Missionary, Keegan Cullen, who has been collecting winter-themed LEGO village sets since 2009, was enthused to share his collection with others while in the states to rest and rejuvenate before returning to the mission field in 2026. 

“Having an open house for church members was a great opportunity to talk with them and share what we have been doing overseas,” said Cullen. Keegan and his wife, Karmen, shared prayer cards with those who stopped by and had a fun contest for children to search for 10 Star Wars minifigures hidden in the display. The prize for finding all 10 characters being a Christmas-time favorite, a candy cane. 

Also on display was ceramic pottery made by Karmen, something she learned to do in high school and developed a passion for later in college. Her pottery items were works of art with practicality, and included toothbrush holders, spoon rests and travel cups for hot tea or coffee. 

Having been back in the states for six months, the Cullens have enjoyed spending time with family and friends, a welcome opportunity to recover from the homesickness and loneliness that can result from serving in long-term international missions. They have also engaged with the local community by volunteering weekly in the Baptist Collegiate Ministries at the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College. 

As they prepare to return to the mission field, they look forward to “starting fresh with a new set of people who have never heard the gospel,” said Cullen. Going to a city in Spain where around 30,000 unreached college students reside, the Cullens are excited to serve alongside a church plant, where students will have access to a local congregation where they can grow in faith and be discipled. 

Hillcrest Baptist Church already has plans to send summer interns and a mission team to help launch the new college ministry in 2026. “While we expect language barriers and other challenges along the way, we are looking forward to having a great church partnership while we serve on mission in Spain,” said Cullen. 

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and Send Network remain committed to supporting recovery efforts in Jamaica following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. The Category 5 hurricane was among the most powerful storms ever to tear through the Atlantic.

Billy Ray, a retired international missionary and minister who attends First Baptist Church Wildwood, and JD James, a member of Central Baptist Church in Monticello, were among the first Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team members to set foot on the ground in Jamaica. Joining Send Network in partnership with the Jamaica Baptist Union, volunteers worked to repair roofs on local churches.

Local churches have become sources of hope and help for people who are displaced and without access to daily necessities such as clean water and food. Functioning as relief centers, churches are distributing food and supplies to community members.

The team has faced challenges due to widespread infrastructure damage. With only one main road open, heavy traffic has hindered progress. Volunteers leave their hotel at 5:30 a.m. and make multiple trips to transport team members between the hotel and the church. “Traveling in hurricane-affected areas is always challenging, but Jamaica brought it to a whole new level,” James said. “Our group had to turn around several times after hours of travel because roads were washed out or flooded.”

Supply chain disruptions have also made sourcing materials difficult, with many suppliers out of stock on construction items needed for repairs.

“Serving was a great reset for me,” James said. “It was amazing to see storm survivors praising God for their lives being spared. Instead of looking at all the material things they had lost, they were grateful for the gift of life.”

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief plans to maintain a presence in Jamaica through December and potentially into 2026. The primary goal is to help local churches reach a place of healing so they can continue serving those in need in their communities.

James encouraged others to pray, give and serve in the affected areas “even after the news stories end. This will be a long recovery in heavily impacted areas, with rebuilding continuing for years to come.”

Editors Note: To provide financial gifts to aid Hurricane Melissa response efforts, visit the FLDR giving page.

“The purpose of today’s meeting was to cast a vision for Crossover and to encourage pastors and ministry leaders to go ahead and get involved, whether that’s going to be hosting, if you’re in that target area, or coming in to serve and bring teams to serve alongside those host churches,” said JJ Washington, national director of personal evangelism for the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Crossover is an annual effort in which Southern Baptists gather in the annual meeting’s host city a few days early to partner with local churches and blanket the city with the Gospel.  

The 2026 effort will focus on Orlando and the surrounding regions. While Crossover is open to all Southern Baptists, local churches serve as the foundation—volunteering to become host churches that plan and lead ministry events in their communities. Afterward, volunteers from across the nation come alongside them to provide support and resources. 

Tim Wilder, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Kissimmee, said the initiative aligns perfectly with his congregation’s renewed emphasis on evangelism. 

“Recently, my first sermon after sabbatical was about God’s not done and we’re going to focus on evangelism,” Wilder said. “With Crossover coming in June it made perfect sense. I told our church to take that week off before the convention, and we’re going to do a big weeklong mission trip here locally. We’ll be doing a bunch of different things to reach people.”

While NAMB has continued this annual event each summer, leaders emphasis this event is meant to be a catalyst for the local host church.  Once the week is over, the prayer is for local Florida Baptist churches to get an encouraging boost. 

