We need your help! ❤️
Four years ago, our family came from South Africa to Tampa after feeling called to plant a church and serve this community.
Church Experience Westchase began in our townhome, and we have been incredibly blessed to watch it grow into the thriving community it is today — a place where lives are being changed and families are finding connection, hope, and belonging.
We love this country. We love this city. And we are deeply grateful for the privilege of being called here for such a time as this.
We believe God is using our family to make a difference in this community, and we are asking for the opportunity and privilege to continue serving here.
Our daughter, Rebecca, was born here and is a U.S. citizen, making Tampa an even more meaningful part of our family's story 🇺🇸
We have faithfully followed the legal immigration process. Our permanent residency (Green Card) was approved in July 2023, but because of visa backlogs and processing delays, we are still waiting for it to be filed. Meanwhile, our current R-1 Religious Worker Visa expires in March 2027.
We will be submitting this petition, along with a letter requesting assistance from the appropriate government representatives, as we seek to obtain our Green Cards and remain lawfully in the United States.
If you know our family, have been part of Church Experience, have been impacted by our church, or have simply been encouraged by our journey, we would be incredibly grateful if you would sign our petition and stand with us.
Your signature will help share our story and show that our family has a community standing behind us.
Thank you for believing in us, standing with us, and praying for our family. We are so grateful. ❤️🇺🇸
Updates
Please verify signature in email link
September 11, 2026
Hey Family & Friends, Thanks so much for your support. It means the world to us. Please dont forget that once you sign the petition you will get an email link to verify your signature. You need to click the link in the email for your signature to be valid on the petition. We have many pending because they haven’t clicked the link. Thanks everyone! Warren Blackbeard
30 Comments
This family is so important to our family and our community. They have done everything possible and the correct way to earn their stay in our beautiful country. They have positively impacted many people, including us as parents and our kids. Our church and our church family would not be the same without them. They are the glue that keeps us together!
We LOVE this family! Pastor Warren and his family have made such a profound impact on our entire family, truly spanning generations. Through their love, support, and faithful leadership both inside and outside of the church, our faith has grown stronger, and they have become such an important part of our lives. We want them to stay here in Florida with us and continue leading and serving our church family. We genuinely cannot imagine our church and community without them.
this family has changed so many lives including mine and my husbands!!!! They were sent by God and their mission isn’t over yet
This family has brought our community closer to God. Every week they are dedicated to the church and many charity events.
Amazing family who love the church snd the community around them!
America is so much better with the Blackbeard family!!! We love you guys! We are 100% behind you!!
The Blackbeard family are not just special but they are a treasure. They bring the love and passion not just to the church of CE Westchase but also the community and to this country that God has guided them to. I and many of the church family pray that this green card process solidifies the future of this great family who we believe one day will become US citizens.
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We need your help! ❤️
Four years ago, our family came from South Africa to Tampa after feeling called to plant a church and serve this community.
Church Experience Westchase began in our townhome, and we have been incredibly blessed to watch it grow into the thriving community it is today — a place where lives are being changed and families are finding connection, hope, and belonging.
We love this country. We love this city. And we are deeply grateful for the privilege of being called here for such a time as this.
We believe God is using our family to make a difference in this community, and we are asking for the opportunity and privilege to continue serving here.
Our daughter, Rebecca, was born here and is a U.S. citizen, making Tampa an even more meaningful part of our family's story 🇺🇸
We have faithfully followed the legal immigration process. Our permanent residency (Green Card) was approved in July 2023, but because of visa backlogs and processing delays, we are still waiting for it to be filed. Meanwhile, our current R-1 Religious Worker Visa expires in March 2027.
We will be submitting this petition, along with a letter requesting assistance from the appropriate government representatives, as we seek to obtain our Green Cards and remain lawfully in the United States.
If you know our family, have been part of Church Experience, have been impacted by our church, or have simply been encouraged by our journey, we would be incredibly grateful if you would sign our petition and stand with us.
Your signature will help share our story and show that our family has a community standing behind us.
Thank you for believing in us, standing with us, and praying for our family. We are so grateful. ❤️🇺🇸
Updates
Please verify signature in email link
September 11, 2026
Hey Family & Friends, Thanks so much for your support. It means the world to us. Please dont forget that once you sign the petition you will get an email link to verify your signature. You need to click the link in the email for your signature to be valid on the petition. We have many pending because they haven’t clicked the link. Thanks everyone! Warren Blackbeard
30 Comments
They are the pastors of my church. Even their 15 year old son preaches like he’s ready for his own church! To lose them would be devastating for our community, because of the outreach they do. Please let them stay!!!!
This family is so important to our family and our community. They have done everything possible and the correct way to earn their stay in our beautiful country. They have positively impacted many people, including us as parents and our kids. Our church and our church family would not be the same without them. They are the glue that keeps us together!
We LOVE this family! Pastor Warren and his family have made such a profound impact on our entire family, truly spanning generations. Through their love, support, and faithful leadership both inside and outside of the church, our faith has grown stronger, and they have become such an important part of our lives. We want them to stay here in Florida with us and continue leading and serving our church family. We genuinely cannot imagine our church and community without them.
this family has changed so many lives including mine and my husbands!!!! They were sent by God and their mission isn’t over yet
This family has brought our community closer to God. Every week they are dedicated to the church and many charity events.
Amazing family who love the church snd the community around them!
America is so much better with the Blackbeard family!!! We love you guys! We are 100% behind you!!
The Blackbeard family are not just special but they are a treasure. They bring the love and passion not just to the church of CE Westchase but also the community and to this country that God has guided them to. I and many of the church family pray that this green card process solidifies the future of this great family who we believe one day will become US citizens.
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They are the pastors of my church. Even their 15 year old son preaches like he’s ready for his own church! To lose them would be devastating for our community, because of the outreach they do. Please let them stay!!!!