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JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Growth in the social media sphere has created a challenge for Southern Baptists that we did not have prior to the launch of Facebook in 2004. Prior to the invention of social media there were not as many voices attempting to gain market share with their particular message. Even those in our Baptist ranks who were tasked with the duty to communicate the messages for our media outlets wrote and spoke in the context of certain “rules” that applied – even when discussing difficult issues. Now, there are hundreds of voices speaking simultaneously into the context of the latest issue, and there seem to be no rules. Some of these voices speak from the context of fact. Others regurgitate the messaging of someone who has an axe to grind. Still others don’t have a clue about Baptist theology or biblical values. They use their troubled voices to create an air of suspicion about Southern Baptists in general, our SBC leaders and, ultimately, the gospel. Our tribe, Southern Baptists, have a history of pronouncing our opinions. However, because we are people of the Book, our history records that we eventually submit to its authority and to one another. There is no doubt that Southern Baptists have some real issues, but somewhere, somehow, Christ-followers must turn down the noise and listen more closely to the Lord and to one another. As a part of the process, we must learn the art of responding to one another with civility. There is a growing realization that our inability to deal with our Baptist struggles is largely attributable to the destructive ways in which we talk about issues and one another. Frankly, on a national scale, POTUS’s Twitter account is not conducive to civility and sets an unappreciated tone for verbal abuse. Neither is the plethora of blogs, websites, Facebook and Twitter accounts hurling words of contempt and spewing venom at people and institutions with words that are all too hurtful. Southern Baptists must pause and ask ourselves, “Are we victims of our culture, or will we demonstrate a different, more biblical way to have conversations about the difficult issues we face?” This raises a crucial question: What exactly do we mean by “civility”? Civility means something more than mere politeness. We really haven’t learned civility if all we accomplish is training people to say, “Excuse me, please. Pardon me please,” while the opposition (figuratively) stabs you in the back. Civility cannot mean “roll over and play dead.” When people feel disenfranchised or sense they are losing something precious, they need to be able to raise tough questions and present their cases to those in leadership. But we can all do so with kindness. There are tough and difficult issues that cannot be avoided because we choose politeness as our defense mechanism. We cannot deny there are real issues of importance that need careful deliberate conversations. Sometimes a public forum is not the best way, but if we must use the public forum, at least for Christ-followers, we must be civil. Consequently, Christ-followers must become increasingly sensitive to the use of our words and attitudes reflected in public, including the realm of social media. We need to carefully consider how we speak and write about one another. Here for your consideration are Dr. Yeats’ 14 practical ways to demonstrate civility: Acknowledge someone’s presence by greeting them. Always express gratitude—please and thank you are always in order. Everyone is worthy of respect, even if you disagree with them or they have hurt you. Be ready with a question to show interest in their world. It shows that you think of others more than you think of yourself. Actively listen to their response. Work at eye contact and avoid chasing after peripheral movement. Pause and think before you speak. It is a good time to carefully choose your words that do not curse but bring forward the healing salve of forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. Guard your words and attitude as if the Lord Jesus was listening and watching your conversation (He is). Don’t cross your arms. If you are to be an authentic listener, you cannot let your body language communicate disinterest. Don’t skirt the issues but seek to frame the conversation in terms of seeking solutions; don’t focus too much on the details of a problem. You may not come to an agreement but let the record indicate you are attentive, kind and sensitive toward those who disagree with you. Keep anger at the foot of the cross, along with snarky, crass, and sarcastic words. Do your best to separate people from the problem; focus on solutions. De-escalate by seeking a win/win for methodological and systemic contexts. A solution is not a win if it violates Scripture. The Word of God is never up for a vote. Remember the evidence of the fullness of the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:20-23).“Be alert, stand firm in the faith, act like a man, be strong. Your every action must be done with love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14 CSV). This article was originally published in The Pathway a bi-weekly newsjournal by the Missouri Baptist Convention and endeavors to cover not only the events that affect Baptists in Missouri but also the Southern Baptist Convention as a whole and evangelical Christians everywhere. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. John Yeats is the Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. #JULY18

