(Left to Right ) Standing: Jean Monereau, Dave Blakeney, Mickey Walker Seated: Ryan Roark, Bruce Roberts

Jean Monereau

Brother Monereau is originally from Haiti. He has plans to devote his life to planting the church in Haiti in areas where there is no congregation. He and his wife also have a desire to be involved in helping orphan children and perhaps developing a school.

If you wish to know more of brother Monereau’s plans and work, you may contact him as follows: Phone: 863-968-1606 or (Monereau@altavista.com).

Dave Blakeney

Brother Blakeney is from Bermuda. He has attended the Jamaica School of Preaching before attending the Florida School of Preaching. His intention is to work as a full-time minister and will be willing to assist in the position of an assistant minister.

Those interested in contacting brother Blakeney may do so at 863-682-7469.

Mickey Walker

Brother Walker is from Orlando, Florida. Brother Walker has served in the US Army, worked with Lockheed Martin Corporation. Upon graduation he plans to serve the Lord to the best of his ability as opportunity presents itself.

Ryan Roark

Brother Roark has recently been employed as the preacher for the North River church of Christ, Parrish, Florida

Ryan may be reached at 813-659-3268 or at his E-mail address: (rproark@msn.com).

Bruce Roberts

Brother Roberts was originally from Akron, Ohio. He has worked for the Orange County Public Schools. Brother Roberts is preaching for the Lord’s church in Apopka , Florida.

Bruce may be reached at 407-654-6840.

Extension Classes 2002-2003

Evenings, 7:00 to 9:30

Auburndale, Florida
Orange Street church of Christ building
Thursday
Fall: Hebrews and Galatians 21343
Instructor: Bob Bauer

Spring: Denominational Dogmas 12331
Instructor: Bob Bauer

High Springs, Florida
High Springs church of Christ building
Monday
Fall: Revelation 21359
Instructor: Gene Burgett

Spring: Genesis-Exodus 12309
Instructor: Gene Burgett

Jacksonville, Florida
Wesconnett church of Christ building
Thursday
Fall: Hermeneutics I, 12300
Instructor: Stephen Atnip

Spring: Life of Christ 11317
Instructor: James Colwell

Sarasota, Florida
Midway church of Christ building
Tuesday
Fall: General Epistles 21349
Instructor:Mike Elledge

Spring: Minor Prophets 22346
Instructor: Mike Elledge

Warner Robins, Georgia
church of Christ building
Tuesday
Fall: The Life of Paul 21362
Instructor: Gene Stilwell

Spring: The Pentateuch 22341
Instructor: Gene Stilwell

For additional information call the office at the phone numbers listed in this publication.
If you wish to have an updated school catalogue, you may contact the office for this as well.

“Do You Understand Fellowship?”

The Board of Directors chose this theme for the annual Florida School of Preaching Lectures in January 2003.

This year’s (2002) theme “Do You Understand Worship?” has been well received. To this date more than two thirds of the printed volumes have been sold. This tells us at least two things: (1) The theme was a study that is needed, and (2) brethren are receptive to well prepared materials to assist them in the study of fundamental elements of the faith.

With the religious world as splintered as it is on religious matters, and the brotherhood in many areas is mirroring the religious world, the study of fellowship is certainly needed and we are confident that this study will meet a need as did the study of worship this year.

Mark your calendar for January 20-23, 2003. “Do You Understand Fellowship?” If you do, be here to help us. If you have questions, be here to benefit from the study of others.

Alumni News

March 12, 2002, forty-two (42) graduates of the school and Board members met together in Lakeland to consider ways to promote the Florida School of Preaching.

A fine meal was enjoyed by all. Guidelines were presented to encourage graduates and interested individuals to promote the Florida School of Preaching in their respective localities.

A Recap of Some Guideline Suggestions

Appreciation was express to those attending, and for their interest in the Florida School of Preaching. The needed input was shown for promoting the school. Two specific areas were singled out. (1) The need for full-time students, and (2) securing support for those in training.

