NEWS 40 OctOber 2023 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida edition On Sunday, September 17, 2023, Pastor David Hughes addressed the congregation: “Church, we had a situation here,” and proceeded to tell the group “due to a technicality” and for one reason or another bottom line, First Baptist Fort Lauderdale appeared to be “late” with the mortgage payment. “All churches generally have mortgages just like us… I won’t get into all the details, but it happened,” Hughes went on…. And the lender called the note in for the $3.5 million dollars owed. Gasp! “That’s not all; I was angry feeling they were trying to take advantage of us because this is very, very valuable land here in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and I prayed hard about it. They’re not gonna get this land (to redevelop) from us; the lender said they would rewrite the $3.5 million loan but at 12% interest NOT the previous 4% interest. That did not sit well with me.” “I met with the Trustees here at FBFL and asked for $500,000 from contingency funds,” Hughes said, and they granted the request, but we still needed $3 million, so I met with the Trustees at Church By The Glades - and I’m one of them,” Hughes continued, and “although we are two churches with two different names and the names will stay as is for the foreseeable future ...but, we are ONE church, so I asked that the $3 million dollars from CBTG be a gift; not a loan. You see, because if we we’re only dating, the $3 million would be a loan, but we are married now, so the $3 million is a gift.” Church: I’m happy to announce Pastor David Hughes continued, “for the FIRST time since 1966, First Baptist Fort Lauderdale is debt free.” GOD is good. -Les Feldman, Good News On Sunday, September 24, 2023, Pastor Bill Mitchell announced his succession and transition from the Senior Pastor role to Teaching Pastor at Boca Raton Community Church. While he is passing the baton of senior leadership, Mitchell will remain on staff and continue leading CityLead, a monthly event that challenges professional men and women to develop ethical business practices in the workplace, and WorldLead, a global organization that strategically mentors hundreds of leaders in various global non-profit agencies. Following a 25-year career in commercial and residential real estate, Mitchell served as the church pastor for 20 years. “I am not retiring,” he said, “but there is a time and a place to be the senior leader and that time has passed for me.” However, he reassured, “We are a generational church and God has a great plan for the next season of life.” Pastor Matthew McDaniel was announced as his replacement, pending a vote in January, which is the procedure for the congregational church. McDaniel currently serves as a teaching pastor at the Boca Raton church. After 16 years serving in full-time ministry, McDaniel originally moved to Florida with his wife Jana, and their four children, to help with their family’s business. He has been involved at Boca Raton Community Church since 2017, according to the church website. Pastor Bill Mitchell Announces Change in Leadership Project Rescue and Builders International partnered together to orchestrate a live, nationwide, multi-site, simultaneous dinner event on September 12th, 2023 with great fellowship and exquisite food to bring awareness and raise financial support for the Project Rescue Safe House in Melilla, Spain. Sex trafficking has taken root in the heart of Melilla, Spain. The new Project Rescue Safe House will provide a place for exploited women and children to escape the horrors they are trapped in and find hope, healing and restoration through the love and power of God. Learn More at: buildersintl.org/givenow/ Big News at First Baptist Fort Lauderdale Pictured at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse from Left to right: Angel Rodriguez, Oslyn Rodriguez, Sandi Helland, Buddy Helland, Frankie Hernandez, Lesbia Hernandez, Taylor Morrow, Robbie Morrow, Diego Gallego, David Avakian, Roxanne Avakian, Scott Lubrin, Eddy Gervais. Dinner Raises Support for Safe House Bill Mitchell
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