Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • June 2025 • Volume 27, Issue 3
Rapid Cardiac Care in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. Introducing MD ASAP Cardiology at Holy Cross Health. From irregular heartbeats to dizziness, when it comes to matters of the heart, speed is critical. The MD ASAP Cardiology team at Holy Cross Health is here for rapid response to non-emergency Cardiac conditions, encompassing everything from screening and evaluation to treatment. Learn more at HolyCrossHeart.com or call 954.542.2650 HC-25-3171 Cardiac Rapid Response v1.indd 1 11/7/24 11:22 AM
O the Ove Obsta rcom s m r acles ming e res to share G s from Wes God’s Word w t Africa deeply with his he TO t G THE bsta O E l ill age. He H angu H n l g Testament to translate ds, it o t metho hat with tr e t e i H e e t r T ho t l m n h a e t e l e in t t that with trad He was shock h t nd the Gods Word w t e wondere nto a local the New took 20 ye ditional ked to learn ears ed, ll th f Gods W ever tran How wil ’ t H h Wo d nslate ll we r n od had answ azed,” G as am w rk on mu an w anguage Reso ned that L e le r f ea uages H an r g t done fo l hat d f e a ll w t i ow w w e o c wo ourc t w of ulti he were ou h v he e ces, his ministr with our Strateg f my count r all of the ver get e try? gic , stry ple translations at “I e said, “and I knew ed my prayer.” my coun languag for all th ntry? ges of he ” ngWord nfoldi es now se u harl d answ C od ha obsta overc ou c Y can co ac rve ’s W l n help me cles to ed my prayer. es as a leader with Whole Bible Whole peopl for m the g e os mill le spel lions of e! gW y! Word.org/give ! 134 85 Veterans Way, Suite 46 60, Orlando, Florida 3282 27
PUBLISHER 6 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Rhythm and Blues legend, James Brown sang “I feel good.” But I feel blue. Friday, May 23, 2025, was the last local broadcast at WRMB, Moody Radio, South Florida. The loss of local programming here in South Florida is a blow to a myriad of ministries and charities that benefited from frequent broadcast exposure over the airwaves of Moody Radio, 89.3 FM. “Mornings with Eric and Brigitte” posted on the web “they provide spiritual encouragement, discuss current topics, and feature Christ-centered music.” They are the local morning drive time program for Moody Radio South Florida. This is off the beaten path for my normal monthly columns, but I feel moved to chime in, recognizing as we preach to the choir, we are often reminded it’s a very small choir and the loss of any vital participant is a great loss as we endeavor to grow the tent. The on-air triumvirate of Eric Johnson, Brigitte Sylvestre and Jill Duquette did an incredibly good job; always professional, always upbeat and humbly Christ-centered. They will be missed on the local airwaves as was witnessed during their last broadcast over the airwaves and live stream on the Internet. Listeners posted in real time with effusive praise, words of encouragement, Emojis and hearts and prayers. . Moody Radio has announced KARL&CREW will be the morning replacement as part of a realignment in the Moody radio national broadcast. ⁃ Les Somber Mood at Moody - Leslie J. Feldman - Publisher Advertising: We reach over 110,000 readers each month. 80,000 in print and 30,000 via our online digital edition. Placing an ad in our publication is affordable and effective to help grow your business. Call us today! Distribution: Available in more than 800 locations throughout South Florida. To become a free distribution point for the newspaper, please contact Shelly. The Good News is published by Good News Media Group, LLC, Reproduction in whole or part strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. 600 S.W. 3rd St., Suite 4000, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 954-564-5378 • www.goodnewsfl.org Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman [email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond [email protected] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] On The Cover The distinguished valedictorians and salutatorians of area Christian high schools are recognized as outstanding graduates in the 8th Annual GOOD NEWS Graduation Issue front cover photoshoot, hosted by CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY FORT LAUDERDALE in their campus theater. Schools represented on the cover include Westminster Academy, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Calvary Christian Academy Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton Christian School, Sheridan Hills Christian School, Highlands Christian Academy, and Calvary Christian Academy Hollywood. SPECIAL THANKS TO; Alyssa Mendez, director of communications, Christine Taylor, and the entire team at Calvary Christian Academy Fort Lauderdale for their gracious hospitality and assistance. Photo credit: Justus Martin www.justusmartinphoto.com Jill Duquette Eric Johnson Brigitte Sylvestre WRMB Moody Radio final local broadcast Good News • June • Volume 27 Issue 3
but w we’re al We’re lways in re not on n YOU n every c UR corn corner, ner! we re al “Comm our act YOU mit y Y corn ions to the L UR Lord, Presid Ging dent and CEO ger Martin and ~ Proverbs your plans 16:3 NLT will succee d.” 4301 N N h F d l H Hi h www.americannationalb Oakla (954) ank.com North Federal H and Park, Florid 491-7788 Highway da 33308
LETTERS 8 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Well deserved recognition of the women chosen this issue. - Marguerite Higgs Congratulations to all of these accomplished women! - Susan Rocco Congratulations and well-done Anita and Candace and to the other accomplished women on the cover!! - Becky Medley Thank you so much for including me in this article. These are some amazing ladies to be with. - Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson Thank you for inviting me to an amazing time of fellowship. The Good News is in good hands. I really enjoyed meeting the other ladies too. What a privilege to serve our God and our community together. - Heather Moraitis Thank you, dear ladies, for your stories!!! - Donnie Releford Great group right here! - Matthew Valencia Great photo, wonderful story. Great Good News. - Peter Olsen Art Studio Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the Women of Distinction. I praise God for all the many women in Broward County we get to represent. It was nice hearing stories of how God has worked and made Good News the successful Christian newspaper