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Back in the 1890s, a pair of Sunday School teachers -- D.T. Miles of Hopedale, Il., and Virginia Hawes of New York City -- both had the same idea. School kids were off for the summer. Why not invite them to church to study the Bible? And maybe sing a few songs and have some fun along the way? The idea was a hit. Today, Vacation Bible School -- better known as VBS -- remains one of the most popular church programs in America. Six in 10 Americans say they went to VBS growing up. Two-thirds of American parents say they plan to send kids to VBS this summer -- even if they skip church themselves. And almost everyone involved had a positive experience, according to a new survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research, which surveyed 1,200 American adults about VBS. "Each week of the summer there are thousands of VBS programs going on around America," said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. "It's one of the things that people love about church." VBS attendance & memories Twenty-two percent say they went every summer growing up, while 14 percent said they went most summers. Another 13 percent went occasionally. Five percent went more than once. But 40 percent never went. Many went because of a family tie. Forty-two percent say they went because their family attended that church. Twenty-five percent went because their parent or another family member was one of the leaders. Twenty-six percent went because the church was near their home. Twenty-five percent went because a friend invited them. Among their memories: spending time with kids their own age (46 percent), learning Bible stories (45 percent), singing songs (40 percent), creating crafts (37 percent) and playing games (34 percent). One in 6 (17 percent) remember making a spiritual commitment at VBS. Most (88 percent) say VBS helped them better understand the Bible. That includes two-thirds who either completely agree (37 percent) or mostly agree (26 percent). Twelve percent disagree. Americans who didn't go to VBS as a child also didn't go to church at all (31 percent) or went to a church that did not offer VBS (31 percent), were too busy (10 percent), weren't invited (7 percent) or didn't go for some other reason (15 percent). Five percent say their family went to a church that offered VBS -- but they weren't interested in going. More than half (61 percent) of American adults who did not go to VBS agree they have some positive thoughts about the program. That includes 28 percent who completely agree (14 percent) or mostly agree (14 percent). Thirty-three percent slightly agree. Thirty-nine percent disagree. A majority of Americans (57 percent) who did not go to VBS also believe the program could have helped them better understand the Bible -- at least a little. Forty-three percent disagree. About half (52 percent) agree the program could have impacted their spiritual growth. Forty-eight percent disagree. The survey's results are a great reminder why VBS matters, said Jana Magruder, director of LifeWay Kids. "It's a strong affirmation of the work that churches put into VBS programs," Magruder said. "I hope churches are encouraged by this research to continue to host VBS for their communities." Popular with parents About half (47 percent) of parents with kids under 19 say their child has been to VBS. The most common reasons: The family attended the church where the program was held (38 percent) or the parents were also taking part in VBS (33 percent). Twenty-nine percent say they valued their child's spiritual growth; 27 percent valued studying the Bible. A fourth (26 percent) say their child went to VBS because someone -- other than family -- invited them. Most parents (95 percent) say VBS was a positive experience for their child. A similar number say VBS helped their child better understand the Bible (94 percent) and influenced their child's spiritual growth (95 percent). Most (95 percent) also say that VBS is one of their child's most meaningful church experiences. Among the reasons parents didn't send kids to VBS: The family didn't go to church (29 percent), the family was too busy (14 percent) or the child was too busy (13 percent). Still, parents who didn't send their kids to VBS have a positive view of the program (83 percent) and say it would have helped their child better understand the Bible (69 percent) or grow spiritually (71 percent). And this summer, Vacation Bible Schools may be packed again, according to LifeWay Research. Two-thirds of parents (64 percent) say their child is likely to go to VBS this year -- including about half who completely agree (29 percent) or mostly agree (18 percent). A third (36 percent) disagree. More than half (58 percent) say their child may go to more than one VBS. Forty-two percent disagree. Most parents (60 percent) say they'll encourage their kids to attend VBS even if it's held at someone else's church. More parents will encourage their child to attend VBS at another church if they get invited by a friend (69 percent). "Two-thirds of American parents," Magruder noted, "are eager to send their children to a church activity where they will have fun experiences centered on what churches care about most: Bible stories, the Gospel and worship." "People still believe Vacation Bible School is good for kids," McConnell said "Even parents who don't go to church want their kids to go to VBS." Methodology: A demographically balanced online panel was used for interviewing American adults. LifeWay Kids sponsored the study. The survey was conducted March 7-10, 2018. Quotas and slight weights were used to balance gender, age, ethnicity, education and region. The completed sample is 1,200 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error from the online panel does not exceed plus or minus 3 percentage points. (This margin of error accounts for the effect of weighting.) Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. 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 senior writer for Facts & Trends, a magazine and website of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. #JULY18

