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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Better Together helps families flourish

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

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

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

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

Better Together cuts out government 

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

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

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

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

That prayer was answered in November when Disaster Relief hosted its inaugural Hispanic Chaplain Training School, an initiative leaders see as the start of a new chapter of ministry growth.

Fifty-six men and women completed the one-and-a-half-day training, preparing to serve as spiritual and emotional support in the aftermath of crises and natural disasters. The training sessions were conducted in English by chaplain leaders Dale Simmons, John Long, and David Coggins, director of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief. At the same time, Moises Bermudez provided simultaneous Spanish interpretation through a live-voice translation app, ensuring full participation for Spanish-only-speaking attendees.

Before the event, all Florida Baptist Disaster Relief chaplaincy training materials were translated into Spanish using artificial intelligence and then thoroughly reviewed and corrected by bilingual volunteers. This team effort ensured the content was accurate, clear, and accessible for future Hispanic-led trainings.

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief leaders expressed deep gratitude for God’s provision and for the partnership that made this initial training possible. Coggins highlighted the importance of building a multilingual chaplaincy team, saying, “Disaster does not differentiate between languages, peoples or cultures, so we must have volunteers who are ready to serve everyone no matter the language. Having Hispanic chaplains helps us bridge the gap that sometimes exists between Spanish-speaking communities affected by disaster and the relief available to them.”

Hispanic pastors and ministry leaders played a crucial role in supporting the event, and Disaster Relief leaders are now identifying and training Spanish-speaking instructors to lead future chaplaincy courses.

As Florida Baptists continue responding to crises across the state and beyond, adding trained Hispanic chaplains enhances FBDR’s ability to minister in people’s heart languages, offering hope, prayer, and compassionate presence when it is needed most.

This year’s diverse, multilingual graduating class reflects BUF’s expanding mission to prepare global Christian leaders. Students from South and Central Florida, along with Haitian, Hispanic, and English-speaking communities, gathered with family, friends, and distinguished guests to celebrate academic excellence, spiritual growth, and the advancement of Christian higher education.

“This historic class represents the heart and future of BUF,” said University President, Dr. Clayton Cloer, “Their accomplishments stand as a testimony to our founding vision and our continued commitment to train leaders who serve Christ around the world.”

Commencement ceremonies highlighted the growth of BUF Global initiatives and celebrated first-generation college graduates, ministry leaders, educators, and professionals equipped to serve in multicultural settings.

Baptist University of Florida extends its congratulations to the December Class of 2025 and looks forward to seeing them impact churches, communities, and nations with their calling and preparation.

For more information, visit www.buf.edu

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We want to put on the full armor of God because we are playing an offensive game (in serving the vulnerable), and we want to pursue,” she said. The biblical passage on the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18, “never talks about protection on your back. Forward pursuit, right?”

“Listen, trust, be faithful’

Speaking at the 2025 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference held at First Orlando, Hatch described her personal journey to care for and serve the vulnerable.

“I was blessed to have a mother and father who were God-fearing and raised me in the church,” she said, adding that her parents provided opportunities for her to serve through missions. She recalled one “moment” as she served when she saw words emblazoned on a “big, white concrete wall at the very top.” The paraphrased message was from Isaiah 6:8: “And whom shall I send? And Isaiah said, ‘Here am I, Lord; send me,’” she shared.

“Those words have been seared in my brain and in my heart and, unbeknownst to me, that was a seed that was planted back in my childhood that I believe has woven the path that I’m walking today,” she said.

“And what’s great about that,” she said, “is it’s God’s plan and it’s His design” to call His people to serve.

“It’s my job to listen, to trust and to be faithful to His plan.”

‘Every moment matters’

At Celebration Church in Tallahassee, where Hatch is a member, Pastor David Emmert often challenges the congregation with the words, “Every moment matters.”

Hatch has taken those words to heart, “You don’t know what moment–that interaction with another human being–is going to make all the difference in the world, not only to them but also for future generations. Moments matter.”

To maximize moments to serve the vulnerable, Hatch believes that partnerships are vital.

“Hope Florida works to serve people at the earliest moment possible,” working with churches, not-for-profits and the private sector “to help families get back on their feet,” she said.

