5 Reasons I love Church by the Glades

1. The Come as You Are Environment – No Perfect People Allowed!  You’ll see shorts, flip-flops, bed-head, messed up, coat & tie, t-shirt, jacked up, non-perfect people looking for the perfect Savior.  There is a loving/inviting attitude that ignites from the heart of God and is fueled by the heart of our Pastor David Hughes.  That love for people has become contagious throughout our congregation is so evident in all of our 7 weekend services.  I love my Church

2.  The Diversity – (ethnicity, age, culturally) – It’s so unique in the diversity.  Some of my closest friends and are Puerto Rican, English, Colombian, South African, Cuban, Mexican, Haitian, just to name a few.  Also, it is a great privilege of mine, to get to baptize people of all ages, children, teens, young adults, parents, and senior adults, on a weekly basis.  Our KidStuf ministry is has so much fun with hundreds of children every weekend.  Our Student Ministry rocks out in a full blown teen worship service every Wednesday night.  All 7 of our services are full of teens, young adults, young families, mid-aged, and plus aged people who are connecting to Christ and fully committing to adventure of following HIM!  I absolutely love my Church!

3.  The Show -  I’ve heard some non-Christians who have come to our services say, “Man, that was a great show!”.  There is no doubt that when you show up to a service at Church by the Glades you’ll see lights, smoke, video, a worship band, and much more.  With Pastors, Directors, leaders, and volunteers working together preparing/leading worship, there are hundreds if not thousands of hours that go into our 7 worship services. Because I’m one of the Pastors who is probably least involved in the preparation of the services, I can say it is always an amazing experience, and an amazing show.  Even to me it’s a little odd calling our services a show, however, it is absolutely a show.  It’s a place we come to gather and worship for an audience of ONE.  We do our best, work our hardest to make sure that every weekend, every service, every show we put a smile of the face of our Father in Heaven.  I love my Church!

4.  The Family – Over 3 years ago, my wife and I moved 1700 miles to South Florida.  At Church by the Glades we met and have become friends so many people.  As a matter of fact, because we live so far from both of our families, nearly every holiday we spend with friends we’ve made from Church by the Glades.  We both love our families and we love our Church family too!  Our Church family truly has become our family as we are united by Christ, and we get to do life together.  I love my Church!

5.  The Mission – At the Church by the Glades we encourage people to fully commit to the adventure of following Christ. A by all means necessary kind of Church.  If it hinders ministry, or someone making a Christ-connection it needs to be removed.  If it helps a person to take a step toward Christ then it’s valued.  A Church who reaches real people, that gives real answers, to lead people to have a real faith in Christ Jesus.  A No Perfect People Allowed Church so everyone knows that they are welcomed both by Church by the Glades and by God.  Church by the Glades is my Church and know you know 5 reasons why I love my Church.

By the way… There are plenty more reasons why I love my Church…

Why do you love your Church?

Book Review: It by Craig Groeschel

It:   How churches can get it and keep it

Very, very good book. Felt like pastor Craig described how and why some churches have it and some don’t. I’ve definitely been on both sides of that “it” conversation. I happen to be at church that has it and our Church is led by a Pastor who “gets it”.

Values I want to insteal from “it”

1.  “It” character – get the book and turn to page 31.

2.  Hone in on God’s vision

3.  Prune back the ministry vine.  again check out page 61.

What are the most important things that we do.

4.  Love the team you do “it” with.  Ha, ha, ha.   You know what I mean, your ministry team.  Get your head out of the gutter. (If you think that’s funny, Craig talks about getting naked with your team.  pg. 79)

5.  Celebrating Wins, but greatful enough for the loses that you learn from them.

6.  Not having “stuff” might be just what God uses to change the lives of those we come in contact with.  pg. 95 or Acts 3

7.  Again, learn from failure… but push through to the WIN.  A page I need to dwell on for a while.  (pg. 120) Very practicle.

8.  Love and Share with those around us.  Whether people or way different, ministries are way different, We need to live out “Love God, Love People”  and for crying out loud if you are a Pastor, stop hating on other Christians and Churches.  I’m sure you and your Church, have plenty of your own problems to work through.  I know that’s true for my life and my Church (Which again has “it” and is amazing) but we still have plenty to work on.  No Perfect People allowed.  Sorry about the soap box.

9.  Share what you know and be willing to learn what you don’t.  We are not in Church competition.  (although, I’ve had plenty of Pastors tell me we are).  One thing I appreciate about Pastor David Hughes of Church by the Glades, is how often he prays in our staff meeting for other Churches and Pastors in our area by name.  He gets “it” that we are on the same team and have the same purpose and Worship the same Savior.

Important Message from Pastor David

Seven Services for Seven Weeks



We have shared some amazing moments together in my 10 years with you at Church by the Glades.  But nothing during this last remarkable decade could rival what we experienced this past Easter weekend.  By expanding to two locations we made more space than ever for God to move in our midst and move He did!  We saw historic numbers of volunteers, crowds, and most importantly decisions for Christ.  My heartfelt thanks to a very talented and hardworking staff! Let me express unspeakable appreciation for the hundreds of volunteers that served.  In addition, what an over-the-top job you did inviting your friends, neighbors, and co-workers.  Simply incredible!

How many came to CBG Easter weekend??  You think I’m giving that one up in a letter!  I’ll tell you this weekend in church.  (I’ll give you this hint: last year was a record crowd and we exceeded that number by over 40%!)

It begs the question what about this weekend?  Of course our long term solution is a new building, but we need to create space right now.  We could easily see a thousand more people at CBG than pre-Easter numbers.  Go God!!

So here is the plan:

Please, please, please, please, please, please…(have I made myself clear…?) if you are presently worshipping at Sunday 9:45 or 11:15 services, for the next 7 weeks choose one of our other worship experiences.  First time guests continue to track to those worship hours and we have spilled out into the lobby even before Easter.

We will also be forced to move some of our small groups to make overflow space during these busiest hours.  Thanks so much for your flexibility.

Finally A Seventh Service for Seven Weeks!!!  April 19th, THIS SUNDAY we are launching a 6:00PM SUNDAY WORSHIP EXPERIENCE.  This new service will have all the full amenities of our other services – including childcare, infant through 5th grade.  We are going live THIS weekend.  So if you want to make history, come be part of this initial worship experience.  Perhaps this new time frame fits your schedule or you are crazy enough for what God is doing that you’ll come and be part of this first historic service.  

Wow, God is doing remarkable things at CBG!

Also, I want to thank you for your continued financial support of our day to day ministry.  Between the growing crowd and shrinking economy, we are hard pressed to maintain meaningful ministry to an ever- increasing church family.  Simply said, your tithes and offerings are always appreciated-but in this special season of harvest and hardship (funny how biblical themes so often go together), your giving counts now more than ever before.

Thanks for trusting God, inviting your friends, and being part of a Christ-revolution called Church by the Glades.





Be Fearless,



Pastor David