California Southern Baptist Convention ranked in the top 20 percent nationwide in total baptisms for 2005 among Baptist state conventions. Randy McWhorter, leader of the CSBC healthy church group and evangelism specialist, reports 18,849 baptisms in California in 2005, a 30 percent increase over the baptism figure for 2004. That number ranked CSBC seventh among the 40 state Baptist conventions.

JAVA, INDONESIA—After one week in Indonesia, California Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers are meeting needs of victims after a devastating earthquake May 27 that killed more than 6,000 and left hundreds of thousand homeless.

Mountain STRAM is a tent camp for youth in grades 7-12. Along with missionary moments and evening worship, campers enjoy white-water rafting, climbing/repelling, adventure recreation, canoeing, map and compass activities, as well as other events. Marine STRAM is a tent camp for children in grades 3-6. The camps allow the campers a day at the beach, a day at San Diego Wild Animal Park, a day at Sea World and other events. Each day campers hear from a camp pastor and camp missionary.

In the world today it is a challenge to slow down and see individuals. Many churches have lost the vision of going beyond us and "seeking and saving those who are lost." The goal of FAITH Training is to encourage people to reach out to lost souls with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Those interested in working in the disaster area through Southern Baptist Disaster Relief must complete a Disaster Relief training course. Those completing the course will receive Disaster Relief identification which is required to enter a disaster area and a “yellow Disaster Relief hat” a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief distinctive. This training is for new volunteers and for those who need to be retrained.