Baptist Churches Reaching Florida

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Church Stories

Carlos Lollett hace un llamado a la consagración

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church Miami, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists, calling on attendees to pursue a life of consecration and to look to the…
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Next generation students provide help/encouragement after the storm

PUNTA GORDA–Like many churches in the path of Hurricane Milton, Tri-City Baptist Church in Punta Gorda was hit hard. On Friday morning after the storm, volunteers from the church…
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Florida Baptists honor Tommy and Karen Green for faithful leadership

Hundreds of Florida Baptists at the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting honored Tommy Green and his wife, Karen, for their years of faithful leadership in the…
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Carlos Lollett calls for consecration

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church Miami, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists, calling on attendees to pursue a life of consecration and to look to the…
Read More...

Willy Rice urges faithfulness in a shifting culture

Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, delivered the closing message at the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting and urged attendees to remain faithful…
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Florida Baptist pastors’ wives honor Karen Green, focus on holiness

Hundreds of Florida Baptist ministers’ wives gathered Tuesday, Nov. 12, for their annual luncheon during the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention meeting held at First Baptist…
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Stephen Rummage urges Florida Baptists to ‘make Jesus known’

At the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, delivered a call to action rooted in…
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Mike Orr: Holiness will glorify God and draw people to Him

In a message titled, “A Holy People,” reflecting the theme of Florida Baptists’ 2024 annual meeting in Orlando, Mike Orr, Florida Baptist State Convention president, focused on 1…
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Clayton Cloer calls Florida Baptists to a ‘mindset of a holy people’

Clayton Cloer, president of the Baptist University of Florida, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists with a call for unity and holiness within the church in a…
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Adrian Taylor: Christians called to walk in holiness

At the opening session of the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Adrian Taylor, pastor of Springhill Church in Gainesville, urged attendees to “recognize that…
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Florida Baptists gather for mission prayer breakfast

Just minutes after the sun had risen in Orlando Nov. 12, close to 200 Florida Baptists gathered for a mission prayer breakfast, praying specifically for North American Mission…
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Florida Baptist pastors encouraged to find rest in Jesus

Photos by Michael Duncan ORLANDO–At the 2024 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida Baptist pastors were encouraged to rest,…
Read More...

Carlos Lollett hace un llamado a la consagración

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church Miami, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists, calling on attendees to pursue a life of consecration and to look to the…
Read More...

Next generation students provide help/encouragement after the storm

PUNTA GORDA–Like many churches in the path of Hurricane Milton, Tri-City Baptist Church in Punta Gorda was hit hard. On Friday morning after the storm, volunteers from the church…
Read More...

Florida Baptists honor Tommy and Karen Green for faithful leadership

Hundreds of Florida Baptists at the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting honored Tommy Green and his wife, Karen, for their years of faithful leadership in the…
Read More...

Carlos Lollett calls for consecration

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church Miami, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists, calling on attendees to pursue a life of consecration and to look to the…
Read More...

Willy Rice urges faithfulness in a shifting culture

Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, delivered the closing message at the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting and urged attendees to remain faithful…
Read More...

Florida Baptist pastors’ wives honor Karen Green, focus on holiness

Hundreds of Florida Baptist ministers’ wives gathered Tuesday, Nov. 12, for their annual luncheon during the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention meeting held at First Baptist…
Read More...

Stephen Rummage urges Florida Baptists to ‘make Jesus known’

At the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, delivered a call to action rooted in…
Read More...

Mike Orr: Holiness will glorify God and draw people to Him

In a message titled, “A Holy People,” reflecting the theme of Florida Baptists’ 2024 annual meeting in Orlando, Mike Orr, Florida Baptist State Convention president, focused on 1…
Read More...

Clayton Cloer calls Florida Baptists to a ‘mindset of a holy people’

Clayton Cloer, president of the Baptist University of Florida, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists with a call for unity and holiness within the church in a…
Read More...

