Greetings from

Florida and the Caribbean Islands

January 24, 2024

Here's a quick look midweek to strengthen your faith and connect with your CBF family.

La Poza del Obispo, Puerto Rico

prayer from Daily Feast, Meditations from Feasting on the Word

Congratulations

Reverend Brenda Cohen

Rev. Brenda Cohen was ordained Sunday, January 21, 2024 at First Baptist Church Gainesville. Rev. Lynn Williams gave the Charge to the Candidate and Rev. Tammy Snyder gave the Charge to the Church. Rev. Rachel Gunter-Shapard shared her gift of voice and music by offering, “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian.” It was a good day, indeed! In addition, the Deaconate Chair, Susan Balloon participated in the Candidate’s Covenant.

First Baptist Church is led by Rev. Dr. Ray Johnson who began his tenure as First Baptist Church Gainesville Senior Pastor on January 1, 2024. (Congrats Ray!)

Rev. Cohen serves as Pastor of Discipleship and Missions.

a note from Brenda "I wore my favorite RED dress for women who have been criticized for wearing red or any other "inappropriate" dress. My dangling earrings are from Uganda."

A engaging visit with Living Stones Baptist Church

It's a good thing churches come in all shapes and sizes. Here in Florida we have several thriving House Churches and Living Stones is one of them. Chris Aho (Director of Thriving Congregations) and I worshiped with this community of kingdom builders, led by PASTOR RONNIE KIEHM, who are passionate about figuring out how to participate in what God is doing in their community.

Its Time For Restoration...

!!! Take Note: CBF FL and Caribbean Islands

will cover 1/2 of your tuition !!!

Registration closes Feb. 2, 2024

Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation

SOUL CARE

Cultivating an Awareness of Divine Presence

MARCH 3-8, 2024

Fruitland Park, FL

Registration Deadline: Friday, Feb 2, 2024

CBF of South Carolina and Florida / Caribbean Islands, together, are offering this inter-generational mission engagement opportunity to families, singles, young, old and everyone in between. Spend this 2024 holiday weekend making a difference and making new friends. "Credit" is available to FL students seeking community service hours.

$100 per person (covers lodging and food) to engage in this joint mission endeavor.

What should I expect? Our SC/FL teams will be working on projects ranging from painting and light household repairs to building wheelchair ramps. There will be projects for everyone and all skill levels. All meals on Saturday and Sunday are covered in your registration fee. There are two lodging options - motel rooms (at an extra cost) and cabins with bunk beds. You can indicate your preference when you register.

THANK YOU Trinity Baptist Seneca, SC and Crescent Hill Baptist Louisville ... LaBelle refurbishing happening now!

Can't you hear the brum, brum brums, rr-rr-rrs, rat tat tats, rizzzz bzzz and the bang bang bangs?

We ARE better together!

#cultivateabundance #drhousing #housingforhurricanerecovery

COMING SOON...

Housing for both Cultivate Abundance Mission Teams &

Disaster Response Teams as needed.

2024 Emmanuel McCall Lenten Devotional series

The 2024 Emmanuel McCall Lenten Devotional series is prepared by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship family and friends. It is a project of love that is designed to be read during the season of Lent, which begins February 14, 2024.

There are wonderful reflections on God's Word, thought-provoking questions, prayers, incorporation of the arts and noteworthy information.

As the devotional is read, our prayer is that our hearts open to the call of God to speak, walk and act justly. And, may our faith, courage and boldness grow stronger.

Available in both English and Spanish.

Last weekend in Lakeland, FL 4 Florida churches continued their journey to becoming Thriving Congregations.

Upper Left: Bayshore Baptist, Tampa

Upper Right: Greater Faith, Gainesville

Lower Left: First Baptist St Petersburg, St Petersburg

Lower Right: Waters Avenue, Tampa

P.P.P.P.

Planning & Prepping 4 #PassportPuertoRico

This past week Passport (David Burroughs) met with a group of la pastoras in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

"Thank you especially to Rev Xiomara Reboyras Ortiz for inviting us to participate in this CBF Florida/ Caribbean Islands / Cooperative Baptist Fellowship cohort gathering. We are grateful to be welcomed by La Familia in Puerto Rico."

The first ever PASSPORT Puerto Rico Camp will happen July 23 – 27, 2024! We can't wait.

#passportpuertorico #LaFamilia

BSK is now accepting applications for the Master of Arts in Ministry Studies program, launching in Fall 2024! The program, completed online through live Zoom sessions, is designed for people who want to grow in their calling while remaining in their full-time ministry or professional positions. The 36 hour degree program is centered around the selection of a specialty area by the student in consultation with faculty. Students may select from traditional fields of study or choose an area that is interdisciplinary. The program concludes with a Capstone project or thesis relating to the student’s area of specialization.

Learn More Here.

Congrats Pastor Bill White for 30 Years

with Christ Journey Church, Coral Gables, FL

New Year, New Job?

2 Opportunities with CBF

Associate Coordinator for FL & the Caribbean Islands

PAK Field Ministry Coordinator

Apply Here

Click here to view!

"As you explore this report, do so with gratitude for the collective impact we've made and with anticipation of the transformative possibilities that lie ahead." Paul Baxley

2024 IMPACT REPORT TOP TEN

1. $142,114

in migration support and services volunteer hours

2. 14,439

disaster victims served

3. 880

active CBF-endorsed chaplains and pastoral counselors

4. 130

peer learning groups

5. 350

first-time attendees at General Assembly

6. $196,000

in college and seminary scholarships

7. 360,906

volunteer hours through Together for Hope

8. $5.6 million

distributed for ministry causes through CBF Foundation

9. $6.6 million

in rollovers through CBF Church Benefits

10. $1.2 million

to ministry partners through CBF States and Regions

Read the latest Fellowship magazine HERE. PS. Check out pages 26-29!

January 2024 CBF Book Club

Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Thriving in Turbulent Times

By Otis Moss

Dancing in the Darkness is a “life-affirming” (Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown) guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of our day. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. King, Howard Thurman, sacred scripture, southern wisdom, global spiritual traditions, Black culture, and his own personal experiences, Dr. Moss instructs you on how to practice spiritual resistance by combining justice and love. This collection helps us tap into the spiritual reserves we all possess but too often overlook, so we can slay our personal demons, confront our civic challenges, and reach our highest goals.

Click here to download the book discussion guide

This year’s theme, “Equipping With Every Good Thing,” is based on Hebrews 13:20-21: "Now may the God of peace … equip you with every good thing to do his will, by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory forever and always.” The Offering for Global Missions equips the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship with the gifts and passions of 46 Field Personnel in 17 different countries and the United States, spreading the hope of Jesus Christ. When you give to the Offering for Global Missions, you also participate in this mission of Jesus Christ around the world.

This year we have a goal of $4 million. Every gift helps us reach this goal to support the presence of Field Personnel.

Make a gift to the offering here

Get your copy of the

OGM Prayer Guide below

"Writers were invited to share about someone who has made a significant impact on their lives, a spiritual guide so to speak - one who has shaped their faith, their theology or their prayer life." Thanks Meg Lacy Vega for compiling these beautiful Spiritual Guides.

Order Copies of 2023-24 Prayers of the People HERE.