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ASIA (BP) – When Jeremiah Farmer*, an architect, and his wife Joy* sensed a clear call from the Lord to minister in Asia, they had been active in their local church but had no seminary training and hadn't planned to leave for a foreign country. Nevertheless, in obedience to the Lord, they followed their church's advice and applied with the International Mission Board, which accepted them and then deployed them to a closed part of Asia. From the beginning, Farmer told fellow believers he did not qualify to be on the mission field. Even so, he and his wife agreed to stay as long as the Lord told them to stay and to maintain a "laser focus" on a specific goal: figuring out how to get the Gospel to their region's 650 million people, 80 percent of whom had never heard the message of Jesus. Thirteen years later, the Lord has never told the Farmers to stop. Despite their initial lack of qualifications, they have witnessed the Holy Spirit do miraculous things: More than 700 churches have been planted; an estimated 2.5 million people have heard the Gospel; 45,000 people have come to faith in Christ; and 2,500 new leaders have been raised up in an environment hostile to the Christian faith. "For us, people coming to faith on a daily basis became normal. Baptisms every Sunday, that was normal. To start new churches every month, that was normal." Farmer calls it "extremely" rewarding "to get to be a part of that kind of movement; to see millions of people get to hear the Gospel, most of them for the first time in their entire lives; to see tens of thousands come to faith and all these churches started." Before deploying to the mission field, the Farmers were assigned six core tasks by the IMB: entry, evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, church formation and missions-sending. Their first term focused primarily on entry and evangelism. Since eight out of 10 people in their location had never heard the Gospel, the evangelistic task required the Farmers to break new ground. In that culture, relationships are everything, Farmer says, so rather than doing door-to-door evangelism or handing out Gospel tracts on the street (which likely would have gotten them arrested), the Farmers engaged in relational evangelism. As the only "foreigners" in the area, many local people wanted to get to know them and practice speaking English with them. The Farmers used this to their advantage inviting people, typically just one person or family at a time, to share a meal with them. Another aspect of the culture is to reciprocate actions. Whenever the Farmers invited a family to share a meal with them, that family was socially obligated to later extend a similar invitation. "So we knew that no matter what, if we invited someone to dinner, we got two chances to share with them," Farmer says. "So we made sure we shared the Gospel both times." Each time people professed faith in Christ, the Farmers quickly taught them how to share their faith. These new believers learned to wake up each morning and ask themselves, "With whom am I going to share the Gospel today?" As more people came to Christ, more people shared their faith with lost friends and family members, resulting in yet more people coming to the Lord. Before long the Farmers were receiving reports daily of people turning to Jesus. To keep up with the growing numbers, the Farmers had to develop leaders who could teach small groups and ultimately lead house churches (as each house church could only fit 10-20 people). So, the Farmers wrote small group lessons that taught the leaders to seek answers to their questions in the Scripture. "Whatever they asked, instead of referring back to my American traditions, we would say, 'What does the Bible say?'" Farmer recounts. "'What does it say about prayer? What does it say about worship? What does it say about teaching and preaching?'" By this time, Farmer was enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, selecting classes based on the needs in each phase of his ministry. Classes such as missiology and cultural anthropology and various courses on evangelism in different contexts became instrumental in helping him think through issues he faced in his ever-developing ministry. "None of it was theory," says Farmer, who completed his master of divinity degree in 2018. "I was like, 'Oh, I need that now,' and we were able to apply it right away." As the number of house churches surpassed 700, Farmer took on a supervisory role, training their leaders in evangelism, discipleship and missions. The latter task has been a key aspect of the Farmers' most recent efforts. "People became excellent evangelists among their own people -- very bold, very zealous, very excited for the Gospel, sharing their faith very loudly, proudly and boldly, and doing a very good job," Farmer says. "The challenge was when it came to crossing cultures.” We had to teach them when you're working with another culture and society, you have to learn their worldview, learn how to stand in their shoes, learn their language, and understand their culture and approach outreach from their culture … to help them understand the truth of the Gospel, which transcends culture." Learning the how and why of missions has produced a "trickle" of effective missions-sending from the region, with more than 50 different volunteer teams sent out in a year's time, along with a number of families who have accepted a long-term missionary calling. Based on the number of churches getting involved, Farmer says "a tidal wave" of missions-sending is on the horizon. Among the most encouraging testimonies the Farmers have seen is that of Ben, a "brilliant" but lost man whom they met during their first term. After Ben came to faith in Christ, the Farmers noticed in him "something different that we hadn't noticed in the other believers," Farmer says. "He became other-centered very, very quickly. … He really wanted to live his life out for a true purpose, a real cause." The Farmers committed to mentoring Ben, having him over at their house as often as possible to disciple him and develop him as a leader. They gradually gave him more responsibilities within their house church, and eventually he started leading a house church of his own. Over time, the other house churches in the area came to see Ben as their mentor. Later on, Ben "graduated," moving to another province to start more churches. He now leads a network of 40 underground churches that likewise are getting involved in missions. "To see the progress of a kid who was lost and just looking for a cause to