Educators, DOMS, historians & musicians gather

DAYTONA BEACH (FBW)—Several organizations related to the Florida Baptist Convention met Nov. 12 at the facilities of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach and in other locales before the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting convened in Daytona Beach.

FLORIDA BAPTIST CHURCH MUSIC CONFERENCE

Those meeting for the Florida Baptist Church Music Conference were advised by composer/arranger Derric Johnson to be pliable and portable when seeking God's will. He outlined five contemporary myths about God's will, and extolled the confidence Christians have in God, Who "never arrives too late with too little."

Johnson said 21st century people believe God will give you a road map for your life, when, in fact, it is a relationship with Himself that He gives; they believe that God is a "celestial killjoy," when His will is what you really want, "if you had sense enough to want it;" they believe that God speaks to only special people, when He speaks to anyone who wants to hear. Most people believe that God's will is "permanent placement" when God keeps "moving you along."

"When you have more memories than dreams, it's time to move on," Johnson said.

People also believe that God hides His will and we have to find it, like a "celestial Easter egg hunt," when it may be "a matter of choice." Johnson said his personal evaluation of opportunities offered him begins with the question, "How can I do the greatest good for the most people in the least amount of time?"

Johnson said following God's will requires confidence in the God we follow, commitment to the task, concentration in hearing God, and our completion of the task.

"God is more interested in character than comfort," he said. "There is no middle ground. It is pass or fail."

In business session, the church music conference voted to meet every other year, in even years. Because of the meeting change, membership fees changed from $20 to $35.

Officers for 2008 include: Archie Jackson, Hibernia Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, president; Terry Jordan, West Bradenton Baptist Church, president-elect; David Morrell, Miami Shores Baptist Church, vice-president; and Herb Stucky, First Baptist Church in Branford, secretary/treasurer.

FLORIDA BAPTIST CHAPLAINS' CONFERENCE

The Florida Baptist Chaplains' Conference, in an effort to form teams of encouragers in crises, heard veteran chaplains' advice in dealing with "people who have glazed looks" after disasters. Barnabus Groups, with the title "Compassion in Crisis," were trained during the group's annual gathering.

Working with the Disaster Relief Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, Barnabus Groups, along with Prayer Teams and DR chaplains, will provide spiritual care to those affected by disasters.

Chaplain Bob Jacoby, who is affiliated with South Miami Hospital, told the crowd to follow Jesus' example in weeping with those who weep. As a "paraclete," Barnabus Group members are present in crises to encourage and strengthen - not to give advice, but to help "interpret the situation," he said. Sensitivity is crucial in introducing faith matters.

"Even 'God loves you' may be answered with 'If God loves me, then why...?" Jacoby said.

Jacoby cautioned Barnabus Group volunteers against making the following comments: "I understand;" "It's God's will;" "You'll get over it;" It's all for the best;" "She/he had a good life."

Instead volunteers may say: "I'm sorry;" "It's OK to cry;" "May I pray for you?" "This must be awful for you;" "Tell me about (person)," he said.

"Don't assume anything, and take nothing for granted," Jacoby continued. "If you are in doubt about saying something, don't."

Disaster Relief chaplain Rick Barnes compared the ministry process of Disaster Relief to a farmer who plants seeds with faith, patience and hope. Disaster Relief prepares the soil, he said, and Barnabus Groups plant the seeds of truth and trust the Lord for the harvest. Citing Deut. 31:8 and Is. 52:12, he assured the volunteers they are not alone in evangelism ministry.

"The Lord goes before you, and He also is your rear guard," Barnes said.

The chaplains' conference honored the ministries of two of their own during the gathering. Ron Underwood, wing chaplain at Patrick Air Force Base, was honored as career chaplain of the year; and Howard Swink from Cocoa, for his long-time volunteer work as a disaster relief chaplain.

FLORIDA BAPTIST DIRECTORS OF MISSION

The directors of missions of Florida's 49 associations, meeting in South Daytona, heard Bob Bumgarner, director of the Church Development Division of the Florida Baptist Convention, tell of new possible formats for associational leadership training. The DOMs made suggestions for the training events two months ago, and the plans are a result of their suggestions.

A new personality profile product, Dynamos, was introduced to the group. Pete Menendez, director of missions for the Marion Baptist Association, provided resources to DOMs who want to put their dreams for their associations into reality. Bob Greene, Pensacola Bay Association and Hershel Adams, Choctaw Association, along with Menendez, participated in a panel discussion on "How to Re-Dream a Dream for Your Association."

