Church Highlight: South Hills Church – Wimauma, FL

07 Oct Church Highlight: South Hills Church – Wimauma, FL

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South Hills Church in Wimauma, Florida, is a welcoming congregation born out of a vision to reach those far from God with authenticity, love, and purpose. Its mission—“We exist to Equip disciples who are Unleashed to do ministry” —is more than a tagline. It’s the heartbeat of everything the church does: gathering weekly for worship, growing spiritually in community, going mission-ally into their neighborhoods, and giving generously to the expansion of God’s Kingdom. Their vision centers on Jesus, believing that a genuine relationship with Him is the catalyst for life change, and they intentionally create ways for people to connect, serve, and thrive.The story of South Hills Church is one of humble beginnings and faithful perseverance. In 2017, Zelvis Applin, then worship pastor at South Tampa Fellowship, sensed a calling to reach into the Riverview/Wimauma area in a more intentional way. He and a handful of individuals began meeting in a small group, praying for God’s direction, believing that something extraordinary could come from simple faithfulness. From those early meetings, South Hills quickly became a spiritual home for many, with unchurched people stepping into faith, baptisms taking place, and a culture of service activated across local schools, mobile home communities, and hospitals.

At the helm of this journey is Lead Pastor Zelvis “Pastor Z” Applin. He and his wife, Nakia, have been married for over two decades and are proud parents of three. Pastor Z’s background blends a love for music and he holds a music major and is passionate about worship arts with a clear calling to invest in people. Before planting South Hills, he spent five years serving as worship arts pastor at South Tampa Fellowship, where his charisma, love for Jesus, and ability to inspire others became evident. Beyond his local influence, Pastor Zelvis has also been recognized within the Florida Baptist community: in 2023 he was elected as second vice president of the Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference. He has also taken leadership in discussions about diversity in the church, leading panels.

What makes South Hills Church so compelling is not just its bold mission or committed leadership, but its posture of radical hospitality—of making everyone feel like family. When you walk through their doors, you’re not merely part of a program; you’re entering into a community that wants to know you, walk with you, and help you grow in Christ. They’re not perfect, but they’re committed to authenticity, grace, and helping others discover purpose. One of their repeated invitations is to those who have been hurt by church, or who feel far from God: “We hope that you would join our mission to reach the one more.” In a world that often feels broken, South Hills Church is a place where light breaks in, hope is found, and lives are transformed by the resurrected Jesus.

Please join us this week as we celebrate and lift up our friends at South Hills Church in prayer! We are excited about all God is doing and will continue to do in and through them!

Click Here to learn more about South Hills Church!