Faith Archive

Pastor Jeff Childers admits the Shepherd’s Church might have an identity crisis, at least as far as location.

“We are technically in Milligan, we have a Baker address, and we are right outside of Crestview,” said Childers, the teaching pastor of the church.

Sister Sherrill Compton has been with New Life International Fellowship Church from the beginning. That beginning was 30 years ago on Mother’s Day 1993 when along with her late husband, the Rev. Douglas Compton, the church was started.

In the scripture passage found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 35-40, Jesus speaks of being hungry, thirsty, needing clothing and of being sick and the people cared for him. When the disciples asked, when they did those things for Jesus, he replied, “When you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me.”

History was made on a rainy morning, Sunday, Jan. 22, as Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Crestview held its first service at the former Valley Road Baptist Church.

Greg Allen’s story isn’t that different from many other men and women in the ministry. He had his career planned out and was doing well for himself when God stepped in and gave him a calling instead in place of a career as director of children’s ministries at Emmanuel Baptist Church.

A quick take on the math indicates how Hope House Family Counseling in Crestview, and arm of Lutheran Services Florida, is impacting Okaloosa County.

Even after five years as Bishop with the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Bishop William “Bill” Wack said he is just getting started. Over the past few years, Wack (pronounced wok) and the Diocese have had to deal with several issues which have taken away the church’s ability to map out the future.

It has been said that Hollywood rarely lets the facts get in the way of the fiction. When it comes to certain Christmas traditions, that is certainly the case. Some decades ago, Hollywood made a movie about the birth of the Christ Child. One of the closing scenes included all the characters of the Christmas story – including the Three Wise Men. As a result of the beautiful tableau shown, most Christmas scenes and stories now include the arrival of the wise men on the night of Jesus’ birth. Spoiler alert! It didn’t happen that way.

On a quiet night, the stars shone brightly in the sky. The moon hung in the heavens casting its white glow. All was quiet. Shepherds were out in the fields sitting around fires, telling stories as they kept watch over the flocks to keep them safe from predators. All was still.

Pastor Curt Rainey has been associated with First Baptist Church of Holt for the better part of 30 years in several different capacities. In 1994 while serving in the United States Air Force, Rainey was a member of the church.