that it is today. Thank you for all you do for our community! - Candace Rogers A Month to See By Andrew Holmes President, 4KIDS Do not fear. God has a wonderful family just for you!!! - Donnie Releford Sorry that that she has been cast about. Surely, there is a Christian family that would love and care for her. - John Hattabaugh _______________________________________________ The GOOD NEWS magazine is such a blessing. Every Thursday I look forward to the weekly emails, especially the ones at the beginning of the month with the newest edition of the magazine. The articles are well written and pertinent to today’s Christian culture, highlighting key figures in the South Florida region. After glancing through the articles, I always remember to check and see what events are upcoming in the area. Through the GOOD NEWS magazine, I've been made known of local concerts, theatrical plays, and conferences. These events usually turn into date nights with my wife, which becomes my favorite night of the week. The GOOD NEWS is also a great resource for Christian-owned businesses. It’s hard to find trustworthy and reliable businesses nowadays. If you're like me, I'm sure you'd rather support businesses that have the same Christian values as you. The GOOD NEWS delivers just that. Thank you to everyone who contributes to the GOOD NEWS magazine. It’s truly a highlight of my week to receive your emails. - Andrew Roberti, Lead Coach, Saints International Homeschool P.E. The In-BEtweens by Stephan Tchividjian CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida Excellent piece, Stephan, about the “In-Betweens.” I really related to everything you wrote. You are Billy Graham’s grandson, right? I previously read your excellent book, “It is Finished.” - Johnny Sheehan I’m sorry, but your name has gotta go if you really want to make it in the Evangelical world. - Greg Olzack Once Upon a Time by Omar Aleman Aleman and Associates Because we have faith, we’ve had prayers answered, we’ve felt His presence, His love and want others to know there is hope. - Sandra Marshall Obergh Good News Applauds Women of Distinction 2025 by Shelly Pond Good News Editor We love you, Candace Rogers! Congratulations to all these accomplished South Florida women. - Susan Holmes Blount Congratulations to each of these wonderful women who use their God-given taents to serve and bless others. Love you, Candace! - Gail Harkins Kelley We Get Letters WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Zzzzz… Sleep – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Franklin Graham: The Gospel— A Matter of Life or Death – by Franklin Graham CHURCH UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Adding Another Section to the Choir: Why City Movements Need More Voices– by Charlie Mitchell INSIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Known by Name – by Rob Hoskins THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Promise of Salvation– by Dr. O.S. Hawkins FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Have a Good Summer – by Andrew Holmes PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 What If Prayer Was Important?– by Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 The Spiritual Significance of the Election of Pope Leo: Echoes for Our World – by Dr. Debra A. Schwinn and Dr. Bryan Froehle GOOD NEWS CELEBRATES OUTSTANDING GRADUATES 25 - 40 GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 – 44 What song instantly takes you back to your high school graduation year? ENCOURAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Make My Day– by Omar Aleman STEWARDSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Grading Our Investment IQ – by Patrick J. Kelly LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Avoiding a Surprise – and Potentially Unwanted – Business Partner – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Henny Lawrence Shomar COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . .52 - 57 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 - 59 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 - 63 South Florida Edition • Good News • June 2025 • Volume 27, Issue 3 CONTENTS
PERSPECTIVE 10 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Sleep is an interesting behavior we all experience. We are hard wired to need it. Babies sleep a lot, almost as much as cats. Children need to sleep a lot but fight it because they don’t want to miss life. Adults, on the other hand, are all over the map. They say the average adult sleeps (or at least needs to sleep) between 7-9 hours a day, in essence, one third of our lives dedicated to sleeping. I know some people who seem to sleep a lot — they consider it a hobby — and others who hardly sleep; they consider this a badge of honor. Increasingly so, scientists who study sleep, brain activity and other health indicators regularly toute the benefits of sleep, claiming that what can be perceived as “wasting time” is actually prolonging our lives and increasing our capacity. Like I said, sleep is an interesting behavior we all experience. I’ve been thinking about sleep a little bit lately. Perhaps it’s because the summer season invites a different pace in life, and one may encounter the occasional summer afternoon nap. Perhaps it’s because I may be tired and simply desire more of it, or perhaps it’s because it allows my mind to rest, sometimes. Sleep tends to stir up a part of my brain that seems to get ignored most of the day, like a middle child, giving it some well-deserved stage time... finally. When I sleep, I have some of the most interesting conversations with the most interesting people in the most fascinating places. I have solved problems in my sleep. I have found lost items in my sleep. I have been poked to pray for people in my sleep, and frankly, I have also traveled through time, in my sleep (however, I think that had more to do with my dinner). Asleep in the boat I was recently made aware of two interesting and familiar scenes in the Bible where Jesus and His interns (my name for the disciples) addressed sleep. The first scene, popular and often painted, is a story familiar to many of us. Jesus had asked the interns to go to the other side of the lake, by boat, after a long day of work. Jesus, exhausted, falls asleep in the stern of the boat. The “threehour” tour encounters a massive storm and Gilligan wakes up Jesus, oops, (different story, I must be sleeping again), I mean the interns wake up Jesus with fright written