live for, and seeing him now -- he's married, has two kids, he's grown so much in his faith, he's gone through all the different training systems that we have; he's training himself; and now he's leading this network of 40 churches in another province -- is exactly what we were hoping for," Farmer says. Having begun as the first missionary presence in their region of Asia, the Farmers now supervise all the missionary work focusing on the 650 million people who live there. They continue to lead training and missions conferences in order to see Asian Christians bring the Gospel not only to their own nation, but to the whole world. Though they now play a different role from a different location, the Farmers can look back on their first 13 years in Asia with awe because of what the Lord has done. "We were there to do exactly what God called us to do, and we worked as hard and as fast as we could to get it done in the power of the Holy Spirit," Farmer says. "We got to see Him work, which was miraculous and amazing." *Names changed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alex Sibley is associate director of news and information for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This article originally appeared in Southwestern News, the seminary's quarterly magazine. #OCTOBER18

FENTON, MI – As many of you know, Sabrina and I have had the joy and privilege of engaging in missions around the world. These ministry opportunities have led us to countries and cultures that are quite different from those to which we are accustomed. Many of these afforded us lifetime experiences that will forever be embedded in our memories and souls. On several occasions we have ministered in the African country of Kenya and had the privilege to work in various cities, towns and in the open bush country. The sights, sound and smells of the island city of Mombasa are still as fresh and present in my mind today as when we visited there some years ago. There are so many experiences that I would like to share with you, but space and time will not allow it. However, one such experience that I must share concerns our means of transportation while in Mombasa. On this particular mission trip, 27 members comprised the group that we led in Kenya. They were from Virginia, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and of course, Florida. Our work schedule was such that we had to leave our accommodations at 6 am every morning in order to be at various witnessing points to encounter people as they walked to work. These points were spread over a large area of the city, so in order to get there, we hired several Matatus for our two-week stay in Mombasa. A Matatu is a small passenger van that is made to accommodate 12 people. Most of these were built by Japanese companies for export, and are small in comparison to passenger vans in the United States. The name Matatu means "three more." They get that designation because the driver’s attitude is that there is always room for three more passengers. On several occasions, I saw at least 25 people packed into one of these vehicles. To say the least, personal space has no meaning in Kenya. I also have a new understanding of the term "stink bug." It was not unusual to see the side door open and someone hanging out. Another matter that I might mention about the Matatu is that the drivers have no concept of speed, that is except one--as fast as it will go! My prayer life is on a new level after having ridden in one of these. On many occasions there was the distinct possibility that I was going to meet Jesus face to face much sooner than I had planned. But with all their faults and limitations, they did serve their intended purpose to get one to the desired destination. It is my opinion that the family of God, as a whole, and the Baptist State Convention, in particular, have many similarities to the Matatu. Sometimes this family we call the BSCM is not as comfortable as we might like it to be and, in some instances, it sends forth a fragrance that is not so pleasing. (Our gatherings have been known to “stir up a stink”) We have also been known for venturing over into one another’s personal space. Of course, that brings about reactions as times that are less than appropriate. It has been my observation that in some situations I have felt like we were going too fast or too slow and careening down the road, totally out of control. This too has heightened my prayer life. Yet, I would not trade these experiences for anything. As messy and as uncomfortable our “Ministry Matatu” may be, there is one fact that will always be true, and that is "there is always room for three more." With all our faults and problems God’s Word tells us that, "Whosoever will may come." The old hymn says, "There is always room at the cross for you". The family of God may not be all that it should be but there is one thing for sure, it will arrive at its appointed destination. In just a few short weeks, we will gather together as a convention body to share our hopes, dreams, visions and to hear about the great things God has done in and through us over the past twelve months. Won't you join us? There's still room for you and two more. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Patterson is Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Elected unanimously in May of 2015, Patterson formerly served for 9 years as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. He also served as trustee chair and national mobilizer for the North American Mission Board. #OCTOBER18

FENTON, MI – There are many important reasons why everyone of us should dedicate one day in November for a family reunion. Lord willing, I know where I will be on November 9th. Do you? Some might go to Jackson for their stomachs. There is the 21-scoop Dare-to-be-Great-Sundae-Challenge at The Parlour found at 1401 Daniel Road in Jackson. Finish the mountain of ice cream by yourself in less than an hour, and your $49.99 is returned to you. You can share the 21-scoops, but don’t expect a refund. The parlour has been serving premium Michigan ice cream for over 100 years. Look at www.thejacksonparlour.com for more details. But let’s be honest, there are better reasons to make Jackson on the 9th of November. Why go to Jackson on November 9th? Lostness I can give you more than 10 million reasons. Research reports there are 9.9 million people living in Michigan and many more when we include our neighbors in Ontario. I count them as family, too. When we realize that 2/3’s of those surrounding us are without Christ, I know I need to go to Jackson. I want the monumental challenge