That image stayed with me. I believe Florida Baptists are called to be that kind of launch pad for the gospel, where God’s people are equipped, encouraged and sent out to take the message of Jesus farther than ever before.

The Mission that sends us

In Romans 10:14–15, the Apostle Paul writes:

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent?

Paul reminds us that the gospel advances when churches become sending centers for the good news of Jesus Christ. That is our shared calling as Florida Baptists. Everything we do must help propel the gospel forward through faithful witness, church planting, and cooperative mission.

Our work is guided by four mission imperatives that keep us focused on this calling.

Imperative 1: Evangelizing and Baptizing More Each Year

The first imperative keeps the Great Commission at the forefront: We must evangelize and baptize more people every year.

All around us are people who need to know Jesus, His love, His cross, His resurrection and His invitation to new life. As we share the gospel and baptize new believers, we experience visible evidence that God is still changing lives and that the Spirit of God is moving among us.

In 2024, Florida Baptist churches celebrated 30,701 baptisms, surpassing a longstanding goal. I’m praying that number continues to grow as we reach more people with the life-changing message of Christ. Every baptism reminds us that the gospel still lifts souls from sin and that our churches remain faithful proclamation points for new life in Jesus.

Imperative 2: Calling Out and Discipling More God-Called Leaders

The second imperative focuses on leadership multiplication: We must call out and disciple more God-called believers to fulfill the Great Commission.

The advance of the gospel depends on people who answer God’s call and are equipped to serve: pastors, missionaries, church planters and lay leaders. When we invest in training those leaders, we ensure that the mission continues through future generations.

Across Florida, churches are developing pipelines for ministry preparation. Baptist Collegiate and NextGen Ministries are discipling students deeply, while Florida Baptist missions mobilization provides hands-on opportunities for service. Each of these ministries helps prepare the next generation of leaders who will step forward when God says, “Go.”

Imperative 3: Planting and Revitalizing More Churches

The third imperative emphasizes where gospel witness takes root: We must plant new churches and revitalize existing ones.

New churches reach new people. Revitalized churches become renewed lights in their communities. Through Send Network Florida, our 50/50 partnership with the North American Mission Board, we are starting about 60 new churches each year. Yet, with Florida’s rapid population growth, the need only increases. The fields around us are ripe, and new congregations are needed to gather the harvest.

The local church remains God’s primary means for gospel advance. Every strong, healthy congregation serves as a liftoff site for mission, equipping believers to share the gospel in their neighborhoods and sending them to reach the nations. When we plant and strengthen churches, we extend the reach of the gospel to people who might never otherwise hear.

Imperative 4: Giving More Generously to Support Our Shared Mission

The final imperative is about resourcing the work: We must give more generously each year to sustain and expand our mission together.

Every dollar given through the Cooperative Program strengthens our shared capacity to send missionaries, plant churches and reach the lost. Giving isn’t merely about balancing budgets; it’s about fueling ministry so the gospel can go farther than any one church could take it

alone. Generosity becomes the spiritual fuel that powers every part of our shared mission.

When Florida Baptists give, we participate in a partnership that spans our state, nation and world. We give not simply to maintain what is but to launch what can be, with new ministries, new missionaries and new movements of God’s Spirit.

Launching toward a greater harvest

If we truly believe this mission matters, we cannot measure success by what we have already done but by what remains unfinished. We thank God for what He has accomplished, with hundreds of thousands baptized, churches planted and renewed, lives transformed. And yet, our work is not complete.

There are still people who have not heard, communities without a gospel witness, and generations yet to be reached. The horizon before us is vast, but so is the power of the gospel we proclaim.

So let’s continue to share the gospel and baptize, call out and train leaders, plant and revitalize churches, and give generously to our shared mission.

When we do, we will see God launch new movements of grace all across Florida and far beyond.

May our Florida Baptist family remain a launch pad for the gospel, faithfully sending preachers, missionaries and witnesses until the whole world hears that our God reigns and Jesus saves.

I just heard from Dr. Heath Woolman, pastor at Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns. Last Sunday, they had a beach baptism at Mickler’s Landing in Ponte Vedra with 58 new believers following Jesus. He had his college students and others watching for onlookers so they could initiate gospel conversations with them.

On the beach that day, a young woman in her mid-twenties sat quietly by herself, watching, with only her dog for company. For over an hour she lingered on the edges, until finally she approached a senior adult couple and asked if they were with the group.

When they said “Yes,” she hesitated only a moment before asking, “Do you think they have time for one more?”

