Training Update

• TWO locations set for Women’s Winter Gathering

— The 2004 Winter Women’s Gathering will meet at three locations across the state in January.

Florida Baptist women are invited to attend the annual event at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Crestview Jan. 24 or Glendale Baptist Church in Miami Jan. 31.

Keynote speaker Edna Ellison will lead a time of personal enrichment and spiritual renewal for each of the one-day conferences. An author and speaker, Ellison has written women’s Bible studies on Philippians and Hebrews. Her books include Woman to Woman: Preparing Yourself to Mentor and Seeking Wisdom: Preparing Yourself to be Mentored.

Break-out session options will include topics related to living by faith, personal worship, discovering spiritual gifts, living stress-free, missions involvement and discerning God’s message.

The Florida Baptist Nursing Fellowship will meet as part of this event at each location for an additional cost of $15. Author Angela Payne will lead this session on "Finding Spiritual Renewal in Life’s Quirky Moments."

The cost of the women’s winter gathering is $20 per person and covers basic conference materials and lunch.

Registration with full payment must be received by the Women’s Missions and Ministries Department no later than seven days prior to the meeting. Mail registration forms to Women’s Missions and Ministries Department, Florida Baptist Convention, 1230 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207-8696 or register online with a credit card at www.flbaptist.org.

For additional event information, call 800-226-8584, ext. 8280 or email lford@flbaptist.org.

• Learn to supervise mission projects and summer missionaries

— Pastors and missions leaders can learn how to supervise mission projects and develop a system of support volunteers during "Supervision Training Level 1" Feb. 16-18 at Lake Yale Conference Center.

The training is required for churches that wish to host and supervise the work of summer missionaries in their congregations. Topics include conducting a supervisory conference, determining when and how supervision begins and ends, and developing a process of action and evaluation.

There will be opportunities for interaction with others who have supervised mission endeavors.

The free workshop is sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention Partnership Missions Department in cooperation with the North American Mission Board. Participants are responsible for meals and housing.

Registration deadline is Feb. 9. To register, contact the Partnership Missions Department at 800-226-8584, Ext 8273 or email cwilliams@flbaptist.org.

• Music offers avenue for Young Musicians to worship God

— More than 2,000 Young Musicians are expected to explore through music their relationship with God during the "2,000 and More in 2004."

The one-day music festival for third-sixth graders will incorporate music with the theme "Knowing you more in 2004" Feb. 28 at First Baptist Church, Orlando.

The students will sing together, participate in a variety of learning activities and culminate the event with a worship service, singing the songs they had learned throughout the day.

Young Musicians will learn new singing techniques and performance skills from clinician John Langworthy, minister of music at Morrison Heights Baptist in Clinton, Miss.

The conference will feature commissioned pieces by composers Joe Martin and Cindy Berry who will appear as special guests at the conference.

Conference cost is $20. Everyone who registers receives a free T-shirt.

To register online or download a registration form visit www.flbaptist.org. For more information contact the Church Music Department at 800-226-8584, ext. 8181 or e-mail Blimp Davis at bdavis@flbaptist.org.

• "Stand Firm" Conference helps Florida Baptists become leaders

— Hear the testimonies of a Navy chaplain, a fisherman and an internationally renowned basketball coach at "Stand Firm 2004," one of the fastest growing men’s ministry conferences.

The conferences, sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources and the Florida Baptist Men’s Department, will focus on the theme "Be Brave, Be Strong." They will be held at Medulla Baptist Church in Lakeland Feb. 20-21 and Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola March 26-27.

Messages at the conferences will include testimonies to encourage men to defend their faith and become godly role models. Each session offers the opportunity to attend male-focused workshops that meet specific needs.

A highlight of the two Florida conferences will be the testimony of Lt. Carey H. Cash, battalion chaplain to infantry Marines based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Cash will share how God worked during Operation Iraqi Freedom among the troops of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Iraq as he baptized 57 new Christians.

Glenn Chappalear, a professional fisherman and president of Sportsman Outreach, from Atworth, Ga. and Dan Hayden, director of ministries at Sola Scriptura in Orlando will speak during the Lakeland meeting.

The Pensacola conference will feature Cash and Roger Dutremble, internationally renowned basketball coach who served as the national team head coach to Belgium, Scotland and Jordan. Former Florida Baptist pastor Keith Thomas, Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala., will present an inspirational message.

The conferences begin Friday at 5 p.m. and continue through Saturday at noon. Registration is $40 per person and does not include lodging.

For more information contact Fritz Wilson of the Florida Baptist Men’s Department at 800-226-8584, Ext. 8240 or to register for a Stand Firm event, call 800-254-2022 or visit www.lifeway.com/events.