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Classified Ad Submission Guidelines Baptist Beacon classifieds are posted free of charge. All classified posts will run for 2 consecutive months.  Longer or shorter times may be requested. Publication of classifieds correspond with the monthly publication of the Baptist Beacon. Classifieds must be from a BSCM church. Be sure to include thorough details of request, name of church, contact information as well as a point of contact. Submissions must be made no later than the 10th of the month prior to publication. Submit all classified ads to jamie@bscm.org . February 2025 Worship Leader CHURCH: Warren Woods Baptist Church LOCATION: 14251 12 Mile Rd, Warren, MI 48088 WEBSITE: www.warenwoods.org PHONE: 586-772-4171 The Worship Leader is a part-time position (10-15 hrs) devoted to helping the church sing the truth of the gospel in weekly gatherings. The Worship Leader will work together with the Pastors to cultivate Christ-honoring gatherings that engage the hearts and minds of God’s people, equipping them to offer not only their voices but their entire lives as worship to God (Romans 12:1-2). Responsibilities Committed to living a faithful lifestyle of worship to God that is above reproach. Plan and execute the musical elements of corporate worship gatherings for the church, serving alongside current music volunteers and recruiting future volunteers. Schedule weekly volunteers for music and A/V teams using scheduling software. Lead songs (both old and new) that encourage wide participation in congregational singing. Select songs that reinforce the doctrinal emphases of the sermon. Lead band rehearsals regularly. Arrive early and be prepared to lead on Sundays (and special gatherings like Christmas Eve & Good Friday) with minimal distractions. Attend 1 in-person staff meeting every week for planning and prayer. Ensure that the stage, sound system, video system, and presentation software are working properly and are ready for use. Ensure that ProPresenter is accurate each week (including song lyrics, announcements, videos, etc). Develop a yearly budget for Music and A/V ministry and stay within that budget. Engage as an active member of the church, building relationships with other church members, and supporting the overall discipleship direction of the church. Work Considerations This is a part-time, hourly position (expect 10-15 hours a week). The Worship Leader will be responsible to the Senior Pastor and the Personnel Team. The Worship Leader will be away from the church no more than 4 Sundays a year. Each year a performance review will be conducted by the Personnel Team and Senior Pastor. Qualifications Clear testimony of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ Competent vocal ability Can proficiently lead from an instrument (e.g. guitar, keyboard) Good communication skills Team-player Self-starter Previous experience with church music ministry (either volunteer or staff) Able to contextualize musical style and song selection without sacrificing doctrinal fidelity Agreement with WWBC doctrinal statement (see website). Interested candidates should email a resume to wwbcpersonnel@gmail.com , along with a video link of you singing and playing an instrument. February 2025 Senior Pastor Living Water Community Church ( http://lw-cc.org ), a Southern Baptist derivative community church located in Ypsilanti Township, MI, is seeking a full-time senior pastor to help lead our congregation starting as soon as possible. Only male applicants will be considered (1 Timothy 3;1-7, Titus 1:5-9).   We are an elder led church with a theologically conservative congregation of 30-50   members and regular attenders located in a progressive collegiate community. Our men and women lead a variety of ministries that seek to equip Christ-followers to grow in their knowledge and love for Christ in order to reach the lost in our communities and all nations. We seek a faithful follower of Jesus committed to discipleship and outreach and with some experience in church administration.   Note that once a Senior Pastor is found and hired, a search for an assistant/associate Pastor will begin with the new Senior Pastor’s help. The minimum qualifications for this position are a Master of Divinity or Theology and at least five years full-time pastoral experience or  similar life experience for older seminary graduates. Please submit to lwccpsc@gmail.com  the following materials:   Doctrinal Statement Call to Ministry Statement Testimony Job Title: Senior Pastor Job Classification: Full Time, Exempt General Description The senior pastor of Living Water Community Church ( https://www.lw-cc.org/ ) will be an elder, spiritual leader and shepherd of the church alongside the other elders. The senior pastor will meet the personal and spiritual qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Peter 5:2-3. He is responsible for preaching and teaching the word of God alongside the elders and will help in leading the people and the ministries of the church to fulfill the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).   The senior pastor is one of the church Elders and is accountable to the Lord to work collaboratively with all Elders, church staff, and other ministry leaders. Through fellowship, encouragement, cooperation, prayer support, and other appropriate methods, the senior pastor works to assure effective, efficient, and coordinated teamwork in all of the ministries of the Church. He must be willing to perform his duties in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the church. Professional Qualifications The senior pastor must have pastoral experience or similar life experience for older seminary graduates. A minimum of a Master of Divinity, Master of Theology or similar is required. Personal Qualifications A person of faith, vision, and leadership. Possesses excellent interpersonal skills and is able to work with a diverse   group  of people. Maintains regular and disciplined personal worship, Bible study, and prayer. An effective communicator. He is flexible, friendly, tactful, compassionate, approachable, and honest. Deals with conflict biblically according to Matthew 18:15-17 and Matthew 5:23-24. Exemplifies the Scriptural qualifications of an Elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; Peter 5:2-3). Should have skills in pastoral care, teaching, leadership, and exhortation. Ministry Responsibilities Be a member of LWCC Serve as a member of the Elders who are responsible for leading the church to function in alignment with God’s mission/vision for the church. Coordinate worship services, prepare and deliver sermons, provide pulpit supply when absent or unable to preach, lead weekly prayer meeting and conduct the ordinances of the church. Work with the Elders to plan and coordinate opportunities for evangelism, discipleship and mentoring. Serve on any pastor search team, including the search for an assistant pastor Work with staff and ministry teams to provide pastoral care for church members, including hospital visits and home visits. Perform wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and conduct funerals. Participate in the Ministry Coordinating Team (MCT). Staff Responsibilities Be prepared to work creatively and effectively as head of a pastoral staff team as church grows. Support ministry leaders in maintaining accountability to the church’s statement of faith and bylaws. February 2025 Lead Pastor LOCATION: Memorial Baptist Church 12651 Clinton River Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313. The following describes the Lead Pastor candidate for Memorial Baptist Church. Community Sterling Heights is a culturally diverse suburban city of 150,000 people, 30 minutes north of Detroit, at the center of Macomb County, close to many lakes and recreational areas. Sterling Heights has affordable housing, a beautiful park system, shopping, hotels, businesses, and industry. One of the safest cities in Michigan, our community has a public library, civic center, senior center, and youth programs. Two excellent school districts, Utica Community Schools and Warren Consolidated Schools, serve our city with strong college prep programs. The Macomb Intermediate School District supports special education students 3 years old through 26 years old. Macomb County Community College has 2 campuses within 15 minutes of our neighborhood. There are many early childhood education options, including Memorial Baptist Child Care Center. Memorial Baptist Church Congregation and Ministries As a small but active church, we are committed to fostering spiritual growth, building a thriving community, and providing compassionate pastoral care to our members and friends. The church is led by the Lead Pastor, Elders, Deacons, and a Church Council consisting of all ministry team leaders. Memorial Baptist Church (hereinafter referred to as Memorial or MBC) is active in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). MBC’s budget reflects a strong commitment to the Cooperative Program of the SBC, with dedicated funding for local, associational, and state convention support and a global fund to assist international volunteers. Memorial promotes offerings annually for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, Frances Brown State Missions Offering, and Hunger Funds through Send Relief.  