These two Florida-based writers are part of a growing movement of biblical historical fiction authors who are crafting stories that bridge the gap between casual readers and deeper engagement with God’s Word. Their characters may be fictionalized, but their ultimate goal is spiritual formation.

“I never want someone to read my books and think they’ve substituted Scripture,” said Jennings. “I want them to go back to the Bible and say, ‘I never saw it that way before.’”

Jennings, a former psychology student turned women’s ministry leader, didn’t grow up in a Christian home. Her hunger to understand God’s Word took root when she became a believer in high school—and eventually bloomed into a writing ministry that gives voice to lesser-known biblical figures.

Escoffery-Whitley, a pastor’s wife and women’s ministry teacher, took a similar path. Her most recent novel, “Slow to Anger,” explores the tension between distorted theology and liberating truth through the eyes of an enslaved preacher named Azariah. She wrote it to help modern readers wrestle with themes of justice, mercy and the misuse of Scripture.

“I wanted to show what happens when God’s Word is weaponized—and what it looks like when someone finds the courage to speak the truth,” she said.

Storytelling as bridge-building

For both authors, fiction is a gateway—not a replacement—for real spiritual transformation. They write with intentionality: rooting their plots in biblical context, developing fully human characters and pointing readers toward the gospel.

“People are intimidated by the Bible,” said Jennings. “It’s 66 books. It’s history. It’s culture. But fiction makes that world less foreign—it helps people step into the sandals of someone living it.”

Escoffery-Whitley agrees. “When you connect emotionally with a character, you’re more likely to reflect spiritually. Stories open the door for conversations people might not otherwise have.”

Both authors emphasize that their characters are flawed, layered and relatable—just like the real men and women in Scripture. By depicting those biblical figures with authenticity and empathy, they help readers see that God still uses imperfect people today.

“The same God who used Rebekah, who spoke to James—He still moves like that,” said Jennings.

Writing with reverence

While their styles differ, both authors take their research—and their calling—seriously. Jennings, who holds a master’s in biblical language exegesis, spends hours studying historical context, archaeology and Scripture before writing a single scene. Escoffery-Whitley approaches each book with prayer and theological clarity, even developing a companion Bible study for her latest book to help readers explore the biblical themes in more depth.

Escoffery-Whitley believes fiction can start a conversation, but Scripture finishes it. “My hope is that a story will stir something in the heart that leads someone straight to the Word.”

Fiction that points to truth

In an age of distraction and spiritual confusion, biblical fiction may seem like an unlikely tool for evangelism or discipleship—but it’s quietly making an impact.

Their fictional stories may not be part of the biblical canon, but they are faithful to its heartbeat: God is real, He is speaking and His story continues—one reader at a time.

ORLANDO—Hundreds of Florida Baptist ministers’ wives gathered Tuesday, Nov. 12, for their annual luncheon during the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention meeting held at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

Rachel Uth, wife of First Orlando’s David Uth, and Cindy Bradley, catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention’s women’s missions and ministry/mission education, welcomed the women and announced a new initiative for ministers’ wives across the state.

“We really do want to come right beside our pastors’ wives,” said Bradley. “We’re excited to announce that beginning in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 we will have churches host a dinner in each region specifically for pastors’ wives. We hope this helps wives form connections in each region.”

Karen Green honored

In the passing of the proverbial baton, Michele Rummage, wife of Stephen Rummage, newly elected executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, presented Karen Green, wife of Tommy Green, recently retired Florida Baptist executive director-treasurer, with the Clyde M. Maguire Award.

This award, named in honor of the late Clyde Maguire whose husband, John, served as executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention from 1945 to1967, is given annually to a Florida Baptist minister’s wife who has demonstrated faithful use of the gifts God has given her in support of her husband’s ministry and in her own ministry.

“I am very honored to follow Karen Green. I have big shoes to fill,” said Rummage. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

During the luncheon, Archalena Coats and other Florida Baptist regional catalyst wives gathered on stage to honor Green for her years of faithfulness and coming “right beside” ministers’ wives across the Sunshine State. In desiring to “honor someone very dear to our hearts” and to send Green off in the “greatest way possible,” Coats referenced the camaraderie of the Golden Girls.

As echoes of the Golden Girls theme song, “Thank You for Being a Friend,” filled the room in a 30-second sing-along, laughter and wet eyes soon followed. Complementing the song was an acrostic specialized specifically for Green by Coats.

“Kindness flows from her heart, she is always serving others, righteousness is in her actions and faith in her soul, she is empowered in grace, and now as she retires her legacy will remain a beacon of love,” said Coats.

“I can’t begin to tell you how much you all mean to me,” said Green. “It has been a joy to serve you … Ministry is so much easier and such a joy when you do it together.”

A holy calling

Focusing on the luncheon’s theme, A Holy Calling, Liz Traylor, wife of Ted Traylor, senior pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, used humor and rhetorical questions to call the women to pursue holiness in their service alongside their husbands and in the local church. Warning those in attendance about the temptation of a “delusional sense of omnipotence” and “unrealistic expectations,” she urged pastors’ wives to keep their eyes on Jesus—and not on “all the things that we think need to be done.”

“There are a whole lot of things we do and a lot of things we think that need to be done at church,” she said. “But God’s not impressed with all the things we can do for Him; He just wants us.”

She also reminded attendees that the answer for “all of life and godliness” is the Word of God—urging women to read and study their Bibles, pray and pursue holiness.

“Open and read the Bible and allow it to teach you how to be holy,” she said. “We can all quote Hebrews 4:12. But how many of us actually pick up the Bible and allow it to teach us and to slice us?”

When afflictions and suffering come—because they will come—Traylor said to lean on God’s Word even more.

“If it had not been for the Word of the Lord, we probably wouldn’t be in ministry today,” she said. “There are some things that you will only learn through the darkness, suffering and the hidden things.”

For more than 150 years, the people of Long Branch Baptist Church, located about 15 miles outside of Middleburg, have been steadfast in loving and serving their community.

“A genuine love for each other and reliance on God” are the distinguishing marks of the church, said Pastor Harry Conaway.

Recently that steadfast spirit of love and service has stirred a generosity in church members’ hearts for giving to missions and supporting missionaries.

 In 2022 an enthusiastic 81-year-old woman, Helen Fife, began attending Long Branch Baptist Church. Shortly after arriving at the Florida Baptist church, Fife said the Lord began to cultivate her heart for missions. Wanting to act on what the Lord had stirred in her heart, Fife volunteered to carry the baton of missions and missions’ education by reinvigorating the church’s Woman’s Missionary Union involvement.

“The more she read about missions and missionaries around the world, it became a bigger fire within her heart,” Conaway said.

“Missionaries don’t make it without us,” Fife said.

‘God can do big things’

Over the past two years, the church has raised awareness for the annual North American Mission Board’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. By using prayer prompts, videos and other missions and WMU resources and materials, the faithful church of about 75 members has exceeded its goals for the missions’ offerings.

Convinced that “God can do big things,” and wanting to carry out the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, Fife encouraged those in the church to set a goal for the 2023 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at $3,000. After giving several hundred dollars in previous years, this goal for Long Branch Baptist Church would be a stretch, setting a record. After the Christmas season ended, the church gave $300 more than its goal. The church set another goal of $3,000 for this year’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and recently exceeded that goal as well.

Between these two seasonal offerings, the church has championed mission-giving by sending more than $6,000 over the past four months.

The church has also increased its mission involvement and giving to include donating Bibles for The Gideons International, taking part in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry, financially supporting missionaries serving in Haiti and Romania, and donating items to its community Angel Tree drive.

“Where we were donating 82 shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child, we’re now donating 262,” said Conaway. “This type of giving just proves that when you have a heart to serve, God will allow you to make an impact.”

Despite this all, there is one thing Conaway and Fife wanted to make clear—for the spotlight to shine upon the One who is deserving.

“We don’t want the spotlight,” he said. “We’re not bragging about our church or our people. We’re bragging about God and what He has done.”

The missions-minded emphasis and giving has not only served mission organizations and missionaries but also strengthened the local church, Conaway believes.

“This has greatly enriched our church,” he said. “We love being with each other, laughing together, growing spiritually, and desiring to care and reach lost souls for Jesus Christ.”

As you leave Long Branch Baptist Church on a given Sunday, a sign outside the door reminds members that they “are now entering their mission field.” And that’s exactly what these church members are doing due to their love for the Lord and the urging of Fife—reaching their neighbor and the nations.

How is God moving through the Sunshine State? Here’s your answer. Planting and revitalizing churches, reaching unreached people groups, baptizing new believers, ministering and witnessing during times of crisis–these are just a few of the Florida Baptist Convention’s 20 most-read stories in 2023.

1. Pastor Brings Churches Together to Revitalize First Baptist Fort Lauderdale

By David Moore, Oct. 13. 

FORT LAUDERDALE–Pastor David Hughes helped turn things around for what is now Church by the Glades decades ago, and now he and members of that church are working together to help revitalize First Baptist Fort Lauderdale.

2. Brazilian Church Plant in Delray Beach Reaches Haitians with Gospel

By Keila Diaz, June 2.

DELRAY BEACH— One-year-old church plant Brazilian Baptist Church is reaching not only Brazilians in the Delray Beach community, but also Portuguese-speaking Haitian families.

3. Baptist College of Florida Partners with Local Church to Launch Extension Campus

By Jessica Pigg, Aug. 9. 

CLEARWATER– The Baptist College of Florida recently has announced a partnership with Calvary Church in Clearwater to launch a new extension campus slated to open in August 2024.

4. Southwest Florida Church Witnesses Unprecedented Number of Baptisms/Life Change

By Jessica Pigg, May 18.

NAPLES—April found herself searching for purpose and struggling to find direction. She had grown up attending church with her family, so she did an online search for Baptist churches near her and found First Naples. On January 23, after years of searching for purpose, April found life change.

5. Pastors to Be Nominated to Lead 2024 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference

By Margaret Colson, Oct. 2.

LUTZ­–Aaron Burgner will be nominated by fellow Florida Baptist pastor Alan Brumback to serve as president of the 2024 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference.

6. Church Replant Breathes New Life into Historic Community/Unites Local Churches

By Brooke Mannion, March 8.

PENSACOLA­–A new God story is unfolding in West Pensacola’s rich historic religious landscape. The Point Church Jackson Campus, a replant of West Pensacola Baptist Church, is breathing new life into the historic 12-acre campus, which had been “a foothold for the gospel” in the community for more than half a century.

7. Florida Baptists to Celebrate/Conduct Business at 2023 Annual Meeting

By Margaret Colson, Oct. 30.

LUTZ–Florida Baptists will gather to conduct business and celebrate churches working together to expand God’s kingdom when the 2023 Florida Baptist State Convention convenes at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz Nov. 13-14.

8. Horseshoe Beach Church Serves ss ‘Lighthouse’ for Community Amid Hurricane Devastation

By Jessica Pigg, Sept. 5.

HORSESHOE BEACH—Known as a laid-back, friendly fishing village, the quaint community of Horseshoe Beach found itself directly in the path of Hurricane Idalia’s 125 mph winds and 10-foot storm surge. The catastrophic devastation has left the fishing and boating community in pieces.

Picking up some of those pieces is Robin Hoffman. Hoffman’s family has owned a home in Horseshoe Beach since the early 1970s and is a longtime member of First Baptist Church Horseshoe Beach—the only local church within 20 miles.

9. ‘Incredibly Gracious and Big God’ Fuels Partnerships Between Churches/Regions

By Jessica Pigg, June 28.

FT. LAUDERDALE–The long, scenic miles across Alligator Alley could not hinder southwest Florida Baptist pastors from coming “right beside” Larry Brister, a pastor serving in Ft. Lauderdale.

10. Calvary Church Reaches Deaf Community for Christ

By Jessica Pigg, July 18.

CLEARWATER—For Ron Cooney, a specific church ministry originally brought his family through the doors of Calvary Church when he was 14 years old. As a child of a deaf adult (CODA), Cooney and his family were able to find a home at the Central Florida church. Now, years later, Cooney still calls Calvary Church home—as its executive pastor.

11. ‘God Has Showed Up and Showed Out’ for Worship/Youth Pastor

By Brooke Mannion, Oct. 15.

CRAWFORDVILLE–An excruciating cry of pain rang out through the worship center as Pastor Wayne Baker presented the altar call at First Baptist Church of Wakulla Station on Sunday, April 23. Baker quickly realized that Pastor Daniel Lloyd, worship and youth pastor, had fallen to the ground in debilitating back pain.

12. ‘I’ve Always Had a Love for Pastors’ Says Retiring Catalyst Gary Townsend

By David Moore, July 16.

Helping pastors and their churches was one of the things Gary Townsend enjoyed most about his role as north regional catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention.

13. Monticello Church Marks 192nd Anniversary with Heritage Day Celebration

By David Moore, July 6.

MONTICELLO­–When Elizabeth Baptist Church in Monticello held its heritage day celebration recently, members and guests gathered to commemorate 192 years of history in various ways, which included:

Dedicating its new bronze plaque containing a handwritten replica of the church’s original constitution, now attached to the front of the church.
Honoring its historian and a couple of longtime, dedicated members.
Thanking its members for its status as one of the most generous Baptist churches in Florida.
Rejoicing in the baptism of a new believer.

14. UF Students Spend Spring Break on Mission in South Sudan

By David Moore, May 11.

GAINESVILLE–South Sudan in East Africa is not your typical spring break destination for today’s college students, but when the opportunity arose to go there on a mission trip, Emma Formet was all in.

15. Diverse Populations Unified in Christ at Crestview Baptist Church

By Teodosia Rivera, Oct. 10.

LAKELAND­–As David Renfroe celebrates his 20th anniversary as senior pastor of Crestview Baptist Church in Lakeland, the true celebration focuses on the more than 1,500 individuals­–representing dramatically diverse walks of life­–who have made professions of faith and been baptized over the past two decades at the Central Florida church.

16. Florida Baptists Come Together to Celebrate Victories, Look to Future During Challenge 2025 Gathering

By Margaret Colson and Keila Diaz, March 3.

ORLANDO­–Close to 1,000 Florida Baptists came together to celebrate victories and look to the future in reaching Florida’s 22 million residents with the gospel during the Challenge 2025 Gathering held Feb. 28 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

17. Cloer Inaugurated as Seventh President of Baptist College of Florida

By Margaret Colson, April 26.

GRACEVILLE–The Baptist College of Florida inaugurated Clayton Cloer as it seventh president in a ceremony April 25 on the school’s main campus in Graceville.

18. Culbreth Retires, Credits God with Ministry Opportunities/Impact

By Margaret Colson, March 24.

JACKSONVILLE–After serving the Florida Baptist Convention, where he has “invested his life in the church,” for 25 years, Craig Culbreth, is retiring March 31, 2023.

19. Cooking up a Community that Glorifies God

By Brooke Mannion, June 1.

PENSACOLA­–Working late nights and serving the Sunday brunch crowd, restaurant workers can find it difficult to draw near to God, consistently fellowship with believers and receive encouragement to walk with Christ.

20. Chipola Churches Share Christ, Give Generously and Celebrate Milestone

By Brooke Mannion, Sept. 21.

MARIANNA–Smiles, singing, crafts, praising Jesus and learning about His love and sacrifice fueled the summer for churches in Chipola Baptist Association.

The UFMB, which was a formidable force following World War II, united women in a shared mission, emphasizing the importance of mission contributions and missionary ministries. The group was instrumental in publishing magazines and other materials to aid churches in their missionary endeavors. Over time, however, its prominence waned in Florida.

