MIAMI— The annual Florida Baptist State Convention (FBSC) is just weeks away and momentum is building as the Florida Baptist family prepares to come together for “One Family Gathering.”
Several Florida Baptists are expected to be nominated to serve as officers during the 2019 meeting Nov. 10-12 in Orlando.
FBSC President Erik Cummings, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Carol City, will be nominated for a second term as president by Willy Rice, pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater.
“Erik has done a great job serving Florida Baptists and I’m honored to nominate him for his second term,” said Rice.
Cummings has served as pastor of New Life Baptist Church for the past 17 years and as president of the 2017 Florida Baptist Pastors Conference. He also served as secretary and parliamentarian of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as moderator for the Miami Baptist Association.
“I’m humbled and honored,” said Cummings about his nomination.
Also expected to be nominated to a second term as first vice present is Mike Wiggins, pastor of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton. Thomas A. Kinchen, president of the Baptist College of Florida, has indicated that he will place Wiggins’ name in nomination.
Wiggins has served the church for the past 30 years and is known for his innovative ministry to the community Pine Terrace serves.
Vanessa Rodriguez-Cardona, wife of bivocational pastor Jose Cardona of Templo Biblico Bautista in Winter Garden, is expected to be nominated as FBSC second vice-president. David Perez, president of the Hispanic State Fellowship and pastor of Iglesia Casa de Bendición in St. Cloud has said he will nominate her.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be considered for this role,” Cardona said. “I’m excited to represent the Christian Hispanic woman in this new role. It’s a challenge but I know that when we honor God in all we do, God will honor us.”
Cardona serves the Central Florida community alongside her husband organizing events like one that benefitted Hurricane Maria evacuees in 2017. She has served on the leadership team for the National Day of Prayer in Winter Garden and is organizing Crossover events prior to the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando.
“Vanessa is a natural leader. She is prepared, devoted to ministry and has a servant heart,” said Perez.
If elected, Cardona will be the first woman to serve as a FBSC officer since 2010 when Gail Adams of Terra Ceia served as second vice president.