Bible Baptist Church on new mission as Suncoast extension impacts property

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Construction of the Suncoast Parkway extension is making headway.

The project is now in Phase 3A of its plans, which include extending the parkway through parts of Crystal River. But as more of the new roadway is paved, construction is running through already developed areas like homes and businesses. 

Outside Bible Baptist Church — which sits on property that will be affected by the construction — plans for the future are underway and in full view.

“Our church is not dying,” said the Rev. Thomas Reaves. “We just continue to grow because we have younger people here.”

He said the church’s plan has recently taken a new direction — the church will soon lose two of its three buildings as FDOT extends the Suncoast Parkway.

Reaves said the news came as a shock.

“I was a little ticked off, to tell you the truth, because I felt like we were being blindsided,” Reaves said. “I approve of the extension, I agree with the project. It was just a little devastating to find out that they’re going to do this when we thought they weren’t.”

The path for the Suncoast’s extension cuts through 1.75 acres of the church’s property. Reaves said FDOT is compensating the church a little more than $4.5 million for the loss its property.

“If a property loses access as a result of Phase 3 extension, the parcel owner will be fairly compensated by FDOT,” said Anil Sharma, project manager with FDOT Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise during a town hall meeting in March 2023.

Auvis Cole, tourism director for Discover Crystal River, said its a price the community has to pay to have more traffic traveling through Citrus County.

“From a tourism standpoint, we are excited about that growth,” Cole said. “But again, we always maintain the tourism standpoint: You want to make sure you grow the right way and, not only the right way, but the right way by the residents.”

Reaves said losing the property is a blow, but it’s one that is not slowing the church down. They have until Nov. 1 to vacate both buildings, so he said they’ve been busy deconstructing areas and conserving what they can.

Reaves said that whatever can be saved will be used in the construction of a new church they have planned just up the road.

“We’re getting excited about what’s the next project,” Reaves said. “Once we had the 10 acres given to us, all of our folks got excited. You know, they were kind of down about it, but once we got the property, they got excited. And they’ve been excited ever since about what our next move will be.”

Blueprints for the design and layout of a new space — which will have the capacity to hold up to 600 people — have already been drawn up. 

It’s an ambitious plan, but Reaves said it is important for his church to carry on its mission — a mission he’s been on for 27 years and counting.

“We want to continue to grow and continue to be an influence in the community — a positive influence in the community,” Reaves said. “Right now, we’re waiting on turtles to be taken off the property before we can build. So we’ve learned to wait on God and learn patience.”

As the church waits on its new home, Reaves said the congregation will meet at the College of Central Florida’s campus. Construction of the new church is expected to take about 18 months.