The 2018 Florida Baptist State Convention experienced a powerful moving of the Presence of the Lord. I sensed from the moment the Pastors Conference began on Sunday evening under the leadership of Pastor Erik Cummings that God was doing a special work in our midst. The momentum of the Pastors Conference flowed into the Florida Baptist Convention Meeting under the leadership of Pastor Stephen Rummage. The gathering of our Convention reflected the multicultural, multiethnic, and multilingual family that reflects our Florida Baptist churches.

I am grateful for our State Board of Missions under the leadership of Pastor Mike Orr for the clear and concise manner that our business was presented and handled. I am appreciative of the outstanding work of the Committee on Nominations led by Pastor Ronny Raines as they presented our nominees for approval to serve Florida Baptists. The Committee on Order of Business led by Pastor Hal Kitchings working in concert with Dr. Rummage crafted under the leadership of the Holy Spirit a very dynamic program for those in attendance. I am very appreciative of Wayside Baptist Church and Pastor David Moore for hosting the Florida Baptist Convention.

I am thankful for all who participated through serving, volunteering, and being present for this amazing meeting. The addition of the break out sessions allowed for practical learning opportunities on a variety of Kingdom related matters. The worship and messages that we experienced were anointed of the Lord. We are a family and this Convention reflected who we are as Florida Baptists.

The consistent testimony concerning the 2018 Convention was in excitement to be part of this family, informed about our work together, encouraged to press on in Christ, and connected to a family across Florida. Thank you for praying and participating in our Florida Baptist Convention Family!!

There was a seasoned pastor from Arkansas that spoke at the Convention and by appearances I thought I would be completely disengaged. My presuppositions were falsely assumed and this older pastor, Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church, was probably my favorite communicator of God’s Word at the Convention. He spoke the Word with conviction and faithfulness to the text. As an aspiring lead pastor, he rebuked me and corrected future and current church leaders to not forget the commandment that Christ has commissioned us to give our lives to proclaim the Gospel. Sadly, we as the church often forget this simple truth and I am thankful that this pastor reminded me and countless others of this truth.

There are always areas of improvement for any church event, because we are a people being redeemed, but I will say that the Florida Baptist State Convention is seeking Jesus and attempting to be faithful to His Word and those changes are evident and relevant, because the Gospel was at the forefront of this gathering. If we continually remind ourselves of this reality the Florida Baptist Convention will continue to radically share the good news that will shape the future generations until Christ returns.

By Cameron Boothe, Fruit Cove Baptist Church, November 20, 2018 | Cam Boothe is a member of Fruit Cove Baptist Church and serves on staff as an intern for the middle school ministry.

Stephen Rummage, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon and outgoing State Convention President, closed the first session of the meeting by sharing strategies for increasing faithfulness in your life. One such indication of faithfulness, Rummage said, is sacrificial giving. Rummage pointed to our Disaster Relief volunteers as people who have sacrificially given of themselves in the wake of Hurricane Michael. Rummage then honored those who had traveled from the panhandle to attend the meeting and they were given a round of applause.

Tommy Green, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, expanded on the ‘Faithfulness’ theme by identifying what faithful ministry is and what it is not.

“Faithful ministry is not building your name, staking your claim, seeking fame or playing a game,” Green told the crowd. “It is through [Jesus] and for Him that we lay down our lives for the glory of Jesus Christ.”

Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, said part of our faithfulness is being faithful to reach the lost.

“People believe that religious people will push them out and push them down but Jesus pushed back on that narrative,” Scroggins said. “He draws them in and lifts them up.”

Messengers approved a $30 million budget, the same amount budgeted for the current year. In keeping with Florida Baptists’ desire to give away more than we keep, 51%, or $15,300,000, will go to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention and 49%, or 14,700,000, will stay within Florida for Florida Baptist ministries. Mike Orr, pastor of First Baptist Church in Chipley and president of the Florida Baptist State Board of Missions, said the generous giving of Florida Baptists is a sign of the maturity of our churches and our commitment to the Gospel.

“There are people who will hear the Gospel for the first time because people like you gave generously,” he said.

Green also announced that 100% of all budget overages would immediately be forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program.

