Religious educators, other Convention-related organizations meet in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS (FBW)-Several organizations related to the Florida Baptist Convention met Nov. 13, before the Florida Baptist State Convention convened that evening.

Florida Baptist Religious Educators Associaton

David Francis, Sunday School director at LifeWay Christian Resources, outlined for Florida Baptist Religious Educators trends affecting Christian education and Sunday School during the Nov. 13 annual meeting at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers.

According to Francis, LifeWay is making changes because of demand from church leaders in age group curricula. The publisher is "returning to a clear scope and sequence and foundational stories" for preschool and children's curricula, he said.† A more comprehensive curriculum is being developed for student ministries, and a new curriculum, Bible Studies for Life, will make it possible for youth and adults to study the same Bible passages.

In curricula for adults, LifeWay is developing material for Sunday School classes that are grouped by "life-stage" rather than ages, Francis said. Growth is steady in the "small group" trend, particularly among adults; however, a version of that movement retains on-campus Bible study ministry while creating small groups for discipleship.

Other trends include ministers of education moving toward a "teaching pastor" role, and fewer, though larger, Sunday School classes meeting in limited space. Although some would like to change the name of Sunday School, Francis cautioned against the move because the organization possesses vast "brand name recognition."

Meeting in the Hope Building of McGregor Baptist Church, more than 40 members of FBREA elected officers for 2007: president-elect, Don Stanley, South Pointe Baptist Church, Leesburg; secretary/treasurer, Peggy Mooney, First Baptist Church, Plant City; president, Michael McVay, First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach; vice-president, Johnnie Neal, First Baptist Church, Winter Garden.

The FBREA plans a Spring Retreat April 19-20, 2007, in Mt. Dora.

Florida Baptist Historical Society

The Florida Baptist Historical Society, at its Nov. 13 meeting at the Holiday Inn Select in Fort Myers, debuted its 2006 publication on how to research and write a local church's history. Also new in 2006 is the organization's website, floridabaptisthistory.net, that is "up and running," according to organizational minutes.

The church history brochure and society 2006 journal are available for distribution.

The historical society is collecting Convention Press books, and hopes to add 100 titles to its collection this year. Also the society is seeking current association minutes.

Two officers were re-elected: chairman, Carolyne Melton; vice-chairman, Frances Shaw.

The society honored two Florida Baptists in 2006 through awards presented in the Nov. 14 session of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Marvis R. Snell of First Baptist Church, Gillette, received the second annual Church History Award for her written history, Testimony to Pioneer Baptists.

The 10th Florida Baptist Historical Society Heritage Award was presented posthumously to pastor, educator, historian and author Harry Crawford Garwood. He served as pastor of Stanton Memorial Baptist Church in Miami, and then taught religion at Stanton University in DeLand 39 years.

Florida Baptist Church Music Conference

In its 2006 annual meeting at Riverside Baptist Church in Fort Myers, Florida Baptist musicians' wives were challenged by Alicia Williamson Garcia, artist-in-residence at Liberty Baptist University, to go beyond "excellence in music and energetic presentations" to declaring the Word of God.

Garcia and other musicians from Liberty University, including the 15-member Sounds of Liberty, sang in conference sessions and assisted in teaching. Scott Bullman, minister of music at Thomas Road Baptist Church, also in Lynchburg, Va., taught a session on "The DNA of An Effective Praise Team Ministry."

Dramatist Matt Tullos from Nashville presented several sketches during worship times, and also led a conference on developing church drama ministries. Greg Atkinson of Multisensory Worship/Worship House Videos of Dallas, Texas, led two sessions, on multi-sensory worship and the "life-changing visual church." All conferences were under the theme, We Praise, We Learn, We Grow, We Worship.

"I just wanted to provide a day of revival for ministers of music in Florida," said Doug White, president of the conference.

Terry Williams, director of the Church Music Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, presented his co-worker, Blimp Davis, the Paul Bobbitt Music Award in recognition of his service to Florida Baptists.

