Innovator

Florida Baptist Association

Tallahassee, Florida Baptist Association

 December 2007

 

 

May the love of Jesus,

the purpose of His life,

and the gift of His salvation

touch your heart in a

special way this Christmas.

 

Christmas Blessings,

The Florida Baptist Association Staff

 

 

Inter-Mission with David

 

 

 

 

 It will soon be 14 years since I left the pastorate of Stetson Baptist Church, Deland, Florida to become your Association Director. (We served in Deland following a ministry as I. M. B. missionaries in Belgium.) During that time we have become friends, brothers and sisters, and our individual churches, our second homes.

 

   When I and my family went to Belgium as your missionaries, leaving First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida, I felt my call was to go there and 1) Preach the Word 2) Show them how to strengthen their churches 3) Plant a new church. None of that happened exactly as planned! Our Belgian people gave me and my family a banquet upon our resignation when leaving them to return to America. They gave us a pewter plate with an engraved picture of our church on it along with a kindly worded, engraved notation.

 

   In Belgium it rains, sleets, or snows 216 days out of the year, yet there was this huge sun with beaming rays over the church. I asked, “Why is the sun so prominent?”  They responded that I and my family brought that kind of light into their lives. That will humble you, big time. Then, I noticed also that the front door was open. They shared with us that we showed them how to open their doors to others.

 

   Folks, I did not go to Belgium to accomplish any of that but that is what the Lord saw fit to do through me and my family. I learned how to, simply, stay faithful, give the Lord the opportunity to do His work, often times in spite of me.

 

   The almost fourteen years among you have been like those years in Belgium – good years, learning years, never to be forgotten years. God bless you all for your greatest gift to me:  your friendship, trust, advice, encouragement, and love. Merry Christmas, as we all give thanks unto God for His “indescribable gift”... together!

 

 

 

 

Ideas for Impact

Garry Goodin

 

 

 TWO UPCOMING CONFERENCE OPPORTUNITIES

I want to encourage each church to put these dates on your calendars and bring your staff, leaders and members to these two conferences coming up in January and February. These are excellent opportunities for deacons, Sunday School teachers, missions team, discipleship team and other leaders in your church to be exposed to new and creative ideas.

 

SIMPLE CHURCH CONFERENCE

(Follow-up Meeting for Q&A with Eric Geiger)

Monday, January 7, 2008, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Place: Parkway Baptist Church, 1410 E. Indianhead Dr.

No Cost

The Office of Leadership Development of the Florida Baptist Convention is sponsoring this follow-up meeting for Q&A with Eric Geiger

This conference is for anyone who either read the book or attended the conference.

The emphasis for discussion: "How to implement the simple church strategy in the local church."

Eric Geiger will take questions from those attending through videoconference.

 

OPERATION: TRAINING CHURCH LEADERSHIP

DATE:       Monday, February 25

TIME:        7:00 - 9:00 pm

PLACE:    Immanuel Baptist Church

NO COST

WORKSHOPS:        Becoming A Church of Irresistible Influence

                                 Interfaith Conference: Understanding Islam

                                 Building and Grounds Management for your church

                                 Deacons Managing Conflict

                                 Leadership Conference for High School Students

                                 Leadership Conference for College Students

                                 Senior Adult Leadership Development

                                 For Families: Caring for An Older Parent

                                 Men's Ministry: Building A Stronger Marriage

                                 Women's Ministry Leadership Training

                                

Extra Conference Opportunities

If a church would like to schedule any of these speakers during the day on February 25 to come speak or consult with them, please call Garry Goodin at the Florida Baptist Association.

 

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Florida Baptist Children’s Homes

 

Your are cordially invited to a Christmas Open House at the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes

Sunday, December 9.

2:00 - 4:00 pm

8415 Buck Lake Road

Tallahassee, Florida

 

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CALENDAR NOTES

December

9          Florida Baptist Children’s Home

            Christmas Open House 2-4 pm

24-28    Christmas Holidays (Office Closed)

31         New Year’s Eve (Office Closed)

January

1          New Year’s Day (Office Closed)

2          Lottie Moon Week of Prayer

3          Pastor’s Gathering - 11:30 am, FBA Office

7          Simple Church Conf. - 1-4 pm

            Parkway Baptist Church

10         Association Council Mtg. - Noon

21         Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Office Closed)

24         Executive Committee Mtg. - 10 am,

            Northwoods Baptist Church

26         Women’s Day - 9:00 am - 2:30 pm,

            Faith Baptist Church

For information concerning calendar events, please contact: Florida Baptist Association

at 877-7600

Email: office@floridabaptistassociation.org