Fort Lauderdale, FL – June 11, 2023 – First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale today appointed Pastor David Hughes as its 18th Lead Pastor. On June 11, the First Baptist congregation unanimously approved Hughes to assume the leadership position at the historic 115-year-old Baptist Church, located in downtown Fort Lauderdale. This appointment also marks a unique collaboration arrangement with Church By the Glades (“CBG”), formerly known as Coral Baptist, where Hughes has been faithfully serving as Lead Pastor for the past 24 years, where both traditional and contemporary services were held for 20 years.

Hughes, who has dedicated his entire ministry career to the local area, grew up in Broward County and led CBG into a thriving congregation with more than 6,000 in weekly attendance. This is largely credited to Hughes’ passion for preaching the Gospel creatively and cultivating spiritual growth.

Hughes is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he earned his Master of Divinity.

The collaboration between First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and CBG will foster shared resources while allowing each church to maintain its autonomy. This approach will enable the congregations to maximize their impact on the community while maintaining their individual identities and missions.

The appointment of Hughes and the collaboration with CBG have been embraced with great enthusiasm, not only by the congregation but also by the esteemed lineage of former Lead Pastors at First Baptist Church. Dr. Bill Hinson, Dr. O.S. Hawkins, Dr. Larry Thompson, and Pastor James Welch, among others, joyously celebrated this significant development, affirming the shared vision and commitment to serving the South Florida community.

With the proximity of the two churches, Pastor Hughes will have the privilege of preaching at both First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and CBG, ensuring a seamless connection between the congregations. Additionally, he will maintain offices on both campuses to foster accessibility and collaboration.

Pastor David Hughes will officially assume his new role as Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 12. The congregation eagerly anticipates his first Sunday morning worship service, which will take place on June 25 at 10:30 a.m. We invite our community to join us in welcoming PastorHughes as he embarks on this new chapter of spiritual leadership in South Florida.

Released by: Steve Blount, Executive Pastor, First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale