On Monday of this week, the bishops of the Mississippi Annual Conference and the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church appointed me as the new Senior Pastor of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.

Gulf Breeze is a wonderful community just over the bay from Pensacola, Florida. Gulf Breeze UMC is a great congregation of nearly 5,000 members with an average worship attendance of 2,500. The church has a long history of innovative, exciting ministry that has not only impacted their immediate area, but the United Methodist Church in general. In fact, GBUMC is one of the 20 largest UMC churches in the United States.

Pokey, the girls and I are very excited about this new adventure and look forward to what God will do in the coming weeks, months and years.

Of course, we will miss our friends and colleagues in the Mississippi Annual Conference and are so grateful for their support and encouragement through the years.

More information will be forthcoming about the next steps in ministry for The Hour, but, regardless, I can guarantee that God has great plans for all of us.

The new appointment date has not been officially set but the traditional transition date is July 1st.

Please keep our family in your prayers as we make these changes. And also pray for the wonderful folks at The Hour and at Gulf Breeze UMC as God opens new doors and areas to serve Him.

We love you.

Be Salt and Light... You matter!
Shane