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Florida Southern Baptist Church Ministering To People Locally and Reaching Out Through The Web
By admin | July 21, 2008
Florida Southern Baptist Church Ministering To People Locally and Reaching Out Through The Web
A Southern Baptist church in Florida is not only reaching people locally, but is also reaching out to members through the World Wide Web.
Flamingo Road Church in Fort Lauderdale is one of a growing number of churches trying to make the most out of the Internet. The church offer podcasts, fast-moving videos with eye-catching graphics, and has Internet members. But some question whether a church’s Internet members can really connect with the church. Heredes Riberio, media director for the church, says there is a way to make Internet members feel connected.
“…[W]e had someone watching from Barbados, and we had someone who had been watching online faithfully,” says Riberio. “We had a call for baptism. They signed up for baptism and decided to fly to Fort Lauderdale to get baptized.”
He explains there are faithful members who give online, communicate, and keep in touch by video and e-mail. “…[T]here are challenges. We’re working them as they come,” he acknowledges.
According to Riberio, South Florida is represented by 34 different languages and a very Catholic culture. “…They just don’t want to deal with church, [they] don’t want to go to church,” he continues. “Grandma went to church, that was her little thing. [But] 94 percent of South Florida does not attend church and could care less,” says Riberio.
He encourages churches to make it a priority to have a quality Internet presence. Flamingo Road Church is hosting a regional leadership summit next month.
Topics: Ministry |