We are excited to announce the third year of the Florida Baptist Pastor’s Theological Education Scholarship. This Scholarship is funded jointly by Florida Baptist Financial Services and the Florida Baptist Convention. I am grateful for the collaborative Kingdom heart of our Florida Baptist family.

The intent of the scholarship is to bless our Florida Baptist pastors and family members pursuing theological training through a Southern Baptist affiliated college, university, or seminary. We rejoice that God continues to call out the called to vocational Christian ministry. Our prayer is that this scholarship initiative will encourage those seeking theological education.

The application and information concerning this scholarship can be found here. Deadline for application submission is June 30, 2024. I am grateful for the generosity that provides the resources for this scholarship program.

Tommy

When it needs to retain outside consultants or vendors, the Florida Baptist Convention has always striven to associate with like-minded individuals and firms; those that share a solidly biblical worldview.  We would strongly encourage the Executive Committee (or any other arm, agency or group of the Southern Baptist Convention) to do likewise. Choosing to retain individuals or organizations which actively promote world-views contrary to the teachings of scripture is simply not good stewardship of the cooperative program dollars which have been entrusted to them by faithful Southern Baptists.

Tommy Green
Executive Director – Treasurer

Paul Purvis
President, Florida Baptist State Convention

Brian Stowe
President, State Board of Missions

Breaking News!

We are excited to announce the second year of the Florida Baptist Pastor’s Theological Education Scholarship. This Scholarship is funded jointly by Florida Baptist Financial Services and the Florida Baptist Convention. I am grateful for the collaborative Kingdom heart of our Florida Baptist family.

The intent of the scholarship is to bless our Florida Baptist pastors and family members pursuing theological training through a Southern Baptist affiliated college, university, or seminary. We rejoice that God continues to call out the called to vocational Christan ministry. Our prayer is that this scholarship initiative will encourage those seeking theological education.

The application and information concerning this scholarship is located at this link. This link is on the website of Florida Baptist Financial Services and the Florida Baptist Convention. I am grateful for the generosity that provides the resources for this scholarship program.

Tommy

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

The morning and afternoon breakout sessions will be led by Florida Baptists. The areas of equipping includes reaching the Asian, Brazilian, Haitian, and Hispanic population of Florida. We will have training for ministry in the Urban, Suburban, and Rural context led by Florida Baptist Pastors. There will be breakouts focusing on Missions, Church Planting, Church Revitalization, and Church Finances. The Next Gen breakouts will deal with effective ministry in the local church for Children and Families, Students, and Collegiate work.

We have added two new breakouts for the Challenge 2025 Gathering this year. A breakout will be providing insight into Multi-Site campus ministries. We will have a Ministers Wives session which will include a Q&A with Wives of Pastors. These sessions strengthen the time of fellowship and equipping.

The morning session will include a time of worship led by the FBC Orlando Worship Team and a message from Pastor Paul Purvis, President of the Florida Baptist Convention. The afternoon session will conclude with a dedicated time of prayer. I believe that God will move in a mighty way throughout the Challenge 2025 Gathering.

Please plan to register and attend! Register at flbaptist.org/Challenge-2025

I look forward to seeing you on February 22 at FBC Orlando!

In Christ,

Tommy

I ask that we continue together in prayer for victims of sexual abuse, abuse survivors, and those whose lives have been shattered by predators and abusers. We must continue to take steps to assure that proper standards, procedures, and practices are in place in our churches to protect the innocent and vulnerable. I believe that the decision of the SBC Messengers in Nashville strongly communicated a path forward in this matter for the Southern Baptist Convention.

I join with you in deep concern and frustration over the recent activities of the Executive Committee in reference to the directive of the SBC Messengers. My prayer is that this matter will be resolved quickly. I encourage us to continue in prayer for the right decision to be made for the glory of God. I am grateful for our Florida Baptist Executive Committee members who are seeking to move this matter ahead to honor the Lord and fulfill the will of the SBC Messengers.

I have received inquiries in reference to Cooperative Program giving. The question focuses on – Can we bypass an SBC entity with our CP gift? The answer is that the Florida Baptist Convention exists to serve the churches of the Florida Baptist Convention. If a church instructs us in their giving to not fund a certain part of the total CP program, we will do exactly what the church requests. You can communicate this desire in your CP remittance sheet that we receive with your CP gift.

I believe the Cooperative Program remains the most powerful tool for mobilizing resources for fulfilling the Great Commission. I am committed to helping you and your church in this vital Kingdom mission.

I am grateful for you and your ministry. I express my love and appreciation to you during Pastor Appreciation Month. May God continue to unite our Florida Baptist Family to Reach Florida for Christ!!

In Christ,

Dr. Tommy Green

Executive Director-Treasurer

October is Pastor Appreciation Month. I strongly urge our churches to honor our pastors and their faithful work. Your encouragement will be a source of great uplifting to your pastors family. Please do not miss the opportunity to bless those who bless you each week.

The Florida Baptist State Convention and Pastors’ Conference will be held on November 7-9 at the Lakes Church in Lakeland, Fl. Information concerning this dynamic gathering can be accessed here. I invite you to participate as a messenger or guest at this exciting meeting.

The Maguire State Mission Offering is currently being collected. The MSMO is 100% committed to planting churches in Florida. Our State Board of Missions at their recent meeting led by example in contributing to this vital offering. We are blessed in Florida with churches planting churches and through Send Network Florida support is provided for church planting.

