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MERIDIAN, ID – Chuckling in your face. Wincing in disapproval. Polite smiles with a faraway look in their eyes. God’s Word has that effect on lost souls. When believers receive disappointing responses from proclaiming the gospel, it can cause us to think twice when opportunities arise again. What are ways that a Christian believer can continue to be bold witnesses? It starts with discovering that strength comes from our weaknesses. We tend to think that gifted evangelists never seem to get rattled. They appear bold and fearless. They readily talk about their faith with anyone God places in their lives. But for many Christians, including myself, we are prone to be reluctant witnesses. We twinge with awkwardness at the prospect of sharing a gospel message with a lost soul. And when golden moments arise for us to step out and share our faith with others, we become mute. Who has stood on the shores of guilt and watched missed opportunities float away in full sail? What prompts us to dive off the high board of our own inadequacies and be God’s ambassadors? What dares a redeemed soul to jump off the bridge and share the Good News of forgiveness and peace found only in Christ? Are we like Gideon, demanding a sign before we step out in faith? Are we like Jonah, who think all our neighbors are Ninevites? The Apostle Paul answers these questions. He acknowledges fear. He confesses timidity. He understands weakness. In fact, he declares that only in his weaknesses that he finds his strength. (2 Cor. 12:10) Perhaps Paul was not gregarious, outgoing, or an extrovert — all characteristics that we may consider necessary to be witnessing giants. Instead, Paul would agree that in humility, we are bold. In gentleness, we are resolute. In patience, we are persistent. In peace, we are discerning. The source of Paul’s strength found in his weaknesses, was Christ living in him. A believer’s weaknesses are often exposed in evangelism. This is the reason why verbally proclaiming the gospel is uncomfortable, intimidating, and scary. There will always be threats – real or imagined – and potential consequences associated with being God’s ambassador and verbally sharing his message with others. Yet, only through the power of the message can lost souls receive the knowledge of the Truth. God sets apart believers to communicate its message and unsheathe its power. Every evangelist gets rattled. Their boldness is not necessarily a personality trait, but an outward appearance of an inward trust in God’s promises. And the greatest promises God gives us with the Great Commission is that he is with us. Faith trusts God’s promises and takes him for his Word. Proclaiming the gospel is an exercise of a faith. When believers exercise their faith and proclaim the gospel, they make four discoveries: After jumping off the high dive of our own inadequacies, we discover that Christ has always been there. Like a little child jumping off the side of the pool, we fall into our father’s waiting arms and realize that there was nothing to fear. There was no need to be intimidated. After jumping off the ledge of our own fears of rejection, we discover that God provides unique opportunities specifically designed for us. We were arriving at an appointment that is often pre-arranged by God. After receiving a disappointing response by people, we discover that we don’t need to take their response at face value. It’s not personal. It’s between them and God. Believers process rejection by understanding that receiving faith is often a process. Their soil was not ready for them to respond well. After sharing God’s Word, we discover that proclaiming the gospel is not natural. Verbally proclaiming the gospel requires courage and a measure of boldness. It is something that we cannot generate on our own but comes from the power of the Holy Spirit. The promise of his presence (Matt 28:19) comes true. He is with us. Evangelism exposes our weaknesses. Believers are blessed by the activity of verbally proclaiming the gospel by trusting and receiving God’s promises in a powerful way. Adapted by previous blog post, “Four key discoveries in overcoming the fear of evangelism.” (November 2013) Evangelists are effective when they: Trust that God’s Word is sufficient for salvation. They need nothing more than the message. Understand that their most powerful tool is God’s Word and use it exclusively to bring as many people to heaven as possible. Understand that God’s Word alone is all they need to proclaim to others the only way to life with God – both now and forever. Understand that the Holy Spirit works through the Word to bring salvation to everyone who believes. Their role in evangelism is to get the Word out. Accept God’s commission to go out into the world and unsheathe the powerful Words of Truth. Are more intent on winning souls than winning arguments. They focus on planting seeds of the gospel and trusting that God will cause the seed to grow. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave Malnes is the founder and director of Praise and Proclaim Ministries in Meridian, Idaho (www.praiseandproclaim.com). This ministry is all about providing meaningful opportunities for Christians to actively share the gospel of Jesus Christ. #MAY18

RICHMOND, VA (BP) – Before I moved back to the U.S. after serving as a missionary for two years in South Asia, many people told me to expect a difficult season as I returned home. They told me I would experience reverse culture shock in a variety of ways. Reverse culture shock is a common experience for many returning missionaries. And, speaking from experience, it would be easy to let these struggles paralyze “us” when we return from the field. However, our field experience -- whether it was two years or 20 -- has given us a tremendous opportunity to continue the work back home. Scripture holds a high view of the local church and gives us examples of how people like Paul and Barnabas equipped the local church for mission (Acts 14:24-28). Like them, missionaries can take their passion for sharing the Gospel and turn it into a desire to equip the American church. Sharing the Gospel through shared experiences Last Christmas, I invited a South Asian friend to go see Christmas lights around our city. Instead of going with her by myself, I decided to invite a fellow church