News Articles by Joni B. Hannigan/Florida Baptist Witness

STARKE, Fla. (BP)--For sure, it's his ability to throw a football that got University of Florida's Tim Tebow a Heisman Trophy as a sophomore -- and helped his team win the national championship ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--With four older children, Pam Tebow, whose father was an Army colonel, was used to setting boundaries, issuing orders and choosing her battles by the time "Timmy" was born in 1987.       No worries, though. Tim Tebow, the 21-year-old University of Florida quarterback and the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, has been "obedient and teachable and kind," according to his mom.       The proud mom and other members of the Tebow clan were in Miami's Dolphin Stadium Thursday night to watch the Gators win their second national championship in three years.

KEY LARGO, Fla. (BP)--A religious liberty organization has filed a motion for the charges to be dismissed against two men who were arrested in Key Largo, Fla., earlier this year for passing out Bibles in front of an elementary and middle school.

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)–Don and Katy Singletary are looking forward to a new day when prisoners leaving the Mayo Correctional Institute will be able to face leaving prison with a new vision of financial responsibility. Often, inmates are fearful of what they will face when released. Too often they may return to prison after being ill-equipped […]

ORLANDO, Fla. (BP)--The first of several conferences teaching pastors the basics of debt-free living -– named "It's A New Day: How Will You Spend It?" –- aims at "liberating people from the bondage of debt," according to one of its organizers.       The new focus is not another capital campaign or a new way to raise Cooperative Program funds to support Southern Baptist missions and ministries.       Tackling financial bondage will help people "choose who to serve, because if they are in bondage to debt ... they are not free to choose to serve God," Bob Rodgers, the SBC Executive Committee's vice president for Cooperative Program and stewardship, said in a panel discussion during the March 22-23 conference in Orlando, Fla.       The initiative is tailor-made for Southern Baptists in a collaborative relationship with Crown Financial Ministries. Last year, messengers to the SBC annual meeting in Greensboro, N.C., voted to move the ministry assignment for stewardship to the SBC's Executive Committee from LifeWay Christian Resources ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--The fast-moving cargo ship was in port for less than half a day with a steady stream of vehicles being driven onshore from its five decks. Even so, in the midst of off-loading 1,232 SUVs and cars, two-dozen seafarers and their captain took time Dec. 8 to spend a few minutes with volunteers who shared with them the true meaning of Christmas.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (BP)--Citing embarrassment over having spent more than 30 minutes debating the issue of whether trustees of Southern Baptist Convention entities should be limited to those who abstain from alcohol, John Sullivan, the executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, says he intends future action in the FBSC "on this very issue."

WINTER PARK, Fla. (BP)--Seeking to “give voice to younger leaders across the Southern Baptist Convention” who support the SBC’s Conservative Resurgence and its emphasis on biblical inerrancy, about 40 pastors and seminary professors inaugurated what they are calling “The Joshua Convergence” during Sept. 25-26 sessions in Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP)--Pledging ongoing support for Southern Baptists’ main funding channel for missions, Mac Brunson, newly called as pastor of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said he is “a product” of the Cooperative Program, to which he will continue giving strong support.