“Crossover would help us to serve the community better, but also, I hope it will excite our members to get involved, to have some more gospel conversation on a daily basis,” said Charles Jones, senior pastor of New Covenant Bible Fellowship. 

Washington said churches that serve as hosts will receive valuable support and opportunities to expand their reach. 

“As a host church you are going to get help from more manpower to kind of do more in your community than you probably couldn’t do if it was just your church,” Washington said. “I would say definitely take advantage of that, and then obviously the opportunity for the Gospel. That’s what we are here to do. That’s what it’s all about.” 

The strategy is in place, but the greatest need at this point is for pastors to pray about becoming host churches. The geographic area for host churches includes congregations in the Greater Orlando Baptist Association, Ridge Baptist Association, Lake County Baptist Association, Brevard Baptist Association and East Central Baptist Network. Churches within these associations are encouraged to participate. 

“I think if a church is located in the open area, where you can host a Crossover, you should,” said Jones. “If a church is at a distance where you cannot host, I think you should join another church. Then we all are pushing for the Kingdom enhancement together.” 

During the 2025 Florida Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Dr. Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, announced a bold goal for Crossover 2026: 

• 1,000 participating churches 

• 10,000 Gospel engagements 

• 1,000 decisions for Christ 

“At Crossover, all kinds of people, from all kinds of churches will come together to proclaim one Gospel to every person we can reach in Greater Orlando,” expressed Rummage. 

“In June 2026, Florida Baptists get to participate in a moment that can create a movement right in our backyard where churches partner together,” said Patrick Coats, east regional catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention. “We get to unite on our common mission to push back darkness and reach Florida for Christ. I believe it’s an amazing opportunity.” 

Florida Baptists can participate in Crossover 2026 in one of three ways: 

1. Host a local ministry event. 

1. Serve alongside another church. 

1. Pray for Gospel impact across Central Florida. 

Churches and individuals can express interest by completing an online form. (click here) 

Additional information and resources will be shared in the coming weeks to help churches prepare for the 1,000 / 10,000 / 1,000 goals. 

“I thank God for our convention, our state convention, our local association, our convention that’s going to partner with us in reaching our communities right here,” Wilder said. 

Three groups met in areas of ministry designated for lead pastors, next generation, and missions.  Each venue encouraged attendees to grow their ministry in hopes of increasing evangelism outreach and increase baptisms.

In addition, the annual Ministers’ Wives Luncheon also took place with a packed room of attendees.

Below are scenes from these gatherings.

MOLINO–“The field is ready for the harvest,” said Phil Fischer, pastor, Dogwood Park Baptist Church Molino, as he spoke to more than 300 students, parents and community members at the Fields of Faith event held at nearby Northview High School.

The event, sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, encourages athletes and others to study the Bible, pray, build the church, and use their spheres of influence to encourage one another with the Word of truth.

This year, attendees heard a powerful message from Fischer that tied into the school and community’s agricultural roots of farming and being ready for the harvest.

The youth band from Walnut Hill Baptist Church led worship songs, and several students gave testimonies about the work of Jesus Christ in their lives.

“This event emboldens students to see that it is OK to be visible about their faith,” said Fischer. “They come away energized and ready to live out their faith in front of their friends.”

Six students at the event made professions of faith. Each was connected to a youth pastor at one of the local churches, including Dogwood Park Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Bratt, and Highland Baptist Church, for follow up and discipleship.

The event concluded with student-led prayer as attendees stood hand-in-hand circling the football field, a show of unity and solidarity in faith.

“This event was once seen as a youth-only event, but it has become more well-attended throughout the community,” said Ted Bridges, pastor, Walnut Hill Baptist Church. “The spiritual move in the youth across the country is reaching all ages, and in our area, this event helps quicken people to live out their faith boldly among their peers.”

GAINESVILLE–When college students arrive at Baptist Collegiate Ministries at University of Florida each year, they learn quickly about the opportunities for international mission trips.

It is actually a stated goal, said Eddie Gilley, who has been the BCM director there since 2002.

“We want every student to spend two weeks of their college career in a cross-cultural environment sharing Jesus,” he said. “We have a pretty robust plan for that.”

It’s their robust plan that has helped make them tops in the nation in sending short-term missionaries on international trips through the International Mission Board.

The UF BCM sends out 18 to 24 students each year on mission trips, the majority of those traveling in small groups for six-to-eight-week trips during the summer. For example, 18 of the students participated in the longer six-to-eight week trips this past school year, while six did a short-term trip.

