Our Vision
Kingdom Roots Produce Kingdom Fruits in Panama City
By: Barbara Denman
Roots grow deep at Family of God Church in Panama City—roots of spiritual growth, roots of acceptance and roots of service. Every day of the week Family of God members are involved in some type of disciple making training.
“We are looking for Kingdom fruit,” said Pastor Kenric Conway who has served the urban African-American church for nearly five years. “We want to see developmental process and growth as a quality of your faith,” he added.
“We have lots of shallow Christians. We are trying to build ones with deep roots. Kingdom roots bring kingdom fruit.”
Discipleship groups target spiritual growth among men, women, teens, singles, couples, young adults and specific affinity groups, such as prayer. Ministerial training is given to those who believe they have been called out by God. An addiction recovery group “Most Excellent Way,” provides clinical transformation.
Every church member is expected to be involved in an equipping ministry as well as in service to the congregation.
Conway, an Air Force colonel assigned to Homeland Security as a chaplain, comes from a clinical background. He said unless transformation takes place in individuals’ lives, most people repeat the same problem patterns in their lives, continuing cycles of neglect, abuse and sin.
Thus he equates spiritual growth with character—“Kingdom character.” As an example, he said, “Until a man fears God he will never treat his wife and his children with respect.”
Conway said he has been inspired in his journey by Roy Saint, associate director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Leadership and Life Development Department, who has mentored him and provided resources.
The congregation’s beliefs of discipleship and service are fleshed out in community involvement.
Each Wednesday, the church sends buses to low income apartment complexes to bring at-risk children of all ages to the church. Once there, they are fed a nourishing home-cooked meal—which many do not get at home—and attend discipleship and Bible study classes.
It is a huge labor intensive effort for the church as nearly 200 children arrive on the campus to participate in the evening activities. Leaders are used to transport, mentor, play basketball with and provide recreation for the children. Nearly 50 percent of the congregation is related to Panama City’s extensive military presence and provide proven examples of leadership and success.
They offer an acceptance and mentoring that many of the children do not have at home, said Conway, who stops whatever he is doing when the youngsters beg for hugs from the pastor.
The volunteers know they are making a kingdom impact. When the bus pulls up in the neighborhood, the children run out to meet and climb aboard, eager to go where they find love and acceptance. And as a result of the ministry, several families have become members of the church.
One young teen from the program accepted Christ and then led his entire family to Christ, noted the pastor. “We are seeing lives changed.” Children who were once unruly and disruptive are now leaders, mentoring other children.
Their efforts have been recognized by the Panama City community. When the church needed extra space for classes, a plea to the local Kiwanis club provided nearly $5 million in portable classrooms, construction supplies and labor.
Many of the young teens are mothers themselves and bring their own children to church.
Two young women in the church, one a paralegal and the other a lawyer, have begun a ministry to instill self confidence and self esteem in the troubled girls. Brendalynn Stevens and Keisha Siriboe conceived “Divas,” an acronym for distinguished, intelligent, virtuous, ambitious sisters, to inspire and counsel teens to a better life. The young women said they speak from experience, having come from a similar environment.
“If I can reach one girl, establish a relationship and convey that a person cares about what you are doing and wants you to succeed, I’ll feel like I have made a difference,” said Siriboe. “I want them to know that God loves them even when hell is going on outside their own room.”
The women are also developing a backpack ministry to send food home with 25 children over the weekend who would otherwise be food deprived.
Recently the congregation, after a weekend retreat with Rick Shepherd, director of the Florida Baptist Convention’s Prayer and Spiritual Awakening Department, walked the halls of nearby Oscar Patterson Elementary School.
Nearly 70 church members touched the door of every classroom and every piece of equipment on the playground praying for the children and teachers who would journey through the school.
Lives are being transformed. After a life of drugs and prison, Antonio DeBerry moved to Panama City from Detroit for a fresh start. A friend took him to Family of God. “I got down on my knees and surrendered my will to God’s will. Now I live every day for Him,” he said.“I love the name of this church—Family of God. This is a family. For 40 years I’ve looked for a place to fit in, this is where I fit it.” Family of God, a family where roots grow deep and fruit is produced in changed lives of all ages.
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