Agencies of the
Florida Baptist Convention

“FOR YOUR INFORMATION” —Description of agencies of the Florida Baptist State Convention

THE BAPTIST COLLEGE OF FLORIDA—Formerly known as Florida Baptist Theological College, The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, Fla., is a four-year undergraduate school designed to meet the educational needs of men and women who have a career plan to serve in Christian missions and ministries. Thomas A. Kinchen is the college’s sixth president.

FLORIDA BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMES, INC.—The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, located in Pensacola, Lakeland, Miami, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and Fort Myers, provide a variety of services to meet the needs of children, including residential care, foster homes, emergency care, counseling, maternity care for unwed mothers, adoptions, referrals and scholastic aid. Florida Baptist Children’s Homes opened in 1904 as the Baptist Orphanage in Arcadia.

FLORIDA BAPTIST FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.—Florida Baptist Financial Services, Inc., located in Jacksonville, seeks to strengthen causes of the Christian faith around the world by encouraging people to commit their discretionary financial resources to these causes through capital gifts, living trusts during lifetime and testamentary trusts, and bequests in wills. Divisions include: Florida Baptist Foundation; Florida Baptist Credit Union; Florida Baptist Retirement Center, Inc.; and Church Growth Investment Fund, Inc.

FLORIDA BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY—The Florida Baptist Historical Society seeks to encourage churches and individuals in the Convention to preserve Baptist historical materials and to do research and writing on Baptist history. The Florida Baptist Historical Society is an agency of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which elects its board members.

THE FLORIDA BAPTIST WITNESS—A statewide newspaper with a paid circulation of more than 45,000 subscribers is designed to keep Florida Baptists informed about Baptist work. Reporting denominational activities of other states and around the world also is a part of the weekly paper’s ministry. The Witness is an agency of the Florida Baptist State Convention and has a separate board from the Florida Baptist Convention.