Some people might look at the career arc of Pastor Jay Dennis and say he once stood at the top of the proverbial evangelical mountain. Over the course of more than two decades he helped transform First Baptist Church of Lakeland into a mega church of more than 10,000 members that became First Baptist Church at the Mall, he was an active figure in Washington D.C. politics and he became a clarion voice for one of the most influential Protestant denominations
in America.

And now, seven years after stepping out of that role, Dennis has taken up residence in what could be compared to a small, tight knit village beside the mountain—and he couldn’t be more thrilled, for himself and for the congregation he pastors.

“This is the best season of my life,” the genial 65-year old says sitting in an office at City Central Church, the church he founded alongside his best friend and each of their wives in 2021. “I didn’t think there would be anything that would top [leading] Church at the Mall, but I’ve got to tell you, this is wonderful because Church at the Mall had become so large…it felt like running a corporation. Now I get to know the people, I get to pastor them. I get to do what God’s called me to do—and that’s to preach, to teach and to write.”

On any given Sunday at the church that was formerly home to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and St. Joseph’s Academy congregants are not only educated and enlightened on the Christian journey, but also encouraged to respond by engaging in any or all of the five stations set up throughout the sanctuary.

People can pray and be prayed for, partake in communion or light a candle as a symbol they have prayed for God to touch a person who is far
from Him.

As co-founder Randy Ferreira—who was an active member of Dennis’ congregation at Church at the Mall for many years—puts it, it gives people the opportunity to express themselves to God instead of just learning about Him.

“In the Book of Acts, they got together, they fellowshipped together, they listened to the apostles, they prayed together, they worshiped, they ate together, they helped each other. That’s it. They didn’t worry about saying, ‘Hey, well you’re not the right apostle for that…'”        
– Randy Ferreira

“It’s a way for them to have an experience from an emotional, intellectual and spiritual perspective they don’t normally get in churches,” says Ferreira, who is the founder and CEO of Blue Roc Premier, a leading property management company in the Southeast. 

He, like Dennis, is grateful for his time being involved in a mega church, but when they sensed God calling them to start City Central Church they were inspired by a more “simple” approach that models the growth of the church in the Book of Acts, which documents the way God moved in the early church immediately following the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Dennis says he spent much of his time “spinning more and more plates” in his previous role, and Ferreira spent many years serving on committees, steeped in budget meetings and navigating inter-church politics. They both openly share how “the business side of church” eventually took its toll.

“In the Book of Acts, they got together, they fellowshipped together, they listened to the apostles, they prayed together, they worshiped, they ate together, they helped each other and they loved each other,” Ferreira says. “That’s it. They didn’t worry about saying, ‘Hey, well you’re not the right apostle for that…’”

The structure of the church is “simple” yet can be construed as divergent from the norm of most modern churches. The “executive committee of four” as Ferreira calls it consists of he and his wife, Julee, and Jay and his wife, Angie. They also consult at times with Associate Pastor Lonnie Lawson and his wife, Jennifer.

Randy acknowledges people have raised concerns about the lack of a traditional church board and oversight committees—and City Central Church staff are upfront about that difference in the new members class. He is OK with the reality that City Central isn’t for everyone, in part because he’s convinced it’s what God has called them to.

Dennis said that distinction allows the church to be more relational and less transactional, and that has given him the opportunity to invest more time in people’s lives—whether it is his three grandchildren who lovingly call him J-Pop or people who step into City Central searching for what he refers to as “eternal significance,” the desire to do something meaningful with their lives.

“I think a preacher is the guy you see in the pulpit who is bringing the Word, yet you don’t have that tangible relationship with,” he says. “Pastor is that relational piece that says, ‘I’m going to walk with you and I’m going to do life with you,’ and that’s why we’re so focused on being an Acts church.”

He acknowledges that by the end of his tenure at his previous church he was more preacher than pastor by his own definitions, yet it was still “very difficult” for him to step away.

“I love that God let me do what we did at Church at the Mall once in a lifetime, but over the years it took a toll on me physically for sure,” he says, noting he preached three services every Sunday for nearly 15 years, at times exhausting his body and his spirit.

He has long dealt with chronic health issues including lupus and arthritis, and he has undergone 12 surgeries on his back and neck.

This new role allows him to spend the time he needs to care for his body, make memories with family and friends and do other ministry ventures like host podcasts with Randy through their Wingman Nation ministry for men and be a weekly guest on Moody Radio Florida.

He also has more time to be the local pastor that not only suits his stage of life, but parallels where God has been leading him on this journey.

“Here’s what God is teaching me: ministry is local. We want to touch the world, yes…but it’s local ministering to people, it’s helping a local school here, and our heartbeat right now is local. That’s why I encourage people to run for city commission, run for county commission, run for school board…because it dawned on me one day, if you want to effect change, do it locally.”

City Central does just that with its committed partnerships with Options for Women, One More Child and the Good News Club, which it just started offering for students at Cleveland Court Elementary.

Recently, the congregation came together to raise money and volunteer time for one of their own who lost their home from the impacts of Hurricane Milton.

For those who have been pastored by Dennis or followed his career over the years, it’s no surprise that in this new season of ministry he is as convicted as ever to teach the Word of God unashamedly, confident to tackle controversial topics such as human sexuality, global conflicts, politics, etc. from both the pulpit and his podcast studio. What might be a little bit different from the past is his approach in delivering the information. 

“I’m not going to compromise, but maybe I’m going to say it in a way that lets people know I care about [them]. I may disagree with you, but I care about you,” he shares. “I wish I would’ve known that earlier on; I think most pastors would probably make that confession. People have to…accept us before they’re gonna accept what we believe.”

Dennis and Ferreira are galvanized by prospects of where the church is headed, but are letting God guide them one step at a time.

There are usually 250-300 people in attendance at a Sunday service, and the leadership envisions a day where that could reach 400-500. Ferreira said if it grows beyond that they would be open to the idea of launching other locations, but right now they are focused on growing the faith and the community of those who call City Central Church home.

Pastor Jay shares he’s excited to see how God is going to raise Lawson up in the church as a potential successor, and he’s all in for anything that can help people connect with God and each other in an increasingly divided culture.

Except for maybe one thing.

“This is funny. I was in North Lakeland the other day [thinking about the future of our church], and I was in the parking lot of the mall, and I looked around at all those empty places…” he says with a wide grin. “I told God, ‘Not again, once in a lifetime, once in a lifetime.’”