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (BP) – Every year, thousands of children across our country meet Jesus for the first time at Vacation Bible School (VBS). Imagine what might happen if every member at your church invited an unchurched child to VBS this summer. Consider these fresh publicity ideas: -- Form a creative, committed publicity team to motivate and enable every individual and church group to impact VBS attendance. -- Single adults coordinate an outdoor registration event for the community. The church softball team delivers door hangers to homes within a mile of the church. Senior adults pre-register members' children by phone. -- Middle schoolers prepare a short puppet show, performing in the local mall and the church foyer. The choir and praise team post advertisement signs strategically around the city. Garage salers share invitations as they shop to find cowboy hats for a western VBS theme. Homebound members commit to pray for children who will attend. -- Teens plan a Cell Party, recruiting dozens of adults to join them for a sixty minute phone blitz. Callers use their own cell phone, a script and simple registration form to invite and register kids who visited church last year -- Sunday School guests, sports, fall festival, daycare, Awana, mission groups, inactive members. When a child is registered the caller rings a bell and adds the name to a whiteboard. After a fast-paced hour, they pray for the children, enjoy snacks and celebrate. -- Individuals help. A techie member designs an outdoor banner invitation. A theatrical member wears a VBS mascot costume, such as a cowboy horse inflatable suit, to visit Sunday School classes or church and community events. Sunday School teachers wear bandanas to show VBS enthusiasm. An inviting story in the local paper shows an intriguing photo of VBS preparations. The women's ministry group rents a huge cowboy advertising balloon. -- Other members design the stage area. Woodworkers build a simple horse chute for children to enter, and some artistic members organize a branding iron design contest to create excitement. The deadline for children's brand ideas is a month ahead, and the winning design (announced during VBS) is made into a big rubber stamp to "brand" kids as they enter through the chutes each day. -- Simplify participation. Provide yard sign invitations for church members' lawns. Give everyone postcard invitations to share with friends and neighbors. Create e-invitations they can email friends. A week before VBS, deacons give every worshipper a helium balloon invitation to deliver to a neighbor. -- The youth group and their leaders plan a special "Howdy Partner" shindig for fifth graders shortly after VBS to honor them and welcome them into the youth department. Continue the cowboy theme with a barn venue, cowboy stew, western games and western style Christian music at a bonfire. Youth are assigned as prayer partners for the fifth graders, and spend time to pray and encourage them. -- On Sunday after VBS, young adult and children's classes have prepared for new guests who will attend, with quality Bible study and lots of extra chairs, greeters, curriculum and Bibles. Vacation Bible School can open doors to reach lost families for Christ, but only if those children come. Cast a large vision for every church member to help invite children to VBS. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Davis is the author of Fresh Ideas (B&H Publishing) and the wife of the Indiana Baptist State Convention executive director. #JULY18

WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker, Paul Ryan, released a statement back in February regarding the horrible state of sex trafficking in America. He began by stating, “Sex trafficking is a crime that involves coercing a person to engage in commercial sex acts. It is the ultimate violation of human rights and really is modern day slavery.” Often considered to be a crime in certain parts of the world, the International Labor Organization estimates there are 20.9 million victims of a $150 billion industry in existence worldwide. Speaker Ryan wants to raise awareness to the tragedy taking place in our own country. Literally hundreds of thousands are being forced into this work across the nation. “So many victims of human trafficking are in our own backyard, and many of these cases start with deceit, exploitation, and recruitment on the internet,” stated Ryan. Surprisingly, this sort unlawful action is taking place under our noses, in the suburbs and around the corner. Amy Lipovsky, ministry leader for FRe Outreach, shared in a recent article, “The way trafficking happens in the suburbs is through hotels and motels, not brothels and street prostitution. In nice hotels in affluent communities, we notice more of what I call the ‘Pretty Woman’ or more high-class call girl” while other victims may look like a woman on a business trip or even an ordinary mom.” It isn’t always easy to detect so training and keen awareness help, especially when we can educate front desk clerks. Barb Fahrenkrug, volunteer with FRe Outreach, shares, “We don’t want to be obnoxious - we just want to show we care about their business and the people who visit their hotels.” “Building relationships with them is a really good thing. We’ve been able to pray for and minister to staff as well…” Churches across the country have just as much opportunity to get involved in their own community. There can never be too much care shown in the name of Jesus. The hotel staff respond to it and the victims of trafficking can be rescued. It’s a win-win! Human trafficking has become so rampant in certain parts of the world it is woven into the fabric of the culture. As Christians we should make no bones about it, God does not like it, nor ever intended for such atrocity. The Bible is clear that vulnerable people are to be protected, cared for and loved. We can not turn our eyes from the obvious sin in our midst lest it become part of the culture here in our home land. I Timothy 1:8-10 states kidnapping as sin, “Whether the biondage is physical or psychological, unjustly restraining another is wrong.” When Jesus ascended into heaven, God provided the Holy Spirit to be His representative on earth, guiding our hearts and lives. He specifically charged the church with showing love to others, to look after the disadvantaged and to keep ourselves uninfluenced by the world’s values. It is the church, gifted and prepared, that is called to stand up for injustice. People caught up in sex trafficking often struggle with acceptance once rescued. They need to see and experience good, healthy community in order to heal. Many have come from broken homes, were abused as children, and have never known what a good family looks like. The church family can provide these victims with a safe, caring environment in which to overcome and observe Godly acceptance. Since victims are often conditioned to think a certain way, feeling the wrath of an absolute authoritarian when they fail, truth can be misguided, misunderstood and misplaced. God loving people are called upon to wrap the victim in their arms of healthy love, shower them with positive examples, and disciple them in the ways of the Bible. So, what do you do if you suspect someone is being trafficked? Pray, always pray. If the situation feels urgent call 911. If there is no immediate need call the non-emergency number of 311. You can always search the internet for your local anti-trafficking ministry/organization or call the national hotline - 888.3737.888. Whatever you do, please do not turn a deaf ear or blind eye to the ever growing problem. Help the helpless once again find freedom in the land of the free. #JULY18

