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YPSILANTI – I was 5 years old as I watched Godly men work on the building of North Prospect Baptist Church block by block. This church was built in 1957. I have many personal feelings, happy memories, and lots of love within the walls of this very building. My parents raised my brother, sisters and myself in this church. I was married here, and raised my own family here. My three daughters were saved and baptized here. God called me to be a deacon in 1974 and I served as a deacon until 2018. At that time I felt a calling to preach. I met that call as my church voted me to be their pastor. My journey as pastor of this church has been blessing after blessing. I feel in my heart that God is not through at North Prospect. I foresee that God has great and mighty things ahead for this very church. I pray he will show me this vision (Jeremiah 33:3). The congregation here is very loving and God-fearing people. My prayer is that God will give me the wisdom to lead His people to build his church in the way he desires. Our congregation is small, older and slightly handicapped, but I know with God's help we can do wonderful and mighty things. Many other things could be said about this congregation; they are very friendly, loving and a very generous and giving group of people. Small in number, but mighty in their love for the Lord. I love this church and I thank God every day for calling me to preach and also calling me to be the pastor of North Prospect Baptist. Our congregation is small, older and slightly handicapped, but I know with God's help we can do wonderful and mighty things. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Doyle Parks is the pastor of North Prospect Baptist Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan. #FEBRUARY24

EXPORT, PA (BP) – Most adult evangelicals were saved in childhood with several factors influencing their decisions, according to newly released findings from Infinity Concepts and Grey Matter Research and Consulting. More than 90 percent of the 59 million adult evangelicals in the U.S. each said several factors motivated them to accept Christ as Savior, the study found, with parents, churches, other family members, individual Bible reading and pastors ranking highest. A total of 72 percent of adult evangelicals were saved before 18, and only 4 percent of respondents said they chose Christ in the four years preceding the study. The age of belief and the factors influencing belief are valuable insights in designing evangelism strategies, researchers said. “Parents are an enormous influence on their children. Do you try to reach adolescents directly,” researchers posed, “or do you also invest in teaching or training parents or other family members how to have spiritual conversations with their children?” The influence of both parents was cited as the strongest factor in their faith decision by a plurality of those polled, 28 percent, followed by 16 percent who cited the church they attended as the strongest factor for them personally. Other family members were cited as the strongest factor by 11 percent of respondents, followed by 10 percent who cited their personal Bible reading, and 7 percent who referenced pastors. Researchers were not discouraged by the low percentage of evangelicals saved in the four years preceding the study, as 16 million respondents were saved in adulthood. “Adult evangelism is far from futile,” researchers wrote. “But by far, the biggest impact is among youth and children, especially between the ages of 5 and 12. Half of today’s evangelical adults came to their beliefs during these formative years; a total of around 43 million evangelical Protestant adults came to their faith before adulthood.” Other significant factors leading people to salvation were life’s difficulties, events, spouses, friends, other church leaders, direct experiences with God, radio or television, and books other than the Bible. “Something online” ranked lowest. The numerous factors in play in salvation can encourage evangelicals in ministry, researchers said, and understanding the findings can help evangelicals reach the unsaved. “One commonly expressed frustration Christians have with evangelism is the failure to see results. They plant a seed, and hope or expect to see something sprout directly from that effort,” researchers wrote. “You may not see the plant actually sprout, but you may be one of those important factors influencing someone’s eventual decision.” Only 46 percent of evangelicals point to a specific time when they were saved. Instead, 37 percent said they were raised as Christians, and 16 percent said their decision to follow Christ was gradual. Researchers defined evangelicals to encompass 23 percent of the population, using a definition developed by Lifeway Research, which is racially inclusive. Specifically, evangelicals are considered those who view the Bible as the highest authority in their beliefs, say it’s important to them to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus as their Savior, cite Jesus’ work on the cross as the only sacrifice for forgiveness of sin, and that salvation is in Christ alone. The online study was conducted in early 2023 among 1,010 evangelical Protestants, using several research access panels and using stringent quality controls, researchers said. The study did not include non-Protestants such as Mormons, Roman Catholics or Orthodox Christians. The study’s findings are available here. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer. #FEBRUARY24