all over their faces and heard in their voices. The interns are literally fearing for their lives. They assume that Jesus is more effective when He is awake than when He is asleep and can help rescue them from this scene. However, if Jesus remains asleep, they believe they are all going to die, including Jesus (so the interns thought). Imagine the story of Jesus ending with the simple note of, “and then he died at sea”… sort of a letdown. Jesus awakes from His deep sleep and does what Jesus does… He fixes the problem, but then He addresses the bigger problem… a lack of faith paralyzed by fear. Hmmm, that lesson continues to ring true for me today. Asleep in the garden The second story is found on the last night of Jesus’s life, before He is brutally crucified. Jesus is in a garden, after a full meal with his interns, a place they would often go and spend time together… a place of rest and refreshment. However, this evening is different, and Jesus seeks some time alone where He has intense conversations with His Father… conversations that place the destiny of mankind in the crosshairs of extinction. The Bible states that the conversations He was having alone with His Father were so intense that blood was actually dripping from His forehead (most believe that the capillaries in his forehead burst from that intensity). Jesus had asked His interns to stay close by, stay awake and be available as He sought this momentary solitude. However, several times He would take a break and come over, perhaps simply to get some encouragement, and find them asleep. He too would wake them with a simple request: Please remain awake because its important. They could not. Sleep awaited them as soon as He would disappear. Eventually, He simply let them sleep until they were awakened by the horrific noise of the arresting mob. Read the rest of the story if you are unfamiliar with it... it ends well, actually. Sleep is something that is so natural to me. My body needs it. It’s part of how God created me. However, is it possible for me to be awake physically, but asleep in other ways, including spiritually? Perhaps these two scenes where we encounter the beautiful expression of Jesus the man and Jesus the Divine, tell us something about ourselves. Why does Jesus sleep and his interns can’t in a life threating storm? Why does Jesus stay awake in a quiet and peaceful garden and his interns naturally take advantage of the scene to sleep? Why does Jesus rebuke them both times… one time for not sleeping and the other for sleeping? Both times, the interns, were simply being very human… like me, I would have done the same. Perhaps it’s simple… and thought provoking… Jesus is suggesting that we learn to sleep when He sleeps, and we learn to stay awake when He is awake. The storms of life tend to keep us awake with anxiety, worry and the illusion that we can fix it; however, Jesus is at peace. There is a lesson there. Sometimes the storms we see are much less terrifying than the ones we can’t see, and that’s when we need to be awake. I will continue to ponder and pray about this. I want to see life through the eyes of Jesus, through His perspective so that I can learn to sleep when He says it’s time to sleep and stay awake when He says it time to stay awake. The only way I can do that is to stay close to Him. Therefore, perhaps this summer we humbly surrender our rhythms to His. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. Sleep - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida
s g m e e , e s e f w p e l a n s ? e e . t e s t f n p y y s s n
12 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD During the Vietnam War, Ronald Reagan spoke about why Americans must treasure their freedom: “Freedom is a fragile thing, and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction.” Similarly, Christians must contend for the faith in every generation. God has entrusted us with the responsibility to go “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19) and to be His light “for salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47). That’s why I am so excited that more than a thousand pastors and ministry leaders from nearly 60 European countries gathered in Berlin, Germany, May 27-30, to recommit themselves and their churches to proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has been nearly 60 years since the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) hosted the World Congress on Evangelism in Berlin, and did it again because proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ remains the greatest need in the world today. Since Pentecost, every generation has been called by God to boldly declare to the next generation the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the Gospel, which the Bible says “is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16). My father’s words in 1966 around the time of the World Congress on Evangelism are just as true in 2025: “Today, if the Christian Church could be aflame with enthusiasm for the Gospel of Christ, with the spirit of burning devotion to the Person of Christ, and with an overwhelming passion for the multitudes outside Christ, we could change the world.” And while technological and scientific advancements in recent decades have profoundly transformed civilization around the globe, humanity’s greatest need hasn’t changed since Adam and Eve first sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. Jesus Christ put it this way: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). I preach this same message throughout the world. No matter the continent or country, every human being must answer this question. It’s a matter of life or death. And the answer determines whether a soul spends eternity in Heaven or hell. Jesus’ question is not theoretical or hypothetical. It cuts to the heart of the matter for every single person, everywhere, throughout every generation. The Gospel of Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and eternal life for sinners who repent of their sins and profess Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Bible clearly promises: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Much of Europe is uncomfortable with Jesus’ exclusive claim: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Christians are being met with increasing indifference, intolerance and even hostility. According to the Pew Research Center, Islam is the fastest-growing religion across Europe and is projected to