Florida's agencies reflect 'Better Together' theme

DAYTONA BEACH (FBW)—Echoing the Florida Baptist Convention's 2007 annual meeting theme, "We are better together," Jerry Haag, president of the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, joined other agency leaders during the two-day meeting Nov. 12-13, to talk about how Baptists' unified approach strengthens ministry efforts.

The Florida Baptist Children's Home

Haag began with a story about Frank and Jerry, two young men who were taken to the children's homes in the 1930's when they were eight and nine years old. There the boys were introduced to Jesus Christ and both accepted Him as their Savior and Lord.

Now, more than 70 years later, Haag said Frank and Jerry believe the ministry of the FBCH has indelibly influenced their lives and the lives of their wives, children and grandchildren.

"We are changing these lives, but we are also impacting generations," Haag said.

As Haag spoke, a slideshow played on two large monitors on either side of the podium.

Smiling faces of children who live in the homes associated with the FBCH flashed on the screen. No two children were exactly alike. There were girls and boys, fair and dark, preschoolers and teens. Some were energetic, some were quiet. Most likely all have a special story to tell.

Haag told messengers they were responsible for changing the lives of the children they had just seen.

"The lives of these children that you see have been changed forever because of your prayers and because of your participation with the Cooperative Program and your gifts to the Mother's Day Offering and your individual gifts," he said.

The Florida Baptist Children's Homes written report given to messengers shows in the past year the FBCH:

• Coordinated 85 Christian foster homes where children are fed, clothed and loved;

• Provided 5,218 hours of sanctity of life training for 546 individuals;

• Surpassed the goal of $1.3 million for the annual Mother's Day offering;

• Planned construction of the York Cot­tage in Tallahassee that will be completed next year; and,

"That's the good part of the story," Haag said. "But there's also a sad part of the story," he said, reciting the number, "155,700."

That's the number he said represents the children in Florida who have been reported as neglected or abused in the last year.

Citing James 1:27, which talks about the church's job of caring for widows and children, Haag urged believers to exercise their right, their responsibility and their "God-given mandate" to care for the children.

"Together we can make an impact on each of their lives, together we can help change all of their eternities," Haag said.

The Baptist College of Florida

The training of future church leaders and preachers at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville is enhanced by a new laboratory for preaching and pastoral ministry, Thomas A. Kinchen, the college president, said in Daytona Beach.

"We want folks to know how to do the practice of ministry with the dignity that is deserved by our people," Kinchen said.

Students at the college have had many opportunities this year to participate in missions and ministry around the world including in the U.S., Russia, Canada and Brazil, Kinchen told messengers.

"We are seeing an outpouring of God's Spirit on the students who want to go out into the all the parts of the world and we are being faithful in training them to go there," Kinchen said.

According to Kinchen's written report, 100 individuals went to 16 countries and 17 states on summer missions.

Kinchen shared with the messengers how BCF illustrates the convention theme.

"We are better together because Florida Baptists are committed to providing the very best in Bible-based, Christ-centered education so that we might be about the business of changing the world through the unchanging Word of Jesus Christ," he said.

Faculty members at the college are committed to bringing the best instruction to the students, Kinchen said. Recently, Mark Rathel, a faculty member at the college, became the first certified apologetics instructor in the Southern Baptist Convention. Rathel represents the "quality and commitment of the faculty at your college," Kinchen said.

Kinchen encouraged the messengers to pray for the students already enrolled and said that continuing to send students to the college would be a way of "working together as we prepare the next generation of the armies of Christ to go out in a lost and dying world."

Florida Baptist Witness

In his report to messengers, James A. Smith Sr., the executive editor of the Florida Baptist Witness, said the Witness is "the best way to learn on a weekly basis about our cooperation in missions."

"Your newspaper has the privilege of reporting the truth that Baptists are indeed better together," Smith told messengers. He said the Witness has been the official newspaper of the FBC since 1884, a span of nearly 125 years, and its strong mission-centered philosophy has continued to the present day.

This year, as in past years, Smith said the Witness has given extensive coverage to the mission offerings of Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong, the Florida Baptist Children's Homes and Maguire State, illustrating the power of cooperation among Florida Baptist churches and the impact that it has on the community.

Also, in celebration of the 300-year anni­versary of the Baptist associations in the U.S., Smith pointed to a special series of profile articles on Florida associations which have been published in the Witness, focusing on the "unity" within the associations which provide for greater ministry opportunities.

Smith highlighted articles featuring the testimonies of Christian student athletes, saying they encouraged readers "young and old" and provided a fresh perspective on the influence that Christ has in the lives of high profile athletes such as Tim Tebow and Drew Weatherford.

In a broader sense, the Witness has continued to be an "excellent source of information" on issues within the state and local government system, Smith said.

"This year has seen the Witness continue its aggressive coverage of cultural, moral and public policy issues of concern to Florida Baptists ... reporting on the actions of the Legislature and Florida Baptist's efforts to influence the decisions, as well as editorial reflection, especially concerning efforts to expand gambling in the Sunshine State," Smith said.

In his written report, Smith also shared concerns for the future.

"We are discouraged that more Florida Baptists did not take advantage of Florida Baptist Witness Sunday in August to promote this vital ministry...." He said "a major postal rate increase and printing increase together with the stagnant subscription, advertising and Cooperative Program revenues present a major challenge for the 2008 budget."

Smith concluded his oral report by voicing his heartfelt gratitude to the many individuals who have expressed their condolences to him and his family on the unexpected loss of his father, Floyd E. Smith.

In an emotional moment, Smith said in a soft, but controlled voice: "The phone calls, e-mails, cards and other expressions of con­cern and the scores of you who have comforted me in just the last two days here in Daytona, have touched me deeply and I will forever be grateful.

"I have learned in a special way in recent days, we are, indeed, better together," Smith said.

Florida Baptist Financial Services

The Florida Baptist Retirement Center in Vero Beach received the highest grade possible from the Agency for Health Care Admin­istration, Eddie L. McClelland, president and CEO of Florida Baptist Financial Services, told messengers.

"All of the glory goes to the Lord," McClelland said.

The 125 residents of the FBRC can receive a number of services including, "skilled nursing care, assisted living care, independent villas and individual rooms and cottages," McClelland explained.

"That is an accomplishment to which I add my appreciation to our administrator and all of the staff for doing an outstanding job," McClelland said. "That's an accomplish­ment worth saying 'amen.'"

Florida Baptist Financial Services is a not-for-profit ministry operating with three subsidiary corporations: the Florida Baptist Foundation, the Church Growth Investment Fund and the Florida Baptist Retirement Center. The Florida Baptist Credit Union is a sister corporation supported by FBFS.

According to the written re­port, the Florida Baptist Foun­da­tion distributed $1.3 million in earnings from trust funds to Florida Baptist and Southern Baptist causes during 2006.

"We are standing in the gap with our churches helping meet the needs of growing churches in a very expensive part of the state," McClelland said.

McClelland also encouraged messengers to es­tablish personal charitable endowment funds. He said doing so sends a "deeply personal statement about who you are and what you believe."