member, Sarah, to go with us. During the evening, many doors were opened for Gospel conversations. Sarah shared the Christmas story and later elaborated on why we serve the one true God. Afterward, Sarah was overcome with joy. We talked about what a privilege it was to share the best news of all. She was reminded of how easy it can be to have spiritual conversations, and she shared her desire to make Gospel proclamation a higher priority. She was convicted that she had not taken full advantage of the Gospel opportunities with her own South Asian neighbors. The Lord used that evening to challenge and encourage me in three specific ways. Build relationships with the unreached in my city, share the Gospel with them, and bring fellow believers with me. Jesus exemplified this methodology by bringing his disciples with Him as He preached the Gospel in word and deed. Believers can attend every evangelism class and training that comes along, but there is something about actually seeing another believer demonstrate Gospel proclamation that makes it click. I have found that my best evangelistic conversations have happened alongside another believer. Just as Sarah said, sharing the Gospel is not that hard! Invite more of my believing friends into my relationships with South Asians. Before we went to see Christmas lights that night, my South Asian friend invited us in for chai with her husband. We ended up staying a full hour before we ventured out. Sarah mentioned later how unusual that experience was for her. Her first instinct when we were invited in for chai was to say no. She didn't want to be a burden on the couple. However, South Asian culture is very different from American culture. Although we may see guests as an inconvenience, South Asians see guests as an honor. Many Americans Christians fear stepping into cross-cultural relationships because they have not had a cross-cultural experience. As returned missionaries, we can use our experience to teach other believers about and invite them into our cross-cultural relationships. In doing so we help lessen initial fear and discomfort and increase a desire to build cross-cultural and missional relationships. Believers experience great joy when we share the hope of the Gospel with someone who has not heard and is searching. We are not merely saved from our sin. We are saved to make disciples of all nations. We fully live out the life God intends for us when we share the Gospel with the unreached around us. In doing so, we glorify God and experience the unique joy of joining God on mission -- part of the intended purpose of our salvation. This joy we experience can only come from our obedience to proclaim the good news. It is a unique and contagious joy. I pray as missionaries come back from the field, they are burdened with the state of faith here in America and with the lack of joy many American Christians experience when they are not obedient to share the Gospel. It is an act of love toward your fellow believer to encourage and equip them to live on mission. I also pray that many more believers would choose obedience to the Great Commission for the glory of God and the sake of the lost around them. Returned missionaries can use their unique cross-cultural experiences to equip the American church to share the Gospel with those around them. As missionaries come back from the field, I pray they will take advantage of this unique opportunity and allow themselves to be used in catalytic ways. I also pray that the Lord will raise up an army of American believers passionate about sharing the Gospel and making disciples of all nations starting in their backyard. If you would like more information about serving as a missionary or simply sharing your faith through conversation, go to imb.org. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Emily Verlin is a missions minister at a local church in Tennessee. Previously she served in South Asia with the 2+2 program through the IMB and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. #MAY18

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – This time of year my yard is littered with awful yellow weed-flowers. Yes, dandelions. As a kid it was great fun to pluck a fuzzy white one, hold it up, and blow. This scattered the fluff into the air, eventually landing again in the grass. At the time, I had no idea I was spreading this wild invasive weed to disturb the carefully manicured grass. Now as a homeowner and the resident gardener, each weekend I toil to pluck up this weed that seems to spread regardless of what I do to stop it. Dandelions multiply and spread by nature, much like the gospel. Consider for a moment how news of Jesus spread wherever he went (Mark 1:21–28, 40–45; 5:1–20). Despite Jesus’s best efforts to temper the excitement, his fame and healings spread far and wide. It was like the ripe dandelion scattering into the wind, taking root wherever it flies. The gospel travels like that, from person to person, family to family, and community to community. The word of God takes off like this, with a life of its own, in the story of Acts: “But the word of God increased and multiplied.” (Acts 12:24) “And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.” (Acts 13:49) “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” (Acts 19:20) So if the word of God — the good news of Jesus Christ — inherently possesses the power to increase and multiply through the work of the Holy Spirit, then why is evangelism so difficult? Why don’t we share the gospel more than we do? We need to ask if we are a fresh wind that causes the seed of the good news to spread, or instead, obstacles that keep it from moving further and faster. Unfortunately, many of us are more wall than breeze. But why? Four Obstacles to Evangelism 1. Lack of Gospel Knowledge How many times have you heard the gospel in a sermon, book, or conversation? If you’ve been a Christian, even for a short time, you have likely heard the gospel hundreds of times. Yet, many of us still struggle to articulate the truths of the gospel in a simple, coherent, and intelligible way. Could you share the essential message of the gospel in sixty seconds, right now? 2. Apathy Some of us just don’t care that much about lost people. We wouldn’t ever say it, but our priorities and lives reveal it. We make no time in our busy schedules to interact and engage with those who don’t know Christ. We have long stopped praying for lost people in our neighborhoods and workplaces. We have no non-Christian friends, and barely any ties. Lost people are a low priority. For instance, when was the last time you invited someone into your home who did not know Christ? 