Members of the Baker School Class of 2023 joined together at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church on May 17 to celebrate their accomplishments, give thanks to God and to challenge each other to let the Lord direct their paths in life.

Easter had even more meaning this year at First Presbyterian Church in Crestview. For the first time in almost two months, the congregation was able to celebrate worship services in its sanctuary. Early on the morning of Feb. 18, a car crashed into the front of the church at the intersection of North Ferdon Boulevard and James Lee Boulevard, reaching the interior wall of the sanctuary.

The City of Crestview brought together pastors from across the community on May 4 in honor of the National Day of Prayer.

The city of Crestview in 1933 looks nothing like the bustling community we know today. The 1930 U.S. census lists the city’s population at 930, so it’s safe to guess that the Hub City was more of a quiet community with a population somewhere in the 950-1,000 range in 1933.

Christian recording artist Steve Green released one of his best loved songs, “Find us Faithful,” in 1988. One hundred years earlier, in 1888, a group of men and women got together to form Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker.

The first time you meet Micah and Chelsea Gay, pastors of High Praise Church in Crestview, it feels like you’re relaxing with longtime friends. The young couple are authentic and welcoming as they talk about their love for the local church and reaching people for Jesus.

Raymond Parent, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church, took a less traditional path to the ministry than many of his contemporaries. After graduating from high school in 1973, he joined the Air Force as an enlisted man and a few years later was given the opportunity to earn his commission as an officer through the Reserved Officer Training Program (ROTC).

It was the worst news I could get as an atheist: my agnostic wife had decided to become a Christian. Two words shot through my mind. The first was an expletive; the second was “divorce.” I thought she was going to turn into a self-righteous holy roller. But over the following months, I was intrigued by the positive changes in her character and values.

Tyler Eanes and Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker are on several missions. The mission most important to Eanes, the student pastor at the church, is to reach young people for Jesus and equip them as disciples for Christ. One of the ways the church does that is through an annual D Now weekend held at the church with outreach in the community.

On Sunday, April 9, clergy from Crestview and surrounding communities will offer an Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. at the pavilion at Old Spanish Trail on Stillwell Boulevard. The service will begin with a call-to-worship song led by combined choirs from several area churches and led by Pastor Sherrell Compton from New Life International Worship Center. Crestview Mayor JB Whitten will then make welcoming remarks, followed by an opening prayer by U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Retired) Rob Suggs.