The following suggestions were offered to help us meet these two needs: (1) It was suggested that fellowship gatherings be organized like the one on March 12, 2002 in a given locality. (2) At such occasions, invite prospective students and those who may be motivated to take a greater interest in the school. You may wish to use a local congregation fellowship room for the meeting or it may be expedient to use a local restaurant for the gathering. (3) Expenses may be covered by school for all guests and those bringing potential students to the gathering. (4) The person(s) in charge would notify the school office for reimbursement of expenses for the evening. (5) In order to be most effective, students in a given area were encouraged to consider pooling efforts. (6) Inform those attending (have school catalogues and literature available). (7) Have a former and/or current student to make statements about the school. Have faculty member and/or Board member attend and answer questions relative to support or other items that may be of interest such as–curriculum, our computer lab (describe the many practical applications of computer items for church work available in courses utilizing the computers). (8) Explain the need for preachers, and the significant role preaching plays in congregations, the brotherhood and society as a whole.

All were encouraged to keep the school informed of any gatherings that promote the school. The Board will need to know what is being done and/or planned under the name of the school.

The office may need to make suggestions that would expedite promotional meetings.

Communication is very important, and it is hoped that meetings such as these may enable us to communicate most effectively with the Board, the faculty, graduates and current students. Only by working together will we be able to reach our full potential in training men to preach the gospel.

It was pointed out that, if the school grows and maintains stability, it will mean that your training here will be greater in the eyes of those who observe from a distance.

The gathering closed with statements from some in attendance, and from Gordon Methvin, Chairmen of the Board of Directors.

Keep This In Mind

Larry Williams of Bradenton, Florida, a graduate of the Florida School of Preaching will be devoting some time traveling in behalf of the school.

His interest will be to recruit good men who are interested in preaching to become full-time students, and to help raise financial support for those attending school full-time.

If you know of men who may be interested in preaching, contact the office that we might make the proper follow up.

We Need Faithful Preachers

The Lord was a preacher. In His brief sojourn (from His baptism to the ascension), He devoted much of His time and energy in training the twelve. He had the twelve to follow His will in teaching others all things that He taught them (Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:2).

A Choice

Preachers are not “genetically cloned.” Men must make a moral choice to commit their lives to preaching the truth. Men should be encouraged to become preachers, and perhaps more would become proclaimers of the truth if we placed a greater emphasis upon the importance of preaching.

Understanding

I offer the following thoughts to help make us aware of the importance of our work at the Florida School of Preaching.

(1) You can not evangelize the world any more rapidly than you can establish and stabilize local congregations. (2) You can not establish a congregation without someone doing the work of a proclaimer of the truth. (3) You can not stabilize a congregation without someone doing the work of a preacher (2 Tim. 4:5). (4) You can not have supporting units of faithful brethren to have an interest in taking the truth to the world without having an informed and faithful congregation. There is a need for faithful preachers!

The Home

God intended the home to bring the young to maturity and to participate in instilling sacred truths into the hearts and minds of people.

When the home fails, there is a tremendous need to refocus its place in society as God intended.

There is a tremendous need for faithful congregations to encourage and strengthen the home unit. When homes are not what they should be, the church is directly affected. Faithful preachers are a stabilizing force in congregations, congregations are a stabilizing factor in the home. There is a need for faithful preachers!

Society

There is unrest in every segment of society today. How are individuals to be taught and encouraged to obey the will of God?

Upon whom has God placed the burden of taking the truth to the world? His church.

Without informed and stable congregations the Devil and his forces succeed. Who will take the truth to the world? Liberal and Anti factors will not do so, they are parasites on the cause of truth.

To avoid these extremes and make the world a better place, who can help us? We need faithful preachers! Pray the Lord of harvest, we need laborers in His vineyard (Matt. 9:38).

Editor.