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Innovator Florida Baptist Association Tallahassee, Florida Baptist Association www.floridabaptistassociation.org August 2008
Inter-Mission with David David Southerland
More Than Gators and Noles Life as a Christian is often like living under assault. Ever try to start a church in a predominantly Muslim country? Ever try to once again do that which we did during my public school years, open the day with a Bible reading and Pledge of Allegiance? Ever try quoting scripture publicly, as a reason for a righteous action? Sometimes, it’s hard living our Christian faith. Thank the Lord there are Christian people of such stature whose decisions command attention. “Tebow Rejects Playboy All-American Team” was a recent headline in the Tallahassee Democrat. The first sentence read: “Tim Tebow in Playboy? Not happening.” His Southern Baptist missionary family is proud, to be sure. He needs to know that we, too, rejoice in his decision. He joins Danny Wuerffel, Clay Shiver, and Charlie Ward in this decision. More than “Gators” or “Noles,” these very public men are Christians of outstanding achievements whose decisions that have received so much media attention were actually made long ago by parents who believed in “training up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Sunday School Week at Ridgecrest was fantastic this year. After off and on attendance of conferences at Ridgecrest for over 50 years, this one was unusually effective. Great information was given and excellent help was supplied to those who were listening and had the desire, courage, attitude (call it what you will) to practice what they heard. We will certainly do all we can in our Association Sunday School and Small Group training to provide, as closely as we possibly can, “the Ridgecrest experience”… now, if we just had a few mountains, cool weather, etc. … We are gearing up for a unique new year in the Florida Baptist Association. By the time our Senior Pastors and one of their lay persons meet September 25, we will have our budget prepared, and our Association Directors, ready for election. What will take place after that will be the business of our senior Pastors and their laity as they, present to our Directors their expectations for the coming year, and especially the next six months. Of course, this strategic visioning session will be structured to provide the process for adequate communication. You are loved and appreciated, more than you will ever know.
Ideas for Impact Garry Goodin
How We Implement Conferences at Our Churches On average each year, the Florida Baptist Association will publicize fifteen to thirty local conferences or training opportunities to our Association churches. In addition, many churches host conferences or revivals for their own members. Finally, some churches get a group together to travel to Orlando, Jacksonville or Atlanta to attend large national conferences. Here are a few ways we can make the most of these training opportunities: 1. Reaching a Tipping Point: Try to get a majority of your target group to attend the conference. Even if the conference gives wonderful ideas for deacon ministry, it is harder to discuss the new ideas if only one deacon attended instead of the whole group. 2. How Change Happens: The truth is that change does not happen just because we hear something – whether it be a sermon, a Sunday School lesson or a conference speaker. We will forget most of what we heard within a few hours. In order for change to happen, the hearing must be followed up by thinking, reading, discussion, experimenting, planning and small action steps. Most of the time, we would be wise to get all our church members together who attended a conference and discuss which of the creative ideas that we heard would be good for our church and how to implement them. 3. Coaching: After attending a conference, people are most successful in making permanent changes when they have a coach who assists them. This is the idea behind small group discipleship. Examples of Coaching: Jesus trained the twelve disciples and He sent the Holy Spirit to come along beside us as our encourager.
Church-Planting Update Wakulla Springs Baptist Church Begun in 1996, Wakulla Springs is making a difference in their community. At the beginning the church met in a school, then bought property and built worship and education facilities at 1391 Crawfordville Hwy. Their ministries now include a Christian school, a counseling center, worship and discipleship for all ages. Life Groups meet on Sunday at 10:00 am followed by worship at 11:00 am. On Wednesday night, Family Dinner is at 5:30 pm followed by Bible study and choir practice. Lewis Pollard is the new senior pastor. He and his wife, Erin, have three children. Contact Information: Email: wsbc@byhisgrace.com Phone: 850-926-5152
The Leadership Summit August 7-8 Bradfordville, First Baptist Church, Tallahassee
Lead where you are. Make Leadership Development a priority. It’s what leaders do. Whether it’s at church, home, work, or in the community, God is calling His people to do what leaders do. Cast vision. Set strategy. Navigate change. Motivate teams.
Join 100,000 leaders for this annual injection of vision, skill development, and inspiration.
For more information and registration visit willowcreek.com/summit or call 800-570-9812
Retirement Choices Seminar Speakers: Don McLeod, GuideStone Gary Townsend, Florida Baptist Convention Wednesday, September 24 9:00 a.m. - Noon Fellowship Baptist Church 3705 N. Monroe Street, Tallahassee
Florida Baptist Children’s Home Annual Food Drive Saturday, August 23 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 8415 Buck Lake Road, Tallahassee Join us for a tour as your deliver your donations to fill our pantry.
Living Proof Live Simulcast Featuring Beth Moore August 1 & 2 Northwoods Baptist Church 3762 Capital Circle NW, Tallahassee Friday 6:30 p.m. - Doors open 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Event Saturday 8:30 a.m. - Doors open 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Event Tickets before July 20 - $35 Groups of 10 or more - $30 each to register call 562-1188
FSU BCM Coming soon… TABCM Roundtable Wednesday, September 24 8:30 am Breakfast and fellowship 9:00 - 10:30 am Roundtable Pastors, Student Ministers (Youth & College) and lay leaders are invited to attend. Special guests: Loy Reed, Director, Florida Baptist Convention Collegiate Ministries Department Dr. Allen Jackson, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Annual Church Profile Workshop Please make your reservation today to attend this important meeting. ACP Clerks Workshop Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:00 pm Fellowship and Supper Florida Baptist Association Building 1839 Jaclif Court, Tallahassee
RSVP to Sherri - 877-7600
FAMU BCM Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Greetings from the BCM at Florida A&M University. I begin by thanking you for your faithful support of the BCM. Because of your generosity, the lives of many have been impacted for eternity. This has been a wonderful summer because God has been at work on campus. Let me share some of the things that the Lord has been doing this summer. * We were involved with the Black Male College Explorer Program that brought in 47 young men from across the state of Florida. They were on campus for 4 weeks and we hosted them for breakfast twice and took them to a local church for worship and then provided lunch for them afterwards. Out of that group of 47, five committed their lives to the Lord. * We also conducted outreach events for the freshmen that enrolled in summer school in May. This has provided us with a lot of young potential members that can help carry out the Great Commission here on campus. * We have planned a freshmen retreat for the incoming freshmen that will be on campus in August. We will be conducting a BBQ outreach for the first two weeks that the freshmen are on campus (August 11 – 22) * We would like to extend an invitation to all of the association pastors and association office staff to come by and have a complimentary meal on the BCM. The only thing we ask is that you call before you come. * We will be taking seven people to the national BCM conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolin the first week in August. * We have an exciting and energetic Spirit-filled leadership team that is ready to go in August. Those are some of the exciting things that the Lord has been doing on campus this summer. Our goal is to find out where God is working and join Him there rather than trying to come up with our own agenda. Thanks once again for you faithful support and may God continue to bless you as you remain faithful to Him. In Christ, Larry Hunt
Calendar Notes August 1-2 Living Proof Live Simulcast 7-8 The Leadership Summit 17 Florida Baptist Witness Sunday 23 Florida Baptist Children’s Home Annual Food Drive 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 24 Celebration of Praise - Northwoods Baptist Church, 6:00 p.m.
September 1 Labor Day (Office Closed) 4 Pastors Gathering 7-14 Season of Prayer/Maguire State Mission Offering 12-13 Interfaith Evangelism Conf. - Blue Springs
For information concerning calendar events, please contact: Florida Baptist Association at 877-7600
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