“It’s usually somewhere in a difficult environment. We typically let other people go to the easy places,” Gilley said. “We challenge our students to go to places where evangelism might mean just moving boulders out of the way. You might not even get to plant a seed; you’re just moving rocks, moving barriers from people to even hear the gospel.”

The teams typically go to cities in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe. In the past they’ve gone to China, Turkey, Japan, Africa and even Australia. “Other than Antarctica, we have sent a team to every continent,” Gilley said.

Planning, training and raising funds

John, who asked that his real name not be used, is a former UF BCM student who now coordinates all of their mission trips, which includes vision-tripping for future trips as well as communicating with current long-term missionaries around the world and

assessing their need for assistance from college students.

Working with the IMB, the organization sends students to assist current missionaries who are already working with college students in their countries. This makes it easy for BCM students to go on college campuses and use English as a platform, teaching English or offering conversational English opportunities to other students and forming friendships, which can lead to gospel conversations.

“This is a lot of entry-level evangelism and discipleship,” John said. “Everything is geared toward building relationships with lost people. Students can be a seed to those who are interested and leave those relationships with the long-term workers to follow up with.”

All students who sign up for the summer trips go through extensive training to prepare them for the mission field, including evangelism training, missions education and general church doctrine studies. They also learn about sharing across language and cultural barriers, contextualization issues, security issues and border patrol. The goal is to have them ready to work before they leave so no extra time is needed once they reach the mission field.

“By the time these students get to the field, they have already failed so many times that they’re really well-prepared,” John said. “They have failed in a safe constructive environment, and the hope would be that training is harder than the actual thing. We want them to seamlessly fit into the long-term strategy and be a blessing not a burden, and not a security risk.”

Several years ago the training helped a team that got stuck in the Singapore airport for five days when they were unable to get to their destination. “They had to find a hotel and try to work everything out, and they had to do it onsite,” Gilley said. “It’s like ‘Amazing Race’ for Jesus, you know. That’s kind of what they had to do to get there.”

In addition to the training, each team member sends out about 100 mission support letters to help raise funds for their trip. With a goal of about $4,500 per person, they are raising a total of about $100,000 each year. While some individuals may not make their goal, each team has always been successful.

The right time to go

Going on mission trips during your college years is the best time to go, Gilley said, as students are more independent from their parents, don’t have a career yet and have the freedom to travel.

“There is no other time in their lives when they are going to have the freedom to be able to go like they do in college. It’s the perfect time to utilize them, to encourage our mission force around the world and to change their perspective,” Gilley said.

And gaining a new perspective about mission work is huge as it impacts the way the students see missions for the rest of their lives, especially those who have experienced the longer trips.

“What we know is not every student who goes will go long term, but every student who goes will come back different. They will always know what it’s like whenever they hear Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions stories in their church. It means something else to them because they know someone who benefits from that on the field. They know what it’s like to be in a place where you toil for the gospel day in and day out and may not see anyone come to faith in years. But they are still faithfully there and faithfully serving.”

From a student perspective, John said the biggest obstacles that keep many from committing to these missions are their academic careers – as in time away from completing courses and internships – and their parents, especially Christian parents who either forbid their students to go or convince them into coming home for the summer and doing something safer, like working at camp.

“Parents are well meaning, but unfortunately they can often be obstacles to their students doing what God wants them to do,” he said. “Often the students are more motivated to go than their families are.”

‘Put your yes on the table’

Being named tops in sending students on mission is humbling, Gilley said, because there is so much more to be done around the globe. “We could send thousands, and it would still not be enough as the need is great all around the world.”

Gilley said BCM students are always challenged to say yes to serving God on mission, whether that means being part of one of their GO teams overseas, going on a short-term trip with their local church, staying in the U.S. and supporting others, or serving long term in another country.

“Put your yes on the table and let God say where, when and for how long,” he said. “If you’re willing to say yes, God will direct where you’re supposed to go.”

The couple are among 54 newly appointed IMB missionaries recognized during a recent Sending Celebration at Ironbridge Baptist Church in Chester, Virginia.

Born in Malaysia, Keh came to the United States for college and worked in the information technology field until being called into full-time vocational ministry. After attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and serving in local churches in Minnesota and Texas, Keh and his wife moved to southeast Florida to serve at the Coral Springs church.

Over the past eight years that Keh has served as pastor at Chinese Baptist Church of Coral Springs, he recalled the challenge he first heard on the campus of Southwestern Seminary—preach the Word, reach the world. After preaching through the Book of Acts, both Keh and his wife “were convicted to make disciples of all nations,” he said.

