Ken and Sharon Floyd announce
ministry transition plan for January 2023
Ken and Sharon Floyd recently announced by letter to the MARBC constituency their plan to complete their current ministry roles with the association on December 31, 2022. Ken has been working with the MARBC Council of 16 leadership for the past four years regarding the MARBC's strategic plan for the future. The focus of meetings this past year has been on an appropriate time for the Floyds to conclude their current ministry and to position the association for effective ministry in subsequent years. The timing of the announcement by Ken was coordinated with preparations for the upcoming annual MARBC Conference on October 11-12 in Grand Rapids. The theme and sessions of the conference will focus upon the strategic plan of the association moving forward. Thus the title of the conference, "Focus on What Matters." Please visit the conference webpage to learn more details about the conference. A link to Ken's announcement letter is included below this paragraph. Please uphold the Floyds and the association in prayer during these exciting days of preparation and anticipation.
floyd_marbc_retirement_letter_08_2021.docx
floyd_marbc_retirement_letter_08_2021.docx
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Ken Floyd has served since 2006 as the Executive Ministry Director of the Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches (MARBC), a network of approximately 200 churches in the State of Michigan.
Ken and his wife, Sharon, were married in Ken’s senior year of college during the U.S. Bicentennial year. They declared their love for one another while watching Bicentennial Fourth of July fireworks! They are both first generation Christians. Sharon accepted Christ in fifth grade, Ken as a senior in high school (having never previously been introduced to the gospel). Both of them were reached for Christ by individuals who attended the same small Baptist church in their hometown of Springfield, Ohio. Ken was planning to become a medical doctor until God redirected his life’s path towards pastoral ministry while he was attending Christian college. He credits God’s use of his spiritual mentors at the small Baptist church for softening his heart to God’s call. The Floyds love pastoral ministry. In fact, Sharon started praying to be a pastor’s wife in the seventh grade after being mentored by her pastor’s wife. She began teaching Junior High girls Sunday School classes shortly after graduating from high school and continued to do so for over 40 years. Ken and Sharon enjoy ministering together. They often share in mentoring opportunities, counseling married couples, conducting pre-marital counseling, and sharing at couples’ retreats. After being married for nine years the Floyds were told that they would probably never have children. God had another plan and blessed the Floyds with a daughter, Allison. Allison and her husband live in northeast Ohio with their five children (ages 3 to 12). The Floyds absolutely love being grandparents and feel that God richly blessed them by giving them five grandchildren after raising an only child! |
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Ken’s role with the MARBC involves traveling regularly to churches, speaking in Sunday services, and providing practical ministry assistance. Ken is certified in ministry consultation by Church Consultation University and is also certified in church revitalization through Church Answers, both groups are led by Dr. Thom Rainer. He regularly specializes in working with churches who are seeking pastoral placement. He also counsels pastors in areas of ministry and personal need. A frequent speaker in conferences and school chapels, Ken also conducts seminars pertaining to spiritual leadership, prayer, strategic planning, conflict resolution, and stewardship. He is the author of two ministry books, several ministry related articles, and serves as the editor of MARBC publications and e-newsletter.
Sharon enjoys her life’s calling as a wife, mother, and grandmother (Mamaw!) She has served in the local church in a variety of ways including; ministry as a pastor’s wife, Junior High Sunday School teacher for almost forty years, AWANA Sparks leader, vocalist, mentor, and women’s speaker. She and Ken often share together in mentoring and counseling married couples, conducting pre-marital counseling, and sharing at couples’ retreats. |
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contact ken
Ministry Itinerary
Ken is available for Sunday speaking ministries in late 2021 and 2022. He is also available to share in special ministry seminars, consultations, and pastoral search orientations.
September 7 Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches Revitalization Conference, keynote speaker
September 8 Ministry coaching consultation, Wayland, MI
September 9 Pastoral search consultations, Grand Rapids, MI
September 12 First Baptist Church, Stanton, MI
September 14 MARBC Council of 16 meeting
September 19 Alaska Baptist Church, Caledonia, MI
September 21 GRARBC Regional Association Breakpoint luncheon, Magnify Church-Northview, Grand Rapids, MI
September 26 First Baptist Church, North Adams, MI - pastor installation service
October 1 LEAD ministry board meeting, Jenison, MI
October 3 Green Corners Baptist Church, Belding, MI
October 10 Forest Hills Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI
October 11-12 MARBC Annual Conference, Forest Hills Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI
October 17 Orangeville Baptist Church
October 24 NEFIBC speaking ministry, NY
October 25-27 Northeast Fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches, Horseheads, NY
October 31 Tentative speaking ministry, TBA
November 7 Calvary Baptist Church, Evart, MI
November 11 Western Regional Association (WMARBC) quarterly meeting, First Baptist Church, Newaygo, MI
November 14 Shawnee Hills Baptist Church, Jamestown, OH, pastor's retirement service
November 15-17 GARBC Council of 18 meetings, Arlington Heights, IL
We are grateful for your prayer support as Ken and Sharon travel and minister.
