{"id":69763,"date":"2025-11-17T12:41:49","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T17:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/?p=69763"},"modified":"2025-11-17T16:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T21:04:09","slug":"florida-baptists-start-foundational-call-to-bold-goals-at-2026-crossover-in-greater-orlando","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flbaptist.org\/florida-baptists-start-foundational-call-to-bold-goals-at-2026-crossover-in-greater-orlando\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Baptists start foundational call to bold goals at 2026 Crossover in Greater Orlando"},"content":{"rendered":"

ORLANDO\u2014 Hundreds of Central Florida ministry leaders gathered at First Baptist Orlando in October to explore evangelism strategies and prepare for Crossover 2026<\/a>, a large-scale outreach effort planned for the Greater Orlando area next June.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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JJ Washington, national director of personal evangelism for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), speaks to local leaders during the October training.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe purpose of today’s meeting was to cast a vision for Crossover and to encourage pastors and ministry leaders to go ahead and get involved, whether that’s going to be hosting, if you’re in that target area, or coming in to serve and bring teams to serve alongside those host churches,\u201d said JJ Washington, national director of personal evangelism for the North American Mission Board (NAMB).<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Crossover is an annual effort in which Southern Baptists gather in the annual meeting\u2019s host city a few days early to partner with local churches and blanket the city with the Gospel.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2026 effort will focus on Orlando and the surrounding regions. While Crossover is open to all Southern Baptists, local churches serve as the foundation\u2014volunteering to become host churches that plan and lead ministry events in their communities. Afterward, volunteers from across the nation come alongside them to provide support and resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tim Wilder, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Kissimmee<\/a>, said the initiative aligns perfectly with his congregation\u2019s renewed emphasis on evangelism.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRecently, my first sermon after sabbatical was about God’s not done and we’re going to focus on evangelism,\u201d Wilder said. \u201cWith Crossover coming in June it made perfect sense. I told our church to take that week off before the convention, and we’re going to do a big weeklong mission trip here locally. We’ll be doing a bunch of different things to reach people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Those in attendance at the October training event also received NAMB’s evangelism training kit in English or Spanish.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While NAMB has continued this annual event each summer, leaders emphasis this event is meant to be a catalyst for the local host church.\u00a0 Once the week is over, the prayer is for local Florida Baptist churches to get an encouraging boost.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCrossover would help us to serve the community better, but also, I hope it will excite our members to get involved, to have some more gospel conversation on a daily basis,\u201d said Charles Jones, senior pastor of New Covenant Bible Fellowship<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington said churches that serve as hosts will receive valuable support and opportunities to expand their reach.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a host church you are going to get help from more manpower to kind of do more in your community than you probably couldn\u2019t do if it was just your church,\u201d Washington said. \u201cI would say definitely take advantage of that, and then obviously the opportunity for the Gospel. That’s what we are here to do. That’s what it’s all about.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The strategy is in place, but the greatest need at this point is for pastors to pray about becoming host churches. The geographic area for host churches includes congregations in the Greater Orlando Baptist Association<\/a>, Ridge Baptist Association<\/a>, Lake County Baptist Association<\/a>, Brevard Baptist Association<\/a> and East Central Baptist Network<\/a>. Churches within these associations are encouraged to participate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think if a church is located in the open area, where you can host a Crossover, you should,\u201d said Jones. \u201cIf a church is at a distance where you cannot host, I think you should join another church. Then we all are pushing for the Kingdom enhancement together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Goals for the Florida Baptist Convention during Crossover 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the 2025 Florida Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Dr. Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, announced a bold goal for Crossover 2026:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n