Erik Cummings, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Carol City and this year’s president of the Pastor’s Conference, was unanimously elected as 2019 State Convention President. During his nomination speech, Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, noted how Cummings has served his church and Florida Baptists well for many years and now is the perfect time for him to lead our State Convention.

“Our fellowship is a diverse one and Erik is a voice calling leaders to unite in the Gospel movement of the Florida Baptist Convention,” Rice said. “A nation that is coming apart needs to see a church that is coming together. This is our Convention and this is the right leader to serve as president.”

Rice’s remarks were met with thunderous applause and immediately following the vote Cummings received a standing ovation.

Mike Wiggins, pastor of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton, ran unopposed and was elected first vice president. Ralph Alderman, Jr., a lay leader from Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church was elected to his second term as second vice president and Randy Huckabee, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dade City, was elected recording secretary, a role he has held for the last 12 years.

Among notable business, a recommendation was made to make changes to the language of three Convention bylaws in order to make it easier for all churches to cooperate with the Florida Baptist Convention.

“The proposed bylaw change responds to decisions being made by our Florida Baptist churches,” Green recently said. “The desire of the Florida Baptist Convention in this proposed change is to continue to provide a pathway for cooperation and participation for all Florida Baptist churches.”

A recommendation was also made to adopt the title ‘Associational Mission Strategist,” which will replace the former associational leader title ‘Director of Missions’ in keeping with the change already adopted at the national level.

Throughout the meeting, various groups and ministries gathered for encouragement and refreshment, including Hispanic, Haitian and Black and Multicultural church leaders. Florida Baptist pastors held breakout sessions during each meal break so pastors could learn from each other in areas such as church planting and revitalization, church multiplication, evangelism and baptism. A panel discussion was held, introducing people to Write Beside You, a new public school initiative that would see every Florida Baptist church partnered with a public school in its community. Ministers’ wives gathered for a luncheon and the Clyde M. Maguire Award for Ministers’ Wives was awarded to Gail Heuer, wife of Pat Heuer, pastor of Flagler West Community Church in Bunnell.

The 2019 meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention will be held Nov. 11-12 in Orlando.

By Nicole Kalil, Florida Baptist Convention, November 14, 2018

Green recognized and thanked the 2018 FBSC officers. He also welcomed the 2019 officers to the stage so messengers and visitors might meet the new group to which Cummings and Wiggins were elected earlier in the day.

Rummage shared that registration of messengers and visitors stood just over 1200.

The first biblical message of the session was preached by Chip Luter out of Mathew 16:13. Luter, campus pastor of Idlewild at the Springs in Tampa, listed five characteristics of the church.

1. The church has an anchor in Christ. “He built his house on the rock and he is the rock.”
2. The church is an assembly. “We are better together than we are separate…don’t let petty things separate the assembly.”
3. The church has assurance. “Even the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
4. The church has access. “People who are far from the Kingdom can come close to the Kingdom because of the church.”
5. The church has authority. “Jesus grants the church authority, the collective and the individual. The same authority He granted his disciples when He sent them out.”

Green pulled five church planters up to the stage for a Right Beside You presentation about the One Family Beach Baptisms that took place earlier this year.

• Chris Hudson, pastor of Miami Shores Baptist Church, said that participating in the One Family event was a beautiful fulfillment of God’s people coming together.
• Alberto Ocaña, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Northside, said that he saw the commitment to sharing the Gospel come alive.
• For Noel Lozano, pastor of Turning Point Baptist, the One Family event brought the churches closer together like the first church in the Bible.
• From Renewing Life Baptist Church, pastor Sherard Burns said that through One Family he saw the church put Christ above culture.
• Finally, Jerome Symonette, pastor of Restoring Grace Baptist Church, found that One Family made him more sensitive to other cultures.

Jay Strack, president and founder of Student Life University in Orlando, closed out the 2018 Florida Baptist State Convention with a message that echoed the Convention theme ‘Faithful.’

Strack started by saying he owed a great debt of gratitude to Florida Baptists because it was in the state of Florida that he was called to the ministry and was licensed and ordained for ministry.