The couple assured her she would be welcome, and the man began a gospel conversation with her before bringing her to Pastor Heath. She asked the pastor the same question: “Do you have time for one more?”

Pastor Heath began asking her questions and, for the next 20 minutes, they talked about the gospel and about who Jesus is.

When the moment came to pray, something unexpected happened. For the first time in 20 years, Pastor Heath found himself unable to lead someone in a prayer for salvation. Whether it was the Holy Spirit or the weight of emotion, he simply could not get the words out. In that silence, the young woman bowed her head and poured out her heart to the Lord in one of the most genuine prayers of salvation he had ever heard.

When she finished, she looked up at him and repeated her question with a smile: “Do you have time for one more?” Pastor Heath’s thoughts immediately went to the story of Philip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8, and she knew he could give no other answer but “Yes.”

As it turned out, she lives just up the road in Mandarin, near the church. Their women’s ministry director quickly began follow-up with her to help her take her first steps in discipleship.

That day, the senior gentleman held her dog while she stepped into the water to be baptized. In the photo taken afterward, his face bore the unmistakable joy of someone who had been used by God in an extraordinary way— someone who truly “got it.”

And over the summer I heard multiple stories like that one. Florida churches reaching out to people, winning people to Jesus Christ and baptizing new believers.

Every baptism is a testimony that God is moving among Florida Baptists, and we must do everything possible to see that number increase year after year.

We are excited to announce the fourth year of the Dr. Tommy & Karen Green Scholarship (formerly known as 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, 2025. I am grateful for the generosity that provides the resources for this scholarship program.

Dr. Stephen N. Rummage

The grief and tragedy that greeted New Orleans on New Year’s Day — which will sadly but inevitably be echoed in other places throughout the coming year — reminded me of the promise Jesus gave His disciples in John 16:33:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Imagine someone showing you two photos. In both, the woman at the center wears a soft smile on her face and a steady gaze in her eyes. Her arms and shoulders are relaxed. Her posture is serene. But the similarities end there. In one image, the woman stands in a meadow covered with lush green grass, dotted with swaying wildflowers, the sun streaming down on her shoulders. In the other, she is surrounded by a jagged, rocky landscape. Her footing is uneven. Lightning flashes in the darkened sky above. The horizon is shrouded by a damp blanket of fog.

Which of these pictures represents peace?

You might be tempted to say, “The one with the sunny meadow.” But Jesus gives a different answer. Based on His words, the more authentically peaceful picture shows someone surrounded by turmoil and threat, yet still calm and confident. “In the world you will have tribulation,” Jesus said, “but in me you may have peace.” Most people experience a measure of superficial peace when the skies are blue and the breezes are gentle, even if they don’t know Christ. But for believers, God’s peace runs deeper, no matter what our circumstances.

The Bible speaks of God’s peace in three ways:

• Peace with God comes when we place our trust in Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and give us God’s gift of eternal life. Paul described this kind of peace in Romans 5:1: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• The peace of God comes when we bring our anxieties to the Lord in prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Peace on earth comes when we lay down our conflicts with one another and surrender ourselves fully to Jesus Christ. This peace, announced by the angels at Jesus’ birth in Luke 2:14, will only come perfectly and universally when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. Yet it is available to us right now as we place Christ at the center of our marriages, families, churches and other relationships.

As you begin this new year, Jesus Christ can give you every facet of God’s peace. Today, you can pray for God’s peace to rest upon New Orleans and on every other place and person facing turmoil. You can thank Jesus for making peace with God possible through His sacrificial death on the cross. While we know the coming year will bring challenges and trials, we can ask God to guard our hearts with His peace. And, through the power of Jesus, we can also pray for God’s grace to live at peace with those around us.

In his first sermon to messengers since his election to his new Florida Baptist role,

Rummage outlined a mission-oriented framework inspired by the Apostle Paul’s ministry in Athens, drawn from Acts 17:16-34. He urged Florida Baptists to adopt a similar zeal and strategy in spreading the gospel.

Rummage began with the story of a man traveling through a desert who, after discovering his dates were infested with worms, opted to eat the last date without checking for worms. “Some things we are better off not knowing,” Rummage noted, emphasizing, “But dear friends, there are some things that people must absolutely know.” Chief among these is the message of Jesus Christ. He affirmed, “God has placed you where you are that you may know Jesus and that you may make Jesus known.”

Through Paul’s example, Rummage shared six key principles for fulfilling this mission.

