Carrollwood Baptist Church at 5395 Ehrlich Road in Tampa is a diverse, Christ-focused congregation known for Bible-centered teaching, family worship and practical service. Its Sunday rhythm begins with Bible study for every age at 9:15 a.m., followed by worship at 10:30 a.m. in the Life Center. The church also sustains a Spanish-speaking fellowship through Iglesia Bautista Palabra de Vida and extends its mission through local partnerships and mission trips.
Two Congregations Become One
Carrollwood Baptist Church began in June 1994 when The First Baptist Church of Carrollwood and Bay Area Baptist Church merged. Rev. Tom Rives led the combined congregation through the merger and years of spiritual and numerical growth. He is now Pastor Emeritus. In August 2015, the church called Dr. Joe Alain as its second senior pastor, and he continues to guide Carrollwood as a loving, Christ-focused congregation seeking to bring the Good News to the Tampa area and the world.
Pastor Alain grew up in Florida and has preached and taught for more than 38 years. His preaching is expositional, often using metaphor, humor and probing questions. He holds an M.Div. and a Ph.D., serves as a hospice chaplain and has taught as adjunct faculty at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Another connection to the church's history is Pastor Matt Singleton, who grew up in Bay Area Baptist Church before the 1994 merger. After serving as a music and youth intern, he was ordained in 2014 and now serves as Student and Music Pastor.
A Sunday Built Around Scripture and Welcome
The 9:15 a.m. Sunday Morning Bible Study includes groups for all ages. Before the gathering, greeters stand in the Welcome Center in the Education Center to help visitors locate a class. At 10:30 a.m., worship begins in the Life Center and usually lasts until about 11:45 a.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive about 15 minutes early so they can find a seat and take young children to the nursery.
There is no dress code. Some people dress up, but most wear casual, comfortable clothing, ranging from suits to khakis and blue jeans. From Ehrlich Road, visitors turn into the main parking lot on the right side of Shaw Road and park near the blue awning on the Life Center. The entrance is beneath that awning, where a member of the First Impressions Team greets arrivals and helps with directions. The 10:30 a.m. service is livestreamed.
Children Are Part of the Whole Congregation
Children of every age may remain with their parents during worship. For families who want age-specific activities, staffed childcare is provided for infants through third grade, with Bible study and activities suited to each age group. A greeter can direct parents to the nursery when they arrive. On the fourth Sunday of each month, Family Sunday brings children into the main worship gathering with the rest of the congregation.
The children's ministry team includes men and women committed to helping children build a relationship with Jesus through Bible study, age-appropriate worship, music-centered praise, mission studies and discipleship training. Teachers and volunteers have completed background screenings, and Protect My Ministry conducts background checks for all volunteers. The nursery team also recruits screened volunteers to maintain appropriate staffing and follow church policies.
Refuge for Students on Wednesday Nights
Wednesday evenings give students a regular gathering called Refuge. It begins at 6:30 p.m. and continues to 7:30 p.m., giving middle school and high school students time with friends, a message from God's Word and a chance to be refreshed for the week ahead. Parents are welcome to join adult Bible studies that meet concurrently on the Carrollwood campus.
The broader evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with Prayer and Bible Study, followed by children's activities from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. A hospitality team prepares and serves Wednesday night meals, then handles cleanup for the shared meal and special events. Serving groups also welcome people for greeter duties, nursery care, student supervision, music and technical work, so the weekly rhythm is supported by many volunteers rather than a single staff.
Palabra de Vida Brings a Spanish-Speaking Fellowship
Iglesia Bautista Palabra de Vida joined Carrollwood Baptist Church in communion in April 2017 under pastor Erick Santallana. The congregation centers on the gospel of Jesus Christ and desires to be a healthy church that makes disciples who multiply and brings the saving message of Christ to its community.
