NEWS & STORIES

Children attend Bible study at the school in the dump. Photo courtesy: Lyn Smith Have you ever heard of Zihuatanejo, Mexico? It is located on the southwestern coast of Mexico and is a small fishing village beneath lush mountains. In and among this beauty lies immense poverty, the likes of which we had never seen. My daughter, Stafford and I became acquainted with the area and ministry through Randy and Lynn Pike, parishioners of Christ the King, Santa Rosa Beach. Two years a

The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama along with the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast are endeavoring to host the inaugural Absalom Jones Feast Day in celebration of the founding of the joint Alabama Chapter of the The Union of Black Episcopalians. Absalom Jones who was ordained in 1818 was the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church. The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) stands in the continuing tradition of more than 200 years of Black leadership in the E

Pilgrimage group with President and Mrs. Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church On a lovely October weekend, the Episcopal Peace Fellowship – Pensacola Chapter, led 18 people on a pilgrimage to Koinonia Farm just outside Americus, Georgia. Koinonia is a Greek word meaning community and deep fellowship. The New Testament uses Koinonia 19 times, and it is a perfect name for this farm. EPF decided on the Koinonia Farm for its pilgrimage destination because it began as a Biblically-b

A number of years ago I was charged with developing and implementing a healthcare mission in Bondeau, Haiti. I was so excited. For years I had been traveling to Haiti, a tag-along with groups involved in the post-earthquake rebuilding of the Episcopal hospital in Leogane – Hopital Ste. Croix. I had become frustrated with the politics of the project and yearned to get out into the rural communities where there was no hospital – no medical care of any sort. I wanted to “do” som

On the weekend of September 8-10 (with a watchful eye on Hurricane Irma and many prayers for all those affected), The Diocesan School for Ministry held its first session at the newly renovated Murray House on the beautiful campus of St. Agatha’s Church in DeFuniak Springs, FL. Eight new postulants gathered with Bishop Russell Kendrick, leaders of the St. Agatha’s community and school instructors to begin the weekend with worship and Holy Eucharist. As we gathered, several goa

August 29th always brings with it painful memories and a feeling deep in my soul that is hard to describe. Although 12 years have passed since Hurricane Katrina the memories are still fresh and especially poignant with the devastation in Texas and Louisiana from Harvey. St. Patrick's in Long Beach, Mississippi where I was the rector was completely washed away by the storm, but the church remained. As you know, the church is the people, the body of Christ and while we were sla

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 We are once again at the threshold of a new program year. Our minds turn to the task of planning for our spiritual growth as a community and individually. Together we seek to know the will of God for our common life and to discern where God would have us focus our attention and resources. Ea

I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. Matthew 25:36 As a member of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast Commission on Prison Ministry, I have learned the importance of the above verse. The first time I was approved (a process that took six weeks to complete) to visit the Northwest Florida Reception Center and Annex at Chipley, Florida for a Kairos reunion, I jokingly asked my church to pray that I would

During a recent camp session, the Holy Spirit Thrift Shop in Gulf Shores, Alabama, presented a check for $3,000 to the children and staff of Camp Happy Sands. These monies, according to Charlie Roose, executive director of Camp Happy Sands, support the attendance of up to 40 children from Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, AL, ensuring that this program is cost free to the families. Mr. Roose shares that Camp Happy Sands is celebrating 50 years of service this summer. It started

This year's annual observance of Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of Alabama is Saturday, August 12th in Hayneville, Alabama. It was one of those days that no matter how much I tried, I could not escape the scorching heat of an August sun. It was hot; it was crowded; it was uncomfortable. It became uncomfortable while standing at the jail and someone read aloud an account of the conditions Daniels and his friends endured. Then we made our way to the store where Daniels was