Our congregation is diverse in age, with active members who are children, teens, college students, young adults, middle-aged and senior adults. MBC is a stable church with 70% members for 20+ years. Most live within 20 minutes of the church, but some drive in from other areas. Educational levels of church members are in step with the general adult populace of our area, with 50% of Memorial’s adults having earned associate degrees or higher. Ministries serve MBC and surrounding neighborhoods, providing platforms for reaching the lost and Christians seeking community, each with evangelism, fellowship, missional, and discipleship purposes. Among those: Deaf Ministry- includes ASL interpreted services, Deaf Bible Class and fellowships, Music Ministry- with contemporary and traditional music, praise band, orchestra, and special musical events; Christian Education Ministry includes Bible Study, children’s, youth and young adult ministries, the Child Care Center- birth through 6th grade, Vacation Bible School, Camp Ministries; Men’s and Women’s Ministries; Our Mission Team assists MBC in serving our neighborhood, county, state, region, and the nations and supporting Disaster Relief, North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, and members serving the nations with other organizations, with an Acts 1:8 focus. Position Overview  Memorial Baptist Church seeks an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to serve as Lead Pastor who can lead our congregation in our ministries, encouraging Bible study, discipleship, evangelism, outreach, missional living, music, children’s and youth ministry. He will fulfill the role of Lead Pastor as defined by MBC’s bylaws section 5.6 as he: Proclaims the Gospel formally and informally through preaching, teaching, witnessing, and lifestyle. Aids the church in developing a comprehensive evangelism and outreach strategy. Prepares and shares weekly sermons and regular studies, and leads in the observance of the church ordinances. Leads in planning and conducting worship services in consultation with other ministry leaders. Provides oversight of an effective plan for visiting and supporting the sick, shut-ins, and church members in times of personal crisis or celebration. Meets with members and friends by request or referral, providing professional resources and counseling referrals when appropriate. Performs wedding ceremonies and conduct funerals as needed. Assists in the welcoming and assimilation of new members and visitors. Assists the elders, deacons, staff, church council, and other ministers in a comprehensive team ministry approach to carrying out the church's mission and objectives. Participates in church-wide events and initiatives for outreach and evangelism. Participates in the implementation of church business administration duties. Candidate Profile Education The candidate will have earned, at minimum, a degree from an accredited Bible college or seminary and will be able to articulate biblical theology well. He will demonstrate a passion for lifelong learning and personal and professional development toward a biblically informed theology of discipleship in the local church. Experience and Skills The candidate will be a leader of leaders and will have a proven record of working in a setting committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ with creativity and passion. He will possess strong interpersonal and organizational skills to enlist and shepherd volunteers, build and work with teams, and develop lay leaders. Personal Characteristics  The candidate will demonstrate a strong and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, dedication to the study of the Bible, and be guided by a passion for following the principles found in Scripture for living a life of service to God, meeting the qualifications of an elder found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9. The candidate will demonstrate a high level of integrity, guided by biblical ethical principles. He will model servant-leadership and team-building attitudes, embracing the unified mission at Memorial to “make disciples of Jesus Christ who go and make disciples.” The candidate will practice the personal stewardship of finances consistent with Scripture. The candidate will possess strong relational skills and demonstrate love for people and God’s church. His doctrine and philosophy of ministry will closely align with that of Memorial, and he will genuinely connect with the congregation as their partner in ministry, showing high loyalty to Jesus, the church, and the community. Schedule and Compensation The workweek will include regular office hours and the time required to meet the position's responsibilities. Sunday is considered a normal workday, with a weekday established as a rest day.  The Elders, Deacons, and Personnel Team will provide leadership in establishing compensation, with a healthy ministry environment and work pattern. They will continue to offer support, be available to the Lead Pastor and his family with any concerns, and help them find belonging in the church and community. Job Type Full-time. Must live in the church community served.    Beginning compensation: $85,000 will include salary, ministry expenses, housing allowance, insurance and contribution to a retirement fund. Other Benefits 3 weeks of paid vacation annually, increasing to 4 weeks after 3 years of service.  Additional time away is available to participate in MBC’s mission partnerships and retreats, for Associational, Baptist State Convention and Southern Baptist Convention meeting participation, all coordinated with the Elders and Deacons. Sabbatical time off will be offered after 5 years, coordinated with leadership team. Early childhood education and care (infant, toddler, preschool, pre-k) and summer day camp for elementary children are all available at Memorial Baptist Child Care Center with a staff rate of ½ standard tuition. Moving assistance will be available as needed. Application Process Interested candidates should email resume or questions to: pastor.mbc4him@gmail.com Website: mbc4him.org        November 2024 Senior Pastor CHURCH: Westside Church LOCATION: Flushing, Michigan CHURCH SIZE: Approximately 170 weekly attendees We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Senior Pastor to lead our Southern Baptist church in Flushing, Michigan. Our congregation is community-minded, evangelistic, and committed to missions, including actively assisting planting new churches with our Send Network. We desire a biblically faithful preacher who is authentic, relational, and dedicated to nurturing spiritual growth. Key Responsibilities Oversee all facets of church ministry, including worship, discipleship, outreach, and missions. Provide biblical preaching and teaching that engages and inspires the congregation. Foster a culture of evangelism and community service, encouraging members to live out their faith. Lead and support efforts in planting new churches in the surrounding areas. Build strong relationships with church members and the wider community. Mentor and develop church staff and lay leaders. Collaborate with deacons and church leadership to fulfill the mission and vision of the church. Qualifications A strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a commitment to biblical truth. Ordination as a Minister of the Gospel and agrees with Baptist Faith & Message (2000) At least a Bachelor of Ministry degree or equivalent theological education. Proven experience in pastoral ministry, particularly in preaching and leadership. A heart for evangelism and community engagement. Excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine love for people. Ability to lead with vision and passion while fostering unity within the church. Prioritizes biblical discipleship. Why Join Us? This is an exciting opportunity to lead a vibrant congregation that is actively engaged in missions and community outreach. If you have a heart for church planting and desire to make a lasting impact in our community, we would love to hear from you. Application Process  Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to westsideps5090@gmail.com . Please include a statement of faith and any relevant ministry experience. Join us in advancing the Kingdom of God in Flushing and beyond! August 2024 Nursery/Preschool Assistant Director CHURCH: Middlebelt Baptist Church LOCATION:  943 Middlebelt Rd Inkster, MI 48141  CONTACT:   MiddlebeltChurch@gmail.com , 734-728-3838 Bylaws Description for Christian Education Leader The Nursery/Preschool Assistant Director is responsible for supporting the giving directions to the overall educational and activities ministry of children aged zero to five to promote evangelism and discipleship by planning, promoting, coordinating, conducting and evaluating the nursery and preschool activities of the church. Ministry Purpose To proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, to teach the biblical foundations, to implement planning the administrative aspects of the ministry and services to the church and community. Service Relationships The Children’s Ministry Director is under the direction of the Nursery/Preschool Director. Primary Functions Assist in teaching children age-appropriate biblical foundations that are obtained from the Bible. Support the training and mentoring of ministry volunteers. Assist in coordinating children’s services (schedule volunteers, ensure curriculum is in place, snacks are available, etc.). Make recommendations for indoor and outdoor activities as well as crafts. Support all areas of the ministry as needed. Interested candidates please submit a resume to middlebeltchurch@gmail.com . August 2024 Part-time Church Custodian CHURCH: Middlebelt Baptist Church LOCATION:  943 Middlebelt Rd Inkster, MI 48141  HOURS:  3 days / 15 hours per week  REPORTS TO: Pastor, Office Administrator, Building & Grounds & Senior Custodian  CONTACT: MiddlebeltChurch@gmail.com , 734-728-3838‬ Custodian Job Responsibilities and Duties  Perform cleaning duties such as mopping, sweeping, vacuuming and dusting. Keeps areas neat and free from pests  Empties trash bins and disposes waste properly  Clean and sanitize restrooms and replenish supplies  Dust furniture and fixtures  Assist with setting up and breaking down for events or meetings as needed  Waxes and brushes floors with heavy-duty machines  Washes interior and exterior windows  Performs outdoor upkeep  Does minor repair and painting work  Report any maintenance issues or safety hazards to management  Upkeep of building and grounds   Custodian Job Requirements  Good communication skills and ability to work well with others.  