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Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Diocese,
It is with great joy that I share with you, that last week, I received the blessing from the Diocesan Council in my decision to start a new church plant in Lafayette, Louisiana, St. Lydia's Anglican Church. The church planters, Rev. Adam Hunter and his wife, Holly, have faithfully prayed and worked with me and Canon Jon Beadle (Canon for Church Planting) over the last several months. We are all very excited about the continued missional presence in the Lafayette area and look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for St. Lydia's. Hear what Rev. Adam, Canon Jon, and parishioners have to share about St. Lydia's below.
"Back in December, a group of wonderful, faithful people from our diocese began meeting together and prayerfully discerning a call to continue the Diocese’s long-standing mission and ministry here in Lafayette, Louisiana. And now, five months later, St. Lydia’s Anglican Church has been founded as a mission of the Diocese.
Named after St. Lydia of Thyatira from Acts 16:11-15, we seek to emulate the hospitality and generosity she gave to the Apostle Paul and his companions in Philippi as we invite the people of our city and parish into the life of Christ and his Church. We do this with patience, waiting on God, and having our hearts open to what he is doing around us. I am beyond blessed to participate in what God is doing in and through our people!"
~Rev. Adam Hunter
"I am so excited to be a part of St. Lydia’s! Planting a new church with gospel-driven families who meet in a home… How much closer to the first Christians can you get? Thank you, God, for choosing me to be a part of this!"
~Lisa H.
"To be both a witness and a participant to what God is doing here at St. Lydia’s Anglican Church has been among the most moving, humbling, and beyond exciting experiences of my walk with my Father. He’s called us to put our hands to His work and, with all glory to His name, we have said yes and been benefactors to His holy, peaceful, and fulfilling presence. When we meet, He is in our midst through our prayers, our songs, our conversations, our fellowship, and our love for one another. And this city on a hill cannot be hidden. I truly believe that the Father will reach the lost of this city with this light from our living room."
~Drew B.
"I have seen with my own eyes St Lydia’s go from a merry band of worshippers to a solid congregation with a mission for the sake of Lafayette. The Hunter family is uniquely gifted for this difficult and rewarding work of church planting. We should rejoice in a new addition to our diocesan family, and give thanks to the Lord, in advance, for the many baptisms and confirmations that are to come from St. Lydia’s. God is on the move in Louisiana! "
~Canon Jon Beadle
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