See the Florida Mission Field through the Eyes of Jesus

By Barbara Denman/July 16, 2007

Click on the logo for 2007 Maguire State Mission Offering materials.

JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Why do we love Florida? For sunshine, beaches, blue waters, the Keys, quaint small towns, winning sport teams, glorious sunrises and sunsets, entertainment destinations, and exciting, diverse cities. For oceans, lakes and winding rivers, islands, bridges and boardwalks. For cool tones of turquoise and coral sparkling on homes, shops and buildings. For palm trees waving in the breeze and stoic moss-covered oak trees draping inland and rural communities. For churches whose stained glass windows or storefront locations illuminate the cross of Christ.

No wonder 1,000 new residents move to this tropical paradise each day. Go ahead, soak in the flavor, taste the salt air, feel the breeze blowing across the waters, relish the experience.

Florida is a picture perfect postcard to see and savor.

And what does Jesus see when looking at the Sunshine State? Undoubtedly the beauty of God’s creation does not escape his gaze.

But He would see more. Matthew 9:35-36 offers a glimpse of Florida as seen through the eyes of Jesus. He sees the crowds, he sees the multitudes. He sees individuals struggling in their own pain, their own confusion, their own hunger and their own loneliness.

And he is filled with divine compassion. He wants to wipe away every tear, fill every heart, comfort every soul, meet every need of the sick and weary.

He is saddened by the estimated 70 percent of the state’s 18 million people who do not have a personal relationship with Him. He extends to them his hand of salvation and forgiveness.

He sees 4.5 million foreign-born persons speaking in more than 150 languages who are separated by culture and diversity. Does anyone care enough to share the gospel in their own heart language?

He sees those in prison, those who are hungry and have physical needs. He sees persons whose lives have been shattered by disaster and who endure life as migrant farm workers. He sees those in shadows of the steeples who need a message of hope and love.

As the called people of God, Florida Baptists seek to be the embodiment of Christ’s compassion to reach the multitudes with the transforming gospel message. To reach the changing and complex state for Christ, they have adopted a Great Commission strategy of evangelizing new believers, planting new churches and strengthening 2,700 existing churches to be more effective in reaching their own communities.

Their efforts are undergirded by gifts to the Maguire State Mission Offering. The growing missionary needs in Florida cannot be met by the Cooperative Program gifts solely. The Maguire State Mission Offering complements Florida Baptists’ commitment to Jesus’ Great Commission.

The Maguire State Mission Offering has a missionary purpose—helping new congregations through no-interest church site loans, supporting pastors in partnership states and countries and spreading the gospel through evangelistic ministry. The offering enables a mission enterprise that develops Christian believers through youth and family camps; helps churches in Florida communities, ministers to migrant farm laborers and helps rebuilds lives in the aftermath of disasters.

When giving through the Maguire State Mission Offering, Florida Baptists are looking at the state and its needs through the compassionate eyes of Jesus. By giving sacrificially, they extend His hand in salvation and forgiveness.

By joining together in prayer and giving, Florida Baptists are seeing the Florida mission field through the eyes of Jesus.