21st century through this campaign to be a voice, a prophetic voice in the wilderness once again,” he said.
The call is one that requires courage, a trait that the church has historically valued. Not only did the vision campaign begin during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it developed out of a painful season for the church after a public scandal involving past church leadership.
“The numbers in many ways didn’t make sense here. You’re talking about launching a multi-million-dollar, multi-year capital campaign project, just coming off the heels of a very sad and sobering chapter in our church’s history. But God did something amazing,” Pacienza said. “We didn’t just focus on brick and mortar, but we focused on God’s unfolding story of redemption from generation to generation. It was exactly what our church needed.”
The project is now nearing the end of phase one, which includes a state-of-the-art center for contemporary worship and performing arts and a two-story education center.
Coral Ridge Executive Director Andrew Nichols is directly overseeing the project, including the fundraising campaign, design, execution, and building. Nichols has a background in building construction, and says this campaign has combined his industry knowledge and ministry heart.
In the design he has been passionate about continuing the tradition of what he calls storytelling through space.
“From the tabernacle, to the temple, to cathedrals that lifted eyes and hearts heavenward, God has used physical spaces throughout history to communicate the unseen reality of his redemptive work,” Nichols said. “We want to be able to take anyone from our community through our space and use it as a launching pad to tell the story of Scripture. We’re not just making things look nice, we’re being intentional so each area points to the redemptive narrative found in God’s Word.”
The first step of the project involved upgrades to the sanctuary – including shipping the organ back to Padua, Italy, for upgrades – and adding more dalle de verre windows to match the signature vibrant stained-glass glow of the original building.
During construction on the sanctuary, the services moved to the fellowship hall in the south wing, the part of campus that is now the focus of the project.
“Because our campus was built as three distinct buildings, it was easy to segment construction in a way that we’re not disturbing the whole campus,” Nichols said, “Once the south wing finishes, we hope to move to the north wing.”
Prior to construction, the fellowship hall had been the venue for the church’s contemporary service, while the sanctuary held the traditional service. Currently they share the sanctuary, but the renovations to the fellowship hall will allow each worship style to thrive in a space best suited to the service.
Nichols said the hope is for phase one to be complete and open to the congregation in the new year. Once that is completed, Nichols says they will take some time to settle in and evaluate their future needs before moving to phase two, a children and family center.
While plans have not been finalized for a celebration, Pacienza anticipates a ribbon cutting as well as prayer and worship.
What advice does Coral Ridge have for other churches embarking on a large-scale renovation?
First, don’t underestimate the power of prayer, Pacienza says. Have a team of laypeople, pastors, staff that are continually praying for this project.
Surround yourself with experts, says Nichols.
“If there’s people in your congregation that have industry knowledge, lean on them. It’s not a burden to them. It is part of their ministry back to the church, and I have seen them get excited to help.”
Practically speaking, plan for the project to be twice as long and expensive as you plan for it. Set expectations for the congregation about the scope and cost of the project.
Finally, lead with vision that is grounded in theology.
“Spend less time talking about what you’re building and spend more time talking about why you’re building it and what’s going to happen in that space,” Pacienza said.
Even as Coral Ridge incorporates storytelling into its design, the stories of God’s faithfulness to Coral Ridge in the past continue to inspire hope in its present and future.
“We believe that the same God that gave Dr. Kennedy the vision to plant Coral Ridge in 1960 is the same God that is on his throne today. We clung to that promise, and we continue to cling to that promise today,” Pacienza said. “Look at how God has provided not just in the times of joy, but in the times of sadness, not only in the times of growth, but in the times of loss and despair. Through it all, we’ve seen God’s providential hand from generation to generation.”
Read the other articles in our Building Projects Series: