ORLANDO—The Florida Baptist State Board of Missions tapped a new slate of officers to serve 2025-26 during its Nov. 10 meeting held in conjunction with the 2025 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting at First Orlando.

Officers elected to serve in 2025-26 are Jim Locke, senior pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Pensacola, to serve as president; Adrian Taylor, pastor, Springhill Church, Gainesville, to serve as vice president; and Nicki Glenn, pastor’s wife, Stetson Baptist Church, DeLand, to serve as recording secretary.

During the meeting State Board members approved a staff recommendation to distribute $11,600 from the Small Church Fund as a contribution to the Maguire State Mission Offering in 2025.

The Board welcomed 13 new congregation that were planted between Oct. 1, 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025, as well as 10 new affiliations added during the same time period. These church plants and new affiliations represent 16 associations in the state. The associations and number of church plants/new affiliations are: First Coast, 4: Miami, 3; Treasure Coast and Tampa Bay, 2 each; and Brevard, Broward, North Central, Tampa Bay, Marion, Broward, Greater Orlando, Lake County, Pasco, Royal Palm, Shiloh and St. Johns River, 1 each.

An additional 29 congregations were added during the same period as satellite campuses of existing Florida Baptist churches. These satellite campuses represent 14 associations within the state. The associations and number of satellite campuses are: Greater Orlando, 6; Miami, 5; Central Florida, 3; Marion, Palm Beach, Suncoast and Treasure Coast, 2 each; and Apalachee, Brevard, First Coast Churches, Florida, Pensacola Bay, Royal Palm and Tampa Bay, 1 each.

The next full State Board gathering will be a video-conference meeting on Feb. 5, 2026.

JACKSONVILLE–When Pastor David Uribe planted the new church Iglesia Local in Jacksonville, he wanted to reach the Hispanic community with a bilingual ministry that would have both multigenerational and multicultural impact.

This bilingual approach of reaching speakers of Spanish and/or English with the gospel has enabled the church plant to grow from the 10 to 15 people who started meeting at a park in 2022 to the current 130 to 150 who now meet weekly in the church plant’s own building.

Each week, Uribe preaches in Spanish, and his wife, Estefania, translates in English. This process enables them to reach the multiple generations that comprise the church’s bilingual membership, especially the younger generation.

The reality for many Hispanic churches in America, he said, is that the younger generation – the future leaders of the church – are leaving because they no longer feel they belong.

“They can speak Spanish, but their heart language is English. They comprehend in English and relate better to English. But at church they never speak the language of their heart. They are Hispanic, and they feel Hispanic, and they want to be with Hispanic people. But if the Hispanic church does not build a culture to reach them, they will leave,” Uribe said.

For churches to grow, they need to have this multigenerational and multicultural approach, he believes.

“You want to build space for all of the immigrants coming to our country who have to be reached and build space for kids growing up in this country in Latino households. As a pastor, you want them to belong in your church because those are the future of your church,” the 27-year-old church planter said.

‘A burden for my community’

At the age of 17, Uribe came to America and began working in student ministry. While in college, Uribe worked as a youth pastor and began ministry for youth events for Hispanic churches. He organized larger youth events in Florida that pulled students from smaller Hispanic churches that enabled them to have community together.

Uribe came from a large church in Mexico that was “ambitious, relevant and influential” in the community, but he noticed those qualities lacking in America’s Hispanic churches.

“God put a burden on my heart for the Latino church and the next generation, a burden for my community,” he said. “I felt the Lord telling me to go and do something about it. I felt God was calling me to ministry.”

He first felt God’s call to plant a church after he got married and was attending the church his wife grew up in. That’s when many of her friends, who were young adults like the Uribes, told them they were leaving that church because they felt they no longer belonged there, that there was no place for them.

“We were hurt by that, and that sparked a burden in me and a need in our hearts. That’s when I felt like the Lord was telling us to plant a church.”

 With approval from their church and the North American Mission Board, they started a year of prelaunch in 2022 with a group of about 10 people meeting together in a park. Most of the group was the couple’s family. But soon the group grew to almost 40 people, just inviting people from their own networks.

“We were a legitimate church plant,” he said.

‘In agreement in asking God for a building’

The young church plant started renting an event space but soon outgrew the space as it began offering ministry to children. The church plant then began renting space from a local church and holding its worship service at 2 p.m. on Sundays with small groups meeting on other days at the church.  The church has baptized 35 people in the past three years and continues to grow.

In January of this year church leaders and members began praying for the church plant to have its own building. “If two or more come to agreement and we ask, He will provide,” Uribe said in quoting Matthew 18:20. “We should be in agreement in asking God for a building. We are growing. Our vision is to seek God’s kingdom first in our local community and to bring transformation and joy to our city.”

In March, they learned their prayers had been answered with the offer of a church building from First Coast Churches, the local Baptist association. Another local church was disbanding and offered its building and property back to the association, which then offered it to Iglesia Local.

Bob Bumgarner, lead missional strategist for First Coach Churches, said Uribe is a good leader and a hard worker. He has been impressed with how quickly the church has grown and how young it is.

“If a church grows, it’s God’s favor of course,” he said. “Humanly speaking, God has brought a young man with energy and a great network and an ability to connect God’s Word to shepherd a specific people group.”

Renovations on the church building began in the spring and continued all summer, thanks to support from Florida Baptists’ Maguire State Mission Offering, First Coast Churches, other local Baptist churches and local businesses.

The church held its first services in its new building on Sunday, Sept. 7, with 230 in attendance, and Uribe said, “God has blessed us in many ways! We are expecting a really exciting season in our church and we love it!” He added that Iglesia Local leaders are already planning and praying about adding a second service.

“We are trying to keep that spirit of expectation. We don’t want people to get comfortable. We pray that God will use and help us to do more.”

CLERMONT— On February 10, Primeira Igreja Batista em Clermont (First Baptist Church of Clermont – Brazilian) celebrated its one-year anniversary with a moment of unforgettable joy: the baptism of a man named Marcelo, whose story of salvation has already begun to ripple into his family, the community and the nations.

When Marcelo arrived in the United States from Brazil, he had no prior contact with Christianity and had never stepped foot inside a Christian church before. But on Marcelo’s first Sunday in America, a mother from the young Brazilian congregation invited his son to attend a church gathering taking place in the community clubhouse. Marcelo, his wife and his young son, and little daughter went to the gathering—and they stayed.

“They came for breakfast,” said church planter Wilson Cordeiro Jr., “and they never stopped coming.”

As the family became increasingly involved in Sunday services and small group meetings, Marcelo said that God began to stir his heart. He professed faith in Christ, began a discipleship journey and was ultimately baptized on the day the church marked one year of ministry.

But the story doesn’t end there.

“As Marcelo was being baptized, his mother who lives in Brazil, watched his baptism through the streaming, called to him and said, ‘I want to be baptized too,’” said Cordeiro. “She had also come to faith in Christ, and one month later travelled to the United States, and we had the opportunity to baptize her as well at Clermont Lakefront Park.”

Now, Marcelo is growing in his faith and even leading a Bible study with his mother-in-law, father and father-in-law, who still lives in São Paulo State, Brazil.

A new church with a clear vision

The launch of Primeira Igreja Batista em Clermont began as a whisper from God, said Cordeiro, in September 2023. After sensing a burden for the large Brazilian population in the Oakland/Clermont area, Cordeiro and his wife began to pray.

That burden reflects a growing reality. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, nearly 130,000 Brazilians now call Florida home. The Brazilian immigrant population in the U.S. rose nearly 50% from 2010 to 2019, reaching more than half a million. The Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metropolitan area, which includes Clermont, is among the top five metro areas for Brazilians nationwide, with an estimated 34,000 Brazilian immigrants—about 1.24% of the total local population. This demographic growth underscores the strategic need for gospel-centered, culturally attuned churches like Primeira Igreja Batista em Clermont.

This burden and this prayer led to a February 10, 2024, launch, but the journey wasn’t without its challenges.

What started with just two families gathering on Fridays quickly grew. By March, the small group reached 45 people—too many for Cordeiro’s two-bedroom apartment. The group visited more than 35 possible meeting places, before an unexpected door opened.

“One day during a house service, someone mentioned First Baptist Church Clermont,” Cordeiro recalled. “We connected with one of the deacons, who passed our contact info to the associate pastor, Pastor Randy. They welcomed us in.”

Since May 2024, the young church plant, whose sending church is PIB Florida, has met at First Baptist Clermont led by Pastor Ben Bond, which has embraced the Brazilian congregation as part of its wider missions vision. First Baptist Clermont is also home to Haitian and Spanish-language ministries and is known for its generosity and gospel focus.

The Brazilian church meets on Family Fridays, beginning with fellowship and food at 8:00 p.m., followed by worship at 8:45 p.m. and Bible studies for every age group until midnight. On Sundays, the congregation gathers at 6:00 p.m. for worship and teaching. Average attendance is about 60, with peaks of 80 or more.

“Our vision is centered on family and the next generation,” Cordeiro said. “We’re investing in children, youth and young adults—and already we see fruit.”

Codeiro is grateful for the generosity of Florida Baptists’ giving to the Maguire State Mission Offering which has undergirded the planting of Primeira Igreja Batista em Clermont as it seeks to reach the growing number of Brazilians moving into his community.

Sending and being sent

Even as a young church plant, Primeira Igreja Batista em Clermont has set its sights on the nations. The Brazilian congregation is already supporting missionaries in São Paulo, Brazil, and Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, reflecting the belief that a missions-minded church is a healthy church.

Cordeiro sees every step of the church-planting journey as God’s doing.

“My only encouragement to other pastors is this: ‘Rest in God; be obedient, and He will do what He needs to do. It’s not because of us—it’s because of Him. I earnestly urge Baptist churches in the United States to embrace what God is doing among diverse cultures. By opening their doors to multicultural Baptist church planters whom God is bringing to this nation, they have a unique opportunity to participate in His mission. This is a chance to use the buildings God has already provided as a powerful tool for advancing His kingdom through cross-cultural ministry.’”

As the church continues to grow, Cordeiro asks for prayer for faithfulness, strength and continued unity between the Brazilian congregation and the English-speaking body at First Baptist Church Clermont.

“First Baptist Clermont has been a phenomenal partner—a true missionary church,” Cordeiro said.

“We’re grateful for the way they’ve opened their doors and their hearts to what God is doing.”

WINTER GARDEN—After seven years of successfully planting in one of the hardest areas of New England—Boston—Jay Mudd is now back in central Florida with a heart to multiply.

With a passion to “create environments that provide an opportunity for people to hear and respond to the love, grace and truth of God’s Word,” Mudd believes we should “never stop praying, dreaming and risking in order to position people and the church to have a front-row seat to seeing God do far more than we can think or imagine,” he said.

Strategically gathering at Hamlin Middle School in Winter Garden, Village Point Church is reaching the rapidly growing area of Horizon West, a master-planned community within Winter Garden in southwest Orange County.

Mentoring and training others

While in the trenches of church planting himself, Mudd is simultaneously mentoring and training the next generation of church planters and seeking to multiply gospel-preaching churches in the Sunshine State.

Understanding that Florida does not have enough local churches to serve its growing population, Mudd is continuously doing his part to train and multiply. It is understood that Florida Baptist churches need to be multiplying at a rate of 4% annually in order to effectively reach and serve growing communities. However, according to Send Network Florida, the current multiplying rate is 2.3%—highlighting a desperate need for more Florida Baptist churches.

“Whenever I am asked why we need more churches I always ask this question, ‘How many people do you know who do not go to church?” he said. “Why do we plant churches? For those people who you know personally who are not currently connected to a local church.”

Mudd is grateful for his Florida Baptist family who, through funds given to the Maguire State Mission Offering, become partners in church planting efforts throughout the state.

The need for local churches compels Mudd to actively coach and train a handful of church planters in the Florida Baptists’ Central region—Kenneth Ortiz in one of them.

More churches draw more people in

“I coach many of the planters in the area and know Kenneth Ortiz very well,” said Mudd. “He is a planter who is working very hard, has seen his share of adversity, and is doing a great job in the state.”

Previously serving as a professor and recruiter at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis and a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, Ortiz relocated from Minnesota to central Florida to plant Horizon City Church.

After gathering in homes for several months, the new church plant officially launched last October in south Winter Garden in a local elementary school. Now gathering at Cinépolis Cinemas, the almost one-year-old church plant continues to fix its eyes on Christ, Ortiz said.

Seeking to “make disciples who treasure Christ,” Horizon City Church seeks to be a “community of believers that treasures Jesus Christ together, finding satisfaction and happiness in him,” said Ortiz.

Horizon City Church champions expository preaching, building relationships among community residents, and growing a deeper relationship with Christ.

“What makes Horizon City different is the church’s high emphasis on being an ‘easy-entry community’ and giving people a simple way to get involved in the church, building new friendships and a deeper relationship with God,” he said.