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) – Religious restrictions continue to spread globally in Pew Research Center's ninth annual study of laws and social hostilities in 198 countries, although most countries still rank low to moderate on a study scale researchers devised. Less than half of the countries, 42 percent, ranked high or very high on Pew's scale of restrictions including both laws and social hostilities, up from 40 percent in 2015 and 29 percent in the baseline study period of 2007, Pew said. "Since some of these countries are among the world's most populous (such as China and India), this means that a large share of the world's population in 2016 -- 83% -- lived in countries with high or very high religious restrictions," Pew said, as compared to 79 percent of the world's population living in those countries in 2015. With religious minorities bearing the brunt of the restrictions and harassment, Pew said, "the actual proportion of the world's population that is affected by high levels of religious restrictions may be considerably lower than 85%." In spite of the rankings and variables, religiously motivated harassment and restrictions of varying amounts, whether from the government or society, were reported in 187 of the countries studied. The findings are up from 169 countries in 2015 and indicate the most widespread harassment since 2007. Rankings are based on a composite of government restrictions, including laws, policies and actions by officials, which had increased, and hostilities perpetrated by organizations and social groups, which had remained stable. In its study, Pew devised a 10-point scale based on several indicators and divided the countries into five regions, the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle-East/North Africa. Christians were most likely to face governmental and social harassment in the Asia-Pacific region, Pew said. There, governments in 30 percent of the countries harassed Christians, and social groups in 27 percent of the countries had done so. Across the globe, Christians were harassed in 144 countries, up from 128 countries in 2015. "In Uzbekistan, for example, authorities raided the private homes of Protestant Christians, seized religious literature and imposed fines," Pew said in its report. "And in Nepal, local communities in the Kathmandu Valley opposed burials by perceived 'outsiders,' making it difficult for Protestant churches to access land they had bought years earlier." Muslims were most likely to face harassment by both governments and social groups in Europe, where governmental harassment was found in 28 percent of the countries and social harassment in 36 percent. Globally, Muslims were harassed in 142 countries in 2016, up from 125 the previous year. Jews, who comprise 0.2 percent of the world's population, faced harassment in 87 countries, most often perpetrated by individuals rather than the government. Egypt, Russia, India, Indonesia and Turkey had the highest levels of both government restrictions and social hostilities in 2016, among the world's most populous countries. In government restrictions alone, China ranked highest, with India ranking highest in social hostilities. When considering government restrictions alone, 55 countries comprising 28 percent of those studied ranked high and very high on the scale, Pew said, compared to 50 countries or 25 percent in 2015. When considering societal harassment, the 54 countries that ranked high or very high on the scale in 2016 were virtually unchanged from the 53 countries ranking high or very high the previous year, remaining stable at 27 percent. Ranking highest in government restrictions in addition to China, Russia, Egypt and Turkey were Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Turkmenistan, Syria, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Eritrea, Morocco, Brunei, Singapore, Western Sahara, Azerbaijan, Laos, Burma, Iraq and Mauritania. Ranking highest in societal harassment in addition to India, Russia and Egypt were Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestinian territories, Israel and Bangladesh. Government restrictions included efforts to ban particular faiths, prohibit conversion, limit preaching or give preferential treatment to one or more religious groups. Social hostilities included religion-related armed conflict or terrorism, mob or sectarian violence and harassment over religion-based attire. Researchers studied more than a dozen sources of public information, including reports from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, various European groups, the United Nations and many independent, nongovernmental organizations, Pew said. The full report is available at pewforum.org under the religion tab. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' general assignment writer/editor. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #JULY18

