When you hear the term “spiritual warfare,” what do you picture? Fantastical realms of angels doing battle with demons? Strange imaginations from Hollywood, with priests holding up crucifixes while the head of an oppressed person spins in 360 degree circles? Or, closer to home, do you think of times you have faced temptation, and the idea of a “good little angel” on one shoulder, whispering for you to do the right thing, while a “devilish imp” sits on the other shoulder, shouting for you to do the fun thing?

This is a video update on life and ministry in Ocean Springs. Some beginning thoughts on taking the gospel to a place and people who have been blinded by our enemy, but to whom the Light of the Gospel can shine with beauty and power.

There is spiritual battle all around us and against us. "The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel” (2 Cor. 4). But: “You are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!” (1 John 4)

Friends, pray for us as we do battle. And pray for God to rescue souls!

It was a beautiful Saturday back at the end of September. Stephanie and I had two young believers (including Alex, one of the new converts from my last newsletter) who were spending the day at our house bombarding us with questions about faith, theology, and how to be a follower of Jesus. We had stepped out onto our back deck to take a break and to enjoy the fall sunshine. As we all walked around, I took a normal, innocent, innocuous step off of the sidewalk, and suddenly there was a loud, unmistakable “SNAP!” Stephanie, who was about fifteen feet away, said, “What was that,” but I couldn’t answer. Because I had collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain.

I would like to share three remarkable stories with you - Stories of God’s grace and gospel at work in the lives of three different individuals to save them. One of these stories comes from our core group, one from our outside ministry, and one from a sister church. And they all have two things in common: First, I can take no credit for any of them, and second, they are proof of how God is amazingly on the move to save people and bring them home to Himself!

Ocean Springs and this section of the gulf coast are known for their festivals and parties. Later this fall, the Peter Anderson Art Festival will draw close to 100,000 people to Ocean Springs (a town of less then 20,000 people). We just had a songwriters’ festival here. And of course, because we are in the spiritual and cultural shadow of New Orleans, Mardi Gras is one long party all up and down the coast, running from early January until late February every year. Still, there is one event, one week here that stands out above them all. “One gathering to rule them all,” if you will…..

As a pastor, I have the privilege of walking alongside beloved people in the middle of some of their most memorable and emotional seasons of life. Sometimes that privilege is hard - Such as in the counseling room, or the emergency room, or at the grave. But sometimes, it is a lot of fun - Such as at weddings.

Those are not words I am used to hearing. So, when they were spoken to me, back when we lived in Maryville, Tennessee, they certainly got my attention.

I am amazed and humbled at the blessed beginning God has brought to this new ministry of evangelism and missions in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Yes, it is early. Yes, we are in the first baby steps of what I pray will be a long-time, long-term, embedded ministry in this city. But, as I have said to a lot of people directly: In over twenty years of pastoral ministry, I have never seen God move ahead of us, open doors, or “fill the sails” of ministry like we are witnessing daily in Ocean Springs.

It would be easy to overlook Ms. Grant . Yes, she has a smile bigger than she is, and a wonderful laugh and personality. But she is an elderly, diminutive, lady - who at first glance might not seem to have much to offer. But to overlook or dismiss Ms. Grant would be to miss out on a true treasure, for she is a fascinating person, with an amazing story:

In assembling a pioneering group of believers to join in with the vision for a gospel community in Ocean Springs, the Lord has led us to people in a variety of ways. Some of our new core group were part of the original group the Sealy’s started about four years ago. Some have recently moved to the coast. And some have been recommended to us through connections with churches that are part of our support team. But one family…well, they sought out and found us!

With those words, Garrison Keillor would announce the beginning of the most famous and anticipated portion of his weekly Saturday night radio show, The Prairie Home Companion, and anyone who was familiar with the show knew that it was time to stop whatever you were doing, lean in real close to the radio, and prepare to be transported away to a wonderful place and a simpler time.

Although we came here to accomplish a mission, along the way, Stephanie and I are enjoying the context and the cultural and natural beauty that surround us while living on the coast. Sand dunes and sunsets, water winding through bayous, shrimp boats and their ever-following pelicans… Everywhere you look here, there is an unmistakable beauty and a charm to southern, coastal living.