In business session, the conference considered a motion that, beginning in 2007, the conference will honor ministers of music who have served in the position for 20, 30 and 40 years. It also will consider in the 2007 Church Music Conference a proposal to meet every other year since the bi-annual fall Worship Expo serves also to gather the group.

Officers for 2007 include: president, Charles Little, First Baptist Church, Lake Wales; president-elect, Archie Jackson, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Jacksonville; secretary/treasurer, Herb Stucky, First Baptist Church, Branford; and vice-president, Darrell Stanford, First Baptist Church, Indialantic.

Chaplains' Conference

Florida Baptist Chaplains gathered at the Holiday Inn Select Nov. 13 to honor retiring Larry Elliott, director of the Church Planning and Revitalization Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, as "Mr. Chaplaincy." A retired chaplain with the Air National Guard, Elliott's Convention department previously held program responsibilities for chaplain ministry.

Marc Johnston, director of the Church and Community Missions Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, will succeed Elliott in leading the chaplains' ministry among Florida Baptists. He spoke to chaplains about the philosophy of chaplaincy and his hopes for the future of the ministry.

Johnson, a disaster relief chaplain, said he wants to elevate chaplaincy. For 27 years, responsibility for the Florida Baptist chaplaincy ministry followed Elliott, moving from one department to another as Elliott's job changed. As a program responsibility of the Church and Community Missions Department, chaplaincy will be led by a department "with other like-minded ministries," he said. He said he also hopes the department name will change to reflect chaplaincy's inclusion.

Johnson said he wants to communicate that chaplaincy is a calling, and to expose chaplaincy to a younger generation by expanding internships and connecting chaplaincy with summer missions.

He also said he wants to communicate the ministry of chaplains. He said more than 12,000 made professions of faith in Christ because of the ministry of Southern Baptist chaplains, who serve in the "pastoral functions of pastor, teacher, evangelist, counselor and administrator."

The chaplains' conference awarded Chaplain of the Year awards to a volunteer chaplain and career chaplain.

Volunteer chaplain Rick Barnes of Fort Myers has served almost 10 years as chaplain for Christian Motorsports International, conducting chapel services at racetracks throughout the state. He also will be training volunteer chaplains and emergency service chaplains through the Florida Baptist Convention.

Career chaplain David Ring is a correctional chaplaincy services specialist with the Florida Department of Corrections, coordinating the work of chaplains in 14 north Florida correctional institutions as they serve 25,000 inmates. A North American Mission Board-endorsed chaplain, he has served in the chaplain ministry 26 years. He currently is associate pastor of jail/prison ministry with First Baptist Church in Panama City Beach.

The conference also honored work in the Jacksonville and Gulf Stream Baptist associations.

The meeting concluded with prayer as the chaplains clustered in small groups.

Directors of Missions Conference

Directors of missions of the Florida Baptist associations met Nov. 13 at Riverside Baptist Church in Fort Myers. The directors heard several speakers explore the theme, Serving Through the Association.

Guest speakers included Eddie McClelland, president of Florida Baptist Financial Services; Tommy Green, pastor, First Baptist Church, Brandon; and Robbie Goss, director of the Christian Counseling Center of the Tampa Bay Baptist Association. Steve Biles, worship leader of First Baptist Church, Lutz, led in worship.

Goss cited the parable of the Good Samaritan in challenging the directors of missions to "cross the road" to care for hurting people. Like Jesus, we must be relevant to our communities by preaching Good News to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, giving beauty for ashes, oil of joy for those mourning and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, he said.

In business session, the directors elected president, Bob Greene, Pensacola Bay Baptist Association; president-elect, Hershel Adams, Choctaw; vice-president, Dennis Belz, Halifax; treasurer, Pete Menendez, Marion; recreation director, Harvey Webb, Treasure Coast; and webmaster, Wayne Harvey, Santa Fe River.

Tom Biles, director of missions of the Tampa Bay Baptist Association, invited the directors to the 2007 national meeting of SBC directors of missions which will convene June 10, 2007, at First Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas. Biles is president of the national organization, which will celebrate its 300th anniversary during the meeting.

For the first time in history, those attending the WMU national meeting will join with the directors of missions for a worship service and rally during which Jim Henry, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando, will speak.