Spanish-language worship is held at 12:30 p.m. every Sunday, with prayer service at 7:00 p.m. each Friday. Together, these gatherings make Spanish ministry a regular part of Carrollwood's life.
College, Career and Senior Adult Life
The College & Career ministry meets for Bible study every Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and seeks to provide a welcoming community for college students and young professionals to grow in faith, build friendships and navigate transitions in education and work. Throughout the year, the ministry also offers social gatherings, service projects, retreats and special events that connect faith, personal growth and outreach.
For men and women age 55 and older, the Senior Adult Ministry centers on Bible study, outreach and fellowship. Life Ventures meets for Sunday morning Bible study at 9:15, while JOY outings are usually held on the third or fourth Thursday of each month. The outings add a regular social component to the ministry's teaching and service emphasis.
CarePortal Turns Compassion into Practical Help
Carrollwood has partnered with CarePortal, a faith-based care-sharing platform that connects local churches with vetted needs among children and families in crisis. Through partnerships with child-serving agencies, schools and community organizations, the CarePortal partnership allows the church to respond with practical support such as beds, groceries, clothing, transportation assistance and other essential needs.
Members of the CarePortal Team visit families, deliver needed items and represent the church in the community. Financial gifts can also be directed to a dedicated CarePortal fund. GriefShare is another part of Carrollwood's care ministry. Together, these ministries reflect the church's stated mission to minister to the needs of the church, community and world in the name of Jesus.
Missions Near, Far and Around Tampa
Missions is integral to Carrollwood's identity, with the church supporting both giving and mission trips. Carrollwood has helped raise money for and sent teams to build three different churches in Brazil. It has partnered with ministries in Montgomery, Alabama, to build houses in low-income areas. Student teams have also traveled to St. Kitts, Grenada and New Orleans, while serving on mission around Tampa.
The children learn missions through the GA and RA programs, linking mission education to the life of the whole church. The stated goal is to see the Kingdom of God advance and the name of Jesus proclaimed, joining proclamation with service in places close to home and far away.
What Carrollwood Baptists Believe
Carrollwood's teaching begins with the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, as the inspired and infallible Word of God. It affirms one God existing eternally as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus is affirmed as the Son of God and the only Savior, whose sacrificial death atoned for sin, whose resurrection demonstrated power over sin and death, and who will return in glory.
Salvation is God's gift of eternal life, received by faith in Jesus Christ through spiritual new birth by the Holy Spirit. The church also teaches that abundant Christian living comes through continually yielding life to the indwelling Holy Spirit and that salvation is held by God's grace rather than human self-effort.
The Great Commission shapes the church's outward posture. Christians are called to spread the Good News to all peoples and nations, and to demonstrate God's love through compassionate deeds such as feeding the poor and hungry, providing for orphans and the homeless, and assisting the sick and distressed. That combination of biblical teaching, worship, discipleship and compassionate service is central to Carrollwood's identity.
The Work Behind the Welcome
Volunteers carry much of the church's day-to-day ministry. The First Impressions Team greets guests, helps people navigate the campus, provides general information, assists with seating and follows up after a visit. Nursery volunteers work beside the coordinator to maintain appropriate staffing for preschoolers and follow church policies. The student ministry draws on people willing to supervise gatherings, teach Bible study and chaperone summer camp.
The Music Ministry includes a choir, orchestra and praise band, each helping lead music in Sunday worship and seasonal services. A technical team oversees audiovisual needs for worship and special events, and volunteers are trained for those roles without requiring previous experience. The hospitality and kitchen team prepares Wednesday night meals and assists with other gatherings.
Those roles create a practical picture of Carrollwood Baptist Church: a congregation formed from two churches, grounded in Bible study, worship in English and Spanish, open to children and students, attentive to older adults, active in missions and equipped to respond when families need beds, groceries, clothing or transportation. Its stated mission is to be taught by God's Word, led by God's Spirit, committed to loving God and loving others, and active in ministering to the needs of the church, community and world in the name of Jesus.