The UFMB is essentially the Hispanic arm of the Woman’s Missionary Union. The UFMB operates with similar goals and principles but is tailored to engage and support Spanish-speaking and Hispanic communities. Both organizations share the broader mission of educating and involving women and children in missions.

“I was delighted when Claudia asked me about offering a training event for leaders to begin Union Femenil Bautista groups in their churches,” said Cindy Bradley, Women’s Missions and Ministries/Mission Education catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention.

“The UFMB seeks to help our churches provide missions discipleship for the whole church that helps our church members, young and old, to grow in their faith as they learn about the work of our International Mission Board and North American Mission Board missionaries, pray for missions and missionaries, support missions financially, and be involved in missions locally and globally.”

Rojas, recognizing the gap and the potential, organized a gathering at Iglesia Bautista Peters Road with 21 women in attendance. “The sisters are committed to working toward the pledges they’ve made. They are keen to work toward education and raising of missionary offerings and ministries,” she expressed with hope. The women represented Iglesia Bautista Canaan, Iglesia Estrella de Belen Broward, Iglesia Bautista Peters Road, Iglesia Real, and Iglesia Bautista Lake Saunders.

At the event, participants were provided with Spanish materials designed for their churches to reignite this ministry. A notable focus was on involving children in prayer for missionaries and encouraging contributions to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® to support international missionaries and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering to support missionaries in North America. “This way, children learn to donate and understand why missionaries need these offerings,” Rojas emphasized.

Despite the Union’s diminished activity in Florida, Rojas mentioned that many who migrate from other Latin American countries are familiar with the UFMB and often seek it out. “My aim is for our Hispanic churches to gain a deeper understanding of missionary work, to open their eyes to the needs in the missionary field, and to encourage them to support the cooperative program,” she stated.

The UFMB was founded in Mexico in the early 20th century during a time when there was a strong push for evangelism and the establishment of Baptist institutions in the country. It was established to empower Baptist women in the region to play an active role in evangelism, missions and community service. Over the years, it has spread to other Latin American countries and to Hispanic communities in the United States. The organization has been instrumental in fostering spiritual growth and promoting the Baptist mission among women in these communities.

The broader goal, as Rojas envisions, is not just about occasional retreats or sporadic Bible studies. “My heart yearns for women to work as a missionary woman’s union in their churches,” she expressed passionately.

“I am praying for more and more of our churches to become involved in missions discipleship with the focus of reaching our state, nation, and world for Christ,” said Bradley.

With the mission to “Establish, Strengthen, Fulfill” in place, and with the unwavering commitment of the attendees at the recent gathering, the UFMB in Florida, she hopes, is on a promising path to revival.

If you would like someone to come to your church and train leaders in UFMB or WMU, contact Claudia or Cindy at Cindy.Bradley@flbaptist.org.

Highlights of the luncheon with the theme Don’t Lose Heart, included praise and worship, the presentation of the Clyde M. Maguire Award for Ministers’ Wives, and a message from Katrina Sellers. Sellers is a high school English teacher, president of the Florida Baptist Women’s Missions and Ministry/Mission Education (WMM/ME), and pastor’s wife serving alongside her husband at First Baptist Church Floral City.

Cindy Bradley, catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention’s WMM/ME, introduced Karen Green, wife of Tommy Green, Florida Baptists’ executive director-treasurer, who presented the Maguire Award and noted her appreciation for the annual luncheon.

“This is an event that I look forward to every year,” said Green. “Gathering together, making a new friend, exchanging a phone number. … we all need someone we can depend on.”

This award, named in honor of the late Clyde Maguire whose husband John served as executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention from 1945-67, is given annually to a Florida Baptist minister’s wife who has faithfully served the local church and served alongside her husband’s ministry in exemplary ways.

Green presented the 2023 Clyde M. Maguire Award to Kelly Carr, whose husband, Calvin, is lead pastor at North Central Baptist Church in Gainesville. After Green recognized Carr as “so deserving of this award” and read letters from those who nominated Carr, she was recognized for her “faithful service, spiritual investment in others, authenticity, gentle and quiet spirit, and living a life exemplary to Jesus to all those around her.” Honoring Carr as she received the award were her mother and husband, who presented Carr with flowers.

