Jacksonville pastor Tim Maynard elected FBSC president

Nov 21, 2012 

By JONI B. HANNIGAN/FBW
Managing Editor

Related Coverage: 2012 Florida Baptist State Convention Annual Meeting

ORLANDO (FBW)—Officers elected at the Nov. 12-13 meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention annual meeting of 2,922 Southern Baptist churches and missions across Florida are from as far south as Okeechobee, as far north as Jacksonville and in north-central Florida’s Ocala.

Jacksonville pastor Tim Maynard, 58, was elected FBSC president with 640 votes cast, receiving 374 or 59 percent of the votes while Clayton Cloer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Central Florida received 264 votes or 41 percent of the vote.

The election marked only the second contested election for president of the state convention since 1999.

Maynard, pastor of 3,500-member Fruit Cove Baptist Church, served three years as the president of Florida’s State Board of Missions prior to the election. He was nominated by Marvin Pittman, a laymen from First Baptist Church in Bartow and newly elected president of the SBOM.

ELECTED Tim Maynard, FBSC president. FBC photo

Just hours after the election, Maynard told the Florida Baptist Witness he was already feeling the “weight” of how to bring Florida Baptists together to “refocus on what’s truly important.”

“I really have a heartbeat for seeing genuine unity happen in this convention,” Maynard said. “One of the things that really, really matters to Jesus is unity. If we can’t stand as a unified people, I don’t know that we have much to share with the state. I think it’s going to require a true heart change, genuine repentance in the hearts of the people.”

Maynard said he believes some “housekeeping” is in order for Florida Baptists who have issues to address, but he is prayerful the “momentum that we’ve built in these past few days” will continue.

“That’s hopefully where we will begin the journey and where God leads us in this, we will see,” he said. “When we come together its just a beautiful thing. It’s a great testimony to us and to our Lord and its something that I would like to see continued.”

Elected to serve with Maynard was layperson Jack Roland of First Baptist Church, Ocala, first vice president; Chris Coram, associate pastor of North Jacksonville Baptist Church, second vice president; and Randy Huckabee, pastor of First Baptist Church of Okeechobee, recording secretary. Roland topped Kevin Goza, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Apopka. The other two officers ran unopposed.

ELECTED Elected to serve the FBSC are (l-r) Tim Maynard, pastor, Fruit Cove Baptist Church, Jacksonville, president; Jack Roland, laymen, First Baptist Church, Ocala, first vice-president; and Chris Coram, associate pastor, North Jacksonville Baptist Church, second vice president. Not pictured is Randy Huckabee, pastor, First Baptist Church, Okeechobee, recording secretary. FBC photo

In nominating Maynard, Pittman had noted his leadership in the state and in his church, and cited Fruit Cove’s commitment to missions and the Cooperative Program, which funds the mission enterprise of the Florida and Southern Baptist conventions. 

The church gives at least 10 percent through the Cooperative Program annually; $80,000 to $100,000 to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions; and $45,000 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for Missions, he said.

“Tim’s leadership style is to cast a vision and to invite others to join him,” Pittman told messengers. “His cooperative and humble spirit [and] his personal commitment to the task encourages those around him to come together to reach the common goal.”

William Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, in nominating Cloer, first gave an encouraging word about both pastors. “I am glad today we have not a contest between political opponents but a choice between spiritual brothers,” Rice said. “I know and love both of these men and trust their heart and character, but today my choice is the man I nominate for the office of convention president, Dr. Clayton Cloer, pastor of the FBC of Central Florida.” 

Rice praised Cloer for his leadership, and said the former Florida Baptist Pastors’ Conference president had spearheaded “the fight to amend our state constitution to preserve the sanctity of biblical marriage and he led the revision task force calling our churches to repentance and renewal.”

Information from the 2011 Annual Church Profile for Fruit Cove Baptist Church lists 70 baptisms and primary worship service attendance of 1,404. The church gave $369,053, or 10.71 percent, through the Cooperative Program from total undesignated receipts of $3,446,235. According to the ACP, the church also received $81,258 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and $20,804 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Fruit Cove gave $68,620 to the Jacksonville Baptist Association and $13,478 to the Maguire State Missions Offering, with total missions giving in 2011 of $602,374. 

Maynard, pastor of Fruit Cove since 1993 and a native of Kentucky, previously served two churches in Kentucky. He earned the master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and a bachelor’s degree from University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Ky. He also has served as an adjunct professor of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. 

Maynard and his wife, Pamela, have been married for 35 years. They are parents to two adult children. 

With reporting by James A. Smith Sr.

Mount Dora First Baptist honors area public school educators

Nov 8, 2012 

By CAROLYN NICHOLS/FL Baptist Witness
Newswriter

COMMUNITY First Baptist Church in Mount Dora hosts an annual luncheon for teachers. Courtesy photo

MOUNT DORA (FBW)—First Baptist Church in Mount Dora recently hosted its fourth annual Teacher Appreciation Day. It is an opportunity to share the Gospel, encourage teachers, and help needy students, according to Pastor Thomas Jamieson.

Area school principals, teachers and members of Lake and Orange counties’ school boards attended the worship service and luncheon Sept. 9. Jamieson, who started the tradition in 2008, presented principals of six schools checks for $400 to be used to help the schools’ neediest children. In years past, Jamieson said some schools used the funds to buy underwear and clothes for students.

“First Baptist Church takes the welfare of the children in our community very seriously. In light of our current economy, we know there are many needs within our public schools, and we’re blessed to be able to help meet some of those needs,” Jamieson said.

The congregation, including more than 100 educators, heard Jamieson preach from John 10:10 about “Abundant Life.” He sprinkled anecdotes from his previous career as a public school kindergarten teacher into a sermon that urged teachers to include values in their teaching since “there is no success if the soul and spirit of a person is neglected,” he said. Abundant life is a forgiven life, a forever life and a life free from baggage, he added.

