Sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention and supported by Miami Baptist Association, the event became more than a banquet—it was a mission moment, calling the church to intercede for seafarers, their families and the global maritime industry.

‘Those who go down to the sea in ships …’

“Those who go down to the sea in ships … they see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep” (Psalm 107:23–24). These words framed the day as speakers reminded participants of the unique opportunity God has given the church to reach seafarers with the hope of Christ.

“God has brought the nations to our doorstep in Miami,” said Julio C. Salas, executive director of ISM Port Miami, one of seven seaport ministries of the Florida Baptist Convention. “Every year, thousands of crew members from over 100 countries dock here. They carry with them the burdens of family separation and spiritual need—but also the potential to carry the gospel back to their homelands.”

Meeting an overlooked mission field

Each year, ISM Port Miami, which partners with Miami Baptist Association, ministers to approximately 30,100 seafarers—27,100 from cruise ships and 3,000 from cargo ships. At the International Port Campus, the ministry welcomes 180–200 crew members daily during high season and 75–100 daily during regular season.

Through hospitality, prayer and the ministry of presence, ISM helps seafarers connect with families back home, receive spiritual and emotional care, and hear the gospel. “Many of these men and women are far from home for months at a time,” Salas said. “They need a place to belong, a place to be reminded of God’s love and truth.”

Partnerships that advance the mission

Royal Caribbean generously hosted this year’s gala aboard Icon of the Seas, underscoring the company’s commitment to the well-being of its crew. “We are deeply grateful for Royal Caribbean’s hospitality and support,” said Salas. “Together, we can encourage seafarers to not only serve passengers with excellence but also to grow in love for God and others.”

The Florida Baptist Convention’s sponsorship of the gala highlighted its commitment to ministries that meet both physical and spiritual needs across the state.

“The International Seafarers Ministry is a powerful reminder that the Great Commission begins right where we are,” said Marc Johnston, director of community ministries for the Florida Baptist Convention. “Through partnerships like this one, our churches and associations are living out the gospel by reaching the nations that God is bringing to our ports. ISM is not just a ministry at the port—it’s a ministry of the local church, serving people who will carry the hope of Christ back to their own countries.”

A call to the churches

As a ministry “of the church, for the church,” ISM invited pastors and congregations across Miami, South Florida and beyond to consider seafarers part of their mission field. “The nations are literally coming to us,” Salas said. “By partnering together, our churches can engage in local international missions—reaching men and women from all over the world right here at Port Miami.”

Be part of the mission

Though the gala was a one-day event, the mission continues. ISM’s chaplaincy, outreach and care for seafarers depend on the prayers, volunteer service and financial support of churches and individuals.

To support this ministry, gifts can be made securely at www.ismportmiami.org/give.

For Caring for Miami’s Mobile Food Market, food is the invitation—but the gospel is the goal.

Caring for Miami is an initiative by Christ Fellowship Church.

“We meet physical needs, but most importantly, we share the hope of Jesus,” said Hannah Ulloa, volunteer and administrative coordinator for Caring for Miami.

“Wherever there’s food, there’s a line. We steward that moment to love people, preserve their dignity, and point them to Christ.”

A bus, a vision, and a bridge

The Mobile Food Market launched in February 2024 after Miami-Dade’s transit system donated a 40-foot Metrobus that Caring for Miami completely retrofitted into a single-aisle market. The ministry grew from Christ Fellowship’s long-running mobile dental outreach; leaders recognized that oral health and nutrition are linked—and that food distribution could become a powerful bridge to spiritual conversations.

Ulloa first served as a dietetics intern while studying nutrition at Florida International University, building the program’s practical backbone:

• Bilingual recipe cards tailored to local cultures (Cuban, Puerto Rican, African American, Asian styles) so families know how to prepare donated produce.
• Risk-behavior and chronic disease guides (smoking, alcohol, eating disorders, diabetes and heart-healthy tips) that connect food choices to whole-person health.

“It was a dream,” Ulloa said. “I was learning community nutrition in class—and practicing it in real time for my neighbors.”

How it works

The market runs three days a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) across 12 recurring sites monthly, including food deserts–communities where residents have limited access to affordable, healthy food–identified by mapping, backpack-program schools, senior adult centers, clinics, and Christ Fellowship campuses. Partners such as Trader Joe’s, Mac Edwards Produce, and J&C Tropicals supply donated food that volunteers sort for quality.