surpass Christianity by the end of the century as the world’s largest religion. Evangelical pastors, ministry leaders, evangelists and church members alike must never forget that the Gospel’s call to surrender your life to Christ for forgiveness and eternal salvation is also a radical call to commit yourself to boldly and lovingly share the Good News of the Gospel with others — even when it’s unpopular or costly to do so. I believe that’s what Jesus was talking about when He said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35). That’s exactly why BGEA didn’t retreat or remain silent when local government leaders attempted to shut down our evangelistic events in the U.K. in 2018 by banning bus ads promoting our Festival of Hope in Blackpool, England. The challenges continued in 2020, when seven of eight U.K. venues canceled BGEA events, caving to the demands of left-wing activists. BGEA challenged those cancellations in court, fighting to preserve the opportunity for Christians to publicly proclaim the Gospel. And we eventually prevailed, with each of the legal disputes resolved and around $650,000 in legal costs recouped. With those funds, we’ve created the Billy Graham Defense Fund to help Christians across the U.K. who face opposition, so that they will be free to live out and boldly share their faith. BGEA will never back down on our Gospel-driven mission. Last June, I preached the Gospel to more than 15,000 souls in two of the largest cities in the United Kingdom — Birmingham, England; and Glasgow, Scotland. I will return to London to continue preaching that Jesus Christ is on a rescue mission to save sinners from hell. Also, this fall, I will be preaching in Brussels, Belgium, and my son, Will, is scheduled to preach in Estonia. Our mission statement — “proclaiming the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all we can by every effective means available to us and by equipping the church and others to do the same” — represents an unrelenting urgency founded on God’s trustworthy promises and commands in Scripture, such as: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’” (Romans 10:13). And let’s not forget the Scripture that compelled my father to proclaim the Gospel to some 215 million people in more than 185 countries: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Our victory over sin and death depends on those promises. Our world needs to know about our Savior, and it’s up to us to tell them. ©2025 BGEA Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Decision magazine, May 2025; ©2025 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. Franklin Graham: The Gospel—A Matter of Life or Death - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ remains the greatest need in the world today. “ ”
C• !SRAEY04GNITI ARA BEB LEL C• B LEC• !SRAEY04GNITARBELE Y04 GNITA E • !SRAE OL C IBLE B LOF OUTH S LLEGE ORIDA 954.637.22 & THEOLOGICAL S the Fall Semester .SFBC Register Now fo WWW 268 Y SEMINAR .EDU r! or oWdna neMgniraperP iniMrof nem t yrts iHdna tsirhC hcruhC s Mo e Info r evreS o or SFBC & Theological Seminary g h Florida Bible Col Sout lege
14 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition CHURCH UNITED Kids today will never truly appreciate oldschool youth ministry. I grew up in a tradition where there wasn't a "youth group" with games and pizza. In our church, if you were under 30, you were "youth." I'm not joking. Just this week, I ran into my childhood pastor, and he invited me back to speak. To the youth. I'm over 40! One classic "youth activity" in our church was youth choir. My mom made me join. I remember sitting in the back seat on the way to rehearsal saying, "Ma! I can't sing!" Listen, I sing Phil Collins loud and proud around the house. But let's be real, I still can't sing. But here's what I learned: there's something beautiful about a choir. No one voice has to be amazing for the choir to sound powerful. Even more than that, something special happens when a new section joins in. The sound expands. The richness deepens. The choir becomes fuller, more beautiful because another voice was added. Lift every voice That's exactly what I want to say to those of us involved in City Gospel Movements: The choir sounds good. But it's time to add another section. God is doing something extraordinary through city networks. Leaders across the country are collaborating, praying and building ecosystems of transformation. From the marketplace to education to church to justice work. In Southwest Florida, at Church United, I'm catalyzing soul care for leaders, church planting partnerships and fostering real unity for the sake of mission. I've read the white papers. I've seen the long-term plans. I believe this work is Spirit-led and necessary. But there's still a section missing in the choir. All it takes is an invitation Too many city movements, while grounded in gospel conviction, still lack voices from marginalized communities: Black and Brown leaders who carry not just theological insight but lived experience from the streets, neighborhoods and borderlands of our cities. It's not that we don't care. It's that we haven't always made room. Without those voices, we risk singing a gospel that sounds good but doesn't resonate in every part of the city. If we want every person to experience the gospel through word and deed, we need every kind of leader at the table. Not just those who navigate the dominant evangelical framework, but those fluent in the unspoken languages of their neighborhoods. Leaders who can smell injustice coming before the metrics catch up. Leaders who've led Bible studies in apartment complexes, mentored kids on the block, prayed in barber shops and preached hope when the grant money dried up. Whole gospel for the whole city The goal isn't diversity for diversity's sake. It's depth for the sake of the gospel. When we bring in new voices, we don't dilute the mission, we strengthen it. We become more contextual, more honest and more connected to the realities of our cities. We hear the pain points we've missed. We celebrate breakthroughs we might have overlooked. We become, as Scripture says, "the manifold wisdom of God" on display (Ephesians 3:10). So what does it look like to add another section to the choir? Let me offer a few practical commitments: 1. Listen for the silenced notes Start by asking: Whose voice is missing from our meetings, our planning, our leadership tables? You might find it's not unwillingness; it's an oversight. Sometimes the people we need aren't in the room because we've never made it clear the room is for them. Invitation matters. 