Sharing the News:

A weekly publication of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida

September 6, 2017
In This Issue:
Preparing to Respond to Irma
     

As I write this, Hurricane Irma has become the most powerful Atlantic Basin hurricane in history and is bearing down upon Puerto Rico. Currently, the entire state of Florida is in the storm's forecast cone. If you live in Florida, you should be completing your preparations today! If you need to evacuate, the First Baptist Church of Chattanooga has generously offered space at their retreat center on a first come, first serve basis. See below for information on reserving space at the center. (And, thank you, FBC Chattanooga!) 

Here are a few items for you to know regarding how CBF Florida and our partners will be preparing to respond following the storm's passing.

First, remember that CBF Florida is not a first-responder. We will coordinate response efforts once safety officials have cleared families and businesses to return to their communities.
 
Second, CBF Florida works in partnership with our local CBF churches, CBF Global, and other partners in disaster response. Our primary partners are our local churches. Once a strategy has been developed with our partners, we will begin an information, enlistment, and deployment campaign so that we can begin to help.
 
Third, the most effective first response, after our prayers, is to give financial support. Your gift of cash to CBF Florida will allow us the flexibility to purchase materials needed and to transport them to the staging area(s). So if the need arises and should you wish to donate, you can do so online by clicking on thislink to CBF Florida's donation page. Please be sure to note that your gift is for disaster response and specify that your gift is for Hurricane Irma relief.
 
Finally, if you need to reach anyone in CBF Florida's office, please call our main number at 863-682-6802. We may be unavailable at first as we care for our families and our homes. So please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as we are able. Also, feel free to contact me by Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, or by text message at 305-321-2240. I will get back to you as soon as I am able.
 
Praying for our safekeeping,

Ray
Coordinator, CBF of Florida
First Baptist Chattanooga Offers Space for Evacuees
First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, TN, has a retreat center, Dogwood Lodge, that will be open to those at no cost who are fleeing the path of Hurricane Irma. The Lodge has room for 12 family units that are able to accommodate families with 2 to 10 people. A large community kitchen and washer/dryer units are available. The Lodge is located on a lake with the availability to fish, canoe, and walk trails through the neighboring woods. To reserve one of the rooms, call Jeff Parker in the church office at 423-265-2257(during business hours) or at 423-463-5425 (after hours or weekend).
Invitation to Pray
As you take time to pray this week, you are invited to remember the following concerns in the CBF family:
  • Pray for those who are suffering because of the flooding and destructiveness of Hurricane Harvey. Join us in praying, too, for those who are responding to the stranded and the dispossessed.
  • Pray for the people of the following churches as they search for new senior pastors: First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, First Baptist Church of Pensacola, First Baptist Church of Gainesville, and Hammock Community Church.
  • Please pray for Greg Magruder, pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Gainesville, who is home now and recovering from open heart surgery today, Aug. 23.
  • Pray for Donn Poole, founding pastor of Brownwood Baptist Church, who continues to undergo immuno-therapy in treatment of a brain tumor.
  • Please pray for Nena Johnson (Ray Johnson's wife), who has been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing surgery on Sept. 12.
  • Pray for Edwin and Alma Pinder's daughter, Tametra, who has been brought back to the Bahamas to be with her family. Edwin is the pastor of the New Emmanuel Baptist church in McLean's Town on the island of Grand Bahama.
  • Pray for Mike Fronk, the Chaplain at Stetson University. Mike, a Stetson alumnus and friend of many Cooperative Baptists, has been placed in hospice care as he has been dealing with a chronic illness.
  • Pray for Joe Boronat, a former youth pastor for Ray Johnson. Joe has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
Turning Teams Toward God's Mission Near and Far - Carolina, Puerto Rico

February 15-19, 2018

Pivot Puerto Rico is a mission learning lab for church leaders, both laity and clergy, which includes 4.5 days of cultural acquisition and reflection in Carolina, Puerto Rico. CBF staff members will guide the trip preparation, on-site engagement and post-trip reflection using the book,  Pivot: Turning Teams Toward God's Mission Near and Far. To learn more about Pivot Puerto Rico, click here. Contact Rachel Gunter Shapard at
[email protected]   with any questions. 

Birthday Celebrations
Happy birthday to all of the following CBF field personnel, chaplains, counselors and church planters!

