Church Life and Burden
The Lord has been moving in Pensacola for the last two years. We first recognized this by the fact that while we were actively laboring for a testimony in the Mobile, Alabama area, new ones began to appear in Pensacola. Several saints moved to Pensacola without any human coordination. The growth in Pensacola far outpaced the increase in Mobile. After recognizing that it was “raining” in Pensacola, we began to care for the ones that the Lord had brought in. Over the last 12 months, several of these have been forced to move due to work situations and visa issues. In spite of some moving away, the Lord has gained over 10, including new and dormant ones.
We are a small number of saints who are coordinating and being built together. We pray weekly for the Lord’s increase and spread in this city. We meet from home to home on the Lord’s Day. The sisters pray together two to three times per week.
We have been given the Ministry of the Age at no cost. This ministry transforms sinners into sons of God and the hungry into the bride of Christ. For this to occur, we must pay the price to be vital. There has to be the living of Christ in us and a genuine building among us as we practice the church life. Furthermore, we need to follow the God-ordained way, which is to 1) beget new ones, 2) nourish these ones with the truth, 3) teach and perfect the new ones regarding how to live Christ and nourish others, and 4) build up the Body of Christ. The extent to which we are built up together and shepherd the new ones is the extent that we are fulfilling the calling to which we have been laid hold of by the Lord (Phil. 3:2).
We do not claim that Pensacola is an established church. There is not yet a campus work, nor are there meeting halls. What Pensacola represents is an opportunity to participate in the spread of the Lord on the earth today. The field is white in Pensacola. The Lord has already made His love for the people of this city clear. “Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields; let us lodge in the villages. Let us rise up early for the vineyards; let us see if the vine has budded, if the blossom is open, if the pomegranates are in bloom; there I will give you my love” (S.S. 7:11–12). We offer the Lord our love as we labor together.
Two important quotes regarding migration:
“Regarding migration and the church, we have pointed out in the past that, contrary to the natural concept, a local church does not need to be built up with local people. The first church on the earth was the church in Jerusalem. This local church was not built up with local people.” (CWWL, vol. 4, Migration for the Lord’s Move in the United States, ch. 1, p. 204)
“The saints should migrate to places based on their desire and on the condition of their living and employment. In the first stage of migration, we should go to places where there are saints but not established churches. Migration is an important matter because it is the way for the gospel to go forth and for churches to be raised up. Migration enables us to supply others with the grace that we have received and to fellowship with others concerning what we have experienced. In this way, churches will be raised up quickly in every place.” (CWWL, 1950–1951, Serving According to Revelation, ch. 8, pp. 253–254)
We who are meeting in Pensacola are deeply burdened for the Lord’s move in this region. We believe that the raising up of new churches is not the matter for a few saints but for the entire Body of Christ. We are laboring here and intend to continue. We open this matter to you for your consideration before the Lord.
Why Is Pensacola an Important City?
There is a six-hour gap of approximately 450 miles on the I-10 corridor without a lampstand. Within this gap, there are many significant cities, including Destin and Pensacola in Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and Biloxi and Gulfport in Mississippi. Pensacola is close to the center of this long gap. The closest church, Tallahassee, is 200 miles to the east, with Baton Rouge being 260 miles to the west. The closest church to the north is Birmingham, Alabama, which is 255 miles away. The Lord has placed His recovery into our hands. Should we allow a situation such as this to continue?
Pensacola: An Overview
Location
Pensacola is situated on the Gulf Coast in the westernmost part of the Florida Panhandle. While the city has a population of about 55,000, the greater Pensacola area has approximately 510,000 residents. Compared to many Florida cities, Pensacola is still somewhat “undiscovered.”
Climate
The climate in Pensacola is temperate, with average highs in the 80s during the warmer months and average highs in the 60s during the cooler months of December–March. Average annual rainfall is over 60 inches, with rain being heaviest in the summer months. On average, there are 220 sunny days annually.
Affordability
Pensacola is one of Florida’s last truly affordable coastal cities. Median home prices are in the $330,000–$350,000 range. There is no state income tax in Florida. The cost of living is roughly 5–10% below the national average.
Job Market and Economy
The job market in Pensacola is strong, diversified, and growing. Major areas of employment include the military (Naval Air Station), healthcare, tourism, education, financial services, high-tech industries, and manufacturing.
Activities
- The National Naval Aviation Museum is one of the largest aviation museums in the world. The world-famous Blue Angels flight squadron, based in Pensacola, can often be seen practicing in the skies of the area.
- Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key consistently rank among the best beaches in the U.S., where year-round activities include boating, fishing, paddleboarding, and kayaking.
- Historic Pensacola Village is an 8.5-acre historic downtown area featuring preserved buildings and museums.
Campuses
- University of West Florida — 15,600 students
- Pensacola State College — 10,700 students
- Pensacola Christian College — 4,000 students
- University of South Alabama — 14,000 students, located in Mobile, Alabama, about one hour from Pensacola
Ideal For
- Military families and veterans, or
- Remote workers seeking beach living with low taxes, or
- Young professionals in healthcare, finance, or aerospace, or
- Retirees who want warm winters without South Florida prices or crowds, and most importantly,
- Saints wishing to take part in one of the Lord’s great moves: to raise up a church life.
Conclusion
To conclude, we claim that the Lord’s move continues to go higher and higher. He has opened His Word to us and provided us with every truth needed to consummate this age and bring in the kingdom age. We have the Spirit of God dwelling in our spirit. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 Jn. 4:4). With faith, we can take any city on the earth that we choose. We have chosen to follow the Lord wherever He may go. “But the people who know their God will show strength and take action” (Dan. 11:32).