Our Story

Pastor David & Karen Speicher

Pastor David started pastoring in 1985 as the pastor of a small church in rural Missouri. He was 21 years old, and his ministry influence grew. In January 2010, David and Karen felt the Lord was leading them to become pastors at South Bay Church since there was no pastor present. After the congregation and elders asked them to do this, they let go of the business they had founded and owned for seven years, CORE, the Center for Organizational and Relational Excellence. With CORE, they and their teams traveled extensively across the United States, speaking at and leading companies of every size in developing healthy structures, goals, and cultures. Through the seven years, their ministry opportunities exploded in the marketplace. However, when David and Karen received the call from the Lord to pastor South Bay Church, they walked away from the business and wholeheartedly invested in the church family.

Since then, David and Karen have seen countless blessings, including planting multiple regional churches: City Pointe Church in Plant City, Sea Glass Church in Apollo Beach, and Appointed Church in Lithia. They have sent out numerous well-equipped pastors to lead vibrant churches in other regions of the country. They have seen South Bay grow and expand in many directions as the ministry of Jesus Christ flourishes astoundingly.

Pastor David has been married to Karen for 30 years, and they have three married daughters. Phil and Abby Martin (granddaughter, Ember), Greg and Morgan Crandall, and Joshua and Sierra Harper. David holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology, a DM in applied theology, and a MA in counseling. Pastor David is currently licensed in Florida as a professional counselor.        

Mission

To live Christ-centered lives of faith, urgency, generosity, change, and love.

Vision

To care for the broken, equip the called, and send hope to the world.