Florida Baptist ministry groups plan, elect officers

Nov 23, 2004
CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter

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JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Several ministry-related groups met in Jacksonville prior to the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 8-9 to discuss business, elect officers, strategize and organize for effectiveness. Among those were the following:

Director of Missions Conference

Florida Baptist directors of missions heard messages of encouragement from two speakers at their semi-annual meeting Nov. 8 at Fruit Cove Baptist Church in Jacksonville. Both Thomas Kinchen, Baptist College of Florida president, and host pastor Timothy Maynard offered biblical messages designed to bolster those who have ministered to pastors and churches in the 2004 hurricanes’ paths.

“How are we going to get through this—pastors with no houses, churches with no offerings and more people than we can minister to?” asked Kinchen, who spoke to the group about “Tough Questions and Trustworthy Answers.” Citing Jeremiah 1, Kinchen reassured the DOMs of God’s purpose and promise. God intimately knows us, Kinchen said, and tailor-makes a place of service for us.

Fruit Cove pastor Tim Maynard reminded the group of Nehemiah’s struggles in rebuilding the flattened walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah faced both external and internal enemies in his massive task. He handled those who doubted and complained by praying about and for them and keeping at the task. “He also watched his back,” Maynard said.

The internal enemy of discouragement among the Jews working on the wall was dealt with by refocusing their attention to the big picture, reminding them of the Lord, rallying forces to protect them and relying on God to frustrate their enemies.

Several directors of missions thanked members of the fellowship who came to their regions’ aid in disaster relief.

In business session, the group elected officers: John Fleming, Gulf Stream Baptist Association, president; Tom Biles, Tampa Bay, president-elect; Bob Greene, Pensacola Bay, vice president; David Drake, Northeast Florida, secretary-treasurer; Bobby Richardson, Seminole, promotions director; Bobby Musselwhite, Santa Rosa, prayer director; Harvey Webb, Treasure Coast, recreation director; and Wayne Harvey, Santa Fe River, web master.

Florida Baptist Religious Education Association/ Children’s Ministers Association

The Florida Baptist Religious Education Association, meeting with the Children’s Ministers Association, were challenged by speaker Bill Taylor to be “used of God in unexpected ways.” Taylor, director of the Sunday School Division of LifeWay Christian Resources, spoke during the groups’ semi-annual meeting Nov. 8 at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville. He warned the 75 educators in attendance against “selling yourselves short and being just good enough.”

Jerry Terrell, founder and president of Church Services Associates in Orlando, spoke to the children’s ministers of the importance of including all ages in children’s ministry. He advised thinking “outside of the box to bridge the gap between the ages.” Terrell also told educators to find “a new vision to soar and a new dream to share.” The speakers and others led breakout conferences on small group ministry, enlisting leadership, building churches and children’s spiritual development.

Steve Clifton, minister of discipleship and senior adults at the host church, led an afternoon tour of First Baptist’s children’s building. The tour showcased the design of architect Bruce Barry. “This is what ‘cutting edge’ means,” said Steve Morris, FBREA president and minister of education of First Baptist Church, Plant City.

Officers elected for 2005 include: Bruce Raley, First Baptist Church, Panama City, president; Bill Cole, First Baptist Church, Sebring, president-elect; Doug Sides, Westside Baptist Church, Jacksonville, vice president; and Rusty Asble, Central Baptist Church, Sanford, secretary/treasurer. Children’s Ministry Association officers are elected bi-annually.

Florida Baptist Historical Society

The Florida Baptist Historical Society, in its fall meeting at a southbank hotel in Jacksonville, honored author and educator Edwin B. Browning Sr. Browning, who died in 1980, was Madison County School Superintendent and wrote histories of Concord Baptist Church in Greenville and Middle Florida Baptist Association. His family, led by Edwin B. Browning Jr., accepted the FBHS Heritage Award during the Tuesday evening session of the Florida Baptist Convention.

The Society presented its 130-page fall journal highlighting the service of nine executive directors and one interim director of the Florida Baptist Convention. The Journal of Florida Baptist Heritage is available from the Baptist College of Florida Bookstore in Graceville. The next meeting of the Society is slated for April 21-22, 2005, on the campus of the Baptist College of Florida, Graceville.

Officers of the 78-member group were elected for 2005: Carolyne Melton, Greensboro, chairman; and Frances Shaw, Jacksonville, vice chairman. Joe Butler, Lake City was elected to the FBHS board to join Lulrick Balzora, Fort Lauderdale; Judith Jolly, Pensacola; Thomas Kinchen, Graceville; John Sullivan, Jacksonville; and Laura Watford, Graceville.

Florida Baptist Church Music Conference

Musical arranger and author Derric Johnson advised ministers of music to adopt the concept of team-building, saying, “In our music/worship ministries we are building a team, not collecting talent.” Musicians from across Florida gathered Nov. 8 at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, for fellowship, inspiration and business.

Johnson, producer/arranger for shows at Radio City Music Hall and Disney World, taught two sessions in which he explored the diversity in musical styles ministers of music may include in worship. Whatever the style, Johnson urged excellence, which he defined as “where passion and precision meet.”

Terry Williams, director of the Church Music Department of the Florida Baptist Convention, gave the group an update on the restructuring of his department, a process delayed by the recent hurricanes. By 2006, musicians should expect a state convention department with a new name, purpose statement and programming, he said. The changes will be based on four criteria: worship awareness, worship evangelism, worship unity, and worship musicianship.

The Paul Bobbitt Award, awarded annually for outstanding service, was given to Steve Kirby, instrumental director of Idlewild Baptist Church, Tampa.

In business session, the group elected officers for 2005: Bob Morrison, First Baptist Church, Pensacola, president; Doug White, St. Andrew Baptist Church, Panama City, president-elect; Dick Hamel, Myrtle Grove Baptist Church, Pensacola, vicepresident; and Herb Stucky, First Baptist Church, Starke, secretary.

Performances showcased guest vocalists during the day-long meeting. Evidence, comprised of Tim and Amy Henning and Kirk and Julianne Kirkland, and soloist Charles Billingsley, artist-in-residence at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va., sang in concert.

Chaplains Conference

The 2004 Chaplains’ Conference was cancelled as a result of the extraordinary duration of relief ministries after the summer’s historical hurricane season in Florida, and the resulting lack of time for conference preparation, according to Larry Elliot, director of the Church Planning and Revitalization Department of the Florida Baptist Convention.

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