FORT MYERS— Better Together, a Southwest Florida-based nonprofit that partners with churches, employers, and community volunteers to strengthen families and prevent the need for foster care, is celebrating a decade of ministry work across the Sunshine State. 

Through mentorship, job readiness programs, and short-term volunteer hosting for children, Better Together empowers parents to achieve stability and self-sufficiency while keeping families together. 

“We blazed the path forward that many people said was never possible and we proved that the impossible is possible when you have a dedicated team and passionate churches and volunteers who believe in this vision,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together for eight years and member at McGregor Baptist Church, a Florida Baptist church in Fort Myers. 

By uniting churches, employers, and neighbors to build a volunteer-powered safety net that parents can trust, Better Together is able to keep children safe, address the root causes of hardship, help parents find work, and build lasting community for families to flourish. 

“Our volunteer host families provide short-term care for children, job fairs offer meaningful work opportunities, and mentors guide and encourage. Uplifting long-term relationships form, economic self-sufficiency becomes attainable, and families remain united,” Rose said. 

Fast forward ten years, Better Together has served nearly 100,000 individuals, with services now including short-term host families for children, job fairs and readiness programs, mentorship, and more.

“It’s incredible to think that we’ve had 93,319 opportunities to show the love Christ,” said Kayla Palacios, COO of Better Together. “But it’s not lost on any of us that Jesus would have done it all for the one.” 

This multifaceted ministry approach leans heavily on local church and community support, eliminating government oversite in the Christian home. 

Better Together helps families flourish

Since 2015, Better Together has helped over 46,000 people connect to job opportunities, over 12,000 children stay out of the foster care system and have mobilized almost 1,000 churches to be involved in this crucial work. 

“The heartbeat has always been to walk alongside families so that no family struggles alone,” Rose said. 

What started as a vision to prevent the need for foster care in Southwest Florida has grown into a mission that strengthens families across 48 Florida counties and helps many others across the country by stepping in further upstream with opportunities for meaningful work.

Many Florida Baptist churches have come alongside Better Together to host job fairs, averaging over 200 job seekers at each fair. Normandy Park Baptist Church in Jacksonville utilizes the job fairs as an essential part of their ministry as they seek to serve their community, drawing hundreds to their campus. 

Better Together cuts out government 

From the very beginning of its founding, the Better Together team believes the government isn’t the solution—the better solution is getting the community and local church involved before the abuse and neglect begin. With the desire to “get their first,” the nonprofit has been able to embody Matthew 22:39, genuinely loving their neighbors and loving as deeply as Romans 12:10. 

Over the last decade, this reliance on people over programs has fueled this ministry work and stood in the gap for parents and children, often times in a moment’s notice. While reflecting on ten years of standing right beside families, many recognize this milestone isn’t just a number—it’s thousands of acts of compassion that made hope possible.

“I remember ten years ago we were excited to count the number of families that were impacted by tens and now we’re counting them by tens of thousands,” said Tarren Bragdon, Founder of the nonprofit and Board President. 

As Better Together continues to celebrate a decade of impact across the state, they are encouraged for what comes next—expanding their reach outside of Florida, deepening partnerships, and equipping even more churches and volunteers to walk with families in crisis.

But for the rural, heavily farm-working community of Immokalee, the need for food assistance was heightened as the largest chain grocery store also closed for an eight-month projected renovation at the same time SNAP benefits dried up. With a large percentage of the population relying on bus transportation, bicycles and foot traffic—the closest grocery store is in the neighboring community of Ave Maria, located 20 minutes away. 

That’s where Fellowship Church, a Florida Baptist church with campuses in Immokalee and Ave Maria, stepped in to fill the gap for its community and church family. 

The southwest Florida church already had a vibrant, weekly food pantry distribution for its community. However, the need for food and basic provisions tripled overnight—heightening the critical need for serving. 

“Fellowship Church is FOR our community, and we’re FOR sharing the gospel with every man, woman, boy and girl,” said Timothy Pigg, lead pastor at Fellowship Church. “Continuing to fill this crucial and immediate need for those in our community is the least we can do.” 

Each week, the ministry packs and distributes more than 350 canvas bags filled with meat, fresh produce, eggs and other pantry items, enough food for a week of meals.