2. Build long tables, not tall stages If your City Movement has the same five speakers, it's time to rotate the mic. Empower leaders from underrepresented communities to lead, not just attend. Let them shape the agenda, not just clap from the sidelines. 3. Fund the forgotten Resourcing is a justice issue. Many leaders of color are doing kingdom work on a shoestring budget. If we want sustainable city movements, we need capital, coaching and connections to flow to the edges, not just the center. 4. Preach a whole gospel City transformation must include evangelism, yes, but also economics, education, housing, healthcare and healing. The gospel isn't just about getting souls to heaven. It's about revealing what heaven looks like in our neighborhoods right now. Church United SWFL I'll admit, I felt out of my depth starting my work with Church United here in Southwest Florida. Other pastors like Jordon Roe, of Mission Community Church, had already laid so much relational groundwork pioneering collaboration post hurricane relief work, and I was excited to partner together with him. But still, there are a lot of Izod, Polos and Dockers khakis over here. But when I connected with leaders from our local justice-focused ministers alliance, something clicked. After they vetted me, they told me the truth. They had tried to bring churches across the city together before. But it wasn't received. Not fully. It wasn't just about race. It was culture, theology, trust. Black and Brown leaders bring something rich across denominations: a lived gospel, a deeper unity, a different sound. In my role, I've found many of these leaders are willing to sit with me. Not because I have all the answers, but because I sound familiar, yet bring a fresh presence. I'm from here. That creates trust. And trust makes space for something real. There's so much latent Kingdom potential in these SWFL streets. So many stories. So much hope. Maybe a chubby kid from the back of the youth choir can help stir it up for something greater. We’re expanding the choir. Here's the truth: the choir sounds good. But there's more room on the risers. It's not about guilt. It's about grace, the kind that makes space. The kind that believes the Holy Spirit is raising up voices from every zip code, background and cultural expression. The kind that says, "We're better when we sing this together." Out here in Southwest Florida and throughout the other regions of Church United, we’re expanding the choir. We’ve discovered that some of the best strategies for sharing faith, building hope, and extending love are happening among the churches and Kingdom leaders laboring among the margins. We believe that ministry in South Florida today impacts ministry everywhere across the country tomorrow. And finally, we believe God’s redemptive song for the city isn't complete until every voice is part of Kingdom choir — singing Gods story of using broken ordinary folk to build his Church here in Southwest Florida — in Florida — and throughout our nation as it is in heaven. If you’re a local pastor in Southwest Florida, let’s talk. We’d love to add your voice to the choir of collaboration. For information, visit churchunitedfl.com/swfl Charlie Mitchell is a husband, father, and church planter. He now serves as the Director of Church United in SWFL and the Pastor-in-residence at Summit Church in Fort Myers. Adding Another Section to the Choir: Why City Movements Need More Voices - Charlie Mitchell - Pastor and Church United Catalyst, Southwest Florida National Day of Prayer Event Estero: Pastor Josh Hall, Pastor Charlie Mitchell, Pastor Grace Brooks, Steve Brooder, Julie Boles, Father Regi Joseph, Charlie Ruck, Pastor Chris Mueller, Pastor Frank Brand
INSIGHT 16 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition We've all experienced that dreaded moment: you move to greet someone you've met before, and your mind scrambles to remember their name… and you come up empty! Wouldn't it be nice to avoid this floundering moment? Unlike our limited minds, God knows every person's name. Names are important because they convey identity and meaning. Think of the biblical example of David and Goliath. The word David may bring to mind a humble shepherd boy who became a mighty king. The name Goliath may make you picture oversized armor and an intimidating warrior. All of this is visualized simply by referencing their names and associations with them. Identity God's Word provides two gifts: insights into God's names and identity and insights into our own identities. The Lord declares in the Scriptures: "But now, this is what the Lord says — he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine’" (Isaiah 43:1 NIV). No matter what you experience in life, the creator of the universe sees and knows you. This is a powerful reminder to ourselves and those around us. Even Jesus received a reminder of who He was before His public ministry on earth began. We see this in the Gospels as Jesus enters the water to be baptized. The heavens part, and God says: "…You are my Son, whom I love; with you, I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11 NIV). If the Father saw the need to acknowledge Jesus's identity publicly, how much more must we be reminded and affirmed of who we are? In our world today, I would argue that more people than ever have lost their identities — they don't know who they are, where they come from, and whose they are. Many people don't know the loving God who created them. As a leader of an international ministry called OneHope, I have the opportunity to hear stories about children who are impacted by the truth of God's Word. Erick is a teenager living in an African village. He was an outcast in his own community. He felt like he would never amount to anything. As an orphan, he had no family to rely on. Then, he received God's Word and learned there was more to his story. He had destiny and purpose inside of him. Erick is no longer defined by the names his village was calling him, like orphan and outcast. Instead, through God's Word, he learned his new identity. He's a child of God. God has always known Erick's name, but now Erick knows his identity. Names The Bible also reveals names for God, which we could spend a lifetime pouring over in Scripture: Savior. Father. Prince of Peace. Creator…and many others. God longs for us to spend time with Him and get to know Him better. Names carry significance. One of the greatest gifts we can give to those around us is the gift of reminding them who God is and how He knows them by name. Rob is President of OneHope, a global ministry committed to catalyzing a movement to engage every child in the world with God’s Word. Rob is also Chair of Come Near (He Gets Us.) and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Come and See Foundation (The Chosen). His mission statement in life is to “build young leaders and serve great leaders.” - Rob Hoskins - President, OneHope Known by Name
