Erik Cummings, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Carol City, will be nominated for president of the Florida Baptist State Convention this November.
Willy Rice, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, announced that he plans to nominate Cummings at the Convention gathering in Miami. He said that as a dedicated Florida Baptist leader, Cummings “represents what faithful gospel leadership looks like today in one of the great urban mission fields of our nation.”
Cummings has been pastoring New Life Baptist Church for the last 17 years and is currently serving as president of the Florida Baptist Pastors Conference. He has also served as secretary and then later parliamentarian of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention as well as moderator for the Miami Baptist Association. Cummings holds degrees from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Cummings, who has two children with wife Monique, said he is humbled by the opportunity to be able to serve if chosen.
“One of the great joys of my life is serving God and serving His people,” he said. “Having the opportunity to impact God’s Kingdom at this level is something I look forward to.”
Cummings is eager to work with Florida Baptists all over the state to advance the gospel throughout Florida and beyond if given the opportunity to do so.
“I covet the prayers of all God’s people,” he said.
Rice cited Cummings’ proven track record as a leader in Florida Baptist life as just one of the many things that makes him a natural candidate for State Convention president.
“Florida is a diverse state. We are rural and we are urban. We are multi-ethnic. We are multi-generational,” Rice said. “Florida Baptists are increasingly a picture of this beautiful diversity and we are leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention of this gospel unity amidst racial and demographic diversity.”
“Our unity is rooted in the gospel message and in our gospel mission. Erik represents not only our past but he is also a picture of our future,” Rice added.
Florida Baptist messengers will gather at Wayside Baptist Church in Miami November 13-14 for the 2018 Florida Baptist State Convention.
“I look forward to nominating Erik Cummings for Florida Baptist Convention president and pray that Florida Baptists will affirm him as our next state convention president,” Rice said.
By Nicole Kalil, Florida Baptist Convention, August 8, 2018