Wednesday, September 6
  • Carla Cherry, Worthington, OH (Chaplain)
  • Andrew Creel, Monticello, FL (Pastor)
  • Daniel Edward Tatum, Marietta, GA (Chaplain)
Thursday, September 7
  • Martha Harper, Madison, MS (Chaplain)
  • Lee Hendricks, Greenville, NC (Chaplain)
  • Lita Sample, San Francisco, CA (Field Personnel) 
Friday, September 8
  • Daniel Hall, Pineville, KY (Chaplain)
  • Jody Harrison, Dallas, TX (Chaplain)
  • Trey Lyon, Atlanta, GA ( Field Personnel)
  • Chad Mustian, Dallas, TX (Chaplain)
Saturday, September 9
  • Wayne Weathers, Philadelphia, PA (Church Starter)
Sunday, September 10
  • Timothy Brown, Dublin, GA (Chaplain)
  • Nancy Campbell, Kansas City, MO (Chaplain)
  • Matthew Hallenbeck, Liverpool, NY (Chaplain)
  • Rick Jordan (Staff North Carolina)
  • Marv Know (Staff Southwest)
  • Sarah Montoya, San Francisco, CA (Chaplain)

Monday, September 11

  • Courtney Hester, Jacksonville, FL (Chaplain)
  • Larry Hovis (Staff North Carolina)

Tuesday, September 12

  • Ryan Berlin (Staff Decatur)
  • Bryan Lake, Cumming, GA (Chaplain)
Prayers of the People

Stephanie Vance
Athens, Alabama

Stephanie serves as the manager of Together for Hope, CBF's rural development coalition partnering in over 25 counties and parishes across the United States. She also serves as the Area Coordinator for Mission Teams for the Rural Americans Team of CBF field personnel. 

Launched in 2001, Together for Hope is a long-term commitment to working with people in the nation's poorest counties in order to affect change and break the cycle of economic disparity. The ministry is about establishing long-term relationship, listening, learning and walking alongside local leaders. The hope is that communities will be transformed as will the churches and individuals who serve in focal counties. 

Pray For:
  • Stephanie's transition as she continues to learn her new role
  • Those working in the rural Americas 
  • The future of rural communities in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean

 

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another had fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8
Current Job Openings 
Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Deltona, FL 
Position: Pastor

Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Deltona, FL is seeking a full-time pastor for its multi-generational church. PIBD is an exciting church located in one of the fastest growing cities in Florida.  The church averages 160-200 church attendees. The church also has a Baptist Academy where services are provided from nursery to VPK. The church is looking for a committed follower of Jesus Christ with a gift for preaching, teaching and a heart to bring people to the gospel. The individual should have a theological or seminary education. PIBD is associated with ABC & CBF. Please submit all inquiries, cover letter, resume, photo and recommendations to  [email protected] .


Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Georgia
Position: Coordinator

CBF/GA Executive Coordinator:  The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Georgia seeks an executive coordinator who demonstrates spiritual maturity and giftedness in developing vision for the organization's missional focus; cultivating interpersonal relationships; exhibiting administrative, leadership and communication skills; and understanding organizational relationships in our context. Preferred qualifications include theological education (M.Div. degree or equivalent), ministerial experience (5 years minimum), and a commitment to historic Baptist principles. Please send résumés to [email protected] by Sept. 1.


Coordinator, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Kentucky
Position: Coordinator

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Kentucky seeks a full-time Coordinator to lead and guide in the development of strategies for expanding the scope and influence of the organization.  The Coordinator shall represent CBFKY to the community, churches, individuals, the global Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and other organizations.  All applications must include education and employment histories.  Current involvement with CBF life as well as significant leadership and supervisory experience within the local church, non-profit world, and/or higher education are preferred.  If you are interested in the position or if you would like to submit a name for consideration, please send a resume and letter of interest to [email protected] by August 1, 2017.


First Baptist Church, Augusta, GA
Position: Preschool/Children's Minister

First Baptist Church is seeking a qualified, spiritual, and energetic candidate for the full-time position of Preschool/Children's Minister.   First Baptist is a large faith community who values and supports it current Preschool/Children's Ministry, and is excited to see it continue to grow and improve.  The Preschool/Children's Minister is responsible for coordinating, planning, scheduling, and leading all programs associated with the ministry, including Sunday School, Missions Education, Vacation Bible School, and other weekday or special activities (birth - 5th grade).  He/She will also be involved in (though not limited to) volunteer recruitment, training, ministering to children and families in need, and leading worship.  A Seminary or education degree is preferred, as well as experience in Children's Ministry and church growth.  Resumes will be accepted immediately and should be submitted to