Strack said he has been overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness to him over the years. Coming out of a background of alcohol and drug use, abuse and abandonment, Strack said he was 17 years old the first time he learned of God’s love and faithfulness to him.

“At first thought the message of Jesus was too good to be true and then I thought it was too good to keep to myself,” he said.

Strack described himself as someone who had never finished anything he started before he met Jesus. He was afraid that he would not be able to be faithful enough to God to keep his sobriety and not mess up the wonderful things God had brought into his life after he was saved.

“God is so faithful he can break any curse – he changed me and then I had the privilege of leading my father to the Lord,” he said.

“So many come to Florida looking for hope and a new life but the truth of the goodness of Jesus Christ is the only thing that will give it to them.”

Strack ended by encouraging pastors to be faithful to fulfill their ministries and do the work of an evangelist.

Matthews, president of Alpha International Ministries in Greensboro, N.C., read out of Acts 4:31 and preached about the exclusivity of the Gospel and the sovereignty of God.

He shared a story about living in northern India with his parents at a time when the government persecuted Christians. Exclusively preaching Christ as the way to heaven was what caused authorities to jail and beat pastors, he said. But like the disciples in Acts 4, the church prayed a corporate prayer and trusted in the sovereignty of God.

“They did not ask to be taken out of the situation, they asked for boldness…Through His power invested in us we can overcome anything the world throws at us.”

Going over a brief history of the first church and the church in India, Matthews showed that when the church is persecuted it also grows but it takes men and women willing to rise up in faith in God.

“My sovereign Lord has a hold of our future so let us rise up.”

Right Beside You – Evangelism and Baptism

Tommy Green welcomed pastor David Uth of First Baptist Church Orlando, to the stage to talk about evangelism and baptism. Acts 2:41 Sunday, an idea that Uth shared with Green some time back, is a Sunday in May where churches all across Florida baptize new believers.

“Ten percent of the state’s baptisms occur on Acts 2:41 Sunday,” said Green.

Uth shared three things his church has done that have led to more people being baptized.

1. Make it spectacular.
2. Make it simple. “Don’t let something like clothes be a barrier for people to be baptized.”
3. Make it the most important thing in the church. “This is the most important work of the church.”

Convention Sermon – Jimmy Scroggins

Jimmy Scroggins, pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, closed the third session of the FBSC annual meeting, preaching out of John 8: 2-11. In his sermon titled “It’s not my fault: It’s my responsibility,” Scroggins encouraged the messengers to be like Jesus was before the Pharisees when they wanted to stone the adulteress woman.

“People believe that religious people will push them out and push them down, but Jesus pushed back on that narrative…He draws them in and lifts them up.”

As Jesus’s ambassadors we must do what he would do if he was here. “Their sin is Jesus’ responsibility, but their situation is our responsibility.”

He then introduced Sing Oldham, vice president of convention communications and relations for the SBC Executive Committee, who brought greetings from SBC Executive Committee Interim President D. Augie Boto. He praised Florida Baptist churches for their generous giving and their strong spirit of cooperation to accomplish much for the glory of God.

Cooperating Ministry Reports – Baptist College of Florida

Activity Highlights 2017-2018

• Conducted fourth Elevate music and worship arts camp.
• College continued renovation and expansion of the ninety acre Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center property as an addition to the campus.
• College completed construction of new athletic fields on the Blue Springs campus.
• College conducted its first summer camping schedule on its Blue Springs campus with over 1,500 participants.
• Over 200 decisions for Christ were made by camp participants at the Blue Springs campus.
• College completed construction of a Teacher Education Center on the Graceville campus.

