Page 4 www.floridacbf.org Florida Fellowship News

Florida Fellowship News www.floridacbf.org Page 3

Florida Fellowship NewFlorida Fellowship Newss A publication of The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida

First Quarter - Vol. 22, No. 1

The 2012 Spring Celebration of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida

On Earth as it is in Heaven . . .On Earth as it is in Heaven . . . When: Friday and Saturday, April 27—28

Where: First Baptist Church of Gainesville

Located at 14105 NW 39th Avenue in Located at 14105 NW 39th Avenue in

GainesvilleGainesville

Who: Brett Younger, Associate Professor of Associate Professor of

Preaching, at McAfee School of TheologyPreaching, at McAfee School of Theology

J. Brent Walker, Executive Director, Executive Director,

Baptist Joint Committee for Religious LibertyBaptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty

Accommodations:Accommodations:

Best Western Plus, Gateway GrandBest Western Plus, Gateway Grand

4200 NW 97th Boulevard4200 NW 97th Boulevard

For reservations call: 352•331•3336For reservations call: 352•331•3336

Ask for CBF Florida ratesAsk for CBF Florida rates

Early bird rates apply!Early bird rates apply!

Conference Fee:Conference Fee: $30.00 per person$30.00 per person

What to expect:What to expect:

Friends (old and new) • Awesome worship • Awards banquet • Practical and Friends (old and new) • Awesome worship • Awards banquet • Practical and

inspirational workshops • Resources for your churchinspirational workshops • Resources for your church

See inside, pages 3 and 4, for more information and registration detailsSee inside, pages 3 and 4, for more information and registration details

Earthy Missions with a heavenly scent

Page 2 www.floridacbf.org Florida Fellowship News

Seven and a quarter years—that’s the longest I have served in any ministry position save the eleven years in which Susan and I served Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Danville, Virginia. “Time flies when you are having fun” does not begin to describe the time we have had together. Over the last several months I have traveled back to the Sunshine State from high atop Dug Gap Mountain in Dalton, Georgia. During this time of transition, I have reflected back over the time since you called me to be your Associate Coordinator.

Whenever someone has asked me to explain to them what I actually “do” in my job, I fumble for words. I have wondered if what I did has had any meaning or merit and whether or not I have fulfilled your desires as your Associate Coordinator. My “job” was to help the organization fulfill its mission of “serving and connecting churches and individuals in their calling to be the presence of Christ.” Again, how does one gauge this?

I looked through my calendar and came up with some “statistics,” in that some people gauge things numerically. During my time with you, I have worshiped in 31 of our churches; preached in 23; gave missions presentations in 5; and made personal visits with ministers of 26. (Yes, I could have done more of all of these.) I led leadership training in two churches and provided “Bridge to Interim” in three.

We participated in and/or provided for youth events like the Kindle Retreat, Edge of the World Retreat, and Faith in 3D. I consulted with churches and ministers in transition and have met regularly with and encouraged regional gatherings of Fellowship folks. I have worked with teams to develop and promote our State Missions Offerings, determine membership guidelines, develop a new logo, and redesign our website. I have purposed to encourage the chaplains and associate ministers among us.

Some of the more rewarding “work” has been connecting with our Hispanic friends and assisting in developing the college ministry at Stetson University. One phone call to Bernie Moraga (then Hispanic Initiative Director for CBF) from a weary pastor longing for connections in the Sunshine State grew into countless blessings of mutual love, respect and ministry partnerships among an association of clergy and lay leaders in Spanish-speaking churches in our state. This grew to invitations to partner with friends in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba.

When several alumni and friends of Baptist ministry at Stetson University became concerned about the continuation of that ministry, they invited me and I was asked to help assure the

continuation of that vibrant and powerful ministry to students. Many will also recall my involvement from the beginning of my

tenure with our disaster response efforts. Having been called at the end of the infamous 2004 Hurricane season, I jumped right in to retool, refocus, and guide our preparation for any future events to which we might respond.

With the help of numerous volunteers and gifts, we have been the presence of Christ in the aftermath of many North American natural disasters: Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, tornados in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and the 2007 Ground Hog Day tornados in Lake Mack. We also responded globally to the earthquakes in Japan, Haiti, and Chile and also with hurricanes in the Caribbean.

We have constantly been in contact with and offered our resources to the larger CBF family when something happens in their area. We have connected with organizations outside our CBF “family” so much that we are a recognized entity among Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.

