BY DR. JOHN SULLIVAN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER
FLORIDA BAPTIST CONVENTION

A note from Dr. John Sullivan

I believe time will reveal that we completed one of the finest State Board of Missions meetings in our history on Friday, Sept. 24. Led well by President Gary Crawford, the Board made some critical decisions in light of the storms that have ravaged our state.

We will work with our associations and churches as long as they have needs and we have resources. Cecil Seagle, director of the Convention’s Missions Divisions, said it well, “We will help all we can, as much as we can, for as long as we can. Then we will get up and do it again the next day.”

In light of the meeting, the Board:

—Set aside $100,000 to assist pastors, church staff, director of missions and association staff with salary supplements as needed. My office will handle these requests. Call 800-226-8584, ext. 3014, 3015, 3016 and leave information about needs. Or, e-mail: Dr. John Sullivan or fax: 904-346-0271.

—Created a pool of $500,000 to assist with no interest loans for insurance deductibles. These loans will be up to $25,000 with repayment in 10 years. The New Work Assistance Department and director Hugh Cater will handle these requests. You may contact the office at 800-226-8584, ext. 3130, email: Carol Wheeler; or fax: 904-396-6476.

—Authorized use of $851,879 that has been received in disaster relief contributions as of Sept. 20 to assist in the affected areas to be used for relief and rebuilding in Southwest and Southwest Florida; and to further authorize the Executive Director-Treasurer to use contributions received in the wake of Ivan through the Western Panhandle for recovery and rebuilding. As an aside, I want you to know that Pensacola has been heavily damaged.

What a wonderful spirit I sensed among the Board. I also sensed an overwhelming compassion among our members, a genuine sense of “How best can we serve?" And a true sense of unity.

My life was significantly altered by Hurricane Andrew. And now Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne have continued to shape my life.

Our Public Relations Division staff and the Florida Baptist Witness staff have worked with a sense of destiny to give us the best coverage and information possible on these storms and how they have affected individual Florida Baptists and our churches. We owe them a great debt of gratitude. Our entire convention staff has served days on the front lines ministering to storm victims and coordinating our response. There are no finer folks to be found in the earth than those who serve on the staff of the Florida Baptist Convention. My appreciation for them continues to grow daily.

There are no text books on how to handle storms on this many fronts as we have been called to do. Our staff and volunteers are writing the book with sweat and tears permeated with prayer and love. We will survive.

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You may contact Dr. John Sullivan at
1-800-226-8584, ext. 3015, or by e-mail.