Excellent organization skills  High school diploma or equivalent   Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions  Previous custodial experience is a plus but not required  Ability to lift, carry, and push heavy materials  Fit enough to walk, bend, and stand for an extended period  Knowledge of different cleaning materials and equipment  Job requires physical stamina and the ability to work independently  Dependable transportation  April 2024 Bi-vocational Senior Pastor The Community Baptist Chapel, SBC, is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Senior Pastor. This is a bi-vocational position which involves, among other responsibilities, leading a small congregation through weekly preaching, direction of the Leadership team, and coordinating community evangelism/outreach. The candidate must qualify as cited in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter. Community Baptist is located in the Village of Hillman in north east lower Michigan, 20 miles west of Alpena. If interested, please send a resume or contact: Nick Klein Pastor Search Committee nikcat@frontier.com (989) 590-3243 February 2024 Worship Ministry Director (Covocational) The Worship Ministry Director of Transformation Church will partner with our pastors in fulfilling the vision of Seeing Lives Transformed by the Gospel by leading our worship services and developing a worship team in a way that connects people to Jesus. We are seeking an individual who is passionate about and gifted in leading Christ-centered and Scripture-saturated worship, possesses leadership and organizational skills, and can thrive as the member of a covocational team. General Responsibilities Plan our weekly Sunday worship service that engages the church and compliments corporate prayer and the preaching of God’s Word. Model and lead heartfelt worship in an invitational style – that draws people in, encourages participation, and points people to Jesus. Lead Transformation in gospel-centered, Christ-exalting songs. Both CCM and contemporary hymns preferred. Lead a weekly rehearsal (mid-week or Sunday Morning) that serves a dual purpose: (A) preparation for Sunday and (B) cultivation of Christ-centered community. Oversee AV and Production of Sunday Services by recruiting and training volunteers. Attend monthly Transformation Leadership Team Meetings and provide input for the direction and growth of Transformation Church. Actively participate in the life of Transformation Church as we Encounter God, Embrace Others, and Engage the World as a faith family. (Covenant Membership, Life Groups, Missional Activity) Requirements Must affirm Transformation Church Statement of Belief, and the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Actively serve a minimum of 10 hours per week in ministry with Transformation, and up to 20 hours when necessary. Must be able to sing well, engage an audience, and have a knowledge and understanding of your voice. Must be able to hear and teach harmonies to volunteers. Must be proficient on an instrument (guitar preferred). Must understand music and be able to arrange and change keys of songs. Must be competent with ProPresenter and Planning Center Online (PCO). Character The Worship Ministry Director will have a vibrant and growing relationship with God and a passion for coming alongside others as they follow Jesus. Integrity in finances, relationships, and time management is expected. In short, your life should be marked by the character outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. To Apply Please send a resume by email to Pastor Seth Springs, Seth.tcmi@gmail.com February 2024 Lead Pastor Full-time Heritage Baptist Church, Grand Blanc, Michigan was founded in 1977, and is in full cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention in generosity and collaboration. We are a moderate sized debt-free church searching for a new lead pastor after the retirement of our past leadership. We are looking for an experienced pastor who has an education and theological background; agrees with the Baptist Faith and Message; exemplifies a strong work ethic, manifests a deep dependence upon God and the leading of His Spirit; dedicates himself to the Word of God; has a passion to share the Gospel and lead lost souls to Christ; shepherds the believers; possesses administrative leadership skills; is mission-minded; and meets the qualifications as given in 1 Timothy 3:1-12, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4. If you feel that God may be directing you to HBC, please mail or email your complete resume and a cover letter sharing your testimony of salvation, your calling to this ministry, and your passion as a pastor. If you have a link to a video where you are leading, teaching, or preaching, we will take time to view it. You may get to know who we are by visiting our website:  www.heritagegb.org or Facebook: www.facebook.com/HBCGrandBlanc . Email Address:  heritagegb@gmail.com   Church Address: Heritage Baptist Church Attn: Rick Truesdail 5199 E. Hill Rd. Grand Blanc, MI 48439 #FEBRUARY25

A lcoholism has its claws wrapped tightly around the souls of the small town I grew up in, here in the Amazon region of South America. There are very few people whose lives go untouched by the darkness and destruction it brings. Mario, too, was engulfed in the addiction. He spent days out drinking, leaving his wife and six children alone. Without support from the husband and father of the household, they struggled. They were a lost family, and Satan was hard at work to keep it that way.  Amid this darkness shone one light: Mario’s mother, Miriam. She was a woman on fire for the Lord. For years, she tried very hard to help her son come to know Jesus, but nothing steered him away from his addiction. In early 2018, my father and a pastor were traveling upriver by boat when a strong storm hit. Little did they know how this random boat stop would change many lives. They stopped at Miriam’s farm, and she kindly invited them into her home. As soon as she learned they were both pastors, she talked about how she wanted a church on her property for her family. Her enthusiasm and fervor for the Lord were contagious. After eight months, a church was built. My family and I took our boat to her house every Sunday for Bible study.  Nayli, Mario’s wife, and the children went to church every Sunday, but Mario wouldn’t. Nayli showed up with bruises and black eyes from Mario getting drunk and beating her. The children became good friends with my siblings and me. Even though we could not understand the situation they were in, the best we could do was love them.  Whether it was the feeling of obligation or conviction, after a couple of months, Mario began to go to church. Slowly but surely, his heart softened. He began to want to go to church, becoming more eager and thirstier for the Word. We saw God working in his soul. Eyes that once glared with darkness and despair now shone with hope. After one year, Mario accepted Christ. A man who lived in sin and alcoholism won’t even touch a can of beer now. Mario is living proof that God can make people make 180 degree turns.    Mario is not the only person that was positively affected by his salvation. His wife and children no longer lived in fear of him hurting them. He began to work and provide for his family. Within four years of his salvation, his wife and three eldest children were also led to the Lord. He even baptized his two daughters, who are my friends. Mario broke the chain of alcoholism in his family, giving his children a chance to live life for the Lord.  God used this story to show me that He can use anyone to glorify His kingdom, no matter what sins have been committed. It can be easy to convince ourselves that we have veered too far off and that God can no longer use us. Mario and his testimony show us that no matter how big our sins are, no matter what life we lived before we found Jesus, God still has plans for us. 1 John 1:9 says, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we repent, no sin is too big for God to cleanse us from, no mistake is too big to be left unforgiven.  The work of the IMB is sustained through faithful giving of Southern Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® . ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ruth Bowles, 16, lives with her family who serves with the IMB in the Amazon region of South America.  #FEBRUARY25

LINCOLN PARK – Church leaders met in Detroit last year to strategize with the hope of church planting. Between the whiteboard and the table of bagels in the back were men and women praying for churches revitalized, planted, and strengthened in one of America’s great cities. Everyone had a longing for more churches advancing the Gospel of Jesus. And we deeply need to see the Lord move… 3 churches close in the U.S. for every 1 that begins! The local church is the center of God’s work in the world. The church, the gathering of believers in worship who then disperse to evangelize, disciple, and share life, should be the center of every strategy to impact people, and the world, for eternity! The multiplication of biblically healthy churches committed to the multiplication of biblically healthy disciples is the most important data point we can measure in our community, nation, and world. The church is a big deal to the Lord and a big deal to His people. What holds the big dreams and deep convictions back? Certainly, the Lord’s Arm is not too short, and He can move as He pleases! So, in one sense, nothing is holding this back. In another, the Lord works in our working, and there are challenges. We face thorns and thistles, droughts and fires, in the work of planting churches just like a farmer planting his fields. What resource is hardest to find? Leadership. Each ministry had pressing financial needs, shepherding needs, and facility needs. The need for leaders stood out because leaders play a crucial role in meeting each need through God’s provision. To raise up or recruit the right leaders we must understand leadership within a biblical framework and identify the core components of a biblical leader. Detroit is unique in many ways, but not in needing leadership. This gathering in Detroit is a microcosm of a universal challenge: the critical need for effective (biblical) leadership. Wise leadership is a demonstration of God’s grace to all people. In many ways, our entire culture is facing a drought of leadership. The need for leadership is pressing upon industries, ministries, and municipalities across the United States. God’s sovereign plan for history is woven into the fabric of human activity. The activity of leaders has a large impact, it creates the seams on the fabric of human history. When leadership is good it brings direction, conviction, and clarity to God’s gifts, servants, and plan. When leadership is bad it brings frustration, confusion, depression, and destruction. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:2 How should a Christian think of leadership? What is the core of Christian leadership? These questions are worth meditation. I want to instigate your meditation with a working definition of leadership in all settings–leadership that applies God’s common grace to humanity. Then, I’d like to suggest a way that the Spirit of Christ takes this definition forward. A common grace definition of leadership: Leadership is expanded responsibility from increasing influence toward greater impact. A Christian definition of leadership: Christian leadership is expanded stewardship from increasing investment toward greater glory. What do you make of these definitions? How do they impact your life? Can you see how God entrusts you with new responsibilities and weights when He also gives you greater influence on others? Are you excited to harness that for God’s glory? Men become husbands and expand their responsibility (care for their wives) because of a greater/increased influence (leading a home) with the hope of greater impact (fruitful and multiply). Christian men understand their wife is a gift from God and seek to influence their wife for her growth (washing with the Word, cf. Eph 5) toward God’s glory (in creation mandate and great commission). This Christian definition revises several keywords to clarify the leader’s relationship to God. Leading is a God-given stewardship to be measured by God’s Word. Christian leaders view increasing influence as a trust or investment from God, not merely a result of their efforts. The personal ambitions of a Christian leader take a backseat to his doxological purpose. None of us can run ahead to solve the big-picture problems without addressing our pixels. Before we plant more churches and change the world, we should evaluate our responsibilities and influence. What has God entrusted to you now? Are we stewarding the responsibilities God has given as His investment for His glory and the good of others? Will you pray with me that Detroit will experience a renewal of Christian leaders seeking to increase Gospel impact and pray for greater opportunity in this region? ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Doran, Jr. serves as the Lead Pastor of Resurrection Church in Lincoln Park, MI. The church was planted in 2015 and later merged with Friendship Baptist Church, a historic SBC  MI church, in 2019. The church joyfully celebrates “Jesus Over Everything” in our new chapter of ministry. David is married to Abigail and has four children Charlie Mae (11), Judah (9), Henry (7), and Levi (5). #FEBRUARY25

George Liele Editor’s note: Feb. 2 is George Liele Church Planting, Evangelism and Missions Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1750, shortly after the end of the Great Awakening in America’s British-controlled colonies, Virginia Loyalist Henry Sharp’s slave, Nancy, gives birth to George, a son who takes his slave father’s name, Liele.  Baby George becomes one of Virginia’s 101,000 African slaves, a result of the 1705 Virginia General Assembly Declaration. (1) Slaves are “real estate” to their Virginia owners, and suffer a life of cruelty and punishment: whipping, branding, severing ears, maiming and hanging. If a slave’s “correction” causes death, the master “shall be free of all punishment … as if such accident never happened.” (2) America’s African slave trade proves prosperous during the 1730s and 1740s, a time of spiritual revival encouraged by ministers like Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, David Brainard and others. The movement awakens the colonists’ declining lukewarm faith, bringing them face to face with a living, personal Christ and triggering an avalanche of Baptist growth. Sometime before 1770, Henry Sharp moves George with him to St. George’s Parish (later Burke County), Georgia. In 1735, the British prohibit black slavery there, but on Jan. 1, 1750, the House of Commons decides to permit slavery. In fewer than 30 years, Georgia’s slave population grows from 500 slaves to 18,000. The slaves’ hard work makes the Lowcountry’s white plantation owners wealthy. (3) In Georgia, Sharp becomes a deacon in the Buckhead Creek Baptist Church, a white congregation led by pastor Matthew Moore. He encourages George to attend worship services. During one Sunday service in 1773, God touches the 23-year-old Black man’s heart, calling him to Himself and to a life of love and ministry to the other slaves on Master Sharp’s plantation. George enthusiastically gives his life to Jesus, and answers His call to Christ’s ministry.  “… I requested of my Lord and Master to give me a work, I did not care how mean it was, only to try and see how good I would do it … I felt such love and joy as my tongue was not able to express.” (4)  Pastor Moore baptizes George, accepting him into the church. Sharp’s plantation becomes George’s new mission field. He teaches the slaves to sing hymns, shares God’s Word and explains the Gospel’s saving message. Impressed by George’s innate ministry skills, Buckhead Creek Baptist Church licenses him to preach, and Henry Sharp grants his freedom from slavery. Ministry in Silver Bluff and Savannah George soon becomes a minister and preacher to slaves in Silver Bluff, South Carolina, south of Augusta, Georgia, forming a 30-member congregation of new African American believers. In December 1773, Liele organizes the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, the oldest black church in North America. (5) Four of his converts – the Reverend Andrew Bryan, Hannah Bryan, Kate Hogg and Hagar Simpson – form the church’s early membership. (6) When Liele is ordained, he becomes the first ordained African American Baptist preacher in America. The American Revolutionary War A few years earlier, on March 22, 1765, Britain passes the Stamp Act, imposing unfair taxes on angry colonists. When British troops land in Boston to enforce the act, their actions result in the 1770 Boston Massacre, a deadly incident that triggers America’s rebellion against Britain. Five years later, on April 19, 1775, the first shots of the Revolutionary War are fired at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The British free tens of thousands of Black slaves who agree to fight against the colonists. George’s former owner, Henry Sharp, fights with the British, dying of battle-sustained injuries in 1783. Fortunately, Sharp has given Liele his manumission papers, documentation that saves Liele from long-term imprisonment when Sharp’s children try to re-enslave him. British colonel, Moses Kirkland, helps him after his release from prison, a grateful Liele repaying Kirkland by working for him as an indentured servant. When Colonel Kirkland escapes to Jamaica in 1782-3, George, his wife Hannah, and their four children accompany him. (7) Life, persecution and ministry in Jamaica Kirkland and the Liele family land in Kingston, Jamaica, where George discovers a ripe mission field of hundreds of thousands of African slaves working the sugar cane plantations. The slaves suffer with cruel owners, back-breaking work and little food. Thousands are starving to death. (8) George plants a church, baptizing hundreds of professing converts in a nearby river every three months. He never accepts payment, supporting his family through farming and hauling goods by wagon. For “preaching sedition” and “agitating the slaves,” George is frequently imprisoned by Jamaican authorities, once for three years. Legacy By the end of his life, George Liele, referred to as “the Negro slavery’s prophet of deliverance,” has helped found three Baptist churches: First Bryan Baptist Church and First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, and the first Negro Baptist Church in Jamaica. He also has established schools to educate Jamaica’s slaves. (9) Liele encourages and teaches his new converts to preach the Gospel to the world. Author David Shannon writes: “The Christianity practiced by Liele was not limited to one nation, colony, or ethnic group, but was a faith found and spread through interaction with colonists and national leaders in the Americas and England. In turn, this broad vision of Christianity shaped and spread a variety of Christian experience that became widespread and influential in black, white and integrated congregations in Georgia, South Carolina, Jamaica, Nova Scotia, Sierra Leone and beyond.” (10) Liele died in 1828 in Kingston, Jamaica, and is buried there in an unmarked grave.  The world calls Baptist missionary, William Carey, “the father of the modern missionary movement.” But George Liele leaves America to preach Christ in Jamaica a decade before Carey leaves England to preach in India, earning George Liele the title of “The World’s First Baptist Missionary.”   This article originally appeared in The Alabama Baptist . Footnotes: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p268.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p268.html https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/slavery-colonial- georgia http://westernrecorder.org/2837.article The First African Baptist Church’s new building [registered with the National Registry ofHistoric Places and still an active church] is finished in 1859. Between 1810 and 1850, the church participates in the Underground Railroad, an effort to free enslaved people from bondage. [For more information:  https://gallivantertours.com/savannah/historic- churches/first-african-baptist-church/ ] https://firstafricanbc.com/history.php https://amazingbibletimeline.com/blog/first-african-baptist-church-in-america-1773- 1775/ In 1814, about 8,000 Baptists live in Jamaica. As a result of Liele’s ministry, by 1832,that number grows to over 20,000 believers.[ https://www.imb.org/2018/06/26/missionaries-you-should-know-george-liele/ ] http://www.bu.edu/missiology/missionary-biography/l-m/liele-george-c-1750-1828/ https://www.imb.org/2018/06/26/missionaries-you-should-know-george-liele/ #FEBRUARY25

