After careful consideration of what this ministry would entail, and how it would benefit both church and community, the dream was finally realized and the first Annual Session was held on January 27, 1916 in Arcadia, FL.

Our leaders have been strong, dedicated, unwavering men of vision. Many of them holding office for more than 30 years and our most recent leader Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland served with dedication for nearly 14 years.  And now, as of Friday, October 7, 2016, Rev. Brian K. Brown is our newest leader.

Our Leaders…

Rev.  H. L. Stephens Rev. J. H. Brown Rev. J. C. Daniels Rev. S. Randolph Rev. S. Caldwell Rev. W. J. Glover Rev. Dr. J. Gordon Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland Rev. Brian K. Brown

19 16 – 1918 1919 – 1921 1922 – 1929 1930 – 1931 1932 – 1968 1969 – 1987 1988 – 2002 2002 – 2016 2016 – present

The South Florida Progressive Baptist Association was prematurely organized on January 27,1916.

 

1916 First Session: Arcadia, H. L. Stephens, Moderator; W. Wright, Clerk.
1917 Second Session Mulberry, H. L. Stephens, Moderator; J. H. Brown, Clerk
1918 Third Session: Manatee, H. L. Stephens, Moderator; J. H. Brown, Clerk
1919 Fourth Session: Arcadia, J. H. Brown, Moderator; J. C. Dukes, Clerk
1920 Fifth Session: Palmetto, 1. H. Brown, Moderator; M. F. Boone, Clerk
1921 Sixth Session: Bowling Green, J. H. Brown, Moderator; M. F. Boone, Clerk
1922 Seventh Session: Ft. Meade, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; M. F. Boone, Clerk
1923 Eighth Session: Bradenton, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; M. F. Boone, Clerk
1924 Ninth Session: Avon Park, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; M. F. Boone, Clerk
1925 Tenth Session: Bradenton, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; D. C. Green, Clerk
1926 Eleventh Session: Bradenton, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; D. C. Green, Clerk
1927 Twelfth Session: Lake Wales, 1. C. Daniels, Moderator; D. C. Green, Clerk
1928 Thirteenth Session: Palmetto, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; C. Robinson, Clerk
1929 Fourteenth Session: St. Petersburg, J. C. Daniels, Moderator; G. H. Peterson, Clerk.
1930 Fifteenth Session: Arcadia, S. Randolph, Moderator; S. Siplin, Clerk.
1931 Sixteenth Session: Lake Wales, S. Randolph, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk
1932 Seventeenth Session: Wauchula, S. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk
1933 Eighteenth Session: Tampa, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk
1934 Nineteenth session: Ft. Pierce, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk
1935 Twentieth Session: Palmetto, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk
1936 Twenty First Session: ML Zion, St. Petersburg, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk.
1937 Twenty Second Session: Lakeland, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S.Atkinson, Clerk.
1938 Twenty Third Session: Belle Glade, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; J. S. Atkinson, Clerk.
1939 Twenty Fourth Session: First Baptist – Lake Wales, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator
1940 Twenty Fifth Session: Palmetto, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. L. Dixon, Clerk.
1941 Twenty Sixth Session: Wauchula, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. L. Dixon, Clerk
1942 Twenty Seventh Session: Bradenton, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. L. Dixon, Clerk.
I 943 Twenty Eighth Session: St. Mark, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. L. Dixon, Clerk
1944 Twenty Ninth Session: Arcadia, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. L. Dixon, Clerk
1945 Thirtieth Session: Tampa, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. L. Dixon, Clerk
1946 Thirty First Session: Lake ‘Vales, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk
I 947 Thirty Second Session: Lakeland, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1948 Thirty Third Session; Okeechobee, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1949 Thirty Fourth Session: St. Petersburg, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1950 Thirty Fifth Session: Wauchula, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A J. Warren, Clerk.
1951 Thirty Sixth Session: Tampa, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1952 Thirty Seventh Session: FL Meade, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1953 Thirty Eighth Session: St. Petersburg, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
I 954 Thirty Ninth Session: Okeechobee, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1955 Fortieth Session: Ft. Myers, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J Warren, Clerk.
1956 Forty First Session: Arcadia, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1957 Forty Second Session: L Bradley, S. C. Caldwell, Moderato; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1958 Forty Third Session: Tampa, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1959 Forty Fourth Session: Lake Garfield, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1960 Forty Fifth Session: St. Petersburg, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1961 Forty Sixth Session: Arcadia, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1962 Forty Seventh Session: Okeechobee, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1963 Forty Eighth Session: Lakeland, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1964 Forty Ninth Session: Tampa, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren Clerk
1965 Fiftieth Session: Indiantown, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1966 Fifty First Session: Arcadia, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1967 Fifty Second session: Arcadia, S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; A. J. Warren, Clerk.
1968 Fifty Third Session: Lake Wales, Mt. Zion, J. D. Johnson, Pastor; S. C. Caldwell, Moderator; T. J. Davis, Clerk.
1969 Fifty Fourth Session: St. Mark, St. Petersburg, Rev. W. J. Glover, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1970 Fifty Fifth Session: New Jerusalem, Lakeland, W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D.Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1971 Fifty Sixty Session: St. Mary’s Hull; Rev. L. R. Towns, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J.D. Johnson, Recording Secretary
1972 Fifty Seventh Session: St. Mark, St. Petersburg; Rev. W. J. Glover, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1973 Fifty Eighth Session: ‘Greater Bethel, Tampa, Rev. J. L. Overstreet, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary
1974 Fifty Ninth Session: St. Mary’s, Ft. Myers, Rev. T. Brown, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J, D. Johnson, Recording Secretary
