Training Update - Florida Baptist Witness -

Training Update

Apr 8, 2003

Jail and prison ministry focus of conference

—Burt Cain, warden at Louisiana’s largest maximum security prison, will serve as the keynote speaker at the Jail and Prison Ministry Conference May 16-17 at Lake Yale Baptist Assembly.

The meeting is designed for volunteers and chaplains in local jail and state prison settings. Participants will gain a better understanding of criminal justice issues; network with others in similar ministries; update ministry skills; learn about resources; and learn how to begin such a ministry.

The conference begins Friday at 7 p.m., but an early bird conference planned for that afternoon from 1:30-5:30 p.m., will offer two seminars. Additional seminars will be offered on Saturday.

Cost to attend the conference is $45 per person, double occupancy, $60 per person, single occupancy and $24 for commuters, meals and conference only. Registration deadline is May 9. For more information, contact the Church and Community Department 800-226-8584, ext. 8251 or e-mail: volunteers@flbaptistorg.

‘There Came A Man’ looking for one million volunteers

—A clarion call for more than one million men to volunteer in 2003 for short-term missions projects at home and overseas has been issued by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

“There Came A Man” is a men’s movement sponsored jointly by LifeWay Christian Resources, the North American Mission Board (NAMB), and the International Mission Board (IMB).

Florida Baptist men will join in the effort, said Fritz Wilson, director of the Florida Baptist Men Department. “The movement is a partnership with other evangelical men’s ministry groups to accomplish together what no one group can do alone,” he said.

The men will be asked to volunteer for NAMB mission project in North America or internationally. “We believe their participation will change their lives and begin a lifelong commitment to missions—for them and their families,” Wilson said.

Short-term mission trips and projects are designed to last between three days to a week. Volunteer ministries include sports clinics, construction projects, agricultural, evangelism, business training, prayer fishing, computer training, block parties, church planting and prayer journeys. Men interested in volunteering can mobilize their own group, participate with their family or even go alone.

For more information, contact Fritz Wilson at 800-226-8584, ext. 8240 or fwilson@flbaptist.org. Or refer to www.lifeway.com/therecameaman . For more information and aids in mobilizing a group, visit www.volunteers.namb.net.

Camps provide life-long learning mission experience

—Mission camps for girls entering grades 3-12 will explore the Japanese culture through the theme, “It’s all about you God!” These camps will be held during the weeks of June 9-13, 16-20, 23-27 at Blue Springs Baptist Assembly in Marianna and July 7-11, 14-18, 21-25 at Lake Yale Baptist Assembly in Leesburg.

Grandmothers and their granddaughters in grades 1-6 can travel across the world together for a weekend getaway, featuring Japan and Africa at the Lake Yale site, July 1-3. Together, dressed in Asian inspired outfits (that they are encouraged to bring), they will learn the art of ancient paper tearing, attend a Japanese tea ceremony and hang out in African Huts.

The cost for the week-long camps is $167 and the grandmother-granddaughter weekend retreat is $82 per person. The cost of camp is underwritten in part by Florida Baptists’ gifts to the Maguire State Mission Offering.

Missions Adventure Camp (MAC) for young men focuses on leading campers to Christ and showing them how Christ is shared around the world and through missions. Weeklong camps for boys entering grades 3-12 will cost $150 and be held June 16-20 and 23-27 at Lake Yale and July 7-11 and 14-18 at Blue Springs. Weekend camps will be offered June 20-21 and July 11-12 for boys grades 1-3 at $40 per camper. MAC camp costs are underwritten, in part, by gifts to the Maguire State Mission Offering.

In addition to MAC for young men, this year’s summer fun schedule includes a new coed Missions Adventure Camp for kids, for boys and girls grades 3-7. The Coed camps will be held June 9-13 at Lake Yale and June 30-July 4 at Blue Springs. Cost is $150 before May 1 for the first camp and June 1 for the second camp. After that deadline, the cost will be $160 per camper.

For more information on dates, schedules and registration, contact Charlene Allen, Women’s Mission and Ministry department, for GA/Acteens camps at 800-226-8584, ext. 8282 or emailcallen@flbaptist.org; and Eddie Blackmon, Florida Baptist Men Department for MAC camps at 800-226-8584, ext. 8425 or email: eblackmon@flbaptist.org.

New Church Staff Orientation

—Ministers joining their first Florida Baptist congregation are invited to the New Church Staff Orientation, May 23-24 in Jacksonville. The orientation is an opportunity for new ministers and their spouses to learn about what motivates Florida Baptists and their cooperative endeavors.

The program begins Friday, May 23 at 1:30 p.m. and ends at 12 noon on Saturday.

A $20 registration fee is refundable after attendance to the orientation. Attendees will be responsible for their own transportation to and from the orientation, but meals and hotel accommodations will be provided by the Convention.

Individuals who have joined the ministry staff of a Florida Baptist Church within the past two years (since January 2001) should register online at www.flbaptist.org (under quick links) or via mail before May 9, 2003.

For more information, contact 800-226-8584, ext. 8109 or email PR@flbaptist.org

FREE Registration Now Required