News Articles by Carolyn Nichols/Florida Baptist Witness

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) -- Jim Henry, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Orlando and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, is again leading a church in Orlando. Downtown Baptist Church, which formed when First Baptist moved from downtown Orlando to John Young Parkway in 1985, has called Henry as pastor. Henry said the church is poised to become "a tremendous lighthouse for downtown Orlando." Stan Buchanan, chairman of the church's trustees, said church attendance had dwindled to 70 but has swelled to 300 since Henry's first Sunday on Dec. 7.

MIAMI (BP) -- Every weekend, 830 children in Dade County have food to eat because Christ Fellowship in Miami sent it home with them from school. The seven campuses of the 9,000-member church contribute funds and volunteer staffing to keep children fed when their schools do not offer free breakfasts and free or reduced-cost lunches.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) -- Teens and adults with special needs had the "Best Night Ever" at North Jacksonville Baptist Church.

LEESBURG, Fla. (BP) -- A central Florida church has expanded its thrift store to an empty downtown building to better offset costs entailed in its ministry to needy people.       "Some good things come from an economic downturn, and this is one of them," executive pastor Art Ayris said.