During the luncheon, Bradley also announced a new initiative designed specifically for ministers’ wives. This new Regional Pastors’ Wives Support Network was designed “in an effort to continue being ‘right beside’ local churches and pastors’ families.” The Southwest region will be the first region to launch this fall, and it is expected that other regions will launch across the Sunshine State in 2024.

Using humor and rhetorical questions, Sellers called the women to not lose heart in their service alongside their husbands and the local church. Recognizing that “service is not glamorous most days,” she called on women to view their service and ministry to the Lord as “priceless.”

Walking through 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, Sellers asked those in attendance to ponder the question—”Do you believe that God is up to something good, priceless and eternal in your life?” Continuing to walk through the passage, Sellers urged women to rely on God’s mercy (v. 1), let their light shine to others they serve (v.  6), let God’s power live through them (v. 7) and die to self (v. 12).

“You must put to death everything in you that is keeping you from serving well and pointing people to look more like Jesus,” she said. “Because we serve in this ministry and have mercy, don’t lose heart and don’t give up.”

Sellers added that ministers’ wives need to be spent out for those they’re called to serve. “Our job is to spend our lives for people we’re called to serve as pastor’s wives. … Effective ministry is a priceless ministry spent for others,” she said.

After being served lunch and pampered by members of Idlewild Baptist Church, wives were encouraged to continue with endurance.

“Our task is too great to quit and give up on,” Sellers said. “The calling isn’t worth quitting on, continue to shine bright and be a reflection of His glory.”

The 2024 ministers’ wives luncheon is slated to take place Tuesday, Nov. 12, at First Baptist Church Orlando.

Photos by Michael Duncan.

They do this by holding their annual WorldCrafts celebration, an event that combines shopping, dramatic readings, international food and décor, all for a great cause. Held at the church in Lake City, this event benefits WorldCrafts, which develops sustainable, fair-trade businesses among impoverished people around the world. It is a ministry of the national WMU.

Through the WorldCrafts website, the women purchase things like clothing, jewelry, purses and home goods made by women from around the world who have escaped poverty, physical and sexual abuse and exploitation. The international artisans are taught how to make crafts and other items that are then sold online, providing these women with opportunities to make a living for themselves and their families. There are artisans in more than 19 countries, including China, Cambodia, Dominican Republic, India, Jordan, Myanmar, Turkey, North and South Africa, Rwanda, the U.S. and more.  

“It really is a wonderful restoration for these women,” said April Janson, director of Parkview’s WMU or Women on Mission, and coordinator for this event.  

On the WorldCrafts celebration night, the fellowship hall is decorated with an international flair, and international foods are served in keeping with the theme. Those attending place their orders online about three weeks before the event, and the items are all shipped together. All items are placed in colorful gift bags, befitting the international theme, and distributed during the party. 

Each year, five of the group’s women dress in native costumes and prepare monologues portraying women who have benefitted from the WorldCrafts ministry. Typically, each tells what her life was like before WorldCrafts and what it’s like now. Just prior to these portrayals, a WorldCrafts video is shown which details how the ministry works and how it helps women. 

“Some of the stories they tell are gut-wrenching,” said Gail Hartzog, who is leader of the Sharon Group, which hosts the event. “It’s mostly human trafficking and terrible domestic violence they are trying to escape. WorldCrafts training helps them to make a living and establish a home for themselves and their children. You can really feel good about helping these women improve their lives.” 

Janson portrayed one of the artisan women from Uganda. Dressed as a Ugandan woman, she described how she escaped a life of poverty and prostitution and was now able to support herself and her children, paying for her apartment and the family’s food.  

“It’s very effective, and people love it,” she said. “It just makes it real and brings it home. It’s like they’re standing in the room.” 

This year’s event also served as a fundraiser for One More Child, which provides Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families.  The Parkview women’s group donated 20% of the cost of all regular priced items purchased from WorldCrafts to One More Child, making the event even more impactful. 