Similar to Mudd, Ortiz chose central Florida—specifically Orange County—due to its rapidly growing population and the desperate need to multiply Bible-believing churches.

“I am thoroughly convinced, based on numerous studies and surveys, the probability of anyone attending church in a local community goes up significantly as there are more options for a church,” said Ortiz. “The more churches there are, the more likely it is that people will attend church. Someone asked me, ‘Does Winter Garden really need another church?’ Winter Garden needs another 25 churches!”

LAKE WORTH—When Pastor Andy Vital and his wife, Deborha, packed up their belongings in New Jersey and drove toward an uncertain future in South Florida, they had no jobs, no savings for the journey—and no doubt that God had called them.

“We didn’t have enough money to make the trip,” Vital recalled. “But we knew God had said to go. And from the U-Haul rental the night before we left, to meals and gas money along the way, He provided through the kindness of friends—every single step.”

Now, four years later, the couple is preparing to launch Glory City Church in Lake Worth, a gospel-centered church plant focused on reaching Haitian Americans and young minorities in South Florida with a message of purpose and hope.

It’s a journey marked by faith, hardship and provision—and one that’s been made possible in part through the generous gifts of Florida Baptists to the Maguire State Mission Offering.

From loss to new life

The road to church planting hasn’t been easy. After arriving in Florida in 2020, Vital accepted a ministry role at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale—an unexpected opportunity that reaffirmed God’s provision. But as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the couple faced wave after wave of personal tragedy.

His wife’s father passed away in 2020, followed by her mother’s rapid decline due to dementia in 2021. Then, just before their son was born, her brother died suddenly in 2022.

“In America, we don’t talk much about the gospel of suffering,” Vital said. “But we’ve learned that joy and sorrow can live in the same house. Those years were difficult, but they also deepened our faith and our understanding of who God is.”

During a mission trip to London, Vital met Pastor Cliff McCray, pastor of Radiant City Church in Boca Raton, who became a mentor and sending pastor. Their meeting reignited the call to plant a church and laid the groundwork for the establishment of Glory City Church.

A vision for Lake Worth

Glory City Church exists to help people without purpose find meaning in Jesus. Strategically located in Lake Worth, the church seeks to serve a diverse and underserved community, with outreach efforts already underway before its official launch.

“The pressures of this generation—financial, emotional, societal—are real,” Vital said. “People are searching for meaning. We believe they can find it in the gospel.”

The church’s vision is focused on reaching Haitian Americans—especially second-generation immigrants who often feel culturally disconnected from both traditional Haitian churches and broader American congregations.

“We want to build a truly Haitian-American church that resonates across cultures and generations,” explained Vital, a second-generation Haitian. “Our goal is to offer a space where young people feel seen, known and called.”

Fueling the mission

Thanks to the generous gifts through the Maguire State Mission Offering, Glory City Church has been able to put its missional heart into action. “We are deeply grateful for your support and invite you to continue supporting us as we prepare for our outreach launch.”

Recent projects include a community backpack drive and the launch of a “care closet” at a local elementary school, designed to meet practical needs—like clothing, hygiene items, and school supplies—while offering prayer and encouragement.

“We’re working with the school and local partners like CarePortal to be present before we even launch,” Vital said. “We want people to know: the church is here, and we care.”

How to support Glory City Church

As part of this year’s Maguire State Mission Offering emphasis, Florida Baptists are invited to pray for and support new churches like Glory City.

Vital shared two specific prayer requests: that God would continue to bring a diverse and committed launch team—including seasoned saints who can offer wisdom—and that financial support would grow as the church prepares for its official launch.

On a personal note, he also asked for prayers for balance and wisdom as he and his wife parent their two young children, Ezra (3) and Hadasah (1), while planting a church from the ground up.

“More than anything, we want our family to enjoy the process and draw closer to Jesus through it,” he said. “This isn’t just about starting a church—it’s about transformation, one life at a time.”

PACE–“By God’s grace, we aim to push back the darkness and shine the light of the gospel in our city of Pace, Florida,” said Eric Mitchell, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church.

“This journey began more than two years ago with seeking clarity and confirmation of the calling,” said Mitchell. Prayer has remained the focus and foundation for the church plant set to launch in 2026. Mitchell and other leaders meet weekly to pray over one another and seek the Lord for strategic decisions, the development of a core group and understanding how to engage their community in a unique way.