ATLANTA, GA (BP) – It's Thursday evening, and a group boards a bus at the Georgia Baptist Convention building for several strip clubs, a few hotels and an apartment complex where human trafficking has been reported. The "Unholy Tour," jointly sponsored by Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols and the Georgia Baptist public affairs office, stretched nearly three hours instead of the scheduled two. Still, it didn't feel like enough time for various speakers to tell their stories from the front of the unmarked bus. Among them: Kasey McClure, a former Atlanta stripper accustomed to making at least $1,000 most nights who left that world after giving her life to Christ and the birth of her daughter. In 2004 McClure established 4Sarah, honoring her daughter while providing a platform to build relationships with women in the sex industry and, ultimately, to show a way out. In the 15 years since she left the industry, McClure said, sex trafficking has proliferated. "There are three main areas now where girls go -- the strip clubs, on the street and online," she said. "Technology has made it tougher to fight trafficking. Even though sites like Back Page have been shut down, others are doing the same thing." In addition, girls entering the sex industry are getting younger and "promised great lives, but that's not what they get." McClure recalled the impact of former Georgia Baptist public policy spokesman Ray Newman, who died in 2013 from a brain tumor. "He came onto the board of 4Sarah in 2007 and encouraged me to start a scholarship for the girls we were helping," she said. "He made a difference in my life.” McClure recalled a story shared with her by Newman's widow, Gwen, in a letter. In the 1970s Ray told his wife about a young lady who he'd see walking to the club. He prayed for her to go to church one day. And one day she did. Speaking with Newman afterward, the young lady said she didn't feel she belonged there. Of course, Newman urged her to consider that, yes, she belonged. "So many times these women don't feel like they belong. But, we all belong. We belong in the body of Christ," McClure said. Eight other women plus Echols spoke with the group, including those fighting sex trafficking through law enforcement and legal means, as well as some formerly in the industry now working through nonprofit groups to help young women get out of enslavement and others involved in programs to prepare kids to stay away from being entrapped. Echols began the evening referring to William Wilberforce. The English politician became known for his fight against the slave trade but knew he couldn't accomplish his goal of abolishing it alone. Wilberforce believed it would take a personal experience for his peers to join in the struggle, Echols said. The commissioner told how Wilberforce would plan scenic tours of the Thames River, only for the tour to conclude at a slave ship. Its cargo may have since been discarded but the stench of death and misery remained. "Wilberforce wanted people to face the reality of the slave trade," Echols said. "My goal is to bring people in front of those like Kasey, who are trying to help women get out of this and put the bad guys away." The tour wound its way through Norcross, the edge of Lilburn, Chamblee, and Brookhaven before reaching north Atlanta, countering the idea that this is a "big city" issue. Seedy hotels exist in small towns, too. And it's not just hotels. At one point the bus stopped near an apartment building. McClure explained how a madam (yes, it's not unusual for women to enslave other women in the sex industry) had operated from one of the residences. Looking at the apartment complex, bus riders didn't see neon signs but children's bicycles and grills on the porches. There were no obvious signs of a prostitution ring. Later on, the bus pulled near what has become one of Atlanta's most popular strip clubs. McClure said the place has become known for prostitution, pointing to the packed parking lot that included at least one minivan. Lt. Sara Koth of the Forest Park police department and mother of two, said people are shocked to learn how prevalent sex trafficking has become and Atlanta's prominence in it. "To arrest and throw them in jail, you're feeding into the perception that they can't go to the police for help. They'll just get arrested," Koth noted. Those victimized by human trafficking experience a tough process trying to pull out of it, she said. Often, they're drawn to re-enter a lifestyle that -- even if only for a brief time -- gave them some kind of value, as hard as that is to believe. "The victims don't always act like victims," Koth said. "It can be hard when you work to get someone out of it, you even think they made it, and then they go back to it. "You can't take that personal. You go to the next person and try to help them." The victims, said Ryn Beasley of Atlanta Redemption Ink, literally become possessions. "We see women who get branded by their pimp or madam. Girls have come to us with 'Pay me' tattooed on their hand or 'Snitch' on their gum line. Bar codes, a crown, anything that symbolizes they belong to someone -- it's a form of ownership," said Beasley, who worked in the sex industry prior to joining ARI. Mike Griffin, Georgia Baptist public affairs representative, hopes more churches and pastors will take part in the Unholy Tour. Atlanta has become among the worst cities in America when it comes to human trafficking, he told The Christian Index, newsjournal of the Georgia Baptist Convention. "It's important for churches to be knowledgeable. They should be able to educate their congregation on warning signs and dangers involved. Churches need to be able to minister to these victims. "Overall, the tour helps show the need for better public policy regarding human trafficking and support for better law enforcement. Because of the internet and social media, it's become a problem that really knows no boundaries." McClure's faith in God's power to lead anyone out of the sex industry rests in her own testimony. "My relationship with God changed me. When I took that final step out of the club, I had all the material things I thought would better my life. But they didn't, so I thought, 'Why not try God?' "Now when I talk to girls I ask them what they have to show for themselves. They may be staying with men in an extended stay hotel and unable to buy their own food. I was making $1,000-$2,000 a night and still wasn't happy. The only thing that made me happy was stepping out on faith and depending on God." McClure's initial step of faith has led to several more. "I have a 10th-grade education, but now speak to teachers, doctors, lawyers, anyone who wants to hear me. God has opened up those doors for me because I decided to follow Him. "He's using my past to help others." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is editor of The Christian Index (www.christianindex.org), newsjournal of the Georgia Baptist Convention. #JULY18

