Florida Focus

A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version.

 

Alachua

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Red Level Baptist Church in Crystal River will host the New Life Drama Company Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. The troupe will present short, skit-dramas. For more information, call 352-795-2086.

Black Creek

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First Baptist Church of Maxville in Jacksonville will host its annual fall festival Oct. 31, 6:30-9 p.m. A country store and auction will highlight the event. For more information, call 904-289-7095.

Chipola

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Lovedale Baptist Church in Bascom will hold its annual homecoming Nov. 2. Robin Jumper, associate professor of evangelism and missions at the Baptist College of Florida, will speak in the 10:30 a.m. service. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall. The congregation expects to move into its new sanctuary in February.

Greater Orlando

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First Baptist Church in Winter Park will host The Faithful Men and the Faithful Brass in concert Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. The Faithful Men is an ensemble from First, Winter Park, and the Faithful Brass is composed of instrumentalists from area churches. For more information, call 407-644-3061.

Jacksonville

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Arlington Baptist Church will present "Eternity: The Ultimate Experience" Oct. 25-31 at 7 p.m. nightly. For more information, call 904-743-4100.
Crown Point Baptist Church will honor pastor Steven Thompson Nov. 2, on his 25th anniversary in the ministry. He has served Crown Point since 1993, and also serves as chaplain of the Florida Air National Guard. He previously served Virginia Beach Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, Va. Thompson and his wife, Gloria, have three children and two grandchildren.

Lake County

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First Baptist Church in Umatilla has called Lee Kirk as pastor. He is a graduate of Mississippi College in Clinton and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He, his wife, Cherri, and three children moved to Umatilla from Clinton, Miss., where he served as college minister with Morrison Heights Baptist Church.

New River

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The women’s ministry of Northside Baptist Church in Starke will sponsor monthly enrichment seminars beginning Nov. 1. Robyn Crowley, founder and director of Women’s Growth Ministries of New York, will speak at 6 p.m.

Palm Lake

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First Baptist Church in West Palm Beach will host a prayer seminar Nov. 8 for women led by Evelyn Christenson, author of What Happens When Women Pray and other books on prayer. The seminar, which begins at 8 a.m., will include workshops: How to Have a Prayer Ministry in Your Church, Building a Significant Daily Prayer Time, How to Pray...for Our Spouses and Children, and a workshop on Prayer for Spanish-speaking Women. The event will be interpreted for the deaf. For registration information, call 561-650-7400, ext. 7486.
Tequesta First Baptist Church will hold a neighborhood Fall Festival Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m. The free event will feature midway-style games, food and live music. For more information, call 561-746-4447.
First Baptist Church in Lantana will hold revival services Nov. 5-9 with speaker Bruce Williams of Elba, Ala. Service times are 7 p.m. nightly and 10:45 a.m. Sunday. A potluck lunch will be served.

Pensacola Bay

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Hillcrest Baptist Church will host vocalist Mark Schultz in concert Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 850-450-7628.

Shiloh

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Lebanon Baptist Church in Plant City will celebrate its 62nd homecoming Oct. 26. Mike Holland, pastor of Ahava Baptist Church, also in Plant City, will preach in the 11 a.m. service. A covered dish lunch will be served.

South Florida

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First Baptist Church in Polk City has called Loran G. Mercer as pastor. A graduate of the Baptist College of Florida, Loran previously served as pastor of Community Baptist Church in Lake Wales and First Baptist Church of Jan-Phyl Village in Winter Haven. He and his wife, Linda, have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Medulla Baptist Church in Lakeland will meet in revival Nov. 9-12. Keith Russell, pastor, Westside Baptist Church, Jacksonville, will preach. Service times are Sunday, 6 p.m., then 7 p.m. nightly. Mark Skinner is pastor.

Southwest Florida

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Sarasota Baptist Church will host the Sarasota Family Festival Oct. 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event will include carnival-style games and food. For more information, call 941-922-1449.

West Florida

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Live Oak Baptist Church in Vernon will celebrate homecoming Nov. 2 at 10 a.m.with speaker Gary Taylor and musicians the John Hall Family and the Kolmetz Family. The congregation will gather after lunch for a Sacred Harp sing. For more information, call 850-335-2352.

Suwannee

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Mount Olive Baptist Church in Live Oak will hold its annual homecoming Oct. 26. Former minister of music Brent Kuykendall will preach and sing in concert at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will be served. For more information, call 386-963-1042.
Three members of Westwood Baptist Church in Live Oak are members of a Florida Baptist Partnership mission group working in Belgium Oct. 23-Nov. 3. Law enforcement officers Nolan McLeod and Jason Rountree, and pastor Jimmy Deas, who serves as chaplain of the Live Oak Police Dept., will minister with Belgian police and city officials in Liege, Tournai, and Mons. Retired officer Bob Hart, First Baptist Church, Ocala, heads the group.

Tampa Bay

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Concord Baptist Church, Tampa celebrates its 94th anniversary Nov. 2. The King’s Messengers perform at 10:30 a.m. and former member Douglas Hewitt preaches at 11:30. Lunch is at noon. For more information, call 813-248-8702.