CLEWISTON — During the Progressive Missionary & Educational Baptist State Convention of Florida’s 109th Annual Session in Tampa March 20-23, Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Banks Sr., president, appointed Pastor Gary McNealy as Fourth Vice President.

McNealy has been the pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Harlem for the past 27 years.

Fourth Vice President McNealy’s areas of responsibility will include:
• Home mission,

He explained the church supports projects in foreign mission projects in places such as Jamaica, Africa and the Caribbean. Home mission projects target areas in need of help in the United States. They are currently raising funds to provide relief to the tornado victims in Mississippi. “I will primarily be the lead person who helps coordinate to get the resources to the places we have boots on the ground,” he explained.

Greater Friendship Fellowships Missionary Baptist Church has been involved in these areas of ministry for years, McNealy said.

His appointment is a first for Greater Friendship Fellowships Missionary Baptist Church, which has been in existence for 96 years. He said the honor recognizes the efforts of the entire congregation and of the Glades area.

McNealy is originally from Punta Gorda. He was a pastor in Tampa before moving to Clewiston in 1996.

The mission of Progressive Missionary and Educational Baptist State Convention is to equip and empower its affiliated churches through biblical, traditional and progressive principles and practices. The convention included about 100 Florida churches.