to invade my thoughts. I want to feel my heart break again within my chest. I want tears to fall down over my cheeks while I worship with you, and weigh the task that is before us. Why go to Jackson on November 9th? Gratitude I want to express my gratitude to those of you who reach out to the lost, who disciple believers, who strengthen churches, who raise up leaders, who start new churches, and those who help others from across the globe to understand more about Christ. I want to shake your hand. I want to listen to your latest spiritual adventure. I want to hug you and pat you on the back. I want to listen as you sing in your loudest voice praising our Lord. Seeing you and being with you brings hope to my heart. Like the volley of an enduring fireworks display on a breezy Independence Day, your testimony shatters the crushing darkness. Why go to Jackson on November 9th? Unique Vision I want to see and hear how each one of us is making a unique spiritual difference in the region. Jim can be different than Larry. Sue can be different than Elaine. I cannot be anyone but me, but I want to be the best-me-possible in Jesus Christ. I want you to be the best-you-possible in Jesus Christ. I will not have a list of expectations nor a hidden grade sheet filled with “needs improvement” or “sufficient.” I want to hear about journeys, rough ones as well as the sweet rides. I want to pray with you, and you to pray with me. Each one of us fulfilling God’s calling in each of our special lives. Why go to Jackson on November 9th? Call-to-Action That night while I am driving east on I-94, after everything is over, I want my mind reeling with inspirational ideas that come from spending time with you. I want to recall the notes I will be taking as I listen to you share your stories. I want to hear Jamie’s voice filled with excitement as I hear her personal ideas and her calls-to-action from the day’s events. I want to believe that night will fill my soul with a stronger hope because we were together for that one day on November 9th. Why go to Jackson on November 9th? Because we are family and spending that one day with our Father can change eternity. I’ll be looking for you! To register for the 2018 BSCM Annual Meeting, visit bscm.org/2018. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tony Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe. #OCTOBER18

FENTON, MI – Tears welled in my eyes as worship began this recent Sunday. I’m not generally overcome with emotion, but about half of the people in the crowd Sunday morning at one time called me “Pastor.” It was so good to see them, reminisce about the special moments we shared together, and to see their continued faithfulness to the Lord. Many of the faces I looked at as I preached were of people who embraced my family, and loved us as we served God together. There is a special bond that exists between a pastor and the people he serves. We celebrate some of life’s most joyous moments together - births, baptisms, marriages, and special occasions. We walk together through grief, loss, and many other difficult situations we face in life. We left that church because God called our family to serve as missionaries in Brazil. That meant a lot of things. We sold almost all of our belongings in an auction because we could not take them with us. We left what had been our home for the final time after the auction, and drove to the church building. It was time to leave my keys in what had been my study. Shar, the boys and I formed a circle in the foyer. As we held hands, I said, “Let’s thank God for our time here and all the special friends we’ve made.” I started the prayer, but I couldn’t finish it. I was overcome with emotion. My dear wife finished the prayer for our family, and thanked God for the special bond we had with these precious people. The kindness they expressed to us that Sunday was like the kindness we felt years ago as their pastor. It’s like we picked up where we left off. They were so gracious and said so many kind things. We laughed, hugged, took pictures together, and remembered. It was a welcome time of encouragement for Shar and me. Everyone likes being loved. It is also an incredible privilege to be called “Pastor,” as well as an incredible responsibility - one that your pastor takes very seriously. He carefully studies the Bible so that he correctly teaches the “Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:14-15). He prays for you and watches over your spiritual life as one who “...will give an account...” (Hebrews 13:17). He does the “...work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5) and equips God’s people to “...do the work of the ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). As we enter Pastor Appreciation Month, let me encourage you to love on your pastor and his family. Express your appreciation to them. It will mean more to them than you will ever know. There are lots of ways to express love to your pastor. Have fun and get the whole church involved. Make a video of children in the church answering the question: What do you like about our Pastor? Rather than T.P. the pastor’s house, have the students do a toilet paper drive. Adults could shower them with cards, give the family (or couple) a night out, or send them on a short getaway. One of the most enjoyable times I had was when I was “Roasted.” Enter “Pastor Appreciation Month” in your internet search engine and you will find lots of ideas. Never miss the opportunity to celebrate your pastor’s dedication to the Lord and commitment to the church. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #OCTOBER18

