By Kimberly Hood, MD
Coming from a lifelong charismatic church background, my first visit to Apostles by the Sea, an Anglican congregation, was both unfamiliar and deeply refreshing. I expected something rigid or distant, but instead I encountered a reverence that felt both ancient and alive—something that immediately drew me in.
The most noticeable difference was the liturgical structure. Unlike the spontaneous, free-flowing and at times, chaotic worship I had always known, every part of the service carried intention and meaning. Prayers, Scripture readings, and congregational responses were shared together, creating a powerful sense that worship was not about any one individual, but about the body of believers collectively honoring God. I found myself shifting from a mindset of “what can I receive?” to “what can I offer?”—a posture that felt both humbling and deeply grounding.
What surprised me most was that, despite the structured nature of the service, this was not a cessationist church. There remained an openness to the work of the Holy Spirit, but it was expressed in a way that felt ordered, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in tradition. Rather than diminishing the spiritual experience, it seemed to anchor it in something more enduring.
The beauty of the liturgy itself was striking. The words carried a sense of weight and history, shaped by generations of believers. Participating in those prayers and responses made me feel connected not just to the people in the room, but to the broader, historic Church and to Jesus. It was a form of worship that invited reflection, reverence, and unity.
Equally impactful were the people. From the very first day, they were warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind. There was no pressure to perform or conform—only a sincere joy that we were there, worshiping Jesus alongside them. That authenticity made a lasting impression.
Father John Wallace and his wife, Ashley Wallace, also stood out as gracious and sincere leaders. Their heart for loving Jesus was evident, not only in what was said, but in the tone and spirit of the entire service. It set the foundation for a church culture that felt both peaceful and genuine.
This is the kind of church I would gladly join and attend regularly. Unfortunately, discovering it just a few months before moving away makes the experience bittersweet. Even so, I do not see this as a goodbye. These are relationships I intend to keep, people I hope to stay connected with despite the distance. I look forward to visiting whenever I am back in the area, and I already plan to make a special trip to see their new church on Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach once it is completed.
In the end, my experience at Apostles by the Sea did not feel like a departure from my faith background, but rather an expansion of it—a deeper expression of loving Jesus, together.