“Daniel, as part of your role at Gospelife Church, you’ll be meeting with Dave as your life mentor,” the executive pastor said. “Take the initiative to connect with him and aim to meet weekly or bi-weekly.” I walked out of my meeting feeling a mix of confusion and uncertainty. I had just stepped into my youth ministry internship as a single, inexperienced young man, still unsure of my calling. I knew I had signed up to learn the ropes of youth ministry, but the concept of having a mentor was foreign to me. I had never had one before. What made it more challenging was that Dave, my assigned mentor, wasn’t just any church member. He was a parent who had expressed concerns during my final interview about my readiness to lead as a youth pastor. And now, I had to meet with him regularly as part of my role. Our meetings began hesitantly. Twice a month, we’d meet at a coffee shop for about an hour. The first few conversations were awkward as we navigated this new dynamic. But as time went on, the walls came down. I started asking questions, lots of them. Dave didn’t just answer my questions; he walked with me through my journey. He held me accountable in my walk with God, gave me practical advice on training volunteers, and even helped me navigate my relationship with my girlfriend at the time (now my wife!). Over time, our conversations grew deeper, and our meetings became more frequent. Eventually, I had the privilege of ministering to all of Dave’s children in the student ministry. His family became some of my biggest supporters, cheering me on through every stage of my journey. Now, years later, as I reflect on my ministry and personal growth, I realize how pivotal Dave’s mentorship was in shaping me. His investment in my life helped me develop spiritually, relationally, and practically as a pastor. This experience has convinced me of one truth: every young student pastor needs a mentor. Here’s why: 1. Mentors keep you accountable. Recently, I had the opportunity to have dinner with Shane Pruitt, a nationally recognized leader in next-gen ministry. I asked him for one piece of advice that I should carry as a young pastor. His response was both blunt and profound: “Don’t be stupid.” As he unpacked it, I understood the weight of his words. Ministry is filled with pressures and temptations, and many young pastors fall early in their careers simply because they lack accountability. This truth hit home for me, especially when I reflected on my relationship with Dave. He didn’t just check in casually; he was intentional. Dave texted me regularly, asked the hard questions, and wasn’t afraid to lean into uncomfortable conversations. He kept me accountable in my walk with Jesus, my leadership in ministry, and my personal purity. His consistent presence in my life served as a safeguard. Without someone like Dave to speak into my life, I could have easily made decisions that derailed my ministry. Accountability isn’t just a safeguard; it’s essential for young pastors to thrive and remain faithful to their calling. 2. Mentors provide wisdom. One of the most challenging aspects of my role was handling conflicts with parents. While navigating disagreements with students felt manageable, parents were far more intimidating. During those moments, Dave became my go-to resource. Whether it was a quick text or a phone call, he always made time to listen and offer guidance. His perspective as a parent helped me see situations through their eyes, which was invaluable. He equipped me with tools to have difficult but productive conversations, not just with parents but also with church members. Over time, his mentorship sharpened my perspective, strengthened my conflict-resolution skills, and helped me lead with greater humility and grace. 3. Mentors will support you. Dave became one of my biggest supporters. Years after our first awkward meeting, Dave prayed at my wedding, my student pastor installation, and sat on my ordination council to approve my ordination. I had the honor of baptizing his son Jacob and praying at his elder installation. We became not just mentor and mentee, but genuine supporters of each other’s journey. A godly mentor in a young pastor’s life is a win that will make all the difference. A mentor who believes in us, challenges us, and cheers us on through every stage of ministry is invaluable. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Daniel Kim is student ministry pastor for Gospelife Church in Wheaton. #FEBRUARY25

FLUSHING  – Do you remember the childhood game of Red Rover? This was always one of my favorite games to play. You know, as the chubby, not too fast kid, I struggled to be good at many games, but Red Rover was one game I was pretty good at. Kind of the freight train principle, when you get this big train moving it’s hard to stop, lol. In case you have never played this game, players would stand in a line, holding hands or arms, and then call out, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send “Johnny” right over!” The goal was for the person running to break through the line of players, but it was no easy task. The stronger and more unified the line, the harder it was to break through. When players crossed their arms, it was tougher to break through. When they held hands, it was even more difficult. But when their arms were locked, it was nearly impossible to break the chain. This game offers a vivid picture of how vital partnership and unity are in ministry. Just as those playing Red Rover form a stronger line when their arms are locked together, Christians also become more effective in ministry when they lock arms in the unity of faith. This biblical principle is not just about physical togetherness but about spiritual partnership in fulfilling God’s kingdom purposes. As a Southern Baptist in Michigan, it’s easy to feel isolated. The long distances between churches, the cold winters, and the diverse needs of communities can make it challenging to stay connected. However, in the Kingdom of God, our spiritual connection transcends geography. We must make sure that we are locked together in the unity of faith, supporting and encouraging one another, advancing God’s work in the world. The Power of Partnership In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (CSB), we find a powerful illustration of partnership: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” This passage underscores the strength that comes from being united with others. The imagery of a “cord of three strands” shows that while one person can be vulnerable, two are better, and three are even stronger. When we lock arms with one another in ministry, we form a spiritual bond that is difficult, if not impossible, to break. Just as a cord of three strands resists being snapped, so too does a ministry partnership built on the foundation of faith and mutual encouragement. Unity is Essential The Bible frequently speaks about the importance of unity among believers. In 1 Corinthians 1:10 (CSB), Paul urges the church in Corinth to come together: “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.” In ministry, unity is not just a nice idea; it’s essential. When we lock arms in ministry, it allows us to stand firm against the forces that seek to divide us. The enemy often tries to sow discord and cause division, but when we stand united, we resist those attacks and move forward with strength. Ephesians 4:3 (CSB) further highlights the importance of unity in ministry: “Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” This is an active pursuit. We are called not only to recognize unity, but to actively work to maintain it. The apostle Paul emphasizes that it’s a “bond of peace” that holds us together. As believers in Christ, we are called to keep that bond strong through cooperation and a shared commitment to advancing the gospel. Encouraging and Serving One Another Makes it Happen In ministry, it’s crucial that we don’t just work alongside each other, but also encourage and serve one another. Galatians 6:2 (CSB) says, “Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The work of ministry can be challenging. There are times when the weight of the task seems too heavy to bear, and it’s easy to become discouraged. However, when we lock arms with others in ministry, we can share in those burdens. We can lift one another up when one stumbles and encourage each other when the path gets rough. As believers, we are called to be a source of encouragement to each other. In Michigan, where physical distances can be vast, this encouragement is vital. Whether through prayer, phone calls, or digital communication, we need to make every effort to stay locked in spiritually. Encouragement is a key ingredient in building a strong, unified ministry. In Michigan and beyond, distance may present challenges, but partnership is not just helpful—it is essential. As we partner with other churches, ministries, and believers, we expand the reach of God’s kingdom. The Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) is a wonderful example of how partnership can bring about the greater good for the Kingdom of God. We want to help your church take its next step in accelerating Gospel movement. We have many resources already and are working on new ways to walk beside our churches as we start and strengthen churches everywhere for everyone in Michigan and beyond.  As Paul writes in Philippians 1:5 (CSB): “Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” This partnership in the gospel is what fuels the work of the Kingdom. It’s through our combined efforts that we see lives transformed, communities served, and the message of Jesus Christ spread far and wide. Locking arms together in ministry—whether physically or spiritually—has profound biblical benefits. Just as a cord of three strands is not easily broken, so too is the unity of believers when we lock arms in the mission of Christ. The strength that comes from partnership in ministry allows us to carry each other’s burdens, encourage one another, and move forward in fulfilling God’s purposes.  The work of the Kingdom is too large for any one person or church to handle alone, and we are called to lock arms together in unity and partnership, not only for our benefit but for the glory of God. Let us continue to partner together in Michigan, encouraging one another, building each other up, and advancing the gospel in unity For His Kingdom and For His Glory! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ed Emmerling is the Executive Director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). Ed was privileged to be the pastor of Westside Church Flushing since 2002. Ed and his wife Reneé have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. #FEBRUARY25