All guests get a personal shopper—a volunteer who walks with them, answers questions, and prays if requested. Guests choose what they take (no prepacked boxes), check out at a bagging table, and receive help to their cars. The average stop serves about 70 families, often with four or more people per household, with some events topping 150 families.

“Choice matters,” Ulloa said. “Letting people select their own food preserves dignity—and opens hearts.”

Powered by volunteers (and reaching them, too)

Caring for Miami has tracked approximately 1,100 active volunteers in the past year. The Mobile Food Market itself is staffed almost entirely by volunteers under a single full-time coordinator.

And the bridge goes both ways. “Not all our volunteers are believers,” Ulloa noted. “Some find us by searching ‘where to volunteer’—and end up invited to church after serving. God uses service to draw them, too.”

Faces that change

One volunteer, Bridget, puts it simply: “People arrive with heavy faces—and leave smiling.”

Ulloa sees it often: A mom in tears at Homestead Senior High School who said free groceries mean she could finally provide a full meal for her kids that week, or senior adults at WellMed locations who feel seen, prayed for, and cared for, or lines that start for food but linger because someone stopped to listen and pray.

Next step: Spiritual follow-up

Prayer happens at every site, but the team is formalizing a spiritual care team—core volunteers trained to present the gospel clearly and follow up after the event (calls, texts, church invitations, next steps in faith). “We already collect contact info for reporting,” Ulloa said. “Now we’ll use it to continue pastoral care beyond the curb.”

The road ahead

Scaling will take more leaders, more volunteers and, Lord willing, a second bus. “We’re at capacity on some days,” Ulloa admitted. “A second unit would let us serve two communities at once.” Until then, the market will keep rolling—three days a week, rain or shine—turning a practical need into a moment of eternal significance.

“Jesus said when we feed ‘the least of these,’ we do it unto Him,” Ulloa said. “Food gets people to the door. The gospel changes everything once they’re inside.”

If your church is considering hosting the Florida Baptist Convention’s Mobile Dental Unit as a mission outreach, Merrilee White says you should say yes to this opportunity.

This was the first year that First Baptist Church of Tallahassee hosted the clinic, and White said she and the other volunteers who helped coordinate the event are already looking forward to doing it again in 2026.

Approximately 150 appointments were filled, giving people much-needed dental care during the six-day event held in May. That was the largest number of people served at one of the clinics this year, and the largest since the pandemic. This included dental cleanings, fillings and tooth extractions. In addition to the two stations on the Mobile Dental Clinic, the church also set up a hygienist station inside the church to take care of just cleanings.

White said the event was a success in several ways.

“A lot of people got the care they so desperately needed,” she said. “And our church members had a new way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Another benefit was the way our church members become better acquainted with one another as they volunteered together.”

As you consider hosting the clinic at your church, here’s a look at what is involved.

Recruiting dental professionals      

One of the most important parts of this mission was to recruit dentists, hygienists and dental assistants. White said they started doing the recruiting last fall.

“It was slow going at first,” she said. “There were other free dental care events that they were used to participating in. Many had not done a Baptist dental mission before. This was a new thing for our church and for these dentists.”

White and her team recruited 13 dentists and 13 hygienists from 11 different offices. The good news is the dental professionals enjoyed the work and asked to be notified of the next dental mission, she said. “I think recruiting will go easier next year.”

“They did an amazing job of recruiting that many dentists,” said Marc Johnston, who leads community ministries for the Florida Baptist Convention. “That’s just fantastic.”

They also had to recruit all of the church volunteers who worked the event.

“We also had well over 120 volunteers from our church who jumped on board and took on roles they felt marginally prepared for but were willing to step out in faith and give it a shot,” she said.

Getting the word out

In addition to publicizing the event across social media, the church also sent flyers to social service agencies and to local food pantries, which put the flyers inside the bags of food that people received.

“I think that was really one of the major sources of how people found out about what we were doing,” she said.

Screening attendees

Each person who received services at the dental clinic had to be screened to ensure they were eligible financially. Church volunteers took the training from the Florida Department of Health and screened each of the 125 people.

“We helped people answer the questions and made sure they were qualified,” she said. “Out of all the people we screened, we really only had one who was not eligible.”

Once people were screened, they were then given an appointment time. One week before the event, 75% of the appointment slots had been filled. The remainder for the week were filled the first day.