Throughout the week, Fellowship Church members—specifically legacy member 55 years old and older—pick up donations from Dollar General and receive truckloads from Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Midwest Food Bank, and the USDA. Meats are frozen, and food is sorted onto shelves to be put into bags for recipients to pick up on Saturday mornings.

“Taking the time to feed the personal needs opens the door to reach the spiritual needs as well,” said Charleston Farber, legacy pastor at the church and Harry Chapin coordinator. “We’ve had many opportunities to pray with and share the gospel with people. It truly is one of our largest ministries.” 

Recognizing the food pantry is a vital way of serving and reaching its community with the gospel on a weekly basis, the church invested in additional commercial freezer units, rolling carts, a box truck and additional supplies to reach more people—even dedicating a large portion of its facility and gymnasium to manage and facilitate an ongoing weekly distribution. 

“We have 20 to 25 volunteers who all know what to do when they get here,” said Vicki Clagett, food pantry coordinator and longtime member. “It’s a lot of work, but we have fun and laugh and have fellowship with one another.”

“Our church membership has kept the ministry afloat, and God has provided every need, including the freezers and the food. It all comes from God, and as long as we keep God at the center, He just keeps blessing,” said Clagett.

Currently, more than 350 families rely on the weekly food pantry distribution, with the number anticipated to grow—to more than 15,000 annually. 

“Despite challenges, we continued to keep our eyes on Jesus and did all things He would call us to do,” he said.

After a flourishing ministry in West Virginia, Anderson sensed God leading him to move and serve in south Florida, where seven years of praying and serving in interim pastoring, revival speaking and church planting ultimately led Anderson and his wife to just where God wanted them to be. Anderson became the lead pastor at First Baptist Church Lehigh Acres in November 2021.

Preaching the uncompromised Word 

One thing that Anderson has learned through the years is that biblical illiteracy is a threat to today’s church, and he took that lesson with him to Lehigh Acres.

“I believe the greatest threat to the church is biblical illiteracy–people not knowing what the Word says and being easily swayed by the world and their feelings. The greatest aid to the church is men standing for the truth and preaching an uncompromised Word,” he said.

“When we came to the church, we wanted to focus on loving God, loving His people, and preaching the uncompromised Word,” he said. “We just wanted to bring the church back into order from the time of COVID.”

Anderson believes it is for this reason—being committed to staying anchored to the Word—that God has blessed the church with multiplication and great spiritual growth.

Since 2021, the church has seen a growth from 20 members to an average of 200 in weekly church attendance.

“A healthy church is one that is growing spiritually,” he said. “It’s not enough to just talk about what the Word says–but allowing it to have authority in our lives and to transform us by the renewing of our mind, to be the hands and feet to this community and beyond.”

And being the “hands and feet to this community and beyond” is exactly what First Baptist Lehigh Acres is known for.

One church, two languages

The southwest Florida church is not only prioritizing the preaching of the Word, but also loving God, loving people and evangelizing the lost.

“Our mission is to love God, love His people, preach the Word and evangelize the lost,” said Anderson.

Seeking to reach the highly diverse community with the gospel, Anderson partnered alongside its thriving Spanish congregation and Spanish pastor, Osvaldo R. Morales del Castillo, to serve the community in more tangible ways.

“We have one church with two languages,” said Anderson, speaking of Castillo. “God brought us together from two very different backgrounds and lives, but once again, He has united us in the Word and the overall desire for this ministry. I am very blessed to collaborate with him.”

Together, the two pastors have prioritized going beyond their four walls and differing languages into the community with a renewed vigor to reach the lost and serve their neighbors.

“Our church is special due to the multicultural and multilingual congregations that gather here,” said Anderson. “We have people from all over the world that gather at our church. Although we have many diverse backgrounds, we find unity in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

The church has intentionally hosted strategic outreach events, partnered with local public schools in Lee County, cultivated a ministry to serve local nursing homes, launched a homeless outreach, conducted a regular evangelism blitz, served in frontline hurricane relief, and more. In prioritizing building a healthy local church and multi-language partnership with the purpose of reaching all people with the gospel—First Baptist Lehigh Acres’ obedience is making ripple effects across the region, resulting in county appreciation and local news coverage.