3. Fear What will others think of me? What if they don’t like me or my family? Some are paralyzed by the thought of being disliked, marginalized, laughed at, or openly mocked. We’re afraid we’ll lose business or get passed up for that promotion. What if they stop inviting my kids to the birthday parties? What if talking about Christ makes seeing my neighbors awkward? What if they lump me together with Ned Flanders or the Westboro Baptist Church-cult? 4. Lack of Compassion We lack compassion for the lost. We have long forgotten what it was like to live without hope, lost and apart from Christ. We rarely consider that those who do not obey Christ “will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). We just don’t care that much. We might say we care, but we rarely cry out to God for the salvation of our lost neighbors, coworkers, and classmates. Paul’s compassion in Romans 9:3 is utterly foreign to us: “I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.” We Overcome Obstacles Together, Not Alone If making disciples is our mission (Matthew 28:18–20), how can followers of Christ overcome these obstacles to be conduits of grace to the lost? One of the primary ways we can overcome our lack of gospel knowledge, apathy, fear, and lack of compassion is by gathering together with fellow believers to remember and cultivate our core calling and convictions. We are people who have died to ourselves and live for Christ (Galatians 2:20). We have the profound privilege of spurring on fellow believers to love and good works that God has set before us (Hebrews 10:24; Ephesians 2:10). Some of those good works will be giving verbal testimony to the grace of God in our lives and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost. Within the context of Christian community, another believer can speak and remind us of the very truths we need to hear. Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it this way: “We speak to one another on the basis of the help we both need. We admonish one another to go the way that Christ bids us to go. We warn one another against the disobedience that is our common destruction. We are gentle and we are severe with one another, for we know both God’s kindness and God’s severity.” (Life Together, 106) All Christians need fellow believers to help them grow in their understanding of the gospel. We all need others in our lives who spur us on to a greater compassion and zeal to love the lost by sharing the good news of Jesus willingly, winsomely, and boldly. Here are four ways this can work itself out in a community. Four Steps to Sharing More 1. Pray Together for the Lost As Christians are gathered together in small groups or missional communities, we ought to make it a priority to pray for the lost in addition to our normal prayer concerns. In Acts 4:23–31, after Peter and John are released from prison, the disciples gather to pray for God to give them boldness to speak his word. If the early church needed to pray for greater evangelistic zeal and boldness, how much more do we need to pray similarly in our gatherings? One simple way to consistently do this in a Bible study or small group setting is to conclude your study with this question: What truths did we learn about God and who can we share this with in our spheres of influence? This can naturally transition to praying for those who need to know Christ in our lives. As we pray for God to work in the lives of our lost friends, apathy is transformed to an eagerness and readiness to engage others for the sake of Christ. 2. Recall the Gospel Together In 2 Timothy 2:8–13, Paul reminds Timothy of the truth of the gospel to encourage him to press on and be faithful to the message that has been entrusted to him. If Timothy — a student of Paul, a faithful servant, a pastor, preacher and teacher — needed to be reminded of the truth of the gospel to keep going, how much more do you and I need to be reminded of the eternal truths of the gospel? Much of this reminding happens in the context of gathering together with fellow believers. As God’s people recall his truths — week to week in homes and gathered together in worship — we combat gospel-amnesia by reminding one another that God’s mission is to save sinners through the work of his Son Jesus. As we re-preach the gospel to ourselves and to one another, we’ll be more prepared to speak it afresh to those without Christ. 3. Apply the Gospel Together In Galatians 2:11–14, Paul opposes Peter because Peter’s conduct and behavior were not in accord with the gospel. Similarly, we need fellow Christians who will tell us that it’s not okay to not care about the lost. Such attitudes are not in accord with the gospel. When fear and apathy are exposed, it is a fresh opportunity to apply the gospel to our own lives. If we are fearful of what others may think, we are reminded that our identity is in Christ and our lives belong to him. If we lack compassion, we are rebuked as we consider God’s deep compassion for sheep without a shepherd. Evangelism is one measure of our spiritual maturity. For many, theological knowledge does not translate to fruits of the Spirit — into love for fellow believers, or serving others, or sacrificial giving, or evangelism. Together in community we help one another become more like Christ by being faithful disciple-making disciples. 4. Prove the Power of the Gospel Together If we do not believe the sufficiency of the gospel, we will never share it boldly and simply. Yet, if we truly believe that God’s word does the work of conversion through the power of his Holy Spirit, we will unabashedly share the simple and unadorned truth of the gospel. A truncated and inadequate gospel will quickly be abandoned and never shared. But a gospel that can save by grace through faith — apart from works — as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) is believed, treasured, and declared boldly. With fellow believers, we must remind each other of the sufficiency of God’s word to do his work for his purposes. If we are confident in the ability of the gospel to transform lives, we can boldly and indiscriminately proclaim this good news with sacrificial love to the lost in the hope that some will be saved. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Steven Lee is the lead pastor of the North Campus of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, where he lives with his wife Stephanie and their five children. He is a graduate of Bethlehem College & Seminary. #MAY18

