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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Eden Baptist Church, Brooksville, will host The Weatherfords and Tim and Mary Alice Lovelace in concert Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 352-796-3855.

 

Big Lake

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Buckhead Ridge Baptist Church, Okeechobee, will meet in revival Jan. 25-28. Richard Whipple, retired pastor of First Baptist Church, Okeechobee, will preach, and Mike Zierden, former minister of music of both Buckhead Ridge Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, will lead worship. For more information, call 863-763-7532.

 

Chipola

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Grand Ridge Baptist Church will celebrate homecoming Jan. 25 at 10:30 a.m. Clyde Pound, former pastor of Sneads Baptist Church, will speak and Lynda Neal and Buddy Bell will sing in the service. Lunch will be served at noon. For more information, call 850-592-4846.

 

Florida

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Thomasville Road Baptist Church, Tallahassee, has called O’Brien Satcher as associate pastor of youth. He is a graduate of Hardin Simmons University, Abilene, Texas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He previously served as student minister at Trinity Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, at Arlington Baptist Church, Jacksonville and First Baptist Church, Bixley, Okla. He and his wife, Stacee, have one son.
Crossway Baptist Church, Tallahassee, recently called Marty Duncan as pastor. He is a 22-year veteran of state law enforcement and authored an interactive training CD, "Highway Interdiction for Patrol Officers." He also has recorded a gospel CD, "Heavenly Sunlight." Duncan and his wife, Susan, live in Jefferson County.

 

Greater Orlando

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First Baptist Church, Windermere, is offering several classes on Wednesday evenings at 6:15 p.m. The classes include Two Becoming One, Griefshare, DivorceCare, Communicating with Bold Assurance, Experiencing God and Disciples in Deed. For more information, call 407-876-2234 or go to www.fbcwindermere.com
Aloma Baptist Church, Winter Park, is sponsoring two upcoming concerts: Kingdom Heirs, Jan. 23, 7 p.m., Center for the Performing Arts, Winter Park High School; Children of the World, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m., Aloma Baptist Church Worship Center. For more information, call 407-671-6851.
Lockhart Baptist Church, Orlando, has called Stan Hannan as senior pastor. He most recently served as pastor of The Worship Center, a Southern Baptist mission in Ft. Lauderdale, and also served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Eustis. He served as president of the Baptist Churches of Central Africa while pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Zimbabwe. He and his wife, Norma, and three daughters immigrated to the United States in 1985 and became citizens in 1990.

 

Jacksonville

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Courtesy photo

Ridgewood Baptist Church in Jacksonville recently honored pastor Norman Gardner (L) for his 50 years of preaching ministry. He has served Ridgewood 14 years and also served churches in South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Illinois and Florida. John Sullivan, executive director/ treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, presented Gardner a plaque, and the church gave him and his wife, June, an Alaska cruise.

Miami

Wayside Baptist Church will host the Kingdom Heirs Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call 305-595-6550.

Northeast Florida

First Baptist Church, Callahan, is offering DivorceCare on Wednesday evenings at 6:45 p.m. The support group for those experiencing divorce and separation will continue through April 7. For more informatin, call 904-879-2172.
Oak Grove Baptist Church will host a gospel sing Jan. 30 which will feature the Stevenson Family. The singing will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, call 904-757-8133.

Ridge

Lake Pierce Baptist Church in Lake Wales has called Shane Terrebonne as pastor. He is a graduate of the Baptist College of Florida, Graceville, and is a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Charleston, S.C., extension. He and his wife, Karen and two children moved to Lake Wales from Hemingway, S.C., where he served as pastor of Midway Baptist Church.

Santa Fe River

Cross Creek Baptist Church, Hawthorne, will host its annual Missions Conference Jan. 24-25. Ed Lindstrom of Wycliffe Bible Translators will speak Jan. 24, 7 p.m.; Franklin Lamca, International Mission Board missionary to western South America, will speak Jan. 25, 11 a.m.; and Mark Harris of the Jacksonville Port Ministry will speak Jan. 25, 7 p.m. For more information, call 352-466-3502.

Seminole

First Baptist Church, Sanford, will mark its 120th anniversary in a two-day celebration Jan. 31 — Feb. 1. A service of recognition and reflection will be held Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. On Sunday, Joe Douthitt, first pastor of the church’s Elder Springs Mission, will speak in the 10:30 a.m. service. The anniversary also will feature a reunion of the 1970’s youth choir under the direction of former minister of music and youth Charles "Blimp" Davis, now associate in the Church Music Department of the Florida Baptist Convention.

Shiloh

Winston Baptist Church, Lakeland, recently honored pastor Burl Robinson on his 40th anniversary as pastor. He and his wife, Helen, were honored at a reception in the church fellowship hall. Shiloh Baptist Church, Plant City, will host Trevor Thomas Jubilee Day Jan. 18. The drama ministry will be previewed during the 10:15 a.m. service, with a full presentation at 6 p.m. For more information, call 813-754-7445.
First Baptist Church, Dover will celebrate its centennial July 11. The congregation is seeking historic artifacts, news articles or photos. To offer assistance, call 813-719-2273, or go to www.firstbaptistdover.org.

South Florida

Southside Baptist Church, Mulberry, will meet in revival Jan. 25-28 with evangelist Ronnie Smith of Savannah, Ga. Service times are 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, then 7 p.m. nightly. For more information, call 863-425-2786.

St. Johns River

Palatka Mayor Karl N. Flagg has proclaimed Jan. 25 Ted and Lucille Rodda Day. Ted Rodda served as pastor of six Florida Baptist churches and retired in 1992 from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Palatka. The proclamation celebrates their birthdays and years of Christian service.
Don Aycock, pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Palatka, has released his 18th book, Still God’s Man: A Daily Devotional Guide to Christlike Character. The title was listed incorrectly in the Dec. 18 edition of the Witness.

Suncoast

First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Largo, will host Wisdom Beyond Years, a free conference for senior adults, Jan. 18-20. Bill Anderson, former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater, will preach Jan. 19 at 6 p.m., and teach seminars Jan. 19 and 20 at 9:45 a.m. The morning sessions will be held in the church Youth Center, high school section. For reservations or more information, call 727-593-8738.
Curlew Baptist Church, Palm Harbor, will host a southern gospel concert Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. The event will feature Integrity, which sings at the Louise Mandrell Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. For more information, call 727-784-2371.

Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Baptist Association recently honored executive director Tom Biles on his 10th anniversary with the association. During his tenure 117 new churches have been started, the association budget has more than doubled and association staff expanded. Biles and his wife, Nanel, were feted during the association’s annual meeting.