First Baptist Leesburg in Leesburg, Florida, has always been focused on the Matthew 25 model of addressing the needs of hurting people in the community. It’s a concept so intriguing that three documentaries have been made about the church, including one called No Vacancy, which shares how the church purchased a motel in 2008 to take care of homeless families when the recession hit.
That motel, The Samaritan Inn, serves as a transitional housing facility designed for homeless families to become self-sufficient in a safe environment while teaching them life skills, supporting them as they pursue their personal goals and providing them with spiritual guidance during their journey. The Samaritan Inn is the only residential program in Lake County that accepts families with both men and women.
“We minister to the broken people in our community through many ministries, and we attract a lot of people who want to join our church because of our ministries,” says Art Ayris, executive pastor of administration at First Baptist. “A lot of people are looking for a church that’s more than that Sunday morning experience. They want to serve and make a difference for Christ, and we have opportunities to do that.”
The church is growing with four campuses, a ministry center, a medical care center, a K–12 school, a day care, a thrift store and much more. Their downtown campus houses their Women’s Care Center, an 18-bed in-house treatment program helping those with drug and alcohol addiction. The program is designed to provide a safe place for women to recover through Bible study, life skills instruction, counseling and life coaching.
First Baptist also has the Pregnancy and Family Care Center, which supports women and families who are experiencing challenging circumstances related to pregnancy and parenting.
“It offers physical, emotional and spiritual support, providing for immediate needs while equipping clients with knowledge and skills necessary to be a successful parent,” explains Ayris, who encourages volunteers to test drive ministries to find one that aligns with their talents and interests.
“We have a lot of retirees who are extremely gifted,” he continues. “We give them opportunities to work within their giftedness.”
The Men’s Center is a faith-based drug and alcohol rehab facility designed to empower men with substance abuse issues to overcome their struggles through teaching, counseling and mentoring. Their Benevolence Center provides food, clothing and household items free of charge to needy residents. As the largest food pantry in Lake County, the center serves more than 160,000 pounds of food to an average of 2,400 individuals each month.
“Through these programs, we see a lot of life transformation,” reports Ayris. “Many people we serve end up staying at our church and, in turn, disciple other people, making it a continuous process.”
Such was the case for Denny Simmers. He had lived many decades building up his earthly world, not worrying so much about his soul as he did his tangible treasures.
“It was all very superficial, and everything came to a crashing halt,” he recalls. “My identity was in myself, and when that failed, it destroyed me.”
The alcohol problem that Simmers had had for many years became all-consuming, and his addiction made him bitter and resentful. After several failed turns at various treatment centers, he entered the Men’s Christian Care Center at First Baptist.
“I’d never experienced that kind of love and care before. It was so foreign that I didn’t trust it at first,” he remembers. Over time, however, his heart—and life—were transformed.
Jess Pike-Simmers experienced her own identity crisis after her fast-pitch softball career came to a close. In college she was named co-pitcher of the year and was entered into the school’s hall of fame. Because her whole identity was wrapped up in the sport, when it ended, so did her sense of identity.
“I was completely lost,” she says, adding that soon led to drinking and a physical dependence on alcohol. Over the next eight years, she spent time in hospitals, courtrooms, rehabs and mental health facilities. She battled pancreatitis, liver damage, jaundice, neuropathy and more.
After a lot of coaxing, she entered the church’s Women’s Christian Care Center.
“Immediately, I knew something was different here,” she notes. “God was present in this place, among these people.”
She found acceptance, community and healing. She also found love when she met Simmers. The pair married in spring 2025. Now she is both the mission ministry assistant for the church and the communications manager for the Christian Care Center. Simmers works in the church’s finance office.
“Every day I wake up and praise God for the ability to work and serve the church that saved my life,” he reflects, adding that God has blessed him beyond what he ever could have dreamed.
“I tried to script my whole life before I found Jesus,” says Simmers. “I planned for what I wanted to achieve. Now I just want to serve him each and every day.”
FIRST BAPTIST LEESBURG
Leesburg, Florida
Pastor: Cliff Lea
Website: FirstLeesburg.org
Denomination: Southern Baptist
Founded: 1881
Fastest-Growing: 97