Deep Roots:
Growing the Work from Within

Across Florida, church leaders participating in the Leadership Development for Community Transformation Program are taking an exciting next step. After months of learning, reflection, and deep listening in their communities, they’re now putting their training into action by launching new ministries in their churches to lead community transformation and tackle local issues of injustice. This marks the beginning of meaningful change, driven by churches committed to creating lasting impact in their neighborhoods.

Rooted in Community:
Expanding the Vision of the Local Church

Our movement continues to grow across Florida. Most recently, we hosted powerful gatherings in Volusia County and Fort Myers, and presented at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas. These events added to the momentum from earlier events in Kissimmee, Miami, North Florida, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Sanford.

Mission Talk has now engaged over 250 faith and community leaders across ten cities. At each gathering, pastors identified and reflected on critical local issues—including housing insecurity, immigration, mental health, youth disengagement, and poverty—underscoring the urgent need for community engagement and action. While many expressed a deep sense of frustration and powerlessness, there was also a growing hope rooted in unity. These gatherings have sparked new partnerships and collaboration, laying the groundwork for community-led transformation in 2025 and beyond.

Testimony from a Pastor: 

"We have gained greater knowledge and tools to channel our community outreach in a more holistic and integral way. This phase is helping us better discern the needs around us so we can respond with purpose—blessing others, reaching more lives through action and word, and demonstrating the love of God in tangible ways."

-Pastor Juan Carlos Calderon, UNC Church

Florida’s 2025 Legislative Report 

This year’s Florida legislative session brought both challenges and modest progress. Our team closely followed key bills impacting the communities we serve, particularly in immigration, youth justice, housing, and criminal justice. We are encouraged by bipartisan efforts such as SB 472, which enables individuals who are incarcerated to apply educational credits toward professional licenses upon release. Yet, we cannot ignore the continuation of increasingly punitive policies, including the criminalization of immigrants and an extreme expansion of the death penalty, that deepen existing inequities and target already vulnerable communities. Meanwhile, housing and homelessness issues still ravage across our communities.  As people of faith, we remain committed to seeing public policy as a spiritual matter and advocate for human dignity. 

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

— Proverbs 31:8–9

See the Legislative Report Here

The Prophetic Voice of the Latino Evangelicals - Over 500 Letters Sent

Mission Talk and various faith leaders and organizations joined forces to take a stand against the federal budget bill. Over 500 letters opposing the bill were sent to the U.S Congress. Unfortunately, the bill has now been signed into law.  While the bill includes some provisions we do not oppose, its overall impact will cause serious harm—cutting health care, food assistance, and other vital resources from the people who need them most.

As people of faith, we are called to protect the poor and vulnerable and uphold the dignity of all. We are deeply grieved by the passage of this legislation and remain committed to building a moral movement that prioritizes health, safety, and opportunity in every community.

As Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina put it: “I don’t bow to anybody when the people of North Carolina are at risk, and this puts them at risk.”

For further information, see our action page on this bill.

See the full statement on the Federal Budget Bill here

Did You Know?

• Proposed changes to Medicaid, other health programs could lead to over 51,000 preventable deaths, researchers warn. See full article here

• Studies show an estimated 65%-70% of youth in the criminal justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition, but most never receive adequate treatment. Instead of care, many are met with harsh sentencing, often for behaviors rooted in trauma, instability, or unmet emotional needs. In Florida, thousands of youth enter the system each year without the mental health resources that could prevent incarceration in the first place.

  Source: National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice; Florida DJJ
  

What You Can Do

Pray: 

• For our members of Congress, they will reflect the heart of God in their decisions—and prioritize the needs of the poor, the vulnerable, and the communities they were elected to serve.
  

• For our churches entering into the next phase of community transformation

• Peace in the world and the end of wars.