WASHINGTON (BP) – More than half of religiously unaffiliated Americans, identified as ‘Nones,” say they don’t like organized religion or have been mistreated by religious people, Pew Research said Jan. 24. Specifically, 55 percent of Nones cited one of the two factors in explaining their reason for being nonreligious. Nearly half of respondents, 47 percent, said their dislike of religious organizations is an extremely or very important reason they’re nonreligious, while 30 percent said the same about bad experiences with religious people. Maltreatment by religious people was cited more often among women Nones, at 32 percent, than among men, at 27 percent. Skepticism of religious teachings and a disbelief in God were the most common reasons cited by Nones in explaining themselves, with 60 percent questioning a lot of religious teachings and 32 percent not believing in God or a higher power. Altogether, 67 percent cited one or both factors. Others, 44 percent, say they’re nonreligious because they either don’t have time for religion (41 percent) and/or don’t need it (12 percent). Nones comprise more than a quarter of American adults, 28 percent, with 20 percent of them describing themselves as agnostic, 17 percent saying they are atheists, and 63 percent saying they are “nothing in particular” religiously. While Nones’ 28 percent share of the population marks a continual decrease since 2021, and is equal to findings in 2020 and 2019, Pew’s researchers said that doesn’t necessarily mean Nones are decreasing among the population. “These kinds of trends are best assessed over the long haul, based on many survey readings. After all, every estimate from a probability survey comes with a margin of error,” researchers wrote. “Furthermore, it’s always possible that any single survey could be an outlier – that is, any one survey can defy the odds and produce an estimate that differs from the “true” value by more than the margin of error.” Pew culled its findings from the 3,317 religious Nones among the 11,201 respondents in a study among Pew’s American Trends Panel conducted in the summer of 2023. That sampling included 658 atheists, 678 agnostics and 1,981 “nothing in particular” adults. Researchers detailed various characteristics of Nones, including their civic engagement, spirituality, attitudes towards religion, and views of science and morality. Most Nones, 70 percent, believe in God or a higher power, followed by 67 percent who believe humans have a soul or spirit, and 63 percent believing there is something beyond the natural world we can’t see. Strong majorities (61 percent) don’t believe in heaven, nor hell, 69 percent. Nones are not automatically hostile to religion, Pew found, with 41 percent saying religion is just as good as it is harmful to society. More, 44 percent, said religion is more harmful than good. About a fifth of Nones, 19 percent, consistently cited negative views of religion in all five categories Pew addressed, saying religion does more harm than good in society, encourages superstition and causes division. This segment also rejects notions that religion encourages people to treat others well, and helps society by giving people meaning and purpose in their lives. Among other top findings: 39 percent of Nones voted in 2022 midterm elections, compared to 51 percent of the religiously affiliated; but voting was nearly as high among atheists, at 50 percent, as among the religiously affiliated. 10 percent of Nones say a belief in God is necessary to be moral and have good values. Nearly all agnostics, 98 percent, and atheists, 97 percent, said a person can be moral and have good values without believing in God. 44 percent of Nones believe there is a scientific explanation for everything, with the highest adherence among atheists at 78 percent. In addition to its 2023 American Trends Panel, Pew also relied on earlier ATP studies and its National Public Opinion Reference Surveys in drawing its conclusions. Pew’s report is available here. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer. #FEBRUARY24

(RNS) — Religious Americans are continuing to give to their houses of worship — and to other causes — with money and in-kind donations despite rising costs for daily living, a new report shows. More than 8 in 10 (81 percent) faith-based givers who donated money in 2023 gave funds to houses of worship, and 60 percent gave $1,000 or more, according to “Giving in Faith: Exploring Key Trends in Religious Giving,” a joint 2024 report from Givelify, a mobile and online app, and Indiana University’s Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. Most religious donors (81 percent) gave the same amount of money (or more) to their congregations in 2023 as in 2022. A similar percentage of religious donors (82 percent) reported that they made in-kind gifts, such as physical items to places of worship, registered nonprofits, informal community groups or directly to people who had a need. By viewing the philanthropy of people of faith beyond just their congregations, researchers have gained a wider sense of how much and why they share their money and their time, said Wale Mafolasire, founder and CEO of Givelify, an Indianapolis-based company that launched in 2013. For example, 48 percent of faith-based givers who made donations gave money directly to friends, neighbors, relatives and others in need. Describing those direct monetary gifts, 70 percent reported donating to family members, 61 percent to friends and 60 percent to strangers. “When we expand that definition to include not just what they’re giving to their place of worship, but also what they’re giving in kind and to other members of the community and to their members, we’re seeing that people of faith are probably the most generous in the United States of America,” said Mafolasire, whose company runs an app used by congregants and others to make donations to nonprofit organizations. The report’s findings are based on responses from 2,000 religious Americans and 980 faith leaders in the country. The vast majority of the respondents were Christians. The research included an oversample of African American and Black faith givers in order to gauge perceptions on