Southern Baptists gathered in Orlando this year not only for the SBC Annual Meeting, but also to fulfill the Great Commission through Crossover Orlando, a citywide evangelism effort focused on serving the community and sharing the Gospel.
During a report to messengers on June 9, North American Mission Board (NAMB) Vice President of Evangelism Tim Dowdy announced that 1,077 people professed faith in Jesus Christ through Crossover outreach efforts.
Dowdy described Crossover as a unique opportunity for Southern Baptists from across North America to unite around a common mission. Churches from 15 states participated, and a total of 554 churches were involved through hosting outreach events, volunteering, or supporting the effort through prayer.
The impact was significant. Nearly 4,000 volunteers served throughout the Orlando area, helping create opportunities for approximately 20,000 people to hear the Gospel. These efforts were supported by Florida Baptists, local associations, and churches throughout the region that worked together to reach their communities with the hope of Christ.
The report also highlighted encouraging trends across the Southern Baptist Convention. According to Dowdy, SBC churches baptized 263,075 people in 2025, representing nearly a 5 percent increase over 2024. This marks the fifth consecutive year of baptism growth, the first such sustained increase in 75 years of SBC history.
While many often associate Southern Baptist growth with the southeastern United States, Dowdy noted that some of the strongest baptism growth is occurring in states outside the South, including Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Iowa, and California. These reports serve as a reminder that God continues to work through churches in every region as they faithfully proclaim the Gospel.
One particularly encouraging story came from Union Hill Baptist Church in Bonifay, Florida. The church had not celebrated a baptism since 2018. After their pastor, Buck Tidwell, called the congregation to renewed prayer and Gospel engagement, members began intentionally praying for neighbors and sharing their faith. As a result, the church has already baptized five new believers during the first four months of 2026.
Stories like this reflect a broader theme throughout the Convention: when churches commit themselves to prayer, evangelism, and obedience to Christ, God continues to draw people to Himself.
Dowdy also highlighted evangelism resources available through NAMB, including the Evangelism Kit and the Who’s Your One? initiative. Through Who’s Your One?, believers across North America have submitted more than 87,000 names of people they are praying for, asking God to bring them to saving faith in Christ.
As Southern Baptists celebrate these encouraging reports, the mission remains urgent. Dowdy reminded messengers that an estimated 292 million people in North America do not know Christ, underscoring the continued need for churches to share the Gospel with boldness and compassion.
Crossover Orlando serves as a powerful example of what can happen when churches work together for the sake of the Gospel. We thank God for every life changed and every new believer who has begun a relationship with Christ, and we pray that the momentum of evangelism and discipleship continues in our churches and communities.
"The harvest is still plentiful," Dowdy said. "Let's keep going, keep loving, keep telling others about Jesus."