Recognitions Received by the College

• Recognized in seven categories for offering outstanding online learning options – Affordable Colleges Online (2018-2019)
• 2018 Top Online Christian Colleges (13th) and 2018 Most Affordable Online Christian Colleges (23rd) – SR Ed Group
• National Rankings, BA in Psychology (3rd), BA English (3rd), BA History (5th) for the Most Affordable Online Choice – SR Ed Group
• Ranked 14th as one of the College Atlas 2018 Best Christian Colleges
• Recognized as one of the most accessible online bachelor’s programs by Best Counseling Degree
• Sixth year making the Best Value College Rankings
• Ranked one of the best online Associate Degree programs by TheBestSchools.org
• Featured as one of the best BA in Elementary Ed degree programs on TheBestSChools.org choice for 2018
• One of the lowest average student debt figures in the entire country, in addition to one of the lowest private school averages
• One of the Top Private Colleges & Universities in Florida Trend – June 2018
• 2018 Top Online College Rankings (3rd)

Elections

Mike Kahn, Associational Mission Strategist for the Tampa Bay Baptist Association, nominated Ralph Alderman, Jr. for a second term as second vice president. “Ralph has served on the State Board of Missions and been a faithful lay leader for over 17 years at what is now Exciting Central Tampa Baptist Church as a deacon and a bible fellowship director.” There were no other nominations and Alderman was elected.

Bobby Patton, pastor of Life Springs Baptist Church in Tampa, nominated Randy Huckabee for his 13^th term as recording secretary. “Randy has been a faithful lead pastor of First Baptist Church in Dade City, a past moderator of the Pasco Baptist Association. His church is one of the highest givers to Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and gives faithfully to the Cooperative Program.” There were no other nominations and Huckabee was elected.

Cooperating Ministry – Florida Baptist Financial Services

ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS:

• As of August 31, 2018 Florida Baptist Financial Services companies totaled over $202.1 million dollars entrusted under management. The Florida Baptist Foundation managed investments totaling $78.1 million and the Church Growth Investment Fund managed deposits/loans totaling $124.0 million.
• Over the past 15 years; Florida Baptist Foundation has distributed over $24.9 million in distributions of earnings from charitable trust funds to Florida Baptist and Southern Baptist causes during the years 2003-2017. This is another reason that sets us apart.
• As of August 31, 2018, Church Growth Investment Fund had net assets in the fund totaling approximately $124.0 million dollars.
• Church Growth Investment Fund and Florida Baptist Foundation have advanced approximately $195 million in loans to our Florida Baptist Churches.
• Each year we undergo extensive outside audits from Independent Accounting firms. For 2017, each of our companies received excellent “unmodified” opinion audits from the accounting firm of Smoak Davis & Nixon LLP, Certified Public Accountants.
• The Florida Baptist Retirement Center offers services for Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living and Independent Living in Villas, Cottages and apartment style homes. Our skilled nursing center is now certified for both Medicaid and Medicare.

Rummage led a moment of recognition and prayer for the Florida Baptist pastors who passed away in 2018.

“Let us bow our hearts before the Lord as we give thanks for these pastors.”

NATHAN BOLES – AUGUST 20, 2018, HOWARD HARPER BUMPERS – NOVEMBER 4, 2017, MANITE CHARLES – APRIL 6, 2018, VICTOR COOPER – AUGUST 27, 2018, THOMAS DAVIS – AUGUST 4, 2018, JAMES LARRY DEMAKOWSKI – JULY 4, 2018, HOWARD BRYANT DICKEY – MARCH 3, 2018, EARL FOSTER – FEBRUARY 10, 2018, EDDIE HUMES – MARCH 22, 2018, LAWSON JOLLY – FEBRUARY 18, 2018, DAVID S MOORE, JR – AUGUST 11, 2018, GREG PENNA – SEPTEMBER 1, 2018, CHARLES PETERSON – MARCH 27, 2018, EZECHIEL PIERRE – FEBRUARY 11, 2018, RONALD POPE – JANUARY 25, 2018, DAVID RODDY – OCTOBER 10, 2018, OWEN SMITH – DECEMBER 22, 2017, ROGER SMYTHERS – JANUARY 27, 2018, HARRY WATKINS – NOVEMBER 28, 2017, JERRY WEAVER – SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Following the memorial recognition, Jerry Haag, president of the Florida Baptist Children’s Home, shared the ministry report with messengers and visitors.