“Government cannot nor should not be all things to everyone,” she believes, stating that partnerships with “the church, performing as a body, as the hands and feet of Jesus, serving people every single day” is a key to making a lasting difference throughout Florida, with each partner embracing specific roles and “making sure we do not work in isolation if we want to serve people well.”

Hatch said that “individuals reach out to government many times on one of the worst days of their lives.

“How do we make the most of that moment and be the bridge? How do we as government make sure that we lift up people who need help with people who want to help?”

Since 2019, because of partnerships forged through Hope Florida, statistics indicate significant decreases in children entering foster care, in families relying on public benefits, in criminal justice offenders re-offending and in opioid-related deaths.

The task, now, she said, is to “maximize the moment. We want to put our foot on the gas a little faster. We want to keep going.

“It’s not always easy. We live in an imperfect world.

“Our prayer is that we are ready, as His followers, to try to make that moment matter not just for today but also for future generations.”

For more information on how your church can become a partner in serving the vulnerable, go to hopeflorida.com

ORLANDO– First Orlando, a multisite, multicultural church in Central Florida, has launched a new shared leadership model in which three senior pastors will share church oversight and collaborative governance.

The three senior pastors and their new leadership roles are: David Uth, who has served as First Orlando senior pastor for 20 years, is now senior shepherding pastor; Danny de Armas, who has served First Orlando since 2008, is now senior executive pastor; and Trey Hildebrant, who has served most recently as pastor of ministries at 12Stone Church, a multisite church in greater Atlanta, is now newly elected senior teaching pastor.

In their new roles, Uth will embody prayer, presence and pastoral leadership; de Armas will steward operations, ministries and organizational leadership, and Hildebrant will provide pulpit leadership, biblical instruction and doctrinal clarity.

Uth stated that he believes the shared leadership model “lines up more appropriately with Scripture,” citing numerous New Testament passages (Acts 13:1, 15:28, 20:17; Titus 1:5 and 1 Peter 5:1-2) in which early church leadership was built around a plurality of leaders rather than a single leader. The shared leadership model, he believes, also complements the giftedness of each leader.

He said he first became acquainted with the idea of shared church pastoral leadership as a doctoral student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

During Uth’s tenure at First Orlando, the church has grown from one location and two services to six locations and 13 services.

“It’s not the same church,” he said. All measurable church health numbers at First Orlando, such as baptisms, attendance and giving, are on an upward trend.

Still, he sensed some kind of leadership realignment was needed, and he wanted to move forward with care and prayer, acknowledging the church’s rich past while preparing the church for a future of continuing to reach individuals with the gospel of Christ.

“This is the Bride of Christ,” he said. “These are the people I love.” He stated he would not want to do anything that would harm the church in any way. “I was thinking about what’s best for the church. What’s best for us, where we are in this city, but also what’s happening in the country?”

 Uth began to explore the possibility of shared pastoral leadership more than three years ago.

“Danny (de Armas) and I began to dream a little bit,” he said, and they discovered a few churches using a shared pastoral leadership model, which First Orlando is describing as a “table of three.” Many corporations, he added, have also moved to a plurality of top leaders sharing responsibilities.

When Uth presented the shared pastoral leadership team model to the church about a year ago, he told the congregation that God was “moving us in a direction of a model that’s going to bring strength and greater possibilities for this church.”

He expected “some pushback because this is not very common among our Baptist churches, but the room was silent,” with only a few good questions, Uth said. Church members were ready to move forward and seemed pleased that the new leadership model meant that both Uth and de Armas would continue to serve the church they both loved.

Such shared pastoral leadership in a church, he said, provides accountability and stability.

A team was established to begin the search for a new teaching pastor, and Hildebrant became the unanimous decision of the search team.

Hildebrant, a third-generation pastor with rich Southern Baptist roots, joined Uth and de Armas for a short presentation to the church on Sunday, Nov. 9.

As the three sat around a table and spoke, Uth said that the shared leadership model is an answer to his prayer that First Orlando would be the “biggest small church” that anyone would ever come to. His prayer is that those who walk through the doors of First Orlando would find a “family. That’s what we want for the city of Orlando and beyond.”