Developing a tightknit group ready for ministry has been a key component in preparing to plant with all core members seeking to understand and develop their spiritual gifts and how they can serve in areas of worship, hospitality, outreach and preschool ministries.

In 2023, Mitchell and Stewart Kirksey, fellow church planter and associate pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church, were brought together through serving their connect group at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Both men, feeling burdened for the local community, began to pray specifically about timing, location, and others to walk alongside them in ministry.

They took steps forward in obedience to the Lord by seeking counsel from mentors and church leaders, practicing discipleship with a micro-group of core members, researching the needs within their local community, and attending the SEND Network church planting assessment and training.

Sending church comes alongside church plant

Every church plant needs a sending church to provide initial support financially and administratively. Hillcrest Baptist Church has a focus on multiplication and a nearly 10-year history of partnering with church plants around the country.

“We have been waiting for the right opportunity to partner with a church in our own state and as it turns out, God was preparing one of our own church members to take a bold step of faith to start a new work in neighboring Santa Rosa County,” said Doug Kimsal, executive pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church.

“New churches less than three years old tend to create 10 new believers per 100 attenders in a year. Congregations three- to 15-years-old produce five new believers per 100, and those over 15 years old drop to three new believers per 100 attenders each year,” said Kimsal. “Small grows faster than big, and we’ve seen that play out in our small group ministry as well as church plants.”

‘Joy to see God work in and through His people’

Following the biblical mandate to “go and make disciples,” leaders at Cornerstone Baptist Church seek to “encourage and excite” others to reach lost people in Santa Rosa County. The church has developed a solid vision to “be a congregation where every member is Christ-centered, love-oriented, and missions-motivated.”

The mission of Cornerstone Baptist Church is clearly stated “to glorify God by making disciples who are devoted to Christ, His great commandments and His Great Commission.”

“I’m really excited to see the work that the Lord will do through His church,” said Kirksey. “There are so many people moving to Pace, and I’m excited to reach them with the gospel and see more people come to know Christ and grow in their faith. What a joy it is to see God work in and through His people,” said Kirksey.

‘Let the Word shape you’

Using 1 Peter 2 as a guide, the leaders desire to be “tethered, saturated, controlled and guided” by the Word of God. The preaching and teaching style will be expository with Mitchell stating, “Don’t let the world shape you, let the Word shape you.”

Mitchell and Kirksey hope the church will be a mosaic representation of every tribe and tongue, unified in Christ, and a place where people who may not feel that they fit in can come and be accepted. “We have a vision of a congregation steeped in Scripture, shaped by love and reflecting the beautiful tapestry of nations envisioned in Revelation 5:9-10,” said Mitchell.

As a recipient of the Maguire State Mission Offering, Cornerstone Baptist Church will direct funds to essential costs associated with meeting at Sims Middle School, outreach materials, signage, and sound and media equipment purchases. The church hopes to establish a welcoming and functional space for worship and ministry while utilizing an accessible and visible location within the community.

Crystal Mitchell and Kristy Kirksey will serve alongside their husbands and co-lead the children’s ministry.

Others can help by praying for the leaders and church as they prepare to launch and consider if they sense God is leading them to be a part in some way by giving financially or through acts of service.

POMPANO BEACH–One church. Multiple languages. One gospel.

Planted as a church to reach Brazilians, New Hope Brazilian Baptist Church in Pompano Beach today has attendees who speak Portuguese, Spanish and English. Pastor Emanuel Carvalho, a native Brazilian who has been in America for five years, preaches his sermon each Sunday in his native Portuguese and attendees can listen to the sermon in English on headsets.

Carvalho and his wife, Jessica, originally arrived in Florida for what they thought would be six months. Their mission: to help New Hope Brazilian Baptist Church get back on its feet after experiencing some challenging circumstances and setbacks. Carvalho was the last of three Brazilian pastors who had been asked to serve the struggling church for six months each. Carvalho’s six months turned into five years, and New Hope Brazilian Baptist Church, through its partnership with Send Network Florida and the Florida Baptist Convention, has done more than just get back on its feet. It is moving forward with strategic intentionality.

Still primarily a church made up of individuals with Brazilian ancestry, Carvalho said that the congregation includes second- and third-generation Brazilian families in America and others who have arrived within the past week or month.