Adrian Taylor: Christians called to walk in holiness

At the opening session of the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Adrian Taylor, pastor of Springhill Church in Gainesville, urged attendees to “recognize that…
Read More...

Florida Baptists gather for mission prayer breakfast

Just minutes after the sun had risen in Orlando Nov. 12, close to 200 Florida Baptists gathered for a mission prayer breakfast, praying specifically for North American Mission…
Read More...

Florida Baptist pastors encouraged to find rest in Jesus

Photos by Michael Duncan ORLANDO–At the 2024 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida Baptist pastors were encouraged to rest,…
Read More...

Next generation students provide help/encouragement after the storm

PUNTA GORDA–Like many churches in the path of Hurricane Milton, Tri-City Baptist Church in Punta Gorda was hit hard. On Friday morning after the storm, volunteers from the church…
Read More...

Brian Nall to serve as West region catalyst for Florida Baptists

Longtime Florida Baptist Brian Nall has been tapped to serve as newly elected West region catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention.
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Relationships, encouragement and stewardship mark the ministry of Lewis Miller, West region catalyst

Building relationships with pastors and the churches they serve has been one of the greatest blessings for Lewis Miller, West region catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention.
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Tutoring Children and Youth: More than Just Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

In every county, some students struggle in some way with schoolwork, leading not only to low test scores, but also to minimal self-esteem, fear of failure, conflict within families…
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Youth event at Florida church thrives with focus on discipleship

By Tim Ellsworth CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. (BP) – An annual youth evangelism event at First Baptist Church had been slowly dwindling when Tyler Pearce started as student pastor four…
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Hope after the storm: Worship center opens after six-year rebuild

Editor’s Note: As many churches throughout Florida are dealing with damage and even destruction to their facilities following the fury of recent hurricanes, church leaders can be…
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‘Flooded to the Ceiling:’ Keaton Beach church works to recover from Helene

It was day two of hurricane cleanup at Keaton Beach’s Blue Creek Baptist Church for Pastor Justin Goins and fellow church members when God sent in a cavalry of college men to help…
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First Baptist Church in Horseshoe Beach: ‘Cast down, but not defeated’

Known for its laid-back, friendly fishing village vibe, the quaint community of Horseshoe Beach found itself directly in the recent path of Hurricane Helene’s 140 mph winds and…
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First Baptist of Cedar Key: ‘Thankful to serve community’

Debris piled high along community roads, broken and splintered fragments of homes floating in waterways, shattered windows … and shattered lives.
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Perry church ‘praising Lord in good times and bad times’

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief launched its mass feeding operations at First Baptist Church in Perry on Saturday, Sept. 28, following Category 4 Hurricane Helene’s destructive…
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‘Active status’ for Florida Baptist Disaster Relief in Hurricane Helene response

As Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall just after 11 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, in Taylor County, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are now on “active…
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God ‘exceedingly and abundantly’ keeping His promises at Sumatra Baptist Church

ust over two years ago, on Easter Sunday 2022, Sumatra Baptist Church in the Panhandle of Florida began experiencing new life as it re-opened its doors to the community.
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Hudson First Baptist Church: ‘Bleeding … but still going to serve Him’

Like many congregations in Florida, First Baptist Church of Hudson is no stranger to the aftermath of natural disasters.
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Partnership fuels rapid response in hurricane relief

Although Lake City, located about 60 miles west of Jacksonville, may have been spared the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s record-setting storm surge and fierce winds, the storm still…
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The Bridge Church: ‘Making a Way for Hope’ After Hurricane Helene

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Madison community in north Florida has found itself in yet another season of recovery.
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Answering the call to serve others

Category 4 Hurricane Helene lashed out with high winds and storm surge in Otter Creek, a small community located about 20 miles east of Cedar Key, leaving widespread damage and…
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Pregnancy center at First Baptist of Dunnellon shares ‘the truth of the value of life’

