A Cappella Sundays on Livingston Road
Naples Church of Christ meets in a 25,000 square foot building set back from Livingston Road in Naples, Florida, where Sunday mornings open with a cappella singing, a weekly communion, and a sermon rooted in the New Testament pattern of the church. The congregation's 2026 theme sets the tone for the year: love God, love others, make a difference. Whether someone arrives for the first time or has been part of the family for years, the welcome is the same: a simple gathering to study, sing, pray, and share fellowship around God's Word.
What Sunday Morning Sounds Like
A distinctive trait of churches of Christ shapes the worship here: the songs are sung a cappella, with no instrumental accompaniment, and everyone is encouraged to join in from the heart. During the service, the congregation also observes the Lord's Supper each week, remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and welcoming all believers to participate. The first English service begins at 9:00 am, followed at 10:15 am by Bible study classes for every age group, including Children's Classes for every age. A second worship gathering in Spanish meets at 2:00 pm, and the day closes with In Home Connection Groups at 5:30 pm that meet in members' homes around the area.
A Week Built Around Bible Study
Beyond Sunday, the church keeps a steady weekly rhythm of study and prayer. Monday Bible Study meets at 6:00 pm and is open to anyone who wants to come. Tuesday mornings begin at 6:30 am with a Men's Prayer Meeting. Wednesday Bible Study at 6:30 pm is livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook, so people can follow along at home using downloadable study handouts covering parables and other lessons. Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm are reserved for a Young Adult Bible Study that meets in a member's home. A monthly Walking with Christ gathering meets at North Collier Park on the third Saturday morning, with a Hispanic ladies' fellowship on the second Saturday.
What the Church Believes
The church teaches that the Bible is the full and trustworthy authority for faith and practice, and that the Church of Christ is patterned after the New Testament church restored by Christ Himself. Its statement of belief affirms that God is alive and real, that Jesus is His Son, that the Bible is God's inspired Word, that heaven and hell are real, and that every person sins and stands in need of salvation. Salvation comes through God's grace and Jesus' death. A person becomes a Christian by believing the Bible, repenting of sins, confessing belief in Jesus as God's Son, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins, with the intent to remain faithful. The church also teaches that there is one church belonging to Jesus and that worship is to be offered in spirit and in truth.
A Spanish-Speaking Congregation Within the Church
Spanish ministry is woven into the life of the church rather than treated as a separate program. A weekly Sunday service is held in Spanish at 2:00 pm, and Deacon Samuel Landeros oversees Spanish outreach. The church describes itself as committed to spreading the Gospel to all nations, dialects, and peoples, and the Spanish-language service is a concrete expression of that commitment for the Naples community.
Livingston Academy, a Ministry of the Church
Inside the same building, Livingston Academy operates as a ministry of Naples Church of Christ. It is an independent, not-for-profit, fully licensed and insured daycare and VPK center that provides a developmentally appropriate Christian environment for young children. Learning is built around play, social interaction, and a curriculum infused with teacher encouragement, with weekly chapel lessons woven into the program. Director Deb Fajardo leads the academy alongside its teachers. Parents interested in the program can reach the academy office at 239-307-4851.
From a Rented Union Hall in 1956 to a Merged Family of Believers
The story begins in November 1956, when two families and a total of seventeen people started the Naples Church of Christ, meeting in a rented union hall before outgrowing the space and moving worship services to Lakes Park Elementary. By 1962 the congregation had acquired two and a half acres of land and built its own building on Mandarin Road in the heart of Naples, along with a minister's home across the street. As other churches of Christ sprang up in greater Collier County, two of them merged to become Parkway Church of Christ at the corner of GG Parkway and Santa Barbara on the edge of Golden Gate City. In 2004, Parkway merged with Naples Church of Christ, a large undertaking met with plenty of prayer. The merged body sold the Mandarin Road properties and worshipped at the Golden Gate location while raising funds for a new home. In 2010 the congregation moved into its current facility on Livingston Road. Pulpit ministers who have served over the years include Charles Wharten II, Ray Winn, Bob Salmon, Floyd Long, Charlie St. John, Dan Luidhardt, Terry Chapman, Jerry Dyer, Paul Jarrett, David Nance, Bobby O'Dell, Lyle Asbill, Tim Neal, and Dr. Russell Bone, with Lyle Asbill returning in 2024 to serve again as preacher.
Shepherds, Deacons, and Ministry Leaders
Three Shepherds currently oversee the flock: Hugh Travis, Barry Brown, and Scott Otey. Lyle Asbill preaches, Alex Tucker serves as Youth Minister, and Dr. Russell Bone continues in a season role as Evangelism Minister. Deacons include Marc Rimmer (Building and Grounds), Samuel Landeros (Spanish Outreach), and Tom Wriggins (Missions). Ministry Leaders guide specific areas of work: John Wallace leads the Missions of Ghana effort, Scott Holden oversees Visitation, David Wakeland handles Finance, Erin Osborne directs Youth Education, and Pam Macon leads the Women's Ministry. The Preacher has made multiple mission trips to Ukraine, Russia, Nicaragua, and Ghana over his ministry, and foreign missions remain a clear focus of the church.
Giving, Livestreams, and Getting Connected
Those who cannot attend in person can watch Sunday and Wednesday gatherings live on the church's YouTube channel and Facebook page. Contributions can be made online through the Givelify platform, by debit or credit card, either as a one-time gift or on a recurring schedule. New visitors learn what to expect, and weekly studies, seasonal gatherings such as Donuts with Dads, family camping retreats, and youth rallies are all part of the church's calendar. With daily opportunities to study, two Sunday services in two languages, and a school for young children, Naples Church of Christ keeps its doors and its calendar open throughout the week.