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FENTON, MI – Spring Training has started for Major League Baseball players. The Detroit Tigers are gearing up for the 2018 season as they practice in Lakeland, Florida. They are running, catching, throwing, and batting. Even though these baseball players have reached the top in their profession, they train to keep their skills sharp. They know that training makes a difference! In similar fashion, one of the characteristics of top baptizing churches is evangelism training. These pastors engage in personal evangelism and they train believers in the church to do the same. Sharing the Gospel is one of the marks of following Jesus. In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, “Follow me... and I will make you fish for people” (CSB). Consider doing evangelism training using these three approaches; Modeling: Jesus modeled evangelism for the disciples as they did life together. As they walked and talked, Jesus showed them what it looked like to help people encounter God in their daily lives. They watched as Jesus engaged people in whatever they were doing. To a woman in Samaria drawing water, Jesus talked about living water (John 4). When Mary and Martha were devastated by the loss of their brother Lazarus, Jesus declared: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live” John 11:25. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night seeking God. Jesus penetrated his heart with spiritual truth when He said: “You must be born again.” Throughout the Gospels, Jesus models how to bring God into the conversation. We can do the same by intentionally modeling to the people around us. Sermons: My first attempts to share the Gospel took place when I talked to people about the sermon my pastor preached Sunday. I didn’t grow up in church. I didn’t know much about the Bible, but I knew the parts he preached Sunday. Those messages found their way into my conversations and I learned something powerful about sermons. If my memory serves me correctly, my pastor mentioned the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in some way in every sermon. He taught the centrality of the Gospel. Joel Southerland, Executive Director of Evangelism at NAMB, shares that he always ends his sermons with the ABC’s of salvation. - Admit, Believe, Confess. He got a phone call one day that he told his assistant that he would return later. The man called back three times insisting to talk to him. When he finally answered the call, Alan said: “Preacher, I have a guy here on the loading docks that I’m sharing the gospel with. I’ve given him A and B but for the life of me I can’t remember C. What is it?” As soon as he heard the word confess, Alan hung up and Joel realized that he was teaching people how to share the Gospel through his sermons. Evangelism training resources: There are many resources available for evangelism training. In Michigan, we have developed, “Mi moment - The Moment that Changes Everything.” It uses our personal testimony and a unique illustration to share the Gospel. Two of the Great Lakes separate Michigan into the upper and lower peninsulas. It is impossible to get from one peninsula to the other on land from anywhere in the state. The Mackinac Bridge unites the divided state of Michigan. Here is an illustration of what sin does in our lives. It separates us from God. When Jesus died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again, He became the bridge that unites us with God. You can find more about Mi moment and other evangelism resources at BSCM.org. It’s time for Spring Training! 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. #MARCH18

