National B.B.F.I. Report

     The Fall Fellowship meeting of the BBFI in Canton, Ohio was such a blessing! Pastor Mike Frazier and the folks at the Canton Baptist Temple did a fantastic job of hosting the meeting. Here are some of the highlights:

    

     Two couples and two single ladies were approved as TEAM missionaries (1-3 year internship), serving with veteran missionaries already on the field. Five couples and one single lady were approved as career missionaries (one of those couples was a reinstatement). Together, that means sending seven couples and three singles out into the harvest fields of the world. This year, a total of 33 new missionaries have been approved through the BBFI Mission Office. Do I hear an "Amen"?

     The 2013 Missionary Projects Offering stood at $159,540 with only twelve states reporting. Florida came through with $14,950, which actually was one of the higher totals from individual states. The report from the 2012 MPO is that of the $270,000 that was promised, $242,000 was received which resulted in nine missionary Home projects and eleven missionary Church projects being completed.

     Missions is still the strong right arm of our Fellowship. Remember, the Mission Office in Springfield doesn't produce missionaries; they come out of local churches just like yours and mine. Let's continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into His harvest (Matthew 9:38). For the missionaries already on the front lines, they need our encouragement and support. They are the combat units, and we are the supply lines. Let's hold them up prayerfully and financially. Thanks for all you do for the cause of world missions!

Gratefully serving,

Pastor George Mulford

Florida National Director

Don't Take a Knee

Communicating truth to our congregations is always a challenge.  Jesus was a master communicator because He was a great illustrator.  Paul was the same way.  Jesus used everyday things to illustrate truth such as fishing, sheep, a door, a candle etc. Paul used several sports analogies.  People relate to such things.  So here is one I used Sunday.  The topic was the fact we are living in the last days.
I like the new coach of the Tampa Bay Bucs.  At the end of the game against the New York Giants it seemed like the game was over.  As New York took a knee the bucs defense stormed through and tried to cause a fumble.  After the game the coach was criticized for it.  His response was “I tell my players to play till time has run out.”  My admonition to our people was for our church not to “take a knee.”  There is still time on the clock of life.  I don’t want to be a pastor who has mailed it in just because we are living in the last days.  People are still getting saved, God is still working and we need to stay faithful as long as the clock is ticking.
I think the same can be said for us as a Fellowship.  May the only knee we take is the one where we kneel in prayer.  Let’s keep encouraging one another.  Let’s keep supporting church plants.  Let’s keep supporting our colleges and missionaries.  See you in November at Park Street.  

Dan Jeffers,

FBBF Chairman

NOTE: We are currently accepting nominations for officers.  The only office not up for vote is Treasurer.  There is one more year on that term.  

Church Planter Report - Church@South Creek

It's amazing to see God work in the lives of those around us. This past summer at South Creek was full of attacks from the enemy and blessings from God...isn't that the way it is for all of us?! There are several families in our church that have experienced difficulties in these past months, but we have seen people give their lives to Christ and have also seen many new faces at South Creek. We have a good group of girls coming now that are in high school and college. We are excited to start a new small group just for them. 

Back in January 2012, I shared the wonderful news with you about my friend/neighbor, David and how he made the decision to give his life to the Lord. These are the friends are here as political refugees from Venezula. We asked for prayer for his wife as she was still relying on her good works for salvation.  She had seen and recognized a change in her husband. Fast forward to July 2012, my wife received a text early one morning from David's wife, Maggie asking if she could meet with us that evening. She had not been able to sleep and was afraid. They arrived at our home and she proceeded to tell us of her need for Christ. Answered prayer! Rachele was able to lead her to the Lord that night at our dining room table. God is good and we are humbled to be a part of His plan for our wonderful friends and neighbors. 

Please continue to pray for South Creek! Thank you for your faithful support! We are blessed to have you backing us up!