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Welcome!

West Florida Baptist Association is a voluntary fellowship of Southern Baptist Churches in the Washington County area working together to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We assist in proclaiming the Gospel to the lost, discipling Christians, and ministering to the needs of our community in the name of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to promote fellowship among the Churches and to encourage missionary and evangelism work in every Church of the Association. We also carry out community ministries throughout the Association that would not be possible by any one Church. We keep an open line of communication between the Churches and both the Florida and Southern Baptist Conventions. Jesus said, "In as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." (The Holy Bible, Matthew 25:40)

The Association exists to serve you. If we may be of service to you please contact us through the information listed at the right. You are invited to explore our website for more information on our Churches and mission ministries. We also invite you to visit us at the Associational office located at 1641 Brickyard Road in Chipley, Florida (west of Chipley High School). Our Director of Missions will be glad to visit with you and answer any questions you may have.

Salvation

Mr. Webster defines salvation as the saving of the soul from sin and death by the atonement of Jesus. In Hebrews 11:7 it says, "...by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house: by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." We note three important things in this verse. Noah heard, he believed, and he obeyed. This led to his and his family's physical and spiritual salvation. These are three mandatory steps to salvation.

The book of Acts tells of the apostle Paul's effective ministry in the ancient city of Ephesus. Acts 20:31 says, "Therefore, watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears." Paul had a great compassion for the people at Ephesus. In our churches and convention we are striving to reach out to the many lost around us. If we look at the work of the infant church, we see the apostles continued in the doctrine of fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. They have given us the pattern for Christianity today. The people heard the Word of God, believed and followed with confession and baptism. They united in fellowship with the local church and participated in the Lord's Supper and prayer.

Salvation is like a coin with two sides. Both sides are vital in one's reconciliation to God from repentance toward God to faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. The first side of the salvation coin is repentance; a turning toward God. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) Recently, I was traveling and following very detailed directions, however, when I came to the proper exit it was closed for repair. Not being familiar with the area I took the next exit hoping to be able to find my correct road. While this didn't work, I found myself going back through a toll gate I had just passed through. Thankfully the lady in the toll booth recognized I had lost my way. After telling her where I need to go, she told me to go past this toll booth and make a U-turn. Well, there was a big sign saying NO U-turns. She told me to forget the sign and make the U-turn. Following her instructions, I made the U-turn and arrived where I needed to be. This is what repentance means: making the U-turn toward God while ignoring the world's NO U-turn sign and begin following Jesus.

The second side of the salvation coin requires faith. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:12, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." Faith is a commitment NOT an intellectual assent or historical acknowledgment. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is a living consecration. -- Alcus Brock, Director of Missions

Cooperative Program

Southern Baptists across the nation through the Cooperative Program... partner together in reaching out to our world in the name of Jesus Christ. Your church, along with every other Florida Baptist cooperating church, is making a significant impact with the Gospel through their support of the Cooperative Program.

How do busy church leaders promote the Cooperative Program while keeping in balance the many other important items that clamor for their attention? Here are a few helpful suggestions. Pick the suggestions that will work best in your church setting and emphasize the importance of the Cooperative Program.

—Lead in a special time of prayer for the work of missions through the Cooperative Program during the worship service. Pray for our missionaries, our seminary teachers, and the Florida Baptist Convention staff.

— Acknowledge April 11 as Cooperative Program Sunday and sincerely thank your congregation for participating with their tithes and offerings in support of the greatest missionary effort in the world, the Cooperative Program.

— Use Cooperative Program materials as a bulletin insert. The Florida Baptist Convention’s 2010 Budget Brochure “Mandate-Missions-Ministries” tells the story of what your Cooperative Program gifts are accomplishing. Additionally, a number of great resources are available to you at http://www.flbaptist.org/MinistryPrograms/AC/CooperativeProgram.aspx

— Share with your members something specific that is being accomplished through the Cooperative Program:

11,000 national and international missionaries are funded through the Cooperative Program.
5,000 Florida Baptist volunteers are trained in disaster relief, making the Southern Baptist Convention the third largest disaster relief provider in the nation.
116 new churches were started last year in Florida.
1,500 people are being trained through theological education provided in Florida.
80,000 Florida Baptists volunteered for more than 6,000 mission projects and disaster relief efforts in Florida and around the world.
Every 38 seconds Southern Baptists baptize one person. That’s 831,725 worldwide.

— Download a compelling mission video from the Convention's Media Gallery . These short stories can be played during the worship service.

These are just a few suggestions. Use your own creativity and help us spread the Cooperative Program story. It is a story worth telling!

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