Located on Northcliffe Boulevard in Spring Hill, Florida, Northcliffe Church has built a Sunday morning around an unusual arrangement: three services in two languages under the same roof. At 9 a.m. the pews fill for a traditional, choir-led worship hour; at 10 a.m. the building shifts into Spanish for the Nueva Vida congregation; and at 10:30 a.m. a worship band leads a contemporary service for the rest of the English-speaking church. The shape of that morning reflects the rest of the congregation, which is bilingual, multigenerational, and built on a long history of Bible teaching, missions, and small-group life. The church's stated purpose is to lead every person to Love God personally, Live life purposefully, and Serve others passionately, and almost every ministry on campus connects back to that mission in some way.
The pastoral team
Jeff Dye serves as Lead Pastor. A Florida native who grew up playing golf and cheering for the Gators, Jeff spent seventeen years in student ministry (eleven of them at Northcliffe) before becoming Lead Pastor in 2018. He holds a Master of Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and preaches most weekends. He and his wife, Karen, have three children.
Jonathan King is Executive Pastor, overseeing finances, facilities, and human resources. He came to ministry during his sophomore year at Clearwater Christian College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and a Master of Divinity. He and his wife, Simona, have two daughters.
Ben Ellis is the Pastor of Connections and Discipleship. He oversees the First Impressions team, walks people through membership, and supports the small-group leaders. He holds a BA in Theology and a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Apologetics.
Braydon Hotchkiss is the Students and Young Adult Pastor. He leads both the 6th-12th-grade ministry and the Upper Room young adult ministry.
Daniel Romero is the Spanish and Local Outreach Pastor. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in a Christian home, Daniel has served in the Spanish ministry since 2010 and was ordained as a Southern Baptist pastor in 2019. He is a graduate of the University of South Florida and continues to play keyboard and sing in worship.
Jerry Waugh is the Pastor of Care. He visits members in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living facilities, and hospice, assists with counseling, and helps plan funeral services. He holds a degree in Religious Education and Psychology from the University of the Cumberlands and a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as Lead Pastor of Northcliffe for thirty-two years before transitioning to the Pastor of Care role in 2018.
Four lay elders round out the leadership team: Chris Chambers, Jerry Campbell, Dr. John Reddy, and Keith Muller.
A faith rooted in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000
Northcliffe holds to the entire Baptist Faith and Message 2000, the doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention. The church teaches that the Bible is the divinely inspired, totally true and trustworthy Word of God and the supreme standard for Christian belief and conduct. There is one living and true God who reveals Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons sharing one divine essence.
The church teaches that man and woman were created in God's image, that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman, and that children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing from the Lord. Salvation is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. Northcliffe practices two ordinances: baptism by immersion for believers, and the Lord's Supper as a memorial of Christ's death. The church holds to believer's baptism, the autonomy of the local congregation, the priesthood of all believers, the leadership of scriptural officers as pastors and deacons (with the office of pastor limited to qualified men), and the eternal destiny of the saved in Heaven and the lost in Hell.
Ten Core Values shape the congregation's everyday life: the authority of the Bible, prayer, leading others to authentic worship, introducing others to Jesus, spiritual growth, life-change through small groups, marriage and family, serving God by serving others, accepting people wherever they are, and a "can-do" attitude that steps out in faith for the cause of Christ.
Sunday mornings: three services, two languages, one building
The 9 a.m. service is the church's traditional offering. The Northcliffe Celebration Choir leads worship from the piano and keys, drawing on timeless hymns and heartfelt praise. Rehearsals are held Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m., and the choir is open to new singers throughout the year.
At 10 a.m. the Spanish-speaking congregation gathers under the name Nueva Vida. Pastor Daniel Romero leads the service, which includes worship, the preaching of God's Word, nursery care, and classes from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade so parents can focus on the message.
At 10:30 a.m. the contemporary service begins. The Northcliffe worship band leads a more expressive set drawn from contemporary worship songs, supported by the church's production team. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
Children's ministry meets during both the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services. At 9 a.m., all ages from nursery through fifth grade gather in small groups. At 10:30, nursery through kindergarten continue in small groups while first through fifth graders join Kids Worship for a more elementary-aged experience. First-time families check in at the Preschool Center (C Building) for younger children or the Elementary Center (G Building) for older children. Each family receives matching parent and child tags, and every Kids volunteer is background-checked and trained.
Students in grades 6 through 12 meet for Life Groups at 9 a.m. in the Family Life Center before joining their parents for the 10:30 a.m. service.
Rally Night: Wednesdays belong to the kids
From 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday nights during the school year, the Preschool and Elementary buildings host Rally Night, a free weekly program for children ages two through fifth grade. Doors open for check-in at 6:15. Each week includes high-energy games, engaging Bible teaching, a Worship Rally, and small groups, all designed to help kids grow in relationship with Jesus. Greeters in green shirts direct families at the check-in desks. Pick-up requires the parent tag, and authorized pick-up individuals must present an ID.
