Religious educators hear Woodstock leader; historians plan ‘Baptist distinctives’ sermons
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
Published November 27, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—Several organizations related to the Florida Baptist Convention met Nov. 10 at the facilities of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland and in other locales before the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting convened in Lakeland Nov. 10-11.

Exhibit hall engages annual meeting participants
MARGARET DEMPSEY
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 27, 2008

LAKELAND—Close to 60 exhibitors at Florida Baptists’ 147th annual meeting provided information and inspiration for approximately 1,600 people strolling through the halls of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland.

Sullivan recognized for two decades of service
‘We thank God in heaven for the Jesus we see in you’
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—A standing ovation, a moving tribute and a video memoir marked the 20th anniversary recognition of Florida Baptist Executive Director-treasurer John Sullivan during the closing session of the Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 11 at Lakeland’s First Baptist Church at the Mall.

Cross elected FBSC president by 12 votes
First contested election since 1999
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—John Cross, 45, pastor of South Biscayne Church in North Port, was elected president of the Florida Baptist State Convention by a margin of 12 votes Nov. 11 at its annual meeting in Lakeland.

‘For This Cause’ seeks to unite around missions
BARBARA DENMAN & JONI B. HANNIGAN
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC/FBW)—In a rare contested race, messengers to the Florida Baptist State Convention elected a president by the slimmest of margins, heard Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny Hunt, and honored their executive director-treasurer for his 20 years of leadership during their 147th annual meeting in Lakeland Nov. 10-11.

Crossover ‘08 in Lakeland draws 842 to five venues
Blankets, sports clinics & car show are tools for sharing the Gospel
BARBARA DENMAN & JONI B. HANNIGAN
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC/FBW)—The Gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed in word and deed Nov. 8 in five venues during Crossover Lakeland resulting in 129 professions of faith and six baptisms.

Rice: ‘Florida Baptists—to the fields, to the fields!’
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—Times of economic, political and moral challenges are cause for Florida Baptists to “step out” rather than “back up,” Willy Rice preached Nov. 10 in his president’s address at the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Lakeland.

State Board recognizes retiring staff members, welcomes new churches
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—The State Board of Missions approved resolutions of appreciation for three retiring staff members with 73 combined years of Convention service and endorsed 11 newly constituted churches in its Nov.10 pre-convention meeting at First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland.

Sullivan: Don’t be constrained by tradition or culture, but exalt the name of Jesus
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—The Christian church must not be bound by tradition nor corrupted by culture, but exalt the living Christ, exhorted John Sullivan, during the Florida Baptist State Convention, Nov. 11 at Lakeland’s First Baptist Church at the Mall.

Being ‘fishers of men’ must be priority, Powell says
JAMES A. SMITH SR.
Executive Editor
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—While unbelievers, non-Baptists and other Baptists often don’t “get” Southern Baptists, even some Florida Baptists don’t “get themselves,” having forgotten the main priority of winning souls to Christ, Richard Powell preached in the annual Convention Sermon Nov. 11 at the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting in Lakeland.

Prayer call for ‘passion & zeal’ issued in Lakeland
LAUREN URTEL
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—Hand-in-hand, more than 1,500 Florida Baptists gathered in intercessory prayer to lift up their churches, their state and their nation during the annual Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 10-11 at the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland.

Florida State Board of Missions members, agency trustees elected
Published November 20, 2008

The following board members and trustees were elected by messengers to the annual meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention in Lakeland, Nov. 10-11. Messengers to the convention voted on nominations, but appointments were not subject to actions by the convention.

SBC president exhorts messengers to pray with end in mind
EVA WOLEVER
Witness Correspondent

Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—God has a way of bringing people to a time of renewal, said Johnny Hunt at the annual Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 10.

God’s grace shown in prodigal son’s father
EVA WOLEVER
Witness Correspondent
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—If church isn’t about seeing lives changed with God’s grace, then it’s about nothing at all, Jack Graham said in his sermon at the annual Florida Baptist State Convention in Lakeland Nov. 10.

Testimonies spotlight Diversity Among Florida Baptists
MARGARET DEMPSEY
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—Four Florida Baptist pastors, representing varying locations and contexts in the state, gave “mini-messages” during the 2008 annual meeting. Inviting these four pastors to speak at the convention provided a “touch of diversity” and an opportunity for participants to hear from pastors they may not otherwise hear, said Willy Rice, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

‘For This Cause’: Agency heads tell of Florida Baptists’ efforts in Sunshine state
EVA WOLEVER & CAROLYN NICHOLS
Florida Baptist Witness
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—Echoing the Florida Baptist State Convention’s 2008 annual meeting theme, “For This Cause,” Jerry Haag, president of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, joined other agency leaders during the two-day meeting Nov. 10-11, to celebrate how Florida Baptists work together in ministry for the cause of Christ.