• During this reporting period, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes and One More Child had the privilege of impacting a total of 218,752 children and individuals in the loving and life-changing name of Christ!
• We are welcoming hope into the lives of children and individuals at 55 ministry sites locally and globally in 13 countries.
• We provided more than 7 million meals to children and individuals in By meeting the tangible need of food for hungry children and their family members, hundreds of thousands heard about Jesus.
• Our volunteers gave a total of 87,568 hours of their time, the equivalent of 3,648 days of providing hope for one more child!
• Last fall, we conducted our sixth annual diaper drive and were able to collect more than 667,000 diapers to help defray childcare costs for our foster parents in Florida as well as the Malnutrition Center in Guatemala.
• We served 1,323 children in foster care through our licensed homes. Also, 179 children were served in residential care along with 90 children in our emergency shelters.
• We impacted 80,803 individuals through advocacy, training and awareness. More than 3,600 of those individuals were impacted through our Sanctity of Human Life program.
• Our Anti-Trafficking program continues to provide outstanding services as more than 10,000 individuals were impacted through advocacy, training and Through this program we provided 1,253 days of care to victims of child sex trafficking in our safe home. In April, we hosted “Traffick Stop 2018” which included a legislative prayer breakfast, trainings, survivor educational panel and press conference on the steps of the Historic Capitol.
• We continue to meet the needs of single mothers and their children through our Single Moms We provided 105 single mothers and their children places to live, spiritual nourishment, mentors and resources to get on paths to self-sufficiency.
• Internationally, we served 123,069 children and individuals through our global ministries. With the help  of 812 participants through 71 mission trips, we served more than 7 million meals and  provided  medical  care for 1,729 patients. Also, thanks to individual and group sponsorships, a total of 252 new children were sponsored, where this past August we celebrated 8,336 child sponsorships.

During the report, two videos also played showcasing how the FBCH came alongside a couple who chose life for their baby and a young man who found a home and love at the Children’s Home.

Right Beside You – Church Multiplication

Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, and Jeremy Westbrook, senior associate pastor at Calvary, hosted a question and answer session on church multiplication, facilitated by North Florida Catalyst Gary Townsend.

Out of a desire to leave a Gospel legacy that would be sure to last, Calvary has begun investing in multiple campuses, church revitalization and church planting.

“If you pour your life into just one church there’s no guarantee it will be going after you’re gone, but if you can plant churches you’re putting seeds in the ground,” Rice said.

Westbrook said for Calvary, church multiplication for Calvary means investing in dying churches in the area, planting churches across the nation and creating international partnerships.

“Multiplication has energized our church,” Westbrook said. “People want to do more than just write checks – they want to go.”

Cooperating Ministry – Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center

Highlights:

• More than 19,000 were in attendance, representing more than 200 various groups
• This summer we hosted more than 20 youth and children’s camps with over 4,000 in attendance. Many decisions were reported including:
  • 434 first time decisions
  • 290 rededications
  • 287 surrendered to full time Christian ministry
• More than 60 volunteers provided more than 11,000 hours of work

Myles Dowdy, missions and ministries lead catalyst, opened the lunch by blessing the food and thanking the pastors for their ministry and their churches.

Rebecca Johnston, daughter of church and community catalyst Marc Johnston, said that the luncheon was an opportunity to “give these pastors that serve in similar ministries an opportunity to be encouraged and inspired and to build partnerships.” Marc could not be present due to a loss in the family.

Eddy Fredryk, pastor of Driftwood Church in Jensen Beach, shared how Driftwood began after he started focusing on God rather than on how he thought church was supposed to be done. “We started by meeting at the beach under a beach umbrella,” he said.

Driftwood, he explained, is 25 percent people who live in the area three to six months out of the year, 25 percent who come for one or two weeks multiple times during the year, another 25 percent are people who wandered in who didn’t know Christ, and the last 25 percent are locals. “Our vision is simple – help each other see life from God’s perspective.”

Shawn Critser pastors Beach Baptist Church in Fort Myers. His area of ministry is also made up heavily of tourists and snowbirds. He shared that when he came to pastor Beach Baptist there were only 7 members. The rest were snowbirds. The church, he said, only held services when the snowbirds were in town. He changed things by getting the church involved in the community as a way to reach locals.

“We met locals and engaged them and we loved on snowbirds to the point where they looked forward to coming back as soon as they were gone,” he said. Beach Baptist has a simple approach to ministry: “meet the need and then tell them the Gospel.”