Representing you, I have expanded our service to seminary students to encourage their preparation for ministry always with the prayer that they might be called to one of our churches. I have been a part of the larger CBF family as a Congregational Life Consultant, and I have collaborated with fellow state missions coordinators. I have been part of the leadership group of Together for Hope (CBF’s Rural Poverty Initiative), and have been active in collaborative work groups related to Faith Formations, Young Leaders, and Interacting with the World and the Community. I have been motivated, inspired and blessed by colleagues and Cooperative Baptists all over our nation.

Continued on page 5

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES! By Tommy Deal, Associate Coordinator 2005 - 2012

Terri Byrd, Associate Coordinator of CBF Alabama, and Tommy Deal deliver medical supplies bound for Haiti following the

2010 earthquake.

From responding to disasters to playing for the “Disasters,” Tommy brought his A-game.

Tommy Deal presents a report to the Representa-tive Assembly meeting in DeLand.

Florida Fellowship News www.floridacbf.org Page 3

The annual spring celebration of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida will meet April 27-28, 2012 on the campus of the new facilities of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville. Registration will open at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning, with the first round of workshops scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

“On Earth as it is in Heaven: Earthy Ministries with a Heavenly Scent” is the theme of the 2012 Celebration. In fact, during the

opening worship service, which begins at 3:00 p.m., Dr. Brett Younger, taking Ezekiel 3:10-16 as his text, will preach on “The Challenge of Earthy Ministries with a Heavenly Scent.” Younger is the Associate Professor of Preaching at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.

Prior to the kickoff of the Spring Celebration, CBF Florida Legacy partners and CBF Florida Advocates will be hosted at a missions luncheon that will feature Leah Crowley,

the former Associate Director at Open House Ministries and current CBF Florida scholarship student at Gardner-Webb University. Crowley will speak about the power of investing in the next generation of young Baptist leaders.

A number of workshops will be held throughout the weekend, with two sessions of workshops scheduled on Friday afternoon, and one scheduled on Saturday morning. Attendees at the Celebration will be able to select from a number of topics ranging from Community Gardening as a form of mission outreach, to preaching and teaching from the Lectionary.

Dr. Younger will lead a workshop on preaching and teaching from the Lord’s Prayer. Dr. Pat Anderson, the first Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida will lead a workshop highlighting Christian Ethics Today, of which he is the editor.

One of the more intriguing workshops will be led by Dr. John Fairless, pastor of First Baptist Gainesville, and Dr. Delmer Chilton, a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran

Church of America. Billing themselves as “Two Bubbas and a Bible,” Fairless and Chilton will lead their popular workshop on preaching and teaching from the lectionary.

In addition to workshops and worship, the 2012 Celebration will highlight the “fellowship” in Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Friday evening, beginning at 6:00 p.m., Brent Walker, the Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, will bring the keynote address during the awards banquet. During the banquet presentations will be made to the 2012 winner of the Edge Award, as well as to those who have served CBF Florida on its Representative Assembly.

Fellowship will also be enriched during the three worship services which will feature choirs and worship teams from a variety of CBF Florida congregations. And, of course, plenty of time will be available for conversations around the water coolers.

Saturday morning will include an open question and response time to inform and update CBF Florida members about important developments in the community. Jean Willingham, former CBF Florida moderator and member of the 2012 Task Force, will be available to answer questions about the Task Force’s recommendations. A report will be given on the process of selecting the next Executive Coordinator of CBF national. Also, Dr. Ray Johnson, CBF Florida Coordinator, will be available to answer questions that may develop out of the Conference on

Human Sexuality, to be held the week prior to CBF Florida’s Spring Celebration.

Finally, as is the tradition during CBF Florida’s Spring Gatherings, Saturday’s final worship experience will include a celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The staff and leadership of Florida’s Fellowship Baptists are looking forward to a great Celebration.

For more information on registering and for making hotel reservations, see page 4.

Brett Younger and Brent Walker Headline CBF Florida’s Spring Celebration April 27-28, 2012

On Earth as it is in Heaven... Earthy Ministries with a heavenly scent

Brett Younger, Associate Professor of Preach-ing, at the McAfee School of Theology Atlanta

campus

J. Brent Walker, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee

Dr. John Fairless (left) and Dr. Delmer Chilton (right) “Two Bubbas and a Bible”

Registration for Spring Celebration and Hotel Information

Onsite registration and check-in for the 21st meeting of CBF Florida’s Spring Celebration begins at 10:00 a.m. on April 27, in the foyer of First Baptist Church. There are three ways to pre-register:

Complete the form at the bottom of this page and send it, along with the appropriate fee, to the CBF Florida office.