“First Baptist Church Lehigh Acres is a good example of how a church can impact its community with the gospel,” said Wayne Briant, regional catalyst for the Southwest region.

“We just continue to be faithful to the task God has called us to, praying for His vision and His hands to be in all we do that we may glorify Him for this ministry,” said Anderson. “I have a heart that our churches in Lehigh Acres might work together and have a revival in southwest Florida.”

Originally known as Central Baptist Church, the site has served as a gospel outpost since 1896, opening its doors just one day before the City of Miami was officially incorporated. Now, more than a century later, it is once again becoming a beacon of hope in one of the most rapidly transforming urban landscapes in the nation.

“We knew this church had served the city faithfully for over 100 years,” said Pastor Omar Giritli. “But we felt a responsibility to prepare it for the next 100.”

Renovation rooted in legacy and mission

The vision to renovate the downtown campus was driven by both stewardship of the church’s legacy and the strategic opportunity of its location. Situated at the epicenter of downtown Miami—just steps from the Miami World Center and surrounded by high-rise development—the church stands as a rare spiritual anchor in an increasingly vertical cityscape.

Though the path to revitalization was complex, requiring coordination between city, county and historical preservation authorities, the Christ Fellowship Downtown Miami team embraced the challenge.

“It would have been cheaper to level the building and start over,” Giritli admitted. “But preserving its historic integrity was non-negotiable.”

The result, following a six-year effort, is a fully restored sanctuary that bridges old and new—a symbol of endurance and a launchpad for fresh ministry.

Street-level baptisms and sky-high witness

The church’s resurgence was most visible this past Easter when Christ Fellowship took baptisms into the streets. Instead of opting for the more conventional beach service, the team set up a baptismal tank in front of the downtown campus, right under the shadows of towering skyscrapers and within full view of the passing Metromover.

“Dozens were baptized right there on the street,” Giritli said. “It was a public declaration in the heart of the city—where so much darkness exists, we were proclaiming light.”

Among those baptized was Brittany, a woman who decided on the spot to take her next step of faith after hearing the message. “Her story is just one of many,” said campus leaders, “but it’s the kind of transformation we believe this space was meant for.”

Ministry to a unique urban mission field

Unlike its suburban counterparts in Palmetto Bay or Doral, the downtown campus faces a vastly different demographic—one marked by extremes of wealth and poverty, a growing population of young professionals, and a high concentration of international residents.

“The strategies that work in Hialeah or West Kendall simply don’t translate downtown,” Giritli explained. “You have to reimagine ministry for an urban core. And it’s expensive, but the harvest is worth it.”

Christ Fellowship is investing accordingly. New outreach initiatives include participation in local festivals, targeted efforts to connect with nearby high-rise residents, and even early-stage plans for a unique “dog ministry”—a creative response to the high volume of pet owners walking their dogs through downtown each morning.

Preparing for the population boom

The revitalization effort comes at a pivotal time. Massive residential towers—including what may become the tallest building in the Southeast—are under construction within the same city block as the church. In the next few years, thousands of residents are expected to move into the area.

“We’re standing on the threshold of a population boom,” said Giritli. “The building is ready. Our team is ready. God has placed us here for this moment.”

With more than 800 people already attending services weekly, the church is preparing to scale up in every way—growing ministries, expanding outreach, and building community in a neighborhood once considered spiritually overlooked.

A word to churches considering the urban core

For other churches considering a similar path, Giritli offered both encouragement and realism.

“If God is stirring your heart for an urban campus, go for it. But go in knowing it’s a different world,” he said. “It’s not just the cost—it’s the people. Downtown Miami isn’t like the rest of the city. But if you’re willing to understand the context and build accordingly, the opportunity for gospel impact is enormous.”

What began as an act of restoration has turned into a movement of renewal. From its stained-glass windows to its sidewalk baptisms, Christ Fellowship’s downtown campus is once again pulsing with life—and pointing all who pass by to the hope of the gospel.

They are ministers like the Apostle Paul who happened to make tents for a living; these ministers have found an additional occupation outside the local church. They navigate dual callings in the ministry and the marketplace. They could be teachers, counselors, engineers, coaches—most any career field imaginable. Although they only spend part of their time in the church, all agree God’s calling to preach is their primary responsibility.