s g d g a r e g
THE CODE 18 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31 NKJV). It is okay to ask questions. ln fact, there are more than 150 questions recorded in the gospels that came from the lips of our Lord Himself. And these are only the ones that were recorded and found their way into the sacred writ. Jesus was always asking questions. It did not matter whether He was in a one-on-one conversation, in a small circle of people, or in the midst of a gathering crowd, He probed the hearts of His hearers by asking questions. He was not asking questions because He was seeking answers. He is not only omnipotent (all powerful), but He is omniscient (all knowing). He knows everything about everyone — their actions, their omissions, even their thoughts. Never once do we come upon Him in the Bible exclaiming, "Wow, that was a surprise. I didn't see that coming!" Never. He is all-knowing. He asked questions not for answers but in order for us to see for ourselves, to think for ourselves, in order to come into a "knowledge of the truth." Questioning Jesus People often approached Him with questions of their own. Once, Nicodemus, a learned member of the Jewish supreme court, came to Jesus in the evening hours and was told by the Lord that he needed to be born again. Not understanding Christ was referring to a spiritual birth, he asked, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb?" (John 3:4). Christ was once sought out by a lawyer with the intent of testing Him with what he perceived to be a hard question. He asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36). Jesus replied by saying that we should love the Lord God with all our being and that a second commandment was like it - to love others as we love ourselves. After the resurrection and upon hearing Him speak of the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples asked, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). And who can forget the question of the apostle Paul on the Damascus Road: "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:6). A question we should all ask But, the most pointed question ever asked in the Bible is the question asked by a jailer in the city of Phihppi, which immediately preceded the promise of salvation of this chapter. Having witnessed a great earthquake that shook the very foundations of the prison and opened all its doors, he fell at Paul and Silas's feet, asking, “What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). And there you have it. This is the question that should be asked by every person who has ever lived. It is pointed, penetrating, personal and extremely pertinent. Without batting an eye or thinking for even a moment, they answered him — and us — by saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). What is it we must do to be saved? In a word, believe! This promise of salvation is found in the context of Paul and Silas's incarceration. The Jailor, after having beaten their backs with a whip until they were striped with deep lacerations, securely locked them in the inner depths of the prison. At midnight he heard the two prisoners singing songs of praise at the top of their lungs. Then, suddenly, the place was shaken by a great earthquake, which resulted in the prison doors flying off their hinges. Knowing his own fate would be death if the prisoners escaped his care, he was about to fall on his own sword when he realized that Paul and Silas were still there, although they could have easily fled. He fell on his knees in conviction before them, asking, “What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). The jailor wondered what he had to do to be saved. But the truth is, he could not do anything to be saved. It had already been done. Christ's death on the cross is what saves. Many today fall into this same trap. It seems so logical in our performance-driven culture. Some seem to think salvation is spelled d-o when all the while, it has been spelled d-o-n-e. It is available for any and all of us through the finished work of Christ on the cross. The answer The apostle wasted no time in pointing out the answer—"Believe!" That is it — "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." This faith to believe is built on fact of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Note carefully, the instruction was to believe "on" the Lord. Prepositions in Greek are powerful and expressive. Paul did not use the preposition we translate "in" (en). Nor did he use the Greek preposition eis, which describes "into," that is, a movement toward something that had not necessarily reached its destination. He used a preposition in Greek (epi) that means "upon." The promise is for those who believe "on," who lay their trust on the Lord Jesus. I may believe in George Washington, but I don't believe on him. I do not trust my life to him. And the word believe is recorded here in the aorist tense, meaning it is punctiliar — at a set moment of time he believed, he transferred his trust to Christ alone to save him. Salvation is not something we grow into. It is a crisis moment, experienced in a moment of time when we believe on the Lord and transfer our trust from ourselves to Him alone for our salvation. A beautiful encounter ensues before this story ends: this redeemed jailer “took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes” (Acts 16:33). Just hours earlier he had lashed their backs until they were bloody; now he gently washed the wounds he had put there. Only the gospel can instantaneously change our hearts like this. You and I have a precious promise, the promise of salvation. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Claim it… right now. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Lord, thank You for the reminder that there is nothing I can do to earn or merit Your favor. Through Your work on the cross and victory over the grave it has already been done for me. I believe on You. In Jesus’ name, amen. Taken from The Promise Code by O.S. Hawkins. Copyright © 2022 by Dr. O.S. Hawkins. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. O. S. Hawkins is the Legacy Pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served pastorates, including the First Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for more than 25 years. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he has a BBA from Texas Christian University and his MDiv and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For almost a quarter of a century, he served as president of GuideStone Financial Resources, with assets under management of $20 billion, serving 250,000 pastors, church staff members, missionaries, doctors, university professors, and other workers in various Christian organizations with their investment, retirement and benefit service needs. He is the author of more than 40 books and regularly speaks to business groups and churches nationwide. All of the author’s royalties and proceeds from the Code series support Mission:Dignity. You can learn more about Mission:Dignity by visiting MissionDignity.org. - Dr. O.S. Hawkins - Chancellor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary The Promise of Salvation Ancient prison setting, jailer asking Paul “what must I do to be saved?” - AI generated
- t t - s f — s - - e g k r n t t - . t - d o e k d t s y . y e - , t - - 2 t t s y n . e - t , - d f , r 0 e u
FOSTER CARE 20 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition It’s summertime, and it has me nostalgic thinking about my summers as a kid. I spent so much time outside year after year every summer. Some summers were spent in the Midwest, visiting my grandfather, others as I got older were filled with sports and other activities, but those early summers as a kid I was mostly outdoors, with family, making good memories. Doing good Good memories can also come from doing good for others – especially others who are in need. There’s a unique opportunity that comes around this time of year; we can slow down a little and create space to do more intentional good in our community. This doesn’t have to be overly complicated; there doesn’t have to be great barriers to doing good. It can be something simple like intentionally smiling at someone in the grocery store, praying for a person you may see asking for money at a traffic light, sharing a meal with a neighbor, or volunteering for an upcoming church event. I can remember my parents modeling this kind of goodness for me and my siblings growing up. Imagine it’s the 90’s and my parents have my siblings and I in tow for church each week, but they took the time to notice someone who needed some help. I can remember a woman being at church who was maybe taking the bus or walking to church every Sunday, but my parents started offering to give this woman a ride home. Something like a ride home from church can seem so insignificant, but we were able to get to know her a little bit better. We were able to love on her. We were able to take a simple step, and it brought my family from just attending church to actually being the church. This action of doing good blessed her greatly, and my parents were able to model that in our family. Good memories with our kids One of the best parts is when we get to do good with our kids by our side, and that is another gift summer gives us – more time with our kids. We get to model doing good in our words and actions, because we know they watch and learn so much from us. We can also create even more space to spend quality time with our kids, in some cases maybe it’s your grandkids or other kids in your life. For the most part kids are home for summer giving them extra time to watch and learn from us. In fact, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” We have time to impress goodness on our kids. Summer gives us that extra time to have really good conversations with our kids, to get to know them better, and to connect with them more deeply. At 4KIDS we see connection as the foundation for good relationships with kids. Whether it’s in encouragement or discipline, connection is what we strive for, and it gives us the best set up for purposeful discipleship. The goodness of God And when we’re spending this extra time with our kids, let’s not look past the chance to talk to them about the goodness of God. It’s so easy to only focus on just the good things our kids can do for God but what about talking to them about His goodness? When we openly and regularly talk about how good He is in our lives, we invite our kids into the experience of our testimony with God. This is what wins their hearts for the Lord; seeing how He has impacted our lives as parents in a setting where there is beauty and connection. I invite you to seek out and embrace the goodness summer is holding for you and your family. That deep, soul-filled goodness is usually waiting for us in the small, quiet, ordinary moments. Don’t miss out on the goodness God has waiting for you in this new season. Since September 2024, Andrew Holmes has been serving as the President of 4KIDS--a ministry that provides Hope, Homes, and Healing to kids and families in crisis. Learn more and catch the vision of a home for every child at 4KIDS.us. Have a Good Summer - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
e n t r s - r n s t s s. Chosen People Ministries invites you to a Messianic Worship Service! 561-737-1431 | www.chosenpeople.com | ChosenPeopleMinistries Get our latest updates and resources at www.chosenpeople.com Boynton Beach Friday, June 6 • 7:00 PM Light of Israel Fellowship 1015 Old Boynton Road Boynton Beach, FL 33426 Boca Raton Friday, June 20 • 7:00 PM Light of Israel Fellowship (meeting at CrossBridge Church) 10101 Judge Winikoff Road Boca Raton, FL 33428 Coral Springs Friday, June 27 • 7:00 PM Light of Israel Fellowship (meeting at Parkridge Church) 5600 Coral Ridge Drive Coral Springs, FL 33076 Lake Worth Beach Friday, June 13 • 7:00 PM Common Ground Messianic Fellowship (meeting at Common Ground Church) 1201 S. Federal Highway Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460 You are invited to learn about the Jewish roots of our Christian faith by attending a Chosen People Ministries Messianic worship service! There are services meeting in Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth Beach, and Coral Springs. For more information, please call (561) 737-1431.
