Join one of our 6-week Essentials groups!

All of these studies will be based upon our church's Essential Values:
Christ-Centered Worship, Joy-Filled Unity, Bible-Dependent Truth, Grace-Fueled Acceptance, Mission-Minded Service, and Generational-Focused Equipping.

Pastor Jimmy Stewart

Young Adults (early 20s-30s) | Married
Sunday evenings beginning Sunday, April 24th at 6:00 PM in their home
Dr. Jimmy Stewart and his wife Janice joined First Baptist Gulfport in 2010 when Jimmy became the Senior Pastor. Their daughter Kadiana lives in San Diego. Their son, Kyle, and his wife, Laurie, live in Hattiesburg. Jimmy has been serving the local church since he was a teenager and Janice has worked with children since her college days including a 33 year teaching career. Both received their undergraduate degrees from William Carey University. Jimmy has advanced degrees from The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Janice has her Master’s Degree in Dyslexic Therapy from William Carey University. Mission trips have taken them internationally to Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Hong Kong, Romania, Russia and Cuba. They look forward to leading a short term life group focusing on Our Essentials! The Stewarts enjoy kayaking, traveling and a good cup of coffee.

Andy & Jennifer Ratcliffe

Middle Adults (Late 30s - Early 50s | Single and Married )
Beginning Sunday May 5th, at 9:00 AM in Room 224 on-campus
Andy and Jennifer live in Gulfport  and have been married for 19 years. They have three children; Andrew, Anna Kate, and Abigail. Andy is a career Army Aviator and currently the Facility Commander of the MS-AVCRAD. Jennifer currently serves as the Chief Nursing Officer of Encompass Hospital in Gulfport. They both love the Lord and are very excited to be starting a new Life Group for Middle Adults.

Delana Varner

Women’s (All Ages) | Zoom Group
Zoom Ladies Bible Study meeting on Tuesdays via Zoom at 7:00pm
  • Beginning April 19 - May 24
Delana Varner is wife to Glenn and mother of three adult children - Amy, Heather, and Brian, and is Nayna to 2 precious grandchildren. She was born in Texas, grew up in Venezuela, and loves Gulfport - having lived here off and on since 1989. She has a Master’s of Science in Social Work from University of Texas at Arlington, worked previously in Arlington, TX with the Area Agency on Aging, and locally at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport. She also home educated their 3 children, and is active at First Gulfport. She currently works as an online administrative assistant. Delana is also a wellness and healthy eating enthusiast. She seeks to encourage, uplift, and inspire people to be the best they can be, and accomplish all that God put them on the earth to do and to point people to Jesus.

Leah Wiscaver

Young Adults (Single and Married)
Meeting start date May 1; meeting Sundays at 9AM in the South Entrance*
*meeting temporarily in The Amp
Leah loves dogs, scrapbooking, and her family. Her husband, Gavin, is the Worship Pastor and they are relatively new to First Gulfport. They love the warmth and welcome they’ve received from their new church family. Life Groups at First Gulfport are loving, supportive, and offer the opportunity to form genuine friendships. If you are a young adult, single or married, plan to gather with our Life Group.