As we approach the six-week mark in a new place, it's beginning to feel more like home — all the while a temporary one at that, which is a complicated feeling. Some of you know me well enough to know I love to see new structures and systems for how to do ministry well. That makes this time so invaluable — to learn in another context, to see how the kingdom is being built here, how people are being equipped to do the work of ministry in this space, and how the good news of Jesus is changing lives in Medina, OH. I truly love to learn from others. To see a church that is both missionally aware — driven to reach the unchurched — and leaning into the deeper contemplative space of spiritual rhythms and practices is remarkable. That combination isn't widely seen in most churches, but it will be paramount in Key West.

I also have the opportunity to preach this week on Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32. Preaching, for me, is not only a calling but a love and a passion, so this makes me excited! Wrestling with God is also something I feel deeply familiar with, especially through this most recent season — me having a plan for what I thought would be next, and God having something else in mind. But the formation process, and the patience God has with me, is so visible through those seasons.

Pray for Sunday. Pray that God would reveal exactly what we need to know in this season.

As for Key West, I'll be there next weekend to follow up on some connections and relationships, hoping and praying God would bring a few more. We also plan to take the whole family down in October to do the same.

We are still working through the process of what this thing is called and how it will function. In some ways it can feel like you're just guessing and leaning on the Spirit. We believe more time spent in Key West will help clarify this. We're also in the midst of budgeting and setting the main goals for the 2027–2028 pre-launch and launch. It can feel like an overwhelming process, but it's one that will both test and refine the vision of a church in Key West.

Pray for this trip. That God would bring about the right connections and build His Kingdom as He sees fit.

So how's the family? We're doing great! Clair is back in the full throes of school, having a blast in first grade — though she consistently claims we wake her up earlier each day, even though it's the same time. We are striving to stay grounded in a season that will be a long transition, a space where nothing will feel permanent for a while. We're already in the mindset of downsizing for a future move, feeling temporary even now.

The house is coming along, for those who have asked — the rest of the windows are finally picked up and ready to go in, and with a few more days of outside work, the exterior should be buttoned up. And for those keeping up with my car journey: I found the car that will go to Key West! It's number 54 for me. Still much to do, but things are moving along.

Pray for us to stay grounded in this season.

Most people think of Key West and see Jimmy Buffett, beaches, and margaritas. But most people never stay long enough to see what it's really like — full of people just like you and me, people whose job is to serve up paradise one weekend at a time. Most people never get the chance to meet someone like Jenny: a single mom of a teenage son, working as a bartender. She's had a spiritual journey in and out of the Catholic church, carries deeper questions, and is looking for something more. She talks about raising a son in Key West — he just got his license, and she wonders what he'll do next. When I mentioned the idea of starting a church in Key West, she asked very directly, "Well, what kind of church?" (Seems to be a common response.) I said something along the lines of a church that cares about people and sits in the non-denominational space — jokingly adding, "a pretty normal church." She said with relief, "That would be awesome. Let me know if you do that."

Key West is famous for its free-roaming chickens — they're everywhere, strutting down Duval Street, crowing outside restaurants, and raising their chicks in parking lots like they own the place. These "gypsy chickens" are descendants of birds brought over by Cuban and Bahamian settlers in the 1800s, back when nearly every household kept chickens for eggs, meat, and cockfighting. When cockfighting was outlawed and grocery stores made backyard flocks unnecessary, people simply let the birds go — and they thrived. Today they're a protected part of the island's character, and it's actually illegal to harm them.

The locals have a love-hate relationship with them. The roosters don't care that it's 4 a.m. — they crow whenever they feel like it, and tourists quickly learn that "island time" doesn't apply to chickens. But they've become an unofficial mascot of Key West's quirky, live-and-let-live spirit. There's even a Key West Wildlife Center that rescues injured birds, and you'll find chicken art, chicken souvenirs, and chicken-themed everything all over town. In a place where the unofficial motto is "One Human Family," the chickens are basically honorary citizens.

In Key West, as it is in heaven.