Northcliffe Kids also runs Rally Night's "Nursery" option for babies of volunteer parents and for parents attending a class on campus.
Students: middle and high school ministry
Students in grades 6 through 12 are drawn from multiple counties across the Tampa Bay region. The ministry meets on Sundays at 9 a.m. for Life Groups in the Family Life Center and Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for Student Impact, a worship night structured around the specific needs of local teenagers.
The student ministry also runs a Student Leadership Team for teens who want extra training, discipleship, and mentoring. Throughout the year, students look forward to the Costume Party in October, the Always Ready apologetics conference, Friendsgiving in November, the Christmas Party in December, Market Day (a student-run fundraiser for camp and mission trips), and Generate Camp each summer. The summer of 2027 takes students to Covenant College on Lookout Mountain, Georgia, with Shane Pruitt as speaker.
Spring Break 2027 will send a team to Panama City, Florida, for a week with World Changers, doing hands-on home repair and community outreach alongside other churches.
Upper Room: young adults on Thursday nights
Young adults ages 18 to 29 gather in the Family Life Center's second floor at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday nights for Upper Room. The hour includes Christ-centered worship, biblical teaching, and authentic fellowship. A Sunday morning Young Adults Discipleship Group at 9 a.m. in the Adult Center is led by Jason and Leslie Gordon and is geared toward 18 to 24-year-olds navigating college or early career.
Highlights of the Upper Room calendar include a Reformation Day Party each October, Friendsgiving in November, and a Christmas Party in December.
Adult groups: Sunday, mid-week, and in homes
Northcliffe's adult ministry operates on three tracks.
Sunday Discipleship Groups meet on campus at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The 9 a.m. hour includes Married With Children, a young adults group, Vine and Branches, Disciple Makers, Fresh Hope, and Young Wisdom Seekers (for those under 40). The 10:30 a.m. hour includes A Closer Walk, Seeking Him, the Friendly Group (senior adults), Kingdom Heirs, Willing Workers, Hope Beyond Today (a six-week grief series), and Women of Grace.
Mid-Week Discipleship Groups meet throughout the week. Tuesdays feature a Moms' Small Group (Deuteronomy), a Ladies Small Group in the morning, the Men's Bible Study (1 Peter) at 7 p.m., DivorceCare at 7 p.m., and a Ladies Small Group (Lyrics of Life by Lisa Harper) at 7 p.m. Wednesdays include Pastor Jerry's Bible Study on Job at 11 a.m., several adult small groups at 6:30 p.m., Journey in Grief Care at 6:30 p.m., and Paz Financiera at 6:30 p.m. in Spanish. Upper Room meets Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Community Groups meet off campus in homes twice a month on Sunday, Wednesday, or Friday evenings. Current groups include Causey, Muller, Davis, Brown, Campbell, Dye, and McMurray community groups, with new groups regularly forming.
Starting Point, a six-week class held each spring and fall, walks prospective members through the church's beliefs, the membership process, and the ministry opportunities available to them.
Men and women, widows and marriage
The Men's Ministry centers on the Tuesday night Bible study and the bimonthly Men's Breakfast, which gathers men in the Fellowship Hall for a meal, a devotional, and an update on the ministry's outreach projects. The men's calendar also features service opportunities and connection events throughout the year.
The Women's Ministry is built around Tuesday morning and evening studies, including the Moms' Small Group, the morning Ladies Small Group (a study of Proverbs called The Way of Wisdom), and an evening study on the Beatitudes by Matt Chandler. The Anna Fellowship, the church's widows ministry, hosts themed luncheons each fall and works to ensure no widow walks through grief alone. The church also runs Hope Beyond Today, a six-week grief support course, and Journey in Grief Care, an eight-week training course for those who want to walk alongside others in loss.
DivorceCare, a thirteen-week video-based support group, meets on Tuesday nights and provides both counsel and practical tools for those navigating separation or divorce.
Nueva Vida: the Spanish ministry
Nueva Vida describes itself as a humble community of brothers and sisters in Christ, saved by grace, called to serve the Hispanic community. The Spanish service meets at 10 a.m. each Sunday and offers children's classes from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, plus nursery care.
In addition to the Sunday service, Nueva Vida runs Paz Financiera, a seven-week Spanish-language course on biblical financial principles led by Pastor Daniel Romero on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Room D13. The congregation also participates in local service opportunities, though most outreach roles require a working level of English since most of the surrounding community communicates in English.
Nueva Vida maintains its own Facebook page and YouTube channel for those who want to follow along online.
Local outreach: food, schools, and the doorstep
The Northcliffe Food Pantry operates out of a small house at 10495 Hearth Road, on the church's own property, distributing bags of food to local residents and connecting them with other community resources. It is open Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Donations can be dropped off at the church office during the week or at the pantry during open hours.
The Love in Action Food Kitchen serves a free sit-down lunch every Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon in the Fellowship Hall. Volunteers prepare and serve the meal, welcome guests, and listen to their stories, treating the lunch as both a practical ministry and a chance to share the love of Christ.