Some of the women seeking help at the Family Hope Resource and Pregnancy Center in Dunnellon may come expecting judgment, but Marcy Maste wants them to instead feel safe,…
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Perry church ‘praising Lord in good times and bad times’

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief launched its mass feeding operations at First Baptist Church in Perry on Saturday, Sept. 28, following Category 4 Hurricane Helene’s destructive…
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LOGO Church shares ‘compassion of Jesus’ amid ‘brokenness’ in community

LOGO Church is not your typical church name, but then this church plant in Northeast Florida is not your typical church.
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Lake Rousseau Baptist Church:

Pastor Jim Kinnebrew sometimes feels like God parachuted him right down in the middle of a new church plant.
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Florida Baptist Disaster Relief’s Hurricane Debby Response

Just over 24 hours after Hurricane Debby made landfall on Aug. 5 in Florida’s Big Bend, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers set up their command center at First Baptist…
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First Baptist Live Oak hosts satellite feeding station

When Jeff and Melody Scott got the call about helping with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief feeding efforts at their church in Live Oak, they felt like it was a great opportunity to…
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Florida Baptist Disaster Relief on ‘active’ status in Hurricane Debby response

As Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm, made landfall early Monday morning, Aug. 5, along the Big Bend coast of Florida, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are now on…
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Tallahassee church on its way to meeting 40/40 goal for planting churches and developing leaders

Tallahassee’s Celebration Baptist Church had never planted a church when it set an ambitious 40/40 goal for church planting and leadership development in honor of its 40th…
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Better Together: How one Florida association is partnering together for Gospel proclamation

Southern Baptists are better together. That’s not just a slogan for the churches in the St. John’s River Baptist Association (SJRBA) in the St. Augustine and Palatka area of…
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St. Johns River Baptist Association offers gift of gospel at Putnam County Fair

It’s not rare for people to come home from the fair with all sorts of prizes and gifts—stuffed animals, handmade trinkets, funnel cakes—but at the Putnam County Fair, there’s one…
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Father/son share co-pastor role: ‘Ready for the future’

Pastor Herb Reavis and his son Josh have been working together for about 18 years at North Jacksonville Baptist Church, but now they are serving as co-pastors of the church.
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Extended Family and a Church Called Refuge

Josh and Beth Glymph are different, but not in the way people might expect.
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East Central Baptist Network celebrates first Hispanic pastors/wives retreat

Hispanic church leaders and their wives from Daytona, DeLand, Deltona, Oviedo and Sanford gathered Jan. 18-20 at Park Avenue Baptist Church in Titusville for the inaugural East…
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Red Bautista del Este Central celebra el primer retiro de pastores y esposas hispanos

Líderes de iglesias hispanas y sus esposas de Daytona, DeLand, Deltona, Oviedo y Sanford se reunieron del 18 al 20 de enero en la Iglesia Bautista Park Avenue en Titusville para el…
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Florida Baptist Partnership with Ohio Baptists sets stage for ‘something bigger’

As Florida Baptists’ partnership with Ohio Baptists begins to take shape, leaders from both state conventions are realizing the opportunities for God to do “something bigger” in…
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Prison ministry sees more openness, needs at Christmas, chaplain says

According to prison chaplain Paul Davis, the concepts that led to more than 85 decisions to follow Christ are not overly complex.   Listen to people. Help them understand they…
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United in Christ Across Cultural Differences

The seven-man mission team from Hillcrest Baptist Church faced some challenges in Quito, Ecuador.
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Lightning strike claims life of teen, sparks revival

One lightning strike that claimed the life of a beloved teen girl has sparked a spiritual revival throughout an entire community in northeast Florida.
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Florida Baptist church partners with New England Baptists for gospel outreach

To help penetrate the spiritual darkness and impact the Northeast with the gospel, Florida Baptist churches are partnering with the Baptist Convention of New England,  which serves…
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Students on the road to serve