Steve Loy, pastor of Spruce Creek Baptist Church in Port Orange, also shared that in his context he had to find ways to make the church accessible to the community. It started by lending the building to the community for meetings and meeting needs wherever they could. Now they are well known among locals who see them as a positive and friendly influence.

By Keila Diaz, Florida Baptist Convention, November 13, 2018

After Green’s biblical message the Committee on Nominations, represented by its chair Ronny Raines, presented their recommendations to fill vacancies within various Convention committees. Messengers approved all recommendations. Raines, pastor of Bradfordville First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, also thanked Green for leading the Florida Baptist Convention toward more diversity.

Under Green’s leadership the State Board of Missions has increased by 22 percent in non-Anglo representation. “Thank you Dr. Green for leading us in that direction.”

Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, nominated Mike Wiggins, pastor of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton, to the position of first vice president of the 2019 Florida Baptist State Convention. “His heart is deep in Florida Baptist life… [Cummings] will have a great partner in Mike Wiggins,” he said. Messengers elected him with a loud “aye”.

After that short business session, Green welcomed to the stage four Send South Florida church planters.

• Danny Slavich, pastor of Cross United Church in Lighthouse Point, was sent by First Baptist Church in Pompano after he was compelled by the immense lostness in that area.
• Steven Leen, being sent by The Brook, moved from D.C. because he and his wife “saw and felt God calling us to stay here…the need in South Florida is great.”
• Jose Concepcion has planted 12 churches in the Dominican Republic and is now working to reach Hispanics in West Broward. “It’s all about building relationships.”
• Eric Bancroft, being sent by Providence Road Baptist Church, came back to Miami with his wife to plant a church after living and planting in Indianapolis. “I’m excited to be advancing the Gospel in South Florida.”

Evens Jules preached the session’s second Biblical message. Greeting the messengers and visitors in English, French and Spanish, Jules thanked Green and Rummage for the opportunity to speak to the convention.

Reading out of Mathew 25: 14-18, he preached about remaining faithful in an unfaithful society. “Unfaithfulness is the new normal. In relationships, business, government, school and even in ministry.” In his three-point sermon he explained that God expects our faithfulness, we must express our faithfulness and finally, God will reward those who remain faithful.

Like the master in Mathew 25 called his servants, people he knew, so God calls believers. “The master gave each what he could handle,” he said. In the same way God gives each pastor what he can handle whether that be a 500-member church or 5,000-member church. “No matter the size of the church, God expects faithfulness.”

Faithfulness must be expressed by believers and pastors the same way the first two servants expressed theirs: by investing the talents God has given. “As we wait for our master to come back, we must do something with the talents He has given us.”

God will bless those who remain faithful, he also said. “We don’t do it for the blessing, but our God will bless us anyway.”

He finished encouraging pastors and their churches to be faithful even if they haven’t done anything with their talents thus far. “Even if you haven’t done anything with your talents, the opportunity is still open for you to be faithful.”

Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, and Shaun Pillay, minister of evangelism and discipleship, shared how Olive Baptist has come alongside Warrington Baptist Church, a church that at one time had been one of the strongest churches in Pensacola. They trained and sent a core group for leadership and live worship. Traylor’s sermon is viewed by video on the Warrington campus.

Traylor said timing is important in a revitalization work. “The church that is dying has just got to come to the place that they’re done,” he said. “When they’re finished they will find the right partner.”

Pillay said when the time is right, revitalization can be a wonderful testimony of Gospel unity in your city. “You are responsible to have a Gospel presence in your city – part of that is coming alongside your sister churches to shine the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Biblical Message – Tommy Green

Tommy Green, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, gave a message from Mark 14:3-9 about the hallmarks of faithfulness.

