FIT Church questions
Your questions, answered
Thinking about visiting FIT Church, or just curious about faith? Here are plain answers to the questions people ask us most, from Sunday times and kids to what we believe, and if yours isn't here, text 0448 463 439 and a real person will reply, or fill in the form and let us know.
Visiting on a Sunday
What time is church at FIT Church, and how long does it go?
FIT Church meets every Sunday from 10:30 to around 11:30am (doors open 9:30am) in Sandy Bay, Hobart. We meet all year round, including school holidays and Christmas, so whichever Sunday you choose, we'll be there. If you have kids aged 3–13, come at 10am for FIT Kids. After the service there's tea, coffee and food, and you're welcome to stay as long as you like.
Where do you meet, and how do I get the address?
We meet in a family home on Wandeet Place, Sandy Bay. We share the house number personally rather than online, and it's easy to get: call or text 0448 463 439, or send us a message through our contact page. We normally respond within minutes. There's plenty of parking in the driveway or on the street.
Do I need to tell you I'm coming?
You don't have to, but we'd love you to. A quick text to 0448 463 439 means we can send you the house number and be ready to welcome you. It's also a chance to ask anything before Sunday. If you want to catch up for a coffee first, that’s perfectly fine also! Come to our home or we can grab a coffee somewhere.
What happens at a FIT Church service?
Our Sunday service is relaxed and welcoming, with a clear order. We worship together with music, hear a practical message from God's Word and take time to pray. We come expecting God to move, strengthen our faith and help us leave encouraged for the week ahead. Afterwards there's plenty of tea, coffee and food, with time to chat.
What should I wear?
Wear whatever's comfortable. FIT Church meets in a home in Sandy Bay, and people come as they are, whether that's jeans or whatever suits your Sunday. There's no dress code. What matters to us is that you feel welcome and at home from the moment you walk in.
Will I be put on the spot, or asked to pray or give money?
No. There's no pressure to speak or pray out loud, and you're welcome to settle in at your own pace. You don't need to know anyone, have all the answers or feel like you've got life together. Come as you are, join in as much or as little as you like, and enjoy a cuppa afterwards. Our church takes an offering, there is no pressure to give.
Do you meet in the school holidays and over Christmas?
Yes. FIT Church meets every Sunday of the year at 10:30am (doors open 9:30am), including school holidays and the Christmas season. If you're in Hobart for the holidays, or you've just moved and want somewhere to go, you're very welcome to join us. Text 0448 463 439 and we'll send you the house number.
Kids and families
What do kids do at FIT Church?
FIT Kids runs from 10:00 to 10:30am, before the service, for ages 3–13. Each week has a Bible story, a memory verse with actions, a character word such as kindness, honesty or courage, hands-on activities, games and prayer, plus a take-home guide for parents. From 10:30, kids stay in the service with their parents, and little ones are welcome too – during the message parents can have their kids in Nursery if they wish too.
Is FIT Church a good church for families in Hobart?
We believe strong families build strong communities, strong churches and strong nations, so families are at the heart of FIT Church. Children are part of the family, not a side concern. Kids learn at FIT Kids, then worship alongside their parents, and our take-home guides help you keep the conversation going at home during the week.
Is FIT Kids safe? Are your leaders WWVP checked?
Yes. We follow Tasmania's Child and Youth Safe Standards. Every adult who serves in kids or youth ministry holds a current Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration, which we check on the official register. Leaders are screened, inducted and trained, and refresh their training every two years. At least two screened adults are always present, and parents are welcome to sit in.
Can I bring a baby or toddler? What about toilet and nappy changes?
Yes, little ones are very welcome in the service with you. Parents and carers handle all toilet trips and nappy changes. If you have any questions about your child's needs, text us before Sunday and we'll talk it through.
Home church
What is a home church?
A home church is a church that meets in a home instead of a dedicated building. FIT Church is a home church in Sandy Bay, Hobart: every Sunday we gather in a family home on Wandeet Place to worship, hear the Bible taught, pray and share food. It's a full church, just at a smaller, kitchen-table scale where people get to know each other.
Is a home church a real church?
Yes. A church is the people and what they do together, not the building. FIT Church has a pastor, Matthew Long, a published statement of faith, and weekly Sunday worship, prayer and Bible teaching, and we practise baptism. We're an incorporated church (Fit Church Incorporated) with a written child safety commitment. The first Christians met in homes too.
Is it weird to go to church in someone's house?
It can feel a little daunting the first time, and we understand. Most people find it's like being welcomed into a friend's lounge room: a warm hello, a seat at the table and a cuppa. You don't need to know anyone, and there's no pressure to join in out loud. Text us beforehand and we'll be expecting you.
Home church or big church: which is better?
