Florida Baptist State Convention agencies thankful for CP, admit challenges

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The Baptist College of Florida

In his Nov. 15 report to messengers in Fort Myers for the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting, Thomas A. Kinchen, president of The Baptist College of Florida, described the Graceville school as "the most exciting work of Florida Baptists."

Calling the college "unapologetically conservative," Kinchen said it is achieving "a vision that is bigger than we ever thought."

The school's 725 students are taught by more than 50 "faithful faculty" who instruct their charges in "mandates of the Word," Kinchen said. He said the faculty saves time in education by not having to debate whether the Bible is true, as in secular institutions. These same schools may produce nuclear physicists, Kinchen said, but BCF aims to produce "God-called men and women who will share the Gospel."

Kinchen, who described himself as a "pick-up driving conservative," said the faculty is committed to their purpose.

"The world is too lost, hell too hot and Jesus too sweet not to train students to share the Gospel," Kinchen said.

BCF graduates serve churches in the U.S. and in China, Africa, South America and Europe, Kinchen reported. Current students may receive instruction anywhere in the world through college extensions and the Internet. BCF now offers training in pastoral leadership for Baptist pastors in Brazil. The Graceville campus is becoming a regional center for training bivocational ministers from Florida, Alabama and Georgia, he said.

Kinchen told Convention messengers the school will soon have an endowed faculty chair dedicated to teaching and promoting the Cooperative Program.

"We believe in it; it's who we are," Kinchen said about the "God blessed" Southern Baptist program of funding ministries.

President Kinchen asked for Florida Baptists' help in recruiting students for BCF. He said the school is "one of two of the least expensive Baptist educational institutions."

"Give us a shot at your students," Kinchen asked.

Florida Baptist Children's Homes

Jimmy McAdams, president of Florida Baptist Children's Homes (FBCH), gave his report to messengers with the help of Miss Mildred, a puppet well-loved on the campuses of FBCH, and Julie Boyd, a ventriloquist and administrator of FBCH's Panhandle division.

Boyd asked Miss Mildred if she knew McAdams had announced his retirement and planned to move to Georgia.

"Well, I didn't know it, but it's no matter," Mildred replied. "My goodness, look at him, he's plum tuckered out!"

McAdams announced his intention to retire no later than May 1, 2007, in the Oct. 24 meeting of the FBCH trustees. His goals for his administration were to give direction to a campus culture which emphasizes positive personalities, powerful community, and purposeful activities; improve FBCH fiscal health, and facilitate "marriage renewal" between the FBCH and churches, according to the FBCH written report.

McAdams asked Mildred if she'd had fun at the convention.

"I tell you it's been right fun. I've had three proposals," Mildred replied. "One of them was from Don Hepburn. Oh, he really steams up my glasses. I tell you one thing, I can't hear real good. I could have sworn I heard them talking about d-d-d-d-dancin' yesterday," Mildred continued, referring to Richard Powell's sermon Sunday.

Reading from Luke 7:12, McAdams said the best measurement for a society's success is the type of children it produces. According to McAdams, FBCH served 691 children and 64 adults with developmental disabilities in 2006. More than 1000 family members received direct care, 42 children professed faith in Christ during the year, FBCH maintained 85 foster homes and concluded 37 adoptions.

"Those are reasons for rejoicing," McAdams said to a loud "amen" by Mildred.

McAdams reported that the convention approved a plan to relocate the FBCH Miami campus. They hope to move to another place in Miami-Dade County, McAdams said.

FBCH also renovated Carlton Cottage in Tallahassee. December 10 FBCH will break ground on a new state-of-the-art cottage paid for by a Tallahassee couple, Mr. and Mrs. Roy York, and will within weeks build a new facility on the Lakeland campus. McAdams also reported FBCH made agreements with four community-based groups to provide facilities to serve children within their communities.

FBCH uses funds from the Cooperative Program-the agency receives 4.3 percent of CP gifts-and the Mother's Day offering, which has met its goal the last two years, only for children's services, McAdams said. Gifts from individual and business donors aid in building and remodeling, McAdams added.

Florida Baptists can help FBCH through their gifts, offerings, volunteering to be foster parents or adopting a child, McAdams said.

"You know what they call somebody who keeps on talking when nobody's listening," Boyd said as McAdams concluded his report. "A preacher," Mildred replied.

The FBCH written report incorporated several accomplishments from the past year:

•Five residents graduated high school and one from college.

•Held third annual "Camp of Champions" at Lake Yale.

•Developed plan for alternative power supply in case of disaster.

FBCH goals for 2007 include:

•Complete 44 adoptions.

•Reduce staff turnover by three percent.