Pre-register online at www.floridacbf.org.

Call the CBF Florida office at (863) 682-6802 and pre-register over the phone.

CBF Florida has reserved a block of 30 rooms at Best Western Plus Gateway Grand, 4200 NW 97th Blvd, Gainesville. When reserving rooms, registrants should indicate that they are with CBF of Florida. The rate at the hotel is $79 per night if you call immediately and reserve one of the rooms blocked for CBF Florida. The hotel provides a free continental breakfast. For hotel reservations, call (352) 331-3336. The website for the hotel is included for your convenience www.gatewaygrand.com. (For viewers of the electronic newsletter - these are links). The hotel is within easy driving distance of First Baptist Church. When leaving the hotel and going to FBC / Gainesville, 10145 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville, drive from the hotel to the first traffic light [NW 39th Avenue (Route 222)] take a right and the church is approximately two miles on the left at the end of the road. The website for the church is included for your convenience www.fbcgainesville.net.

After the celebration concludes on Saturday, why not make plans to stay and enjoy some of Gainesville’s attractions on Saturday afternoon? Then, stay over until Sunday to worship with one of the local CBF congregations — First Baptist of Gainesville or Parkview Baptist — both of which are located near the assembly hotel.

Registration Form CBF Florida’s Spring Celebration

April 27-28, 2012 “On Earth as it is in Heaven... Earthy Ministries with a Heavenly Scent” (Matt. 6:9-13)

Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code _________________________________________________________________________________________

Home Phone: _____________________________________ Cell Phone: _____________________________________________

Email Address: (please provide) ________________________________________________________________________________

If you will require child care, please list their names and ages below.

Child’s name: _________________________________________________________ Age: _____________________________

Child’s name: _________________________________________________________ Age: _____________________________

Child’s name: _________________________________________________________ Age: _____________________________

I have enclosed my conference fee, made out to CBF of Florida, for the following amount:

__________ $30.00 per person (Children 12 and under no charge)

(Covers the cost of meals and other expenses)

Please detach this form and send with a check made payable to “CBF of Florida” Designate “Spring Celebration” on the memo line and mail to:

CBF of Florida, P. O. Box 2556, Lakeland, Florida 33806-2556 by April 4th

Page 4 www.floridacbf.org Florida Fellowship News

Touching Miami with Love

Contributors to this article:

Ray Johnson, Angel Pittman,

and Carla Wynn Davis

(Continued from page 2)

To be honest in my evaluation, I must acknowledge at least two disappointments. One is that I do not feel that I helped enough of our churches establish missional connections in their community, around the state and through the larger CBF world. If I actually did, then it feels like I failed to report them properly to you, the larger family. My second disappointment also relates to missional connections. While we have made great strides with our connections among Caribbean Hispanic Baptists, we faltered in connecting our churches missionally with these sister congregations and in establish-ing longer-term partnerships. This can still be done; I only wish I had been more proactive and assured we had a regular stream of missional partners going to Cuba, Dominican Republic and even Haiti. My prayer is that this would be a strategic prior-ity in the days ahead.

The more fulfilling part of my “work” with and for you has been the privilege I have had to get to know you, to be encouraged by you, and to serve our Lord with you. The Florida Fellowship is a strong organization due to its most precious re-source: its people. As long as you stay committed to following our Lord and serving people as He desires, you will continue to be blessed. Oh, there is much more that can and should be done. I believe there are more who need to step up and be “proud” to be Cooperative Baptists who fellowship and serve together with those who wish to be light and salt to the world.

Thank you for the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to serve alongside of you. I love you and appreciate the honor you bestowed on me in 2005, the title of “Associate Coordinator.” I look forward to seeing you many, many more times in the near and distant future.

Florida Fellowship News www.floridacbf.org Page 5

One of the featured mission stories in this year’s Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Offering for Global Missions is none other than CBF Florida’s partner ministry in downtown Miami, Touching Miami with Love. Led by CBF field personnel Jason Pittman and his wife, Angel, TML provides ministry to the people of Overtown, the historic African-American district of Miami.

Begun in 1994 as a cooperative venture between CBF Florida and national CBF, TML quickly transitioned and grew to focus upon serving the homeless, ministering to those with HIV/AIDS, caring for those in prison at the nearby federal facility, and providing the children and families of Overtown with a space for grace.