the value of houses of worship to their communities. Forty-four percent of the respondents who were people of faith were Black or African, while 48 percent were white. The racial composition of the faith leaders’ congregations was 45 percent Black or African, 34 percent white or European and 19 percent multiracial (or with no more than 80 percent of a single race or ethnicity). “There’s an increase in the number of places of worship, especially within the African American segment, that are taking a more active role of providing safety net programs to members of their congregations, and also nonmembers or members of the local community,” said Mafolasire. Black people comprise about 80 percent of Givelify app users, and about 80 percent of congregations using Givelify are predominantly Black. According to the faith leaders surveyed for the report, predominantly Black congregations were more likely than mostly white congregations to offer elderly support services (60 percent vs. 46 percent), outreach programs for people in prison (35 percent vs. 17 percent) and supplemental educational support, such as GED classes and tutoring (46 percent vs. 29 percent). Black faith leaders also were more likely to say they teach their congregants to give money, items and time to their congregation (84 percent vs. 77 percent) and the local community (67 percent vs. 57 percent). Close to all (97 percent) houses of worship offered at least one outreach program to their communities, an increase from 90 percent of faith leaders who reported the same in the 2022 Giving in Faith report released by the two organizations. These efforts included support with money, goods, volunteers and physical space. Overall, almost all faith leaders (99 percent) reported that they intended to increase or maintain their community outreach work in 2024. Despite higher prices for groceries, housing and other regular expenses, the amount of giving to houses of worship remained stable, with an average gift amount of $125, the same figure as in the joint 2022 report. “It’s oftentimes the last thing that many people of faith would think about cutting,” said David P. King, director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. He said giving to houses of worship is often considered to be a basic expense rather than a “luxury good,” as some other forms of charitable giving might be viewed. Other findings: 82 percent of religious givers describe giving as a core tenet of their faith 79 percent reported giving the same amount or more money directly to individuals as they had the previous year Digital gifts amounted to 60 percent of total contributions to houses of worship in 2023 The research in the report is based on a survey conducted in August and September 2023. The 980 faith leaders included 606 in a random sample of congregations contacted by Givelify and 374 who responded either through e-newsletters or via a marketing research firm. The estimated margin of error was about plus or minus 3 percentage points. In addition, 1,000 Givelify customers and 1,000 respondents to the academic survey platform Prolific completed the survey, with an estimated margin of error of about plus or minus 2 percentage points. #FEBRUARY24

Alina came to faith at age 17, and her life was radically changed. When Steve and Julia Dunn, International Mission Board church planters in Germany’s Ruhrgebiet region, first met her, she bore fresh wounds from self-harm. Julia’s first conversation with Alina was outside of a church retreat as Alina rolled a cigarette. A few months after Alina came to faith, Steve approached and asked if she wanted the church to start a small group for her friends and others her age. The new Christian thought a small Bible study group was a great idea, but she had one stipulation. She didn’t want it to be a small group exclusively for those her age. It needed to be intergenerational. “I want to do a Bible study where old people can come,” Julia recounted, putting “old people” in air quotes, knowing full well that Alina’s definition of old at 17 wasn’t what most would consider “old.” Alina’s reasoning for this request, though, showed her maturity. “I’d prefer if it would be a mixed group so that my mom would come too.” Alina’s mother did, in fact, attend. She professed Christ and was baptized. Now she’s serving in the women’s ministry. As Alina began growing in her faith and became a faithful member of their church plant, Steve and Julia saw that she clearly had the gift of teaching. Julia shared that Alina was discipled well and attended a year of Bible college. Three years after she became a believer, she started leading Bible studies for women of all ages. Edda, who is 65, started following Christ two years ago. She attends a Bible study Alina co-leads with Julia. “[Alina] has so much Bible knowledge and she does a great job of being able to communicate it with us in such a loving way,” Edda said. For members of this church plant, learning and growing together intergenerationally is the standard. It’s a standard that worked for Gretchen Deese, a 30-year-old HandsOn missionary, and Ute, a 67-year-old widow. When Deese entered Ute’s apartment, she was flabbergasted. Ute’s apartment was covered in mauve paint. Most every wall. She walked past the bathroom and the colors got even bolder. In there, hot pink reigned. One of Gretchen’s favorite experiences from her time in Germany was this breakfast meeting with Ute, a member of the church plant, in her colorful home. Gretchen hung on every word while Ute shared her life story as they sipped coffee and munched on snacks. Ute had only been a believer for a short time, but she had plenty of wisdom to share. “I really value intergenerational relationships,” Gretchen said when asked why this visit to Ute’s house stood out. Apparently, Ute’s unique sense of home decor wasn’t the draw. “I have a ton to learn from women who are older than me. It meant a lot to me that she wanted to have me over and spend time with me.” The intergenerational mindset is key to growth, the Dunns agree. “Our church is so small. We have no choice but to be intergenerational,” Steve said of the congregation of 45 or so members. Julia estimates that 75 percent of the church members are first generation believers. This means that they rely on each other to learn and grow. The older women give advice for raising children in Christian homes. The younger women share insights from Scripture and provide encouragement for the older generation. Edda added, “I feel like we are a large family. Everyone brings their experiences to the table, and everyone appreciates what the others have to say, no matter how old they are.” Some names have been changed for security purposes. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Myriah Snyder is senior writer/editor for the IMB. #FEBRUARY24

Mental health and wholeness are important topics to me. God has helped me so much and used people in my life to lift me from anxiety and depression, and I love to help others come out of their doldrums. So many in our world are depressed and in desperate need of hope. Some of the hopelessness in our world has its origins in macro issues like the wars in Ukraine and Israel and in other tragic stories we read about in places like Haiti and Sudan. There is a more existential, personal hopelessness that pervades the lives of so many even in our great state of Texas. Many have turned away from the God of the Bible and His foundational teachings regarding how to live as people of faith. But I have good news: there is hope! One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Romans 15:13. God has used this verse powerfully in my life and I believe He will bless you as you meditate on it as well: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word translated “hope” is “elpis,” and interestingly, the Lexham Bible Dictionary says, “The word appears in the New Testament only as a verb or noun, never as an adverb or adjective. That is likely because the emphasis is not on the subjective states of mind we have when we say ‘hopefully’ or ‘hopeful.’ Rather, hope in the New Testament has an objective focus.” Here is my definition of hope: the confident assurance that all will be well because God is with us. The key to living in hope is we must believe. Ephesians 1:19 states, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.” When we believe, God causes us to abound in hope. It is the match that ignites the fire of the Holy Spirit. Belief or trust is the key that unlocks the treasuries of God’s multitude of blessings upon our lives. I want to encourage you to live out the Christian life the way you began, and that is by faith.  Three times the Bible says those who know the Lord will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, and Galatians 3:11.) Believe God for great days. He has a wonderful plan for your life filled with hope, peace, and joy. Trust God and enjoy a life of wonderful hope, the assurance that God is in control and all will be well. Hope has a name: Jesus! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Danny Forshee is president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and pastor of Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin. #FEBRUARY24

BELLEVILLE – As a Pastor’s wife, I want you to know that God’s goodness is evident throughout your lifetime whether everything is going good or bad in the ministry or personal life, God is good all the time! Because of Covid, it had been more than three years since we were able to visit our family and loved ones, especially my husband’s siblings in the Philippines. Finally, God opened the door for another visit. Three weeks before our flight, I had postmenopausal bleeding. It was not good timing to experience this medical surprise. Our doctor did a pap smear with normal results. Thank God! My doctors advised me to get an ultrasound and MRI exam. I had an ultrasound and found that I had a large cyst near my ovaries. This overwhelmed me and I had so much going-on in my mind at that time. With a family history of cancer (my deceased sister, my mom, and two aunts), I had this frightening thought “what if this cyst is cancerous?” Doctors and some friends advised me not to go on my trip or travel to the Philippines during this medical concern. On the other hand, the joy of the Lord flooded my soul and spirit. I knew my life was in God’s hands. Whatever my medical crisis, He is Sovereign and knows what He is doing. To get an MRI exam appointment is unbelievably difficult – it was fully booked. My endometrial biopsy didn’t happen either. My peace always comes from our Lord Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace. We went ahead and flew to the Philippines in August not knowing what was next for me. There are days that I felt very tired, and bleeding came consistently each month. Upon arrival in the Philippines, we had a memorable family bonding with Aaron’s siblings, and traveled six hours by bus to see Aaron’s uncles and aunts whom we have not seen for 29 years. God used us to be a blessing to loved ones and friends and three churches where Aaron spoke. When I returned, I was finally able to get my MRI exam, and the result was the same — big cyst. The nurse called and asked me to come right away so I could do a Cancer Antigen test. On the way to the clinic that same day, God let me hear the beautiful song “Gonna Be Alright” by Ryan Ellis: “Everything's gonna be alright; You hold me in Your arms, until my storm is gone. And everything's gonna be alright; Your love will be my song, till all my fears are gone. And everything's gonna be alright.” Honestly, my body was shaking, and I couldn’t calm down. I cried on the way to the clinic. This song helped me to be at peace. I prayed and asked, “Am I ready to face the truth”? The results came the following morning, and my tumor markers were within normal limits. Rejoicing in the Lord, I cried again listening to my favorite song “Gonna Be Alright”. My endometrial biopsy results were normal and negative for hyperplasia or malignancy. GOD is so good! The prayers of the brethren meant so much to me - they are precious. Rev. 5:8b said “...Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” (Note post surgery.) The December 27th surgery went well and all test results are benign. Truly God is amazing in answering our prayers! What a blessing and a great gift for this new year. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nancy Tanap, a Pastor’s wife here at Bethlehem Baptist Church, Belleville. Married to Aaron for 43 years with three adult children and five grandchildren. #JANUARY24