Rummage encouraged Florida Baptists to live with a constant mission. He highlighted Paul’s time in Athens, noting that while Paul was initially waiting, he remained mission-focused. “A lot of people come to Florida to see the sights,” he stated, “but we are not here to sightsee; we are here to win souls to Christ.” For many, he emphasized, Florida might be “the closest to heaven they’ll ever be,” so Florida Baptists must be serious about making Jesus known.

He also urged those gathered to “cultivate burdened hearts.” In verse 16, Paul’s spirit was “provoked” by the idolatry saturating Athens. Rummage challenged the audience to examine their own hearts. “Do you have a burdened heart?” he asked, suggesting that modern-day idols—anything people fear or trust more than God—are equally as pervasive.

Share a strategic witness, advised Rummage, detailing Paul’s approach to sharing the gospel strategically in the synagogues and marketplaces, going to where the people were rather than waiting for them to come to him. He related this to campus ministries that engage students directly. “This fall, 53 students made professions of faith in Jesus Christ,” he shared, encouraging Baptists not to shy away from speaking about Jesus in secular spaces.

“Proclaim an unwavering message,” Rummage said. He observed that Paul’s message remained firm despite encountering opposition from the leading philosophies of his day, which were proclaimed by the Epicureans and Stoics. “There comes a time when we must proclaim Jesus and Jesus alone,” he stated, encouraging an unwavering commitment to the gospel despite challenges.

Citing Acts 17:22-31, Rummage called Florida Baptists to cultivate an evangelistic passion and zeal that drive believers to engage with those who don’t yet know God.

Rummage closed, asking Florida Baptists to “be confident and trust in God’s use of us.” Closing his principles with the importance of trust, Rummage reminded the audience of their callings and prayed that God would use Florida Baptists to make Jesus known across the state, just as Paul did in Athens.

Rummage concluded with a prayer, inviting Florida Baptists to trust in God’s guidance and respond to the call to “make Jesus known” in every corner of their communities, wherever He may lead them.

JACKSONVILLE–In its August 2024 meeting, the Florida Baptist State Board of Missions welcomed Stephen Rummage, who assumed the role of executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention on Aug. 17 following the retirement of Tommy Green who had served in that role since June 2015.

Exemplifying the Right Beside You focus of the Florida Baptist Convention, Green and Rummage sat side-by-side throughout the meeting as both men said that they are committed to ensuring a seamless leadership transition. The two leaders have known each other well for years as Rummage pastored Bell Shoals Church in Brandon from 2009 to 2019 and Green pastored First Baptist Church of Brandon from 1996 to 2015.

Rummage said that he asked Green to work alongside him for his first State Board meeting, adding that Green “has been incredibly gracious, generous, helpful and Christlike in every way you can imagine. I thank God for him. It is a great honor to follow him in leadership. I am so excited about the days to come as we pursue God’s mission for the Florida Baptist Convention.”

Green, who will be moving to Tennessee as he retires, expressed optimism for the future of the Florida Baptist Convention, saying that its “greatest days are ahead” and that he fully supports Rummage.

The State Board participated in a retirement celebration for Green and his wife, Karen, on Aug. 29, with numerous individuals expressing love and admiration for the couple. Several Florida Baptist leaders noted Green’s integrity, encouragement and godly leadership as hallmarks of his legacy, with many stating that Green “made us better.”

Mike Orr, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, said to Green, “You have been useful to the Master.”

Aaron Burgner, State Board president, thanked Green for his “faithful steadfastness” and bestowed on Green the title of executive director-treasurer emeritus. Rummage closed the celebration with attendees gathering around the couple as he led in prayer.

Looking toward the future of Florida Baptists as Green retires, Orr, who served as an ex officio member of the search team for the new executive director-treasurer, stated that he believed that God called and equipped Rummage to take the Florida Baptist helm.

In his first report to the State Board, Rummage quoted professional basketball player Kobe Bryant who stated once that he was a great player because he “never gets bored with the basics.” He urged attendees to do likewise—”never get bored with the basics.” Focusing on Matthew 28:19-20, the Great Commission, Rummage mentioned three words that will characterize his focus as he begins his Florida Baptist ministry role: continue, strengthen and learn. Proverbs 20:12 has become a vital Scripture to him as he becomes more acquainted with Florida Baptists, he said.

“If you really love the basics, they never get boring,” he said. “Seeing lives changed … people get saved … people being discipled … never gets old.”