PLYMOUTH – I dove into one of life’s biggest adventures with   Send Network Michigan  this past year. There are no flights, passports, or language classes. No furniture is being shipped in cargo containers over an ocean or required visas to enter a country. Yet, I am living life with cross-cultural experiences in ways that shock me and cause me to rise every morning, asking, “What are you going to do today, Lord?”   When asked what I do in my new role, I respond, “I am a Language/Ethnic Church Planting Catalyst with   Send Network . I help people move their God-inspired vision toward reality by bringing the right people together. We are a family of churches planting churches everywhere for everyone.” After directing many things in the state for nine years, I now focus with precision on language and ethnic church planting.   I love the unpredictable nature of the work and the miraculous ways in which the Lord brings people from other nations to accomplish his desires. The mood reminds me of my former international mission service in Africa or Europe because I live out modern-day moments that reflect the stories in the Book of Acts. I may be intensely focused on just ten percent of the state’s population now, but I assure you that my spiritual eyes see God’s actions in ways that once went unnoticed.    Through relationships in the state, I explore people groups and experience cultures from across the globe. Two other languages I learned as a missionary with the   International Mission Board  (IMB) sometimes help. However, I found that English and, occasionally, Google Translate serves me well enough. Additionally, my thirteen years of cross-cultural experience with the IMB helps me connect with others from East and South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Spanish-speaking nations.   Here are some brief examples from the Arabic/English portion of the ministry in the state: Arabic/English Ministry   1. I witnessed an Egyptian pastor in the state share the Good News of Jesus Christ with hundreds of Muslims, inviting them to trust in Jesus Christ or participate in Bible studies to learn more. 2. I regularly spend time with a married couple who leads an English as a Second Language (ESL) class in Dearborn, MI. The woman is from Jordan, and the husband is from Ohio. I have seen ESL students from 19 nations, primarily Muslim countries, share life inside a church. 3. During 2025, I will support that same married couple while the church building and center from which they work becomes a   Send Relief Affiliate Ministry Center . The couple has connections with hundreds of people who do not yet know Jesus Christ but with whom they have strong ties. This couple would welcome volunteers to help with ESL classes, follow-up, friendships, discipleship, and facility repairs – I can make the introductions if this interests you. 4. An engaged couple who will marry in the summer of 2025 is leading a new English church plant for second-generation, Arabic-language young adults in Troy, MI. Rafi, the church planting groom from Illinois, will finish his first degree in ministry this spring. At the same time, the bride, Genavieve, from Michigan, will continue to use the Lord’s sustaining grace to help her guide others toward the Lord through music. Her interpretations can be found at   Genavieve Linkowski . You may recognize Genavieve from her earlier appearances in American Idol  season 16 and 18. Look for her music on your preferred music platform. 5. A man who served as an interpreter for United States troops in the Middle East and his wife, who works with evangelism and discipleship programs broadcast worldwide into Arabic language countries, planted a church in Sterling Heights, MI.   Register, March 8, Sending Lab Are you interested in learning more? The first step to participating in the Language/Ethnic ministry is simple. Review the information and register for the upcoming   Sending Lab , held on Saturday, March 8, in Plymouth, MI. Bring people of influence from your church to join you.   Each person must register for this free event. We will gather on a Saturday to avoid work conflicts. Lunch, snacks, and swag will be provided. In this one-day collaborative experience, you will discover how to:   Develop a sending vision Identify potential church planters Develop potential church planters Start a church planting residency Discover sending church resources and take your next steps Information and registration are on this link:   Sending Lab, March 8, Plymouth, MI   Even if you only speak English and/or your church has been an English-speaking community for years, there is a potential partnership at this gathering. Follow the Lord’s urging to explore and learn more.   By engaging communities, making disciples, and planting churches, we can reach people worldwide while serving the Lord from the Great Lakes region.   If you are hesitating and have questions, contact me, Tony Lynn, at tlynn@namb.net or 734-770-0608. I am praying for you as you consider this invitation. Jump the barriers. Embrace the possibilities. Let me share how important it is to be part of what the Lord does daily in our world.   Please share this article and news about the March 8 Sending Lab on your social media platforms and with others. Those leading language/ethnic ministries and I would be very grateful. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the Send Network Director for Michigan and the Language/Ethnic Church Planting Catalyst. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as a lead pastor in Michigan churches and as an international missionary, along with his wife Jamie, in the Niger Republic, France, and Canada. #FEBRUARY25

WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Matthew records “The Great Commission” at the end of his gospel (Matthew 28:16-20).  They were some of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples.  After his ascension, when they could no longer see nor hear him, these words were ringing in their ears.   Matthew accomplishes the same feat for us with a stroke of the pen.  Long after we have closed the pages of his gospel, we are still mulling over the challenge Jesus left his followers.  His last command is our first concern! The finale of Matthew’s masterpiece is the clarion call of the church.   As significant as this proclamation was, it came as no surprise. He had walked, talked and breathed these principles and priorities before their very eyes. It would be impossible to summarize his life more concisely. The great commission is a précis of Jesus’ passion, his purpose, and his preferences.   But learning to understand and living out the great commission demands that we deal with the mystery and mayhem that surrounds it. Years ago, Dr. Dann Spader helped me see that some perplexing perspectives have diluted our understanding of the great commission.   The Great Commission is an exceptional command for super saints   When the Great Commission speaks of disciples making disciples, many Christians breathe a sigh of relief. They think they are ruled out! We think of disciples as people who stand spiritually head and shoulders above the rest of us. We think they are far more dedicated, disciplined, diligent, prayerful, knowledgeable, and much more spiritual than “normal” Christians.   We tend to believe that the Great Commission is aimed at super-Christians . When we recognize the weaknesses of our own faith and the inconsistencies of our lifestyle, we often conclude that God could never use us to reach a lost and dying world.  But making  disciples of Jesus is the overflow of delight in being  disciples of Jesus, and God’s grace is sufficient. Perfection is not a prerequisite. His power is perfected in weakness. As we “boast” about our weaknesses, Christ’s power resides in us (2 Corinthians 12:9), equipping us to engage the city, make disciples, and plant churches for his glory.   The Great Commission describes an exclusive call to missionary service   The first phrase of the Great Commission is probably responsible for this notion -- “Go and make disciples of all nations.” This phrase jumps out and compels us to think of God’s global agenda.  Acts 1:8 expands on “all nations” by speaking in terms of being his “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”    But notice that fulfilling the Great Commission begins in our Jerusalem – engaging the town or city in which we live. International missions are part of the Great Commission, but it doesn’t start there. It begins with a faithful, authentic witness for Jesus right at home, right next door, at the school or in the office – engaging the city.   The Great Commission is a call to evangelism   Yes, it emphasizes evangelism.  But not to the exclusion of the other priorities in Jesus’ ministry.  When we look at Christ’s life, we do see the priority and excellence of evangelism, but that emphasis is balanced perfectly by the Great Commandment and a biblical focus on loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).   Let’s reclaim clarity   In all this confusion we have swindled the Great Commission out of its clout. We have created a situation in which the people of God are confused and unsure how to carry on the work of Christ.    The Great Commission is not an exceptional command meant for super-saints only. It’s for you and me - ordinary people who are serving an extraordinary God. It’s for every church in our Convention. It’s an everyday commission, an everyday gospel opportunity, for engaging the town or city in which we live, making disciples, and planting churches.   It’s not an invitation to evangelism only.  It’s a 360-degree call to balanced disciple-making. The great commission in Matthew 28:16-20 is a mandate to make disciples for Jesus Christ.    Dallas Willard once asked “Since making disciples is the main task of the church, every church ought to be able to answer two questions: What is our plan for making disciples? Is our plan working?”   What is  your plan for making disciples? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Garth Leno is the Pastor/Planter Care Specialist with the BSCM. He serves in a similar role with the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and he is the founding pastor of The Gathering Church in Windsor, Ontario, a church he planted with his wife, Patty, and a few of their friends. #FEBRUARY25