Jay Dennis calls for prayer & fasting
LAUREN URTEL
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—”It’s time to shine” cried Pastor Jay Dennis as he incited Florida’s Baptist leaders to use their “double-barreled weapon against Satan and his forces” of prayer and fasting to reach the state’s lost.

Robert Smith: Even in God’s silence, ‘pray on’
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter

Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—Robert Smith, professor of Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Ala., cited Jesus’ encounter with a Gentile woman in Palestine as a miracle that produces “Dynamics for praying for the harvest.”

Recording of FBSC sermons, messages available
Published November 20, 2008

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and thematic messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference and the Florida Baptist State Convention, at the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, are now available for purchase.

Ministers’ wives encouraged, renewed at luncheon
LAUREN URTEL
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—Flashing through images of her life, author and speaker Carol Kent drew laughter, tears and praise from nearly 200 women at Florida’s Ministers’ Wives Luncheon Nov. 11 in Lakeland as she encouraged them to draw on the power of Christian community and faith as she had done in times of crisis.

Pastors’ Conference

Pastors challenged to do things ‘God’s way for God’s glory through God’s church’
JERRY HIGGINS
Witness Correspondent

Published November 20, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)—Florida pastors were reminded at the 2008 Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference that the mission field isn’t overseas but right outside their church doors. With the theme of the conference “By All Means,” taken from 1 Corinthians 9:22, the men were exhorted to remind themselves that God is in control and putting their total trust in Him will gain results.

Preview

Cross to be nominated for FBSC president
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published November 10, 2008

LAKELAND (FBW)-John Cross, 45, pastor of South Biscayne Church told Florida Baptist Witness Nov. 9 he will be nominated as president of the Florida Baptist State Convention meeting in Lakeland Nov. 10-11 by Tim Passmore, pastor of Woodland – The Community Church in Bradenton.

Sports clinics, car show, homeless ministry at Crossover Lakeland
Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 10-11
LAUREN URTEL
Florida Baptist Convention
Published November 6, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—Baseball, basketball and golf clinics, a car show and homeless ministry will comprise Crossover Lakeland, an effort to blanket Lakeland Nov. 8 with the Gospel through event evangelism prior to the Florida Baptist State Convention.

Powell to be nominated for FBSC president
Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 10-11
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published November 6, 2008

BRANDON (FBW)—Richard Powell, 49, senior pastor of McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, will be nominated as president of the Florida Baptist State Convention in Lakeland Nov. 10-11.

FBSC first VP nominee Briant
Published November 6, 2008

SARASOTA (FBW)–R. Wayne Briant, pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Sarasota, will be nominated as first vice-president of the Florida Baptist State Convention during the Convention’s annual meeting Nov. 10-11 in Lakeland. He will be placed in nomination by a fellow Southwest Florida Baptist Association pastor, Gary Roy of Colonial Oaks Baptist Church, also in Sarasota.

Recording of sermons, messages available after FBSC meeting
Published November 6, 2008

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Recordings of sermons and thematic messages delivered during the annual Florida Baptist Pastor’s Conference and the Florida Baptist State Convention, at the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, will be available for purchase in CD format during the meetings.

Richard Powell to be nominated FBSC president in Lakeland
JONI B. HANNIGAN
Managing Editor
Published October 29, 2008

BRANDON (FBW)-Richard Powell, 49, senior pastor of McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, will be nominated as president of the Florida Baptist State Convention in Lakeland Nov. 10-11.

Church music, Mid-America alums set meeting times
Published October 9, 2008

‘For This Cause’ brings Florida Baptists together for annual meeting
Hosted by Lakeland’s First Church at the Mall
BARBARA DENMAN
Florida Baptist Convention
Published October 2, 2008

LAKELAND (FBC)—Newly elected Southern Baptist Convention president Johnny Hunt, past SBC president Jack Graham and leading Florida Baptist pastors are among the keynote speakers scheduled to address the 147th Annual Meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention Nov. 10-11 in Lakeland.

Committee on Nominations releases report
Published October 2, 2008

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 Lakeland, Nov. 10-11. Messengers to the convention will be asked to vote on the nominations, but the appointments are not subject to actions by the convention.

FBSC Annual Meeting Program
For This Cause: November 10-11, First Baptist Church at the Mall, Lakeland
Published October 2, 2008

“…For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37 (NKJV)

Hotel/Motel Options
Lakeland Area
Published October 2, 2008

See Lakeland area map with corresponding numbers for location of the following hotels and motels. Please note: In compliance with the State Board of Missions’ policy, the motels listed do not offer seually-explicit in-room movies.

2008 State Pastors’ Conference
Published October 2, 2008

Related meetings planned during convention week
Published October 2, 2008