Good News - May 2020

Good News Wants to Know… What did you do while on quarantine? My work as the new Dean of Trinity Florida startedwhile on quarantine. The usual “getting to know you” and “finding out what’s going on” gatherings all began via Zoom meetings, Google Hangout conversations, and a river of emails. Our students, professors and staff adapted very quickly to our new en- vironment and inspire me. They, along with church members and leaders, remind me of the apostle Paul, an adaptable person who faced untold adversity inministry. Often locked down in prison and unable to be present, he utilized every means possible to carry out the mission, including the technology of letters carried by messengers, which brought him close to the churches. We, too, serve while quarantined. Dr. Gene L. Green, Dean, Trinity International University – Florida Hope Women's Centers has been busy on the frontline (with protective measures in place, including PPE), serving women at-risk for abortion throughout the pandemic. We are providing our patientswith free and confidential services: pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, options counseling, and with permission sharing the love of Jesus and praying for those in need. Ariana Reid, Executive Director, Hope Women's Centers The quarantine challenged me to become creative and to learn new ways to carry on my practice remotely aswell as attend otherwise face-to-face groupmeetings via Zoomand podcast. While cumbersome at first, I soon became grateful when it became apparent that these chal- lenges created new opportunities to worship, attend Bible study and share the Gospel in ways that will remain with us long after the pandemic subsides. William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law I served as President of Palm Beach Atlantic University, where the health of our student, faculty and staff comes first, classes were successfully being conducted online and the relation- ship energy the University is so well known for has continued. WilliamM. B. Fleming, Jr., President, Palm Beach Atlantic University I’ve spent the majority of my quarantine time trying to convince people that buying a yacht is a really important thing to do in the midst of Covid-19 and a plummeting stock market. It’s going great. Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting While in quarantine, I have been spending my time making sure that our constituents are informed and aware of what the latest rules are from the Governor’s executive orders, as well as what the local county and city emergency orders mean to them and their businesses. I have reduced my travel radius to a half mile radius by spending virtually all of my time at my home office andmy district office. It has been a great opportunity to reach out to people digitally through webinars and email, but I am looking forward to seeing the people I serve face to face (from at least six feet away, of course!) Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 93 During the quarantine, I got to spend some great time with my wife, Jennifer, and our adult children. We ate too much; watched “the Chosen” and other movies/TV series, celebrated the birth of our first grandchild and enjoyed a quieter pace away from my workaday world. We had a blast! H. Collins Forman, Jr., P.A. What I've done during this quarantine was look upward, inward, outward and forward. Like so many, I lost a dear friend to this virus, so I look upward because my help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:2), and I give thanks every day for life and health. Inward, to renew, refresh and grow, so I'm prepared to share even more as we enter the new normal – there will be so many with extraordinary needs. Outward to help family, friends, clients, and others who so des- perately need hope. And finally, forward because there's a bright future ahead of us. Craig Huston, Huston Consulting Group, LLC Paul wrote four amazing epistles while he was imprisoned and Shakespeare wrote three of his plays (Macbeth, King Lear and Anthony and Cleopatra) while he was se- questered during the Bubonic Plague in 1592. They inspired me not to waste this time, but to consecrate it by camping out a lot with Jesus and concentrating on finishing my book – concerning the twenty year, world-wide quest the Lord took me on to find Him. Additionally, I've been calling a lot of people to encourage, witness and pray as well as discipling an Iranian grad student who just received the Lord! Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship I have been reaching out to family and friends I have not spoken with in a long time. I have also had the honor of participating inCompassionCalls to the contact lists of a couple of ministry clients I represent, to share love and check on potential need. One such call to a supporter of South Florida Bible College unexpectedly blessed my socks off and was a powerful gift to my spirit in this time of uncertainty! Dolores King-St. George, President, King Communications and GraceNet Media Since Banyan Air Service is an “essential business,” although business is off 80%, my responsibility is to be at work every day to make decisions and new procedures along- side our teammates that will ensure their safety and protect the customers… to also make tough decisions with regards to cutting hours and salaries as we apply for payroll grants offered by the government. As business owners we must to do our part and pray for the Lord to see our companies through the storm for His glory. Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service Going on walks in our neighborhood. Playing basketball with my boys in the front yard. Eating family dinners together again. Reaching out to city leaders as we serve the city. Preaching to an empty sanctuary. Celebrating my 50th with a surprise drive-by birth- day parade. Not all is well in the world, but my soul is well. Doug Sauder, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale During this quarantine period I took note of the new variety of ways in which I could both love the Lord and serve the Lord. We decided to go to our neighbors that we've never met and offer all the way from toilet paper to praying with some of them. I also took the opportunity to love my wife by cooking for her, and she said I'm a good cook. Fidel Gomez, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Hollywood I have been blessed to remain healthy, safe and busy during my quarantine. I am a part of a new worshiping group called Wesleyan Fellowship Group. We hope to be a part of a traditional Methodist movement forming this next year. Between that and Hope South Florida, I find myself very busy at home! Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and Hope South Florida I was able to spend a lot of time with family and realizing how much we take for granted. We enjoyed worshipping God through our online services, and this will be a time we never forget. George R. Moraitis, Jr., Moraitis, Cofar, Karney, Moraitis & Quailey For the first half of the quarantine, I spent a great deal of time juggling video chats, phone calls, conference calls and every other communication platform known to God and man. Now, I am finding greater balance as we know this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. Germaine Smith Baugh, Ed.D, President and CEO, Urban League of Broward County What did you do while on quarantine? Hide out in Scripture! The Most Memorable Easter Ever! We held an Easter Service in our backyard with our 3 next door neighbors – two autistic young men and their mom. I shared the Easter story, entitled “The 3 E’s Easter Story:” 1. The Execution – Matthew 27:1 2. The Empty Tomb – John 20:1-2 3. The Eyewitnesses – John 20:18,21 My two young neighbors’ names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life on Easter Sun- day. Now we meet every day at the fence to read God’s Word, praying for revival. Some- times the greatest harvest is in your own backyard. “Let salvation spring up, Let righteousness grow with it.” –Isaiah 45:8 Gita Santangelo, Community Prayer Partner Wants to Know… Dr. Gene L. Green Ariana Reid William “Bill” C. Davell WilliamM. B. Fleming, Jr. Bob Denison Chip LaMarca Collins Forman