•Complete construction of Children's Services Center on the Lakeland campus, dedicate new cottage on the Tallahassee campus, and begin construction on Miami's Learning Center.

•Enlist and train 60 church representatives.

•Employ a Director of Human Resources.

•Begin a ministry for developmentally disabled adults in Fort Myers.

•Add 40 new "Friends of Children" and "Heritage Club" members.

Florida Baptist Financial Services

Eddie McClelland, president and CEO of Florida Baptist Financial Services, said the agency exists to promote Christian stewardship and, through its subsidiaries, to manage financial resources to further Kingdom work in Florida.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, Florida Baptist Financial Services (FBFS) is a legal entity holding company that operates through its subsidiary corporations: Florida Baptist Foundation (FBF), Church Growth Investment Fund (CGIF), and Florida Baptist Retirement Center (FBRC). FBFS also works closely with Florida Baptist Credit Union (FBCU.)

"We are committed to being Christ-centered and client-focused with integrity, competence and accountability in carrying out the responsibilities of our ministries," McClellan said. "Each day this year God has blessed us and continues to bless us and allows us to participate both in investments and Christian stewardship to help our churches in the lives of His people."

The combined assets of FBFS have grown from 88 million dollars to over 138 million dollars in six years, McClellan reported.

"We are a Florida Baptist, Great Commission-supporting ministry," McClellan said. "Our mission purpose is to not only make an impact, but a significant impact in the ministries and the financial lives of all Florida Baptists. We are partners with you in fulfilling your mission."

McClelland issued a personal challenge for every individual Florida Baptist to create, establish and eventually fund a personal charitable endowment.

"Our focus is and will always be to serve Florida Baptists to strengthen and encourage charitable ministry giving as an integral part of your life," McClellan said. "Your personal endowment will be an important part of your legacy. It is a timeless record of your earthly stewardship for all future generations of Florida Baptist churches and ministries to thrive on and advance the Kingdom.

The FBFS report highlighted several activities:

•Tom Morris of Tampa was elected chairman and David Rice of St. Augustine was elected vice chairman for 2006-2007 board term. Rudie Guta of Panama City, John Holloway of Bartow, and Richard Overman of Middleburg are new trustees.

• As of June 30, FBFS companies totaled over $138.7 million in assets under management: FBF managed $75.4 million, CGIF $37.1 million and FBCU $$22.4 million.

• FBF distributed $11,055,8311 in earnings from trust funds to Southern Baptist causes from 1996-2005.

• More than 66 new accounts opened with FBF and CGIF in 2005, totaling $8 million.

•FBF and CGIF funded over $63.2 million in church loans through the Church Loan Program from Jan. 1995-April 2006.

•All FBFS companies received "unqualified" opinion audits.

•The State of Florida nursing home guide gave FBRC at Vero Beach a five-star rating for its overall inspection, quality of care, and quality of life for 2005-2006.

Florida Baptist Witness

James A Smith Sr., executive editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, in reporting in the Nov. 14 evening session of the Florida Baptist State Convention, said economic conditions and Baptist controversies create "extremely challenging days to be a Baptist state paper editor."

"It appears Southern Baptists are entering a new period of controversy and upheaval at the very time when the economics of publishing a newspaper that relies upon a paid circulation is becoming increasingly difficult," Smith said.

Smith, who accepted the call to lead the paper in 2001, compared support of a Baptist newspaper to a church calling a pastor. Both a pastor and Baptist newspaper, to remain faithful to their mandate, must deliver unpopular, difficult messages, he said.

"In order to really know how good the Good News is, God wants us to know how bad sinners are," he said

The value of the Florida Baptist Witness' mission is three-fold, Smith said. It is biblical. As New Testament writers described the mandate to Christ's followers as "publishing," announcing" or "bringing" the Good News to the world, so the Witness "publishes Good News about God's work that edifies, educates, exhorts and empowers Florida Baptist to exalt God and extend His Kingdom."

As stated in its mission statement, the Witness is focused on assisting Florida Baptists.

"Our purpose is, and must remain, to be a helpful partner to churches and individual Christians," Smith said.

The Witness' mission also is God-centered. Just as an individual Christian's mission is to glorify God, the Witness focuses on reminding the readers "it's God's work that is being accomplished, and it is God Himself Who is accomplishing that work," he said.

Florida Baptists may help the ministry of the Witness by publishing their church newsletters through church newsletter publishing partnerships, by church-wide promotions of the Witness, by subscribing to the Witness for a friend, and by "praying for us," he said.

"Ask the Father to give the Witness staff wisdom, stamina and courage to be faithful to the task Florida Baptists have assigned to us," Smith requested.