“Through traveling overseas and witnessing for ourselves how God is working, we were convicted to make disciples of all nations,” he said. “We began to pray and recognize the need for cross-cultural disciple-making, partnership with local nationals, and global missions.”

From that point, God, they said, seemed to open doors seamlessly for the couple to enter the mission field as the calling began to stir in their hearts. For Jessica, born in Hong Kong, she has always been interested in evangelism and sees this open door as something they would be content doing for the rest of their lives.

“This Great Commission task is what we want to do for the next decade of ministry,” she shared.

Hold the rope

Both Keh and Jessica believe that the local church is the mechanism that is fueling the vital Great Commission task.

From his study of Acts, Keh adamantly believes the local church not only will provide him and his wife with the needed accountability, support, encouragement, and prayers, but also will “hold the rope” as they serve on the mission field.

“Acts teaches us the importance of the local church in missions,” he said. “It is the local church that commissions and sends missionaries, and it is the local church that stands right beside missionaries; the IMB serves as an extension of the local church to train and send.”

And the couple will need all of the rope-holding they can get as they move from Broward County to southeast Australia—a 10,000-mile journey.

On mission in Australia

With Australia representing a diverse, growing immigrant population, the couple will be responsible for coming alongside local churches in the region. Following a boots-on-the-ground approach, both Keh and Jessica will be working tirelessly to “encourage, support, train, equip and mobilize local churches evangelizing the locals and cross-culturally,” he said.

“We’re very excited for the opportunity to encourage local believers, build strong relationships with them, and educate church leaders and congregations more about global missions in the context of the local church,” he continued.

Serving in this region of the world doesn’t come without challenges. According to the couple, some areas of the world, including Australia, have seen a major shift in secularization and have been influenced heavily by a growing progressive agenda.

Young people are leaving the church and are not interested in faith matters. “We need lots of prayer for the Lord’s wisdom to work with local churches to evangelize and disciple the next generation for the kingdom work,” said Jessica. “We’re going to help build a foundation that will allow others to come after us to continue to reach the next generation and help the local churches see that the Great Commission is reaching all nations and ethnicities in the world and that the congregations can have more impact than they currently have.”

With Australia being an open country, Keh and Jessica are encouraged by the many ministry advantages they will soon experience as well. “We can share the gospel in a relatively free and neutral environment due to Australia being an open country,” he said.

With many immigrants moving to “mega, big” cities in the advanced countries, the couple will have the opportunity to share the gospel and disciple believers from around the world.

“We’re looking forward to reaching the locals and also those who are coming to Australia from around the world. We’re praying that believers then will be sent, go back [to their various countries] and share the gospel with their people,” said Keh. “Pray that the Lord will give us opportunities to share the gospel with the locals and open doors to connect with local churches.”

Keh and Jessica are enthusiastic about what the next several months hold as they complete their final IMB orientation and training between now and December, leaving the states after Christmas. They are also grateful to the men and women across the Sunshine State who have given sacrificially so they could answer the call to go.

“We’re thankful to the countless local churches that make us serving on the field a reality by giving through the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions,” said Keh.

Still others can listen for and respond to God’s call to the nations. Jessica said she is praying that more men and women answer the call.

“My prayer is that we would see more brothers and sisters respond to God’s calling to ‘go and make disciples of all nations,’” she said.

MILTON–Outdoor fun and missions came together at Camp Paquette in Milton as Cora Baptist Church in Jay hosted Children’s Missions Outdoor Adventure. Nearly 70 children participated in the weekend event that included competitions, skill-building activities, and the testimonies of two missionaries who serve with the International Mission Board.

When the missionaries spoke, children were eager to ask questions about serving in the mission field around the world, such as, “What is it like to live far from home in another country and adjust to another culture?” The missionaries shared the importance of developing relationships with locals and prayerfully engaging in gospel conversations that will hopefully lead others to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

“It is vital for children to know that they are important and have a place in God’s kingdom and in sharing the love of Jesus with their friends and neighbors in their own communities and around the world,” said Cindy Bradley, Florida Baptist Convention’s catalyst for women’s missions and ministry/missions education. “God has often used events such as this one to plant missional seeds in children’s hearts that grow into a call to missions as they become teenagers and adults.”

The day of adventure included tug-of-war, a rope traverse course, sack races, archery, hiking and disc golf. For those wanting a little more adventure, Jay First Baptist Church hosted an overnight campout with s’mores, campfire songs and tents under the stars.