As CBF field personnel, Angel and Jason have led this vibrant, growing ministry since 2005. Because of the support Fellowship Baptists provide through CBF’s Offering for Global Missions, the Pittman's are able to serve at TML full-time – Jason as executive director and Angel as director of development and volunteers.

They live in Overtown with their two sons, Isaac and Lucas, and reach out to the community not only as TML staff but as neighbors and friends.

“God has placed a call on our life,” Angel said. “We know that there's a need in our community, and we know that we have been uniquely equipped to answer that call.”

TML, like its sister south Florida ministry, Open House Ministries in Homestead, has become a magnet for churches who send teams to assist in summer camp programs. These church teams throughout the years have come from literally hundreds of churches around the country.

To learn more about Touching Miami with Love, visit their website at www.touchingmiamiwithlove.org. You can also view a one-minute video introduction to the ministry by scanning the adjacent tag with your smartphone. If your phone isn’t so smart, simply go to YouTube and search for Touching Miami with Love.

Jason and Angel Pittman with sons Isaac and Lucas

Tommy and Susan Deal

Why Cooperative Baptists? I chose Cooperative Baptists be-cause of the way they embrace women in ministry. CBF does not try to keep ministry in a box or contain it in a formula. They embrace the notion that anyone willing can serve God and His people in any place through a vast array of means. I love that CBF views missions as a being presence and as a mutual part-nership. There is no mindset of “us-and-them” but rather, a mindset of mutuality in which both participants learn from the other. For me, CBF embraces the view that each person I en-counter can be Christ to me as I hope to be Christ to him or her.

What’s playing on your iPod these days? A little bit of every-thing- hip-hop, traditional Mexican, contemporary Christian, and yes, even country. (I am a Carolina girl after all.)

Tell us a little bit about who was instrumental in your being called into Christian ministry. There is no way I could name a single person. My call emerged out of the love, support, chal-lenges and encouragement I have received over several years from numerous people. My receptiveness to my call was nur-tured by those saints God placed around me, His “great cloud of witnesses.”

What was it about your home church that helped you hear God’s calling?

My home church laid the ground-work that ena-bled me to recog-nize the needs of those around me. They also provid-ed me with role models of women in ministry. Hear-ing women pro-claim the Gospel from the pulpit was not a foreign concept for me. I was never told a woman couldn’t be a pastor. No one ever put limits on who could or could not serve God nor did they limit the capacity of that service. Although I didn’t learn the term until much later in life, my home church embodied the

“priesthood of all believers”.

What are your plans for ministry when you finish your de-gree?

I have felt a strong call to chaplaincy and counseling work. I, as well,

continue to feel a burning passion for social justice work. I really have no idea how God will merge the two.

The best part about seminary for you is . . .the learning and growing that has taken place. In the past year, I have learned so much about myself, my relationship to God, and the work that has gone on before all of us that has provided us with the Scriptures as we

know them. As a result of the learning my faith in and knowledge of God has grown deeper and rich-er.

If you could give any advice to someone who is considering going to seminary, what would you say? Choose a seminary that fits who you are now but expect who you are now to change and grow. Choose a place where the faculty will embrace, nurture, and support you in your learning and growth. Don’t let the first syllabus you read send you into a tail spin. You really can do more than you think.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Leah Crowley will be the guest speaker for the Legacy Partners and CBF Florida Advocates Luncheon on Friday, April 27, at the First Baptist Church of Gainesville. Make plans to be at the annual Spring Celebra-tion to hear more from Leah and to visit with her.

Easter at Open House Ministries is a time for hugs.

Meet Leah Crowley (again)

Leah takes time to pose with three of Open House Ministries’ young leaders.

Page 6 www.floridacbf.org Florida Fellowship News

Thank you for the gifts!

A gift to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida by Tommy and Susan Deal, in honor of, and in thanksgiving for, their parents, Tommy and Dottie Deal, and Bill and Ora Parr and their sons, Ragan and William Deal.

A gift to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida by Amelia Zeigler Paulk, in memory of Felix T. Zeigler.

Thank you, CBF Florida! Yesterday I committed the last of your generous gift to the sixth state to acquire a Community Trailer. What a difference you have made. Now instead of waiting for something bad to happen, hundreds will be served in communities that otherwise would be neglected. For this project $2,500.00 has been given to each of the following states; GA, MO, TX, AL, SC and TN. In addition to your gift, each state agreed to invest up to $6,000 in equipment for the unit. The return on this investment will go well past all our life times. THANKS!! Charles Ray, CBF National Disaster Response Coordinator

Florida Fellowship News www.floridacbf.org Page 7

Apply Now for CBF Florida’s Scholarships!