Long days

The schedule ran from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on three days, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the other days. On the long days the shifts would run from 8 a.m. to noon, then break for an hour. Then go from 1 to 5 p.m., break for an hour, and back from 6 to 9 p.m. White noted the night shifts filled up first because more dentists and hygienists could do those time slots.

Food crew                  

Church volunteers also served as the food crew, providing lunches, snacks and beverages each day and an additional dinner meal during the 12-hour shift days. “We had a wonderful food crew. She recruited different people for different meals and offered a mix of purchased food and prepared food.”

Prayer teams

One group of church volunteers served on the spiritual care team. Their role was to initiate conversations with those who were waiting for their appointments and ask if they could pray for them. This included praying for those who were in pain as they waited for their appointment time. These volunteers were also ready to share the gospel with everyone they spoke to.

Training        

If your church is interested in participating in this mission, the Florida Baptist Convention can provide the information and training you need. White and a few other church members attended a training event last spring that helped provide all that is required in hosting this event.

“That’s when I knew we have to try this,” White said. “We have done events in the past where we helped veterans, and there was always such gratitude because pain was being relieved for dental issues that people had for years. They were able to get care for free that they could not have afforded any other way.”

Johnston said dental clinics are a popular ministry, with 32 scheduled at Florida churches this year.  The majority are done as weeklong events, just like First Baptist Tallahassee did. While the 2026 schedule is almost complete, there are still some weeks available.

The compassion aspect of the ministry is what appeals to most churches, Johnston said, especially those who have done any previous compassion work.

“They see the need, and they want to meet it,” he said. “We do have some churches that have used the dental ministry as a springboard to engage their community. It really helps them get started.”

White raved about all the support and encouragement she received, not only from her fellow church volunteers, but from outside the church as well.

“We felt very loved and supported through the whole process,” she said. “The locals who had done this before were so helpful. And the trainers from the Florida Baptist Convention were awesome. They really do their best to prepare you for what we were going to experience.”

She encourages other churches to take advantage of this opportunity.

“This was a great experience for First Baptist Church of Tallahassee. We are just following in the footsteps of churches who have done this for years with huge success and have wonderful stories to tell about it.”

“We pray that all of these chaplains will be serving in churches, hospitals, jails and other agencies,” said Misael Castillo, Florida Baptists’ migrant ministries catalyst.

Some of the graduates also are trained as Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers and are looking forward to sharing the hope of the gospel with individuals in times of crisis.

The dream of training Hispanic Florida Baptists as chaplains began more than 15 years ago when Castillo and Marc Johnston, Florida Baptists’ community ministries catalyst, began to pray about equipping Hispanic chaplains to reach migrant workers throughout the Sunshine State.

The answer to the prayers began when Johnston’s chaplaincy program was translated into Spanish by Angelica and Moises Bermudez, members of Iglesia Bautista Dios es Bueno in Daytona Beach, and then as a syllabus was developed by their father, Pastor Angel Bermudez.

Johnston described the importance of equipping those who are called by God to serve as chaplains. The role of chaplains is multifaceted, he said, as they serve in varying contexts. The training focuses on the many skills needed by chaplains, with perhaps the most important skill being a good listener.

The Florida Baptist Convention’s chaplaincy certification program, in both English and Spanish, is available online at no cost.

The graduation marked the fulfillment of a vision shared by Misael Castillo, migrant ministries catalyst for the FBC, and Marc Johnston, community ministries catalyst.

“Today we witness the result of something that began a long time ago,” said Castillo during the commencement ceremony.

Fifteen years ago, Johnston and Castillo envisioned a force of Hispanic chaplains capable of reaching migrant workers in areas where churches have limited access, while also serving as mediators between police and migrant communities.

This dream began to take shape when Johnston’s chaplaincy program was translated into Spanish by Angelica and Moises Bermudez, members of Iglesia Bautista Dios es Bueno in Daytona Beach. Their father, church pastor Angel Bermudez, created a syllabus which was then taught at various Hispanic churches across Florida in two-day or five-day formats, depending on the church’s needs.

Yoenis Leindens, from Dios es Bueno, is one of the newly graduated chaplains. “This is an achievement for me, and I am looking forward to serving and sharing the gospel in this capacity,” he said. Originally from Venezuela, Leindens and his wife host a life group in their home and serve on their church’s worship team. As a chaplain, he looks forward to bringing the gospel to places like jails, prisons, detention centers, his workplace, and communities affected by disaster.