“The day of adventure was a shining example of what happens when churches come together,” said Matthew Dobson, pastor, Cora Baptist Church.

Dobson, who also serves as Royal Ambassadors leader for Florida Baptists’ West region, added, “Children were encouraged; leaders were empowered, and missions was brought to life in the hearts of the next generation. To God be the glory for a day filled with joy, unity and a renewed passion for His ministry.”

The event was a success through much prayer and preparation. Volunteers included leaders from Cora Baptist Church, Pensacola Bay Baptist Association and Santa Rosa Baptist Association, Florida Baptist Convention, and Go Outdoors Ministries.

Bradley added, “It is never too early to involve children in learning about and doing missions. Through Children in Action, Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors and Mission Friends organizations, children grow in their understanding of God’s work in the world and learn that God desires for them to be part of His work. When children learn early to have compassion and serve their community with the love of Jesus, they will likely grow into adults with compassion who serve their community with the love of Jesus.”

Since then, Duncan has gone on mission to Cuba several more times and was excited to go with her home church this year. The nine-member mission team partnered with the Baptist Seminary of Havana where Mike Orr, pastor, First Baptist Church Chipley, gave an encouraging talk to students during the convocation to begin the new semester.

Training next generation of pastors

Earlier this year, as Orr celebrated 25 years at First Baptist Church Chipley, the church honored his name and service with the Mike Orr Scholarship to provide tuition for students at the Baptist Seminary in Cuba.

“Our pastor has a heart for training up the next generation of pastors,” Duncan said.

While in Cuba, the mission team presented the scholarship to its first recipient. “He was so grateful, and it was very humbling,” Duncan said. The recipient, a man saved out of the practice of Santeria and addiction, burned his idols when he began to follow Jesus and is now attending seminary to become a pastor.

‘Door is open for gospel’

The team also led vacation Bible school and worship services at Iglesia Bautista Salem de Arroyo Apolo. After hearing Orr preach about “renewing your first love” from Revelation 2, several people came to the altar.

“It is exciting to see how God is using the Church in Cuba. The door is open for the gospel there, and He is showing Cubans that true hope is found in a relationship with Christ,” Duncan said.

Orr also preached at Star of Bethlehem Church. There, the mission team provided and served meals for the local community.

The team served with a house church led by a husband and wife who open their home as a place of worship. There are more than 800 house churches in Cuba’s Western Baptist Convention. In this particular home, the wife prayed for 20 years for her husband to know the Lord. When he came to a saving faith, they both were baptized and saw the need for a place to worship in their neighborhood.

As the team shared the gospel of Jesus Christ in the community surrounding the house church, they saw idols from the practice of Santeria and received resistance from families who refused to forsake the idols. The team continues to pray for these Cubans.

First Baptist Church Chipley will continue to invest in spreading the gospel in Cuba through seminary scholarships and future mission trips. Dane Caldwell, missions pastor, Grace Church Bonifay, also joined the team. “I had heard that the church was growing in Cuba, and I couldn’t wait to see it. The leadership structure and plan for sending out the gospel amazed me. God has stirred a revival in Cuba, and Grace Church wants to be a part of it,” said Caldwell. Grace Church Bonifay is currently making plans to establish a long-term partnership with the Church in Cuba.

As a team, we came away spiritually renewed and encouraged by our Cuban brothers and sisters in Christ,” Orr said. “Spending time with them and sharing the gospel with others rekindled our fire for evangelism and gospel conversations.”

According to the GHC website, the conference was “established in order to provide a vehicle to present lessons learned and other important information about hurricanes to public and private officials, especially local emergency management professionals, and those involved in preparedness, planning, response and recovery at all levels of government, industry and private interests,” with first-line responders being the primary target audience. More than 2,000 attendees are expected to attend the 2026 GHC, which includes general sessions, workshops, an exhibit hall and more, all designed to ensure best practices in hurricane preparedness and response efforts throughout the state. The GHC is considered to be the largest hurricane conference in the United States.

Those serving alongside Coggins on the program committee include, among others, county and state emergency management individuals s as well as representatives from various relief agencies and the National Weather Service.

As a first-time member of the committee, Coggins said, “I am thankful for the invitation and opportunity to be part of the program committee for the GHC. I look forward to learning and working with the committee to make the 40^th annual GHC a great success for the larger emergency management community across Florida and beyond.

“I think this invitation to be involved in the planning is a reflection of how our Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have continued to serve our state over the years with critical service at times of need. This is a great opportunity to represent our volunteers, other non-profits and especially the faith-based community.”