Close to 12 percent of pastors serving in Florida Baptist churches are bivocational. Of the state’s 2,622 Florida Baptist churches, more than 300 of them are led by bivocational pastors. These bivocational pastors are just as much “incredible servants of God” as their full-time counterparts, said Stephen Rummage, Florida Baptists’ executive director-treasurer.

“Bivocational pastors make a huge difference for God’s kingdom,” said Rummage. “The simple truth is that many of our Baptist churches in Florida and across America would not even exist without the faithful and sacrificial work of bivocational pastors.”

Rummage reflected on the faithful service and tireless impact his uncle, a bivocational pastor, made on his impression and work ethic of bivocational pastors serving in local churches—often in obscurity—around the nation.

“One of my heroes in ministry is my uncle Thurman Howard, a self-trained, bivocational pastor,” he shared. “My uncle worked hard, long hours each week in a secular job, and then preached every Sunday at his Baptist church for years. That church would not have had a pastor if my uncle hadn’t been willing to do what he did. I think of Uncle Thurman–now with the Lord Jesus–every time I’m around bivocational pastors.”

“These men are incredible servants of God,” said Rummage. “They outwork most people. They find time to study and prepare, preach faithfully, minister to the needs of their people, and love their wives and families, all the while working in other demanding jobs. Bivocational pastors are a significant part of our heritage as Baptists, and as we move into the future, they will be increasingly crucial for the vitality of our churches.”

Daniel Garcon, a real estate advisor and lead pastor at Christ Center Fellowship of Lehigh Acres, shared that his role as a pastor directly impacts his real estate career.

“Being a pastor has taught me how to minister and serve people well, and the people in the community trust me as I also care for their needs,” said Garcon, originally from Haiti.

Looking to be more relational than transactional, Garcon intentionally makes his business signature and printed products incorporate both of his two worlds—”Daniel Garcon, Pastor and Realtor,” he said.

John Voltaire, Florida Baptists’ Haitian church catalyst, commended Garcon for his desire to reach his community. “Pastor Garcon loves the Lord and has a heart for ministry,” he said.

Matt Thomas, a bivocational missions pastor at Fellowship Church in Immokalee, is a civil engineer for Collier County, something he sees as “an extension” of his ministry.

“I have always seen my career as an engineer as an extension to pastoring as it offers me a unique insight into parts of the world that most pastors would never have access to,” he said. “Working in construction in particular, you deal with all sorts of different individuals, and rarely do you see believers in this industry. I have had opportunities on many occasions to share the gospel and even lead people to Christ right in the middle of a construction site.”

Advantages and challenges

Serving in various ministry positions more than 12 years, Thomas recognizes the various advantages and challenges that come alongside the bivocational role of “juggling” pressing responsibilities.

“Some of the advantages to being a bivocational pastor are that I reduce the financial strain on the church and that it provides me with more time and opportunity to spend with the community that we live in,” he said. Challenges are the time constraints with the church and the needs of the church … this becomes a juggling act on how to prioritize your schedule and relationships. Also, another challenge is not always being involved in the day-to-day operations of the church, which makes communication even more important.”

The Florida Baptist pastors agree that working bivocationally opens doors that otherwise would not be open to them to reach more people with the good news of the gospel.

“Pastoring is not just a part-time position but is a full-time responsibility whether I am ministering to members of the church or working alongside the lost in this world,” said Thomas. “I can use my career as a platform to take Christ to people that would otherwise might have never heard. Shining the light in the darkness wherever the Lord takes me in this career path He has chosen for me.”

Also, the pastors reflected on the necessary skill to prioritize, sacrifice and plan well.

“There is only so much time in the day, and sacrifices will need to be made to ensure ministries are functioning and sheep are being provided for,” said Thomas.

Wayne Briant, regional catalyst for the convention, said that more than 20 bivocational pastors within the southwest region undergird the majority of small local churches.

“We are grateful for the significant number of bivocational pastors in the southwest region of the Florida Baptist Convention,” said Briant. “Their contributions in ministry and evangelism make a productive contribution to our partnership in ministry.”