FENTON, MI – Sabrina and I have been blessed to serve in ministry in various capacities and locations. On two separate occasions we had the privilege of serving in South Texas. We first moved to the lower regions of our nation when I was called as the Youth and Music pastor at First Baptist Church of Odem, Texas. It was a small farming community just about twenty miles from Corpus Christi. We lived there for several years before we moved to Oklahoma to pastor Emmanuel Baptist Church of McAllister. Following the Oklahoma pastorate, we were called to pastor Calvary Baptist Church of Kingsville, Texas. We loved the climate and culture of South Texas. It was very similar to that of our place of service in Florida. One of Sabrina’s favorite topographical characteristics of this area was the beaches and especially South Padre Island. She is fully convinced that almost any difficulty can be remedied by a few days of sun, sand and surf. Now most of you know of South Padre Island because of its notoriety concerning the wild and wooly spring breaks that saturate the island with hundreds of thousands of college students, who unwind like the rubber winding on the inside of a tightly wrapped golf ball. They come from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico once a year to bake in the sun, play in the sand and get saturated with suds. (And I’m not talking about soap!) Before it became a popular tourist destination, South Padre Island was home to a few hundred folks who lived there and scratched out a living the best they could. Some even commuted back to the mainland for employment. It was a different time and place for sure. Gaining access to this oasis was simple. The only way across the Laguna Madre to the island was by way of the Queen Isabella Causeway. At one time it was Texas’ longest bridge and has been there for many years. Through the years, people just took for granted that the bridge would be there every day and every night. It was, after all, a means of traversing the waters between the two lands, the only means. One evening in 2001, four loaded barges crashed into the bridge taking out a 240-foot section. The Brown Water V tug and its barges crashed into one of the columns toppling two 80-foot sections of the bridge. A third section collapsed later as a result of the impact. Eight people lost their lives in the incident, most plunging 85 feet into the waters below that were at least 50 feet deep. Thankfully, thirteen others were rescued from the waters that fateful day. Sabrina and I have crossed the Queen Isabella Causeway on many occasions and thought nothing of it. We, as did countless others, just assume it would always be there, and that it would be available for us to traverse the laguna, any time we needed it. One day it was there and the next it was gone. That which we thought was so reliable and sure was rendered useless in a matter of minutes. Many of us depend on a great many things in our lives and to be quite honest, take them for granted. We just assume they will always be there. We put faith in our automobiles to take us from point “a” to point “b”. We believe our loved ones will be ever present, and that our employment is steady and true. The fact is, I could fill pages with items we assume will be consistently present, but there is only one thing that I know of that will always be there. There is only one thing that will never fade or falter. Only One that never sleeps or slumbers. Only One the keeps constant watch over those in His charge. That one is God the Father. He is far more than a bridge over troubled waters, and is everlastingly constant in His presence and power. Some things falter and fail. He does not. Take time today to thank Him for just being there. Eternally constant. Psalm 121:4 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. #MAY18

FENTON, MI – It’s early, too early as I am writing this column, so I’m recovering with a tall coffee and an early morning pause at Panera Bread. One cream and two Splenda. I awoke at 3 AM. I went to the office at 4 AM to straighten up after another blessed executive board meeting. Finished with clean-up by 5 AM, I drove to Plymouth, Mile City Church’s new location, at the Burroughs Building. Knowing I had 3 hours before my meeting would start, I decided to check emails and write this column. So, here I sit. Last night, at the state’s executive board meeting, I unloaded a lot on everyone. As I rushed through the report describing God’s movement over the last 3-4 months in Michigan. I often remind others that I am simply reporting the obvious or the “seen;” Far before I get to testify to what God is doing in our state, the Lord is at work in unseen ways in people's’ lives. The high points went something like this: 1. Last church planter assessment retreat we endorsed 4 new couples to start new churches in Michigan: Bridges, Caldwell, Guyer, and Ruffin. Three of those four couples are from Michigan. One couple is from North Carolina. 2. Antonio & Jessica Wimberly will create a new church in Inkster, late in 2018. Thank God for Middlebelt Baptist Church and Pastor Larry Johnson who are encouraging a second church in their local community and by sending out their associate minister. 3. Seth & Taylor Springs, being trained on the westside of the state at Redemption Church in Grandville, will move to Highland, Michigan, this summer, where Pastor Rob Freshour and Highland Baptist Church and Motor Cities Metro Baptist Association will help them plant a new church in Waterford. 4. Chris Gentz, along with a launch team, will create a new church in Kalamazoo on the campus of Western Michigan University, midyear in 2018. 5. Torion & Jasmine Bridges will create a new church in Redford in 2019. 6. Roland & Tedirika Caldwell, along with a launch team, will start a new church in Detroit in 2018. 