The Annual Church Profile(ACP) has been disbursed through email and snail mail to our churches. I encourage you to fill out the information in order that we can celebrate all that God is doing through Florida Baptist churches. I eagerly anticipate a strong testimony of God’s great work through His church reflected in this data.

Please save the date of 2/22/22 for our next Challenge 2025 Gathering. The gathering will be held at FBC Orlando.

It is a joy to serve Florida Baptists!

Tommy

I recently compiled a five year synopsis of ministry for Florida Baptists. It is exciting to review all that God has done, is doing, and will do through Challenge 2025 across Florida. The following information summarizes areas of ministry from 2016-2020.

Church Planting from 2016-2020

284 churches planted by churches
261 church plants remain active
91.90% success rate with church plants
$4,399,278 invested in churches planting churches

Church Revitalization from 2016-2020

503 churches have experienced support
$7,035,448 invested in church revitalization

Baptisms from 2016-2020

115,773 baptisms reported by Florida Baptist Churches
10% plus of total SBC baptisms are through Florida Baptist Churches
Florida Baptist Churches lead the SBC in baptisms

Cooperative Program from 2016-2020

$145,329,800 given through the CP by Florida Baptist Churches
$77,839,234 advanced in partnership to the Southern Baptist Convention
Florida Baptists sends 51% to the SBC and retains 49% in Florida

Maguire State Mission Offering from 2016-2020

$3,125,319 given by Florida Baptist Churches
100% of MSMO funds church planting in Florida through Send Network FL

This overview is a point of thanksgiving and celebration for Florida Baptists. Thank you Florida Baptist Churches for your Kingdom heart and Great Commission commitment. I believe that in Christ that our greatest days of mission and ministry are ahead of us.

Tommy

Erik Cummings, our Florida Baptist Convention President, has faithfully and fruitfully led us to be a family that is unified in Christ. I celebrate the beauty of our Florida Baptist Convention gatherings that reflects the uniqueness of age, race, and theological perspectives of our pastors and churches. This consistent message of unity has knitted our hearts, prayers, fellowship, and ministries together to reach Florida for Christ. We are not perfect in this process, but we are committed to stand against racism and division. I rejoice that God turns our ashes into beauty. The Psalmist declares, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

I do not have the answer to all the spiritual, cultural, and political issues that are deeply dividing the brethren across SBC life. I am grateful that by God’s grace, mercy, and love that Florida Baptists have committed to Challenge 2025. Challenge 2025 drives us to serve together as a family to reach people for Christ, plant churches, revitalize churches, be engaged in missions, and give cooperatively to reach Florida and beyond for Christ. Challenge 2025 demands strong relationships with each other and celebrating what God is doing in every church. In these challenging days, I encourage all Florida Baptists to be diligent in prayer for continued and expanded unity among our family of churches. Pray for God’s protection over our common mission and that God would continue to knit our hearts together.

During this season of the year, in the midst of the discourse, may we be reminded of the desire of our Savior!

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Our Pastors have led our churches to pivot in ministry to new delivery systems that required change in order to remain engaged through these challenging days. They have experienced the stress and burden of ministry in 2020. I am encouraged and inspired by the creativity and resolve of our Pastors and Churches through these difficult days.

I am asking our Florida Baptist Churches to express appreciation to your Pastors during the month of October. I assure you that any expression of love is a tremendous blessing to your Pastor. Churches should consider a financial gift, gift cards, resourcing time away for the Pastor and family, sending personal cards with expression of appreciation included, or giving special recognition and prayer in your worship services. Thank you goes a long way in blessing and uplifting your Pastor.

The Scripture teaches us concerning the Pastor in Psalm 78:72:

So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,
And guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

I praise the Lord for our Florida Baptist Pastors!

Esta parte del viaje me quitó la respiración completamente.

El 2020 ha sido una montaña rusa. Las decisiones hechas han sido difícil y desafiante para la iglesia. Nos hemos movido hacia delante y hacia atrás tratando de navegar la expectativas y realidades con respecto a nuestras vidas e iglesias. Hay veces hemos hecho progreso hacia delante y entonces hemos tenido esa moción en reversa que cambien los planes en manera rápida.

Estoy agradecido por el liderazgo continuo de nuestros pastores durante estos días de montaña rusa. Estos hombre de Dios han provisto cuidado espiritual para la iglesia en maneras asombrosas. Te animo a continuar levantando y animando a nuestros pastores y líderes en oración mientras ministran a la iglesia, comunidad, y vida.

La Escritura nos enseña acerca de este tiempo de necesidad:

Hebreos 4:16- “Así que acerquémonos confiadamente al trono de la gracia para recibir misericordia y hallar la gracia que nos ayude en el momento que más la necesitemos.”

Estoy agradecido que tenemos un sumo sacerdote, nuestro abogado con el Padre, Jesucristo el Señor, a la mano derecha de Dios haciendo intercesión por nosotros. Los creyentes son invitado e instruido a venir audazmente en oración y así experimentar misericordia sobre misericordia y gracia sobre gracia.

La montaña rusa continúa pero tenemos confianza en el Rey de Reyes Señor de Señores, Jesucristo, El Salvador y Redentor eterno e inmutable.