His intention for Florida Baptists, he said, is “to stay on mission and to continue pursuing what God has called us to do.”

2024 Florida Baptist annual meeting

Orr shared that the theme for Florida Baptists’ Nov. 10-12, 2024, annual meeting to be held at First Orlando is A Holy People: Shining His Light in a World of Darkness.

“The world needs to see holy people,” he said.

Focusing on 1 Peter 1:15, Orr said the key to holiness is “where you set your hope.” The result of setting hope on Jesus is a holy life, he said.

Orr encouraged State Board members to pray for, attend, and invite others to attend the upcoming annual meeting. He further urged attendees to seek a revival of holiness among God’s people who will take the hope of the gospel to others.

“We need to get back to putting Christ first. We need to be set on Him, pursuing Him,” he said.

His desire is for the annual meeting to be a “revival time.”

Rummage shared that Florida Baptists will focus on Challenge 2025 successes during the annual meeting.

Cooperative Program budget and other financial matters

In its August meeting, the State Board of Missions, on the recommendation of its Finance Committee chaired by Darren Gaddis, approved a proposed 2025 Cooperative Program Basic Budget of $29.5 million, unchanged from the 2023 and 2024 budgets, that continues to designate 51% of all receipts from Florida Baptist churches to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program, while retaining 49% for ministries in the state. Of the 49% of monies that remain in Florida, close to $2.4 million is earmarked for three of Florida Baptists’ cooperating ministries, The Baptist University of Florida, One More Child and Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

The State Board of Missions approved a recommendation from the Finance Committee regarding the disbursement of proceeds from the recent $2 million+ sale of property previously owned by the convention in Miami-Dade County. Monies will be distributed to various Florida Baptist mission objectives, including $250,000 each to The Baptist University of Florida and church planting in the state.

Also approved by the State Board was a recommendation, set forth jointly by Green and Rummage, that the Administrative Committee conduct a “comprehensive analysis” of the convention’s allocation strategy related to the Cooperative Program. The current allocation strategy was adopted in 2015, and it is time for “fresh eyes” to study the allocation, Green said. The Administrative Committee will report its findings at the April 2025 State Board meeting. Regarding this analysis, Rummage stated, “This is not a conversation we are creating; this is a conversation that is already happening,” and the final report “will reflect the desires of our Florida Baptist churches.”

The State Board approved a resolution presented by the Denominational Committee chaired by Scott Wilson to join other state conventions in commemorating the 2025 centennial anniversary of the Cooperative Program. Since the inception of the Cooperative Program, the Florida Baptist Convention has contributed more than $1.3 billion through this Southern Baptist Convention cooperative funding strategy.

Resolutions on November ballot initiatives

The State Board of Missions, acting on behalf of the Florida Baptist State Convention, approved two resolutions related to Amendments 3 and 4 which will be on the upcoming November ballot in Florida. Because the two amendments will appear on the ballot before the next annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention, the State Board acted in an ad interim role to be “on record” speaking against the two amendments.

Regarding Amendment 3, the State Board unanimously approved A Resolution of the Florida Baptist State Convention Against Legalizing Adult Recreational Marijuana. The resolution calls on “Florida Baptist pastors to implore their congregations to mobilize and make their voices heard by voting against Amendment 3,” titled “Adult Personal Use of Marijuana.”

Regarding Amendment 4, the State unanimously approved A Resolution of the Florida Baptist State Convention to Protect Human Life in the State of Florida. The resolution calls on “Florida Baptist pastors to implore their congregations to mobilize and make their voices heard by voting against Amendment 4,” titled “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion.” The Florida Baptist Convention has been working in partnership with One More Child to produce resources in English and Spanish for churches to use in educating church members on the essential reasons for voting against the amendment.

Resolutions of appreciation

The State Board of Missions approved two recommendations for resolutions of appreciation for state convention leaders who are retiring.

The Resolution of Appreciation for Lewis Miller states that Miller has served the Florida Baptist Convention in “multiple roles” since 2003, most recently as West region catalyst, a role he has held since 2015. Miller plans to retire Nov. 30, 2024.

The Resolution of Appreciation for Dr. Tommy Green states that Green has served as executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention since June 8, 2015, and retired from service on Aug. 16, 2024.

Messengers to the 2024 FBSC annual meeting in November will vote on each of the recommendations and resolutions presented by the State Board of Missions.

Other business

The Loans Committee, led by chairman John Marsh, reported that 14 churches have already received loans to purchase land or to make building and property improvements in 2024, bringing the total number of church loans currently being serviced by the convention to more than 170.