EDITOR'S NOTE: Nancy Spears is filling in as guest-writer for Mick Schatz's column this month. She serves as administrative assistant for Mick Schatz and the Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center. ROSCOMMON, MI – As a member of a smaller Southern Baptist Church, one of my favorite times of the year is annual meeting time. I look forward to the days of great preaching, inspiring teaching, and awesome worship times. Back “in the day,” the associations would meet for three sessions over two days, and then the state convention would meet for at least as long with nationally known speakers and Bible teachers. Missionaries, home on furlough, shared about their work in different areas of the world, too. One of the best parts of the experience is the feeling of being part of something bigger, a group of Christian people/churches uniting together to impact the world. My church is committed to this partnership, participating in the support of missionaries, seminaries, and the work in our state through the Cooperative Program. It inspiring and affirming, and we take that renewed passion back to our church to those who were not able to attend. Today is a different day. People are not impressed with long, leisurely meetings with meals and coffee breaks. Our society is face paced, and we want the crib notes. The associations meet for a half day or maybe a few hours. The convention’s annual meeting this year is following suit with a one day event, but the content of this meeting has not changed significantly. There will be great preaching and wonderful times of worship. Reports from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB) will be a part of the event as well. Displays will include our mission boards, some seminaries, Guidestone Retirement Plan as well as local information from SEND Detroit, Disaster Relief and Bambi Lake. And of course, there will be a brief time of business as is necessary for any organization to stay organized! Seeing the impact that we are making in the world as we partner together is a big deal for me. Sometimes, it is easy to look at one church or one part of the body of Christ, and feel a little overwhelmed. It is not about you or me. It is about all of us, together, in one voice, raising our praises to the only ONE who is worthy. The worship experience alone is a great reason to attend the BSCM’s Annual Meeting at Grace Church in Jackson. It is always interesting to check out another church - get ideas from them for worship center décor, what information is in their welcome center, or how the bathrooms are decorated. And there is always some information to be gained through the meeting, if only the schedule for the upcoming events and retreats at Bambi Lake and other places around the state that can help train and refresh your church members and leaders. The most important reason to attend the BSCM Annual Meeting remains networking, meeting like-minded people of faith, face to face. The people you will meet are reaching out in their communities, reaching a culture that is unique to their area, and yet similar in the struggles of being relevant in a technological and impersonal, fallen world. Personal contact is rare and precious. Our churches are spread over a large geographic area. It is a time for putting names and faces together. Meeting people from big churches, small churches, city churches and rural ones. Hearing from church planters who are starting churches in our state. Committing to pray for one another. Getting a renewed vision of what we can do together that we cannot do alone. As part of the BSCM family, we want everyone to be present when we meet. We are many churches, but one body of believers. There is a family bond-undeniable and indescribable, as the Holy Spirit indwells Christians fellowshipping together. Be a part! Each person, each church, is important as we work together to reach the lost people of Michigan. To register for the 2018 BSCM Annual Meeting, visit bscm.org/2018. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mick Schatz serves on the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. He is the State Director of Spiritual Enrichment and Retreats and lives at Bambi Lake. #OCTOBER18

NASHVILLE, TN – In recent months, churches have been rocked by high-profile accusations of sexual misconduct among clergy. While the Catholic church’s continued abuse scandal has dominated the headlines, Protestant churches have also seen high profile pastors accused of sexual misconduct. More accusations are likely to come—from congregations big and small. One in 8 Protestant senior pastors say a church staff member has sexually harassed a member of the congregation at some point in the church’s history. One in 6 pastors say a staff member has been harassed in a church setting. Two-thirds of pastors say domestic or sexual violence occurs in the lives of people in their congregation. And many pastors believe the #MeToo movement has made their churches more aware of how common sexual and domestic violence are. More pastors say they are addressing these issues from the pulpit. Still, half say they lack training in how to address sexual and domestic violence, Those are among the findings of a new study on pastors’ views on #MeToo and sexual and domestic violence in churches from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. The study, sponsored by IMA World Health and Sojourners, is a follow up to a 2014 survey. Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, says the #MeToo movement—and more public discussion of sexual and domestic violence—seems to have gotten pastors’ attention. “Pastors are starting to talk about issues like sexual harassment and domestic abuse more than in the past,” McConnell said. “They don’t always know how to respond—but fewer see them as taboo subjects.” Most aware of #MeToo For the study, LifeWay Research conducted a phone survey of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors earlier this year—then compared the results to a similar survey in 2014. Researchers also asked additional questions specifically about the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements. Eighty-five percent of pastors in the survey say they have heard of the #MeToo movement. Fewer pastors (16 percent) have heard of the #ChurchToo movement, which focused specifically on sexual harassment and abuse in the church. Eighty-four percent have not heard of #ChurchToo. Three-quarters of pastors (76 percent) say they know someone who has been sexually harassed. Mainline pastors (82 percent) are more likely to say they know someone who has been harassed than evangelical pastors (71 percent). Twelve percent of Protestant pastors say someone on church staff has sexually harassed a congregation member at some point in the church’s life. Eighty-five percent say no staff member has been found to have done so. Three percent don’t know. Pentecostal (94 percent) and Baptist (89 percent) pastors are more likely to say there has been no harassment found. Christian/Church of Christ (79 percent) and Presbyterian/Reformed (79 percent) pastors are less likely. Sixteen percent say a staff member has experienced sexual harassment in a church setting. Eighty-two percent say that has not happened. Two percent don’t know. Mainline pastors (22 percent) are more likely to say a staff member has been harassed than evangelical pastors (11 percent). Eighty percent of pastors say their church has a policy for sexual harassment allegations against staff. Nineteen percent say they don’t have a policy. Two percent don’t know. A few pastors have firsthand