Miramar, Longwood churches join Witness Church Newsletter Service

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-Florida Baptist Witness recently has welcomed two churches — ChristWay Baptist Church, Miramar, and First Baptist Church Sweetwater, Longwood — to its Church Newsletter Service. The service publishes church newsletters, which are mailed to church members as a part of the weekly Witness.

ChristWay Baptist Church, Miramar, moved several times in its ten-year history — from Pines Middle School, to Miramar High School, to Taft Baptist Church , back to Miramar High School. In 2002, the church not only moved into its own building in Miramar, but also changed its name from Caribbean Baptist to ChristWay Baptist. With more than 400 attending weekly, four of five members are from nations in the Caribbean, according to the church’s Web site.

"Now that we have a stable address, we have the possibility to expand our ministry," founding pastor Wesley Green said. "Our church newsletter has not always been consistent, and the Church Newsletter Service will force us to be consistent. Also, we want to get our people to read and be informed about missions in Florida and all over the world."

An informed congregation is also one result First Baptist Sweetwater pastor Larry Michael hopes to achieve through CNS. "As a loyal Southern Baptist, I want our people to be on top of news and issues in Florida and world-wide," Michael said. "I think this is a win-win situation. When it comes to communication, I want to err on the side of making people aware. Otherwise, how can we expect them to make informed decisions?"

Michael, pastor of the 25-year-old Longwood congregation since Jan. 11, participated in Alabama’s CNS service as pastor of First Baptist Church, Clanton. He said it was an economical advantage then, and he anticipates the same savings through CNS in Florida.

A church’s newsletter, which may be published weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, is mailed to church members for $8 dollars per subscription annually. Publication cost is $100 for two pages, $135 for four pages per newsletter edition.

For more information about CNS, call 800-226-8584, ext. 8300. or e-mail witness@FloridaBaptistWitness.com.