In this blog, clergy and lay leaders share helpful resources, ideas, and reflections. The topics range from soul care, to effectiveness, to practical solutions for common issues we are facing. If you have something you would like to submit to be included, please email it to Jessica Jones. We hope these articles are a blessing to you in your ministry.
This is often the time of year that many churches have their Annual Parish Meetings, approve budgets, hold Vestry Retreats, and generally think about and cast vision for the church moving forward. As this is a good time of year to be reflecting on these matters, may I suggest that, as you do, part of your vision and goal setting include focusing on how to get and/or keep your church healthy? The church is the living body of Christ, and living things (if healthy) naturally grow as God designed them to. How can you focus on being healthy this year? By focusing on simply doing the things Jesus instructed the church to do. And, what did he tell the church to do? Although you can find the answers to that question throughout the Bible, like in the description of the first local church in Acts 2:42-47, Jesus was kind enough to summarize it for us in two key scriptures: The Great Commandment and The Great Commission....
Be the one. See the one. Share the ONE. The Gulf Atlantic Diocese, under the leadership of Bishop Alex, is poised to raise up and deploy missionaries to our neighborhoods and to the nations....
Tallahassee, FL (August 27, 2022) - Today at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral in Tallahassee, FL, friends and members of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America gathered to witness the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Alex Farmer as the second bishop of the Diocese....
The Gulf Atlantic Diocese held its 17th annual summer camp, Camp Araminta, in July. It was an incredible gathering of over 250 students and leaders at Lake Swan Camp in Melrose, FL. Camp Araminta was created to provide an intense discipleship experience in community. We welcome students from 4th-12th grade and focus our time on fellowship, outdoor activities, skits, games and crafts, worship, teaching, and healthy rhythms of discipleship such as morning prayer and compline....
After serving for six years at Grace Anglican in Fleming Island, FL, Dan and Carrie Wolf made a radical move to Portland, Maine, the second most post-Christian city in America, in order to plant Rise Church Anglican. The church plant has been a collaborative effort between the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and the Anglican Diocese of New England. Dan has said the question people ask in Portland is not “What church should I go to?” but “Why would I go to church?” Many people don’t know anything about the Bible or God....
Petra is a diocesan ministry founded and led by young adults to serve young adults. Built to meet the need for an organized ministry to connect young adults across the Gulf Atlantic, its centerpiece is the Petra retreat, an annual summer event incorporating Biblical teaching and corporate recreation. This year’s retreat, held from May 19 through 22, was based on Ephesians 6:13: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Scripture teaches that humanity is involved in a spiritual war of cosmic proportions in which every soul is at stake. To stand, Christians must arm themselves with the armament God has provided them in Christ....
On Monday, June 13, 2022, the College of Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America consented to the elections of the Rev. Alex Farmer, the Rev. Willy J. Hill Jr., and the Rev. Alex Cameron as bishops for the Gulf Atlantic Diocese, the Diocese of the Southeast (REC), and the Diocese of Pittsburgh respectively....
Volunteering with CMJ Israel may well be the most rewarding thing you have ever done - after all, you will become part of Israel's present and future with what you do and achieve! Volunteering may (at times) be hard work, but it will also be part of a wonderful adventure, filled with prayer and new experiences right in the heart of Israel - a place where God Himself has placed so much focus, and the very land where Jesus lived and walked....
Nick Audas spent ten years ministering on college campuses with CRU (Campus Crusade), and more recently, serving on staff at a church plant in New York City. Now he is embarking on a new mission—planting an Anglican church in the heart of Orlando with the Gulf Atlantic Diocese. Bishop Neil and I recently traveled to Orlando to meet and celebrate Holy Communion with about fifteen members of this budding church plant, called The Common Table Church, and the presence of the Lord was tangible in our midst....
Volunteering with CMJ Israel may well be the most rewarding thing you have ever done - after all, you will become part of Israel's present and future with what you do and achieve! Volunteering may (at times) be hard work, but it will also be part of a wonderful adventure, filled with prayer and new experiences right in the heart of Israel - a place where God Himself ha...
Keep Reading Nick Audas spent ten years ministering on college campuses with CRU (Campus Crusade), and more recently, serving on staff at a church plant in New York City. Now he is embarking on a new mission—planting an Anglican church in the heart of Orlando with the Gulf Atlantic Diocese. Bishop Neil and I recently traveled to Orlando to meet and celebrate Holy Communion with about...
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Tallahassee, FL (May 14, 2022) - Today at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral in Tallahassee, FL, delegates to a Special Synod of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese elected the Rev. Alex Farmer to be their second Bishop. Pending the consent of the Anglican Church in North America’s College of Bishops in June, Bishop-Elect Farmer will be consecrated at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedra...
Keep ReadingMany throughout the diocese have asked how they might help with the dire situation in Ukraine. As you know, the season of Lent is a time for increased prayer and almsgiving, and we would appeal for the members of the diocese to be faithful to both in this current crisis....
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This year is the centenary of the birth of John Stott whose books continue to influence thousands of Christians throughout the world. While several biographies have been written about him no one has undertaken to compile a balanced exposition of his thought and teaching. Since I retired from public ministry I decided to read all his published work and organize it into subj...
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I met C at a cafe in town. He played for Tormenta, the local USL2 Professional Soccer team, and happened to be roommates with another contact of mine. He had begun dating a Christian girl and was full of questions, so when I invited him to join our discussion group, he jumped in....
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The song, "Burning Hearts" was written by five artists at the United Adoration songwriting retreat held at Trinity Anglican Church in Thomasville Ga. Within the group there were experienced songwriters paired with budding songwriters. At Synod, we talked about the importance of discipleship and raising up others. This songwriting group is a great example of that principle....
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Editor's note: Funmi Ojetayo is currently serving at Incarnation Tallahassee as a part of the diocesan Antioch Residency program. He is the first such resident in our diocese. Funmi OjetayoMy participation in the Antioch Residency is primarily a work of God’s providential guidance, and the magnanimity of the Rector at Incarnation Tallahassee, the Rev. Canon Taylor Bod...
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The Table Mesa is a bilingual ACNA congregation based in Jacksonville, FL that meets on Zoom with additional members joining from across states and continents. They live out their mission to disciple others by offering places for people to grow in their gifts, namely songwriting and teaching. This is their story of adapting to the restraints of COVID-19 and how God has gro...
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Why plant new churches? Because our King commissioned us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Mt 28:19-20). Studies have shown that new churches reach unbelievers and unchurched people at a rate of 6-8 times that of establi...
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