A volunteer fiesta created an opportunity for a youth group to get on the road, traveling almost two hours from their home church, to serve another church.
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Bell Shoals Church expands one of its ‘best and most impactful ministries’

In mid-September, members from across all five locations of Bell Shoals Church gathered in a combined campus celebration to reflect on the past year of ministry and celebrate…
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Children learn to serve church through Kids Worship Camp

More than 80 volunteers and 200 children converged on the campus of Bell Shoals Church in Brandon for the sixth annual Kids Worship Camp, July 15-19.  
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Servicio de oración masiva en First Baptist Orlando en torno a las elecciones venezolanas

Más de 3.000 hombres, mujeres y niños asistieron a un servicio de oración especial el sábado 27 de julio en First Orlando. Miles de personas se reunieron para orar por Venezuela…
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Mass prayer service at First Baptist Orlando surrounding Venezuelan election

More than 3,000 men, women and children attended a special prayer service on Saturday, July 27, at First Orlando. The thousands came together to pray for Venezuela ahead of the…
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Church and Christian academy partner to ‘pray and obey, love Christ well, share God’s love’

WINTER GARDEN—What is the secret to a spiritual awakening taking place among students in central Florida? It’s really no secret at all. First Baptist Church in Winter Garden…
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NAMB training helps churches develop evangelistic culture

When Pastor Chris Butler took the helm at North Naples Baptist Church in 2016, he inherited a congregation on the brink of closure, dwindled to just 40 members. Just two weeks into…
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Florida Baptists join forces to restore Bluewater Bible College

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS— After being forced to close its doors following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, both in 2017, Bluewater Bible College in the U.S. Virgin Islands is poised for a…
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Florida church’s ongoing carnival ministry reaching thousands

Liberty Southern Baptist Church has become a light and staple for the workers of Florida’s biggest event you’ve never heard of.
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25th anniversary Philippine International Christian Fellowship: ‘Beacon of hope and light for…

In May 1998 Lito and Lilybeth Lucas moved to Lakeland with the firm belief that they were following God’s direction to plant a church in Central Florida.
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Florida Baptist Partnership with Ohio Baptists sets stage for ‘something bigger’

As Florida Baptists’ partnership with Ohio Baptists begins to take shape, leaders from both state conventions are realizing the opportunities for God to do “something bigger” in…
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Family Focus Leads Central Baptist to Serve Community

Home to mangroves, lush botanical gardens, and world-renowned golf clubs is the seventh-largest city in Florida—Port St. Lucie. Serving this growing, multigenerational community on…
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Florida Baptist women serve seafarers: ‘An overseas mission field right in our backyard’

Thirteen women—from all corners of the Sunshine State—traveled from their Florida Baptist churches to the Canaveral Port Ministry Center in Port Canaveral for a four-day mission…
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La Iglesia Bautista Bethel devastada por las aguas de la inundación: “Soy tan bendecida que quiero…

“Everything utterly destroyed–furniture, seats, resources.” That’s how Pastor Rafael Sanchez described the newly renovated church building of Tampa’s Iglesia Bautista Bethel,…
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Iglesia Bautista Bethel devastated by flood waters: ‘So blessed I want to cry’

“Everything utterly destroyed–furniture, seats, resources.” That’s how Pastor Rafael Sanchez described the newly renovated church building of Tampa’s Iglesia Bautista Bethel,…
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Disaster relief chaplain discovers ‘pure joy’ in pointing others to Christ

Diane Traynor is not really a fan of hurricanes, but after their arrival she springs into action­–ready to offer soothing words, a listening ear and the hope of Christ.
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Church plant reaches growing Hispanic population in southwest Florida

Deemed as one of the “10 Best Places to Retire” in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Port Charlotte is not just a growing community for retirees—but also for young…
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‘Friendly neighborhood church’ seeks to ‘trust God with the results and simply rest in Him’