knowledge of abuse. One in 5 pastors say they personally have experienced domestic or sexual violence. Four out of five say they have not. #MeToo Leads to Action, Confusion The #MeToo movement has prompted some pastors to action. It also appears to have led to some confusion among pastors and their congregations. Forty-one percent of Protestant senior pastors who have heard of #MeToo say they are more inclined to preach about sexual and domestic violence in response to the movement. Forty-eight percent say they are inclined to speak about the issues about the same amount as they had in the past. Twelve percent say they are less inclined to speak as a result of #MeToo. Methodist (57 percent) and Presbyterian/Reformed (52 percent) pastors are more likely to say they will preach more about sexual and domestic violence. Fewer Lutheran (37 percent), Church of Christ/Christian (36 percent), Baptist (30 percent) and Pentecostal (24 percent) pastors say they are now more inclined to preach on those topics. Forty percent of those who have heard of #MeToo say they understand issues of sexual and domestic violence better because of the movement. Twenty-one percent say their understanding of the issues has not changed. Thirty-nine percent say they now have more questions. Congregation members also have questions, according to pastors. A third of pastors (32 percent) who have heard of #MeToo say their congregation is more confused about sexual and domestic violence. Sixty-two percent say their congregation has more empathy for victims. Fifty-eight percent say their congregation is more aware of how common sexual and domestic violence is. A few (14 percent) say their congregation has become callous toward the issue. Among other findings about pastors who have heard of #MeToo: 49 percent of mainline pastors are inclined to preach more about domestic and sexual violence. 32 percent of evangelical pastors are inclined to preach more about domestic and sexual violence. 48 percent of mainline pastors say they understand more. 32 percent of evangelical pastors say they understand more. 70 percent of mainline pastors say their churches have become more empathetic. 57 percent of evangelical pastors say their churches have become more empathetic. 44 percent of Christian/Church of Christ ministers say their churches have more confusion. 27 percent of Methodist pastors say their churches have more confusion. 18 percent of Baptist pastors say their churches are callous. 10 percent of Presbyterian/Reformed pastors say their churches are callous. “We are encouraged that more and more pastors are speaking out and seeking training to make their churches safer sanctuaries for survivors of violence, but the results also show that we—as a Christian community—still fall short,” said Sojourners President and Founder Jim Wallis. “If we believe that how we treat the most vulnerable is how we treat Christ, we must be in deep solidarity with the women and men who experience domestic or sexual abuse at some point in their lives,” Wallis said. “If we believe we are all created in the image of God, we cannot tolerate that only half of pastors feel prepared to respond to domestic and sexual violence situations.” Domestic abuse less taboo For the study, LifeWay Research asked Protestant pastors a series of detailed questions about how they handle the topics of sexual and domestic abuse. Three-quarters (77 percent) say they speak about domestic violence at least once a year. That includes 26 percent who speak about it once a year and 51 percent who speak about it more than once a year. By contrast, only 34 percent of Protestant senior pastors spoke about domestic violence more than once a year in a similar study in 2014. Many pastors (75 percent) who address sexual or domestic violence at least once a year or more say they do so because they have seen the impact of such violence firsthand. Eighty-seven percent say sexual or domestic violence is an issue in their community. Ninety-six percent know of resources to help victims. Only 1 in 5 (18 percent) say they address domestic or sexual violence because it is an issue in their congregation. Almost half (46 percent) speak about it because they have been trained in domestic violence issues. Almost half (46 percent) of pastors who don’t address sexual or domestic violence say it is not an issue in their congregation. Twenty-nine percent say other topics are more important. Nineteen percent say they don’t know the issue well enough. Nineteen percent also say it is not an issue in their community. Sixteen percent say it is not appropriate to address domestic or sexual violence publicly. “Despite the widespread public conversation, 1 in 5 pastors don’t feel compelled to address domestic or sexual violence,” McConnell said. Action steps LifeWay Research found that pastors often take action when they learn about cases of domestic and sexual violence. Pastors believe victims need help from outside of their families when abuse occurs in the home. Eighty percent say in cases of domestic or sexual violence that occur in the home—including physical violence, child abuse, or marital rape—outside intervention is needed. Nine percent say such violence should be resolved primarily within the family. Eleven percent don’t know. In cases of domestic violence, 82 percent of Protestant senior pastors say they would counsel a victim to seek support from a domestic abuse expert. Eight percent say they would tell a victim to try and improve the relationship with their spouse. Ten percent don’t know what they would counsel a victim to do. Sixty-four percent of pastors agree that sexual or domestic violence occurs in the lives of people in their congregation—including 24 percent who strongly agree. Thirty percent disagree—including 13 percent who strongly disagree. Sixty-two percent say their church has taken action against domestic or sexual abuse at least once a year. Ninety-six percent of pastors say they have a responsibility to ask church members about possible abuse if they see signs of domestic or sexual violence. Three percent disagree. When responding to a case of domestic or sexual violence, 81 percent of pastors say they have provided a referral to an agency that assists victims. Seventy percent have provided marriage or couple’s counseling. Forty-six percent provided counseling for the abuser. Forty percent did a safety risk assessment for the victim. Despite their willingness to help, many pastors still feel ill-prepared according to the study. Only about half (55 percent) of pastors say they are familiar or very familiar with domestic