State Board of Missions elects 2004 officers

TAMPA (FBC)–The State Board of Missions disbursed $5 million in proceeds from the sale of 15 acres of property in Broward County during its pre-convention meeting Nov. 10 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Tampa.

The board also promoted Cynthia L. Goodwin as director of the Women’s Missions and Ministry Department and authorized the continuing monitoring of the Florida Legislature.

FBC photo by Ken Touchton

Newly elected State Board of Missions officers for 2004 are Al Fernandez (l) , pastor, Jubilee Community Church, Miami, vice president; Gary Crawford, pastor, Westside Baptist Church, Gainesville, president; and Greg Wrigley, director of missions, Black Creek Baptist Association, recording secretary.

Following the Florida Baptist State Convention meeting, the Board re-elected Gary Crawford, pastor, Westside Baptist Church, Gainesville, to a second term as president; elected Al Fernandez, pastor, Jubilee Community Church, Miami, as vice president; and Greg Wrigley, director of missions for the Black Creek Association, as recording secretary.

In the earlier meeting, the board learned that the sale of the property adjacent to the Seminole Indian Tribe’s Hollywood Reservation to the Seminole Indian Baptist Church was completed Oct. 24.

In distributing the proceeds, the board earmarked the majority of the funding, $4 million, for the Convention’s Operating Reserve Fund to supplement Cooperative Program shortfalls and unanticipated expenses. Up to $250,000 in annual interest earning income from the reserves funds will be earmarked for funds such as church pastoral aid.

Half of the remaining money, $500,000, will be gifted to the Iglesia Bautista Stirling Road, to assist the church in its relocation efforts. The Hispanic church is located adjacent to the property sold to the Indian church and needs additional space for growth. The funding will fulfill a previous promise made to provide the church with additional land. The property promised to the Hispanic congregation is a portion of the land involved in the sale to the Indian church. In a related matter, the board agreed to pay $15,000 in consultant fees related to the property sale.

Another $200,000 of the proceeds from the sale will be used to underwrite awareness promotions, resources, materials and events during the Convention’s 150th Anniversary Observance Celebration in 2004. Anniversary materials will be provided to each of the 2,800 Florida Baptist churches. The celebration will culminate at the 2004 Florida Baptist State Convention meeting in Jacksonville.

The remaining funds will be used to purchase the last two remaining property parcels in the block containing the Baptist Building in Jacksonville, $185,000; and to make improvements at the Convention’s two conferences centers, $100,000.

As director of the WMM department, Goodwin will provide oversight for the department and lead Woman’s Missionary Union responsibilities of work. Other areas of responsibilities include women’s ministry, the ministers’ wives retreat and annual luncheon meeting as well as other adult emphases.

Goodwin, 55, will assume the position left vacant with the retirement of Frances Shaw, effective Dec. 31. The Miami native has served as an associate director of the department since 1993. She holds the bachelor of arts degree from Samford University.

She is married to Howard Goodwin who serves as interim director of music at Terry Parker Baptist Church, Jacksonville.

William Bunkley of Tampa will conduct the continuing monitoring of the Florida Legislature in 2004 as representative/lobbyist and Fred A. Martin and Associates will provide legislative monitoring of legislation and information services.

The board also authorized additional plans for recognizing the 15th anniversary of Executive Director-Treasurer John Sullivan during its Jan. 29-30, 2004, meeting at Lake Yale Baptist Assembly.

In other matters, the board approved church-at-large status for the Oceanside Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, endorsed 23 newly constituted churches as cooperating churches; okayed a resolution of appreciation for T. Russell Hughes for 13 years of service as associate director of the Sunday School Department; and authorized the transfer of an acre of land from the Baptist College of Florida to the City of Graceville for the installation of a water well and elevated tower.