How it all started...
Coastal Community Christian Church began with a simple desire: to follow Jesus faithfully and build a church family rooted in the truth of God’s Word.
Since the beginning, Coastal has been a place where people can truly be known and loved. We believe the church should feel like family. A place where people care for one another, support each other through life’s ups and downs, and grow together in faith. Our mission has always been clear: to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ and to show the world we belong to Him by the way we love one another.
In 1995, a group of believers in Richmond Hill felt led by God to begin a new church. They first gathered in a small Presbyterian church on Belfast–Keller Road. It was a humble beginning, but the vision was strong. They wanted a church grounded in Scripture, centered on Christ, and committed to building genuine relationships.
That same year, Mark Snavely, along with his wife Annette and their children, was called to serve as the church’s first full-time minister. Soon after, the growing congregation began meeting in the historic Henry Ford Commissary Building at 10770 Ford Avenue, right in the heart of Richmond Hill.
On November 29, 1996, the church officially opened its doors as Coastal Community Christian Church.
God continued to bless the church in the years that followed. When the lease on the building ended in 1998, the congregation was able to purchase the facility. As the church family grew, additional classrooms were added in 2002 to make space for children, students, and small groups.
In 2005, elders were set apart to help shepherd the church into its next season of ministry, and that same year the construction loan was fully paid off. The church became debt-free, a moment many members still remember as a powerful reminder of God’s provision.
Since the beginning, Coastal has been a place where people can truly be known and loved. We believe the church should feel like family. A place where people care for one another, support each other through life’s ups and downs, and grow together in faith. Our mission has always been clear: to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ and to show the world we belong to Him by the way we love one another.
In 1995, a group of believers in Richmond Hill felt led by God to begin a new church. They first gathered in a small Presbyterian church on Belfast–Keller Road. It was a humble beginning, but the vision was strong. They wanted a church grounded in Scripture, centered on Christ, and committed to building genuine relationships.
That same year, Mark Snavely, along with his wife Annette and their children, was called to serve as the church’s first full-time minister. Soon after, the growing congregation began meeting in the historic Henry Ford Commissary Building at 10770 Ford Avenue, right in the heart of Richmond Hill.
On November 29, 1996, the church officially opened its doors as Coastal Community Christian Church.
God continued to bless the church in the years that followed. When the lease on the building ended in 1998, the congregation was able to purchase the facility. As the church family grew, additional classrooms were added in 2002 to make space for children, students, and small groups.
In 2005, elders were set apart to help shepherd the church into its next season of ministry, and that same year the construction loan was fully paid off. The church became debt-free, a moment many members still remember as a powerful reminder of God’s provision.
A Church That Feels Like Family
Our church family gathers together to share meals, encourage one another, and simply enjoy life together. Children grow up here surrounded by people who know their names, celebrate their milestones, and cheer them on in their faith.
It’s not uncommon to see kids dancing on the stage during worship or laughing and playing together throughout the building. Those moments are reminders that the church is not just a place we attend, but it's is a family we belong to.
Over the years, Coastal has also had a strong heart for serving others. Members have traveled on mission trips to places like Jamaica, where they helped build a church and hosted Vacation Bible School for children in impoverished communities. Others have traveled to Mexico to build homes for families in need.
Closer to home, Coastal has supported foster communities, participated in ministries that care for local families, and helped send generations of kids to Coastal Empire Christian Camp where they can grow in their faith and build lasting friendships.
It’s not uncommon to see kids dancing on the stage during worship or laughing and playing together throughout the building. Those moments are reminders that the church is not just a place we attend, but it's is a family we belong to.
Over the years, Coastal has also had a strong heart for serving others. Members have traveled on mission trips to places like Jamaica, where they helped build a church and hosted Vacation Bible School for children in impoverished communities. Others have traveled to Mexico to build homes for families in need.
Closer to home, Coastal has supported foster communities, participated in ministries that care for local families, and helped send generations of kids to Coastal Empire Christian Camp where they can grow in their faith and build lasting friendships.
Looking Ahead...
God has continued to guide Coastal’s journey. In 2009, the congregation purchased 15 acres of land on Harris Trail Road near Richmond Hill High School with the hope that one day, if the Lord provides the opportunity, a future church home could be built there to serve the community for generations to come.
Today, Coastal remains a multigenerational church family made up of young families, military families, seniors, and everyone in between. Through children’s ministry, youth groups, Bible studies, missions, and outreach efforts like our Blessing Box food ministry, we continue to look for ways to care for people and share the love of Christ in our community and around the world.
Above all, we remain committed to standing on the truth of God’s Word without compromise and making more and better followers of Jesus. We believe that “iron sharpens iron,” so we welcome honest questions, thoughtful conversations, and the kind of faith that grows stronger as believers encourage one another. We don't want anyone to take our word for it, but encourage everyone to study the Word of God and seek out the truth that flows from it.
Today, Coastal remains a multigenerational church family made up of young families, military families, seniors, and everyone in between. Through children’s ministry, youth groups, Bible studies, missions, and outreach efforts like our Blessing Box food ministry, we continue to look for ways to care for people and share the love of Christ in our community and around the world.
Above all, we remain committed to standing on the truth of God’s Word without compromise and making more and better followers of Jesus. We believe that “iron sharpens iron,” so we welcome honest questions, thoughtful conversations, and the kind of faith that grows stronger as believers encourage one another. We don't want anyone to take our word for it, but encourage everyone to study the Word of God and seek out the truth that flows from it.
