DAYTONA BEACH (FBC)—"Florida Baptists have a breadth and diversity of congregations in a variety of locations and of different sizes. All are on mission for Christ," said Florida Baptist State Convention President Willy Rice.

Believing the stories of how God is working through some of these churches can inspire others to be faithful in their places of services, Rice ensured testimonies from pastors of five of those congregations were a central feature in Florida Baptists' 146th annual meeting.

John Cross, South Biscayne Church, North Port

John Cross, pastor of South Biscayne Church in North Port, emphasized the centrality of missions to the church he leads. "Missions is not a ministry of our church; it is not one thing we do," he said. "We are on a journey of being missionaries in southwest Florida."

South Biscayne Church, he stated, is willing to do "whatever it takes" in reaching non-believers for Christ; yet, in doing so, the church is committed to "never compromising the word of God." If Christians are not doing their part to fulfill the Great Commission, then we have become the "great compromisers," said Cross, compromising the purpose for which Christ established the church.

Most people who have affiliated with South Biscayne Church in the past few years come from unchurched backgrounds, according to Cross. "We are a church for people who don't do church," he said. A short video featured the variety of people-diverse in age, gender and backgrounds-reached by the church known as the "fellowship of excitement."

David Hughes, Church by the Glades, Coral Springs

Ninety three percent of the population of Broward County is unchurched, according to David Hughes, pastor of Church by the Glades in Coral Springs. "Our church is about reaching those people," he stated.

Nine years ago when Hughes went to Coral Springs as pastor, the church was plateaued. At that point church members, under Hughes' leadership, agreed the only parameters to their church's efforts to reach people would be that outreach initiatives had to be "biblical, legal, moral and had to bring people to Christ," he said. To that end, the church has extensively used media outlets, such as billboards, t-shirts, television commercials; has given away popular gifts or door prizes and, today, offers six weekend worship services, some of which he describes as "rock the flock services." In his first year there, the church baptized 39 people. Last year, more than 500 were baptized.

"Our church is excited about bringing people to Jesus," said Hughes.

Bill Losasso, Pathways Community Church, Largo

"We are a church for the 'least of these,'" said pastor Bill Losasso as he introduced his church, Pathways Community Church in Largo, to annual meeting attendees. Started 12 years ago, the church reaches "broken peo­ple," with whom Losasso said he identifies.

Reared among alcoholism, pornography and gambling, Losasso was in jail five times before he was 21 years old. Long delivered from that lifestyle, today he has a heart for those often forgotten by the church. Path­ways Community Church was the first church in its county to take the Celebrate Recovery program to a local jail. As a result, 48 men and 32 women have made professions of faith in Jesus.

The church is also involved extensively in missions in Guatemala. Missions work is diverse, including the installation of water filters, the construction of homes, the establishment of computer labs and the distribution of Spanish Bibles to all police officers in the country.

"God is doing incredible things. He is doing it everywhere, and He's not done," said Losasso.

Erik Cummings, New Life Church, Carol City

Serving as pastor in the church where his father once served as pastor and where he was saved, baptized and met his wife may sound like Erik Cummings, pastor of new Life Church, Carol City, is in a rut. Yet, the community itself, in the midst of significant transition and continual change, prevents any kind of rut from getting too deep.

"When the Lord opens a door, we must work. When the Lord closes a door, we must wait," said Cummings. His years at the church have included both working and waiting.

In recent days the work has included go­ing into local elementary schools and helping children and also distributing backpacks and school supplies in a local park.

From the time that Cummings was a young­ster, his father encouraged him to take Spanish. He mastered his second language from the time he was in elementary school until he graduated from college. Today his father's encouragement is bearing fruit as New Life Church, primarily African American in its composition, plans to offer worship services in Spanish starting in early 2008.

Augusto Valverde, Resurreccion Iglesia, Miami

"Florida has been, is and will continue to be an incredible mission field," according to Augusto Valverde, pastor of Resurreccion Iglesia in Miami, speaking through an interpreter on a video. The congregation first started as it reached out to Cuban exiles years ago. First generations of immigrants face a variety of challenges, according to Valverde, and the church has a "wonderful security to offer" to those experiencing the uncertainties.

Today the church is multicultural, welcoming Anglo and African Americans as well as second and third generation Hispanics into its fold. Additionally, the church, over the course of 20 years, has been involved in 18 church plants. Resurreccion Iglesia has a commitment to missions, having been in­volved in missions in Cuba and Guatemala as well as local and state missions opportunities.

"Working together, we can evangelize our community and the world," said Valverde. "We are much effective as we work together. We see God glorified through our united work."