Disciple-Making Culture at Florida Church Sends Ripples Through the Community
From Surfboards to Sanctuaries: How Upper Room Church Is Transforming Pensacola Beach
What began as a humble beach ministry to surfers has blossomed into a thriving, multi-campus church with deep community roots and a Kingdom-minded vision. Upper Room Church, an Assemblies of God congregation in Pensacola Beach, Florida, is making waves—not just in the surf, but in the hearts of hundreds across the region.
🌊 A Ministry Born on the Sand
In 2012, Nathan F. Pooley and his wife, Kaitlyn, launched an outreach to surfers, seeking to reach those who didn’t fit the mold of traditional churchgoers. Their gatherings on the beach were raw, relational, and radically welcoming. By 2017, the movement had grown into Upper Room Church, drawing around 80 attendees. Today, the church averages 500 people across two Sunday services at its Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze campuses.
🏠 Growth Rooted in Community
Upper Room’s growth hasn’t followed conventional church models. “They’re committed to pastoring the community, not just the congregation,” says Larry Perry, superintendent of the West Florida Ministry Network. “This isn’t about building a bigger Sunday attendance number. It’s about recognizing that the church’s mission extends to every person within reach—whether they ever walk through the sanctuary doors or not.”
That philosophy has led to practical partnerships with local counseling groups and ministries. “They’ve linked arms with others, understanding that collaboration beats competition every time in Kingdom work,” Perry adds.
💙 Stories of Transformation
For Lizzy and Daniel Anderson, their first visit to Upper Room’s portable Pensacola Beach location in 2024 was unforgettable. “People welcomed us with open arms, and you really can’t beat the view,” Lizzy says. “We came for the location, but we stayed for the people.”
Diana Doulames and her family moved from California in 2022 and found their spiritual home on their very first day in Pensacola Beach. “Pastor Nathan and Kaitlyn welcomed us with open hearts,” she recalls. Since then, her family has been baptized, joined small groups, and even found love—her son met his spouse while serving at the church.
“Upper Room has been more than a church for us—it has been a place where our faith has deepened, our family has flourished, and our hearts have found a true home in Christ’s body,” Doulames shares.
🕊️ A Kingdom Investment
In 2023, Upper Room acquired a church building in Gulf Breeze—now its Nightingale campus and office space—at a discounted rate from the West Florida Ministry Network. What followed was nothing short of miraculous: a $1 million gift from a donor who had witnessed the church’s impact.
“It’s the kind of story that makes you believe in divine multiplication—where faithfulness in small things leads to extraordinary provision,” Perry says.
🔥 Depth Before Breadth
Pastor Pooley, now 39, emphasizes that Upper Room’s mission is about more than expansion. “Our heart is depth before breadth: building a disciple-making culture, strengthening pastoral care and prayer, and raising healthy leaders who serve our city,” he says.
Whether it’s through outreach to the surf community, support for families in need, or simply creating space for authentic connection, Upper Room Church continues to reflect God’s love in practical, powerful ways.
And it all started with a simple vision: to meet people where they are—on the beach, in the waves, and in the heart of the community.
