JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Old building, new purpose.
That's what Joby Martin and his staff have been tackling the past year and a half.
"We gathered together as pastors and our church got together and raised money and found this place," Martin said.
"This place" is an old Walmart on Beach Boulevard. The church started back in 2008 as a single service at Beach United Methodist Church. Once it started growing, the head pastor decided to branch out into a separate church...and have Martin lead it.
Ironically, the site is the very place he used to shop.
"Where my daughter Reagan will be worshipping this Sunday is where I used to buy shotgun shells out of the Garden Center in Walmart. So, I think it's pretty awesome that when Sam Walton was planting a Walmart, God was really using him to plant a church," he continued with a smile.
The Church of Eleven22 will seat 1,750 people and take up 41,000 square feet...at least for now.
It got it's name from the service time...11:22 a.m. and the verse Mark 11:22 "And Jesus answered, have faith in God."
"We are a church for people who have been hurt by church. We are a church for all people...regardless of background," Lisa Bowden said.
One of the coolest features of the church is the kid center. Each area represents a region around the world and transports kids to a missions trip-like atmosphere.
Martin couldn't be happier that the building once used to shop will now be a sanctuary for God...and haven for all who want to go deeper in their spiritual walk.
"What we're doing, church has been doing for 2,000 years. We're just here to glorify God in worship and word," he said.
Eleven22 is non-denominational. The church is located at the Hobby Lobby shopping plaza at Beach Boulevard and San Pablo on the Southside. Services begin Sunday, September 23rd at 11:22 a.m.
