A Letter from our Chairman

First of all I want to say how much I appreciate Chuck Smith and his faithfulness to do the Sunshine Report for the last few years. As you know we are now going strictly online via email and our website. Chuck did a good job and we really appreciate his hard work.
I just came back from the national fellowship meeting in Fort Worth. It was a tremendous meeting. There were workshops on finances, church growth, children’s and youth ministry led by Pastor’s of great churches. I will be reporting on what is going on what is happening on a national level and in our colleges at the next meeting.
There was one theme that was prominent to me that really caused me to evaluate what we are doing at our church. Churches that are really growing are those reaching out into our community. We do a lot here at our church but not as much and we could be doing outside of our church. One speaker said he asks himself this question, “If our church were gone tomorrow would our community miss us?” That is a tough question to answer. In one respect they might not because darkness doesn’t really miss light. Darkness would rather light just go away. The point of the question is valid however. Are we making such an impact in our respective communities that people know we are here?
We hope to see you all in March. We are in the center of the state so we should have a good group at this meeting.

One of the things we do on a national level in February is to raise an offering for the Baptist Bible Tribune. Just like the Sunshine Report is how we as a state fellowship stay connected on a state level the Tribune connects us on a national level. It not only is informational but it is inspirational as well. The churches of the BBF help support this effort with an offering each year. If your church doesn’t get the Tribune , let me encourage you to call them or go their website and ask them to send it. If you can help out with an offering that would be a blessing. You can also get the Tribune online at Baptistbiblefellowship.org.

One last thing: Our president Linzy Slayden has challenged us as a fellowship to lead our churches to collectively give out 100,000 Bibles in the United States. He is calling it Mission Possible. His hope is that we purchase Bibles and give them out on Easter, VBS, Friend Days or however you want to accomplish this. If you can let me know how many you give out this year, I will relay that information back to him. Let’s get the Word Out!

USA Today Highlights FBBF Pastor

Ron Williams is the pastor of Church at the GYM in Sanford, Fla. As the Baptist church's name implies, Williams' congregation meets in a gym.

Williams says the goal is to remove the "stained-glass barriers" for people who might not be comfortable in traditional church settings.

"I think all the trappings of traditional religion can make it difficult for people to start coming," he said. "You can invite someone, and they will say, 'I don't have any clothes to wear to church.' "

To make people feel more comfortable, Williams wears jeans. In the warm Florida climate, some members wear shorts. Other clothing types, from urban wear to biker gear, also are welcome. Sanford native Sandy Adcox, 38, had not been to church in 18 years before she attended Church at the GYM last March. She hasn't missed a service since.

"I've never in my life felt more comfortable in a church," she said. "It's so warm and welcoming."

Read More at USA Today.com