A small group of Baptist men and women from several churches gathered in the fall of 2000 to discuss starting a new church in the Orlando area. This fledgling group began discussions with Dr. Ron Crawford, the pastor of College Park Baptist Church in Orlando, and T. Thomas, the Church Start Specialist for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida.

The discussions explored the potential for a congregation founded on historic Baptist principles and beliefs. Encouraged by both Dr. Crawford and T. Thomas, this community of believers began to seek God’s Will through prayer and Bible studies in the homes of the believers.

By May of 2001, the group met with Dr. Jim Hammock, and in the weeks that followed the vision of the new church became a reality with the formation of the Northeast Community Church. The College Park Baptist Church and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida jointly sponsored the Northeast Community Church.  

On August 19, 2001, the church officially began meeting in the homes of its members while searching for a more permanent meeting place. Just before Christmas the church’s first permanent location was established in the Forest Lake Seventh Day Adventist Church. January 13, 2002, was chosen as the date for the first public worship service, and the name of the church was changed to Compass Community Church. God blessed the first service. Attendance at that first worship service exceeded 185 people, including just over 20 children meeting in a separate service.

In October of 2005, the church entered into a joint agreement with Sabbath Grace Fellowship (also a new young church which worships on Saturdays) and worship began in the new facility in Apopka, which houses both the Worship Center and the office complex. God has faithfully blessed Compass Community and this young congregation is experiencing growth every month.  Under Dr. Hammock's leadership the church gained strength in numbers and ministries. Mission teams were sent to Ethiopia to dig drinking and agricultural water wells.  And two teams went to Nicaragua to shore up the missionaries.

Unfortunately in November, 2008, Dr. Hammock was killed in a diving accident.  This was a severe shock to the church, but God's grace and strength brought them through uncertain times.  The church has emerged much stronger and deeper in faith.  

In May, 2009, the church called Dr. Harry Stoorza, as their teaching pastor to build up the congregation.  Even through the summer, the church grew!  The fall has seen new ministry and a new commitment to building a God honoring family of faith.

We invite you to join the family!

The members of Compass Community Church look forward to serving God in this new and exciting venture, and we would love to hear from anyone wishing to join us in this endeavor!