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Michael Bannon Headshot
Apr 1, 2021

For God’s Sake: Easter Sunday signals promise of a new life to come

Last month, I saw a meme that pictured a U.S. weather map where every state but ours was overlaid in colors of icy blue and purple showing frigid temperatures and heavy snow.

The entire state of Florida was overlaid in sunshine yellow and boasted temps in the low 80s north to south. That week in Navarre, our overnight temps dipped into the high 20s and the daytime temps barely crested 40 degrees.


Mar 31, 2021

Resurrecting the essentials

Mid-March 2020, governors across the country imposed size restrictions on public gatherings in their state, attempting to curb the spread of a strange, new virus.

After hastily called meetings, church leaders weighed options for continuing weekly worship services.


Mar 24, 2021

Navarre First Assembly holds annual missions conference

Navarre First Assembly of God held its annual missions conference March 6.

“We’ve been doing this about 10 years,” said Iris Tatom, First Assembly’s director of missions, “and each year it has been a little different.”


Michael Bannon Headshot
Mar 23, 2021

For God’s Sake: Most reliable source of wisdom is the Bible

If you want wisdom, you could scale a distant peak to consult with some wizened sage, or you can drive to Indiana and visit my father-in-law.

My wife and I have just returned from celebrating his 104th birthday with him.


Mar 21, 2021

Beach sunrise service planned for Easter Day

Navarre Community-Wide Easter Sunrise Service will be hosted by the Navarre BeachSide Church on Sunday, April 4 at 6:00 am in the main parking lot for Navarre Beach and Pier.

Mar 19, 2021

Guest Column: Eyes toward the Son

Sometimes the less we can see, the more we can see.

When you’re enjoying the beach on a bright, sunny day, clearly seeing your surroundings seems at times to be next to impossible.


Michael Bannon Headshot
Mar 18, 2021

For God’s Sake: As my heart changed, my music did as well

Occasionally, I’ll hear a song from my youth and, in an instant, memories will flood my mind. I suspect that old men have been saying this ever since there has been music.

As a Canadian, my playlist drew from diverse sources.


Mar 17, 2021

Church serves community with free food distribution

Members of New Life Deliverance Temple Church gave away 110 boxes of food Friday morning from the parking lot of their church at 2104 Panhandle Trail.

Michael Bannon Headshot
Mar 15, 2021

For God’s Sake: Christ willingly gave his life-giving blood for me

I don’t know what romantic thing you did for Valentine’s Day, but my wife and I gave blood. It was her idea.

She is always ready to give blood whenever “The Big Red Bus” is in town and I always ask, “What are they giving away?”


Mar 9, 2021

One pastor, two churches, two locations

“We are one family in two locations,” said Pastor Tim Sheldon describing a Navarre congregation and a Fort Walton Beach congregation both named Covenant Community Church.