Janson said the Sharon Group, one of three WMU groups at the church, has a different mission focus each month that benefits local ministries, charities and those in need, including the Lad Soup Kitchen, Pregnancy Care Center, CARC Group Home and the VA Domiciliary.  But with the WorldCrafts party, they are reaching “the ends of the earth,” as mentioned in Acts 1:8. 

“We do regular local mission projects every month,” she said. “This is a way we can do something that reaches across the entire globe.” 

Recognizing this massive void and understanding the burden this places upon countless volunteers who serve around the clock at Port Canaveral, the Women’s Missions and Ministry/Missions Education team of the Florida Baptist Convention stepped in to serve.

Thirteen women—from all corners of the Sunshine State—traveled from their Florida Baptist churches to the Canaveral Port Ministry Center in Port Canaveral for a four-day mission trip. Despite only being a long weekend, the team was able to serve lunch to almost 400 seafarers and crew members daily, greet crew members, pack gift bags, prepare Christmas gifts for the seafarers, make salvation bracelets and more.

“We were able to prayerfully interact with seafarers and share the love of Christ,” said Debbie Langley, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia. “We were really able to come alongside them and assist them in any way possible.”

Langley continued by recognizing that thousands of seafarers from around the world are coming to Florida’s own backyard and that we must capitalize on this opportunity.

“People from all over the world come through their doors,” she said. “It is an overseas mission field right in our backyard!”

Langley said that the purpose of the stateside mission trip was multifaceted. The Florida Baptist women not only ministered to the seafarers but also encouraged and supported long-term volunteers on site.

Sandy Young, member of San Jose Baptist Church in Jacksonville and team leader for the WMM/ME Missions Involvement Team, is praying that more women across the state would recognize the burden and become more engaged with the seafarers’ ministry.

“The hope with each trip is that some of the women will have a burden for the ministry and share their interest with their church and then the church or ladies’ group would help support the ministry,” said Young.

With a desire for women to “experience different mission opportunities,” Young hopes to plan more short-term mission trips in various regions of the state so that all women—no matter age,

finances or location—can cultivate a love for missions and come right beside ministries and even church plants within the Florida Baptist family.

“I see the ministry of WMM/ME as involving the ladies of Florida in supporting various ministries and church plants,” she said. “By taking the ladies on short-term mission trips, they can develop a heart for missions that go beyond just the trip. They can encourage giving to missions and to be ready to go when the opportunity presents.”

The Port Canaveral mission team consisted of women from Jacksonville, Bartow, Deland, Alachua, Lakeland and Arcadia.

To minimize costs so that more women can participate in missions, the mission team was housed at the Park Avenue Adult Retreat Center, a ministry of Park Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville.

The significance of caring for seafarers not only has ripple effects around the world but also has a major impact within the Sunshine State as the WMM/ME desires to train and equip women to run on mission.

With a desire to give women opportunities to serve with an evangelistic focus, while also providing women enriching times of fellowship and support with other women throughout Florida, the WMM/ME sponsors mission trips for women whose churches might not be able to offer a mission trip on their own.

With just 32 faithful women, the national Woman’s Missionary Union was founded in 1888 for the purposes of collecting funds for the then-Foreign Mission Board (International Mission Board) and the then-Home Mission Board (North American Mission Board) and promoting a missionary spirit within the Southern Baptist Convention. Through the years, the WMU’s focus on missions education and personal missions involvement has led the way in equipping Southern Baptists to carry out the Great Commission.

Despite not having the rich history of the national WMU, in 2019 a dozen enthusiastic women at Liberty Community Church, a member of Peace River Baptist Association in southwest Florida, decided they wanted to carry the baton of missions and missions education by creating their own WMU group.

“God just laid it on my heart that the church I’d been at for years needed a WMU group,” said Owens-Sharrett, founder of Liberty’s WMU group. “I had a burden to support missions and began educating our women on what it means to be Southern Baptist.”