Sunday July 1, Call2Fall Join Christ followers from across America in united prayer for our nation. Throughout July, 31 Days of Prayer for Our Nation Continue to be a part of this unifying prayer initiative by praying for our nation with the rest of America, throughout July, using this great resource, 31 Days of Prayer for My Nation. Check out the video and link below for more information. #JUNE18

DETROIT, MI (BP) – First Baptist Church of Trenton prayed for two hours after Sunday morning worship late last year about what to do -- disband, merge or abandon its cavernous building. A day later, church members say God answered with a resounding, "None of the above." One of the church's two boilers had breathed its last breath in November 2016. Cost to repair: $35,000. An anonymous giver provided $20,000, but the work hadn't yet been completed, when in November 2017 the water main broke. The subsequent cost to replace 250 feet of rusted-out pipe: $37,500. "We have no water and no heat this Sunday morning," James Jones, pastor since 2000, told the 21 people who had come to worship in the suburban Detroit church. But a day after the impromptu prayer meeting, the owner of a plumbing company told Jones at the church, "On the way here the Lord spoke to me and said I was to repair this and not charge you a penny," Jones told Baptist Press months later. Jones had never before met the plumber. The water main repair at the church that was a former school building, Jones said, would have just about depleted the church's finances. "Do miracles still happen? These blessings, I feel, are because our church is not a big church, but it's a faithful church," Jones told BP. "Every month we send 14 percent of our offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program, and 4 percent to the [Greater Detroit] Baptist Association, and I believe God honors that." Missions By Jones' calculations upon the 60th anniversary of First Trenton in 2017, the church had given in its lifetime $582,000 to missions through the Cooperative Program, and more than $1.2 million to all mission outreaches combined. Jones is in his second pastorate of First Trenton; he previously led the congregation from 1960 to 1983. During his first tenure, Jones said, he led the church to increase its CP giving from "a little" to 20 percent. Sunday church attendance was about 270. After he left, CP giving dropped to a low of $100 in 1992, and attendance declined. When Jones returned in 2000 for his second stint as pastor, it was with the condition that the church immediately increase its CP giving to 10 percent raising it more with time. "Through the Cooperative Program we can have a part in missions all over the world, all over the United States, and be a part of preparing more than 7,000 men and women for ministry, and that's what we want to do," Jones said about the Southern Baptist method of churches pooling their mission dollars for greater impact worldwide. "Every Sunday morning when I get up to take the offering, I tell the congregation, 'When you give your offering today, you're not only blessing this church, you're blessing people all over the world.'" Over the years, the church about 30 minutes southeast of downtown Detroit has planted six churches and rescued two others. For three years, First Trenton led a ministry to Muslims in Hamtramck, an adjacent community of about 23,000. After 2005's Hurricane Katrina, First Trenton partnered with others in Michigan to provide cash and other essentials for four families who moved from New Orleans to apartments First Trenton provided in its church building. A 55-foot semitrailer full of items went to an additional 25 families in the New Orleans area, plus $1,000 each for 15 student families of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary who had lost everything. Heyday remembered First Trenton has aged and withered. After growing past the capacity of two building projects, First Trenton in 1979 bought an elementary school that had closed. What became the church's worship center could seat 350; but it never has and likely never will, given its lack of parking, its location on a dead-end street in an older residential area, and its limited visibility. Jones remembers the church's heyday, when Sunday morning worship reached more than 400 -- in 1973 -- and the church's bus ministry thrived. That's the era when First Trenton started what is now Legacy Church one town to the north, and Woodhaven Baptist Church to the west. Other church plants spread out from Trenton to as far north as Dearborn. The Dearborn church plant failed to thrive, but First Trenton held title to the property and gave it to a Filipino Southern Baptist congregation. A church plant in Romulus later united with Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bellville, to increase its Gospel witness. First Trenton started a church in inner-city Detroit, with a pastor from Guyana. "We have a great history of church planting," Jones said. "And as we did it, there was only one year we didn't go up in our offerings, and our giving." Within the last two years, two men in their 40s made professions of faith in Jesus, were baptized and now are actively involved in maintenance and upkeep of First Trenton's aging 40,000-square-foot facility. With the city's zoning laws limiting the facility to a church or school, First Trenton is unable to sell its facility and move to a better-sized and more visible location. Church members, however, have carved out an intimate setting for Sunday morning worship, and remain faithful to reach out, minister, and give, all for God's glory, the pastor said. Three Sunday afternoons each month, the church gathers at a local assisted living facility and has worship for perhaps two dozen residents. First Trenton also shows Focus on the Family videos of the Holy Land there on Tuesday evenings. And every summer, multiple mission teams stay at First Trenton while ministering in greater Detroit. "We have a 40,000-square-foot building, and it's paid for," Jones said. "God provided it and we want to use it to honor Him." First Trenton plans to host a community block party outreach again this summer, to start a senior citizens ministry this fall, and to participate financially and hands-on in the Greater Detroit Baptist Association's new innercity ministry. "We need to be aware of our ministry to all the world because Jesus said, 'go into all the world,'" Jones told Baptist Press. "He's our Lord and we love Him and we want to obey Him, and we want to share Him with everyone in this whole world, starting next door to each of us and reaching around the world." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press, online news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. #JUNE18

