After a decade of worshiping at Western High School in Davie, Greenhouse South Florida is merging with First Christian Church of Fort Lauderdale, a 114-year-old church that is one of original houses of worship in Fort Lauderdale.
Calling it “the most historic moment since our church began,” Jon Lash, lead pastor of Greenhouse South Florida, explained, “We had been praying and trusting God for some sort of a permanent home and unbeknownst to us, they had been praying and trusting God for a pastor and an opportunity to pass the baton to the next generation of leadership.”
Introduced through relationships in Church United, leaders from both churches went through an 18-month process of prayer and consideration, before bringing the two congregations together, corporately. They are now in the process of renovating the 100-year-old church building located at 201 SE 13th St.. in Fort Lauderdale before Greenhouse discontinues meeting in Davie and moves to their new permanent home
H. Collins Forman, an attorney and teaching elder whose father was a founder of First Christian Church of Fort Lauderdale, said this will be the fourth or fifth name change of the church as leadership has been passed from generation to generation.
Church leaders view the transition not as ownership, but stewardship, continuing a legacy of service while preparing the space for expanded ministry and outreach.
“I think it’s God’s desire for churches to view things as a common mission field and do what they can to cooperate with each other. The Lord is blessing their work. There is a huge surge of families in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and we’re a family church, so I see this as the Lord smiling on what he intended for us to do,” said Forman.
In a nostalgic Facebook post, Alyssa Forman shared, “As First Christian Church of Fort Lauderdale transitions to be Greenhouse Church South Florida, I can say I’m so excited for how God will continue to use the people within the four walls of this building for His kingdom. To do His work.”
For more Good News, read the GOOD NEWS February 2026 Issue at: https://digital.goodnewsfl.org/2026/february/#1