The more days that we are in the city of North Port, the more things we find to love. It is so exciting to see the boom of the infrastructure that is beginning to match the population of almost 60,000 people here.

Reading about North Port in their published magazine really does not do this area justice. We have cranes that very often visit our front yard, alligators that Brian has seen on more than one occasion in a canal about a mile down the road, and all sorts of other beautiful Florida wildlife that could appear at any given day at the grocery store or the community center. We have dozens of bikers and runners pass our home every day. And there have been very few days that there has not been an afternoon isolated thunderstorm (which could mean that your house is literally the only one in the neighborhood getting rained on).  You can walk any direction and eventually you will find a place to throw in a fishing line; you can drive five miles and be at the mall to visit American Eagle or Claire’s, or in twenty to thirty minutes be at the beach or at Boca Grande, the number one tarpon fishing hot spot in the world.

It is no surprise to us now why so many people have relocated to North Port to set roots and raise their family. It seems that almost every family that we have met have all relocated to this area for the same reason — “to make a better life for my family.” It does of course help that their dollar stretches much further in North Port when it comes to housing and insurance. I am still amazed every time I go around town at the number of children and young families that live in this community. My family of five is the norm. Dad and Mom and kids go to the grocery store together after their soccer game on Saturday. That would probably explain the need for six elementary schools in this one city.

There is such a hunger here for community. There are very few people who grew up in North Port. Everyone has a story of how he or she came to be a citizen of North Port, and everyone is looking to connect, to find a friend for their little Bobby or little Anna, to do life together with someone.

The first Saturday that we were here, we went to North Port Newcomer Day. We were shocked at the amount of people that came to the library of North Port to see how they could connect with their community. The parking lot was jam-packed and the highway was lined with cars. Everything that you can think of is available as an activity here, but when it comes to churches, there are very few to call by name.

We are so excited about starting the work of Awaken Church. We believe now more than ever that this is a city in desperate need for more life-giving community! A very small percentage of the population of North Port attend a church anywhere and an even smaller percentage attend church inside the city of North Port. We ask that you pray for God to provide the needs that we have to start this work here and that He would send the workers and the team members we need to disciple those who will come!

Jacqueline Z