Island Community Church has been helping people become joyful, mature, Christ-dependent followers of Jesus for over 50 years.
Here is how we got here:
History of ICC
1968
Island Community Church Begins
What started out as a high school program run by Florida Bible College became the beginnings of a church run out the the home of Floyd and Melissa Russell.
1969
Purchase of the Islamorada Post Office
As the church grew, it needed more space. Thus the former post office became the new home of ICC, pastored by Bruce Porter. Pastor Bruce taught at Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida, and would travel down to preach every weekend.
Sunday School Outside
The church found itself without much room in the post office, so service would be held inside while the children’s Sunday School program was held outside.
1974
Cinemorada Theater
After outgrowing the post office and spending time renting out space from the movie theater across the street, ICC officially purchased the Cinemorada Theater.
Successful Bus Ministry
Since the early days of ICC, buses were sent out to bring kids to Sunday service from around the community. The first of these buses were purchased with treasure recovered from shipwrecks donated by a congregation member.
1974
Island Christian School Opens
The church opens an elementary school after adding to the sanctuary building. ICS started with 54 students and grew to 154 before the end of the year. They next school year began with 305 students.
1989
Tony Hammon Becomes Pastor
Pastor Bruce Porter steps down and passes the pastorship to Tony Hammon, the first principle of ICS.
K-12
Over the years, ICS grows to eventually offer classes from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. More land is purchased, a new classroom building was built, and a gym was eventually added.
2018
Trevor Mann Becomes Pastor
Pastor Tony retires and passes the pastorship to Trevor Mann, a former ICS graduate.
2019
Island Christian School Closes
ICS finished out its last school year as leadership recognizes the Lord’s call to move in a different direction. It was an honor for ICC to provide Christian-based education to the Keys’ community, and the church is immensely grateful for those who had any part to play in this incredibly fruitful season of ministry.
2023
Headed to New Places
ICC is walking in an exciting new direction as we start the process of saying goodbye to our former theater-turned-church building and convert the former ICS gym into our new sanctuary building.
Learn some of the stories of how ICC came to be from our Pastor Emeritus Tony Hammon through the video below.