Florida News

Webster leaves Legislature with family, principles, faith intact
Florida’s longest currently serving legislator retires after 28 years

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Daniel Webster was “minding [his] own business” 28 years ago — rearing a young family, running his family air conditioning contracting company, and serving as a lay leader in his church — when he asked a question that changed his life: “Who sets public policy?”

Art celebrates creation at Wayside Baptist Church exhibit

MIAMI (FBW)—In an effort to equip church members to defend their faith in the God of creation, Wayside Baptist Church in Miami declared April “Creation Month.” The culmination of the emphasis was an art exhibit, “The Inspiration of Creation,” April 25-27.

Florida Bible Drillers, speaker head to national stage

ORLANDO (FBC)—Three homeschooled teenagers took top honors in the Florida State Bible Drills and Speakers Tournament April 26 in Orlando. For hundreds of Florida Baptist youth and children, the annual event, hosted by First Baptist Church in Orlando, was the culmination of months of honing Bible skills at home then exhibiting them at church and associational events.

Bible Driller urges others to hide God’s Word in their hearts

ORLANDO (FBC)—Eight years of Bible Drills have instilled life lessons in 17-year-old Lydia Kulpa of St. Augustine.

Florida Baptist Convention wins awards at Baptist Communicators

PHOENIX, ARIZ. (FBC)—The Florida Baptist Convention’s Public Relations Division staff received accolades for professional achievements from the Baptist Communicators Association during the 2008 Wilmer C. Fields Awards competition April 18 at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort in Phoenix, Ariz.

Florida soldier killed with Bible nearby

SEBRING (FBW)—The thought of her son’s Bible fluttering in the wind beside his still body brought a certain comfort to Marcus Mathes’ mother when she was told he was killed in a mortar attack in Iraq April 28.

BCF voice professor to teach, tour in Italian countryside
Kimberle Moon to lecture in voice anatomy, physiology

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Kimberle Moon, professor of voice at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, is touring this summer in Italy with IdeaNove, an organization dedicated to introducing Italian singers to American musical theater and providing vocal coaching from highly trained professionals.

Potential of working together realized in 1925

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Imagine every Sunday having people lined up at your church eager to present the mission causes of their agencies and to request your financial support. While the appeal would be worthy and compelling, the constant barrage of pleas could become overwhelming.

Ed Johnson: Personal passion for Cooperative Program

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The year was 1973 and the young pastor and his wife, serving a church in east Tennessee had finally, sadly accepted the reality that they would be unable to give birth to a child. With prayer and faith, the couple turned to Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes.

Korean congregation happily participates in Cooperative Program

MELBOURNE (FBC)—With pen in hand, David Lee writes a check each month to the Cooperative Program and remembers how the cooperation of Florida Baptists helped turned his life around. He hopes his church’s participation in the unified giving program will have a life-changing impact on others.

Bunkley: Gambling expansion failure highlights session
Passage of competing bills results in failure of evolution academic freedom

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—With narrow defeats for pro-life and evolution academic freedom legislation during the 60-day Florida legislative session, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley highlighted the positive by pointing to the failure of gambling expansion bills as a “huge win for families.”

In praise of Senator Daniel Webster

Florida Baptist Witness sought comments about Sen. Daniel Webster from various persons who know him. Those comments are excerpted here, along with other praise offered on behalf of Webster in his retirement from the Florida Legislature.

Legislature Watch

Bunkley: Gambling expansion failure highlights session
Passage of competing bills results in failure of evolution academic freedom

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—With narrow defeats for pro-life and evolution academic freedom legislation during the 60-day Florida legislative session, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley highlighted the positive by pointing to the failure of gambling expansion bills as a “huge win for families.”

Editorial
When no action is good—and bad—in legislating

The recently concluded 60-day Florida legislative session demonstrated the truth that when it comes to legislating, oftentimes no action is the best result. Unfortunately, the session also underscored the tragedy when legislators fail to act when human life and children’s worldviews are at risk.

Tie vote kills ultrasound abortion bill in Senate

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—In a 20-20 tie vote, the Florida Senate defeated April 30 a bill requiring women seeking an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy to have an ultrasound.

In praise of Senator Daniel Webster

Florida Baptist Witness sought comments about Sen. Daniel Webster from various persons who know him. Those comments are excerpted here, along with other praise offered on behalf of Webster in his retirement from the Florida Legislature.

Webster leaves Legislature with family, principles, faith intact
Florida’s longest currently serving legislator retires after 28 years

TALLAHASSEE (FBW)—Daniel Webster was “minding [his] own business” 28 years ago — rearing a young family, running his family air conditioning contracting company, and serving as a lay leader in his church — when he asked a question that changed his life: “Who sets public policy?”

Florida News Briefs

Call to prayer issued to Florida Baptists

‘Simple church’ conference May 29

Three regional DR training events set for May and June throughout state

Harmony Bay youth camp July 7-11

Children’s music and worship week July 14-18 at Lake Yale

Florida Focus

Florida Focus

A one-time announcement of special events is a free service provided by the Witness to Florida Baptist churches. Please send materials at least three weeks before the date of the event, to Florida Baptist Witness, 1230 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32207, fax 904-346-0696 or submitted using our online form. Items received after deadline may appear in our exclusive on-line version.