With support and encouragement from church leaders, the group has been serving those outside its four walls for four years. Desiring to carry out the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, the group also has promoted Southern Baptists’ two annual missions offerings. Even with the COVID shutdown soon after the WMU group’s launch, the women have persevered.

The 12 active members of Liberty’s WMU group have raised awareness for the annual North American Mission Board’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the International Mission Board’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. By utilizing prayer prompts, videos and other resources, the faithful church of about 40 members has always exceeded its financial goal for the missions offerings.

“We’ve been at least doubling or exceeding our financial goals,” she said. “Our church is so missions-minded.”

The group also adopts a missions project once a quarter. With numerous local options for serving people in the community, the group is “amazed” at the number of compassion ministries sponsored by WMU, such as Christian Job Corps, WorldCrafts, Project HELP, Baptist Nursing Fellowship, and Pure Water, Pure Love.

“We are amazed at everything under the umbrella of WMU,” said Owens-Sharrett. “These projects are a great way to expose women to the various things Southern Baptist women can do.”

Over the past several years, the group has hosted a WMU Tea to educate women about missions, make missions-conscious purchases from WorldCrafts and support Pregnancy Solutions by volunteering weekly and hosting a baby shower.

By focusing on one mission project a quarter, the group has been able to serve and reach far beyond what the women could ever imagine—right from their homes.

In 2022 the WMU group led the entire church to participate in a Christmas in August project to serve a NAMB missionary who leads a small group of children and youth in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Church members, including children, collected, packed up and shipped art supplies, Bibles, crayons, towels, balloons, soccer balls and spiral notebooks to the missionary as an answer to his prayer.

“Women are realizing that you don’t have to be a paid missionary serving around the world in order to be on mission and making a difference,” said Owens-Sharrett.

The missions-minded emphasis of the WMU group has not only served others, but also has strengthened the local church, Owens-Sharrett believes.

“We have seen that this WMU group has united our church as we seek to work together in order to accomplish these various projects,” she said. “The participation of the church plays a vital role.”

“The WMU is truly a program that unites.”

El tema del retiro de este año, Levántate y Anda, se centró en Juan 5:8, y desafió a las mujeres a retomar sus vidas previas a la pandemia, como el cojo recogió su camilla y caminó.

“Al salir de la pandemia muchas mujeres dejaron de ir a la iglesia, dejaron de involucrarse en las cosas de Dios y se dejaron de cuidar porque estaban todo el día en casa en cuarentena”, dijo Claudia Rojas, líder del Comité de Mujeres Hispanas Bautistas de Florida.

“Queríamos traer un tema que alentara a las mujeres a volver a las cosas de Dios y recordarles que son hermosas”.

Las mujeres fueron desafiadas por un mensaje de Ramón Medina, pastor global de ministerios Hispanos de la Iglesia Bautista Champion Forest en Houston, Texas, así como de Nancy Pineda y Yudit Bermúdez, quienes dirigieron sesiones alentando a las mujeres a regresar a sus ministerios de la iglesia y a cuidar de ellas mismos. Connie Lamb también dirigió una conferencia similar dirigida a las 12 mujeres jóvenes que asistieron al retiro.

“Desde mi punto de vista, fue un momento muy dulce que pasamos juntas. Hubo mucha unidad”, dijo Cindy Bradley, quien dirige las misiones de mujeres y el ministerio/educación misionera para la Convención Bautista de Florida.

Muchas mujeres se pasaron al frente durante un llamado al altar para orar, mientras que muchas oraron desde sus asientos.

“Dios estaba en todo. Por lo general, hay alguna queja sobre la comida o la habitación, pero no hubo una sola queja sobre nada de eso”, dijo Rojas.

“Una mujer se había convertido recientemente en cristiana y dijo que el retiro la hizo crecer significativamente en su fe”, compartió Rojas.

Bradley anima a todas las mujeres hispanas a registrarse para el retiro del próximo año.

“Cualquier mujer que quiera sentirse inspirada, desafiada y renovada, le recomendaría asistir a esta conferencia”, dijo Bradley.