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Conservative Christians will gain influence under President-elect Donald Trump's term, more than half of respondents polled in a Pew Research study believe. Conversely, Hispanics, the poor, and gays and lesbians will lose influence under Trump, a majority of those polled told Pew. Nearly half of respondents said African Americans and women are poised to lose. "The public's assessments of the groups that will gain and lose influence in Trump's presidency are sharply different than before Barack Obama took office eight years ago," Pew said in its findings released Jan. 18. "In many cases, they mirror views of expected 'winners' and 'losers' under George W. Bush before he took office in January 2001." In the survey conducted Jan. 4-9 among 1,502 adults, both Democrats and Republicans viewed Trump's presidency as a win for conservative Christians, with 55 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of Republicans agreeing on the point. Among Republicans and Republican-leaning adults polled, only 10 percent predicted conservative Christians will lose influence, while 34 percent said they expect things to remain the same for the demographic group. Similarly among Democrats and Democrat-leaning adults polled, 17 percent said conservative Christians will lose influence; 25 percent said the demographic's circumstances won't change. A majority of respondents, 56 percent, said Hispanics will lose under Trump; 55 percent said Trump is a loss for the poor, and 54 percent reached the same conclusion for gays and lesbians. Nearly half of respondents, 48 percent, said African Americans would lose ground under Trump, Pew said, while 19 percent said the racial group would gain influence, and 27 percent said the group would not be affected. Regarding women, 46 percent of respondents said the gender will lose influence, 23 percent said the group will gain influence, and 29 percent said women won't be affected. Comparatively, 51 percent of respondents said whites will fare better under Trump, while 35 percent said whites won't be affected. Fifty-one percent said men will prosper under Trump, compared to 39 percent who believe circumstances won't change for the gender. Trump's term will prosper the wealthy, 65 percent of respondents said, while 27 percent said the wealthy won't be affected. Only 8 percent of respondents said Trump is bad news for whites, men and the wealthy, with remaining respondents saying they don't know how a Trump presidency will affect the demographic groups. Partisan differences also emerged when respondents were questioned about Hispanics, the poor, and gays and lesbians, Pew said. When considering the plight of Hispanics, 78 percent of Democrats said Hispanics will lose influence under Trump, while only 32 percent of Republicans said the same, according to Pew. Many Republicans considered Trump a win for the poor, with 43 percent saying the poor will fare better under the president-elect, 29 percent saying the demographic will not be affected either way, and 26 percent saying the group will lose ground. A preponderance of Democrats, 81 percent, said the poor will lose influence under Trump; only 8 percent of Democrats perceived Trump a win for the poor. Regarding gays and lesbians, 74 percent of Democrats deemed Trump a loss for homosexuals, with only 33 percent of Republicans thinking the same. Republicans and Democrats both viewed the prospects favorably under Trump for men, whites and the wealthy. Among Republicans, 92 percent said whites would either gain influence or not be affected, 92 percent said the same for men, and 84 percent reached that conclusion regarding the wealthy. Among Democrats, 86 percent said whites will gain ground or not be affected, 89 percent said the same for men, and 97 percent said the same for the wealthy. In Pew research conducted before President Obama's first term in office, 21 percent of respondents thought conservative Christians would gain ground under Obama, Pew said, compared to 51 percent who had a similar perception when Bush took office in 2001. Of the 1,502 adults interviewed for the latest study, 376 were interviewed on landline telephones; 1,126 were interviewed on cell phones, including 674 who had no landline telephone, Pew said. The study is available at pewresearch.org. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' general assignment writer/editor. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #FEBRUARY17