Some of the graduates also trained as Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers and proudly wore badges identifying them as such. Rich Rigdon, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief operations manager, told graduates, “Being a chaplain changed my life. It is wonderful to be able to share the gospel.”

“The greatest characteristic a chaplain can have is compassion,” Johnston told the new chaplains. “As a chaplain, you will have the opportunity to help restore a person to the Kingdom.”

The Florida Baptist Convention’s chaplaincy certification program is available online at no cost. To apply for the Spanish or English courses, visit https://flbaptist.org/chaplaincy/.

As part of the remodeling of the worship center, the church’s baptistry was also updated to include an accent wall made of pieces from the hundreds of wooden pallets the church received full of food, water, diapers and other supplies they distributed to residents impacted by Hurricane Idalia back in the fall.

“When I look at that wall, what I see is God’s provision,” Matlock said. “Our small group had been studying in John about Jesus feeding the 5,000 and how it multiplied. Through the whole two weeks after the storm, we kept coming back to that and how everything we provided to our community just kept multiplying. Once we got past the need of filling bellies, then we got pallets of cleaning supplies and all the rest. God just kept providing the resources we needed to minister to our community. That’s what we see in the accent wall in the baptistry – God’s provision.”

The church plant in Madison had only started meeting as a small group in June, but when Hurricane Idalia hit in August, Matlock and church members sprang into action to help their community. First, they began providing hot meals, thanks to church member Timmy Dyke, who has experience in feeding large groups of people. As they began doing that, other state agencies contacted Matlock, wanting to partner with the church in providing much needed resources.

“I knew we had to do something and make ourselves available. We couldn’t wait for people to come to us; we needed to be proactive,” Matlock said. “We could do what we knew how to do and see where God takes it.”

The Florida Department of Children and Families contacted the church and provided volunteers and supplies. They also brought along other agencies including Hope Florida, the state Department of Economic Opportunity and the Department of Motor Vehicles, which provided replacement drivers licenses and state identification cards for those who lost them in the storm.

No one really welcomes a storm like Idalia, but the storm helped the church to become known by the community as it loved on and provided for its residents.

“Our church needs to be in the community,” he said. “God planted us in this neighborhood and in this community for a reason.”

Celebration Baptist Church in Tallahassee is the sponsoring church for this church plant. Matlock said Celebration Baptist has provided an abundance of resources and volunteers to the church plant, including all the supplies and labor for painting the church both inside and outside.

Matlock said he and his wife, Christian, were inspired in naming the church The Bridge by Colossians 3:11 – “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”

“We love that passage. One of the things God was showing us is that we serve a very diverse community,” he said. “We’ve got to bridge the different ethnic, economic and cultural aspects of the community and make this church for everyone.”

Its core group of members began holding Sunday morning services in October and looked forward to the opening celebration service on Jan. 7.  Members have already done several prayer walks in the neighborhood, but they have more things planned in January.

A team from Northwest Baptist in Arkansas, where Matlock received training, arrived in early January to help with the launch, including a prayer walk, a laundromat ministry, coffee shop and restaurant conversations, street evangelism and a block party on the downtown square.

“We are very excited about what God is going to do in and through us,” Matlock said. “His hand has been all over everything from the very beginning, from us hearing about this opportunity to us moving here and the way the community has embraced us and welcomed us. God is going to do some amazing things, and He never disappoints.”

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

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

By David Moore, Oct. 13. 

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

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

By Keila Diaz, June 2.

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

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

By Jessica Pigg, Aug. 9. 

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

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

By Jessica Pigg, May 18.

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

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

By Margaret Colson, Oct. 2.

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

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

By Brooke Mannion, March 8.

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

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

By Margaret Colson, Oct. 30.

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

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

By Jessica Pigg, Sept. 5.

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

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

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

By Jessica Pigg, June 28.

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

10. Calvary Church Reaches Deaf Community for Christ

By Jessica Pigg, July 18.

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

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

By Brooke Mannion, Oct. 15.

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

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

By David Moore, July 16.

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

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

By David Moore, July 6.

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

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

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

By David Moore, May 11.

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

15. Diverse Populations Unified in Christ at Crestview Baptist Church

By Teodosia Rivera, Oct. 10.