7. Michael & Emily Guyer, within 3 days, found an apartment into which they can move in June of 2018 so they can plant a new church on the campus of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Launch team members will join them in August, moving their lives from North Carolina to Ann Arbor. 8. Ray & Mariama Ruffin are making plans to plant a new church in Redford during 2018. 9. John & Jane Doe (will reveal their real names later) are exiting their current ministry in Tennessee during June to create a new church in the Greater Grand Rapids area. 10. Two couples, who will remain nameless for now, have finished their initial online assessment. They are making plans to attend our upcoming assessment in October and if they pass will partner with us creating new churches in Marquette and Traverse City. 11. Austin & Lesley Wadlow, part of a large collegiate church planting network in Iowa, announced they will come to plant a new church in East Lansing on the campus of Michigan State University. Within 5 days of their life-changing announcement, Austin and Lesley had over 60 Iowa students attending an information meeting seeing if the Lord wanted them to move to Michigan for the new church start. 12. At the time of this writing, two pastors in the Saginaw/Bay City area are packing so they can attend a re-planting assessment retreat in Georgia. If things go well, one will become a Sending Pastor and the other will become an endorsed re-planter leading an existing church on an upward trajectory. 13. I cannot be any more specific than this, except to say that an associate minister from one of the top ten most notable Southern Baptist churches in the nation, will revisit Michigan during 2018 to see if this is where he should come to plant a new church. 14. Talking with our church planting catalysts and our Send City Missionary in Detroit, I would estimate that we might have 8-9 candidate couples attending our upcoming October church planter assessment retreat. 15. In further conversation with our church planting network teammates, it appears we may have an additional 40-50 people within our church planting pipeline headed toward becoming church planters in Michigan. As I come to the final lines of this rapid report, I hope you sense the same anticipation that I do. Not only do I see what God is doing within our state, but I believe the Lord is doing even more, in unseen manners while he prepares our region for a major movement of God. If you want to participate in or provide provisions for this movement contact me. I can share ideas on how you can help. In the meantime, keep watching because God is up to something miraculous. 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. #MAY18

FENTON, MI – We got busted! Our son and daughter-in-law were having our first grandchild. Like often happens, she was in labor for hours, and our children graciously invited us to share this moment with them so we hung out with her parents for most of the day. When the contractions got intense and close, we knew from experience that it would not be long. Four parents expectantly waited in the hall outside the door to hear that first cry. Then the nurse came by: “You need to go to the waiting room down the hall.” Busted! In moments like this, it takes enormous, beyond human willpower to keep me from saying something (to that nurse) like: “You bumped your head.” Disappointed, we turned toward the waiting room, until she was out of sight then we quickly developed our recognizance plan. We would take turns walking down the hall and call the rest when the birth was imminent. It is hard to believe how approximately seven pounds of what has been described as “crying on one end and a total lack of responsibility on the other” changed our lives! It was an incredible new beginning for all of us. Jesus used the analogy of birth to tell Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” The Apostle Paul captures the transformation Jesus makes in our lives with the words: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB). One of my favorite new birth stories is that of Charles Spurgeon. He was on his way to church in a snowstorm. It got so bad that he decided to turn down a side street and attend a different church instead. A small group of 12 to 15 gathered for worship. The pastor was not there that morning - probably due to the storm. A man opened the Bible and preached an impromptu message on the text, LOOK UNTO ME, AND BE YE SAVED, ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (Isaiah 45:22 KJV) Spurgeon is not very flattering in the way he describes the singing and the preaching of that snowy day. When the preacher finished his ten-minute message, he looked directly at Spurgeon and said, ‘'Young man, you look very miserable... and you always will be miserable--miserable in life, and miserable in death, --if you don't obey my text; but if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved.... You man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! Look! You have nothin' to do but to look and live.” Those words hit their mark. Spurgeon realized that he needed only to look to Christ and Christ alone for his salvation. He looked to Christ that day and describes what happened: “Simply by looking to Jesus, I had been delivered from despair, and I was brought into such a joyous state of mind that, when they saw me at home, they said to me, ''Something wonderful has happened to you;'' and I was eager to tell them all about it….” As we see the new beginnings of Spring all around us, let’s be eager to tell about the greatest new beginning of all - the one we experience in Christ! 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. #MAY18

