The Church at Odessa (TCO) is a Southern Baptist, elder-led church of about 250 people in Odessa, Florida, in the northern Tampa Bay area. TCO began as a church plant of Idlewild Baptist Church and is celebrating 10 years as an independent church. Odessa sits across Hillsborough and Pasco counties. It still has a bit of a rural feel, with horse farms and open space, and it is full of young families who love the outdoors and their sports teams.

TCO exists to glorify God through worship, know God through disciple-making, and share God through evangelism. Scripture is at the center of everything. The Lead Pastor teaches expository sermons that move through books of the Bible, and the church grows together through Sunday Grow Groups and midweek Bible studies. TCO believes parents are the primary spiritual influence in their children’s lives, and the church works to equip them to do so.

TCO is intentionally a church where people know one another. If the church ever outgrows its building, the plan is to plant another church rather than keep getting bigger. Members roll up their sleeves and serve. The church reaches out to local schools, runs a monthly food pantry, and sends teams on mission outreaches. It also has a strong culture of fostering and adoption. TCO shares its campus with La Iglesia de Odessa, a Spanish-speaking church plant, and several of those students are part of the student ministry.

The staff team is small and close: a Lead Pastor, a Worship Pastor, a Director of Children and Family Ministries, and a Ministry Assistant. The Student Pastor will lead 50-60 middle and high school students alongside a team of 10-15 adult volunteers, and will report to the Lead Pastor.