First Baptist Church in Cape Coral began in May 1963 when 17 people met to begin the new church. Despite a rich legacy of ministry in the community, the southwest Florida church had been in decline after two decades of pastoral changes, multiple hurricanes and the pandemic.

Gospel partnership

That’s where First Naples Church, the North American Mission Board’s Send Network, and the Florida Baptist Convention all come in.

In October 2023, the First Baptist Cape Coral membership officially voted to merge with First Naples Church and change its name to First Cape Church. In November 2023, Taylor was installed as the campus pastor, and First Cape Church emerged as a campus of First Naples Church and part of the Send Network with the desire to “glorify God by being a multigenerational, multiethnic, multiplying church that raises up the next generation of disciple- makers, church planters, missionaries, and world changers, to reach from our neighbors to the nations,” said Taylor.

“From the very beginning, our First Naples family poured their hearts and efforts into this revitalization journey. The support of our sending church remains constant, and we are continually blessed by their encouragement and care,” Taylor said.

“The demonstration of love, sacrifice and a kingdom-mindset has been incredible,” he continued. “Seeing a healthy established church come alongside a struggling church to encourage, strengthen and revitalize…It’s not about building our own little kingdoms but about advancing God’s kingdom, and it has truly been amazing!”

Just one month after establishing this church-to-church partnership, First Naples launched its end-of-year giving campaign, where the First Cape campus became the central ministry focus. Due to this partnership and campaign, First Cape was able to pay off more than $2.2 million in debt that had burdened the church for more than 20 years.

“We are also deeply grateful for the support of the Send Network … its training, resources and encouragement have been invaluable,” Taylor said. “James People (Send Network Florida director) has been one of our biggest cheerleaders from the very beginning, and we’re thankful for the partnership and support of our Florida Baptist family.”

‘Welcoming a fresh vision’

Reflecting on the church revitalization, Taylor reiterated how vital the faithful “remnant” at the Cape Coral church has been in “welcoming a fresh vision with open hearts.”

“Church revitalization is not easy work, but one key factor that made this process smoother was the heart of the faithful core who held the church together,” he said.

“God worked through a dedicated remnant who prayed fervently, gave sacrificially and labored diligently to keep the church alive until God’s perfect timing brought the hearts of these two churches together.”

Fast-forward 14 months, the church’s steadfast faithfulness has paid off—more than 200-fold. Despite preparing for a possible plateau during the summer, the southwest Florida church is celebrating a 220% gradual growth since October 2023. Now with more than 220 in weekly attendance, the church continues to be “very intentional with guest follow-up and next steps processes” as it seeks to keep invite cards in stock.

“I’m grateful to see God cultivating a deep heart for the lost in our church,” Taylor said. “In fact, we’re constantly reordering our church invite cards because our members are using them so faithfully to invite others. What a blessing it is to witness God at work in this way!”

Alongside the reshaping of discipleship groups, specific ministries designed to reach young families, and leadership development, the church renovated its seven-acre facility to help breathe new life into the 20-year-old building. First Naples Church assisted First Cape in upgrading waning air conditioning units, purchasing a new roof and flooring, providing LED screens for the worship center, renovating children’s and student ministry areas, providing new furnishings, repainting the interior and exterior, updating signage, and installing fresh landscaping.

“While we’re trusting God’s timing, our goal is to stabilize and strengthen the church as quickly as possible,” Taylor said. “In the meantime, we remain committed to preaching the Word, sharing the love of Jesus, and showing His love to our city. Our mission is to help people love Jesus, to live for Him every day!”

The church has not only become laser-focused on preparing members’ hearts and the church facility for the fruit of the revitalization efforts, but also has prioritized evangelism and community outreach.

Reaching neighbors and the nations

With an intentional effort placed on “building meaningful relationships” within the South Cape community, the church has launched a series of Love Cape days. These periodic days are set-apart times where members serve local non-profits, offer free car washes, participate in community cleanups, deliver donuts to local businesses, and organize door-to-door prayer and invitation teams to disperse throughout the community. The church also has served Cape Elementary, a local elementary school located less than one mile from the church campus, by supporting school staff and launching a Good News Club.