De Armas added that as word about the leadership transition and Hildebrant’s election as senior teaching pastor has begun circulating, “The excitement about us doing what we believe God is leading us to do is really strong, and we believe this is a beautiful way forward.”

Hildebrant affirmed, “I could say this over and over again, but thank you to both of you because certainly your years of leadership and care and discipleship and shepherding have helped get First Orlando where it is today, and I feel unbelievably honored to step in and be a part of that and to lead alongside both of you. It isn’t what ‘was,’ it’s what we continue to do together.”

He added, “I love to preach the gospel. I want all of Orlando to hear the gospel.”

Uth continued that, as he walked into his office on Nov. 9, he read Psalm 139:15-16, which states that a person’s days are ordained by the Lord. The Lord knew this day was coming for First Orlando, he said. “This is the day the Lord has made, and we are going to rejoice and be glad in it, and welcome our new senior teaching pastor, Trey Hildebrant,” he said as the congregation applauded.

Minutes later, Hildebrant stepped up to preach his first sermon at First Orlando. He read 1 Thessalonians 2 and shared his core convictions, which he described as promises to the church: “I will preach for God first. I will give this work all I’ve got. I will honor you by how I live, in public and in private. I will care for you.”

He continued, “We are going to preach the gospel of Jesus here so clearly and so compelling that one day we are going to stand before God and thousands and thousands of people will be standing there with us. We will be soul-winners.”

Because Hildebrant is in his mid-thirties, Uth acknowledged that he and de Armas would help mentor the young senior teaching pastor. When Uth first accepted the call to First Orlando 20 years ago, then-senior pastor Jim Henry continued to serve the church for nine months as he helped Uth get settled into his new role. He remains grateful for Henry guiding him during that time of transition.

“We’re going to be able to really help Trey, build him up, resource him and build around him everything he needs to succeed,” Uth said.

As the younger generation is becoming more open to the gospel, Uth is pleased that Hildebrant is a young man who understands the world and culture of young adults and can speak gospel truth in that context.

“I think he’s the perfect one,” Uth said.

For Uth, the change is real as he will not be preaching each Sunday, which has been his role, he said, for the past 49 years. With the transition, he said he is looking forward to becoming “better acquainted with our church” that he has pastored for 20 years. “What an incredible people they are,” he said.

The most common question that Uth says he has received about the new leadership model is: “What happens if the three leaders disagree?” For Uth, “That was never even a question. I’ve done collaborative leadership all my life.”

If someone asks, “Who is the pastor?” Uth answers, “There are three of us, but really the top is the Lord Himself.”

MOLINO–“The field is ready for the harvest,” said Phil Fischer, pastor, Dogwood Park Baptist Church Molino, as he spoke to more than 300 students, parents and community members at the Fields of Faith event held at nearby Northview High School.

The event, sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes, encourages athletes and others to study the Bible, pray, build the church, and use their spheres of influence to encourage one another with the Word of truth.

This year, attendees heard a powerful message from Fischer that tied into the school and community’s agricultural roots of farming and being ready for the harvest.

The youth band from Walnut Hill Baptist Church led worship songs, and several students gave testimonies about the work of Jesus Christ in their lives.

“This event emboldens students to see that it is OK to be visible about their faith,” said Fischer. “They come away energized and ready to live out their faith in front of their friends.”

Six students at the event made professions of faith. Each was connected to a youth pastor at one of the local churches, including Dogwood Park Baptist Church, Walnut Hill Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Bratt, and Highland Baptist Church, for follow up and discipleship.

The event concluded with student-led prayer as attendees stood hand-in-hand circling the football field, a show of unity and solidarity in faith.

“This event was once seen as a youth-only event, but it has become more well-attended throughout the community,” said Ted Bridges, pastor, Walnut Hill Baptist Church. “The spiritual move in the youth across the country is reaching all ages, and in our area, this event helps quicken people to live out their faith boldly among their peers.”

MILTON–Outdoor fun and missions came together at Camp Paquette in Milton as Cora Baptist Church in Jay hosted Children’s Missions Outdoor Adventure. Nearly 70 children participated in the weekend event that included competitions, skill-building activities, and the testimonies of two missionaries who serve with the International Mission Board.

