REPORT by Carolyn Anderson, Acting Coordinator CBF-Florida

past articles

What a difference a year makes!... I stand here tonight in a new and unfamiliar role. In past years I have been the one getting things done "behind the scenes." But tonight I'm here to report on the state of the Florida Fellowship and my report is that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is strong and well in Florida.

Ten years ago when we met here at College Park, CBF had only a couple of missionaries. Their names were T and Kathie Thomas. Touching Miami With Love Ministries and Open House Ministries had not even been dreamed of yet, and our state office was in a spare bedroom.

Today, we celebrate significant, collaborative missions in Florida, and in Europe, Africa, and Asia. T Thomas has led CBF Florida in establishing new congregations and church partnerships in missions. You will hear about this work during the breakout sessions.

Last year you were once again generous in your giving. We received and disbursed $1.4 million, $910,000 of this went to National CBF and other ministry needs throughout the world.

This year our Florida budget is more than a half-million dollars.

To God be the glory!

2002 was a year of tremendous change for us.

After working out of a converted apartment behind our house for seven years, CBF-Florida purchased newly remodeled offices. We moved in last April. At last we each have our own office!

In Miami, Touching Miami With Love Ministries proposed a relocation plan that would move the ministry into Overtown, the poorest neighborhood in Miami. The move is based on a missions rationale, placing the ministry in the neighborhood, but the transaction is complex and difficult and not without costs. We are working with TML to sell the existing ministry building and purchase one of their choosing.

2002 also presented us with several personnel changes. First, our long-time secretary, Valerie Long, retired, and Sally Saffer joined our staff. Both Valerie and Sally are here. I hope you have an opportunity to meet them.

Then, Larry Wynn resigned as director of Touching Miami With Love to begin his own ministry consulting business, and our own Steven Porter took over as director of TML.

At Open House Ministries we first said good-bye to Steve Harris who has returned to New York City, and later in the year we said farewell to Richie and Lindsi Hines who have returned to North Carolina.

During the Christmas season we welcomed the return of Richard and Lucille Smith, long-time volunteers at Open House, now serving as interim directors. They are busy preparing for the summer program, and you are invited to be a part of it.

Tom and Joyce Cleary officially retired as career missionaries at the end of 2002. They served their last years at Homestead and Miami and are now living in Tampa and available to you as missions resources.

Late in 2002, Pat Anderson accepted the position of Missions Advocate for CBF-National, and resigned as Coordinator of CBF-Florida. He is excited about devoting all of his time and energy in CBF missions, but his departure created some anxiety for all of us…at least at first!

All of these changes can be seen as opportunities... they push us toward the "new thing" God is doing in and among us.

CBF-Florida has grown in depth and breadth. We have taken leaps of faith, we have worked hard, and we have all contributed time and money and talent to the work.

But we do not dwell on the past nor can we rest on our laurels. The memories give us courage and inspiration to press on, to take risks for God, and remind us to expect good things from God in the future. And while we give thanks to God for those who have gone before us, we look forward to what God has yet to do with us!

I am so very grateful to each of you. I am glad you are here this weekend. The annual meeting committee has created a wonderful program for us as we consider the diversities in our state. Our host church has rolled out the red (or blue!) carpet for us. We will learn more about CBF, we will hear from partners and friends in ministry, and we will enjoy fellowship and worship.

You are among friends here. I hope you will relax and enjoy the company of your Baptist family, and that you will experience the presence of God.

Please pray with me:

Holy God, thank you for the blessings of the past. We are on an exciting journey with you, and sometimes we feel overwhelmed. We are reminded of the example Jesus set for us, to rest and to keep on working.

At times we have been fearful, our faith tested. But we thank you for showing us how to continue the journey, even to the cross.

We have experienced change, and we welcome change. Help us to embrace all you have for us, and guide us forward, and grant us courage, and grant us wisdom…for the living of these days.

In the Name of Jesus, who came to show us how to be your children, Amen.