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Lakeland pastor launches anti-pornography initiative at SBC

HOUSTON (BP)—An initiative seeking commitments from 1 million men to live pornography-free lives was launched at the SBC annual meeting June 11-12 in Houston.

Named “Join One Million Men,” the initiative calls Christian men to commit to sexual purity and, specifically, to protect themselves and their families from the devastation caused by pornography. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) jointly sponsored the initiative along with Jay Dennis, pastor of First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland.

Angie Dennis joins a million women praying for a million men in pornography fight

HOUSTON (BP)—In nearly 20 years of being a pastor’s wife, Angie Dennis said she doesn’t remember a single instance of a young woman coming to her and saying, “Miss Angie, my husband is struggling with pornography.”

SBC re-elects Luter, hears call for unity, revival

HOUSTON (BP)—Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 11-12 re-elected Fred Luter, the body’s first African American president, to another one-year term and heard him deliver a rousing challenge to Southern Baptists to unite and pray for revival.

The call for cooperation and revival was delivered by other leaders, including Executive Committee President Frank Page, and from members of a Calvinism advisory committee who spoke in the exhibit hall the day prior to the convention.

‘Tweet’ good news of growth in CP giving, Sullivan urges at SBOM

LEESBURG (FBC)—A revision of the 2013 Cooperative Program budget that reduced income to three Florida Baptist State Convention agencies and the hiring of three church planting field missionaries to expand the teams within the Church Planting Group were among the actions taken by the State Board of Missions during its May 31 meeting at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

U.S. Coast Guard honors Naples church with ‘Patriot Award’

NAPLES (FBW)—Since 2003, First Baptist Church in Naples has sent regular care packages to nearly 1,000 adopted soldiers in combat areas.

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.

Edwin G. Holton, 80, dies

LAKELAND (FBW)—Edwin Holton, 80, former associate director of missions of South Florida Baptist Association, died June 4 in Lakeland.

DOM’s Raising Cain identifies 900 expressions based on biblical texts

GAINESVILLE (FBW)–In Raising Cain: How the Bible Shapes the Things You Say, Wayne Harvey has provided a catalog of popular expressions that can be traced to the Bible.

Harvey, director of missions for the Sante Fe River Baptist Association in Gainesville, has pastored churches in Connecticut and Florida. He is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Florida State University, Harvey provides a broad definition for each of the expressions he lists in alphabetic order and cites in a handy 506-page paperback resource.

Eternity takes readers on exploration of first-century Jerusalem

LEESBURG (FBW)--Kingstone Comics announces this month the launch of Eternity, a graphic novel by New York best-selling author Randy Alcorn.

B&H named Spanish publisher of the year

NASHVILLE (BP)—B&H Publishing Group has garnered seven awards from the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association, including Publisher of the Year.

Commentary/Opinion/Staff Blog

JAMES A. SMITH SR.

Executive Editor

Editorial: My parting words

As this issue will be my last as executive editor of Florida Baptist Witness, this is my final editorial. Although I’m not at all confused about the relative merits of my parting words to Florida Baptists in this forum, I have given Read More...

STAFF

Point of View: Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor may not reflect the views or opinions of the Witness. Letters may be mailed, faxed or submitted using our online form. Only letters marked clearly for publication, signed with address will be considered for use. Read More...

DAVE RAMSEY

www.davesays.org

Point of View: Dave Says

Dave Says is a column featuring the financial advice of nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey, the Dave Says column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual calls on Ramsey's radio program, The Dave Read More...

ERIC METAXAS

BreakPoint

Point of View: Syria and the war on Christians: Should the U.S. intervene?

In the last week of April, two Orthodox bishops in Syria were kidnapped by rebels near Aleppo. Ironically, these same bishops “had warned of the threat to religious tolerance and diversity from the two-year conflict in their country. Read More...

BARRETT DUKE

Point of View: Post-Gosnell, we need more accountability on abortion clinics

WASHINGTON (BP)—The entire nation is aware of the horrific acts of Kermit Gosnell, the late-term abortionist. The stories that have come out during his trial for multiple counts of murder of young babies are heartbreaking and bewildering. Read More...

JAMES A. SMITH SR.

Executive Editor

Editorial: Thanking God for your kindness

In January 1998 I received a letter that left an indelible impression upon me—even though the note wasn’t even addressed to me. Read More...

BILL BUNKLEY

Special to Florida Baptist Witness

Point of View: Responding to Boy Scouts: Alternative group needed

A good and historically moral organization that had previously focused solely on developing young leaders of tomorrow has made a fatal mistake. Read More...

R. CHIP TURNER

Open Letter to Southern Baptists

Point of View: Responding to Boy Scouts: Ministry opportunities remain

Results of the much-publicized May 23 vote on the homosexuality policy at the 2013 national meeting of the Boy Scouts of America was not what many Baptists and others wanted. Now what? Before deciding, I urge you to prayerfully consider Read More...

