We live in an amazingly diverse area where there are countless opportunities to get involved serving somewhere doing something to help others.  There is always so much that needs to be done, especially when a major earthquake hits our neighbors. Yet, working together to accomplish a common goal sounds great, but isn’t always what is done for one reason or another. For over 10 years from my position as publisher, I have seen people attempt to start a new Life that duplicates a Life that already exists. It just doesn’t make sense. When the earthquake hit Haiti, we received calls […]

Stacie Ruth Stoelting may only be 25 years old, yet she has the wisdom of one who has lived much longer when it comes to caring for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. In her book, Still Holding Hands, Stacie Ruth shares her personal experience as she walked beside her grandmother and grandfather while her grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s. Readers see firsthand what it was like for Stacie Ruth’s grandmother, Hilda, as she watched her husband of many decades, Ray, decline in health. The book offers glimpses into their lives–such as a typical day when life was more “normal” and the loving […]

In what he hopes will be a “game-changer in terms of the Cooperative Program and our whole relationship with missions,” Hayes Wicker has led First Baptist Church in Naples, to launch the “Great Commission Connection.” The initiative aims to personalize missions by linking church members with missionaries and others who serve the denomination, while also boosting funding for Southern Baptists’ cooperative missions. The project already has resulted in connecting 507 families in the Naples congregation with about 1,500 Southern Baptist missionaries, the Florida Baptist Convention and faculty members of Southern Baptist seminaries. The church anticipates additional families signing up. “The […]

A place to hone your craft and realize your publishing goals Have you ever said, “I could write a book?” Here’s your chance to learn how. The Florida Christian Writers Conference will be held March 4-7 at Lake Yale Conference Center in Leesburg, Florida. This four-day conference will host editors, publishers, agents and writers – both famous authors and aspiring ones. The Florida Christian Writers Conference is designed to be inspirational as well as instructive. From worship and fellowship times to classes and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the publishing industry and how to proclaim […]

Beachblast 2, a Christian Rock concert open free to the public, will be hitting Hollywood Beach on Feb. 20. The concert, put on by Apocalypse Evangelism Ministries, will be featured at the Hollywood Beach Bandshell, located right on the beach at Johnson Street in Hollywood, from noon to 4 p.m.Beachblast 2 will feature some of Florida’s very own Christian talent, including the winner of the 2009 Word Records National Talent Search, The Josh Bramos Band, which will kick off the concert part of the production at 12 p.m. Unity of Us, a Christian Rock band, will be performing at 1 […]

Over the past few years, while some churches have traded their metropolitan mega-churches for smaller suburban churches, or have, for a number of reasons, split apart, one church has decided to unite with another and to move to the city of Miami Gardens in hopes of becoming a resource to the community. Pastor Wayne Lomax founded The Fountain of Pembroke Pines church more than 13 years ago, with its first few services actually being held in his living room. As the church moved from living rooms and school campuses, its congregation grew in size as well, from eight initial members […]

Kevin P. Tynan’s biographical informationBorn: New Brunswick, N.J.Florida residence: since 1975.House of worship:    St. Mark’s Catholic Church.Married since 1983.Children: Two.Occupation: Attorney Family/human interest Q: Where did you grow up and what was it like? A: I was born and raised in New Jersey, with a one-year stint in Bermuda when I was four; but I feel I grew up in Florida. When I was 15, my parents moved us to Hialeah and bought a lakefront home. To me, this was what Florida was all about – the weather, boating (sailboat), swimming, fishing – and all I had to do […]

Three prominent Democrats have announced that they are not going to be running for their seats this year. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he wanted to write books. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., told reporters it was just time for a change. Moments later, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter announced that he would drop out, because he wanted to spend more time with his family. What each incumbent hinted at, but left unsaid, was that they were facing long odds in their upcoming races. Ritter and Dorgan didn’t even have announced opponents, but still trailed prospective rivals by 8 and 20 points, […]