Carvalho and his wife understand what it’s like to arrive in a new country with a new language and no family. “Sometimes I felt like I was alone,” he said. That experience drives him to lead his church to embrace newcomers as family. Recently a Brazilian woman, who is new to America, was involved in a car accident; her first instinct was to call church members to help her at the scene of the accident with translation and paperwork.

The church is involved actively in its community with a chaplains’ ministry that ministers to people in jail and in the hospital, a runners’ ministry and 90 small groups. One small group in Lexington, South Carolina, is taking steps to become a church plant.

Because of such community outreach, many local residents, with no ties to Brazil, have found their way to New Hope. Translation technology, through translator headsets, helps all who enter the doors of the church to hear the same gospel message.

While services and classes are in Portuguese, numerous people on staff and volunteers are fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Carvalho said the children’s ministry is abuzz with energy each Sunday as all three languages are spoken simultaneously. Languages, he said, help people not only adjust to a new country but also maintain their ties with their old country. On weeknights, New Hope teaches English classes for adults, and on Saturday mornings, New Hope offers Portuguese classes for children.

Looking back, Carvalho admits the first three years at New Hope were a “big challenge.” Still, he said, “God brings New Hope. God guided us though. With the Holy Spirit and the Bible, we navigated those waters.”

Through it all, he said, “God has been doing great things in our church.” He credits his partnership with Send Network Florida and the Florida Baptist Convention as well as financial gifts from the Maguire State Mission Offering with helping his church “turn dreams into reality.”

He said the church’s mission is not only to receive blessings but to “be a blessing.”

Carvalho asks Florida Baptists to pray “that God helps us to do our mission here in this country and to guide us to understand our opportunities to share the gospel, to help people, to do our best.”

PORT CHARLOTTE—Deemed as one of the “10 Best Places to Retire” in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Port Charlotte is not just a growing community for retirees—but also for young families and a “thriving Hispanic population,” said Church Planter Alejandro Duran, who launched Family Church Español of Port Charlotte.

Originally, the church plant was a Spanish-speaking language ministry of Family Church Port Charlotte, one that had existed for 30 years. The seed for a formalized church plant was sewn into the heart of Duran that the southwest Florida community needed more than a part-time Spanish-speaking ministry—it desperately needed a healthy Spanish-speaking local church.

Recognizing that God is reaching the nations from every Florida Baptist church, Family Church took the “scattered pieces” from more than three decades and asked the Lord to “breathe new life” for a thriving church planted in a community strategically located between Sarasota and Fort Myers.

“It’s so beautiful and strategic because a lot of Port Charlotte and a large part of the southwest Florida area is exponentially increasing in their Hispanic population,” said Duran. “Family Church Port Charlotte plays a huge role because they’re essentially saying we want to bless you with a space.”

Desiring to meet the growing Hispanic population of Port Charlotte, Duran is confident that the church’s ministry approach will reach its neighbors and the nations with the gospel.

“I believe we have a vision of a multiplicative approach of diverse disciples and churches with specific rhythms to fulfill the mission with excellence,” he said. Duran prioritizes discipleship in the local church, “seeking to produce holistic disciples of Jesus who can grow in the knowledge of His word and in the likeness of Christ.”

Using a multifaceted approach, the church seeks to be a “multiplying church,” said Duran.

The core values ​​embraced by Family Church Español are rooted in four fundamental pillars: the gospel, spiritual growth, communion in family, and the Great Commission. The new church is already laying the groundwork for launching its own church plants in the Sunshine State.

“We want to be a multiplying church,” he said. “We might be running in the 50s and 60s right now, but we are praying God would multiply us and that God would use us to plant another church out of our church.”

The church planter also shared how it is through three “vital rhythms” that the church executes its mission to “multiply disciples of Jesus from all nations,” said Duran.

“We want to execute our mission with simplicity, joy and excellence based on our core values ​​in three ways: the Sunday gathering, active family groups and a Bible institute,” he said.

Wanting to reflect the early church, Duran emphasized the importance and weight Family Church Español places on the Sunday morning gathering and family groups.

“We meet every Sunday to hear the word of God preached through expository preaching, worship God through music, and celebrate holy communion and baptism,” he said. “We also seek to be a spiritual family with the intention of sharing with each other to carry out a particular mission. Each group desires to be a small missionary community that wants to care for each other and reach out to the people God puts in their lives.”