Lakeland pastor launches anti-pornography initiative at SBC
HOUSTON (BP)—An initiative seeking commitments from 1 million men to live pornography-free lives was launched at the SBC annual meeting June 11-12 in Houston. Read More Angie Dennis joins a million women praying for a million men in pornography fight
HOUSTON (BP)—In nearly 20 years of being a pastor’s wife, Angie Dennis said she doesn’t remember a single instance of a young woman coming to her and saying, “Miss Angie, my husband is struggling Read More ‘Tweet’ good news of growth in CP giving, Sullivan urges at SBOM
LEESBURG (FBC)—A revision of the 2013 Cooperative Program budget that reduced income to three Florida Baptist State Convention agencies and the hiring of three church planting field missionaries to Read More U.S. Coast Guard honors Naples church with ‘Patriot Award’
NAPLES (FBW)—Since 2003, First Baptist Church in Naples has sent regular care packages to nearly 1,000 adopted soldiers in combat areas. Read More 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 Read More Edwin G. Holton, 80, dies
LAKELAND (FBW)—Edwin Holton, 80, former associate director of missions of South Florida Baptist Association, died June 4 in Lakeland. Read More DOM’s Raising Cain identifies 900 expressions based on biblical texts
GAINESVILLE (FBW)–In Raising Cain: How the Bible Shapes the Things You Say, Wayne Harvey has provided a catalog of popular expressions that can be traced to the Bible. Read More Eternity takes readers on exploration of first-century Jerusalem
LEESBURG (FBW)--Kingstone Comics announces this month the launch of Eternity, a graphic novel by New York best-selling author Randy Alcorn. Read More

SBC re-elects Luter, hears call for unity, revival
HOUSTON (BP)—Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 11-12 re-elected Fred Luter, the body’s first African American president, to another one-year term and heard him deliver a rousing Read More B&H named Spanish publisher of the year
NASHVILLE (BP)—B&H Publishing Group has garnered seven awards from the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association, including Publisher of the Year. Read More Sharing GuideStone ministry a ‘family thing’
DALLAS (GuideStone)—It was October 2001 and Buddy Temple was in a quandary. The retired postal service worker and court bailiff had sold a house a few months earlier and couldn’t figure out where Read More NAMB trustees pledge to plant ‘more churches’
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—“We have to plant more churches,” North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell emphasized to NAMB trustees during their May 14-15 meeting in Read More Mission board urges July 4 honors for military & chaplains
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (NAMB)—Many churches recently honored military members on Memorial Day weekend. The North American Mission Board encourages churches to consider planning now to honor returning Read More Documentary tells vet’s post-battlefield spiritual journey
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)—Greg Tomlin will always remember the day he and his father Jerry, a Vietnam veteran, visited the site where Jerry was wounded in combat. Read More Great Commission moment is now, IMB’s Elliff tells trustees
ROGERS, Ark. (BP)—It’s a question that both haunts and drives Tom Elliff, the kind that sometimes wakes him in the middle of night. But IMB’s president won’t answer it until he dies, stands before Read More Jail chaplain pledges to rescue those in spiritual bondage
ROGERS, Ark. (BP)—Turner Bowman* walked into a jail cell as the door slammed behind him. He knew all too well the sounds, smells and sights of captivity. Read More

Missionary teacher ‘travels light’ from Africa to High Springs
HIGH SPRINGS (FBW)—In Kenya for 28 years Jenny Musen learned to be flexible and willing to move about at the Baptist High School in Mombasa and as a volunteer coordinator in Nairobi. The Read More Preschool minister & family exchange Jacksonville for Gonubie, South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA (FBW)—Beth Chin, a member of Chets Creek Baptist Church in Jacksonville, recently moved to South Africa with her family to work with the children of the Mzamomhle Township at Living Read More King’s Faith in theaters May 10
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Kings Faith is an emotional, provocative movie eaturing a foster kid who grew up on the wrong side of the law. Read More Bay City couple leads ‘perspective-changing’ strategy
SAN FRANCISCO (NAMB)—There are more affluent places in the United States than San Francisco, but not many. Living in that environment can numb people to need. Ben Pilgreen Read More South African entrepreneurs overstay honeymoon in Canada
VANCOUVER (NAMB)—Victor and Candice Thomas landed in Vancouver, British Columbia, promising they’d never stay—that was five years ago. They arrived in 2007, so Victor could start a four-month stint Read More ‘The Bible’ opens with Noah’s Ark & culminates with Easter Sunday resurrection
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Tossed about in ferocious, frothing seas amidst driving rain, Noah’s Ark was the focal point in the creation opener of the epic new miniseries “The Bible,” Read More AAEO PRAYER GUIDE
Week of Prayer for North American Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering 2013 Goal: $70,000... Read More Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the staff of Florida Baptist Witness
Read More

The Cooperative Program Factor: Mandate, Missions, Ministries
Following the Great Commission Mandate, the Florida Baptist Convention has set as its priorities to reach people for Jesus Christ, start new churches and strengthen existing churches. The summary of Read More