September 7 Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches Revitalization Conference, keynote speaker
September 8 Ministry coaching consultation, Wayland, MI
September 9 Pastoral search consultations, Grand Rapids, MI
September 12 First Baptist Church, Stanton, MI
September 14 MARBC Council of 16 meeting
September 19 Alaska Baptist Church, Caledonia, MI
September 21 GRARBC Regional Association Breakpoint luncheon, Magnify Church-Northview, Grand Rapids, MI
September 26 First Baptist Church, North Adams, MI - pastor installation service
October 1 LEAD ministry board meeting, Jenison, MI
October 3 Green Corners Baptist Church, Belding, MI
October 10 Forest Hills Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI
October 11-12 MARBC Annual Conference, Forest Hills Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI
October 17 Orangeville Baptist Church
October 24 NEFIBC speaking ministry, NY
October 25-27 Northeast Fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches, Horseheads, NY
October 31 Tentative speaking ministry, TBA
November 7 Calvary Baptist Church, Evart, MI
November 11 Western Regional Association (WMARBC) quarterly meeting, First Baptist Church, Newaygo, MI
November 14 Shawnee Hills Baptist Church, Jamestown, OH, pastor's retirement service
November 15-17 GARBC Council of 18 meetings, Arlington Heights, IL
We are grateful for your prayer support as Ken and Sharon travel and minister.
2020 MARBC Ministry Director's Report
2020 Annual Report
Executive Ministry Director Statistics from 2019-20…
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We absolutely love the fact that God has called us to serve for His glory with the MARBC! The past fourteen years of ministry have allowed us to meet so many choice servants of God and to serve in many wonderful ministry contexts. Your service for the Lord continues to be a source of great joy as we embark on year fifteen of our partnership with you. We share these sentiments in a time when ministry is very difficult for all of us. The toll of the pandemic and societal upheaval impacts every person and every church ministry. Heartache and heartbreak are commonplace. Disagreements are amplified due to isolation which robs individuals and groups of the personal nature of interactions and discussions. We are discovering how much we worshipped at the altar of routine while claiming to be moving towards the “cutting edge” of ministry. Now nothing is routine and even the most “cutting edge” pastors catch themselves pining for “the good old days” of pre-COVID life and ministry. Indeed “cut” is a relevant word during the pandemic. Many pastors are experiencing “death by 1,000 cuts” syndrome as they seek to balance the need to regather for God’s glory with regulations and perceptions that are a part of their particular ministry context. Given the many COVID perspectives that are offered daily, it is easy for us to fall into the trap of “analysis paralysis.” We must be prayerfully circumspect as we seek godly wisdom combined with the most accurate information available to us as we seek to shepherd God’s precious flocks. I could write pages giving examples of this and share my perspective as to why this is taking place. Simply stated, we are dealing with spiritual issues that are exposing the true condition of hearts. The discord being sown in society and, sadly, some churches is a graphic reminder that the Enemy is on the prowl. Satan is a liar, deceiver, and destroyer. He revels at sowing discord among believers and enjoys accusing them when they falter. He possesses high definition wisdom from below and understands human nature at a graduate level. We are engaged in real spiritual warfare. We must keep our focus upon God and take up His whole armor, in order to “withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm!” (Ephesians 6:13) The unity of the spirit and bond of peace will only be demonstrated in church bodies that acknowledge that God has a sovereign plan, that His church is a major part of it, and that the battle is only effectively and effectually engaged and won through prayerful, spiritual means (my summarization of Ephesians 4-6). Not the “new normal”. The sidebar to the left of this report lists many aspects of the recent ministry year. The last “normal” day of my ministry was on March 10 when the MARBC Council of 16 met in Mount Pleasant. Ministry and routines changed significantly for all of us since then. I initially invested much time counseling pastors one-on-one and in online group settings. The personal stress upon pastors seemed to only increase in mid-summer. “Push back” is experienced regularly in many churches, and from all sides, as practical decisions are made. Indeed, there are many changes as a result of COVID that challenge our culture and our churches. What hasn’t changed is the fact that God is sovereign, the Word of God abides forever, His grace is always sufficient, Christ will continue to build His Church, and the Gospel is still the only Good News for a desperate and dying world. These are just a few of the rock-solid foundational truths God’s Word declares for which we give thanks to Him Who is able! Church Revitalization and Recruitment. I was able to carve out the time necessary to complete courses and coaching to become certified as a Church Consultant and Revitalization Coach through Thom Rainer’s ministry. I was also able to complete the Accelerate cohort led by Dr. Gary Rohrmyer (Converge MidAmerica). I am appreciative of the Council’s support of my training and found it very beneficial. I now have connections with national church planters and revitalizers and enjoy my interactions with them. We also have exclusive access to church assessment and revitalization evaluation tools that can be used in future projects. There is great potential for church planting and revitalization in post-COVID Michigan communities. I’ve asked our regional associations to aggressively pursue this in their settings. With thanksgiving to God. I dearly love and appreciate my godly wife and best friend, Sharon. She is a great personal blessing and cares deeply for our pastoral couples. God has used her greatly to be a source of spiritual support and encouragement during this unusual season of life and ministry. We give thanks for God’s protection and blessing upon our daughter Allison, husband Taylor, and our five grandchildren - Connor (11), Eloise (9), Malachi (6), Emmaline (4), and Camille (3). It’s never a dull moment in their household and they bring us much joy and brighten the gloomiest day. We also give thanks to God for Karen Avey, our faithful MARBC bookkeeper. She’s a glutton for punishment since she has not only ministered beside us in her current role, but previously served as a secretary during my time as a senior pastor. Kevin Pierpont, the MARBC and Interpas web master continues his faithful role and will help us safely operate our new web vehicle. Finally, we thank God upon every remembrance of each church and ministry friend who supports us through prayer and financial support. You have been a great encouragement to us in a very challenging time. Please let us know how we can assist you, share a prayer request, or celebrate a blessing in your life or ministry. Partnering with you and praying for you, Ken and Sharon Floyd |