Crediting his “solid academic background” to his time at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, Duran has led the church to establish a Bible Institute to develop disciples through solid theological education.

“We believe that discipleship occurs within the context of the local church, and the institute seeks to create a space for disciples to grow in the knowledge of the word of God and the likeness to Christ,” he said.

The partnership of other local churches coming “right beside” Duran has enabled Family Church Español to be laser-focused on championing its mission to “multiply disciples of Jesus from all nations,” instead of being distracted on meeting basic needs.

“The blessings from the SEND Network and the Florida Baptist Convention, the financial aspect of it, is tremendous because it gives us an opportunity not only to contribute back to the convention but also to consider putting some cents and dollars aside for when God puts the right people in, gives the growth, so we can be a sending church as well.”

Duran reiterated just how much it means to him to have the prayers and encouragement of thousands of other Florida Baptist churches in his corner, alongside the financial support through the Maguire State Mission Offering.

“I just want to express a deep gratitude for what Florida Baptists are doing, not only for me and other planters, but for all the churches across the convention,” he said.

Because of this overwhelming support, the southwest Florida church has big plans for its future. Family Church Español is enthusiastic about continuing to model the Great Commission for years to come, engage the mission and heart of God, and plant another Florida Baptist church.

“We want to contextualize the Great Commission,” he said. “We don’t want to be a church that just meets and does not engage the mission of God and the heart of God.”

LAWTEY–LOGO Church is not your typical church name, but then this church plant in Northeast Florida is not your typical church.

LOGO stands for Love God and Go Tell, said Pastor Kristoffer Elkins, who wants the church to be known for loving God and others and for going and telling people about Jesus.

“Jesus said the most important thing is loving God and loving other people,” Elkins said. “And I’ve always been big on Matthew 28:18-20, which says go and tell. So that’s how we came up with LOGO.”

Meeting people ‘where they are’

Members of this small church have plenty of opportunities to do both in Lawtey, a small town located about 45 miles southwest of Jacksonville. Because Lawtey is a poor area, Elkins said the church has the opportunity to love on people through community events that include free meals, family activities and things like backpack and peanut butter and jelly giveaways. The church hosts a Sunday morning service and a free dinner and Bible study on Wednesday evenings.

“We are really trying to help the brokenness – both physical and spiritual brokenness in this community. A lot of people are struggling here with drugs and alcohol, and many have never really been to church,” he said. “You can’t just start talking about the prodigal son or Passover as they may have no clue what you are talking about. They have never heard these stories. I have to keep that in mind.”

Elkins said they do church a little differently there, seeking to meet people where they are.

“We are trying to be more of how Jesus would have ministered. He loved people. He loved His disciples, and He taught His disciples to love and care about people. He discipled them, and He sent them out to tell more people about what was going on. We’re trying to do church that way,” Elkins said.

About 25 to 35 have been attending on Sunday and about 35 to 40 for the Wednesday night dinner and Bible study. Recently the church had seven men, 10 women and 10 students attend on Wednesday. Those numbers are exciting to Elkins, as this is a great opportunity for discipleship. And while he could use more adults to become leaders, most are new believers still in the discipleship phase and not ready to move up to the teaching level. He said he’d love to have more adults who could serve as leaders with the children.

“We see the need. The harvest is plentiful; I just need workers. I need for people to get to the point where they are ready to do something like that.”

‘God keeps on providing’

The church started as a plant from the North American Mission Board’s Send Network five years ago with nine people meeting in a living room. From there it grew to about 25 a week meeting in a local restaurant during off-hours. After the pandemic forced the restaurant to close, the church began meeting outside of Elkins’ house which included a large front porch. Elkins set up speakers in the yard, and people could sit in their cars or in folding chairs.

“We had a lot of people coming to that, a lot of people getting saved. Our first baptism occurred there in a pool in the front yard,” he said.

As the novelty of meeting in such a place began to wear off and attendance waned, the church began looking for space to rent. It wasn’t easy in this small town. They found a place just outside the city limits, a building that has hosted many businesses over the years including a truck stop with a restaurant and more recently a tire store. The owner offered a low-cost annual rent plus takes care of the monthly utilities, which was a huge blessing.

But the building was a wreck. Elkins worked with church members on cleaning the property and doing extensive renovations, including making the garage a youth room and just this year, enclosing a carport. He can tell story after story about God’s “incredible goodness” and how God continues to provide for the church. Enclosing the carport had a projected cost of about $3,000, which God provided through unexpected donations like $500 here, another unexpected $500 there, $2,000 from their sponsoring church and then another $2,000 check in the mail from another church in the area.

