History of West Gate Baptist Church

In June of 1959, Pastor Gerald Cheney left Beaver Street Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, with little money in his pocket, but with a huge burden on his heart. He believed that God had called him to establish an independent, Bible-believing, Baptist church in Tampa, Florida.

Pastor Cheney rented a local public school building, and set out to fulfill the vision God had placed on his heart. Pastor Cheney worked hard and the Lord blessed. People came to hear the wonderful message of salvation by grace through faith. Many were saved, baptized, and added to the membership of West Gate Baptist Church.

Under the leadership of Pastor Cheney and several of his successors, West Gate Baptist Church enjoyed many good years. Unfortunately, these years were interrupted by some lean years that left the church buildings in disarray, the congregation small, and the church’s future uncertain. During this time, Pastor Bruce E. Turner was invited to preach a revival meeting at West Gate. After preaching at West Gate, God began to stir the heart of Pastor Turner to leave a comfortable ministry that he had planted in Boston and go to West Gate. For two years, the Lord continued to work on Pastor Turner’s heart. Pastor Turner surrendered to the Lord’s call and became the pastor of West Gate Baptist Church in August of 1988.

The subsequent years can only be described as a whirlwind of excitement and blessing. The journey began with obedience to God’s call and grew into a relationship of love. God has taken the church forward numerically and spiritually through obedience to the Great Commission. In 1998, the auditorium was expanded to twice its existing size. In addition to the thriving church ministry, the campus of West Gate Baptist Church is home to West Gate Christian School, a K-12 Christian school that has graduated many great students who are serving the Lord around the country.

In 2003, God expanded Pastor Turner’s call at West Gate to include starting Florida Baptist College. In 2006, the Lord blessed West Gate with the opportunity to purchase 10 acres of land contiguous to its current campus. This additional property provides the land necessary for a new auditorium, much-needed office space, and classrooms for Florida Baptist College. The property will also allow for expansion of the College campus as the student body grows. Having seen so prominently the hand of God in the ministry of West Gate Baptist Church, great anticipation exists to see that hand of God work even more in the years to come at Florida Baptist College.