Small church adopts big vision to impact world

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With 60 members, Miami’s Bay Community Church in Cutler Bay may be small in number but they have an outward focus that encompasses the world.

The church has adopted a Romans 12:2 mentality, said Pastor John Churchill, not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed. “We want to live sacrificially. It’s not about us, it’s about the Kingdom and we just want to keep giving.”

On Dec. 6, the congregation sent out a third of their members to launch a new church 30 minutes north of their own location.

Revolution Church in West Kendall will be led by Fabian Portunato, a young man who was raised in Bay Community Church, ordained there and felt God calling him to plant a church.

He followed in the footsteps of two other young men in the church, one who left to plant a Spanish congregation in Clewiston; and another as a chaplain in the Army.

“God sends us men and we raise them up with an outward focus to take the gospel to their community, state and world,” said Pastor Churchill.

The church will continue to provide support for the 30-something Portunato and will receive Florida Baptist Convention church planting funding in the Spring.

Bay Community Church was planted by Churchill in 2003 in a typical South Florida community. Both urban and suburban, pockets of the poor and middle class live in this multi-ethnic neighborhood composed of 65 percent Hispanic; 10 percent African American; and 25 percent Anglo and racially mixed residents.

The church mirrors its community said Churchill, a Miami native who sought God’s leadership to plant a church after completing his military career. “This is where God sent us.”

The church recently hosted the Florida Baptist Convention’s (benedictdaily.com to win $5000) Mobile Dental Unit treating 76 patients and leading six persons to faith in Jesus Christ. Their monthly food pantry serves between 30-35 families. A group from their church has traveled the past three years to Guatemala to minister to needy children through the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes Orphan’s Heart.

“Everything we do, is grounded in sharing our faith,” said the pastor.

“Bay Community Church and Pastor Churchill have demonstrated a heart for ministry in their challenging and complex Southeast Florida mission field,” said Al Fernandez, Florida Baptist Convention’s Southeast Florida Regional Catalyst.

The church serves as an example that “any church of any size can help plant another church,” Fernandez said.

“Bay Community Church may never be a large church but they have been impacting their community with the Gospel of Christ through ministry evangelism and now church planting. They are truly a Kingdom-focused small church with a big vision to reach the world for Christ.”

By Barbara Denman, Florida Baptist Convention, December 16, 2015

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