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.

 

BREVARD

First Baptist Church, Melbourne, will present a Memorial Day pageant, “Heal our Land,” May 30 at 3 and 7 p.m. The event will feature Grammy-award winning baritone Wintley Phipps; Ben Epstein, survivor of the attack on the USS Dorchester; the Patrick Air Force Base Honor Guard and the Palm Bay High School JROTC Exhibition Team. For ticket information, call 321-723-0561.

CHOCTAW

First Baptist Church, Destin, has called William Colvin as pastor. A graduate of Louisiana Tech in Ruston and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, he previously served as pastor of Easley Baptist Church in Oneonta, Ala. He and his wife, Shannon, have two sons.

GREATER ORLANDO

Southside Baptist Church will meet in revival May 27-29. Guest evangelist is Frank Smith, pastor of Tangelo Baptist Church and moderator of the Greater Orlando Baptist Association. The Tangelo church choir will sing Friday evening. Services are scheduled May 27-28, 7 p.m., then May 29 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 407-859-5340.

Rosemont Baptist Church will mark its 78th homecoming June 5. Bill Faulkner, director of missions of the Greater Orlando Baptist Association, will preach and The Joyful hearts will sing in the 11 a.m. service. Lunch will be served. For more information, call 407-277-8621.

JACKSONVILLE

INDIAN RIVER

Baxter C. Phillips,78, former pastor of 79th Street Baptist Church in Miami, died March 31 in Vero Beach. He served more than 30 years of his 63-year career in ministry in Miami. After serving with the Third Infantry Division during WWII, he graduated from Wake Forest University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Wake Forest, N.C., and Luther Rice Theological Seminary, Jacksonville. He also served as chaplain in the Air Force Reserves and with VFW Post 3918. Phillips is survived by his wife of 55 years, Wanda, three sons, Stephen, Timothy and Nathan and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Joel.

LAKE COUNTY

Nine members of First Baptist Church, Clermont, are in Cuba this week working with Sea of Galilee Baptist Church in Havana. They are providing leadership in the areas of worship, children’s and youth ministry and discipleship. Clermont pastor Danny Davis is leading the team, which will return May 30.

MARION

Melvin Martin, retired minister of education of Downtown Baptist Church in Ocala, died May 12. He was 80. He served on the State Board of Missions of the Florida Baptist Convention, and was a former member of the board of St. Johns River Community College. He moved to Ocala from St. Augustine in 1992. He was a Navy veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict. Martin is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lucille; a son, Larry; and two grandchildren.

ORANGE BLOSSOM

The Sanctuary Choir and Praise Band of First Baptist Church, Wauchula, will present “I Believe in America” May 29 at 11 a.m. A barbecue lunch will be served after the service. For more information, call 863-773-4182.

PALM LAKE

First Baptist Church, Tequesta, dedicated its newly-renovated worship center April 24. After the facility was damaged by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, the congregation met for six months in the fellowship hall. The service included recognition of building contractors and prayers of commitment for the church ministry leaders.

PENSACOLA BAY

Hillcrest Baptist Church has called James L. Locke as pastor. He served the past 10 years as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Forsyth, Missouri, and previously as associate pastor of Fielder Road Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He and his wife, Judy, have two children.

RIDGE

Lake Region Baptist Church, Winter Haven, will host the Gulf State Quartet in a gospel sing June 4. The quartet also will sing at Homecoming 2005 June 5 at 10 a.m. and former pastor Ezra Wells will speak. Dinner on the grounds will be served in the fellowship hall. For more information, call 863-294-1734.

ROYAL PALM

First Baptist Church, Fort Myers Beach, honored Robert Stuckey May 25 on his retirement after 20 years as pastor. In his 50 years of ministry, he also served churches in Illinois, Indiana, Texas and Iowa, where he was executive director of the Iowa Southern Baptist Fellowship. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.; and Golden Gate Theological Seminary, Mill Valley, Cal. He and his wife, Suzanne, have four children and seven grandchildren.

SANTA ROSA

Immanuel Baptist Church, Pace, has called Sam Fitts as minister of education. He previously served as pastor of Tarrant Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. He is a graduate of Samford University and Beeson School of Divinity, also in Birmingham. He and his wife, Iris, have a son and three grandchildren.

SHILOH

J. Hugh and Marilyn Long, members of Turkey Creek Baptist Church in Plant City, serve as mission volunteers with the Cold Bay (Alaska) Chapel on the Aleutian Island chain. They will be visiting Plant City on leave through June 22. For more information, e-mail DRJAY357@aol.com.

SUNCOAST

First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Largo will host an evening of classical music, “A Celebration of Song,” June 3 at 7 p.m. Soprano Melody Kielisch and tenor Girogio Aristo will sing along with the Indian Rocks Celebration Choir and Orchestra. For more information, call 727-595-3421 or go to www.indianrocks.org.