Faithfulness demands

• Exception – “Exception is faithful to a vision – a higher calling and we understand it is worth it to risk it all. The function of ministry doesn’t make sense to the world and the culture. If we’re kingdom people with Kingdom minded and faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must understand ministry demands exception in all our lives.”
• Excellence – “I think we’ve lowered the bar way too far within our churches and our ministries. How many today are worn out today from criticism? There will always be those who criticize our efforts but God has called us to proclaim the Gospel. Those that are criticizing are often those on the sidelines and not in the game.”
• Extravagance – “She broke the flask and poured it on the head of Christ. What she did was wasteful in the eyes of the disciples – she poured the wages of an entire year upon the Lord. Is there anything in your ministry that someone is still going to be talking about 10 years from now? Here we are 2,000 years later talking about the extravagant act of a woman who extravagantly gave to Jesus.”

Then Green shared that our faithfulness as a Convention of Florida Baptist churches means that we will be faithful in ministry. “We pledge that we will release 100% of everything over our stated budget to the Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program.”

The Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra started the evening off with a moving and powerful worship set that brought messengers and visitors to their feet and quickly filled the sanctuary. Veterans from each brank of the military were also honored for their service to our country.

Stephen Rummage, pastor of Bell Shoals Baptist Church and Florida Baptist State Convention president, reported 616 registered messengers and 255 registered visitors.

Alberto Ocaña, pastor of Igleisa Bautista Northside, opened the meeting with a prayer in Spanish and then in English.

Ronny Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas, preached a biblical message out of 2 Timothy 4:1-8 in which he encouraged messengers and visitors to “do the work of an evangelist.”

As pastor, he shared, he has seen his church become a different kind of church many times. That has happened because as they come to rubicons they must cross there are decisions they must make from which they can never turn back. “God gives each church the opportunity to make a decision that should they take a leap of faith, they can make history.”

The decision, he said, should always be to fulfill the Great Commission.

“The Great Commission of Jesus Christ will become the great omission if it is not your greatest obsession,” he said.

He encouraged pastors to exercise self-control in everything, to endure hardship, to do the work of an evangelist and to fulfill their ministry which is to “spread the Gospel.”

“If we can’t rock the water over keeping souls out of hell then what can we rock it for?”

He finished with four calls to action for churches and pastors.

1. Return to what you know you believe. “Jesus is the only way to God and Jesus is coming again.”
2. Prioritize spreading the Gospel.
3. Create a culture of evangelism. “In some churches people will have a hard time being saved because there is no culture of evangelism.”
4. Pray for opportunities to spread the Gospel.

He finished with a question: “What kind of church are you going to be?”

After a worship set from the praise team from Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Florida Baptist State Convention President Stephen Rummage got up to address the crowd. Preaching out of Acts 20, his message was simply titled ‘Faithful’, echoing the annual meeting theme.

Rummage said that reaching our greatest potential in God’s eyes only comes through our faithfulness in life. He then outlined four God-given strategies for faithfulness.

Rummage encouraged messengers to be faithful to serve. In the passage, Paul explains how faithfully he served the church at Ephesus, noting that he was a servant of Jesus and of the Gospel and of the people who needed the Gospel no matter who they were. He never stopped serving, whether in public or in private or in good times or in bad.

“When you make the decision to serve that’s when God is going to use you,” he said. “You will find gold when you begin to serve.”

Next Rummage said to be faithful in giving yourself away. Paul described himself as being constrained by the Spirit – he was not physically bound at this point but knew imprisonment was in his future, yet he was determined to finish his ministry.

“You can’t be faithful to Jesus unless you’ve surrendered to him,” he said. “Jesus is looking for a relinquished life.”

Rummage also encouraged the messengers to be faithful in proclaiming God’s Word. Paul left the church in Ephesus knowing he had proclaimed God’s Word faithfully and to everyone. Like a watchman on the wall of an ancient city, God has placed each of us where we are in our lives to be watchmen and warn the lost around us about the impending destruction coming without the saving knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Finally Rummage said to be faithful in loving sacrificially.

“This world is looking for people who will love them sacrificially,” he said.

Rummage noted how Florida Baptist Disaster Relief has been a living picture of this in the days since Hurricane Michael, as they have gone into the panhandle to clean, feed and minister to those in need. Through the Churches helping Churches initiative, all Florida Baptists have the opportunity to sacrificially love a church in need.

“Sacrificial love for other people flourishes when our lives have been transformed by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Rummage ended by affirming that Jesus was, is and always will be faithful.