violence resources in their community. And half say they don’t have sufficient training to address sexual or domestic abuse. “Pastors want to care for victims of domestic and sexual violence,” McConnell said. “And they are often called to care for victims. But they don’t always know what to do.” And some of the ways they respond can cause more harm than good according to experts, said McConnell. Domestic violence experts, for example, say providing safety for victims should come first. Yet, less than half of pastors have done an assessment. And many pastors provide couples counseling in response to violence, something experts say can put victims at risk, said McConnell. “We know caring faith communities respond to need. But in responding to abuse and harassment, we have much work left to do,” said Rick Santos, president and CEO of IMA World Health. “Our next generation of faith leaders need to be prepared to preach about prevention from the pulpit, create a safe space within their churches and lend their voices to the movement for lasting change in our society.” For more information on this study, visit LifeWayResearch.com or view the complete survey report PDF. Methodology: The phone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors was conducted June 19-July 2, 2018. The study was sponsored by IMA World Health and Sojourners. The calling list was a stratified random sample, drawn from a list of all Protestant churches. Quotas were used for church size. Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest of the church called. Responses were weighted by region to more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,000 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.2 percent. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Comparisons are made to a phone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors conducted by LifeWay Research May 7-31, 2014 using the same methodology. LifeWay Research is a Nashville-based, evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Smietana is the former senior writer for Facts & Trends. #SEPTEMBER18

FRANCES BROWN AND HER IMPACT ON MICHIGAN Michigan Baptists remember Frances Brown as our first executive director of Michigan Woman’s Missionary Union (1958-78) as well as her high allegiance to Jesus Christ and His cause of global missions around the world and here in Michigan. Frances had a view of the entire world as she lived, traveled and served for twenty years here in Michigan. She repeatedly reminded men, women, and children that Michigan needed to know Jesus. Realizing the spiritual needs of our continually changing state with the tapestry of races and cultures, she led the way for us to pray for missions here in Michigan. Frances was always ready to help associations and churches when called. After her death in 1979, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan named the state mission offering in her memory, Frances Brown State Mission Offering. THE STATE MISSION OFFERING The Frances Brown State Mission Offering is an annual offering taken by Michigan Baptist Churches to fund special mission projects for starting, strengthening, and sending churches within the state of Michigan. The 2018 Frances Brown State Mission Offering goal is $90,000 and will be allocated as follows: THE POWER OF ONE: MULTIPLIED We face a massive task in reaching every person in the State of Michigan with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Think of the astonishing achievements that would be possible when every member of every church is involved in praying, serving and giving. A multiplication of involvement by every single believer of Jesus Christ. This is what is needed in every church today: Everyone Praying It is a week of prayer when everyone could devote time to prayer and worship. Lifting up our Michigan Pastors and Church Planters who are beginning new works in our State. Everyone Serving A key role is played by each one of us. Together we use are skills and ability to do the work that God has given us to do. If we are to achieve what God is calling us to do we need this multiplication of volunteers. Everyone Giving If our convention of churches is to achieve everything that God is calling us to do, we will need everyone giving. As everyone becomes involved in giving, God is able to multiply our gifts and do more than we could ever ask or even imagine. “THEN GOD’S MESSAGE FLOURISHED AND MULTIPLIED” ACTS 12:24 The success of God's plans is never in question. All that God intended shall surely come to pass. Will you pray and ask God how you can have an impact on Michigan? How will you pray, give and serve to help see God’s Word multiplied in Michigan? For more information about the Frances Brown State Mission Offering, visit bscm.org/smo. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett is the Women's Ministries/WMU Director for the BSCM. She attends Lakepointe Church in Macomb, MI. #SEPTEMBER18

FENTON, MI – “The Power of One: Multiplied” is challenging Michigan Baptists to think about their calling to reach their neighbors for Jesus, and how what they do can be multiplied. That is the theme for this year’s Frances Brown State Mission Offering and Week of Prayer. The State Mission Offering is how Michigan Baptists give additional support to mission causes within our state. The goal for this year’s offering is $90,000. The gifts will be evenly divided between the areas of starting churches, strengthening churches, sending churches, and the Bambi Lake Conference Center. The Week of Prayer for state missions is scheduled for September 9-16, 2018. During the week churches and Michigan Baptists will be encouraged to pray each day for church planters, missionaries, and different areas of ministry that are supported by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). Some of the ministry areas include Disaster Relief, Bambi Lake Camp, and church planting near a number of our state’s college campuses. BSCM Executive Director-Treasurer, Dr. Tim Patterson says, “when you give to our Frances Brown State Mission Offering, we guarantee that it’s going to the right place at the right time. It’s going to places of ministry today because of what you did yesterday.” Churches interested in promoting this year’s offering have a number of resources available to help. Go to www.bscm.org/smo. There are downloadable posters, flyers and bulletin inserts. This year there are also three videos including one video sharing the offering’s theme, another one about new church planting efforts, and finally, a video sharing a personal story about the impact of the Bambi Lake camp over the years. You and I are being encouraged to prayerfully consider a sacrificial gift to this year’s state mission offering. Those gifts will allow our churches and individuals to see “the power of one, multiplied.” (To download this video for playing in your church service or small group setting, click here.) (To download this video for playing in your church service or small group setting, click here.) (To download this video for playing in your church service or small group setting, click here.) #AUGUST18 #SEPTEMBER18

