Our story began
on a Sunday in 2010,
Pastor Quincy and First Lady Jennifer Stratford, along with their children, began hosting Sunday services right in their living room—believing that God was calling them to build a church focused on genuine connection, faith, and community. On Easter Sunday in 2011, Carmel Friendship Church officially launched publicly at Benito Middle School. Later that same year, we moved to 3814 Turman Loop, where we initially shared space with another ministry until God blessed us to make it our own.
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As God continued to move, our church family grew quickly. In 2014, we celebrated purchasing the Turman Loop property, and as more people joined, we expanded our worship services and developed more space for families and youth. That same year and into the years that followed, it became clear that God was preparing us for even greater impact.
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​In faith, Carmel Friendship purchased 11 acres at Boyette and Wells Road in Wesley Chapel to serve as our future home—a place where we could reach more people, love more families, and serve our community in greater ways. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, God’s hand was evident. In 2021, we opened the doors to our permanent campus at 30081 Wells Road, welcoming our growing church family and launching multiple worship services to make room for all who would come.
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Today, Carmel Friendship Church continues to grow and thrive as a place where people encounter God, build real relationships, and discover their God-given purpose. We are in a season where God is shifting us, stretching us, and calling us beyond the horizon. It’s not about our comfort or achievements—it’s about His glory being revealed through us.
Every step we’ve taken has been by faith. Every blessing has been His doing. And as we look to the future, we trust that the same God who has brought us this far will continue to lead us into greater purpose, greater impact, and greater love for our community.