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

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

By Margaret Colson and Keila Diaz, March 3.

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

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

By Margaret Colson, April 26.

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

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

By Margaret Colson, March 24.

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

19. Cooking up a Community that Glorifies God

By Brooke Mannion, June 1.

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

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

By Brooke Mannion, Sept. 21.

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

It’s just the kind of story Pastor Chinh Nguyen hoped for as he and other church volunteers shared the gospel with Vietnamese residents who received dental care over the course of the four-day clinic held at the church in Jacksonville.

“After he became a believer, he told me ‘I am quitting Buddhism, and I have become a Christian’,” said Nguyen. “It brought tears to my eyes that day. I am so happy for him and for the kingdom of God.”

This man was one of four who accepted Christ during the mission. One of the other three lives more than an hour away in Daytona, and the other two work on Sundays, making it difficult to attend church services. Still, Nguyen is hopeful that he will eventually get to baptize the others and help them grow in their faith.

These four were part of the 75 people who received care from the Florida Baptist Mobile Dental Ministry, ranging from fillings, tooth extractions and cleanings. The dental mission included seven local dentists, six dental assistants, four dental hygienists, all volunteering their time, and about 22 other volunteers. Anna Guy is one of the volunteers who helped coordinate the dental mission. As a member of Lake Shore Baptist Church in Jacksonville, she has about 12 years of experience coordinating these clinics. When Marc Johnston, community ministries catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention, contacted her about helping this new church, she was happy to say yes.

The host church is responsible for finding and enlisting dentists and assistants, she said. “Since this is the church’s first time doing this, I thought it would be helpful to take care of scheduling the dentists for them.”

Guy and other volunteers also took care of registering attendees over the phone, after they had pre-registered online. Since this ministry is for the underprivileged, participants can’t have dental insurance, and their income must be below a certain level.

Every person attending received a personal care kit and gift from the church. All the Vietnamese attendees also received a Vietnamese Bible.

“I can’t say enough about the dental services that the Florida Baptist Convention provides,” Guy said. “This is a real passion for me. The people are always so appreciative. That’s why it’s such a wonderful ministry. It’s so rewarding and fulfilling to be able to help and minister to these people. It’s the icing on the cake when people accept the Lord.”

While 75 people attended the clinic – the maximum that can be accommodated, Nguyen said only about half were Vietnamese. There was a long waiting list, but few cancellations. He’d like to host the dental mission again, but he’d like to be a little more strategic about attracting the target audience of

Vietnamese residents who are unbelievers. One idea he has is to set up a table at the local Vietnamese market and pre-register attendees. This method would also benefit older residents who are not computer savvy enough to register online.

The mobile dental mission is a great service to provide to the Vietnamese community, he said. While most Vietnamese people care about their health and buy medical insurance, many can’t afford dental insurance.

“This is such a good mission,” Nguyen said. “It’s amazing what God has done through this mobile dental service.” This Vietnamese-language church plant began meeting in October 2022 and currently has about 55 regular members and attendees. As the church prepared to celebrate the end of its first year, they liked the idea of doing the dental mission clinic.

With approximately 12,000 Vietnamese residents in Jacksonville, Nguyen said there is definitely a need for Vietnamese-language churches like this one. He said there are only three in the city that he is aware of, including his own, but there is room for more. Before answering God’s call to come to Jacksonville to start the church, he lived in Denver where there were eight Vietnamese churches.

“I believe there are good number of unreached Vietnamese people here in Jacksonville,” he said. “That is one of the reasons we moved here and started the church.”

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

Many church leaders begin preparing for Vacation Bible School months in advance. Starting in January, leaders at Trinity Baptist Church in Marianna began praying for 10 children to trust Jesus as their Savior during VBS week in June. After an extended gospel presentation during opening rally, 16 children prayed to receive Christ, including Pastor Danny Mann’s twins.

“It was an awesome, overwhelming response to the gospel,” said Mann. “Since mid-July, we have baptized 12 of these children, and I had the joy of baptizing my own children into the family of faith.”

Following VBS, the church added several new members, including a father, son and daughter who were all baptized together, with the entire family now plugged in and serving. “We set out to follow Psalm 78:1-8, passing on the same gospel to the next generation, being persistent in prayer and giving God all the praise,” said Mann.

