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May 16, 2012
Watercolor artist founded kindergarten classes at First Baptist & taught herself Spanish
FORT MEADE (FBW)—Velma Howell, a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Meade since 1941, celebrated her 100th birthday April 17. The stories of her lifetime, generously told to anyone who asks, give a glimpse of Florida in early 20th century.

Howell was born in north Alabama, and her father moved the family of nine to Fort Meade in 1918 to escape winter cold. Her father and two brothers drove south in their Model T Ford, a trip that took seven days. Her mother, expecting their tenth child, and five daughters rode down on the train, the “old Smokey Joe.” Arriving around 9 p.m. Nov. 18, Howell, who was six years old at the time, said she was surprised to see people in the streets of Fort Meade, shouting and dancing.
May 16, 2012
HAVANA, Cuba (FBC)—When was the last time you cleaned out your attic or garage and found your kids’ unused musical instrument—the one they had to have for band classes but haven’t touched in the past decade? Or discovered that saxophone that you promised to pick up again—one day?
May 15, 2012
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—With one out of six Florida Baptist churches failing to submit a statistical summary for the 2010-2011 church year, the Florida Baptist Convention showed little collective growth in the 12 months of Baptist life.

A total of 457 congregations—or 15.6 percent of Florida Baptists’ 2,922 congregations—did not provide an Annual Church Profile to the Florida Baptist Convention despite repeated efforts to collect the information.
May 15, 2012
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The 2012 Committee on Nominations, composed of 22 pastors, 22 laypersons, two church staff and two associational directors of missions has been appointed by the officers of the Florida Baptist State Convention.
May 15, 2012
Public comments to be permitted at May 22 City Council meeting
JACKSONVILLE (FBW) - A bill before the Jacksonville City Council granting civil rights protections for sexual orientation and gender identity is generating opposition from most Southern Baptists in the local association, while two pastors have endorsed the measure.
May 14, 2012
Crossover 2012 aimed at servant evangelism
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The recommendation of “Great Commission Baptists” as a descriptive name and the prospective election of the first ever African American president are on the horizon for the Southern Baptist Convention’s June 19-20 meeting in New Orleans.

