Skip to main content

Southwest

Stay informed with stories, news, and updates from churches across our association and throughout the state. Here you’ll find stories, events, and resources that celebrate ministry work and keep our church community connected.

⇠
⇢
Click and drag, scroll, or use arrows see more categories

Christmas surprise: SW Florida churches pay families’ medical debt

Over the next couple weeks, many southwest Florida residents will not only receive wrapped gifts from friends and family, they will discover a Christmas surprise–a bright yellow envelope stamped with a bold, red headline that reads “your debt paid by SWFL churches!”
December 20, 2019
Read More

New Pastor Brings New Life to Caloosa

Known as the “city under the oaks,” the charming, quaint town of LaBelle has a new pastor who is dedicated to bringing new life and a new mission to Caloosa Baptist Church. When James Hunt and his family arrived in southwest Florida in January, 2018, the church had gone nearly three years without a pastor.
November 6, 2019
Read More

Coffee, new churches and community ministry highlight Royal Palm’s annual…

The smell of SON Coast Coffee and sounds of laughter filled the worship center of Crossroads Baptist Church in Fort Myers as more than 200 people gathered Tuesday, Oct. 8 for the 61st Annual Meeting of the Royal Palm Association.
October 17, 2019
Read More

Hispanic pastor dispels darkness in SW Florida

LEHIGH ACRES—More than half of all residents in Ft. Myers-Naples claim that they do not read the Bible, pray or attend a local church, which when combined with other criteria earns the region a ranking of 14th  most “post Christian” cities in America.
October 8, 2019
Read More

Bradenton Church commits to help dying churches

The number is staggering. Experts estimate that approximately 1,000 local Southern Baptist churches close their doors every year. But through church revitalization, there is a way to help these struggling churches survive.
September 30, 2019
Read More

Sarasota Church Majors on the Gospel

Tucked away in the flourishing Gulf Coast city of Sarasota is a church that has dedicated itself to “majoring on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
September 12, 2019
Read More

Bringing Christ-Centered Education to a Rural Community

An air of excitement surrounded Southwest Florida students and their parents as they arrived at Fellowship Academy Aug. 20 anticipating a new school year in a new school.
September 3, 2019
Read More

Rural Church Turning Heads and Making Disciples

Located about six miles outside of town stands a structure that was built in 1884, around three years before DeSoto County was even founded. With the population of Arcadia at a little over 8,000, Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church is turning some heads and having people wonder how this “rural church” is growing and making disciples. 
July 29, 2019
Read More

Fort Myers Church Connecting People to Missions Through Coffee

Originally from Kentucky, Shawn Critser and his wife moved to Fort Myers Beach in June 2004 after falling in love with how “vibrant” the church was. Despite never aspiring to become a pastor, Critser serves as the senior pastor of Beach Baptist Church in Fort Myers Beach.
July 24, 2019
Read More

North Naples Baptist Church: A Model of Church Revitalization

Having served in ministry for over 30 years, Chris Butler has been able to put his “heart for church revitalization” to good use over the last three years as the Senior Pastor of North Naples Baptist Church.
July 1, 2019
Read More

Do you have a story to share?

Submit a Story