Florida Baptist pastors and their wives will be urged to “Stay at It” during the 2019 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference, Nov. 10-11 at First Baptist Church in Orlando.
“I want every pastor, his wife and their church to be greatly encouraged, challenged and motivated in the ministry God has called us to serve,” said Brian Stowe, Pastors’ Conference president.
“My hope and prayer are that we will take to heart Paul’s admonition to the Philippians believers,” found in Phil 3:14-15, he said. “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”
The pastor of First Baptist Church in Plant City said, “The Lord challenged me with that simple statement years ago when a relocation project met one challenge after another. And when I felt like giving up more than once, the Lord challenged me to “stay at it” each day, reminding me of what Paul told the Philippians.
“In time, the relocation project was finished, and our church experienced tremendous growth and a renewed sense of purpose as we witnessed many come to Christ,” he explained.
“Pastors need that reminder to ‘stay at it’ in every part of ministry as well as at home. And I’m praying the music, preaching and fellowship will be just what each needs to stay at it ‘til Jesus comes,” he added.
Speakers during the two-day event include Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. and executive producer of Sherwood Pictures; and Johnny Hunt, senior vice president of evangelism and leadership for the North American Mission Board, SBC.
Three Florida Baptist pastors will deliver inspirational sermons: H.B. Charles, Jr., pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Jacksonville; Willy Rice, senior pastor, Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater; and David Uth, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando and president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference.
The conference begins with the evening session on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Monday morning session begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude at noon.
For the first time this year, a transition session on Monday afternoon from 2-5 p.m. will combine the concluding session of the Pastors’ Conference and the opening session of the Florida Baptist State Convention meeting.
The joint service reflects a desire for the annual meeting and pastors’ conference to be more of a single event that smoothly flows together, said Micah Ferguson, strategic initiatives, Florida Baptist Convention.
Stowe expressed his excitement for the upcoming meeting. “I really believe the music and lineup of speakers that will address the main part of our lives will deliver a needed word to each of us. And when God is speaking, I don’t want to miss it!
For more information on the two day meeting, go to: flbaptist.org/state-convention.