The Velvet Ditch — Bryan Spillman

They call Oxford the Velvet Ditch ... you know, because it's a soft place to land. Once you come here, you just don't want to leave. We've been in Oxford just over a month now and we have experienced that. It already feels like home for us. The art, the culture, the square, the grove; Oxford is the crown jewel of Mississippi and it's southern charm seems unrivaled.

But I think the thing that makes Oxford so special is the people. It was hard for us to leave Chattanooga. We have so many people there who we love and miss deeply. But our family has felt so welcomed by this community. From the moment we drove up to our house we felt celebrated and wanted and loved. I don't think I'll ever forget cresting the hill on Bristol Cove the day we moved in and seeing the words, in giant letters, "WELCOME TO OXFORD SPILLMANS!" We were in shock, first by the fact that such a thing is possible (Shout out to Kurt at Oxford Yard Card) and then by the fact that we were wanted here. People were excited for us to get here. I made the girls pose for a picture so we could commemorate the moment.

And we hit the ground running. This past month has been a whirlwind: unpacking, settling in to our house, getting Collette enrolled in school, meeting leaders, committee gatherings, clubs starting up, getting campaigners started with some 8th grade guys, leader weekend, friends visiting from out of town, speaking on a leader weekend at Clearwater Cove, starting leader training, hosting our Young Life banquet with almost 400 people in the community. In some ways it's been breathless.

Yet, amidst all that, I have had an overwhelming since of peace. It has become so evident that God uprooted us in Chattanooga, because He has been waiting for us here; so that he might plant us here in Oxford. He has laid out our steps and has gone before us. Waiting on us to get here, so that we might help build his kingdom in this little town in North Mississippi. As crazy as it sounds, we're home. And I couldn't be more grateful that he gave us such a soft place to land.