During their August meeting, the Board:

–learned that 51 pastors had received pastor financial assistance, totaling $49,026, from the Florida Baptist Convention in the first half of 2024;

­–received information on the number of churches receiving church planting or church revitalization grants;

­–celebrated updates on ministry work of the Florida Baptist Convention’s cooperating ministries: The Baptist University of Florida, which welcomed a record high all-time enrollment of more than 700 for the Fall 2024 semester; Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center, Florida Baptist Financial Services and One More Child.

The next State Board of Missions meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 in Orlando.

The senior pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City since 2019, Rummage was tapped by the Florida Baptist State Board of Missions during its July 18 meeting at the Baptist Building in Jacksonville. He will assume his new role effective Aug. 17.

Search committee chairperson Jeff Robinson, lead pastor, Grace Fellowship: A Church for All Nations, described a search process that was marked by unity and God’s leadership.

Mike Orr, president, Florida Baptist State Convention and senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Chipley, who served as an ex officio member of the search team, agreed. Orr said, “The Spirit of God led us to Stephen Rummage with such incredible unity. It was a supernatural work. God’s hand was in the process.”

Several search committee members shared their personal perspectives with the entire State Board of Missions in calling Rummage to serve Florida Baptists. Search committee member Nicki Glenn, pastor’s wife, Stetson Baptist Church, DeLand, said that Rummage’s “deep faith, visionary leadership, commitment to unity and financial acumen make him the perfect choice” to serve as Florida Baptists’ next executive director-treasurer.

Rummage, 55, is no stranger to Florida Baptists, serving as senior pastor of Bell Shoals Church in Brandon from 2009 to 2019.  Under his leadership, the church started four new campuses in addition to the original campus and baptized 444 people in 2017.

During his season of ministry in the Florida Baptist State Convention, Rummage served as state convention president from 2016 to 2018. In 2012, he was president of the Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference, and from 2012 to 2014, he was chair of Florida Baptists’ Committee on Order of Business.

Beyond serving in Florida, Rummage served as co-pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 2004 to 2009, and he served as pastor or interim pastor at other churches in North Carolina and Louisiana.

Rummage also has served actively in denominational life. In 2024 he was president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. From 2016 to 2018, he served as chair of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, where he served as a member for two terms (2006-2009, 2013-2019). Additionally, since 1996, Rummage has been a professor of preaching at various Southern Baptist seminaries.

Rummage’s daily teaching broadcast, “Moving Forward,” airs on more than 500 radio stations nationwide. He has authored seven books and preached in 15 countries.

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Preaching from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from University of North Carolina in Greensboro.

He and his wife, Michele, have been married and in ministry together since 1991. They have one son, Joshua, a pharmacist who lives in Brandon with his wife, Morgan.

In remarks to the State Board of Missions, Rummage said that he “is overwhelmed by this opportunity and responsibility” but that he feels “absolutely called to this assignment and I know God has led us to where we are today” to serve Florida Baptists as executive director-treasurer. “God’s sufficiency is all I need” in this transition, he said.

Rummage highlighted three words as he accepts the leadership role for Florida Baptists: continue, strengthen and learn.

He does not have a vision, he said, to “change the direction” of the state convention, but rather “to push the throttle forward.” Next, he said, “There is always more we can do for God’s glory.” Finally, he said, “I want to see and hear and learn and know Florida Baptists.”

As the 11th executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention, Rummage succeeds Tommy Green, who announced his retirement in April 2024 after serving in that role since June 2015.

“I am excited about the future of the Florida Baptist Convention under the leadership of Stephen Rummage. I have great respect and deep appreciation for the proven ministry of Stephen. He will continue to lead the amazing churches of Florida to be on mission of reaching Florida and beyond for Christ,” Green said.

The unanimous recommendation was brought by a nine-person search committee appointed at the time of Green’s retirement announcement.

In addition to Robinson, Orr and Glenn, other members of the nine-member search committee were: Vice Chairperson James Ross, lead pastor, Church on Bayshore, Niceville; Lisa Letson, layperson, pastor’s wife, First Baptist Church, Arcadia; John Marsh, lead pastor, Bella Vista Baptist Church, Edgewater; Alberto Ocana, senior pastor, Iglesia Bautista Northside, Hialeah; Adrian Taylor, lead pastor, Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, Gainesville; and Scott Wilson, lead pastor, First Baptist Church, Melbourne.