City Light Church

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City Light Church City Light Church is a church plant that exists to shine the light of Christ in our City through the transformed lives of His people.

City Light Church is a multiethnic church plant that exists to shine the light of Christ in our City through the transformed lives of His people.

10/22/2026

Out on the water, in the middle of the night, the disciples are being beaten by wind and waves and Jesus is nowhere to be found. But the text says he was watching the whole time, and that raises a harder question than most people expect. Dr. DeAron Washington sits in that tension honestly and says something worth hearing before you write God off.

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourse...
10/20/2026

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Mark 6:30-56

What kind of God is Jesus? Do you experience the good, kind, and merciful figure of the Bible in your own life?
Jesus is a compassionate shepherd. He offers rest - in this passage, the disciples have just been casting out demons and preaching the gospel. Jesus doesn't tell them to keep working ceaselessly. He tells them to “come away to a desolate place and rest.” The Sabbath is not made for God, but made for man. At times, the most godly thing you can do is rest. In doing so, you show that you trust God can and is still working even when you are not.
Jesus has compassion - he sees the crowd's sad condition- that they are like sheep without a shepherd. Sheep are vulnerable, and we are like them-- we need someone to walk us through the valley of the shadow of death. Compassion is never actionless. Jesus's compassion leads him to seek to teach the crowd.
Jesus, the compassionate shepherd, has power! These people who are listening to Jesus are hungry. Jesus takes just a little bit of food, and fills the stomachs of all the people, and there is much left over! Jesus makes much of the little we can give! When you put just a little in the hands of God, He does a LOT!
Jesus is present - He sees his disciples struggling on the sea, and he comes over to be with and comfort them. Our God is watching, He is present, and He sees. And there is a blessing in the hard moments of our lives by Him just watching.
Jesus is welcoming - when He shows up in the new location, people bring the sick and infirm to him. The word has gotten out that Jesus heals. He does not turn away, but welcomes people. He’s willing and able and has the power to heal. When we come to the end of ourselves, whatever we put in Jesus’ hands, He can handle it! We carry needless pain because we do not give everything to Him.
Be ever reminded of how far He came for us. He steps out of Heaven to welcome and be with us. He loves us! Ask him to be your Savior today - if you want a friend like Him.

10/19/2026

If you signed up for a version of faith with no obstacles, Pastor Brian Crawfoed has a word that will stop you cold: you will always fall asleep. Preparation for anything real comes with grief, with walls, with sorrow — and the question is whether you press through or check out. The answer changes everything about how you live.

10/17/2026

The strongest, most emotionally resilient person who ever lived knelt down in a garden and admitted he couldn't do it alone. That's not weakness dressed up as religion — that's the most honest moment in human history. If Jesus needed to pray, the question worth asking is: what exactly are you depending on instead?

10/15/2026

Jesus prayed three times for the same thing, and God said no every single time. That's not a prayer life that looks like a highlight reel, and yet Jesus kept pressing in. Pastor Brian Crawfoed unpacks what it looks like to honor God not just when he says yes, but when the answer is the one you were dreading.

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to...
10/13/2026

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”Luke: 22: 39-53

What fuels you before a hard test? Jesus prays and prays and prays before testing.
From the phrase "as was his custom," we know that Jesus had a regular pattern of prayer. Jesus didn’t cram before the test: he was regularly on the Mount of Olives at night. And even before being in Jerusalem Jesus would withdraw to desolate places to pray. Even in the midst of times when Jesus was being sought after for his healings and sermons, he was going to empty desolate places where he could focus and pray. How often do you go away for solitude and prayer? Your answer is directly correlated to how you are going to be ready when testing comes in your own life.
Jesus’s testing is for all who follow him! The disciples are told to pray “so you may not enter into temptation.” We are to pray in preparation for our trials. We cannot withstand temptation with our own strength. We need prayer. When we do not pray, we are saying that we don’t need God to protect us from temptation. If Jesus is strengthened through the gift of prayer, how much less should we depend on our own ability to stand against temptation, and how much more should we depend on God through our habit of prayer?!
Prayer is an act of submission. Jesus kneels in this moment. Three times, he prays to the Father to take this path and his pain away from Him. And God answers, “No.” God is not only glorified in His “yes’s” but He is glorified in His “no’s” as well. We haven’t learned to honor God until we’ve learned to honor Him in His refusals.
We should also pray with great exertion. In this text we see two groups of people who are emotionally and spiritually weary: both Jesus and the disciples. The disciples were sleeping “for sorrow.” They were grieving, and they had become tired. Contrary to how it is sometimes portrayed, the disciples are not just goofing off in this moment. They are tired in the soul. Theirs is one of two possible responses to grief - 1) Like the disciples, one can sleep on it (i.e. check out or seek escape.) Or 2) one can press in, which was the path chosen by Jesus. Being in agony, Jesus prayed more earnestly. Preparation does not come without obstruction, because we have an enemy who is interested in not just our body, but our soul.
In the last few verses, we see who’s actually prepared. In this moment, Jesus knows He’s going to be betrayed, and he meets this moment without running. He’s prepared. There’s no ducking this moment. Judas betrays Him, not only in a sacred place, but with a sacred gesture. It is a heinous act, and Jesus meets it without anger. Retaliation would be totally understandable. But Jesus has been praying for this moment. The disciples on the other hand are ready to fight. They do what you expect them to do, because they haven’t been preparing. They ask “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” and they don’t even wait for an answer before attacking. Had their preparation been sound, this scene might have been different.
Your fruit is a product of the soil you are growing yourself in.
But Jesus says, in this moment, “No more of this.” He heals the guard. We are supposed to respond to hate with love. A prayerful church fights our battles with grace, love, healing and truth. And Jesus tells them the truth while meeting them with grace.

