why new orleans? why now?
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On November 22, 2017, Naomi flew into New Orleans to meet my family for the first time. We had been dating for six months, and I was more nervous than ever. She was stepping into my world, meeting the people who shaped me, and this felt like the final checkpoint on our journey toward marriage. But that day turned out to be significant for a reason I couldn’t have predicted. We picked Naomi up just before noon. Since it was her first time in New Orleans, we planned to tour the city, followed by a classic Cajun lunch with my parents and a few of my closest friends.
As we cruised through the historic streets of the French Quarter and down Canal Street, the city unfolded before us—sunlight shimmered on the pavement, jazz melodies echoed from distant corners, and street performers drummed on buckets and tap-danced with soda-can shoes strapped to their feet. The atmosphere felt electric, like a symphony of sound, culture, and history woven into every block. It was pure magic. Yet, even within that beauty, there was brokenness. Homeless men and women sat along the sidewalks, and a sense of despair lingered in the spaces between the music and laughter. It was a glimpse into the paradox of life—a collision of joy and suffering, hope and hopelessness, art and agony, all existing side by side.
I held Naomi’s hand, cherishing the moment with the woman I knew I wanted to marry. The city, vibrant yet raw, pulsed around us. As we turned onto Dauphine Street, Naomi soaked it all in—the beauty, the pain, the complexity. Then, with a soft smile and a look of conviction in her eyes, she said the six words that have stayed with me ever since: “You should plant a church here.”
At first, I laughed it off. "YOU should plant a church here," I thought. New Orleans wasn’t a place I loved—it was a city I once despised. Growing up as a military kid, I lived in nine homes, three states, and two countries, but the Gulf Coast—South Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana—was the closest thing I had to a true home. Yet New Orleans was never a place I wanted to invest in. I couldn’t understand its appeal, especially in my younger years. It was loud, chaotic, and far from where I imagined God calling me. I did not like New Orleans and growing up I made that known.
Naomi’s words unsettled something deep inside me though. “You should plant a church here.” It was like a pebble in my shoe—small, but impossible to ignore. A seed had been planted in my spirit that day, even though I brushed it off with a quick “Ha! No.”. I didn’t realize it then, but God was aligning our hearts for something far greater than I could imagine.
Fast forward four days to Sunday, November 26, 2017. Thanksgiving with Naomi had been amazing—my family adored her, and we even looked at engagement rings the day we returned to Charlotte. That Sunday, I was back at church, serving at Elevation.
As we tore down tents after the second service, a man I’d seen around campus approached me with an intensity I couldn’t ignore. “Can I speak with you for a moment?” he asked. We stepped outside, and what he shared next would change the trajectory of my life.
Placing a hand on my shoulder, he described a vivid dream he had the night before. He saw Naomi and me planting a church—one filled with people worshiping, dancing, and experiencing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. He told me, “You will pastor, preach, and plant a church in a city you are uncomfortable with.”
I stood frozen, stunned at how his words aligned with Naomi’s comment just days earlier. I knew this wasn’t just a dream—it was a prophecy, a glimpse of what God had already set in motion. After that encounter, I shared the vision only with Naomi. It felt too sacred to overexpose. I wasn’t ready to process what it all meant, let alone act on it. At the time, I was content—serving as the youth pastor at one of the fastest-growing churches in America, living a dream I hadn’t even known I had. Planting a church, especially in New Orleans, was the furthest thing from my mind.
But God never forgets what He plants. Over the past seven years, He has been preparing us—through prayer, relationships, and personal growth—for this very moment. As I shared in my earlier message, the Lord has spoken again, confirming that now is the time. This calling was never ours; it has always been His. And His voice is clear: "Go."
We are preparing, praying, and planning for the move back to New Orleans. It’s been a long journey, but we are just as energized today as we were back then. God has been faithful to us in every season, and we trust that His grace will sustain us as we step into this new chapter.
Reflection Questions:
• Has God given you a vision or prophetic word that hasn’t yet come to pass?
• How are you seeking Him, both practically and spiritually, to walk into that vision?
• What kind of person do you need to become to fulfill that calling?
Crawford Prayer Requests:
• Pray for the right home in the right neighborhood in New Orleans.
• Pray for wisdom as we navigate the move from Stillwater to New Orleans.
• Pray that we will boldly share Jesus, both now and when we arrive in the city.
What We’re Learning:
• Reading: The Gospel of Luke & Jesus Manifesto by Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet
• Researching: Strategic Launch Network
• Parenting: How to handle two toddlers who love to fight over the same toys (seriously, any tips are welcome!).
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