one night, one couch, one step closer

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November 27, 2025. Thanksgiving night.

Eight years to the day since we first heard the whisper of God calling us to plant a church in New Orleans.

Back then, we had no plan, no name, no timeline. Just a word.

And this Thanksgiving, we finally opened our home.

Not for a service. Not for a strategy meeting.

Just to gather. To eat. To laugh. To make room.

We hosted our first official gathering.

And it was beautiful.

But let me rewind.

For weeks, Naomi and I had been praying about the kind of home we believed God wanted us to cultivate here in New Orleans. A home full of peace, welcome, and warmth. The kind of place where strangers become family. The kind of place where the Gospel is not just preached but practiced around a table.

We had been dreaming about hosting something for Thanksgiving, but truthfully, we weren’t sure it would happen. With three kids, limited furniture, and a tight budget, it felt like a stretch. But then, as God does, He moved.

Someone gave us a miracle financial gift.

We bought a couch.

Not just any couch. A Lovesac.

Something big enough for people to pile onto. Something that silently whispers you belong here.

So we said yes.

We opened our door.

And people came.

Savannah.

Noell.

Friends new and old.

People on a journey. Some just getting started. Some freshly delivered from darkness. Some still unsure if they believe at all.

We shared stories.

We ate until the plates were empty.

We gave thanks.

We prayed.

And without planning or pretense, the night became our first gathering. The beginning of something real. Something Spirit breathed. Something small but sacred.

That night changed us.

It reminded me that church doesn’t start with a building, a band, or a banner. It starts with a table.

It starts with presence.

It starts with a couch and a few open hearts.

Since that night, we’ve sensed the Lord nudging us to open our home more intentionally. So starting in January 2026, we’ll be launching weekly Tuesday night "Open House" gatherings. Simple. Spirit-led. Centered on Jesus.

Naomi and I recently sat down to reflect on everything that’s been happening, and we captured that conversation in a new VLOG on YouTube. While we didn’t film Thanksgiving night itself, this video is our way of processing what God is doing in and through us here in New Orleans. It’s honest, unpolished, and full of the heart behind our first gathering. If you want the full story, the vision, and the gratitude we’re carrying, watch the VLOG. And as always, thank you for praying, thank you for supporting, and thank you for being part of the beginning.

Love you big time,
Zack & Naomi

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