ROSCOMMON, MI – Brett and Niccole Luker’s lives took a detour this summer. Brett serves as an associate pastor for Christian Challenge at Michigan State University, and Niccole who loves the arts was working as a cake decorator when they got a call. “This wasn’t on our radar. Bambi Lake was something that we weren’t expecting to happen,” Brett says, “We got a phone call, and we felt God just says ’Go’.” He adds, “That has really impacted us as a couple because it’s really allowing us to experience what God can do when he tells you to go.” So Brett and Niccole spent the last few months as summer missionaries on staff at the Bambi Lake Conference Center. What that has meant has been lots of roles as needed. Niccole says the assignment “has gotten us out of our comfort zone, and has given us the opportunity to just serve a lot of people.” Brett adds, “You never know what’s going to happen the next day. You always have to be expecting the unexpected.” Brett and Niccole did a lot of hard work as part of their summer calling. Brett helped with much of the maintenance and revitalization of the camp, and Niccole serves behind the scenes in the kitchen and many other places in the camp. But the real reason that they are here is to have a spiritual impact. Brett talks about leading a young student to a profession of faith. “This young man came and responded to an altar call that we had. I had the opportunity to share the gospel with him, and he was open. It was wonderful.” Niccole understands the impact a week at camp can have on a young student’s life because of her own experience at a camp as a high school student even before she had become a believer. She says, “That was just the beginning for me, but the thing I love about Bambi is that it gives you the opportunity to get away from noise and you just have the ability to just come and focus just on God.” The Bambi Lake Conference Center has a long history of being the launching point for many of Michigan Baptists over the years. It supports the Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s (BSCM) three areas of focus; starting, strengthening and sending. This year a portion of the Frances Brown State Mission Offering will go to the Bambi Lake Conference Center to increase it’s impact of starting, strengthening, and sending the churches of Michigan Baptists. If you would like to promote the offering in your church, there are resources to help at bscm.org/smo. #SEPTEMBER18

FENTON, MI – Christ is speaking to His Church! For many of us the study, “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby and Claude King was transformational in our spiritual lives. They helped us see that God is always at work around us, and to learn Biblical principles to identify what He is doing. We were challenged to align our lives with God and join Him in His work. The spirit of listening to and obeying the risen Christ will take center stage at the Church Revitalization Conference, September 22, at Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton. Richard Blackaby and Mark Clifton are helping churches across North America through: “Revive. Reversing the Trends. Reviving the Church.” The conference will focus on: “Christ’s Presence and His Church” “Christ’s Purpose and His Church” “Reclaiming the Glory” “Developing a Powerful Praying Church” “Leading Out of the Overflow” And Q/A with Richard and Mark I want to encourage you to do all you can to attend. Come with your church family as Michigan Baptist Churches seek Christ together. Burton is a long way from many of our churches, and we want to help you get there. If you drive with two (or more hopefully) in your car, and travel more than 200 - 250 miles round trip, we will send the driver a check for $25 to offset the gas expenses. If you have 2 (or more hopefully) in your car and drive over 251 miles round trip, we will send the driver $40 to offset the gas expenses. (Please note that you must fill out a W9 and turn it in at the event to receive your check. This offer is only available the day of the CRC.) Everyone who attends will receive lunch and two books: Flickering Lamps and Reclaiming Glory. All of this for $10 per person! Register at BSCM.org/register. Richard Blackaby is the President of Blackaby Ministries International. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace, as well as on spiritual awakening, Experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEO’s as well as church and family leaders. He served as senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, and then as President of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada for 13 years. He continues to serve as the seminary’s Chancellor. He has written or co-authored more than 30 books (From his bio). Mark Clifton is the Senior Director of Replanting at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Mark has served as a pastor, church planter, church revitalizer, mission strategist, coach and mentor to young leaders. He has planted and replanted numerous churches, and has also served as a national and regional leader for church planting and missions. His experience includes serving as the lead mission strategist for the Kansas/Nebraska Southern Baptist Convention, leading church planting efforts in the regions of north metro Atlanta, Georgia, serving as a church planter in Montreal, Quebec, as a Southern Baptist National Church Planting Missionary for eastern Canada, and has lead Southern Baptist church planting projects west of the Mississippi. Mark has been planting, replanting, and providing strategic mission leadership since 1978. (From his bio). ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #SEPTEMBER18

