Three Florida Baptist Convention staff leave positions
July 20, 2007
JACKSONVILLE—The Florida Baptist Convention will say “adios” to three staff members who have announced their intentions of leaving their current positions with the Convention.
Daniel Paixao, director of the Language Church Development department since year 2000, will retire from that position effective Sept. 30. Campus minister Ben Smith and church planting strategist Dwight Williams concluded their convention service on July 13.
The 67-year-old Paixao, a native of Brazil, has served in a variety of ministries within Southern Baptist life. Prior to coming to the Florida Convention, he served in Orlando as pastor of the First Brazilian Baptist Church while simultaneously serving as director of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Certificate Program, located in Orlando, from 1997 to 2000.
He also served as pastor of First Portuguese Baptist Church in Elizabeth, N.J. from 1992 to 1997 and as director of education with the Baptist Convention of New York in Syracuse from 1985 to 1992.
“ We are grateful to God for Dr. Paixao’s contribution to the Florida Baptist Convention and God’s Kingdom,” said Frank Moreno, director of the Language Division. “His excellent work, willing spirit and his attention to personal relationships has resulted in a significant growth in our language churches during his ministry among us. God has blessed many of us through his life and labor. He will be greatly missed.”
Smith, Baptist campus ministries director in Jacksonville since year 2000, resigned to assume responsibility as minister of outreach at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga. In his convention post, he directed student ministries on the campuses of University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Florida Community College at Jacksonville and St. Johns Community College in Clay County.
Williams, who has served since 2006 as church planting field missionary in Southeast Florida, resigned to return to Spain as a missionary with the International Mission Board. He previously served as a career IMB missionary in Spain from 1993-2005.