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in the remaining religious freedom case to be heard this term—and one of the most significant religious liberty cases to be decided in years. Here is what you should know about this case: What’s the case about? The case, Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia v. Comer, involves a religious preschool that was rejected from a state program that provides reimbursement grants to purchase rubberized surface material (tire scraps) for children’s playgrounds. The preschool was ultimately denied the grant for its playground solely because the playground belongs to a religious organization. The church is being defended in the case by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbia, Missouri applied for Missouri’s Scrap Tire Grant Program so that it could provide a safer playground for children who attend its daycare and for neighborhood children who use the playground after hours. The Scrap Tire Grant Program is otherwise neutrally available to a variety of nonprofits and Trinity’s application was ranked fifth out of 44 applications (in total, 14 grants were awarded). Although the grant was for a secular use (i.e., making a playground safer), the state of Missouri halted the application process and denied Trinity’s attempt to participate in the program solely because Trinity is a church. The state based this exclusion from the program on Article I, § 7, of the Missouri Constitution, which states, “no money shall be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion.” The Eighth Circuit affirmed that denial by equating a grant to resurface Trinity’s playground using scrap tire material with funding the devotional training of clergy. Why did this case go to the Supreme Court? The Supreme Court often hears cases when there is circuit split (i.e., when different federal courts of appeal have reached different outcomes). According to the case filing, three lower courts—two courts of appeals and one state supreme court—interpreted the relevant Supreme Court precedent (Locke v. Davey) as justifying the exclusion of religion from a neutral aid program where no valid Establishment Clause concern exists. In contrast, two courts of appeals remain faithful to Locke and the unique historical concerns on which it relied. Why should the Christian school be eligible for the grant? According to ADF, the preschool has an “open gate” playground policy. The playground is open to the community and is frequently used by children in the neighborhood after-hours and on the weekends. Because the use is for the “wholly secular benefit of providing safe play areas for kids,” there is no justification for claiming that the use of the recycled tires is to aid a religious purpose. Every person in Missouri is required to pay a fee on their tire purchases, and these fees fund the grant program. Thus religious believers in the state are expected to “put money into the pool, but the playgrounds at their religious organizations can’t benefit from it.” The government is constitutionally-required to treat religious organizations equally, notes ADF. The government isn’t being neutral when it discriminates against religious organizations by treating them less-than-equally. What are the broader implications of this case? At its core, says ADF, the Trinity Lutheran playground case strikes at the heart of American jurisprudence, asking: What is fair play in a pluralistic society? Can a state prohibit police from responding to a burglary at a Catholic school? Can a city stop the fire department from putting out a fire at a church? The outcome of the case will determine whether the government can discriminate against religious organizations and exclude them from receiving a generally available public benefit simply because they are religious. A loss could mean that religious nonprofits could be excluded from government programs meant to serve their communities and even be denied basic safety services like fire and police protection, says ADF. ABOUT THE AUTHOR This article comes from “The Weekly,” a rundown of news by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission highlighting the week’s top news stories from the public square and providing commentary on the big issues of our day. #MAY17

SHELBY TOWNSHIP – As we begin a new year, we often like to look back and reflect on all that God has done in our lives. I think we should do that! Looking back helps us trace God's hand of faithfulness and remember His goodness and love for us. However, while this may be true in many instances, dwelling on the past can hold us captive. When we walk through a difficult season in our lives, sometimes the enemy wants to dredge up everything that happened, and will try to keep our hearts and minds focused on the hurt and pain. If our spiritual enemy can keep us trapped in the past, we will never be able to receive what God wants to do in our future. Paul writes in Philippians 3:13b-14 (NIV), "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Before encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul persecuted Christians. From that defining moment in his life, he was forever changed. Paul could have let the guilt and shame from his past life keep him from walking in the calling God placed on his life, but he didn't. He understood the gift he received through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 (NIV), "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." I don't know where you find yourself as you begin 2024, but here are some helpful insights as you move forward: 1. Don't Dwell on the Past. "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind..." This is much easier said than done. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians to "take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ." If we allow our minds to dwell on things that have happened in the past, those thoughts are sinful. When we allow this mindset, we are not being obedient to Christ. Paul tells us in Philippians that we are to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. When intrusive thoughts come that want to keep us trapped in the past, shut them down immediately. Focus on the truth of God's Word and invite the Holy Spirit to heal your heart and mind. Ask Him to help you stop dwelling on the past so you can move forward with your future. 