FENTON, MI – From misused prescription opioids to heroin addiction, millions of people in North America are caught up in the drug epidemic. An average of 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Send Relief (NAMB) is catalyzing churches across the continent to help, and we need you and your church to be a part of the fight for change. You can help and together, we can make a difference. “Americans of faith have taken a leading role in the compassionate approach we need to take on this [opioid] crisis, and we’re eager to support their work, however we can.” — Secretary Alex M. Azar, II, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Do an internet search for resources, you and your church can download to help you get started. In 2016, over 11 million Americans misused prescription opioids, nearly one million used heroin, and 2.1 million had an opioid-use disorder due to prescription opioids or heroin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes that faith-based and community partners eagerly and willingly step in to meet the needs of their colleagues, friends and neighbors, especially during times of emergency and distress. That’s why HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (also known as “The Partnership Center”) was created. Partnering with government efforts enable a positive response to the current opioid health crisis. Email the Partnership Center for more information: Partnerships@HHS.gov. To Get Started here are just a few ways to open your doors to the community: Offer your space for weekly recovery programs and/or self-help support groups for people with substance-use disorders, as well as their families who may also need support. Connect people to existing support in your community. Offer free transportation to treatment services and/or recovery support programs. Advertise local meetings in your newsletters, community calendars, websites, and social media channels. Consider including: Local AA.org, NA.org and/or CelebrateRecovery.com mutual aid support groups. SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Free, confidential help in English/Spanish, 24/7): (800) 662- HELP (4357). A West Virginia pastor wisely said, “Churches are not neutral bystanders: What they don’t say is just as important as what they do say.” As stated earlier, finding a supportive community is essential to recovery. However, old conventions, as well as misunderstandings about addiction and the recovery process, often stand in the way of our communities providing the critical support and connections people need. Our hope is that as addiction is understood as a treatable, chronic, medical condition — and not a personal or moral failing — prejudice and shame will be replaced by a spirit of compassion and hope that opens doors, hearts, and resources to those suffering with a substance-use disorder Pray about how you and your church may become a positive part of overcoming this nationwide epidemic. #SEPTEMBER18

LOS ANGELES, CA – When you decide, as the pastor, to lead your church for the first time to be a Sending Church and take responsibility to start a new church, it’s likely you will receive objections from your people. This is common. Any time a pastor attempts to shape and lead a church in a new direction, he is sure to face opposition. A critical thing to consider is how you, as pastor, respond to those objections. Will you respond harshly or will you respond confidently with compassion that will help you lead your people to be passionate about multiplication? There are, of course, numerous objections that could be raised, but let’s just take a look at a few in this series of blog posts. “It costs too much.” This most common objection in most people’s mind is the cost. The reality is there are few churches with massive vaults of resources just sitting around waiting to be spent. Most churches are living lean — attempting to conserve their resources and do what they need to in order to meet their annual budget. The thought of adding something new, particularly something that is unlikely to produce any immediate dividends to the church, can be daunting to many. Most people feel this way because when they think of starting a new church, they only have your church in mind. Your church may have a building, programs, and maintenance that cost money to maintain. They think about the challenges your church faces each day and cannot comprehend starting another church and doubling the same challenges financially. Here are three ways to counter this objection: First, the truth is not all church planting costs a lot of money. Some church plants may not cost any money, depending on the model and the context. It’s entirely possible for a church plant to live lean for a number of years as it strives to engage the lost and make disciples. It could be years before the church has the type of financial needs that typically come to the mind of most. While a new church will contain your DNA, it will not be a mirror image of your established church. We have to lead our church to understand that the new church may not look like us. If you need an illustration, consider my two daughters. Thank the Lord they don’t look just like me. They would be ugly girls if they did! My wife gave birth to daughters, not duplicates. Help your church members understand that when you start a new church, you are birthing a daughter, not a duplicate. Second, even if the church wanted to be a part of something requiring high financial costs, partnering with other small churches can spread the burden of resources. The SBC is a denomination of small- to medium-sized churches. For these churches to engage in church planting, they must think beyond a model that requires a singular sending church to do all of the work. Instead, multiple churches can work together to help the church financially. Third, financial risk, while intimidating, requires the Sending Church to assess the current use of its resources and discern how it might conserve or save in order to fund what is truly important. Without the external pressure of a church plant, many would-be Sending Churches are never forced to ask hard questions about their current spending and find ways to give to planting endeavors. Though this type of self-reflection is rarely fun, it’s necessary for a church to truly embody its Great Commission identity. In summary, the cost of becoming a Sending Church is only one aspect of creating new avenues for reaching our world with the Gospel. How do you put a price on that? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shane Critser lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jennifer, and their three kids, Chase, Chloe and Charley. Before moving to Los Angeles, Shane served as the director of church and missionary discovery at NAMB. He previously served as the mission pastor at Hope Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nev. You can follow Shane on Twitter @shanecritser. Courtesy of NAMB #Send Network Blog #SEPTEMBER18