Good News - April 2019

OUT AND ABOUT 32 APRIL 2019 Good News • South Florida Edition The congregation of First Baptist Fort Laud- erdale welcomed the Rev. James Welch as their new lead pastor on Sunday, March 24. Coming to Fort Laud- erdale from New Orleans, Louisiana, Pastor James and his wifeAmy have three children: Addison, William and Blythe. As a family, they planted Harbor Community Church in the wake of Hur- ricane Katrina, where they made it a family and mis- sional priority to love their city and intentionally engage the unchurched for the sake of the gospel. Pastor James’ heart is to bring that same mentality to South Florida. “Our hearts are full of love for a people we haven’t truly met yet. We are excited to learn about the people of the church and South Florida. We are humbled by this assignment from our Heavenly Father and are ‘eager to share with you [them] not only the gospel but our lives as well’” said Pastor James Welch. Welch was unanimously recommended as the next Lead Pastor by the Lead Pastor Search Team, made up of a diverse group of congregants, and then a ffi rmed by the entire con- gregation on February 24, 2019. The Search Team’s process took just short of three years to complete, during their process they vetted and researched re- sumés and recommenda- tions of 205 pastoral candi- dates before being unani- mously led to recommend Pastor James as the Lead Pastor. First Baptist Fort Laud- erdale is located in the heart of downtown at 301 E. Broward Boulevard. Founded in 1907, the church pre-dates the city it calls home and boasts a di- verse congregation hailing from over 40 countries. FirstBaptistFTL.com. First Baptist Fort LauderdaleWelcomes New Pastor Rev. James Welch