2. Keep Your Eyes on Jesus. "...straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." When we release the stronghold of the past, we are then free to move forward with the good plans God has for our lives. In Romans, we are told that God "works all things together." He wants to use what we have learned from our past to move us forward and make a difference for eternity in the lives of others. When we understand that the trials we go through in life are meant to mold us into the person He created us to be, then we won't be held captive by the past. We also won't be ashamed of what God has done in our lives. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and His good plans for your life! Paul is such a great example for us to follow. Saul, before his conversion to Paul, was one of the leading religious leaders who persecuted Christians. He was well-known for his religious stature and Jewish heritage; however, once he encountered God, the gospel became more important to him than those things. Paul writes in Philippians 3:7-8a (NLT), "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." I encourage you today to leave the past behind. Don't allow your mind to dwell on it; instead, look to Jesus. He will use it all to refine you into the person He created you to be. Someone is depending on you to fulfill your calling so they can encounter Jesus. Don't let the enemy hold you captive! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen Blanchard is married to Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, and moved from Florida to Michigan in the summer of 2009 to plant Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township. She enjoys mentoring and discipling women and also leads women’s life groups through her church. She is passionate about helping women find their purpose in who God created them to be. She is on staff at Lakepointe Church and loves being part of what God is doing in the Metro Detroit area! #JANUARY24

WARREN – There’s a scene in the movie Jaws where the main character is hunched over toward the back of the boat, throwing chum out into the water. The water is red with blood and fish guts. At once, a massive shark's face breaks the surface of the water, revealing rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth. The main character stands up completely petrified. His eyes widen and refuse to blink in awe of the sheer scale of this fish. Suddenly, the boat doesn’t seem big enough. With an unflinching gaze fixed on the open water before him, he begins to slowly walk backward into the cabin of the boat. There, we see the old captain at the helm. With an unbreaking stare, the main character finally breaks his silence with one of the most iconic lines in film history: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” At the risk of being misunderstood, there’s something about that scene that I want to recover for myself and for my church in 2024. Now, before you think I’m completely bonkers, allow me to state what should be obvious: God is not a terrifying, man-eating shark. Nor does he want people to be horrified at the thought of him. God is not on the hunt to kill, but to save (2 Peter 3:9). We know that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The Lord is no killer great white, but a God of incomprehensible love. But I fear that we often misunderstand just how shocking—how radical—God’s love is because we fundamentally misunderstand God. And if we misunderstand God, we certainly misunderstand ourselves in relation to him. In my experience, a phrase like, “God loves you” rarely jolts anyone like it should. Even now, I can picture the phrase on a bumper sticker stuck to the back of a rusty old van in front of me at a red light. I may read that phrase while I’m waiting for my light to turn green, but it doesn't cause my pulse to race. My eyes don’t widen. I’m not speechless. I’ve heard it before. I’m not moved. I’m not in awe. Frankly, I’m bored with it. Boredom with God is a cancer in the church. But boredom with God is a symptom of an even deeper disease: idolatry. It occurs when I (or my problems, desires, needs, situation) am “bigger,” “more important,” or “more dominant” than God. We get bored with God when he becomes small, tame, and completely predictable to us. Boredom with God occurs when we’ve reduced him down to a mere function of meeting our felt needs, like a therapist in the sky. For many church-going people, God is folded neatly into a box. They’ll take him out of this box when they go to church, or when a crisis arises, or they need some extra help, but other than that, they’ll put him right back in their little box until they want to bring him out again. People who have God in a box may even think that they’re doing God a favor when they take him out of it. “Hey God, aren’t you happy with me? I took you out of your box. I went to church today! I read my Bible! I prayed! I even gave an offering.” One obvious problem with God-in-the-box is that it’s unbiblical. Another problem is that it’s boring. You won’t risk anything from a God who can fit into a box. You won’t feel pressed to change for “tame.” You won’t give up sinful habits for “average.” You won’t do the hard work of cultivating holiness for “boring.” You won’t be able to endure suffering, sickness, or grief with “puny.” Your husband won’t get off the couch for “meh.” Your kids won’t put down their phones for “lame.” You won’t risk your job, your health, or your future for “snooze.” But the wonderful truth is that God is not boring, tame, average, or puny. I think if our churches are going to flourish in 2024, we’ve got to wake people out of their boredom with God. We need a recalibration of who God is and who we are. We are pots; he’s the Potter. A few weeks ago, I asked my people: What if God? “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction” (Romans 9:22)? I dare you to read that verse again slowly and then ask yourself: What if God wants to do that? Is that okay with you? This is not the kind of God who gives me warm fuzzies. I would not write this verse on a Christmas card. But this is the God of the Bible. Yes—he’s loving, he weeps with those who weep, a broken and contrite heart he will never despise, he’s patient and desires that all people might be saved. Yes—he’s a lamb, but he’s also a lion. You don’t have a box big enough for this kind of God. Just like the guys in the movie Jaws were at the mercy of the shark, the truth is that we are all totally at the mercy of God. And when you see that it is this kind of God who loves you, you’ll realize that he is anything but boring. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clayton Knight has served as the senior pastor at Warren Woods Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan since 2021. He’s married to his best friend, Sarah, and they have a daughter named Aubrey. #JANUARY24

ADRIAN – Have you ever considered that our modern calendar has built-in opportunities for alignment? It is a good chance that your answer is yes. For example, daylight Savings serves as a good reminder to change the batteries in our smoke detectors. Chilly evenings remind us to think about transitioning to our winter wardrobe. Equally, there is another clothing transition when afternoons become warmer. There are a host of other calendar dates and seasons that prompt certain action, so we are ready to jump into the next season of life. These alignment opportunities are not unique to our modern calendar. We read in Leviticus 23-25 how our Lord established important opportunities for the Israelite nation to pause and be aligned before they moved on in life. In some instances, families were to gather and remember where they had been before they considered where they hoped to go. In other instances, the entire assembly gathered to honor their history, remember those who have gone before them, and to prepare for the future. Even property ownership was part of the realignment process. When Israel obeyed what the Lord established, years of blessing followed. Leviticus 23-25 provides three important principles as we are launched into 2024. They apply to families and congregations alike. First, set aside time to remember the previous year. Some people are disciplined in their ability to journal throughout the year. Some people use social media to record the events of life. Some people write a Christmas letter that recalls key events from the year. The form that one uses to record our history is not as important as being intentional about doing so. However, recording our history is only part of remembering. When your family gathers, talk about what has been exciting or brought joy in the previous year. Family gatherings also provide necessary moments to unpack the parts of our year that have been less than joyful. It is possible that Thanksgiving and Christmas had newly empty chairs around the table. It is possible 2024 will have a birthday that is no longer celebrated as it was in the past. Seize the opportunity to remember every part of your year together. Second, set aside time to write down goals for the upcoming year. Personally, I try to make goals that require lifestyle changes in a way that will help us have a great today and a better tomorrow. Third, self-care is the glue that holds all of it together. For about the last ten years, I have used the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to evaluate how well I am caring for myself. During this process, I look to make lifestyle alignments that will protect myself from myself while being able to give my best to my family and my church, in that order. This process is only successful through the grace of our Lord and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. There are five practices that I use to determine healthy self-care and then make some decisions for the following year. Any individual can participate in them. I open my weight tracker spreadsheet to see how my weight has fluctuated throughout the year. Did I hit the target? Am I close? Was there a month significantly higher than other months? If so, what happened in that month that might have caused weight gain? Does anything trigger that I didn’t eat well? I open the exercise app on my phone to see how consistent I was in the past year. My target is 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 days per week, a number given to me by a nutritionist many years ago. There are many reasons why people exercise, not including weight management. Start slow. Continue consistently. I look to see how frequently I honor my time off. How rested do I feel? When is our vacation time for the upcoming year? We have found that planning vacation time in advance ensures that we have time for rest. I order a new Bible that is different from the version I preach from. My goal is to read through the Bible once every year. Using a different version reminds me to pursue personal growth. I look to see if our financial picture is better than it was at the beginning of the year. Where are the opportunities to increase saving for this calendar year? Many years, January has been a spending fast for non-essential items. I believe that God has graciously given mankind natural opportunities for realignment. Even the most efficient person, family or church has regular alignments in the life or organization, which is the reason we think they are efficient. I encourage you to spend an hour remembering where you have been in the past year, consider where you are going in the next year, and make some decision to care for yourself well. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chris Peoples has been in full-time ministry since 2000 and has served Trinity Baptist Church in Adrian since 2021. He has been married to Bridget since 1997 and have four children. #JANUARY24