ROSCOMMON, MI – By the time you read this article, hopefully the snow will be melted and spring will be bursting forth with sunshine, flowers and new growth. Here at Bambi we have been covered up with the white stuff for what seems life forever. As spring breaks through everything that was once covered in a sheet of white is becoming visible again. A hammer I thought I lost has turned-up again. Covered-up projects left uncompleted are now back on the to-do list along with the unfinished landscaping that was so easy to ignore as long as you couldn’t see it. Since the snow has melted everything that was once hidden has become visible again and requires some attention. Honestly, as much as I get tired of the snow, it is nice to have a rest from weeding, mowing, edging, and all the other yard maintenance stuff. Nevertheless, left unattended the grass and the weeds will become overwhelming and difficult to cut back. I know this for a fact because I have often ignored yard work and just the thought of mowing and trimming the yard back into a manageable situation is overwhelming. The longer it is ignored the more difficult it is to fix and so on and so on. If I would just do regular maintenance on the yard it would never grow out of control. Well, such is life. I don’t like it, but it’s true. My natural tendency in dealing with conflict, relational issues, or frustrating circumstances of any kind is to ignore it and hope it goes away. Often, in the moment it seems so much easier to ignore the situation. It is easier to cover it up with rationalization, denial or busyness. If I can keep my mind preoccupied then I do not have to think about the problems. Obviously, this does not fix anything. Unfortunately, as broken humans, we use all sorts of coping mechanisms or escapes to white-out anything we don’t want to deal with or see. I like to dive into a project I really enjoy so I can validate the time I’m not spending on fixing the problem. No matter your choice of escape, all are equally wrong because it reinforces our selfish, sinful nature,and denies an opportunity for God to intervene. My pride will keep me from experiencing God’s provision. My pride will keep me from experiencing God’s healing in me and those around me. This will prohibit new growth and fresh life in my relationship with Christ. Spiritual/life maintenance is crucial to our spiritual growth. Colossians 3:12-14 tells us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” As God’s children we are to live life with compassion, humility, meekness and patience so we can continually maintain our relationships with others by holding them up in times of need, and forgiving. Love is to be our default heart condition - we should never be without it! Oh the frustration, anger and stress we would avoid if we just maintained our lives with these Godly actions. Imagine the growth we would experience if we just act out of God’s love and not our own selfishness. Imagine the warmth of healing melting away the cold of bitterness. Celebrate, it’s spring! 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. #MAY18

RICHMOND, VA – The International Mission Board’s Presidential Search Committee is accepting nominations for the agency’s next president. The committee, chaired by Chuck Pourciau, senior pastor of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, released the following statement April 12, 2018: The International Mission Board Presidential Search Committee has benefited greatly from your prayers and input during the early stage of this process. We continue to desire your help as we seek the person God has chosen to be the next leader of the IMB. Currently, we are in the process of receiving nominations and will continue to accept nominations for the position through May 15, 2018. If God leads. you to submit a nomination to the committee, please do so by emailing us at imbsearch@broadmoor.tv. We covet your prayers until this task is done. Gratefully, The IMB Presidential Search Committee ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie McGowan, APR. Julie is the Public Relations Manager for the International Mission Board, SBC and resides in Richmond, VA. #APRIL18

EDITOR'S NOTE: I recently read an article by Jim Richards, the Executive Director of the SBCT, and wanted to share with you the heart of his message. He has accurately captured the purpose and power of giving through the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is my desire that all of the Michigan Baptist family would be “All In” when it comes to “punching holes in the darkness” through the Cooperative Program. – Tim Patterson GRAPEVINE, TX – SBTC President Juan Sanchez issued a challenge in the last TEXAN. He sent out a video with the same message. He wants every church to be “All In” through the Cooperative Program during our celebration year of 2018. The SBTC will be 20 years old this November. The Cooperative Program makes it possible to reach Texas and touch the world together. Church plants, evangelism strategies, revitalization, over 100 local church ministries and much more are accomplished through the CP. Although Hurricane Harvey and a downturn in the oil economy have impacted some churches, God has sustained the ministry efforts through 2017. There are ways for more churches to be involved to help with the work in Texas and beyond. Let me suggest five ways for Southern Baptists to be “All In.” 1. Pastors, please speak about the Cooperative Program to your congregations. By explaining what it is and how it accomplishes Great Commission ministry, you will motivate your people to become more generous. Sunday morning has become the one major gathering of churches in most Southern Baptist contexts. People know what the pastor values. If he endorses the Cooperative Program on Sunday morning there will be greater participation by church members. 2. Laypersons need better education about the Cooperative Program. This includes an understanding of how CP works and to know what it does. Lay involvement in the Southern Baptist Convention has reached an all-time low. If laypersons fully grasp what the CP does in reaching the nations, more will participate. Since the CP is not a direct appeal to wealthy donors, there is no threat to the local church’s ministry. It seems reasonable that church members will give more through the church if they are invested beyond their community. Small groups, one-on-one instruction or involvement in convention life at a state or national level would expose church members to the greatest missions funding tool ever devised. 3. Debt is one of the greatest hindrances to gospel advance. Building costs are exorbitant. Sometimes a church funds its building program by reducing missions giving. The Cooperative Program seems impersonal, making it the easiest target for reductions. The Southern Baptists of Texas Foundation can help with loans and provide stewardship resources to assist a church in making good decisions without harming mission work through the CP. The Cooperative Program is people. There are over 3,000 international missionaries, 15,000 seminary students and 100-plus SBTC church planters depending on the CP. To each one of them, the CP is personal. 