Barbara Denman/Florida Baptist Convention

LEESBURG, Fla. (BP) -- Working in the midst of a massive cleanup after severe flooding hit Pensacola, two Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers found more than a ministry to homeowners; they discovered love and a new life partner.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (BP) -- As Tropical Storm Debby was bearing down on Panama City last year, First Baptist Church leaders wondered if any youngsters would brave the harsh conditions to attend the first day of Vacation Bible School.

MIAMI (BP) -- A lonely soul slips into the back row during worship at Miami's Greater Mercy Missionary Baptist Church as pastor Willie Williams proclaims how to manage when "life turns bitter instead of better."

KENDALL, Fla. (BP) -- After seeing church signs posted along southwest Miami roads near his home, Sergio Barrero, 23, and his family began visiting Turning Point Church in Kendall, Fla., about eight months ago.

TITANYEN, Haiti (BP) -- Chrisner Hyler, a Haitian in his early 20s, loves music, plays the keyboard and serves the Lord at a congregation in Port-au-Prince. And he has earned a Certificate in Pastoral Ministries after three years of studies offered in Haiti by New Orleans Theological Seminary and the Florida Baptist Convention. "I wanted to take the courses, to know how I can preach and teach and make disciples like Jesus Christ," Hyler said. "Then I could 'go and make some disciples' with the Holy Spirit and this teaching." Even when the January 2010 earthquake damaged his own home, crumbled his homeland, killed 200,000 fellow countrymen and left more than a million people homeless, Hyler persevered, dedicating a week every quarter to classes to learn biblical truths. Hyler was one of 145 Haitian students to receive his pastoral ministries certificate in early September as nearly 500 family members and friends looked on. Voicing appreciation for Florida Baptists' help in Haiti," Hyler said, "Especially I thank you for your education, your book, your teacher and all other things you help me with to preach the Gospel. Thank you for my certificate. I cannot pay you, but my God, my King, my Jesus Christ can pay you for me." Craig Culbreth, Florida Baptists' lead strategist for the convention's missional support group, said Hyler and the other graduates have gained a "sound theological foundation to change the world through the Gospel of Christ." "Theirs is a journey that began when life was hard in Haiti, but not extreme like it became after the earthquake," Culbreth said. "These men paid a price for not giving up."

ORLANDO (BP) -- Jacksonville pastor Tim Maynard was elected president of the Florida Baptist State Convention during its Nov. 12-13 annual meeting at First Baptist Church in Orlando.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) — Florida Baptists are being called to a day of prayer for the hurricane season on June 3 to seek the Lord for a calm season and for careful preparation by families, churches and disaster relief teams. Rick Shepherd, Florida Baptist team strategist for prayer and spiritual awakening, noted, “The God who […]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (BP) -- Would you trade three minutes of your time for a chance to win a black 2012 Harley Davidson Road Glide motorcycle?

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (BP) -- Mowing the grass surrounding the community center where the fledgling congregation was meeting, a Jacksonville youngster was unaware years ago that it would be the first of many churches he would have a role in planting.