Messengers will decide whether to adopt the informal, non-legal “Great Commission Baptists” descriptor as recommended by the SBC Executive Committee, embracing the suggestion of a special task force appointed to study changing the SBC’s name, deemed by some a regional barrier to the Gospel.
May 14, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—For the first time, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting this year can stay up to date with an SBC Annual Meeting smartphone app, which will include more than a dozen features, including maps, alerts, the Book of Reports and the Daily Bulletin.
May 14, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—For New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, it will be a campus picnic. For the other five seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention, it will be a convention center setting.
May 14, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The North American Mission Board is seeking to show Southern Baptists how to be involved in penetrating lostness across North America, as NAMB plans for the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans in June.
May 14, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Messengers arriving in advance of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans are invited to worship at a June 17 service hosted by the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists.
Fort Meade centenarian tells of growing up in early 20th century Florida
FORT MEADE (FBW)—Velma Howell, a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Meade since 1941, celebrated her 100th birthday April 17. The stories of her lifetime, generously told Read More Cuban Baptists need musical instruments for church plants
HAVANA, Cuba (FBC)—When was the last time you cleaned out your attic or garage and found your kids’ unused musical instrument—the one they had to have for band classes but haven’t touched in the Read More Annual Church Profiles reflect stagnant growth for 2011
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—With one out of six Florida Baptist churches failing to submit a statistical summary for the 2010-2011 church year, the Florida Baptist Convention showed Read More 2012 FBSC Committee on Nominations named, Sanders to serve as chairman
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—The 2012 Committee on Nominations, composed of 22 pastors, 22 laypersons, two church staff and two associational directors of missions has been appointed by the officers of the Read More First Baptist Naples honors Colson in memorial service
NAPLES (FBW)—Charles W. “Chuck” Colson was honored during a May 9 memorial service by his pastor, fellow members and others at First Baptist Church in Naples as “our nation’s greatest defender of Read More Young mom journeys from despair to joy while ‘carrying Anna’
PACE (FBW)—Until Dec. 1, 2011, the McMath Family eagerly awaited the birth of their third child. On that day, a doctor’s diagnosis dashed any hope, apart from a miracle, of a Read More Looking back, birth mother says she would not change her decision for life
As a teenager, Hillary Jones gave up a child for adoption. Instead of distancing herself from that episode in her life, she tells her story to youth groups, sanctity of life conferences and classes Read More Haag’s prayer: ‘Give us the world for children’
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—“God, please give us the world for children.” That’s the prayer of Jerry Haag, he told Florida Baptist Children’s Homes trustees April 24 in Read More
New ‘descriptor’ & historic election ahead for New Orleans SBC
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The recommendation of “Great Commission Baptists” as a descriptive name and the prospective election of the first ever African American president are on the Read More Seminary gatherings slated for June 20
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—For New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, it will be a campus picnic. For the other five seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention, it will be a convention center setting. Read More NAMB luncheon June 18 in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—The North American Mission Board is seeking to show Southern Baptists how to be involved in penetrating lostness across North America, as NAMB plans for the Southern Baptist Read More Evangelists to proclaim Gospel’s power
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Messengers arriving in advance of the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in New Orleans are invited to worship at a June 17 service hosted by the Conference of Southern Read More SBC meeting smartphone app launches
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—For the first time, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting this year can stay up to date with an SBC Annual Meeting smartphone app, which will include more Read More Ethnic groups ready for 2012 Crossover, fellowship meetings & New Orleans SBC
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—In and around New Orleans prior to the June 19-20 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, Southern Baptists who identify with various ethnic groups will come together over a Read More Homosexuality major theme of CBF-sponsored meeting
DECATUR, Ga. (BP)—Despite conference organizers’ best attempts to keep the Baptist Conference on Sexuality & Covenant focused on broader issues April 19-21, the conversation often centered on the Read More 2012 VBS uses aviation to teach about ‘God’s awesome power’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Nearly 4,000 people attended Vacation Bible School preview events this winter to prepare for “Amazing Wonders Aviation: Encountering God’s Awesome Power. Read More
ANNIE: Where it goes, what it does, and the difference it makes
While waiting in the checkout line, I examined the worn dollar bill in my hand. Someone had written “new in North Dakota” across the top. Since I was in Georgia, I began Read More Missionaries say ‘thanks’ for gifts
Southern Baptists continually pray for, participate in, and give generously to North American mission efforts. Read what some of the Week of Prayer missionaries have to say about the blessings that Read More Missionary Derek Osburn models healthy church planting
CLOVIS, N.M. (NAMB)—Derek Osburn never set out to be a poster child for missional church staff members. He was minding his own business as a youth minister at Central Baptist Church in Clovis, N.M., Read More AAEO: All things work together for good
TORONTO—If Liam McGibbon had been tumor-free, you might not be reading about his parents this week. They probably would have never made it to Hamilton, Ontario, and certainly not as miraculously. Read More AAEO: Church plant focuses on bringing heaven to earth
CINCINNATI—It’s just about dusk at Heritage Glen apartments in the Cincinnati, Ohio, suburb of Fairfield. As the sun drops from sight, the lower light begins to mask some of the harsher realities of Read More Florida pastor says October Baby ‘great family movie’ that speaks to relationships
OKEECHOBEE (FBW)—“October Baby,” a film set for release March 23, is about so much more than “the whole issue of the sanctity of human life,” a Florida pastor said. Read More First Person: Abortion and the power of forgiveness
There have been over 52 million abortions performed in the U.S. since the ignominious Roe v. Wade court decision in 1973. And for every abortion there is a woman who to some degree–knowingly or Read More First Person: October Baby a refreshing film about coming of age & life’s choices
“October Baby” is an unexpected film which takes viewers through one of life’s most vulnerable times leaving them alternately holding their heart and grabbing for 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
Genesis 22:1-3, 7-14; 26:2-5: May 2—A Legacy of Faith
Faith is probably one of the most talked about but least understood words we use. We have little problem grasping faith as a system of doctrines as in “defending the faith,” but “saving faith” is a Read More Luke 23:32-49: May 20—The Hour
Jesus referred to the moment of His death as “the hour.” Yet, the term “the hour” described the most meaningful moment in human history as a “hour of darkness” and a “hour of glory” (the biblical Read More 1 Samuel 1:10-20, 27 to 2:1; 12:23-24: May 13—A legacy of hope
People from ancient times have struggled to discover the underlying reality or substance which holds everything together whether dealing with atoms, the axioms of geometry, or moral issues. The Read More Luke 22:14-22: May 13—Christ our passover
The passage selected for this lesson highlights one simple act, namely a meal. The act of Jesus, however, possesses significance beyond the historic event narrated in Luke. Read More Deuteronomy 6:1-15a: May 6—Building a legacy
One of the best illustrations of contrasting legacies was published in Proclaim Magazine, January 1981, p. 37 which reads: Max Jukes lived in New York. He didn’t believe in Christianity or Christian Read More Luke 18:1-14: May 6—Learning to pray
When I first became a Christian, I confess that beginning the journey of prayer was difficult. I learned to pray by listening to the prayers of godly people and seeking to emulate them. Soon I Read More Matthew 24:9-14, 39b-44; Revelation 7:9; 22:12-14: April 29—Jesus is coming again
Are we living in the last days for time as we know it? Most of us can remember the anxiety as the year 2000 loomed before us. Would computers world wide crash? For those believing God created the Read More Luke 16:13-15, 19-31: April 29—Managing money well
Jesus talked more about money than He did about hell. As Baptists, we unequivocally affirm His teachings about hell. Why do we have such a difficult time obeying His teachings about money? Money is 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