“At First Cape, we’re doing everything we can to show our neighbors that we care deeply and that they are loved,” Taylor said. “Whether it’s through big events or small gestures, our goal remains the same—helping people love Jesus and to live for Him every day.”

The Cape Coral church is also making kingdom-focused strides in its community by knocking on more than 1,000 doors of homes near the church and inviting nearby neighbors to Sunday services, setting up booths at local events, serving alongside mission teams from other churches, partnering with the local Fellowship of Christian Athletes to host basketball camps for children, and hosting seasonal events.

“We are pouring all our efforts into glorifying God by helping people fall in love with Jesus and live for Him every day…This is the mission that drives us, and we are humbled and excited to see how God continues to work in and through us.”

Looking past the landscape of the current day-to-day challenges and blessings of church planting and revitalization, Taylor is confident that the “future is as bright as the promises of God,” he said.

Taking advantage of being “strategically positioned” to reach 225,000 people living within a 10-mile radius of the church, the prayer of the church remains the same as its launch day—being intentional about evangelism, cultivating spiritual depth, creating a multiplying pipeline of gospel-centered church plants, and training leaders and co-laborers to do the work of ministry.

“Every step forward is for God’s glory and the advancement of His kingdom,” Taylor added. “My prayer is that we remain faithful in equipping the saints for the work of the ministry, empowering them to live out their faith and share the love of Jesus with others.”

With three campuses across the southwest Florida region, Summit has made bold strides in multiplying disciples, multiplying local churches and leaders, and multiplying gospel influence this year.

“We want to celebrate God’s faithfulness as we consider the many ways the gospel has been proclaimed through different ministries, mission partners, and the very lives of the individuals who make up our Summit family,” said Orlando Cabrera, campus pastor of the University congregation of Summit Church.

To “reflect on and consider some of the gracious things God has done,” the church created a year-end review to communicate the ministry impact the church had in 2024.

Multiplying disciples

With more than 2,400 in weekly attendance, the church is committed to multiplying disciples and being intentional in engaging each man, woman and child with the gospel. The church does this through urging members to get plugged into one of its almost 40 community groups for the purpose of growing in their walk with Christ at a more intimate level.

“We are committed to seeing people trust Christ, obey Christ and imitate Christ,” said Cabrera.

The church has also seen an uptick in new members and baptisms—celebrating 109 new members and 75 baptisms in 2024. The church attributes its success in multiplying disciples to its intentional biblical counseling and recovery ministry. With more than 90 people participating each week in recovery classes and more than 250 in biblical counseling, church leaders are convinced that the church is providing a “safe place to walk honestly in loving community and receive God’s truth in addressing life’s difficulties.”

“We have a Bible-based discipleship community group of transparency and transformation, for all in need of help, healing and hope,” Cabrera said.

Multiplying churches and leaders

The church also is committed to multiplying churches and training church leaders to serve faithfully. Summit Church has planted four churches this year and plans to double that number next year. The church also has created an emerging leaders program to equip and empower church members to serve wherever God calls them.

In 2024, 16 Summit interns and residents explored the call to vocational ministry through the church’s spiritual formation intensives, coaching, theology classes and practical ministry experience.

Multiplying gospel influence

The Florida Baptist church is also making a splash within its community.

One way that the church does this is through its partnership with 12 local schools. Each year through its Serve Our Schools Initiative and Christmas Outreach Project, the church provides school supplies and Christmas gifts to students in need, prays with educators, and provides meals to bless teachers.

To expand its reach to take the gospel to the next generation, the church also hosts summer sports camps, reaching 500 children yearly. Additionally, the church has established the Every Child Emphasis that “exists to glorify God by envisioning, equipping, and empowering disciples to have gospel impact in the lives of vulnerable children.”

“We want to be a church that, if we ceased to exist, our community would actually miss us,” said Cabrera. “Not for the name and glory of Summit, but for the glory of God.”

The church is multiplying its gospel influence not only within its own ZIP code, but also around the world. With more than 67 global mission partners—12 partners added in 2024—and $900,000 given to mission partners around the world, the church is living up to its mission of taking the gospel to every man, woman and child.

“We are committed to taking the gospel to the ends of the earth,” said the pastor.