10/08/2026

Two men, same failure, completely different endings. Peter denied Jesus three times before sunrise, and Judas betrayed him for silver, and the only thing that separated them wasn't the size of their failure. Pastor Brian Crawford draws a line that most people have never considered: a failed faith isn't one that stumbles, it's one that never turns back.

10/07/2026

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10/06/2026

Jesus asks a simple question: who is greater, the one being served at the table or the one doing the serving? Everyone would say the one reclining. Then he says, "But I am among you as the one who serves." Pastor Brian lands the implication hard: if Jesus is found at the serving table, where exactly should his followers be found?

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that you...
10/06/2026

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.” And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” And he said to them, “It is enough.” Luke 22:31-38

At the time of our text, Jesus had just called out a betrayer in their midst. And here Jesus points out that none of us are safe. Just because Satan overcomes one of us doesn’t mean he’s going to stop. We should always be focused on defending against the attacks of the enemy. Our enemy does not rest, so neither should we.
Our enemy loves the destruction of our faith. He often prefers the torture of your soul over simply the torture of your body. Satan can even hide your blessings. He is watching out for us to drop our guard.
We take courage and remember that God is sovereign. Satan has to ask God for permission for everything he does. God, in his sovereignty, allows Satan to test us. But take heart - if you are God’s, you cannot be Satan’s. You may stumble and may falter, but Satan cannot have your faith or your soul. Deep down among Peter’s denials is a scared man that loves his Lord. Jesus prayed for Peter, but Jesus also is praying for you. We hear throughout the Bible that Jesus is making intercession for us. You can be certain of your faith, because you have the God of the universe praying for you! There is always a pathway back to God because of the cross.
Note that God keeps us so that we may keep one another. God tells Peter “when you return, strengthen your brothers.” In this way, God demonstrates His sovereignty throughout the household of faith. Peter’s failure and his restoration is not just for his benefit. He is to strengthen the other brothers and be an example for those who are weak or faltering. Also, note that while Peter may be called out for his denial, ALL the disciples scatter! Peter is called out because he is the de facto leader of the group. So his restoration is impactful to others! In the same way, God does not keep you for yourself. God restores and keeps and sustains you, so you might be a sustainer for those around you! Who has God placed around you, so you might keep them moving forward and focused on God? As you run the race to your finish line, who has the lord put in your path that you may support them as they run?
Despite our delusions, we cannot live out this faith on our own. Peter tells Jesus, “I’m ready to die for you!” And Jesus corrects Him. In Peter’s bravado, Jesus exposes Peter’s own weaknesses. We need all the help we can get! Our pride and the illusion of our inner strength are prime targets for Satan. And in our American context, we are raised to believe we can handle things on our own. But we are not as strong as we believe we are. So we should pray like we are capable of falling. We should live like we are always capable of falling. And if we live like we are capable of falling, we will always remember our dependence on God. We cannot do this alone. Do not resist the opportunity to lean on God, and live faithfully among the community of believers.
And remember, the world will become more adversarial to Jesus and Jesus’ followers. But when we go and we encounter difficulty, we go with the prayers of our Lord. The disciples think they are going to fight a physical battle - looking for swords. But Jesus is speaking metaphorically, as we see in a few verses when Jesus chastises Peter for attacking a man with a sword. The sword is not what keeps us. God does! We will be kept because God is in control. We will be kept because Jesus is praying for us, in heaven, making intercession. And when we fall, He has paid the price on the cross.

Address

520 Depot Street
Vicksburg, MS
39180

Opening Hours

10:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+16014560815

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