The night Frank Brand and his wife, Jennifer, were to fly to southwest Florida in view of a call, Brand received a call from a church in Georgia.
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Fort Myers church committed to spend ‘less on ourselves,’ give ‘more to missions’

When it comes to fulfilling the Great Commission, Crossroads Baptist Church in Fort Myers has discovered that less is more.
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Church Family Conference equips every generation to share gospel

More than 200 people—from every generation and across two campuses—converged on Fellowship Church in southwest Florida for the fifth annual Church Family Conference, July 28-31.
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Southwest Florida church ‘prayed up and ready to grow’

The simple, coastal town of Englewood, located about 35 miles south of Sarasota, is mostly known for its Fishermen’s Village and being a family-friendly escape.
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‘Completely committed’ southwest Florida church celebrates groundbreaking

As shovels of soft dirt were turned in the soil, members of Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia are envisioning hearts being softened to the gospel as community residents turn to…
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Influx of Spanish-speaking families inspires church plant in Naples

Recognizing that the tide is shifting in Naples, with more and more Spanish-speaking families moving to Florida’s Southwest region, Herminio Pagan—better known as JR—and his wife,…
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La entrada de familias de habla hispana inspira la plantación de iglesias en Naples

Reconociendo que la marea está cambiando en Naples, con cada vez más familias de habla hispana mudándose a la región suroeste de Florida, Herminio Pagán—mejor conocido como JR—y su…
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Arcadia church maintains strength through two hurricanes/now ‘reaching forward’

After enduring 150-mph winds and dangerous flooding from two of the most intense hurricanes to ever make landfall in Florida, Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia has maintained…
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Carlos Lollett hace un llamado a la consagración

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church Miami, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists, calling on attendees to pursue a life of consecration and to look to the…
Read More...

Next generation students provide help/encouragement after the storm

PUNTA GORDA–Like many churches in the path of Hurricane Milton, Tri-City Baptist Church in Punta Gorda was hit hard. On Friday morning after the storm, volunteers from the church…
Read More...

Florida Baptists honor Tommy and Karen Green for faithful leadership

Hundreds of Florida Baptists at the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting honored Tommy Green and his wife, Karen, for their years of faithful leadership in the…
Read More...

Carlos Lollett calls for consecration

Carlos Lollett, pastor of Reality Church Miami, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists, calling on attendees to pursue a life of consecration and to look to the…
Read More...

Willy Rice urges faithfulness in a shifting culture

Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater, delivered the closing message at the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting and urged attendees to remain faithful…
Read More...

Florida Baptist pastors’ wives honor Karen Green, focus on holiness

Hundreds of Florida Baptist ministers’ wives gathered Tuesday, Nov. 12, for their annual luncheon during the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention meeting held at First Baptist…
Read More...

Stephen Rummage urges Florida Baptists to ‘make Jesus known’

At the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, delivered a call to action rooted in…
Read More...

Mike Orr: Holiness will glorify God and draw people to Him

In a message titled, “A Holy People,” reflecting the theme of Florida Baptists’ 2024 annual meeting in Orlando, Mike Orr, Florida Baptist State Convention president, focused on 1…
Read More...

Clayton Cloer calls Florida Baptists to a ‘mindset of a holy people’

Clayton Cloer, president of the Baptist University of Florida, addressed the 2024 annual gathering of Florida Baptists with a call for unity and holiness within the church in a…
Read More...

Adrian Taylor: Christians called to walk in holiness

At the opening session of the 2024 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Adrian Taylor, pastor of Springhill Church in Gainesville, urged attendees to “recognize that…
Read More...

Florida Baptists gather for mission prayer breakfast

Just minutes after the sun had risen in Orlando Nov. 12, close to 200 Florida Baptists gathered for a mission prayer breakfast, praying specifically for North American Mission…
Read More...

Florida Baptist pastors encouraged to find rest in Jesus

Photos by Michael Duncan ORLANDO–At the 2024 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida Baptist pastors were encouraged to rest,…
Read More...