FENTON, MI – We are encouraging Michigan Baptist churches to set aside Sunday, October 7th as Acts 2:41 Sunday. It’s a day to celebrate the work of Christ as churches all over the state baptize new believers on this common Sunday. “Those who accepted His message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them” (Acts 2:41). If first century Jerusalem had a newspaper, the headline about the Day of Pentecost would have declared, “3000 Baptized! It was an incredible move of God!” Early followers of Jesus were together when they heard a sound like that of a “violent rushing wind” and “saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.” They’d never experienced anything like it. Jesus promised they would be filled with the Holy Spirit and it happened in a powerful, dramatic fashion! It was a day that changed Christianity forever. The new church was alive with the Spirit, ready to share the Good News and it didn’t take long. Jerusalem was filled with people from all nations for the Day of Pentecost. The noise of what was happening to the disciples caught their attention. Surprised and confused, they heard in their own language followers of Jesus speaking. Peter, full of the Spirit, stood and addressed the perplexed crowd. He told them Jesus died on the cross for their sins, and rose again for their salvation. The simple, straight-forward message of the Gospel pierced their hearts and they responded by asking what they should do. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Thousands responded to the Good News message resulting in this massive baptism service. I imagine that cisterns, pools, and creeks all around the city were used to baptize new believers. It was an incredible moment for the early church as they celebrated the saving work of Christ and welcomed new believers to the family of God. That’s what Acts 2:41 Sunday is all about. It’s a day, October 7th, for Michigan Baptist churches to baptize new believers. Imagine the joy it will bring as we celebrate the work of Christ in the lives of those who follow Him in baptism! Here are some keys to making Acts 2:41 Sunday a success at your church: BAPTIZE 5% - Set a yearly goal to baptize 5% of your church’s average worship attendance. It’s SMART - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Set aside some of those who follow Christ to be baptized on Acts 2:41 Sunday, October 7th. PRAY 4 - Challenge every believer to pray for four people in their lives to come Christ. Give them an Acts 2:41 Prayer sheet to write down the names of those loved ones who need Jesus. ENGAGE 3 - Engage your community through evangelistic events, mission service, and relational opportunities to experience Biblical community. Take Christ to the streets, the community and neighborhoods that surround your location. SHARE 2 - Intentionally share the story of how you came to Christ 2 times with people who need Him. LEARN 1 - Go to BSCM.org for free resources to share your faith. Learn one way to have a Gospel Conversation then go do it. The early church celebrated as they watched God move in the lives of those who responded to the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost. The cisterns, pools and streams of Jerusalem were filled with people following Jesus in baptism. There were “amens” and tears of joy as these new followers of Christ were enthusiastically welcomed to the family of God. Acts 2:41 was a time of rejoicing. It was a time of celebrating the work of Christ. It’s what, we as Michigan Baptists want to experience as our family, friends, and neighbors publicly profess their faith in Christ on Acts 2:41 Sunday, October 7th. Register here to sign your church up for Acts 2:41 Sunday. 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. #JUNE18

ST. JOSEPH, MI – Church planter Kevin Hester was volunteering as a hole captain for the Senior PGA Championship tournament in Benton Harbor. One day he was standing by at a driving range as the golfers were practicing. Hester was wearing his MI Moment rubber bracelet as he watched. MI Moment is a tool to help believers share their faith in a natural, un-intimidating way. It is specially designed for Michigan Christians, in that, it uses the state’s unique geography with the Upper Peninsula to illustrate the gap between humans and God. It goes on to explain that like the Mackinac Bridge, Jesus is the only way to overcome that gap. Hester helped develop the MI Moment tool along with the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). So the church planter was standing by as players were getting ready for the tournament, when one of them stopped what he was doing to ask Hester about his MI Moment bracelet. He answered the way he typically would with that opening question, by saying, “It is celebrating great moments in Michigan”, he added, “this is a pretty great moment, huh?” After a short conversation about other great moments, Hester told the man, “My greatest moment was when I accepted Jesus Christ into my life.” The two men continued to talk, and then right there on the driving range, the professional golfer prayed and asked Jesus into his life. Hester says, “This man was 60-years old, and he said that no one had ever shared with him this message of salvation in his lifetime. I believe that every person needs a moment like that in their life, and many of them are just waiting for us to tell them about it.” Some estimates say as few as 2% of believers have ever witnessed to another person. Hester is the pastor of The Shore Church in St. Joseph, and he has used the MI Moment tool to encourage members of his church who have been intimidated about sharing their faith. MI Moment has a number of different approaches to help Christians enter into conversations about Jesus. Besides using the bracelets as conversation starters, willing witnesses can go to www.MIMOMENT.today, and record a 2-3 minute audio or video to share their moment of accepting Jesus. They then can print MI-Moment business cards with a link to their testimony, and can pass out those cards to people they encounter. For more information about Mi-Moment, just go to www.bscm.org/mimoment. #JUNE18