22 JUNE 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PARENTING We talk about prayer. Most parents reading this article would say prayer … communicating with God is extremely important. Many still reading know the verse in Jeremiah says God knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and that we are each fearful and uniquely made by God so that we can fulfill those specific plans (Psalm 139). That being said, do we as parents actually put the training of prayer into our parenting curriculum? Do we teach our children to pray? What if we really believed it was important to communicate with God? What if we believed that communicating with God was more important than academics or sports. That being the case our parenting schedules would reflect this priority. Maybe it’s not a matter of knowing that prayer is important. We all know that praying, actually communicating with God, is extremely important. Maybe the challenge is how… how do we train our children to pray? Training children to pray Training our children to pray must start with making sure the children knows that prayer is a serious lifetime privilege. I can teach that by setting an example. Do my children see and hear me pray? Recently my brother Robey shared how he remembers growing up in our home. One of his most powerful recollections is getting up each morning before school and seeing mom sitting in a green chair. It was (and still is) a green chair sitting in the loft of our home. Robey said, “Even when I was in college, far from home, I knew each morning Mom was in the green chair praying for me.” We have to set the Example. Setting the time for personal prayer, sets the priority of prayer in the minds of your children. Setting aside time We need to do more than let them watch us pray, however. We need to expose them to the privilege and power of prayer. Find times when you can pray as a family as well as times when you can pray with each child individually. Each morning at the breakfast table we read the Bible and prayed. We did this while we were eating breakfast. Yes, that does mean we had to wake up a little earlier each morning. Before you groan about that thought, think about the other things you find yourself getting up earlier for such as swim practice, unfinished homework, or getting to the bus stop before dawn. These are all events we deem worthy of getting up a little earlier for. Surely building the routine of spending fifteen minutes at the breakfast table, reading the Bible and praying is worth far more than any other reason for which a family gets up early. It’s also important to find that personal time to pray with each child. At the side of their beds at the end of the day seems the most obvious. This is a time to help a child or teen experience personal prayer. Every night one of us prayed with a child. We began by asking them if they had any personal prayer requests. “What do you want to ask God about?” There seems to be a special connection between the innocent prayers of a child and the heart of God. Waiting for answers When I was five years old, I started taking piano lessons. We didn’t have a piano, so we arranged with the church we were attending to let me go to the church a few times a week to practice. One night I remember asking mom if it would be okay to ask God for a piano in our home. She said it was certainly okay to ask God for a piano as long as we didn’t tell Dad about the prayer request. (As an adult I realized he may feel pressure to try to purchase something he couldn’t afford … helping God out) and as long as they were willing to hear the word “no” or “not now.” We prayed for many things each night for the next couple of weeks but always included asking God for a piano. (And we didn’t tell Dad.) A couple of weeks after this particular prayer request began, Dad got a call from a friend, Ed Shambo. He indicated he was moving things around in his home and had an old upright piano that the family no longer wanted. Could we use it? Dad responded with, “I have no idea. Can I call you about it after I talk with Rosemary?” That night at the dinner table Dad asked, “The Shambos want to know if we want their piano?” Before he could finish the sentence mother and daughter were jumping up and screaming so loud he thought someone was having a heart attack. Then we explained that we had been praying. We got the piano, and I even had it in my own home for many years, but this was much bigger than a piano. This was God helping a little girl know that prayer is important and prayer really works! This connected her to her real Father. As for Dad, he always joked about having me pray for a Corvette … only kidding! Visit parentingonpurpose.org for more advice from Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts. - Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts - Sheridan House Family Ministries What If Prayer Was Important?
www.goodnewsfl.orgRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjE2MjU=