2005 FBSC Pastors’ Conference

Pastors told to constantly replenish, be themselves

OCALA (FBW)—Humor and humility marked the Nov. 13-14 “Water for Warriors” 2005 Florida Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference hosted by First Baptist Church in Ocala.

2005 FBSC Annual Meeting

Leaders sign marriage amendment petition in symbolic gesture, told to fight worldview
Florida Baptists re-elect Wicker in Ocala

OCALA (FBC)—Seeking to galvanize the 1,975 messengers and visitors in at­ten­dance to action, leaders of the Florida Baptist State Convention publicly signed the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment during its 144th annual meeting Nov. 14-15 in Ocala.

Ocala’s Celebrate Jesus prompts witness training, yields 35 professions of faith

OCALA (FBC)—Seated in the pews of Wyomina Baptist Church, 160 youth from 12 churches across Florida listened intently, train­ing to take the Gospel to Ocala’s communities. When their activity was complete, 11 spiritually lost souls would be won for Christ during the Nov. 12 “Student Jesus Project.”

Wicker to Florida Baptists: ‘It’s transformation time’

OCALA (FBW) – In times of “frustration and failure,” Christians must “turn to the great Transformer, the creative Christ who makes all things new,” Hayes Wicker preached Nov. 14 in his president’s message at the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Ocala.

State Board hires two new employees, transfers a third

OCALA (FBC)—Convening twice in conjunction with the Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 14-15 in Ocala, the State Board of Missions employed two new staff persons and transferred a current employee to a newly created position.

Sullivan: Christology of the Gospel important

OCALA (FBC)—“It doesn’t matter what else we say, what else we preach, if we don’t get this right—the Christology of the Gospel—we may as well declare ourselves a civic club, a social club or some other entity,” said John Sullivan, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention. “This is the most important thing about the Word of God.

Colson: ‘Moral will’ of Americans comes from Christian church

OCALA (FBW)—Exposing a “clash” inherent among worldviews, Charles Colson contrasted evolution with Intelligent Design and Islam with Christianity in his address to messengers Nov. 14 on the first day of the two-day annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

God interested in ‘hearts and issues’ of Southern Baptist seminaries, Roberts says

OCALA (FBW)–Phil Roberts, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo., greeted messengers on behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention and the six SBC seminaries.

Sid Smith honored after retirement
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Florida Baptist Convention ready to assist churches
Division directors report to messengers at annual meeting

Evangelism Division Director David Burton, called attention to the “Everyone Can” campaign during a report Tuesday evening Nov. 15 and encouraged messengers attending the annual convention meeting to commit to leading at least one person to Christ.

Members of State Board of Missions, committees, elected

OCALA (FBC)–Nominations and appointments to state boards and committees were announced by the Committee on Nominations at the Florida Baptist State Convention in Ocala, Nov. 14-15. Messengers to the convention voted to approve the report, but the appointments were not subject to action by the convention.

Dirty hands lead to clean hearts, evangelist says

OCALA (FBW)—Christians should get their hands dirty touching the “unwanted” and “unloved” in society according to Kelly Green, staff evangelist at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon.

Cross urges messengers go on ‘search and rescue’ mission

OCALA (FBW) – Like emergency personnel deployed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating flooding that endangered the lives New Orleans’ residents who were helpless to save themselves, Florida Baptists must be willing to do “whatever it takes” to “seek and save” those who are dying without Jesus Christ, John Cross preached Nov. 15 during the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting.

Florida Baptist agencies committed to ‘extending the Kingdom’

Messages expound on ‘Together Toward Tomorrow’ theme

OCALA (FBC)–Throughout the two-day Florida Baptist State Convention, the theme, “Together Toward Tomorrow” was fleshed out by theme interpretations at each session. These thematic Bible studies examined: “Seeing the Vision,” “Supporting the Work,” “Strengthening the Saints” and “Sharing the Faith.”

Pastors share ‘heartbreak,’ Shepherd prays for God’s vision

OCALA (FBC)–Jet-lagged after traveling nearly 24 hours on a cramped plane, a team of 15 people from First Baptist Church in Sarasota and First Baptist Church in Osprey landed in Zimbabwe for six days of life-changing ministry.

Messengers: FBSC annual meeting ‘inspiring,’ helpful

OCALA (FBW)–“It’s been an inspiring Convention,” said Jerry Montgomery, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Villages in Sommerfield. “This is the third one in a row we’ve attended and they just keep getting better.”

Organizations meet before annual Convention

OCALA (FBW)–Before the slew of Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting sessions Nov. 14-15, several ministry organizations met to fellowship, elect officers, organize, strategize, encourage and instruct.

Baptist historical work rewarded
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‘Apples of gold’ symbolize value of ministers’ wives

OCALA (FBC)—Gathered around silver-trimmed tables donned with apples of gold, 195 ministers’ wives met for encouragement and to hear keynote speaker Rhonda Kelley at the annual Ministers’ Wives Luncheon Nov. 15 at First Baptist Church, Ocala.

2005 FBSC Annual Meeting Preview

Southern Baptists say Anheuser-Busch water controversy misrepresented

CLEWISTON (BP/FBW)–No thirsty person went without water, and no water went to waste, according to Tim Bridges, pastor of First Baptist Church in Clewiston.

Recordings of sermons, messages, available after FBSC annual meeting

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Recordings of sermons and thematic messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 14-15 at First Baptist Church Ocala, will be available for purchase during the two-day meeting in cassette, audio and video formats.

FBSC annual meeting recordings for sale

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Recordings of sermons and thematic messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 14-15 at First Baptist Church Ocala, will be available for purchase during the two-day meeting in cassette, audio and video formats.

BCF dessert social rescheduled

FBSC annual meeting live on the web Nov. 14-15 from Ocala

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–Florida Baptists will have the opportunity to watch live gavel-to-gavel web coverage of the 144th Annual Meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 14-15 via the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) website.

Florida Baptist State Convention meets Nov. 14-15 in Ocala

JACKSONVILLE (FBC) – For the first time in more than 30 years, Florida Baptists will gather in a church sanctuary for inspiration and to conduct business when the 144th Annual Meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention convenes at First Baptist Church of Ocala, Nov. 14-15.

2005 Florida Baptist State Convention Schedule

2005 Pastors’ Conference Schedule

Related meetings planned during convention week

Notice of proposed document revisions

The following recommendations, which are to be presented to the Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 14-15, 2005, by the State Board of Missions, will require changes in the Constitution and Bylaws of the state convention, and therefore must be published in the Witness 30 days in advance. Revisions to the Consti­tu­tion require a two-thirds affirmative vote at two successive annual sessions of the convention. Bylaw changes require a majority vote at one session.

Free financial planning conference in Pensacola Nov. 3 at Bellview Baptist Church

Hotel/Motel Options – Map
Florida Baptist State Convention, Ocala

Committee on Nominations releases report

Nominations and appointments to state boards and committees have been announced by the Committee on Nominations in preparation for the Florida Baptist State Convention in Ocala, Fla., Nov. 14-15. Messengers to the convention will be asked to vote on the nominations, but the appointments are not subject to actions by the convention.