By Cole Floyd, Pastor
In the early months of 2006, five couples living in Rosemary Beach began meeting for a Bible study with the vision of launching a local church for their community. They recruited Pastor Mike Young to help guide them as they explored this possibility. That Easter, with very little promotion, they hosted a worship service on Rosemary Beach’s Eastern Green and 300 people showed up. Encouraged by this response, they began holding Sunday morning worship services the following week at Town Hall, where the church has continued to gather for 20 years.
Founded on a commitment to clear biblical teaching, meaningful community, and generous support of gospel ministry both locally and globally, Chapel at the Beach has become a cornerstone of the 30A community. Mike Young served as the founding pastor for 14 years before passing the baton to Cole Floyd in February 2020.
Throughout its history, the Chapel has been a steady and stabilizing presence during challenging times. In 2018, when Hurricane Michael devastated Panama City and surrounding areas, the church responded with significant financial support and thousands of volunteer hours. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chapel met outdoors for a full year at the Rosemary Beach Amphitheater, providing a much-needed space for worship and connection.
The church’s impact extends far beyond its local community. Through its commitment to international missions, the Chapel has helped raise up and send out missionaries, support those already established in gospel ministry and has unleashed millions of dollars to support these mission partners.
Now, 20 years later, the Chapel is a thriving congregation preparing to open a second location in the Dune Lakes area, in addition to its ongoing presence in Rosemary Beach. As the community has grown and diversified across generations, so has the church. Today, Chapel at the Beach offers vibrant and expanding ministries for children and teens, while also welcoming thousands of visitors each year who join locals in worship—reflecting the unique opportunity this area provides to bring together people from so many different places and backgrounds.
From its earliest days, the Chapel’s mission has been clear: “Love Jesus. Love People. Transform the World.” By God’s grace, that mission continues to shape its story.
In celebration of 20 years, the Chapel welcomed back Mike and Kathy Young for the morning. Pastor Mike and Pastor Cole shared the stage for an interview about how the church was started and how far it has come. Several key leaders from the past and present were in attendance, and the celebration was capped off with a brunch and baptisms. It was a sweet morning of celebrating what God has done and what He continues to do.
As the Chapel celebrates its 20th anniversary, it indeed looks back with gratitude for all that God has done and forward with great anticipation for all that He will accomplish.
You can join Chapel at the Beach for worship at Town Hall in Rosemary Beach every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. Details about the new location will be announced soon. To learn more, visit chapelatthebeach.org.
Photo credit: Brandan Babineaux
