To Inspire and Equip people to follow Jesus.
To be an irresistible church for our neighbors, the next generation, and the world.
Anthem Church began in 2008 when a small group of people partnered with North Point Community Church to start a church for people who don't like church. We have always believed that people who were nothing like Jesus liked Jesus, and he liked them back. So since day one, we've created environments that are helpful and hopeful to all people, not just church people.
North Point Ministries partnered with a group of families in Gainesville to plant Anthem Community Church. While our strategic partnership through the Irresistible Church Network fuels the strategy and model of our church, Anthem is exclusively led and funded here locally and Anthem Church operates as its own official nonprofit in the state of Florida.
We are FOR Gainesville and the surrounding communities. We are FOR families, businesses, schools, teachers, churches, and so much more. Most of all, we are FOR you. No matter what you believe or where you are in your journey, we believe that as you engage with us, you’ll discover that following Jesus just makes life better and makes you better at life.
Anthem began when a small group of families in Gainesville partnered with North Point Community Church to plant a church known for what it's FOR: helpful and hopeful to all people, not just church people.
Through conversations with another local church, our two congregations combined, and together we launched Anthem at the home we still gather in today, growing into a community marked by what we're FOR and who we point people to.
As more people called Anthem home, we expanded our space to make room for everyone God was bringing through the doors.
We leaned into generosity through Be Rich, giving and serving so our neighbors could experience the love of Jesus in tangible ways.
Week after week the room filled past capacity as more people found a home at Anthem, a sign of all God was doing in Gainesville and a clear call for more room ahead.
Out of room and still growing, we looked to our own property to make space. The open grounds ahead would soon become a new building with room for everyone God was bringing through our doors.
With a bold vision to make room for growth, we broke ground on a new building, the future home of our adult environment and the space we needed to keep welcoming everyone God was bringing.
We expanded our property with a brand new building for our adult environment. The new 500-seat auditorium gave us room to gather, and freed up our original building for a complete renovation built for the next generation, our kids and students.
Like many churches around the globe, the 2020 pandemic gave us a chance to pause and go digital. What felt like a setback became an open door, reaching hundreds of people every week, many who had never been able to make it through our doors before.
We began showing up for our neighbors in a tangible way: on the fourth Sunday of every month, the whole church gives to a local nonprofit partner.
Through a season of challenge and transition, God proved faithful. We celebrated a new chapter by announcing Jon Birkmire as our Lead Pastor, stepping forward to carry our mission to inspire and equip people to follow Jesus.
I've had the privilege of serving in ministry for over a decade, and I'm deeply honored to be part of the Anthem Church community. Anthem has played such a significant role in my own faith journey, and I'm passionate about teaching the Bible, developing leaders, and equipping people to reach those who are close to them but far from God.
My wife, Ashley, and I are grateful to be raising our family here in Alachua County and to be part of a church that loves this community so deeply. I'm especially excited about the opportunities we have to uniquely share the Gospel in Gainesville and help people from all walks of life discover and follow Jesus.
Anthem Church launched through North Point Ministries' Irresistible Church Network, and that partnership still shapes our strategy and model today. That said, Anthem is exclusively led, staffed, and funded by the people of Alachua County. We're a local church built for Gainesville, not a satellite campus.
Anthem Church holds to historic, transitional Christian beliefs centered on the gospel of Jesus. You can read our full statement of beliefs on our Beliefs page for the details behind what we teach.
Anthem Church gathers Sundays at 9:15 & 11:00 AM at 2902 SW 75th Street in Gainesville, right next to the library on Tower Road. If you're planning your first visit, check out our Plan Your Visit page to see what to expect.
The best next step is to join a group or serve on a team, since that's where most people at Anthem build real relationships. Visit our Next Steps page to find a group or serving team that fits you.
ANTHEM CHURCH