By J.S. Green

Good News United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa Beach is in an exciting season! Pastor Bradley Goode and his church staff are working to meet needs of our area by providing a wonderful worship experience, a welcoming community, and targeted missions opportunities. Like our coastal town, this church is growing. Good News launched a third Sunday morning service in late September. The traditional service is at 8:15 a.m., and now there are two contemporary services at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Wednesday night activities resumed in September, with dinner from 5:15 – 6:00 p.m., followed by new adult bible studies, youth group and children’s activities. The church not only delivers the good news of Christ to residents on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, but it is a center for our community to actively see God at work in peoples’ lives.

Who doesn’t love living in Santa Rosa Beach? It inspires, and many people make sacrifices to move here; ask any local resident. When the going gets tough, we have a picturesque environment that a walk on the beach and ocean breeze can calm. From turquoise waters, white sand, and color-bursting sunsets, it’s a beautiful life. However, with our gorgeous town, and the slow coastal rhythm, this serenity doesn’t solve all our problems. Good News is a place that has created space for local residents to come rest, learn, and build a better life.

Good News believes in building our lives on a firm foundation: Pursuing God, Building Community, and Living Generously. This is Good News Church’s new logo, revised mission statement, and it comes from Jesus’ words: are we going to build our house on sand or on a firm foundation? As Pastor Brad says, “We want to be a church full of people who are making the decision to not build a life on the sand, but on the reality of Jesus.” You can visit the church’s new website at www.goodnewschurch.life and learn more.

The people make Good News amazing and are of every age. From senior adults, to babies in the nursery, with children, youth, and young families in between, people gather together and make Good News great. The children’s ministry, a newly launched program for 5th and 6th graders, is called Rt. 56 and offers fun engagement. Good News just hired a new staff member to lead the youth group, grades 7 – 12. Good News believes that investing in our future generations is essential.

Serving locals is at the heart of Good News Church. Hurricane relief efforts are actively going on through their partnership with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), who is working with over 300 families to move them back into their homes. Teams serve almost weekly, and there is a workday planned in Marianna – October 19. If you want to help, please visit the church’s website to register. Good News also works with many local partners, such as the UM Children’s home, Food for Thought, Path of Grace, Lighthouse Family Retreats, FCA, Caring & Sharing, Days for Girls, Habitat for Humanity, Songs in the Night, Communities of Transformation, and others. Good News, as a local church, leads their Supplied Back to School ministry, a Wheelchair Ramp Ministry, among others. Each April 30th and August 30th, Good News celebrates #30ADay – a day on which the church prays over every street in our community and serves locals. We live at the beach, but how do we live? Come build that firm foundation at Good News United Methodist Church. 4747 US-98, Santa Rosa Beach, 850-622-9191

Special thanks to Pastor Brad providing information for this article.

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