Generosity

Lovedale Baptist Church in Bascom raised more than $1,000 during VBS for nearby Anchorage Children’s Home, a nonprofit organization that aims to help at-risk teens and children from hard places.

“Each year we have a contest to see if the boys or the girls can raise the most money, and our incentive this year was to pie the pastor in the face on family night,” said Thomas Anderson, pastor of Lovedale Baptist Church. To sweeten the deal, Pastor Anderson’s wife joined the fun and offered to be pied if the children raised $750 by the end of the week. The children rose to the challenge and raised $1,044.

Chipola Family Ministries received more than 400 food items from Eastside Baptist Church in Marianna during VBS week. About 50 workers and nearly 100 children participated in VBS, where they learned about Jesus, had a messy time of “organized mass chaos” and contributed to an associational ministry that provides food and clothing to families in need.

“Chipola Family Ministries feeds 35,000 people every year,” said Michael Hilliard, director. “It takes a community of helping hands to do what God has called us to do in Jackson County and surrounding areas. We appreciate the little ones at Eastside Baptist and the other businesses, banks and individuals who so generously give.”

Ministry milestone

The summer was cause for celebration within the association as Coba Beasley marked 20 years as Chipola Baptist Association missions strategist.

“Coba has faithfully served our association and helped build up Chipola Family Ministries which reaches thousands of people each year,” said Mann. He has been a mainstay in disaster relief, and his heart for service is a powerful witness in the Panhandle for our Savior.”

Anderson echoed the sentiments, stating, “I can always count on Coba to help with a listening ear, encouragement or any church needs. To spend 20 years in a single ministry is a big accomplishment, and only the records of heaven will truly show how many have been touched by his ministry.”

OAKLAND PARK–In the heart of Oakland Park, a small yet vibrant church is making a big impact on its community. New Visions Community Church, led by pastor Joel Joseph, has become a beacon of hope and unity for many, with a story that embodies perseverance, faith and the power of a higher calling.

Joseph, the seventh child of a devout Christian family, was instilled with the belief that “God is never late.” This fundamental belief guided him throughout his life, from his humble beginnings to becoming a licensed electrician when he arrived in the United States in 1986. His journey took a transformative turn when he became involved with a local Baptist church shortly after arriving in the United States.

From the moment he stepped into the church, Joseph said he poured his heart and soul into serving. He started as a Sunday school teacher, gradually moving through various roles, from bus driver to Sunday school superintendent. Within the walls of this church, he met his wife, and together they raised four daughters while actively participating in the congregation.

As time went on, Joseph’s dedication led him to become the youth pastor and oversee the construction of the very church building where he ministered. “Nothing will stand in the way of me serving the Lord to my full capacity,” he often remarked, a sentiment that would soon be put to the test.

When a couple, previously connected to the church, reached out to him to lead the viewing of their late husband, Joseph faced a difficult decision. Despite being warned by his pastor that doing so could lead to his expulsion, he chose compassion and attended the viewing. This decision led to a confrontation, culminating in a heart-wrenching departure from the church he had faithfully served for years.

Despite the pain of this separation, Joseph’s unwavering faith remained his guiding light. Seeking a new direction, he reached out to the North American Mission Board, which led to an unexpected opportunity. In a matter of months, Joseph became a church planter endorsed by NAMB, embarking on a new chapter of his spiritual journey.

“God’s will became clear to me in a way I couldn’t have anticipated,” Joseph reflected. This newfound clarity led him to plant New Visions Community Church in August 2020. The church quickly gathered a diverse congregation of 95 individuals, ranging from first- to second- generation Haitians, aged 4 to 85.

New Visions Community Church not only holds regular services but also serves as a haven for the community’s most vulnerable. Recognizing the pressing need for food security, safe shelter, and transportation, the church initiated a feeding operation, distributing meals and groceries to those in need. With Publix graciously donating food and resources, the church has seen its community impact continue to grow.

However, challenges persist. Pastor Joseph humbly asks for prayers as he seeks a location to expand the feeding operation, striving to reach even greater heights of service to the community.

As New Visions Community Church continues to thrive, it stands as an example of how far Florida Baptist gifts to the Maguire State Mission Offering can go.

To everyone who thinks the “ministry of giving,” is too hard, Joseph said, “Where you’re at, you cannot do everything. But by reaching out, by giving, by donating, as a team, we can make a difference in the whole world.”