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-8, 12-17; 24:4-8: June 23—God instructs His people
I have a plaque hanging on a wall which reads, “The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice. God.” We sometimes get the feeling that the Ten Commandments applied primarily to individuals. After all... Read More Job 28: June 23—Where can wisdom be found?
Much of Job is at times a heated disputation between Job and his so-called friends. Each of the individuals claimed to speak with wisdom. Yet, neither Job nor his three friends expressed wisdom Read More Exodus 3:7-10; 12:12-13, 29-31; 14:5-6, 13-14, 21, 26: June 16—God delivers His people
Back in the seventies, liberal theologians in South America bought into the Marxist concept that powerful capitalist/imperialist nations, such as the United States, set up business ventures in poor Read More Job 16-19: June 16—Living hope when life seems unfair
I recall a bumper sticker from years ago. The bumper sticker stated, “Life Happens.” While I do not know the story behind the bumper sticker, I perceived the bumper sticker as expressive of a Read More Genesis 12:1-7; 15:5-8, 13-17: June 9—God chooses a people
Few people can lay claim to equal the influence of Abraham. Jews and Muslims cite him as the founder of their nations. Jews go back to Abraham through Isaac, whereas the Arabs count their lineage to Read More Job 4-13 (Selected Passages): June 9—Human solutions to suffering
Vance Havner, the famed North Carolina mountain preacher, commenting about suffering stated, “Anyone that tries to explain the mysteries of God has not traveled very far in life” (my paraphrase). We Read More Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 2:15-17; 3:6-7, 14-19, 23-24: June 2—God begins the story
By temperament and training I try to understand an opponent’s point of view. The title of a book by Leonard Susskind caught my attention: The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Read More Job 1 to 2:13: June 2—How to respond to difficult days
The name “Job” means, “Where is my father?” His name described his experience with God. Because of his life experiences, Job felt separated from God like a child cut off from a parent. The primary Read More

Iglesia multilingüe lleva a las familias a Cristo
KENDALL (BP)—Después de ver los anuncios de la iglesia por los caminos del suroeste de Miami cerca de su casa, Sergio Barrero, de 23 años, y su familia comenzaron a visitar Turning Point Church en Read More ‘EtniCiudad’: Conferencia en Ingles/Español explora alcanzando al perdido en centros urbanos
HIALEAH (FBC)—Una conferencia nacional diseñada para explorar la urbanización del mundo y como captar los centros urbanos inalcanzados será celebrada en español y traducida al ingles en el Centro de Read More Lideres misioneros ven los bautistas perseverantes y vibrantes
LA HABANA, CUBA (FBC)—Caminando por los pasillos del seminario de la Convención Bautista de Cuba Occidental (CBCO), Kevin Ezell oía como los misioneros domésticos Herbert Caudill y David Fite fueron Read More ‘Visionario’ pastor bautista hispano de Florida muere
HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. (FBW)--Jorge Comesañas, 71 años, líder de la obra hispana en Florida, y pastor de First Baptist Church Hialeah Gardens, murió el 27 de octubre. Él fue diagnosticado con un Read More Punto de vista: la esclavitud, el aborto y el entumecimiento de una nación
NASHVILLE (BP)-Mis parientes me han dicho que la familia de Rainer era una familia esclavista de entrar en la Guerra Civil. No tengo ninguna razón para dudar la cruda realidad, aunque no lo he Read More Editorial: Un debate digno de tener, una causa digna de apoyo
Un debate se está librando en el Congreso sobre el papel del gobierno federal en la financiación de Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). Es un debate que debe tenerse en cuenta, cuyo Read More

Pat Summerall remembered for his Christian faith
DALLAS (BP)—Pat Summerall stood in the front row at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, on Easter Sunday, next to his wife Cheri, as the congregation sang “The Old Rugged Cross. Read More Past FBSC president Keith Thomas dies at 57
THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (FBC)--Keith Thomas, past president of the Florida Baptist State Convention 1996-1997, died Saturday April 6 in The Woodlands, Texas, from pancreatic Read More Retired IMB missionary to Lebanon, Vivian Trimble, dies
MILTON (FBW)—Vivian Paulk Trimble, 87, retired IMB missionary to the Middle East, died Dec. 20 in Milton. She and her husband James W. (Bill) Trimble served more than 30 Read More Jackie Register, 63, dies
Jackie Register of Graceville, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Malone, died Nov. 12. He was 63. Read More Fred Boehmer, pastor emeritus FBC Brandon, dies Oct. 30
BRANDON (FBW)—Fred H. Boehmer, 82, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Brandon, died Oct. 30 in Virginia. He served as pastor of First Baptist Church 1976-1995, and had previously served Read More Cheryl Babington dies at 64
COCOA BEACH (FBW)—Cheryl S. Babington, wife of Pastor Ken Babington of First Baptist Church in Cocoa Beach, died Oct. 24. She was 64. Read More Roy Fish honored by family, students, friends at memorial service
FORT WORTH, Texas (SWBTS)—Faculty, former students, denominational leaders, and pastors from across the country joined with the family of Roy Fish to celebrate the life of the distinguished Read More Obituary: Wayne Upton, 82
Wayne Upton, 82, retired pastor and seminary professor, died Aug. 14 in Jacksonville. He served as pastor of Jacksonville Heights Baptist Church 28 years and was professor of missiology at Luther Read More

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2012 FBSC promotional video from Florida Baptist Witness on Vimeo.

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