‘Rivers of Revival’ to fill, flood, flow in southwest Florida

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—For the second consecutive year, Florida Baptists will gather in a church facility for worship, prayer and to conduct business when McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers hosts the 145th annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 13-14.

In recent years prior to 2005, Florida Baptists held their annual meetings in convention centers, until state convention messengers asked the State Board of Missions to enter in a multi-year experiment of scheduling the annual meetings in church facilities.

In response to their request, the initial meeting was held at First Baptist Church of Ocala in 2005 resulting in “overwhelmingly positive comments,” said Hayes Wicker, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

Wicker, pastor of First Baptist Church of Naples, said meeting in a church produced “greater reverence and attentiveness” as messengers met on “holy ground where the Word of God is preached weekly and people saved.”

Wicker said he hopes this year’s meeting and its theme “Rivers of Revival” will “fill, flood and flow through the life of Florida Baptists to provide a greater sense of those rivers of living water, unleash the power of the Spirit, repentance, surrender, revival and see how it overflows its banks into the needy world.”

Noting that Baptist work in Southwest Florida is “not traditionally strong,” the Naples pastor said having the convention meeting in that region will “boost the work. I’d like to see God bring revival to the area and do something we didn’t expect or plan.” Florida Baptists last met in Southwest Florida in 1992 when the meeting was held in Fort Myers; and prior to that in Sarasota, 1975 and 1967.

Wicker said he longed for the messages, theme and Scripture to help “people going through difficult times and diverse trials to sense still waters, green pastures and get a refreshing drink at this year’s convention.”

The two-day meeting will begin on Monday evening with the theme “Rivers of Revival ... Drinking Deeply” and scheduled messages by Fred Wolfe of Barnabas Ministries and former pastor of Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala., and Mac Brunson, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Wicker will deliver the president’s address that evening. Prior to coming to Jacksonville in April, Brunson served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas.

On Tuesday morning, the theme “Rivers of Revival ... Pouring Out” is expected to be highlighted by Wolfe and through the convention sermon by Craig Conner, pastor of First Baptist Church of Panama City. Conner has led the Panhandle church since 1988, which averages 1,600 persons in Sunday School and 2,000 persons in four morning worship services.

Noted evangelist and biblical apologist Voddie Baucham will speak Tuesday afternoon on the theme “Rivers of Revival ... Flowing Forth.” John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, will present a message on “The Doctrine of Missions.”

The concluding session on Tuesday evening with the theme “Rivers of Revival ... Filling Up,” will feature Baucham and Tom Elliff, International Mission Board vice president for spiritual nurture and church growth and former pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, Okla.

Musicians during the two-day event include Miguel Cruz of Naples, Florida Baptist Singing Men and Women, the Praise Team from McGregor Baptist Church and choir from First Baptist Church of Naples.

Also scheduled are the “Voices of Liberty” ensemble from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.; “Three 16” from First Baptist Church of Plantation; and Damien Dailey, soloist, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville.

This year, messengers will elect a new Convention president to guide and lead the one million Baptists in 2007. A recent revision in the Convention’s Bylaws and Constitution enables the president to serve a second one-year term. Wicker, the first president to be re-elected to two terms, is not eligible for re-election. Other officers to be elected are First and Second Vice President and Recording Secretary.

Business conducted at the meeting includes the consideration of a record $41 million Cooperative Program budget to fund Southern Baptist and Florida Baptist mission and ministry causes and a slate of nominees to serve as trustees of agencies and institutions.