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Highlands Today

Still bringing God's word at 89

Jasmina Meyer, Highlands Today

High school sweethearts Beatrice "Bea" Flota and her husband Pastor Howard Flota are celebrating 70 years of marriage.

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By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 23, 2009

SEBRING - Howard Flota is a pastor for many - both parishioners and denominations.

He has been behind the pulpit at the Church of Buttonwood Bay for over 17 years. His congregation is non-denominational and his sermons are heard by Catholics, Methodists and Baptists alike.

"I've always been with the Baptist people and I was wondering how will I like that." Flota said when talking about first accepting the role as leader of the church. "Will I be able to preach sermons that will suit the Catholics and the Nazarenes and the Lutherans and all that?"

Flota found an easy solution to that dilemma - stick to the written word and away from the different denominational doctrines.

"You just preach a Bible sermon and say, 'This is what the Bible says. This is what the Lord says.' If they want to argue with Him, they can," Flota quipped.

The former Mt. Vernon, Ill., resident has a congregation of many, and he brings many years of experience to the pulpit every Sunday.

In June, Flota will celebrate his 90th birthday, yet he looks and gets around like a man 15 years younger. Fifty-five of those years have been spent in the service of God and he said the fire to preach is burning hotter now than ever.

He chalks up that continuing drive to more life experience.

"You become more mellow, too," Flota said.

A retirement plan

In 1991, Flota and his wife Beatrice moved to Sebring from Mt. Vernon following his 40 years as pastor of the First Freewill Baptist Church.

The Flotas were going to spend their retirement years in Buttonwood Bay, a community near Lake Josephine that houses some 2,000 senior citizens.

Flota wasn't going to stay completely retired, as he planned to fill in for some of the church ministers or be an interim one. Those plans slightly changed when the church's former pastor was forced to retire because of Parkinson's disease.

"They found out that we were here and retired from Baptist ministry and they contacted me and that's been 17-and-a-half years ago," Flota said.

Yesterday was a very special sermon, as it commemorated the church's 25th anniversary. Flota said it was started so the residents would not have to drive all over Highlands County on Sunday mornings.

The move seems to have paid off. During the winter months, Flota's flock is anywhere from 350 to 450 strong.

His messages often reflect many of the concerns the Buttonwood Bay residents have, such as loneliness. Because of the age of the community members, Flota said he presides over lots of memorial services.

His ability to provide strength to others in times of need could perhaps be found in Flota's favorite passage of scripture, Philippians 4:13.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Another milestone

The last 24 hours has seen two milestones in Flota's life. Sunday, he preached the 25th anniversary sermon at the Buttonwood Bay church, and today, he and his "high school sweetheart" Beatrice are celebrating 70 years of marriage.

What are things the couple enjoys doing together? Beatrice summed it up in one word - eat.

"We go out to eat almost every morning for breakfast," Flota said.

These morning excursions to Highlands County's eateries also give him a chance to make his hospital and nursing home calls.

It's just part of the duties of this experienced pastor who, in his twilight years, continues to bring the word of God to Buttonwood Bay's masses, no matter the denomination.

"I tell our preachers in Illinois that they have to wait until they get to Heaven to get acquainted with all these different denominations and I'm already associated with them," Flota said. "I'm having my Heaven here with all these different denominations and we just love it."

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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