Both can be good. Hobart has many churches of different sizes, and the best one for you is where you can grow in Jesus and belong. A home church like FIT suits people who'd like a smaller, personal setting where friendships form and families worship together. Larger churches can offer more programs. Come and try a Sunday and see if it fits. Our goal is to grow and to expand to our own building, but all things start small!
Beliefs and terms
What kind of church is FIT Church? Are you non-denominational?
FIT Church is a non-denominational, Pentecostal Christian church in Sandy Bay, Hobart. Non-denominational means we're an independent local church rather than part of a denomination such as Anglican, Baptist or Uniting. We hold a clear statement of faith: one God in three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), the Bible as the infallible Word of God, and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Is FIT Church Pentecostal? How is it different from a Baptist church?
'Non-denominational' describes how a church is organised, while 'Pentecostal' describes beliefs about the Holy Spirit. FIT Church is non-denominational and Pentecostal, we believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues. We believe you must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven - John 3:3
What is the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
We believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit comes after conversion, with evidence of speaking in tongues. It releases the fullness of the Spirit in a believer's life and is evidenced by the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
What does 'born again' mean?
Being born again means receiving new spiritual life from God. Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). We believe this happens through personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and personally accepting Him into your life as Lord and Saviour. (Romans 10:8-13)
What is communion, or the Lord's Supper?
The Lord's Supper, also called communion, is one of two ordinances we practise, along with baptism. It commemorates the death of Jesus and is done in remembrance of Him until He comes again; it is a sign of our participation in Him. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). We do this once a year at Easter time.
What does FIT stand for?
FIT Church is built on 9 pillars: Faith, Family and Fitness; Integrity, Identity and Influence; and Testimony, Together and Thriving. Our tagline sums it up: Strong in Spirit. Healthy in Life. Fit for Purpose. Our vision is to build a fearless community of believers who grow every day and carry the name of Jesus to the nations.
Starting with Jesus
How do I become a Christian?
Salvation is a free gift from God, received by faith, not earned. It starts with personal repentance, belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and personally accepting Him into your life as Lord and Saviour. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8-13).
How do I get baptised in Hobart?
If you've put your faith in Jesus, baptism is a great next step. We believe baptism is the outward sign of what God has already done in your life and a public testimony that you now belong to Christ. It is done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Talk to Pastor Matt about being baptised at FIT Church. We can baptise you in the ocean or at a pool.
How do I receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
We believe the baptism in the Holy Spirit is God's gift to believers, after conversion. Peter said, “Repent… and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children” (Acts 2:38–39). Jesus said the Father will “give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13). We'd be glad to pray with you to receive the Holy Spirit.
Honest doubts
Can I come if I'm not religious or not a Christian?
Absolutely. FIT Church is for people wherever they are on the journey, including people who aren't sure what they believe. There's no judgement and no expectation that you have everything figured out. We all have a past, but through Jesus we believe there is hope and purpose for your future. Come, listen, ask questions and stay for a cuppa.
Do I need to go to church to be a Christian?
Going to church doesn't save you; salvation is a free gift received by faith in Jesus. But God never meant us to follow Him alone. We believe every believer has a place in the Church, the Body of Christ, and the Bible encourages us not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25). Life and faith really are better together.
I've been hurt by church before. Should I try again?
If you’ve been hurt by church, we’re deeply sorry for what you’ve experienced. Pastor Matt has also experienced the pain of unhealthy church leadership, and his journey has given him a heart for supporting others who have walked a similar road.
Your hurt is real, and you’re welcome to take things at your own pace. At FIT Church, there’s no judgement and no pressure to speak or pray out loud. You can simply come, sit and listen.
If you’d feel more comfortable having a chat before Sunday, you’re welcome to text Pastor Matt on 0448 463 439.
What does the Bible say about fitness and health?
Fitness is one of our 9 pillars. We believe our bodies are a gift from God and a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), so we honour Him by caring for our health through movement, rest, nutrition and healthy habits. “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
Choosing a church in Hobart
What's a good church in Sandy Bay?
Sandy Bay has several good churches, each with its own style. FIT Church is a non-denominational, Pentecostal home church that meets every Sunday from 10:30 to 11:30am (doors open 9:30am) in a family home on Wandeet Place, with FIT Kids at 10am for ages 3–13. If you'd like a smaller, family-style church with live worship and practical Bible teaching, come and try a Sunday.
I've just moved to Hobart. How do I find a church?
Welcome to Hobart! Look for a church that teaches the Bible clearly, points you to Jesus and is somewhere you can belong. We'd love FIT Church in Sandy Bay to be one you try. Text 0448 463 439.
How do I contact FIT Church?
Call or text 0448 463 439, or send a message through the contact form on our website. A real person reads every message. We normally respond within minutes. Tell us you're coming, ask a question, or let us know what you need. We meet every Sunday at 10:30am in a family home on Wandeet Place, Sandy Bay.