The DOM's spring retreat is set for May 19-21 at the Wyndham Hotel in Jacksonville. Craig Culbreth, announcing plans for the retreat with suitcase in hand, unpacked the case to find a mirror, for looking at how to lead; a notebook represented different approaches to pastors; a LEGO set represented how the associational structure works in the state; and a 2,000-piece jigsaw puzzle represented identifying and dissecting the needs of your community. For more information and reservations for the retreat, call 1-800-226-8584, ext. 3133.

Officers for 2008 include president, Hershel Adams, Choctaw; president-elect, Dennis Belz, Halifax; vice-president, David Drake, Northeast Florida; secretary-treasurer, Pete Menendez, Marion; recreation director, Harvey Webb, Treasure Coast; and prayer promotion and webmaster, Wayne Harvey, Santa Fe River.

Retired directors of missions met separately for a time with Bob Cook, retired DOM from St. Johns River Association.

FLORIDA BAPTIST HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Florida Baptist Historical Society met at the Hilton Hotel before the Florida Baptist State Convention convened at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The most pressing item of business, according to Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Windsor, was the society's lack of annual associational minutes since 1980.

The Historical Society has maintained records of each association in Florida since 1846, and must depend on associational clerks and secretaries to send the records. Windsor said only one association—Middle Florida Baptist Association—has a complete set of associational records. Current records and scanned copies of old minutes may be e-mailed to jmwindsor@baptistcollege.edu, and hard copies of the documents may be mailed to 5400 College Dr. Graceville, FL 32440. The records may be in church or home attics, and could be thrown away by well-meaning helpers who may not know their significance, he said.

"If we don't have the minutes, we can't research them, we can't microfilm them and we can't offer them to others for research," he said. "We are crying out for help in this effort."

In other business, the society adopted topics for its journals 2007-2010: 2007, 300 years of associational work; 2008, the influence of Convention Press upon the theology and ecclesiology of Southern Baptist churches; 2009, the 400th anniversary of Baptist work; 2010, issues that shaped Florida Baptists, such as poverty, immigration, war, gender, disasters and economics.

The 2007 Heritage Award was presented posthumously to Pope A. Duncan, former professor at Stetson University, DeLand, and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. He also served as president of Stetson, and as the first director of the Florida Baptist Historical Society in 1950. Duncan retired in 2001 as provost of Stetson, and died in 2003. The award was accepted by his daughter, Mary-Margaret Duncan Jones.

The Church History Award was presented to Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola for its hard-bound, 143-page history, Hillcrest Heritage A Lasting Legacy. The book, which Windsor said featured "first quality printing," was written in honor of the church's 50th anniversary in 2005. Elaine Cox, a member of Hillcrest's history committee, accepted the award.

FLORIDA BAPTIST RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR'S ASSOCIATION

Ron Pratt, event planner for Ridgecrest and Glorieta conference centers from LifeWay Christian Resources, said the key to Christian education is "what we do out of a love relationship with the Father." He asked the assembled educators to return to be basics by asking, "What is Christian education?"

Pratt cited Matthew 22:37-40 in urging the educators at their annual meeting to "fall more and more in love with God and people - not technology or programs."

"If we could get our hearts and heads around this, there would be revival in America," he said.

After reading an article by Salem Communications' Bob Burney (Florida Baptist Witness, Nov. 15) which reported the results of a study recently released by Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago which revealed their "seeker-sensitive" methods are ineffective in making disciples, Pratt asked the group to brainstorm reasons church education has waned over the last 20 years. Answers included the movement toward fellowship rather than discipleship, study groups moving outside the church into homes, and the loss of a unifying "authoritative voice" from the former Sunday School Board.

The group agreed that God's Word, our text, and the needs of people have not changed.

Pratt described the task of a minister of education as "developing disciples who make decisions based on the Bible and not culture." A leader, he said is one can "take people places they may not want to go, or go on their own."

Officers for 2008 were elected: president, Don Stanley, Southpointe Baptist, Leesburg; president-elect, Johnnie Neal, First Baptist, Winter Garden; vice-president, Steve Morris, First Baptist, Plant City; secretary-treasurer, Mike Hatfield, First Baptist, Kissimmee.

The FBREA spring retreat is set for April 24 at the Lakeside Inn in Mt. Dora. Jim Henry, pastor-emeritus of First Baptist Church, Orlando, will speak, and illusionist Ken Hartley will entertain.