4. Unashamed identification of churches as Southern Baptist is essential. Even without “Baptist” in the name of the church, there needs to be an honest expression of theological affinity to the Baptist Faith and Message (2000). Southern Baptist churches should participate in the Cooperative Program. The SBC is like a bicycle. It has two wheels, doctrinal agreement and shared funding. A bicycle has to keep moving or it will tip over. Both wheels have to turn. The SBC will cease to exist if either element disappears. Before the Conservative Resurgence the liberal\moderate faction wanted to make the SBC solely turn on one wheel, the Cooperative Program. Doctrinal compatibility took a back seat if present at all. Now, with biblical inerrantists in SBC leadership, doctrinal affirmation is expected but we hear less emphasis on the Cooperative Program as a shared giving plan to assist each church in carrying out the Great Commission. Unless there is a return to cooperative giving, the SBC will be nothing more than the Baptist Bible Fellowship. 5. Continue to give CP while you go! Before the creation of the Cooperative Program, churches were constantly bombarded by ministries requesting funds. This approach is known as the “societal” method. Larger churches and wealthy members were called upon to undergird the work of the convention. We have seen more direct mission efforts by churches in the last 25 years than in all the years preceding. There are wonderful benefits to the mission trips with hands-on involvement. My doctoral project and paper were about establishing a mission trip ministry in the local church. It is not either/or but both/and. Yet some churches have chosen to give to direct mission projects by omitting or reducing the Cooperative Program. There are not enough large churches or wealthy individuals to sustain the Southern Baptist system of cooperative giving. Local churches give through the CP to enable ministries in North America and around the world. Without local churches investing in Great Commission ministries through the Cooperative Program, the greatest mission and ministry force the evangelical world has ever known will unravel. Generosity is not about keeping the Southern Baptist Convention alive. It is about reaching 18 million lost people in Texas. It is about planting churches across North America. It is about training the next generation of leaders. It is about sending missionaries with the gospel to the hardest-to-reach places on the planet. April 8 is Cooperative Program Sunday. If this date does not work for you, plan to observe CP Sunday on another date. Join with other SBTC churches and be “All In” with the Cooperative Program. (Special thanks to Dr. Jim Richards for his outstanding article on cooperative ministry.) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Jim Richards serves as Executive Director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. #APRIL18

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story first appeared in FCA’s Magazine March/April 2018 edition. Taken from the Oklahoma Baptist Messenger. "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Col. 3:23). While my mother, Karen, was in labor with me, my father, Michael, was watching a Detroit Red Wings game in the hospital. So I can say, quite literally, that hockey has been a part of my life since the moment I came into this world. Naturally, my parents—both avid Red Wings fans and season-ticket holders—played a key role in developing my love for hockey. More importantly, though, they helped lay the foundation for my walk with Jesus, too. That established an identity early, understanding morality and what truth was, which really helped me later in life. The Bible talks about training kids when they’re young and giving them a foundation. When you’re told the truth, and when you live by the truth, that’s something that cannot be taken away from you. That’s what happened to me. I didn’t have to find pleasure or happiness in things that I could lose. What was so attractive about Christianity is that your joy comes in all circumstances. And I found a lot of joy playing hockey. When you’re a young kid in Michigan, you always hear how hard it is to make it to junior hockey, college, the minor leagues, and—last but not least—the NHL. Knowing that, I was never really focused on the NHL as my “end goal.” I just really enjoyed the game. I loved playing with my friends. I knew God was in control of everything, so He had a plan for my life and whatever was going to happen in hockey. For college, I was originally pursued by Michigan, but before committing there, I took a visit to Michigan State. They offered me a full scholarship and I accepted. I think that was a way of God handling my life, because I was able to get involved with Athletes in Action, where I matured in my faith. Phil Gillespie was the leader and a great mentor. He really invested in the athletes and took time to make sure each person understood what the Gospel meant. Yes, the hockey was also good, and I developed those skills. But looking back at Michigan State, I’ll always remember how much I grew in my faith. When I made my NHL debut with the Florida Panthers in 2006, it was a special moment for my family and me. I remember watching all those games as a child, watching “Hockey Night” in Canada and the rivalries between the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. That’s when I was like, “Man, I’m playing with some of the players I watched growing up.” I was 21, playing with 35-, 36-, 37-year-olds, just trying to fit in. That was tough to do back then, but I always knew I had my family and my faith as my support. Jesus Christ accepts us no matter where we’re at or who we are. That was comforting, and that’s what kept me going, continuing to see His favor in my life. Now, a decade into my NHL career that has spanned four different teams, I can say that I’ve truly been blessed by the relationships I’ve made with teammates and the things I’ve experienced as a professional athlete. The joys haven’t come without trials, though, especially when it comes to injuries. I’ve had a couple concussions. I’ve broken my knee a couple times. I’ve broken my foot, my ankle, my hand. Those are times when I’ve realized I’m not as strong as I think I am. I can’t do it all on my own. I think of 2 Cor. 12:9: “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” That verse is a constant reminder that God’s in control, and He has our best interests in mind for us. He always keeps calling us back to Him, through little ways that draw us closer to Him. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Booth is currently left wing for the Detroit Red Wings. #APRIL18

