Manna Family,
As we step into April we find ourselves right in the middle of Passion Week. As a Christian, we are acutely aware that the journey to the joy of the resurrection must go through the crushing of the cross. Somebody say, “Thank you Jesus!” It’s such an honor to pastor a local church that places their hope in The Risen Christ on a daily (let’s be honest… moment by moment) basis, and I truly look forward to worshipping with you at our first ever Good Friday Service, and at one of our three Easter Services. It’s not too late to invite a friend.
April is also our first full month engaging with the updated version of our Manna Church App, featuring a personalized dashboard for each individual who calls Manna Church “home.” This upgrade will make it easier for everyone to take meaningful steps in their faith journey, while also allowing our church to connect and communicate in a more personal and relevant way. The goal is that everyone knows their ‘next right step,’ and that no one falls through the cracks!
Our heart behind this move is that those who attend our church during this season of growth, still feel a sense of belonging, while understanding the reality that they were made on purpose and for a purpose. Manna Church will always be about equipping God’s People to change their world, and we believe this new digital tool will enhance our ability to steward this calling in a healthy way. Like anything new, there will be a bit of a learning curve (for both you and our staff), so thanks in advance for the grace as we continue to pursue excellence as a church family.
Lastly, get ready for the longest sermon series in the history of our church. We’ll be in the book of Acts until November! Let’s learn to become the church God longs for. See you soon!
Blessings,
Chris Shinnick
When the stone rolled away from the tomb of Jesus Christ, everything changed. Death was conquered, sin was defeated, and Hope was reborn. Join us for Easter Sunday as we celebrate the truth that Jesus is alive, and He’s still seeking to give you new life. Join us for a Good Friday service at 6:30pm and Easter services at 8am, 9:30am, or 11am!
This month we celebrated 19 Baptisms! 19 people choosing to share what God has done in their lives! We are celebrating all that God has done and is doing in their lives!
In the month of March we’ve been in our “Friends of STU” series! Throughout this series we’ve had different guest speakers coming in to share their favorite parable with our students. It’s been a great time hearing from different voices in our church as they have been challenging our students to look at how the parables Jesus told apply to our lives today!
This month some of our STU men enjoyed the Father/Son Ice Flyers Hockey Game together in Pensacola!
STU CAMP 2026!
We have ONE SPOT left for camp! A $75 deposit is required to reserve your spot. Follow the link here for more information or to register!
Meet Alan and Emma Ohrt!
Alan and Emma Ohrt have built a life marked by adventure, faithfulness, and deep roots in our community. Their story began in an unexpected place: a missile test site in the Sonoran Desert and has grown into a 38-year marriage filled with shared experiences, including raising two children here in Niceville, where they have called home for 28 years. Now empty-nesters, they enjoy traveling the world together and are joyfully anticipating the arrival of their fifth grandchild this July. Alan serves as a Research Engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, specializing in explosion effects, and brings the same dedication to his ever-evolving vegetable garden, while Emma, a gifted baker and creative spirit, spends her time crafting beautifully decorated cookies and cakes. Together, they share a love for football, recently winning their fantasy league after years of perseverance, and enjoy cheering on their favorite college teams eventually settling on WVU as common ground. Currently enrolled in Leader Step, they have thoroughly enjoyed Growth Track and are excited to continue building relationships and serving within the church community.
Congratulate our recent FirstStep and NextStep graduates! We’re so excited to see God use them in the months and years ahead!
There will be no Growth Track on April 5th. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone again on April 12th!
We’ve re-launched our Manna Church app with exciting improvements designed to help you connect, grow, and stay in the loop more easily than ever. Over the next few weeks, you’ll notice a fresh look and expanded features that will make engagement simpler and more personalized.
The Manna Church app is available on iphone and android.
A common theme across the updates we recieved in March was the uptick in violence across the globe. Be it the war in the Middle East, persecution in Asia, or land grabs in South America, many of our partners are seeing and feeling the pressure that violence brings.
Please remember as you pray, that no matter what political party has control of a region, there are believers on every side. Pray that in the midst of crisis, people will turn to eternal hope and find solace in the God that is sovereign over all. Pray for protection for our brothers and sisters, for provision, and for the gospel light to shine and spread.
Pete Heitz will be leading a trip to the Manna D.R.E.A.M. Center May 14-21. Register here.
Sharilyn Margulis will be leading a trip to Albania October 20-28th. Register here.
