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

News & Prayer Request from IBB Homestead

My name is Hector Dueñas Jr, I am the pastor of IBB Homestead Church. My wife Dixie and I are bi-vocational servants and our church needs your prayers. We believe that we are under spiritual attack from our common enemy.

We are facing poverty
Our church like many on the land has been affected by the current recession and many of our members are out of work. However, our church ministered to the spanish speaking migrant and hispanic farm worker community. This community has faced a steep increase in deportation, and general racial hostility toward them lately. Many are now scared to apply for work. I know of at least one person that has been feeding his family (he his wife and their infant) for over a year from what he is able to catch fishing in the local canals. Homestead was categorized as the poorest city in the US recently (statistically our families have a combined household averaging $14K a year) but with the recent changes many are leaving our community and the situation seems to be getting worse.

We are facing sickness.
There is an outbreak of the Flu virus in our community. We just had someone from Homestead die from the Flu. There is at least one person in almost every single household that is coming down with Flu-like symptoms. We believe that at least 10% are confirmed with the N1H1 virus (including my own daughter and her mother). Another gentleman from South Dade Baptist Church (who hosts our church) has been given less then a 2% chance of surviving the deadly virus. Many of our migrant families are actually scared to go to seek medical attention for fear of deportation. Our combined churches seem to be experiencing a steep spike in the number of individuals with Cancer, as well as the number that have been placed on hospice for other illnesses.

We are facing hostility
For reasons that we cannot explain, many of those who are more established. Many of those that no longer work in the fields, those that in many cases have their own business, are finding themselves being investigated. Some have had personal property confiscated during these investigations. This legal actions are outside all of those that are loosing their homes during the crisis that our nation is facing. In fact recently, much media attention was given to a school for the children of the mexican farm workers which was closed in the middle of the night by the local authorities. This is a community without a voice, I say this because whenever one of them raise their voice in concern, they and their families disappear in the night (they are deported).

We are facing a spirit of division
In the last year we have seen our attendance drop in half (from 120 to 60 including children), mostly from people who were happy with our ministry but that were leaving looking for a economic opportunities elsewhere. Recently we have seen some of our leaders within our church leave as well. Most have left for larger churches with actual buildings (we are a church without walls), for a while those that left were actively trying to evangelize from within our membership, but sadly most of them are now finding themselves not attending any church services.

We remain hopeful.
Though are attendance does not reflect it. we have saved and baptized over 30 individuals this year so far. Also, during this crisis God has opened doors for us to meet with high ranking members of of the Homestead government, and our faith that God will see us through this has never been stronger. Today is my 14th day of fasting and prayer as I continue to humble myself before the Lord asking for his strength, wisdom and grace to help us through this. Many in our church are also fasting and praying for God to perform a miracle and bring life back to us (a revival). We plan to increase our outreach efforts and what ever happens, we will give the glory to God.

Pray that God gives our family the strength to continue to work all day and minister all night, until he sees fit to bless us with the resources to focus on ministry 100% of the time.
Pray that God continue to open doors with our local government, and agencies so that we can work to end some of recent hostility against a people without a voice.
Pray that God, bind our common enemy who we know is behind the rise in sickness and poverty and the spirit of division that we are facing.

Thank you,
Hector Dueñas Jr.
Pastor IBB Homestead Church

Great Meeting in Ocoee

June's Meeting at Crownpoint in Ocoee was great. I will be posting some of the speaker notes later this week, but Tim wanted me to thank everyone who came out and those who contributed to the offering for the Timothy Lalonde Family. Here is a link to Billy Hamm's article concerning the situation. $200 was given to help them through this difficult time.

FBBF Church buys 8 acres in Paradise

Breaking News from Key Largo. Pastor Steve Vetter and the people of Key Largo Baptist Church have acquired some of the most coveted real estate in the world. Here is Steve's report:

I found this 8 acres on Florida Bay & the Overseas Hwy 17 months ago, the price was $2 million. Although we had less than $100k in our building fund, we walked the property, claiming it for God’s kingdom work. We figured,” Why should all the prime bayfront property be owned by the millionaires, hotels & bars, why not a church?” We continued to pray & raise money, meanwhile the asking price soared to $3.3 million. Bottom line, when we finally put in our bid last month, the real estate market had changed dramatically. We ended up acquiring the land for $1.3 million. Two similar parcels on the bay, less than a 1/4 mile away are selling for $7.4mil & $9.8mil. God is so good! Our church raised about $800k in 15 months so we could buy this incredible property that will enable KLBC to expand both our facilities and our ministries to the upper Keys. Now that we own it, we will be busy raising $$ to build. Our existing church property is worth over $3 million, and already have had several companies, ( Fed Ex, McDonald’s, Tom Thumb) inquiring about it, because it is a prime location at the foot of the new bridge as you enter Key Largo. Your prayers for us are greatly appreciated.

Having grown up in Key Largo while my dad pastored this same church, I can truly say that this is a Monstrous blessing from God. I am so proud of Steve and the great job that he is doing there in the Keys. I truly believe that this blessing comes as a direct result of Steve and Cindy's faithfulness to not let the current property determine the size of their ministry.

See Photos here.

*Editors Note: If you have a story of how God is working in your church, please send it to me at pastor@cbclife.net

What You Missed in Tavares

Getting to a Fellowship meeting is not often easy. They seem to always come after a particularly grueling weekend, and giving up that much needed day off can be tough. This website hopefully will allow you to stay up with the action even when you are not able to attend. It is my hope that by telling you what you missed, you will be more inclined to make the drive.

Here is the rest of the story....

• I found out that Dan Jeffers from Park Street walked in on a burglar on Saturday. The guy apologized for breaking in, said "it will never happen again", before leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash. (great illustration on the true meaning of repentance)
  

• I heard that Russell Johnson is now opening up their building for corporate conventions and training events for companies like UPS. Local foot traffic several time a month.
  

• I learned that Gavin Searles, had a Judas take the money bag and run. The bank has frozen their account, but not until some damage was done.

• I learned that our church planter Sterling Young drives a Cadillac. This particular Caddy, however has 300,000 plus miles on it.

• I watched as $4,000 was raised in 5 minutes from some very generous pastors to help Sterling get a car that he can rely on.

• I sat on the back row with a whole bunch of Youth Pastors who love God, love kids, and are working together.

I for one don't want to miss Tim's meeting. Do you?

By the way, I found this while Googling a picture of Gavin Searles. Lake County Sheriff's Office Photo Wow! I never knew.