I met Saul “by accident” one night when we bumped into each other at an open mic night at a local bar here in Ocean Springs. In my quest to get to know people, listen to their stories, and earn their trust as their pastor here, I have been frequenting a lot of open mic nights — Those nights tend to be less “touristy” and have a gathering of more locals, people I can see repeatedly and build a relationship with over time. And that is where I met Saul. Now, open mic nights can be a risky mix, musically. There can be a well-polished musician, playing to try out some new songs in front of a live audience. But he might be followed by another musician, playing for the first time in public, with all of the nerves and anxiety that accompany the gargantuan task of taking the risk of letting others hear you play for the first time.

It was such a God thing

One of those conversations, connections, and intersections that only God could bring about — and that He has been doing so often down here. I was in a restaurant on Government Street, meeting with some friends who are supporters and partners in this new ministry. I was telling them the stories of what we are already seeing God do, and how He is bringing about so many incredible opportunities for relationships and for ministry toward evangelism. And then, right in the middle of our talk…. God did it again!

She is fifteen years old and 8,4448 feet long. And 129 feet wide. And 95 feet high. And she is beautiful.

She is the Biloxi Bay Bridge that connects Ocean Springs to Biloxi, Mississippi. Ever since Stephanie and I have been coming to Ocean Springs, for decades now, I have been drawn to her. I saw her destroyed during Katrina. And then I saw her rebuilt. And for the last fifteen years, since her reconstruction, whenever I have come down to the coast, I have tried to make time to run this bridge. I am not a runner at heart, but it is such a beautiful location, with the saltwater, the beach, and the coastal islands - The bridge just calls to me and beckons me to run.

Let me introduce you to my friend, Pete. Last month, as I gave some examples of people the Lord is leading us to meet and build relationships with toward the gospel, one of the people I mentioned was “Driftwood Pete.” Now, let me take a moment to introduce you further to Pete and what he is all about, and how that is a beautiful picture of the effect we pray the gospel will have here on the gulf coast….

My friends, the need here is so great, so deep, so profound. Yes, Ocean Springs is a fun town. A “beach town.” A town filled with music and musicians, art and artists, and festivals one right after another. In fact, USA Today recently named Ocean Springs as the “Best Coastal Small Town” in all of America. But, if you ask the Lord to give you spiritual discernment, and if you look with different eyes, you will see…

As we get started in ministry here in Ocean Springs, we are focusing deeply on two areas, two simultaneous directions, two parallel, concurrent strategies: 1) Trying to connect with and start with a core of believers who will believe in and share a biblical vision for what Jesus wants His church to be and be about, and 2) Building bridges to lost people for relationships leading to evangelism. I am going to spend this newsletter talking about our starting out efforts in the former, and, Lord willing, will tell stories of what God is already doing in the latter in my next newsletter.

As I closed last month’s newsletter, we were newly on the ground in Ocean Springs (well, in a borrowed house in Biloxi for now)….and we were anticipating an April that was going to be crazy, busy, and hectic. Boy, were we right! April was great, but it was non-stop, and it was filled - Filled with preaching in churches, presenting the vision for evangelism-based church planting in Ocean Springs, attending a conference in Memphis, and even a trip back to Birmingham where Stephanie and I packed up my mom and moved her down to Biloxi to her new home in a senior living / retirement community here on the coast. All of those were good things, wonderful things, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to visit and to share and to see God build this team. But I was also gone, on the road, more than I was present or “home” in Ocean Springs this past month. And so the month felt hectic and exhausting.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” My friends and partners, it has been quite a week. But I am pleased to report, to the glory of God, that as I write this newsletter, Stephanie and I are successfully and safely moved to the gulf coast (well, successful assuming that the moving truck arrives with our stuff intact tomorrow!). The past week was a whirlwind, with an incredible, Spirit-blessed installation and commissioning service in Gulfport last Sunday, then back to Chelsea to load the moving truck and close on the house. And by Friday night, we were back to Mississippi, where First Presbyterian Biloxi is graciously allowing us to move into their manse (parsonage) until we find a house to buy in Ocean Springs.