We have been blessed in Detroit through God’s faithfulness to his churches and our city. In the past few months, two new churches have launched and other new churches are reaching important goals of seeing people saved and transformed. The growing churches of Send Detroit are reaching milestones of discipleship, baptisms, leadership development and mission. There is a culture of multiplication where more and more new churches are being planted and new churches are also planting churches. It is an exciting time to witness what God is doing in our city. From the most recent church planter quarterly reports, we have the following statistics to share.   These numbers represent 17 new church plants for the months of July - September 2024: Average weekly worship attendance: 905 Gospel conversations: 360 Salvations: 53 Baptisms: 28 Intentional discipleship participants: 532 Cooperative Program giving: $8,209 Annie Armstrong giving: $601 Participants in missional leader residencies: 7 Participants in church planting residencies: 9 Mission Church Grand Opening On December 15, Mission Church (New Hudson, MI), led by Pastor Nick Ford, celebrated a grand opening ceremony for their new facility in the heart of New Hudson. Many from the community and local government were present in a show of support and appreciation for this new church. Nick Ford has been actively working in the community with his core team since the summer of 2022. In this short time, they have been making a great difference in the community as they and lead the people of Mission Church to “be a force for the gospel and an integral part of the community.” Red markers = churches planted since 2013. Blue markers = locations for potential church plants Praying for New Churches Send Detroit began in 2013 with a vision to start 72 new churches in Metro Detroit. In the first 10 years of Send Detroit we saw 68 new churches launched as we prayed for God to send out laborers into His harvest. On September 10, 2024 at Mile City Church, we hosted a second Send Detroit Huddle to seek God’s vision for Detroit over the next 10 years. We came together for worship, prayer and intercession for our leaders, churches and the city. Now, our prayer is that God would show us where the next 150 new churches could be planted over the next decade. So far, we have been able to identify 62 communities where a new church could be started. If you have a recommendation for a future church plant in Send Detroit please let us know! Use the link below to submit your ideas for new churches. October Assessment Retreat October 14-15, 2024, Merriman Road Baptist Church and the Send Network assessment team, hosted another well run assessment retreat in Detroit. We saw 9 candidates assessed (8 couples and one single candidate). Our director, Scott Blanchard, and coordinator, Ed Nacci, consistently maintain a high-quality assessment experience for our candidates. Our teams of assessors recommended that 7 candidates were “ready”, one “needed development”, and one was recommended to “re-direct.” For those candidates in the Send Detroit area, we celebrate the newly endorsed church planters, Rafael Bricci (Troy), and Andrew & Brooke York (Ann Arbor). Send Detroit Christmas Dinner On December 12, twenty Send Detroit church planting couples joined together for a special Christmas dinner at the historic Whitney mansion in downtown Detroit. We enjoyed the encouragement of great fellowship around tables and a wonderful dinner together. Prayer Requests Pray for God’s guidance and provision in the lives of the newly endorsed church planting missionaries, Raphael Bricci and Andrew York, as they begin to labor in the fields that the Lord has led them to. Pray for our other planters laboring also. Please continue in prayer with us that God would show us where and for whom the next 150 churches need to be started in Detroit. Pray also that God would raise up laborers needed for His harvest. Catch the Vision Tour Dates Please contact me if you are interested in joining me for a tour of what God is doing through church planting in Detroit. Our next scheduled dates for a Catch the Vision Tour are: March 10-12, 2025 May 5-6, 2025 Yours in Christ, Wayne Parker Send Detroit Missionary #FEBRUARY25

WESTLAND – I am the first lady at OneMission church. My husband  Antonio Wimberly is the pastor. We are planning to open a coffee shop in our neighborhood as an extension of our ministry, and to support our family. Our business is Good Morning Coffee Company. A coffee business to allow local people to come enjoy quality drinks and pastries while meeting people that have a familiar face. Opportunity:   Our customer services aim to please our patrons. We pride ourselves in having quality coffee and service with a smile each time someone visits our business. Mission:   Our mission is to connect with the community that we live in by bringing our fellow neighbors together in a positive atmosphere. Market Focus:   Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the United States and Worldwide. Revenue for 2023 within the coffee industry has already reached 78.17%, and by 2024-2025 the percentage will be at 83.61% versus only 17.41 % of people drinking at home instant coffee.   Market Currently in 2023 the Global Coffee market is valued at $168.5 billion dollars. Target Market:   Our target market for our local patrons will be a great quality coffee roast with reasonable prices for our community. We will not have a large menu with many specialty drinks but we will give our customers a selection of cappuccinos, lattes and a few mochas, but most importantly high quality roasts. Competition:   In the local area that we would mostly serve would be local franchise stores such as Tim Hortons. I believe most people in the area go to these franchise stores because there is nowhere else close to home to go to. With our coffee trailer being in a convenient location daily our customers can count on us to be there for their coffee needs. Marketing Plan:   Advertising would be an important part of our marketing plan. We will use social media to get the word out regarding our new Coffee trailer business. Facebook ads for the local area radius. Flyer distribution to the neighborhoods and businesses surrounding the area that we will be stationed. Pop up Shops will allow people to become familiar with our new business and give people an opportunity to sample coffee and specialty drinks that we offer. Management & Operations Key Employees/Principals:   The principals of the business are Antonio and Jessica Wimberly, the owners of the business. We will not start off with any other employees at this time. Antonio and Jessica Wimberly are learning the business of coffee and the art of becoming baristas. Duties and responsibilities:  These include all of the everyday operations related to the operations of the coffee business. Opening/Closing duties Inventory Marketing Development and management of the operational budget Employee tax identification number has been obtained Operations:   Day to day operations Pop up events Coffee Trailer set up locations Inventory control:   Inventory will be monitored on a weekly basis Licensing: Public Health Permit Food sellers’ permit/ Food handlers card Vendors license for each city that we plan to conduct business in. Accounting/Record keeping: Daily: Closing out Registers or POS Weekly or Biweekly: Sales Monthly: Expenses (vendors etc.) Quarterly: Taxes ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jessica Wimberly is the 1st Lady of One Mission Church in Westland Michigan. Jessica and Pastor Antonio have 4 children, Savanah 18, Antonio ll 11, Alexandria 1, and Anthony 7 months. Jessica is the Director of the Children’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, and assists with the Media Ministry at One Mission Church. A nurse by profession, loves art and spending lots of time with her family.  Outside of family time, she enjoys arts and crafts, writing, fellowship with her church family, and helping seniors in the community. #FEBRUARY25

International Mission Board missionaries commissioned a new facility, Lead Global Training Center, in Nairobi, Kenya, on Jan. 26 to prepare Africans to reach the nations. IMB missionaries, along with senior leaders from Richmond, gathered to pray for healthy African churches to send African missionaries and to praise God for the work He is already doing across the continent.   Chad Pumpelly, who serves with the IMB and directs the Lead Global Training Center, shared his hope for the facility.    “I want to look around the room one day and see African missionaries being sent out,” he said.   IMB missionary Chad Pumpelly will direct the Lead Global Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The center’s goal is to equip “African churches sending African missionaries to the ends of the earth.” (IMB Photo) Pumpelly’s wife, Miriam, added, “Our hope is for African believers to own their part in the Great Commission and for us to equip those who are already called, so they can use their skills for God’s glory throughout the world.”  The dedication included messages from local IMB missionaries and Todd Lafferty, IMB’s executive vice president. During the program, IMB missionaries who gathered spent time praying for the dedication of the facility, the future potential of the people being sent out through the training and the people groups God will reach through them. Daren Davis, who leads IMB’s work in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Lafferty celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and a dedication stone. At the end of the event, everyone spent time worshiping God for all He is doing in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.   The goal of the Lead Global facility is to equip churches to engage unreached people groups effectively. IMB missionaries aim to help African Baptist churches reach a point where they can send and support missionaries independently. Historically, missionary support has not been a priority in African church budgets, so the IMB team is working to help churches understand the value of this investment. IMB and Lead Global will work together to help churches fulfill their role in the Great Commission.  