Florida Baptists gather to welcome new leader, celebrate God’s work
By Margaret Colson/Florida Baptist Convention
ORLANDO, Fla. – With the theme “A Holy People: Shining His Light in a World of Darkness,” Florida Baptists gathered for the 162nd annual meeting at First Baptist Church in Orlando to welcome a new state convention executive director-treasurer, conduct business and celebrate God’s work throughout the Sunshine State.
In his first sermon at the annual meeting as executive director-treasurer for the Florida Baptist Convention, Stephen Rummage affirmed, “God has placed you where you are that you may know Jesus and that you may make Jesus known.” He called on Florida Baptists to cultivate an evangelistic passion and zeal that drive believers to engage with those who don’t yet know God.
In his sermon as Florida Baptist State Convention president, Mike Orr stated that, as believers pursue holiness, God will be glorified and people will be drawn to Him in faith.
Orr, pastor of First Baptist Church in Chipley, said, “If we are holy people, it will enable us to reach Florida and beyond” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The meeting drew more than 1,600 in attendance, including 966 messengers, representing 445 churches, along with approximately 675 guests.
Budget adoption
Messengers approved a 2025 Cooperative Program goal of $29.5 million to be distributed 51 percent to Southern Baptist Convention causes and 49 percent to Florida Baptist Convention causes. The 51/49 split is the same distribution Florida Baptists have used since 2016. The 2025 budget goal is unchanged from the 2024 budget goal.
Challenge 2025
Florida Baptists celebrated Challenge 2025 successes. Challenge 2025 was launched in 2019 by Tommy Green, retired Florida Baptist executive director-treasurer, as a five-year vision for Florida Baptists to reach the nation’s fastest-growing state with the Gospel. Since early 2020, Florida Baptists have planted 326 churches, revitalized 617 congregations, baptized 99,224 individuals, reported 348,717 mission engagements, and gave $140,238,282 through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program and $3,461,879 to the Maguire State Mission Offering.
West regional catalyst elected
Longtime Florida Baptist Brian Nall was tapped to serve as West region catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention. Nall is stepping into his new role Jan. 1, 2025, as Lewis Miller retires Nov. 30 after serving the Convention in numerous roles since 2003, most recently as West region catalyst since 2015. Messengers approved a resolution of appreciation recognizing Miller for his “faithful and committed service.”
Officers elected
Four Florida Baptist leaders were reelected to serve as 2024-25 officers of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Mike Orr, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Chipley, was elected to serve his second term as president. David Perez, pastor of Iglesia Casa de Bendicion in St. Cloud, was elected to his second term as first vice president. Layperson Jeffery Crick, a family physician at Mayo Clinic and member of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns, was elected to serve a second term as second vice president. Janey Frost, who serves at The Point Church (Jackson campus) in Pensacola, was elected to a third term as recording secretary.
Other business
A recommendation to change the name of Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, Inc. to One More Child was approved by messengers. This name change requires two votes in subsequent years, and this year’s vote was the second of the two votes.
Messengers approved a resolution of appreciation for Tommy Green, who retired Aug. 16, 2024, after serving as Florida Baptists’ executive director-treasurer since June 2015. Green and his wife, Karen, were also honored with a retirement reception at the conclusion of the annual meeting.
In other business messengers approved a report on new Florida Baptist churches and affiliations and approved a resolution expressing “praise and thanksgiving to God for His blessing over the past 100 years of partnership through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program.” Southern Baptists will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program in 2025.
The 2025 Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting is set for Nov. 10-11 at First Orlando.
New vision for MBC shared, new slate of officers elected
By Ben Hawkins/The Pathway
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – During the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 190th annual meeting, Missouri Baptists began celebrating 100 years of ministry made possible through the Cooperative Program and looked forward to the future of cooperative ministry within the state.
Coming from 472 churches, 1,064 Missouri Baptist messengers and 265 guests gathered at the St. Charles Convention Center here, Oct. 28-29.
Fowler shares new vision for helping churches bring Gospel transformation
A year ago, newly elected MBC Executive Director Wes Fowler introduced himself to Missouri Baptists on the annual meeting stage in Springfield. After a year of traveling the state, meeting with hundreds of Missouri Baptists, and analyzing data about their churches, Fowler shared his vision for the MBC staff he leads.
“Our pastors, DOMs, and ministry leaders care deeply about the spiritual condition of our state,” he told messengers and visitors at the St. Charles Convention Center Oct. 28. “A love for the church is evident, and a burden for the lost is sincere.”
Fowler then shared his vision of where he believes the MBC staff should direct its focus in the years ahead. “I believe the role of the convention is quite different than the role of the local church,” he said. “My goal is to position the convention to help local churches fulfill their calling – especially in areas of potential concern.”
Business
Missouri Baptists elected a new slate of MBC officers, which included: President Wesley Vance, executive pastor of Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield; First Vice President Brian Jump, lead pastor of Forest Park Church, Joplin; Second Vice President Justin Perry, pastor of First Baptist Church, Viburnum; and Recording Secretary Richard Young, pastor of South Haven Baptist Church, Belton.
Messengers also approved the MBC’s 2025-2026 Cooperative Program (CP) proposed allocation budget and spending plan, as recommended by the MBC executive board. The proposed budget goal did not change from last year.
The MBC’s 2025-2026 spending plan is based on a $15 million CP budget. This budget sets aside 6 percent of the total CP giving for “SBC/MBC shared administration” expenses, which are allocated for annuity protections and The Pathway. The proposed “shared” funds amounted to a total of $900,000.
From the remaining CP budget, 36.84 percent is allocated for Missouri Baptist missions and ministries. These proposed funds amounted to a total of $5,194,737.
Additionally, 23.16 percent of the total CP budget is allocated for Missouri Baptist entities, including the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries, the Missouri Baptist Foundation, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Missouri Baptist University and Southwest Baptist University. These proposed funds amounted to a total of $3,265,263.
The remaining 40 percent is allocated for Southern Baptist Convention causes. These proposed funds amounted to a total of $5,640,000. The budget and national CP allocation remain unchanged from last year.
Any CP receipts above the budgetary goal will be split evenly between MBC and SBC ministries.
Missouri Baptists also approved the following 2025 statewide offering goals: $15 million for CP; $800,000 for the Missouri Missions Offering; $4 million for the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions; $2.2 million for the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions; and $150,000 for the World Hunger Funds.
Missouri Baptists also approved budgets for the 2025 Missouri Baptist Missions and Ministries funds, as well as for use of MMO funds collected this year for use in 2025.
Resolutions, motions
Messengers approved five resolutions during the annual meeting, addressing criminal justice, expressing their commitment to Missouri Baptist universities, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program and calling Missouri voters on Nov. 5 to oppose pro-abortion Amendment 3.
Messengers also approved the creation of a task force to aid in the evaluation of a church’s position on certain elements of Baptist identity, especially the office and function of pastoral leaders being limited to biblically qualified men. The motion passed overwhelmingly, with fewer than a dozen “no” votes.
