The following post is from Ray Johnson, coordinator of CBF of Florida.

Thursday, October 20, I’ll be boarding a plane with Harry Rowland, CBF National’s Missional Networks Specialist. Harry, who will be representing CBF’s national office, and I will be participating in the consecration of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Bahamas on Sunday, October 23.  What a historic moment!

Our relationship with our brothers and sisters began years ago through friendships initiated by Pat Anderson, Craig Sherouse (who at the time was pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Lakeland), and John McIntosh, the pastor of Mount Hope Baptist Church. In the years since those first visits to the island of Abaco, CBF Florida has partnered in the development of the Abaco Theological Institute, where church leaders throughout the island have received theological training from some of CBF Florida’s pastors.  We have responded with supplies and people-power following Hurricanes Floyd and Irene. Several churches have sent mission teams to the island to lead Vacation Bible Schools.

Over the past two years, our friendships in the Bahamas have expanded to include churches on the neighboring island of Grand Bahama. The Theological Institute has established a new branch, also on the island of Grand Bahama. Then last October, CBF Florida’s Representative Assembly voted to add a sixth district to our constituency, the Caribbean Islands.  As part of that move, several churches from the Bahamas and two churches from Puerto Rico have been added to our fellowship.

And now, our friends in the Bahamas have officially formed the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of the Bahamas. Harry and I will be worshiping with the new Fellowship, installing the Fellowship’s first national Coordinator, Rev. John McIntosh, and its first national Administrator, Rev. Preston Cooper. We will meet with other pastors, enjoy one another’s company, and celebrate this new thing that God has done.  I hope you will pray with thanksgiving for us this weekend. I encourage you to pray for the new leaders of the CBF of the Bahamas and their churches. And, I invite you to begin considering partnering with these churches to do missions together, both in the Caribbean and throughout the state of Florida.

To God be the glory, great things He is doing!