ROSCOMMON, MI – There are a couple of wild weeks coming this summer at Bambi Lake, you don’t want to miss. No, really, wild! Crazy wild! These are week-long camps for students grades 6 through 12. Wild Week is described as an “amazing, Christ-centered and fun-filled week” and there are, not one, but two opportunities to go. National student speaker, Ken Freeman will be leading both weeks. Despite an abusive childhood, Freeman accepted Christ into his life and for the past 30 years of ministry has been preaching that same gift of salvation to others. The evangelist describes himself as having a passion for the lost and the brokenhearted, and that is evident in every day of his ministry. Ken loves the Lord and he loves people. You will come to love him as well during Wild Week! The first Wild Week is scheduled for June 18-22. The second week is planned for July 16-20. All middle and high school students are encouraged to attend. The cost of the week is just $219 per camper. A $25 non-refundable deposit is required no later than 10 days prior to the event. For more information and to register visit www.bscm.org/bambi. #JUNE18

AUGUSTA, GA (BP) – What makes a good father? In one word, I believe it is character. Nothing has contributed more to the destructive trends of social poverty, perpetual anxiety, sexual identity, personal insecurity, rage, rebellion, anger and even insanity than failed leadership in the home because of an absent or aloof father. Earlier this year, I read the book, "Becoming a Leader of Character" by Gen. James Anderson and his son Dave. Their thesis was this: "Most leadership failures are character failures." This is certainly true in life, but it is especially true in the home and family. Dwight L. Moody defined character as "what you are in the dark." This year we saw national headlines unmask the shame of some of the highest profile celebrities, personalities and success stories. Marriages, families, careers and brands were destroyed once impulsive and indulgent acts were exposed. In the aftermath of these stories, I felt it important to gather a group of men at my church in order to address the topic, The Character Challenge. We examined four essential aspects of character: 1. RESPONSIBILITY Each of us has to take responsibility for who we are. We cannot pass this off or blame it on others. As grown men, we have to own our lives, our decisions, our commitment -- our character! We embrace words like relaxation and recreation, and often resist words like responsibility. But responsibility has everything to do with character. Other people hold us to accountability; we hold ourselves to responsibility. Responsibility is akin to the four-letter word, DUTY! Duty is doing what needs to be done without waiting for directions. It is taking responsibility for both the big and small things. While emotions matter, they cannot and must not dictate what we do every day. Every time we choose duty over delinquency, we pass a test of character. "You have to DO what you want to BE," as James and Dave Anderson write. 2. RESPECT Respect has everything to do with values because we honor, protect and guard what we respect. Respect begins with God our Creator, and He is our Father through Christ our Lord. It is the knowledge and awareness of this relationship that changes everything about how we live. With respect for God and as men of character, we respect women. In February, I wrote an article for Baptist Press to husbands and said, "Your wife needs your respect more than roses." But this is not limited to our wives. Women deserve our respect as counterparts in God's creation and co-recipients of His grace in salvation. While I fully subscribe to a complementarian view that God made us different to make us one in His design, I believe we are distinct, but equal. Galatians 3:28 exhorts us to honor and respect women, and it disallows any place for demeaning, dishonoring or abusing others. Men of character must reject and repent of the all too common misogynistic attitudes and frequent objectification of women. Our society is filled with multitudes of little girls and women who suffer emotional pain and physical or sexual abuse because they are devalued as human beings and disrespected because of their gender. This is more than an issue of culture; for men, it is an issue of character. 3. RESTRAINT Restraint applies to both responsibility and respect, and it is the opposite of selfishness. Many character flaws come from selfish impulse and indulgence. Lives are saved and reputations are forged through selfless acts of sacrifice, while lives and reputations are lost and destroyed by selfish acts of indulgence. Restraint understands that life is not just about us. Unrestrained lives communicate life is all about us. We need something greater than our own best efforts to overcome our self-driven impulses. Divine intervention and motivation change us from the inside out. Only God can do this through His saving grace and by the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. Character is something we need God to shape in us -- not something we simply squeeze out of ourselves. Character building is what God does in the lives of all who come to Him in Christ. This is what makes the Gospel both powerful and personal. 4. RESILIENCE Character is forged and seen in endurance. We face the relentless realities of fatigue, frustration and failure while seeking to be faithful to each task. We must be resilient to stay the course as we struggle with endurance. Character development is hard, but remember this: The road of life is littered by the debris of many men who have been talented and successful but failed because of their flawed character. My charge to men, to fathers, is to step up to The Character Challenge. Watch The Character Challenge in its entirety: warrenbaptist.org/media/mens-media ABOUT THE AUTHOR David H. McKinley is pastor-teacher at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga. #JUNE18