Central
Stay informed with stories, news, and updates from churches across our association and throughout the state. Here you’ll find stories, events, and resources that celebrate ministry work and keep our church community connected.
First Orlando launches shared senior pastor leadership team model
ORLANDO– First Orlando, a multisite, multicultural church in Central Florida, has launched a new shared leadership model in which three senior pastors will share church oversight and collaborative governance. The […]
Florida Baptists start foundational call to bold goals at 2026 Crossover i…
ORLANDO— Hundreds of Central Florida ministry leaders gathered at First Baptist Orlando in October to explore evangelism strategies and prepare for Crossover 2026, a large-scale outreach effort planned for the […]
Churches come beside churches to strengthen sending/leadership pipelines
More than 30 pastors and church leaders from across Florida gathered at Calvary Church in Clearwater Oct. 9–10 for the Florida Senders Network meeting, a two-day event designed to help churches strengthen their sending and leadership pipelines for missions and church planting.
As church celebrates 150 years, pastor declares, ‘God is not near finished…
It was a day that was 150 years in the making. A touch of excitement was in the air on a clear and calm Sunday morning at First Baptist Church of Bartow.
Joel Breidenbaugh to be honored with 2025 Baptist Heritage Award
The Florida Baptist Historical Society has announced that Joel Breidenbaugh will be the recipient of the 2025 Baptist Heritage Award.
Marion Baptist Association Preps for Emergencies with New Ham Radio Operat…
With plans for its own ham radio room and new radio tower, Marion Baptist Association in Ocala will soon be taking part in emergency communications to help local churches and their membership during statewide disaster relief efforts.
Young church plant reaches growing Brazilian population in Florida
On February 10, Primeira Igreja Batista em Clermont (First Baptist Church of Clermont – Brazilian) celebrated its one-year anniversary with a moment of unforgettable joy: the baptism of a man named Marcelo, whose story of salvation has already begun to ripple into his family, the community and the nations.
Village Point Church is on mission to multiply churches and train planters
After seven years of successfully planting in one of the hardest areas of New England—Boston—Jay Mudd is now back in central Florida with a heart to multiply.
From father to son, church celebrates 60 years
From its humble beginnings of meeting in an elementary school in 1965, led by Pastor R. D. Hodges, Winter Haven Baptist Church, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, has grown into a thriving congregation that has been led for the past 44 years by the founding pastor’s son, Mark Hodges.
Church embraces ‘amazing opportunity’ of rapidly growing community
PARRISH—North River Church in Parrish, an unincorporated community in northwestern Manatee County, is going “above and beyond” to reach its community with the gospel. North River Church began as a […]
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