“God has been doing these things the entire time with our ministry,” Elkins said. “One thing after another, God just keeps on providing. It has been amazing to watch what He’s done.”

The church has a reputation for hosting community outreach events known as Love Lawtey. He’s rented a large community center in town, where the church hosts events in the fall and spring that include free meals for 100 to 130 people, plus live music, games, giveaways and more. The church also done movie nights, conducted Easter egg drops, participated in the Lawtey Christmas Parade, and it hosts a weekly Bible study for students at the local elementary school.

“A lot of the churches in the surrounding area have helped us with donations for these events,” he said. “They love the ministry we are doing, and they support us. We’ve established a lot of great contacts and friendships through that.”

LOGO Church also has received funds and assistance from the Florida Baptist Convention and the Black Creek Baptist Association, which donated office space for the church.  In addition to some upcoming fall events, the church is also planning a fifth anniversary celebration for January. And with seating for only 54 in the current building, the pastor is also on the lookout for a new site for this church.

Elkins said he became a Christian at age 16 when he realized his need for Christ. Knowing everyone has that same need is what continues to motivate and inspire him to do what he does.

“God brought us here 11 years ago. We fell in love with the community and realized we needed to do something,” he said. “We exist to meet the brokenness and spiritual needs of our community through the compassion of Jesus. It excites me to see lives get changed. We have seen a massive amount of changes, and I am just hoping we get to see some more.”

BOCA RATON—At just over three years old, Radiant City Church in Boca Raton has become a “beacon of hope” in its local community and at Florida Atlantic University, where community residents and students are hearing and responding to the gospel.

Lead Pastor Cliff McCray, a former University of Central Florida football player, recalls how his faith journey began in a moment of tragedy. “In my third year of college, after a teammate tragically died, I had my ‘come to Jesus’ moment,” McCray shared. It was through the guidance of a college pastor that the Scriptures came alive for him and led him toward the path of ministry.

In January 2017 McCray and his team felt the call to plant a church in South Florida. Through much prayer and discernment, Radiant City Church was born. As challenging as church planting is, McCray said it was the best decision he and his family ever made.

“Church planting is the craziest, wildest thing we could ever do, but it’s also the best decision we’ve ever made,” McCray reflected.

‘Holy discontent’

Since its launch in January 2021, the church, with a steadfast commitment, has shared the gospel with non-believers and has guided believers to deepen their faith. Through baptism, new believers have embraced the opportunity to affirm their commitment to Christ in a public expression of their faith.

Radiant City Church recently has been blessed with a new building in the heart of Boca Raton, less than two miles from Florida Atlantic University. This prime location has enabled the church to foster relationships with the student population. As McCray and his congregation prayed for ways to reach the local community, their hearts were drawn toward the university’s 30,000 students, particularly those on the football team.

“In our first three years, we’ve welcomed approximately 46 souls into the fold through baptism,” said McCray.

This January, Radiant City celebrated 13 baptisms, nine of whom were FAU students—eight of them football players. “It’s been amazing to see God move among these young men,” McCray shared. “We’ve felt a holy discontent to reach the FAU campus, and the fruit we’re seeing is a testament to God’s faithfulness.”

‘Beacon of hope’

Being part of the North American Mission Board’s Send Network has been key to Radiant City’s success. McCray expressed gratitude for the diverse family of churches and leaders who have paved the way. “We don’t have to figure it all out ourselves. There are leaders who’ve gone before us, investing in us, showing us the best practices, and helping us avoid the mistakes they’ve already navigated,” he said.

Tim Wolfe, Send City missionary for the North American Mission Board, expressed gratitude for the church’s dedication to evangelism. “The efforts of church planter Cliff McCray embody the true essence of evangelistic work, and his passion for reaching the lost in Boca Raton is a beacon of hope for the community,” he remarked.

Radiant City’s mission continues to focus on prayer and partnership. McCray is passionate about mobilizing other churches and individuals to join in praying for church plants across Florida.

“Prayer is the very means that God uses to accomplish His will,” McCray said. “If you’re asking how you or your church can get more involved in church planting, start by praying. Pray for the churches in our network and the new church plants. God may very well use your prayers to help us reach more souls.”