DETROIT, MI – Pastor Darryl Gaddy, Church Planting Catalyst & Pastor of Victory Fellowship Community Church (Detroit, MI) has received a new opportunity of service in South Carolina. Pastor Gaddy will serve the churches, associations, and the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Gaddy will help develop best-practices for African American and multi-cultural church plants. He will contribute to the church planter assessment process in South Carolina. Tony Lynn, State Director of Missions – Michigan, states: “Pastor Darryl and Miss Daphne Gaddy’s years of service in Michigan as a church planting couple, a pastor and wife at Victory Fellowship Community Church, and as catalysts among other church planters and their wives is immeasurable. They made a lasting impact in lives, neighborhoods, churches, associations, and the state. Their influence will be missed.” Those of us at the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) and at the North American Michigan Board (NAMB) are grateful for Gaddy’s service these past two years, since January 1, 2016. His presence and service here in Michigan will be greatly missed. During his ministry as Pastor and Church Planting Catalyst, Gaddy has been such a positive influence for change in the Detroit community. God has used him to reach many men and women with the Gospel in Detroit, and his leadership and service at Victory Fellowship has been both a spiritual and physical blessing to his community. As a Church Planting Catalyst, he has helped mentor and cultivate Church Planters as a part of NAMB’s SEND Network in Detroit. He has also been an inspiration for many planters in Detroit as a former Church Planter himself. We know that Gaddy will have a lasting impact wherever he serves. We love our brother and pray for God’s blessing upon his ministry in South Carolina. #APRIL18

DETROIT, MI – I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. I spent the majority of my youth inside church and involved in church activities and sports. I heard the gospel of Jesus at an early age and I asked the Lord to come in my heart. I wanted to live for him. As a child, I attended Catholic School and I was infatuated with Priesthood. Although I wasn't Catholic, I boldly announced my desire to become a Priest. I remember the puzzled look on my mother’s face. I was only nine years old. The Lord made his presence known in my life, and that moment would change my life for forever. In high school, my interest was swayed from church; I eventually fell out of love with church and the people that said they were saved. I fell in love with basketball in high school and I won an athletic scholarship for four years playing basketball. I became the prodigal son and a downward spiral began. I ran from Jesus, the church and the things about God. I was trying to remove his presence from my life with alcohol, parties and women. Not at all, praising Him for all the things he had done. I was trying to forget the priesthood, and his calling. I remember the hurt, the pain and the emptiness in my life. After college, I joined the military. While in the military, I was almost killed by a landslide in a training exercise. I was denying the Lord his rightful place in my life. Near death, I recall crying out the name of “JESUS”. Now... I needed the Savior, but didn't have a deep relationship with him. I rededicated my life to Jesus. No matter how hard it would be, I knew that the Lord wanted to use my life to spread his gospel and that I'm called to deliver his message. For the next five years, I studied the things of the Lord at Waukegan Community Church in Illinois. The church plant began in a gym, and the Lord used this experience to teach me and help me understand Christianity and the structure of the church. I left Waukegan, Illinois and moved back to Detroit, Michigan. The prodigal son returned to Detroit - where our Lord blessed me with a helpmate. My wife, Marisa; is a godly woman, full of compassion and vision. I began participating with Alcoholics for Christ ministries. Substance abuse and vices of this world could no longer be my comfort. I eventually began leading meetings and I had the opportunity to work with Alcoholics for Christ a para-ministry for eight years in different capacities. The Lord developed additional leadership gifts with the help of churches like Great Commission and the Afro-American Mission for the next eight years. My wife and I also worked with youth and began developing Children's Church and Vacation Bible School programs. I became an associate pastor and began preaching and teaching. I enrolled in Michigan Theological Seminary (Moody Theological Seminary) to sharpen my sword to better serve our Lord and His people. I gained my MACP (Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology) The following five years I served as Pastor of Outreach Ministries at First Baptist of Oak Park. I diligently walked the pavement to share the gospel and also directed missionary trips. It's such an honor and privilege to preach the saving grace of Christ and teach application of His Word to youth and adults. I've also partnered with Here's Life/Campus Crusade to deliver boxes of love to provide holiday meals to those in need, and for the past ten (10) years I've assisted with the United Men's Conference at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. In August of 2016, my wife and I completed the North American Mission Board (NAMB) Church Planter training. This is a great calling for my family and me. I have the honor to plant a church in the city of Detroit where the crime and drug addiction rate is high and alcohol and the immoral activity are out of control. Heart and Soul Community Church is based on (Luke 10: 27) “He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Pray for the effectiveness of the gospel in this community and also for my supportive family as we reach the lost, revive the faint and restore the fallen. I love you, but Jesus Christ loves you more. #APRIL18