Spirit and Truth Fellowship of Knoxville (STFK), a.k.a. the "Nerd Church", is an independent Evangelical Christian Church with a unique mission to the part of our community that includes sincere skeptics, scientists, geeks, nerds, science educators, and their families. Incorporated in Tennessee in 2010, STFK served faithfully in the city of Knoxville for fifteen (15) years. In 2024, with a sincere desire to follow God's leading, STFK began the process to establish a new church campus somewhere along Florida's Space Coast.
For the remainder of 2024 and throughout the year 2025, Pastor David and Sheila Spakes explored every opportunity to meet with people to listen and learn if, how, and where the ministry of STFK can be effective for the Kingdom of God in Brevard County.
We engaged with the public at the following events in each of the past two years:
| Merritt Square Mall Con | (Merritt Island) | — | promotion table | |
| Melbourne Toy and Comic Con | (Melbourne) | — | promotion table | |
| Space Coast Comic Con | (Melbourne) | — | promotion table, in-person church service |
For 2026, we have confirmed reservations for five events so far, including return engagements at the above three events. For the latest updates, browse our social media pages on Facebook and Meetup.
Over the course of the past two years, we have met with ministry leaders (pastors, etc.) and business owners (restaurateurs, con organizers, etc.) to discuss ways that we can work together.
| Life Church of Titusville | |
| We are truly blessed with bonds of friendship that began when one of the members of this church came to our table at a comic con in Florida and remembered seeing us at our table at a previous comic con in Tennessee the year before. This church shares our vision and call to evangelism. We look forward to serving God together! | |
| Jake Estrada | |
| We are privileged to know this polite and considerate man of many talents who has welcomed STFK to all of the events he organizes. Our first in-person church service at a Florida comic con took place at one of his events. We look forward to finding more ways that we can give back meaningfully towards his ventures in fandom. |
One of the activities of STFK during our time in Tennessee was organizing regular Science Café meetings to promote science discussion that were open to the public. Pastor David has spent time since 2024 to research the possibility of restarting this activity in Florida.
The STFK Science Café is one instance of a NOVA Science Café. Other instances have operated in Brevard County in the past, such as the Space Coast Science Café (c. 2010-2017). We are hoping to connect with past organizer(s) of this and other area Science Cafés.
As part of his research, Pastor David has searched for potential speakers and possible meeting locations (this effort is ongoing). Something else that is needed is a core group of science-minded individuals who are interested to attend and invite others through word-of-mouth advertising.
As of June 18, 2024, STFK is authorized to transact business in Florida as Spirit and Truth Fellowship of Knoxville, Inc.
STFK is not currently set up to solicit donations in the State of Florida. This would require an additional registration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) with annual renewal. At a minimum, this would require STFK to find assistance with financial accounting. The larger decision is when the church should reorganize as a Florida corporation.
Our original goal in 2024 was to learn...