IMB missionaries Suzie Rogers and Shawna and Daren Davis join Todd Lafferty, IMB executive vice president, at the dedication of a missionary training facility in Nairobi, Kenya. (IMB Photo) Pasifique, a believer from Burundi, is already embracing this mission. Two years ago, he was trained in the components of the missionary task and discovered a passion for sharing the gospel. After completing the training, he and a colleague shared the gospel in a challenging area, resulting in 16 new baptized believers.   Now, he wants to become a trainer himself, so he can equip churches in Burundi and other French-speaking countries in evangelism, discipleship and church planting. He is among the participants who will attend the first Lead Global training this February.  The Lead Global property was originally purchased by the IMB (formerly Foreign Mission Board) in 1980. Since 2019, the site has been used for missions training, while leaders brainstormed and developed its long-term potential. The IMB has long had the vision for “African churches sending African missionaries to the ends of the earth,” said Davis. Lead Global is now a key part of that vision.  IMB missionary Daren Davis and IMB executive vice president Todd Lafferty unveil a dedication stone at the Lead Global Training Center in Nairobi, Kenya. The center will equip African missionaries to reach the nations. (IMB Photo) By the year 2050, 38% of the world’s professing Christians will be from Sub-Saharan Africa. Lead Global participants hope to collaborate with IMB globalization partners to identify mission fields in need of African workers. The Lead Global team also trains African missionaries to join IMB teams worldwide as Global Missionary Partners. Pumpelly shared, “We want the light of the gospel to reach every dark corner.”   How can you be involved?  Pray Pray for African churches to fully embrace the vision and commit to supporting missionaries long term. Pray for those in training and the unreached people they will serve. Ask God to provide the resources Lead Global needs, including an outdoor pavilion for events and housing for married couples. The lack of space has already resulted in two couples being put on a wait list. Give  The full cost of each training must be subsidized. You can join the effort by giving here: https://www.imb.org/give/project/lead-global-team/ .   Go  The Lead Global team needs four more trainers and an operations manager to join them in the work.  Missionaries gather to worship in Nairobi, Kenya, at a dedication ceremony of the Lead Global Training Center on Jan. 26. (IMB Photo) The work of the IMB is made possible through generous giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and the Cooperative Program.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lauren Milewski serves with the IMB in Kenya. #FEBRUARY25

Lauren and Harrison Smith of Selma, Ala., shown with their three daughters and a son of Chinese origin they are adopting domestically, are among about 300 families in the U.S. whose nearly completed adoptions of children from China were halted when China ended its intercountry adoption program in August 2024. SELMA, Ala. (BP) – On a beach in Thailand in February 2011 as international students, Lauren Jones and Harrison Smith discovered their mutual hope of adopting a child from China. Lauren considered it a dealbreaker in accepting a husband. Having married in the summer of 2012, the two were living and ministering in Selma, Ala., with five years invested in the process of making their dream of adopting from China a reality when the country ended its intercountry adoption program in August 2024. Ever since Nov. 1, 2019, the two had prayed and planned to bring home He Hao Ran as their son Benaiah Stanley Smith, who would be a brother to the two daughters the Smiths already had. “In September 2019 we saw the file for our son for the first time and were granted preapproval for adopting him,” Lauren told Baptist Press. “I still remember packaging our first package we mailed him at the orphanage from within China through the liaison. Our girls sent their favorite snacks, pictures they colored for him and some of their own toys plus a new truck for him.” They prepared for an extended wait when China suspended intercountry adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but were forced to enter a new era of hope and uncertainty after China announced its latest decision to end the program permanently. “Throughout these five years of waiting we’ve remained hopeful that God would make a way for us to bring our son home. We’ve endured many challenges and hardships and the truth of Romans 8:28 has become that which we cling to, believing that He is working our adoption journey for His good,” Lauren Smith said. “We’ve lived in five different homes – one of which was in Turkey – and in each home we’ve furnished and decorated a room for Benaiah. “Sadly that hope is slowly dying after China’s announcement this past September and the continued silence. But we have agreed to remain waiting for a little while longer with hopes if this is God’s plan, He will make a way.” The Smiths are among nearly 300 families who were in the final stages of bringing their children home from China when the communist country ended the program. While former Secretary of State Antony Blinken advocated for China to allow the families to finalize the adoptions, some are placing new hope in the Trump administration. Lifeline Children’s Services in Birmingham, Ala., the largest evangelical adoption agency in the U.S., is handling the adoptions for the Smiths and 47 other families impacted by China’s decision. Karla Thrasher, Lifeline’s senior director of international adoptions, never received an update on the program in the last months of the Biden administration after China ended the program, she told Baptist Press. “We’re hoping maybe somebody new and fresh will take this on,” Thrasher said. “We all give credence to the new policy out of China. We understand there will be no new adoptions going forward. I don’t think that was unanticipated by the adoption community. But our hope is that the 300 families that were in process when suspension happened would be able to finalize their adoptions.” Lifeline will urge high-level officials at the Chinese Embassy in Washington and at the U.S. State Department to encourage Trump to use appropriate communication channels to advocate for the 300 families before Chinese government officials, urging completion of the adoptions. There is some indication that after China announced the end of its intercountry adoption program, a handful of adoptions in the final stages from Italy and Spain were allowed to be finalized, Lifeline said, based on its “resources on the ground in China.” But official finalizations of those adoptions from Italy and Spain were never announced, Lifeline said. “Our ministry believes children belong in families,” Thrasher said. “We don’t have any plans to close this program until we have information directly from China that this door is closed. But we do keep options before these families” including possibly adopting from the 18 other countries with which Lifeline facilitates intercountry adoptions. The Smiths have invested about $40,000 in the adoption of Benaiah, Lauren estimated without complaint. For her and Harrison, what causes them pain is the prospect of losing Benaiah, and the possibility of his growing up without the love of a Christian family or the hope of the Gospel. As a father, Harrison felt uneasy comparing the stalled adoption to a miscarriage, but said a miscarriage is an apt presentation of his feelings. “In some ways this feels like a miscarriage but maybe even worse it feels like we lived in the ninth month of a pregnancy for four and a half years and then we lost that baby,” Harrison said, “and then in my understanding of God’s providence a dead baby is with Jesus in heaven today. “But our unfulfilled pregnancy or unfulfilled adoption is going to end with a little boy that has no home, has no parents, has no mom and dad, no brothers or sisters, has no immediate access to the Gospel from his mom and dad, or his siblings, or his church family, or his aunts or uncles, or grandma and grandpa.” On their first date, while both Lauren and Harrison shared hopes of adopting from China, Harrison also shared his hope of adopting domestically. Harrison’s dream of adopting domestically is being realized in Auggie, a Chinese orphan who came to the U.S. through an intercountry adoption in January 2024 that didn’t work out for the American family, Lauren told Baptist Press. Through Lifeline, the Smiths are in the process of adopting Auggie, 10, from the American family. Lauren was filing paperwork related to the adoption when she spoke with Baptist Press Jan. 24. Auggie has been in the Smith home since November 2024. He spent his first Christmas in the U.S. there, and played a camel in the Nativity scene at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church where Harrison serves as family discipleship and outreach pastor. “I look at our son Auggie and I’m just overwhelmed by the Lord’s goodness that He’d bring him to us,” Lauren said, but seeing how much Auggie has already been able to learn about Jesus also emphasizes Benaiah’s loss. Whatever the outcome, the family will continue praying for Benaiah, Lauren said, and expresses appreciation for Lifeline. “They’ve been a great support and rock for us,” Lauren said of Lifeline, describing Thrasher as a listening, godly counselor who has encouraged her at the toughest times. Lifeline is studying ways to help orphans who remain in China without the prospect of adoption, Thrasher said, eyeing such aid as medical facilities, therapy or additional education for orphanage employees. Lifeline last provided services in China in 2019 training social workers, and in other countries has provided life skills training for orphans to equip them for life as adults. “We’ve really just been trying to figure out how do we impact the lives of the children that will remain in China and not have the opportunity to be adopted,” Thrasher said. “We have several ideas, we’re just looking for ways back in, to be on the ground in China again.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer. #FEBRUARY25