A new church, a global pandemic, a Category 4 hurricane, the launch of a Christian school and a two-year building renovation–all occurring simultaneously or consecutively–it’s safe to say that a lot has taken place in Sam Letson’s first five years as pastor of First Baptist Church Arcadia.

Three months after Letson arrived at the church, the COVID pandemic happened, seeking to deafen all new momentum the new pastor and his wife, Lisa, were seeking to build within their first few months in Florida. After the church “bounced back rather quickly” from the pandemic and developed a desire to serve families in its community, the congregation opened a Christian school in 2022.

The church hit a steady stride for just a couple of months. Then, Hurricane Ian made a devastating impact in the region in September 2022. With many in the community put in “life and death” situations and using the rural city’s airboats as a means of assisting with recovery, Letson was thrust into the world of disaster relief and church renovations.

“We have five buildings on our property, and all five took on damage and had to be repaired,” said Letson. “Our sanctuary building was uninhabitable for two years.”

‘Let’s get it done’ attitude

Without a traditional sanctuary while renovations occurred, the congregation rallied and gathered for weekly services in one half of the church gymnasium—all while keeping the growing Christian school in operation and hosting various disaster relief teams.

“The two years of worshiping in the gym went much better than any of us thought,” he said. “The people were patient, sweet and loving. There was just a wonderful spirit in the room; it was fun and exciting.”

As Letson reflected on the two years of sharing a multipurpose space for various needs, the pastor shared how “miraculous” it was that the congregation continued to grow and baptize new believers in a water trough and that the school doubled in size. Looking back, Letson credits the tireless work ethic of his people. Springing into action, the church created set-up and tear-down teams for Sunday worship as it pivoted to more of a “church plant” feel for two years.

“During this time, our people brought their hard work ethic into the church,” said Letson. “It took quite a bit of acrobatics during this time. The people pulled it together with their, ‘Let’s get it done,’ attitude.”

‘Set up to do something amazing’

Fast-forward, and now back in its newly renovated and up-to-date sanctuary, the church is turning its attention not to triage, but to ministry. The church is excited to build momentum again as it turns its complete attention to missions and outreach.

“Now that we’re not thinking week-to-week, we’re excited to begin impacting our community even more,” he said. “If we can serve our community through the adversity we have faced, just imagine what we can do for the kingdom now that we have made it through. We have been set up to do something amazing. We just have to be obedient and faithful.”

With more than 350 people on its campus each week—between its growing Christian school and preschool—the church has a desire to open a special needs school in its community as well.

After serving in ministry for almost 40 years, Letson says that things are not always what they seem. The pastor explained how what would seem like disaster after disaster actually was one of the “biggest blessings” for the southwest Florida Baptist church.

“The lesson here is that God is sufficient; you will get through it,” said Letson. “And you will be thriving and not just surviving. What appear to be setbacks are really just opportunities to grow and see God move.”

“Obviously God was at work, and the church went on,” he said. “People in our community and church pulled together. We just kept pressing on in faithfulness.”

Inmediatamente, los miembros de la iglesia, descritos por el pastor como un “ejército de hombres y mujeres redimidos” que “dejaron todo a un lado”, entraron en acción, sacando muebles y suministros del santuario, arrancando alfombras, barriendo y sacando todo rastro de agua y lodo, limpiando y cargando 15 camiones llenos de escombros.

La acción agotadora no era nada nuevo para muchos de estos miembros de la iglesia. A lo largo de los años, Sánchez ha guiado a su congregación en numerosos viajes misioneros para ayudar a otras iglesias a reconstruir sus instalaciones. Ahora, su iglesia era la que tendría que ser reconstruida.

Al recuperar el aliento después de dos días intensos, Sánchez dijo: “Sólo quiero llorar”. Pero no por la razón que se podría pensar. No quería llorar por el dolor de ver el edificio de la iglesia devastado por las aguas de la inundación. El pastor quería llorar porque la iglesia “está tan bendecida”.

“Somos tan bendecidos que quiero llorar”.

Bendición a través de la asociación

Sánchez descubrió su bendición a través de la asociación. En medio del inundado desorden, Sánchez descubrió que, cuando una congregación Bautista de Florida enfrenta un desafío abrumador, no lo hace sola.