Students who are preparing for professional ministry and who plan to attend one of the Fellowship’s partner seminaries or divinity schools are welcome to apply now to receive a CBF Florida Scholarship.

To apply, simply go online to www.floridacbf.org and click on the “Resources” tab and then on the “Ministerial Student Scholarships” link. From the Ministerial Student Scholarship page, click on the link at the bottom of the page to fill out an application. For more information, contact Dr. Ray Johnson at rjohnson01@floridacbf.org.

Bulletin Board & Opportunities

Cooperative Baptist Church of Florida Opens Search for Associate Coordinator

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida is seeking a part-time Associate Coordinator. The Associate Coordinator will work closely with the Coordinator and the office staff in Lakeland to develop CBF Florida’s media and communications, to enlarge and enrich the membership of CBF Florida within the region where she/he will reside, and to provide resources and support to churches and individuals within that same region. The Associate Coordinator must have excellent

communication skills and be conversant with web-based communications and social media. Some travel is required, including travel to both the annual state and national CBF assemblies. Interested applicants should send their resume to Dr. Ray

Johnson at rjohnson01@floridacbf.org. Only electronic resumes will be accepted.

Make Plans NOW to Attend the National General Assembly in Ft. Worth, Texas “Infinitely More” June 20-23, 2012

What could God do through you and through us? This June 20-23 come to Fort Worth, Texas, to ask and imagine. After pre-registering online for free (go to www.thefellowship.info), check out the Fort Worth hotels offering discount rates to attendees, ensuring you have the most convenient and comfortable accommodations at below-market rates. These hotels are within walking distance of the Convention Center, so no need to worry about in-town cab fares, for-getting something in your room or where you’ll rest between events.

First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, TN seeks Senior Pastor

First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, TN (fbcmboro.org), a progressive downtown church with an active membership of over 400, is seeking a gifted preacher and spiritual leader. Our mission is to build an authentic community of diverse individuals by serving Jesus Christ, providing relevant Bible study and worship (both traditional and contemporary), and engaging in hands-on-ministry locally, nationally and internationally. FBC Murfreesboro partners with both CBF and SBC. A seminary degree and pastoral experience is required. Women and men are encouraged to apply. Send resumes and a cover letter stating your vision for church life by April 30 to Pastor Search Committee, 200 E. Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130 or fbcmboropastorsearch@gmail.com.

Nominations For the Edge Christian Education Leadership Award

Nominations are being accepted for the 7th Findley and Louvenia Edge Christian Award. The award will be presented during Friday’s banquet at the Spring Celebration being held in Gainesville April 27 and 28, 2012. Send the name of an individual whom you believe to be an innovator and leader in the area of Christian education and/or church renewal. Nominees may be ordained clergy or laity. The award, which honors the lifetime work of Dr. and Mrs. Edge, includes a monetary gift of $500, a copy of Deena Williams Newman’s book (Findley B. Edge: A Search for Authenticity), and a commemorative plaque. Send nominations to: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Florida, Attn: Edge Award Committee, P. O. Box 2556, Lakeland, FL 33806-2556

Florida Fellowship News is published bi-monthly by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida, Ray Johnson, Coordinator, P. O. Box 2556, Lakeland, FL 33806-2556. Postage paid at Jacksonville, Fla. Phone (863) 682-6802; Toll free (888) 241-2233. Fax (863) 683-5797. CBF-Florida’s e-mail address is contact@floridacbf.org; Web address is www.floridacbf.org. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE: 1-800-435-

7352. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

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Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida

P. O. Box 2556 · Lakeland, FL 33806-2556 217 Hillcrest Street, Lakeland, FL 33815-4720

First Quarter Issue

Contact CBF Florida at:

P. O. Box 2556 Lakeland. FL 33806-2556

217 Hillcrest Street Lakeland, FL 33815

Toll-free 888•241•2233

Email: contact@floridacbf.org

---------------------------------

Staff

Ray Johnson Coordinator

Marti Edwards Administrative Assistant

Newsletter Editor

Pat Herold Financial Secretary

Serving and connecting churches and individuals in their calling to be the presence of Christ

The 2012 Spring Celebration of the

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

of Florida at

First Baptist Church of Gainesville

On Earth as it is in Heaven . . .

Earthy Ministries with a heavenly scent