“Showing the visible, tangible love of Jesus” is how Pastor Blake Clark of Radius Church views his ministry. Just like the radius of a circle moving to the perimeter, Clark and his congregation are “people on a mission, moving out in ever-widening circles to change our world.” In addition to offering meaningful Sunday gatherings, Radius members are active in helping those in need throughout the community.
Originally from Nashville, Tenn., Clark moved to St. Pete in 2007 to serve as a youth minister. Over the next five years working in the community with students, he fell in love with the city and its people. After a time of sabbatical, Clark and his family returned to start Radius Church in September 2014.
“We’re not a ‘Sunday, one-and-done’ kind of church,” Clark says. “We are out in the community every day helping the less fortunate.” One of their many projects is a PB & Jelly Deli food truck that travels throughout the city to provide food for the hungry. When schools were closed as a result of Covid-19, Radius helped launch a Food Truck Convoy with other providers to donate more than 20,000 meals for kids and their families.
The church is non-denominational and attracts people of all ages from many walks of life. Rather than calling it a church “service,” Clark invites everyone to Sunday “gatherings” at 9:15 and 11 a.m. There are numerous classes for children and a nursery for infants. Before each Sunday gathering a free breakfast is offered to those in need. Once per quarter, the church partners with “Showered and Empowered,” a nonprofit that provides a trailer with clean showers and a washer and dryer. Representatives from the health department are on hand, and donations of clothing are distributed.
Clark and two church members recently returned from a mission trip to Louisiana to assist with the cleanup after Hurricane Ida. He is creating a “Rad Relief ” team of people willing to travel to other locations to help with disaster relief.
Expanding the Current Space
Clark is excited to see the completion of an upstairs remodeling project that will offer meeting space for the community. “We will now have beautiful rooms for our Sunday School classes for kids, and we invite community groups to come in and use the space during the week,” he says. Nonprofit organizations likely will be able to use the space at no charge.
Volunteer Opportunities for Thanksgiving
It will be “all hands on deck” to prepare for this year’s Thanksgiving meal donations for those in need. “Last year we donated 350 meals, and this year we plan to do 500,” Clark says. Food donations of corn, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and macaroni and cheese can be dropped off at locations such as Great Explorations and Black Crow Coffee, where you will receive a free coffee when you donate. Monetary donations are also appreciated and can be mailed directly to the church. On Nov. 21, the Sunday night before Thanksgiving, volunteers will pack up the dinners for delivery the next day.
“We think of ourselves as a small church but a large family,” Clark says. “We seek to love others as God loves us, and we put that love into action every day by helping others in this wonderful community.”
Radius Church is at 165 13th St. N in St. Pete. For more information, please visit RadChurch.com, call (727) 265-1035 or follow on Facebook or on Twitter @RadiusChurchFL. The food truck can be booked for private events; for every meal sold another is donated.