El pastor expresó su agradecimiento por el “respaldo de tantos pastores y líderes Bautistas que llaman y oran”, incluido Stephen Rummage, director ejecutivo y tesorero de Florida Baptist Convention, quien llamó para orar con el pastor y ofrecer palabras de aliento.

Incluso mientras los miembros de la iglesia sacaban del edificio los bancos de la iglesia y los colocaban en el césped de la iglesia, el pastor Sánchez estaba haciendo una llamada telefónica a Calvary Espanol, una iglesia cercana en Clearwater, pastoreada por Vlad Vásquez. Sin dudarlo, Vásquez dijo que quería que su congregación hiciera lo que pudiera para ayudar a la Iglesia Bautista Bethel. Emanuel Roque, el catalizador multicultural hispano de los bautistas de Florida, ayudó a coordinar la asociación de iglesia a iglesia.

El sábado por la tarde, la iglesia de Clearwater había entregado y ayudado a descargar e instalar 240 sillas para que la congregación de Tampa pudiera reunirse para el culto dominical.

Embargado por la emoción, Sánchez expresó su agradecimiento por la “generosidad de una congregación hermana” y declaró que en solo dos días “pasamos del desastre a la bendición, de lo imposible a la certeza, de la desesperanza al gozo y la gratitud”.

En medio del caos que dejó la tormenta, Sánchez enfocó su mirada, de lo temporal a lo eterno: “Dios incomparable, eres digno de ser temido, amado y adorado en todo tiempo y circunstancia”.

Un poco más de 72 horas después de que el huracán Milton tocara tierra, la congregación de la Iglesia Bautista Bethel se reunió gozosa “para alabar la grandeza de Cristo”.

Join your fellow Florida Baptists in giving, going and praying to undergird the efforts of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief to bring help, healing and hope in times of crisis.

Immediately, church members, described by the pastor as an “army of redeemed men and women” who “put everything aside,” jumped into action, clearing furnishings and supplies out of the sanctuary, ripping out carpet, sweeping out all traces of water and muck, cleaning, dumping 15 truckloads of debris.

The backbreaking action was nothing new for many of these church members. Over the years, Sanchez has led his congregation on numerous mission trips to help other churches rebuild their facilities. Now, his church was the one that

would have to rebuild.

Catching his breath after an intense two days, Sanchez said, “I just want to cry.” But not for the reason you might think. He didn’t want to cry because of the heartbreak of a church building devastated by flood waters. The pastor wanted to cry because the church “is so blessed.”

“We are so blessed that I want to cry.”

Blessing in partnership

Sanchez discovered his blessing in partnership. Amid the soggy mess, Sanchez discovered that, when a Florida Baptist congregation is facing an overwhelming challenge, it’s not doing so alone.

The pastor expressed thankfulness for the “support of so many Baptist pastors and leaders calling and praying,” including Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, who called to pray with the pastor and offer words of encouragement.

Even as church members were hauling church pews out of the building, setting them on the church lawn, Pastor Sanchez was making a phone call to nearby Calvary Espanol in Clearwater, pastored by Vlad Vasquez. Without hesitation Vasquez said he wanted his congregation to do what they could to help Iglesia Bautista Bethel. Emanuel Roque, Florida Baptists’ Hispanic multicultural catalyst, then helped coordinate the church-to-church partnership.

By Saturday afternoon the Clearwater church had delivered and helped unload and set up 240 chairs so the Tampa congregation could gather for Sunday worship.

Overcome with emotion, Sanchez expressed gratefulness for the “generosity of a sister congregation” and declared that in just two days, “We went from disaster to blessing, from the impossible to certainty, from hopelessness to joy and gratitude.”

In the storm’s chaotic aftermath, Sanchez turned his gaze from the temporal to the eternal, “Incomparable God, You are worthy of being feared, loved and adored in all times and circumstances.”

A little more than 72 hours after Hurricane Milton’s landfall, the Iglesia Bautista Bethel congregation gathered joyfully “to sing of the greatness of Christ.”

Join your fellow Florida Baptists in giving, going and praying to undergird the efforts of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief to bring help, healing and hope in times of crisis.