Jesus said He would build His Church, and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Anchor Church exists to be part of that mission.
We are not interested in simply playing church or blending quietly into the background. Our desire is to be a bold, Spirit-led, life-giving church that brings the truth and hope of Jesus into every community God opens to us.
The world's culture offers its own versions of truth, happiness, success, and freedom, but too often they leave people spiritually empty, mentally exhausted, relationally broken, and searching for something real. We believe Jesus is that answer.
Hebrews reminds us that He is the steadfast and trustworthy Anchor for our souls. When life is raging, when anxiety and fear feel overwhelming, and when everything around us feels uncertain, Jesus offers a hope that holds.
We believe the local church should be a place where people encounter the presence of God, hear the truth of Scripture, find authentic community, and discover the purpose God has placed inside them.
Anchor Church will be a community of people on a search-and-rescue mission-helping people find freedom in Christ, discover God's purpose for their lives, and become part of His mission to reach others.
We don't rewrite the Bible to fit culture. We let the Bible shape us.
We are not here to simply play church. We are here to help rescue people.
Integrity in public. Integrity in private.
It's all about Jesus. Not us.
Central Florida is experiencing extraordinary growth, and we believe God has placed Anchor Church in the middle of it for a reason.
Sumter County has grown more than 21% since 2020, while Wildwood has grown approximately 23%. Just minutes away, Leesburg has grown nearly 44% in only five years. The Villages and the surrounding growth corridor continue to expand at a remarkable pace, with new neighborhoods, businesses, and families reshaping the region. Thousands of people are arriving from across Florida, across the country, and around the world, bringing different backgrounds, stories, struggles, and experiences with faith.
But population growth does not automatically mean Gospel reach. The 2020 U.S. Religion Census reported approximately 39,000 people connected to religious congregations among nearly 130,000 Sumter County residents, only about 30% of the population. While those numbers cannot tell us the condition of someone's heart, they reveal a tremendous opportunity for the local Church.
We believe God is bringing people here on purpose, and Anchor Church wants to be ready to reach them with the message that there is real hope, real freedom, and His name is Jesus.
We are trying to build people who follow Jesus Monday through Saturday.
Hear the vision. Ask questions. Pray about your part.
Healthy churches are built by healthy, equipped people.
Practice the mission before launch day.
Launch day is not the destination. It is the beginning of the mission.
Chris is a second-generation pastor and the son of bold church planters, so faith, sacrifice, and a love for building the local church have been part of his story from the beginning. For more than 20 years, Chris and Kate have served the Church together, with Chris preaching, teaching, and leading in some of the largest and fastest-growing churches in America.
Kate has a deep heart for women and young girls, helping them see themselves the way Christ sees them-loved, valued, chosen, and created with purpose. Together, Chris and Kate have always believed that ministry is something the whole family carries.
Their children have grown up serving, building relationships, and seeing firsthand both the joy and sacrifice of ministry. Anchor Church is not simply the next ministry assignment for the Bates family. It is a calling they believe God has placed on all of them.
Thank you for taking the time to hear the heart and vision behind Anchor Church. We believe God is opening a door in Central Florida for a bold, Spirit-led, life-giving church that will help people discover the hope, freedom, and purpose found in Jesus.
We know this will take prayer, faith, generosity, sacrifice, and the right people coming together at the right time. We are grateful for every person willing to pray with us, encourage us, give, serve, or simply help open the next door.