1975 Sixtieth Session: Frostproof, Hill Top, Rev. J. C. King, Pastor; Rev. J. W. Glover Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1976 Sixty First Session: St. John Arcadia, Rev. Alex Harper, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover Moderator; Rev. J.D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1977 Sixty Second Session: New Jerusalem, Lakeland, Rev, L. Rentz, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. 1. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1978 Sixty Third Session: St. John, Palmetto, Rev. J. L. Jones, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1979 Sixty Fourth Session: New Philadelphia, Tampa, Rev. J. Marion, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1980 Sixty Fifth Session: First Baptist, Bradley, Re. S. J. Johnson, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Re. J. D. Johnson Recording Secretary
1981 Sixty Sixth Session: St. John, Arcadia, Rev. A. Harper, Pastor; Rev. ‘N. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. J. D. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1982 Sixty Seventh Session: Macedonia, Bartow, Rev. R. B. Jackson, Pastor; Rev. ‘N. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. R. L. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1983 Sixty Eighth Session: New Philadelphia, Tampa, Rev. J. Marion, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Rev. R. L. Johnson, Recording Secretary.
1984 Sixty Ninth Session: New. Jerusalem, Lake, Rev. L. Rentz, Pastor; Rev.W. J. Glover, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1985 Seventieth Session: St. Mary, Ft. Myers, Rev. T. Brown, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1986 Seventy-First Session: St. Mark, Punta Gorda, Rev. N. Frederick, Pastor; Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Sis. O.M.. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1987 Seventy Second Session: Mt. Tabor, Tampa, Rev. T. J. James, Pastor, Rev. W. J. Glover, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1988 Seventy Third Session: Mt. Zion, Lake Wales, Rev. J. L. Jones, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. 0.M. Sailes, Record in Secretary.
1989 Seventy Fourth Session: Bible Baptist, Rev. A. Harper, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. 0.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1990 Seventy Fifth Session: Mt. Pleasant, Tampa, Rev. C. T. Kirkland, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. 0. M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1991 Seventy Sixth Session: Good I-lope, Gordonville, Rev. J. Smith, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. O. M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
1992 Seventy Seventh Session: St. John, Arcadia, Rev. E. E. Cross, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. 0. M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
1993 Seventy Eighth Session: New Jerusalem, Lakeland, Rev. J. Downing, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1994 Seventy Ninth Session: St. Mark, Punta Gordon, Rev. N. Fredrick, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes; Recording Secretary.
1995 Eightieth Session: St. Matthew, Ft. Pierce, Rev. J.L. Gary, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
1996 Eighty First Session: Bible Baptist Church, Palmetto, Rev. A. Harper, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator;
Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1997 Eighty Second Session: Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, Rev. J. Gordon, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator;
Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
1998 Eighty Third Session – St. John Baptist Church, Arcadia, Rev. R. Harrison, Pastor; Rev. J. ‘Gordon, Moderator;
Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
1999 Eighty Fourth Session: New Jerusalem Baptist Church, Lakeland, Rev. J. L. Downing, Pastor; Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator;
Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
2000 Eighty Fifth Session: First Baptist Church, Wauchula, Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Rev. C.C. Reaves, Interim Pastor;
Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
2001 Eighty Six Session: Macedonia M.B. Church, Rubonia, Rev. Danny Thomas, Rev. J. Gordon, Moderator; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
2002 Eighty Seventh Session: Macedonia M.B. Church, Thonotosassa, Rev. W.L. Jackson, Moderator J. Gordon; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
2003 Eighty Eighth Session: Mt. Pleasant M Church, Tampa, Moderator C.T. Kirkland, Pastor; Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary.
2004 Eighty Ninth Session: New Jerusalem M.B. Church, Lakeland , Rev. J.L. Downing, Pastor, Moderator C.T. Kirkland;
Sis. O.M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
2005 Ninetieth Session: First Baptist Hilltop, Frostproof, First Vice Moderator R. Austin, Moderator Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland;
Sis. O. M. Sailes, Recording Secretary
2006 Ninety First Session: Macedonia M. B. Church, Bartow, Rev. Derrick Baker, Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Moderator;
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2007 Ninety Second Session: St. John Baptist Church, Arcadia, Rev. Robert Harrison, Pastor, Moderator C. T. Kirkland,
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2008 Ninety Third Session: Blessed Hope M. B. Church, Lakeland, FL, Rev. Louis Rentz, Pastor, Moderator C. T. Kirkland,
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2009 Ninety Fourth Session: Mt. Pleasant M. B. Church, Tampa, FL, Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Pastor / Moderator,
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2010 Ninety Fifth Session: Mt. Pleasant M. B. Church, Tampa, FL, Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Pastor / Moderator, Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2011 Ninety Sixth Session: St. John M. B. Church, Rev. Norris Martin, Pastor; Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Moderator, Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2012 Ninety Seventh Session: St. John First Baptist Institutional, Rev. Fred Brown, Pastor; Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Moderator,
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2013 Ninety Eighth Session: Mt. Pleasant M. B. Church, Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland Pastor and Moderator, Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2014 Ninety Ninth Session: St. Matthews M. B. Church, Reverend Michael Collier, Pastor; Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Moderator,
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary
2015 One Hundredth Session: St. Mark M. B. Church, Rev. Brian K. Brown Pastor; Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Moderator,
Sis. Cynthia Coney, Recording Secretary