When the missionaries spoke, children were eager to ask questions about serving in the mission field around the world, such as, “What is it like to live far from home in another country and adjust to another culture?” The missionaries shared the importance of developing relationships with locals and prayerfully engaging in gospel conversations that will hopefully lead others to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

“It is vital for children to know that they are important and have a place in God’s kingdom and in sharing the love of Jesus with their friends and neighbors in their own communities and around the world,” said Cindy Bradley, Florida Baptist Convention’s catalyst for women’s missions and ministry/missions education. “God has often used events such as this one to plant missional seeds in children’s hearts that grow into a call to missions as they become teenagers and adults.”

The day of adventure included tug-of-war, a rope traverse course, sack races, archery, hiking and disc golf. For those wanting a little more adventure, Jay First Baptist Church hosted an overnight campout with s’mores, campfire songs and tents under the stars.

“The day of adventure was a shining example of what happens when churches come together,” said Matthew Dobson, pastor, Cora Baptist Church.

Dobson, who also serves as Royal Ambassadors leader for Florida Baptists’ West region, added, “Children were encouraged; leaders were empowered, and missions was brought to life in the hearts of the next generation. To God be the glory for a day filled with joy, unity and a renewed passion for His ministry.”

The event was a success through much prayer and preparation. Volunteers included leaders from Cora Baptist Church, Pensacola Bay Baptist Association and Santa Rosa Baptist Association, Florida Baptist Convention, and Go Outdoors Ministries.

Bradley added, “It is never too early to involve children in learning about and doing missions. Through Children in Action, Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors and Mission Friends organizations, children grow in their understanding of God’s work in the world and learn that God desires for them to be part of His work. When children learn early to have compassion and serve their community with the love of Jesus, they will likely grow into adults with compassion who serve their community with the love of Jesus.”

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.

“The whole concept is to help churches either start or sharpen their sending and leadership pipelines,” said Myles Dowdy, missions and ministries lead catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention. “It’s churches coming beside churches, and that’s what makes it so special.”

“Carrying out the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus is a kingdom assignment designed for the body of Christ to work together,” Dowdy added. “The Florida Senders Network meetings are so encouraging to participate in, as we get to witness churches coming beside churches as they encourage and strengthen each other in their kingdom work.”

Hosted by Calvary Church and led by Paul Colton, pastor of mobilization and sending, the meeting offered practical sessions on identifying, equipping and sending leaders from within the local church. The initiative, launched three years ago by Dowdy and Colton, aligns with the Florida Baptist Convention’s goal to discover, develop and deploy Great Commission leaders.

Sharpening the pipeline

During the two-day gathering, churches shared models of effective leadership and mission development.

The Grove Church in Titusville, represented by Pastor Barry Russell and Executive Pastor Dustin Sams, discussed their process for discovering and developing leaders. From North Carolina, Mercy Hill Church leaders Jonathan Yarboro and Adam Hatton presented on creating systems that sustain a culture of sending.

Calvary’s own Carl Porter spoke on identifying and developing leaders within the local church, emphasizing the importance of helping members recognize their calling through intentional discipleship and everyday gospel engagement.

“We wanted to gather churches that are sending and create an environment where we could collaborate and sharpen each other to get better at sending across the board,” Colton said. “At the end of the event, we want leaders leaving with something tangible to take home and implement right away.”

Churches helping churches

The Florida Senders Network reflects a growing movement of churches helping churches. While the Florida Baptist Convention provides logistical support and resources, local churches drive the initiative.

“This isn’t a program of the Convention—it’s a ministry of the local church,” Dowdy explained. “Our large churches like Calvary want to help smaller ones learn what it means to send well. They’re not getting anything out of it; they’re just equipping others.”

Looking ahead

This fall’s meeting marked the third gathering since the network began, and plans are already underway for additional meetings in 2026. Colton and Dowdy hope to see the effort expand regionally so more churches can participate.

“Our hope is that churches across Florida will take ownership,” Colton said. “When churches lead, it grows stronger and lasts longer.”

Dowdy agreed, noting that the movement is fueled by cooperation and celebration.

“Missions leads to celebration,” he said. “We want churches celebrating what God is doing because every victory is a kingdom victory.”