Door-to-Door Outreach sends teams into the neighborhood on the third Saturday of each month to pray, knock on doors, and share the gospel. Javen Mirabella from Immerse Ministries provides training for those who want to participate.
The Schools Ministry partners with Explorer K8 and Springstead High School, sending volunteers into classrooms once a week for about an hour and a planning team that handles teacher appreciation projects and events throughout the year.
Each December the church partners with Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to host Road to Bethlehem, a live Christmas presentation that shares the story of Christ's birth with thousands of visitors and depends on hundreds of volunteers to run.
Care Portal connects the church with vulnerable children and families in crisis through a vetted casework platform, and the church has a dedicated team responding to needs.
Northcliffe also partners with several local ministries: Jericho Road Ministries, which offers a five-month residential recovery program for those facing homelessness and addiction; A New Generation, a free and confidential pregnancy resource center; Posability, which supports families affected by disability; and Immerse Ministries, which trains churches in evangelism and discipleship.
Domestic and international missions
Northcliffe sends short-term teams and supports long-term missionaries through partnerships with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), the International Mission Board (IMB), and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Domestic outreach in 2026 included a Be The Light trip to Las Vegas, where the team partnered with Your Church, a church plant pastored by Jack Diven, a former Northcliffe student. A U.S. Disaster Relief partnership with Samaritan's Purse stands ready to deploy when storms hit.
International trips in 2026 and 2027 include a week in Nicaragua with Chosen Children Ministries (November 14-21, 2026), a week in the Dominican Republic with Pastor Carlos and Apocalipsis Church (February 5-12, 2027), and the Spring Break World Changers trip to Panama City, Florida (March 12-17, 2027).
Long-term missionaries supported by the church include the Biles family in Albania, the Starkeys with RMI Ministries in the Dominican Republic, Andrew and Dawn Tlucek with the Ezra Institute in the Dominican Republic, and Kyle and Valeria Roy in Brazil. The church also encourages child sponsorship through Compassion International, supports The Gideons International, The Timothy Initiative, and Terebinth Ministries, and runs a quarterly letter-writing program for sponsored children in Kenya and the Dominican Republic.
Worship, production, and the arts
The Worship & Production Ministries work together to create distraction-free environments for worship. The Celebration Choir leads the 9 a.m. service with piano and keys, while the Northcliffe Band leads the 10:30 a.m. service with vocalists and instrumentalists. Both teams rehearse during the week and welcome new members through an application process.
Behind the scenes, the Production Team handles audio, video, lighting, and on-screen media for both the live services and the online stream. Production rehearsals run Sunday mornings before each service, and team members serve as sound techs, camera operators, video directors, lighting directors, media operators, and stagehands. No prior experience is required for most roles; training is provided.
Choir Director Marcia Waugh, a vocal music education graduate of Southwest Baptist University, has served at Northcliffe since 1986. She leads both the choir and the church's handbell ministry. Worship Director Nathan Stauffer oversees the musical and visual elements of the 10:30 a.m. service and works with the band and production teams.
Preschool and children's wing
Amanda Joplin serves as Preschool Director, assisting Kids Director Erica Hart with Sunday morning programming, Wednesday night Rally Night, and seasonal events like Fall Festival and Vacation Bible School. The preschool operates as part of the church's broader children's ministry, providing a faith-rooted early-childhood program on the church campus.
Facilities and campus
Northcliffe's campus covers a large footprint in central Spring Hill, organized around several distinct buildings. The Worship Center anchors the weekend services. The Family Life Center houses the student ministry, the Young Adults ministry, and large community meals. The Adult Center, on two floors, holds most of the Sunday and mid-week small groups. The Preschool Center (C Building) and Elementary Center (G Building) house children's ministry. The Fellowship Hall hosts the Men's Breakfast, the Love in Action Food Kitchen, and ladies' Bible studies. A small house at 10495 Hearth Road is the home of the Food Pantry. Office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How to get connected
Anyone is welcome to walk in on Sunday morning and join any of the three services. Greeters stationed in the parking lot and at the doors can answer questions and help families find the right room. The best on-ramp for newcomers is Pizza with the Pastors, a casual lunch held several times a year where guests meet the pastors and ministry leaders and learn how to get involved.
Other next steps include the Starting Point membership class, child dedication for parents, believer's baptism, and a wide range of adult, men's, women's, young adult, and grief-support groups. To volunteer, the church maintains sign-ups for the Kids Ministry, Students Ministry, Connections Team, Worship and Production, Adult Discipleship, Outreach and Missions, and Facilities Ministry. Giving can be done online, by text to 352-340-2765, by mail, in person, or through an automated bank transfer.
The church livestreams the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services on YouTube and archives every sermon on YouTube, with recent series walking verse by verse through Galatians and the Gospel of Mark, and earlier series through Ephesians, Elijah, Joseph, the Sermon on the Mount, and the parables.
The church office can be reached at (352) 683-5882 or info@northcliffe.church, and the church campus sits at 10515 Northcliffe Boulevard in Spring Hill.