During the luncheon 17 teachers received gift cards from local stores, restaurants and car care centers. Among the prizes were tickets to First Baptist’s Dinner Theater Dec. 14-15.

“Teachers have told me that this is the only time in the year they get 

together for fun. It’s something the teachers and principals—even the lost principals—look forward to,” Jamieson said.

Among the schools participating in the Appreciation Day were Seminole Springs Elementary, Sorrento Elementary, Zellwood Elementary, Wolf Lake Elementary in Apopka, Triangle 

Elementary School in Mount Dora, Mount Dora Middle School and Mount Dora High School. 

“These schools know we are committed to them. You don’t earn their trust in the first or even second year. We have to remember that Christ commanded us to feed the poor, whether or not we see fruit from it,” Jamieson said.

Appreciation day is not First Baptist’s only contact with local schools. During football season, the junior varsity and high school teams from Mount Dora meet at the church at 3:30 p.m. before every home game for a meal together. Also, administrators from the area schools will furnish First Baptist with a list of their neediest students, and the church will provide Christmas dinners for the families. The families will come to the church to receive the “fixings” for the meal. In every contact, the Gospel is presented, Jamieson said.

“I don’t know how many seeds have been sown through all of this, but I know some are germinating, and some are being harvested,” he said.

LSU's 'Painted Posse' undaunted for the cross

Posted on Nov 2, 2012 | by Mark Hunter/Baptist Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (BP) -- When someone in LSU's Sports Department airbrushed hand-painted crosses off the bare chests of the "Painted Posse" in a widely distributed photo following the LSU-South Carolina game, it sparked a controversy over political correctness and censorship of university students' religious views.

The Posse, a group of Christian students who proclaim their faith by wearing the crosses, had a meeting and asked themselves, "What would Jesus do?" They publicly forgave the university for the incident and are urging everyone to put the incident behind them.

That is, until the LSU-Alabama game on Saturday (Nov. 3). Thousands of fans, clad in LSU purple and gold and Alabama red and white, will fill Tiger Stadium -- with some from both sides also wearing crosses to support the Posse and their testimony of faith in God.

When news first got out about the altered photo and LSU was contacted by national and local media, LSU spokesman Herb Vincent claimed they altered the photo from the Oct. 20 game because they didn't want to offend anyone.

"We don't want to imply we are making any religious or political statements, so we airbrushed it out," Vincent said. "It was just a straight sports communications message, no politics involved, no religion."

From now on, Vincent said, they'll just not use photos that could be construed to have religious overtones.

The Posse, formed in 2003 and featured in hundreds of photographs from ESPN to local newspapers, said they don't want to further the controversy.

Posse member and LSU senior Sloan Bishop, a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry there, helped craft a statement released to local media and posted on the Posse's Facebook page.

"We talked about how we wanted to respond and end it in the most Christ-like way possible," Bishop, who attends The Ring church held at Grace Baptist in Baton Rouge, said in a phone interview. "None of us feel attacked in any way. We bear no ill will toward LSU or staff members."

The press release reads, in part:

"In light of the recent airbrushing of our crosses by LSU staff members and the discussion that has followed, the Painted Posse -- a group of Christian LSU students -- would like to thank the public for the outpouring of support both for the group and for Christ.... The University has reached out to our group and apologized for this incident.

"We ... do not agree with the University's recent decision to airbrush crosses out of the photo of some of our members. We also respect the opinions of those who do not agree with us. Despite what happened, our main focus is to represent Christ. This Christ is our Savior who died on a cross to save us from sin, was raised again, and now lives in our lives.

"Our goal as the Painted Posse is to portray Christ through our actions while cheering on our Tigers! Our group will return to our normal seats, with our normal, painted uniforms on November 3rd, wholeheartedly supporting our Tigers. We are humbled by the many who have shown support for our beliefs, but we would encourage all fellow members of the LSU family to please switch the focus from this story and the Posse to supporting our beloved university.

"We encourage anyone who would like to honor Jesus Christ to join us by wearing a cross on November 3rd. We strongly discourage the wearing of a cross as a way to protest the university or its recent decision. We desire that no further negative light would be shone upon the university that we love. We acknowledge the efforts of the LSU administration and look forward to serving the university as both fans and students."

Bishop's father, a deacon at First Baptist Church in Covington, La., when asked about the issue, he said, "I'm so proud of each one of these young men that they are taking a stand. It really surprised me that LSU airbrushed that out. When Sports Illustrated and ESPN have run their pictures it wasn't airbrushed out. They're not trying to cause a controversy. I think it's awesome what they're doing."

Posse member Cameron Cooke told CampusReform.org, "The cross painting is important to me because it represents who I am as a Christ follower. And it reminds me who I need to act like in Death Valley."

Posse member Joel D'Aubin told the NBC affiliate in Baton Rouge, "We all have a passion for LSU football and for Christ. Just being able to be that example every single Saturday is an awesome experience."

The Posse's Facebook page, which has more than 1,300 "likes," has been filled with hundreds of comments.

Tiger fan Paula Jones Bergeron wrote, "I'm on a mission and need everyone's help. The Alabama game is Nov. 3 and everyone needs to wear a purple or black shirt and wear a large cross, a shirt with a cross on it or face paint a cross on your face. The media will be everywhere and my goal is to have a campus of crosses."

Jason Williams wrote, "This BAMA fan stands behind you! Wear your crosses! May God richly bless you and, of course, Roll Tide!!"
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Mark Hunter is a correspondent for the Baptist Message (www.baptistmessage.com), newsjournal of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.