About Us

Our Mission

Florida Baptist Witness publishes Good News about God's work that edifies, educates, exhorts and empowers Florida Baptists to exalt God and extend His Kingdom.

Our Purpose

Since 1884, Florida Baptist Witness has been the weekly newspaper of the Florida Baptist State Convention. With an emphasis on features about the people and ministries of Florida Baptist churches, associations and the state convention, the paper provides a valuable tool for building cooperative ministry among individuals and churches in many diverse settings from the Panhandle to the Keys. The Witness also provides news and information about Southern Baptist ministries across the United States and around the world, as well as discussion of current issues of interest to all Christians.

Our ‘Statement on Editorial Policy’

The Board of Directors of Florida Baptist Witness, as authorized by the Florida Baptist State Convention to establish policies for Florida Baptists’ newspaper, affirms this editorial policy statement to guide the executive editor concerning the mission and objectives of the Witness, and to enhance the operation of the Witness through the exercise of maximum responsible freedom while recognizing this agency’s accountability to Florida Baptists through their State Convention.

Our Staff

James A. Smith Sr. – Executive Editor
John C. Hannigan – Business Manager
Joni B. Hannigan – Managing Editor
Eva Wolever - Assistant Editor
Carolyn Nichols - Newswriter
Andrea Burroughs - Graphic designer
Frances Murray - Bookkeeper

Our Board of Directors

Florida Baptist Witness is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the Florida Baptist State Convention. The following are members of the Witness Board of Directors:

Bob Greene, Chairman, Art Ayris, Don Buckley, John Davis, Walter Davis, Karen Green, Edwin Holton, Ron Lentine, Jeff Overton, Tim Patterson, Richard Powell, William Rice, Donald Walton, Daniel Webster, Ken Whitten

Our Schedule

The Witness is published on a weekly basis every Thursday with the exception of 6 weeks out of the year. The non-publication weeks for 2008 are January 3, January 10, March 27, June 12; July 10; July 17; December 11 and December 25. The Witness will also not publish an issue on January 1 and January 8, 2009.