ROSCOMMON, MI – This is the theme or motto of our Bambi Lake staff. God is the focus, and a thankful heart for His provision is what keeps us going. I am reminded of the scripture in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” So we worry about nothing, but pray for the camp with thankfulness, anticipating what the Lord is doing and will do as we join him, faithfully serving here. It is such a blessing to see how God provides in unexpected ways in daily life at Bambi Lake. Following Christmas break, three of our housing units were without water due to frozen pipes. One of our staff was staying in the lodge. On Sunday morning at about 5:30 am the fire alarms in the lodge went off. They ran to the alarm to see where the problem was located. It indicated the elevator corridor, so the area was investigated through the game room. No smoke, but the sound of water running? No! Water was shooting like from a fire hydrant from the handicap restroom! A pipe had burst, shorting out the alarms in the ceiling on the basement level, setting off the alarm. Once the water was shut off and the damage surveyed, we had to replace some ceiling tiles and dry the place out. Imagine, if we had not had staff in the lodge, what the damage would have been by nine o’clock Monday morning when we came in to the office. This was one of God’s blessings as He provided knowing what we needed before it happened. We see the hand of God regularly at Bambi Lake. One of the furnaces in the Wilson building has been malfunctioning, so it has been cold in the worship area. But, with heaters that we already owned and creative airflow, we have been able to keep the space comfortable for guests at our retreats. And God’s provision of warmer weather has helped significantly as we have not had to overcome the arctic air. Yes, there is a need to replace the furnace, but until finances provide a solution, God is blessing us with warmth. We started the winter without a working snow plow. A volunteer who did some plowing for us decided to sell his plow truck. So with God’s timing, we were able to secure a new, used snow plow truck. It was so critical to have a dependable plow truck. The weather has been rather unusual this year, rotating between four inches of snow and two inches of ice. Icy roads this year have seen unmanned cars sliding as well as the terrifying trauma of a car not stopping until the last second. But, with God’s protection, no significant damage was seen for any person or vehicle. Our staff with the new plow truck has been able to keep up with the snow. And it has been used to carry sand to sprinkle the roadways to aid traction. We have used a lot of sand on the roadways and salt on the walkways to keep people safe. In February, all of the rain and melting snow poured over two feet of water in the basement of the maintenance manager’s house. The hot water tank floated and fell over breaking pipes resulting in the water being turned off and the home left without water. This happened at a time when college was on winter break and we were able to enlist extra help from a college student to help with the “mud-out” and get them cleaned up and dried out, working toward restoration. Much of this was completed before a small retreat and, by God’s grace, did not happen in the middle of a large retreat! And there will be a fresh, renovation of the basement in this house, another blessing. Other drainage problems have surfaced as the water levels go up because there is nowhere for the water to go. The drains are full, the ground is frozen, and the water backs up in the basement. Laundry must be done, so it becomes a slow process. God has blessed us with a patient and diligent person who plugs away at the laundry until it is accomplished, letting the drains clear between loads. Lest it sound like everything has been discouraging and things are not going well at Bambi, I hope you will read on. We have hosted a Men’s Retreat, two Youth Retreats, and a Women’s Missions Retreat to date. These events are full of people who are commenting about the good changes they see at Bambi. The stage in the Wilson Auditorium is new, with up-to-date technology providing a new atmosphere. The relocation of the sound booth has made it so much easier to adjust the blend and levels of sound. The food service is getting more creative, and we have begun to offer some new menu options. Guest are loving the coffee and cookies at check-in, a new normal in the lodge. Although we have had a few glitches, Camp Manager Mick and the smoker have gained fame. Mick also serves “hot off the griddle” pancakes for Saturday breakfast which has been well received by all of the groups attending. The calendar is full and many events are new and exciting. Our event registration process is now user and group friendly. Administrative costs are less than the prior system, which is another blessing. When registering, select the event you want to attend and get details, before you are asked to log in. God is blessing us with returning staff and new staff that are making it possible to keep up with the demands that these changes and busy schedule add to our days. We are experiencing growing pains-- which is a great thing. God is providing for our needs. God has blessed us with a Camp Director who is multi-talented and uses all of his giftedness to serve in this place. We believe that God is instilling great vision in Pastor Mick. We know God has every resource needed to accomplish the vision He has given. Daily, as people come into the lodge, they are reminded “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” It keeps us encouraged and focused on thankfulness to our God who is greater than any difficulty that we face and who can turn everything for the good of those who love Him. 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. #MARCH18

Almost 70 years after he began his public ministry, Billy Graham continued to impact the faith of millions with almost half of all Protestant churchgoers saying they have watched one of his sermons on television. “Billy Graham was one of the greatest evangelists the Christian faith has ever known,” said LifeWay Christian Resources President and CEO Thom S. Rainer. “Throughout his life, it was obvious he wanted the focus to be not on himself but on one thing: the cross of Jesus Christ.” A recent LifeWay Research survey found Graham’s wide-ranging ministry influenced churchgoers through a variety of means. Two-thirds of Protestant churchgoers had some contact with Graham’s ministry, according to LifeWay Research: 48 percent watched a Billy Graham sermon on television. 18 percent listened to one of his sermons on the radio. 15 percent read one of his books. 14 percent read a Billy Graham newspaper column. 11 percent attended a Billy Graham crusade. 8 percent watched a Billy Graham sermon online. “While Billy Graham became famous through stadium-filled crusades,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, “he actually shared the good news of Jesus Christ with more people through TV, radio and print.” Only 4 percent of churchgoers said they “have no idea who Billy Graham is.” In a 2010 survey of Protestant pastors, LifeWay Research found Graham to be far and away the most influential living pastor at that time. “Billy Graham was a gifted communicator in sharing the gospel,” McConnell said. “His greatest legacy may be the number of Christians he mobilized to join him in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.” Rainer, founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said Graham’s legacy is secure because of the focus of his ministry. “I am saddened to hear the news of the passing of Billy Graham today,” Rainer said. “The message of the gospel was at the heart of his ministry. He understood the brevity of life. And he knew, when all is said and done, our relationship with Jesus Christ is all that really matters.” #FEBRUARY18

The Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) has announced the 2017 giving totals of churches across the state to the five primary funding offerings that support Southern Baptist causes. Michigan Baptists gave more than $1.6 million to the Cooperative Program, the Francis E. Brown State Mission Offering, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, and the World Hunger Ministry. Executive Director of the BSCM, Dr Tim Patterson says, “We are so thankful for the vision and generosity of the BSCM family. Because of them, we are able to punch holes in the darkness of Michigan and around the world.” #FEBRUARY18

FENTON, MI – I have discovered that with any journey it's important to know where you have been in order to understand and truly enjoy where you're going. The fact is, if you don't know where you’ve been, it is very difficult to know where you are and the progress you have made along the way. Over many years Sabrina and I have had the privilege of traveling across the United States and literally around the world. During our travels, it has been Sabrina's habit to photograph and visually record what we have done and where we have been. The reason being is that we've discovered, it's not so much the destination that is to be celebrated as is the journey itself. I cannot tell you the number of times that I have pulled up digital files of Sabrina's photographs of our trips and/or possibly one of her photograph albums, and just reminisced about the wonderful experiences that we've had. Each picture takes me back to that exact time and place. It amazes me how one picture can bring back so many emotions, and even the very smells of that very location and time. As we look forward to a new year here at the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM), it's important for us to know where we have been so that we can truly understand where we are going. This past year has been filled with some great events and wonderful experiences for many of our leaders, churches and pastors here in this great state of Michigan. In January, our state board officially called Michael Schatz and wife, Jackie, to be the new directors at our conference and retreat center at Bambi Lake. Mick began his duties on March 5, and has been working diligently to make a difference at Bambi Lake like never before. I encourage you to check out what's been going on up there over the last few months. Later in the year, we had Dr. Paige Patterson and Dr. David Allen from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary come and lead him an expository preaching conference for us. It was one of the best conferences and training that we have been able to have here in the state for some time. Pastors across the state told me how much they appreciated it, and how God bless them through this event. As you know, evangelism has been on our heart this year and we have provided numerous opportunities to help prepare our pastors and leaders to do a better job at evangelization. Many revivals, evangelistic events and evangelism training, both personal and corporate have taken place. One of the seminal events that took place this past year was the retirement of our long tenured and well loved employee's, Anne Glissman and Yolanda Chapa. These dear ladies have been the bedrock of our convention for many years and an ever-present stability during some trying transitional times. They are truly missed, but their legacy lives on. Encouragement, development and training to help strengthen churches have been at the forefront of our efforts as well. One of those events that stand out is our annual Church Equipping Conference. Practitioners from all across our country came here to Michigan to help us do a better job in our respective areas of ministry. It is one of the finest conferences you will find anywhere. This has been a wonderful year and our future is bright. As we move into 2018 we will be focusing on the theme, “The Power of One.” The power of one is manifested in the power to change lives, communities, churches and the world. One person sharing the Gospel has the unlimited power of the Father behind every word they speak. One person giving of their resources has the potential to impact thousands. One pastor faithfully preaching the Word can be the very hand of God in making an eternal difference in his church and around the world. One person volunteering to help others who have been impacted by disasters can bring hope in the midst of despair. One person loving the hard to love can open doors that have been closed for decades. One person praying can __________________________, (fill in the blank). The power of one, when joined with the power of another, results in an exponential and ever expanding force that is unlimited in potential. May the power of one be evident in our midst as we continue to punch holes in the darkness of Michigan. 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. #FEBRUARY18

FLINT, MI (BP) – In a dumpster. Harvey says his infant twins likely would have been discarded there by the abortion clinic, if not for James Carr standing out in the parking lot in the strip mall that also houses a Family Dollar. Except for one day a week when other volunteers relieve Carr, he's pitched his red tent across from the abortion clinic in Flint, Mich., pleading all day with the clinic's clients to have a conversation about saving their baby. Carr says he's not a protester. His signs simply say, "God knows the child inside your womb" and "We will adopt," and he has local church members ready to back that up. That's what he told Harvey that day when his wife Shante went into the clinic to put down a deposit on an abortion. "We will do whatever it takes to bring that baby to full term," said Carr, a full-time missionary with ONElife for Life, a ministry of ONElife Church in Flint. If Shante decided to keep her baby rather than choose to place him or her with an adoptive family, "we have resources that will pay for that child for the first three years of its life," Carr said. That includes medical care, clothing, diapers, formula and whatever else is needed. He gave Harvey a bag with a onesie, a diaper, a Bible and some other resources. Harvey said thank you and walked away. "We just assumed that they had gotten the abortion," Carr said. But two months later, Harvey pulled into the parking lot and said he just had to say thanks. When Shante came back for her abortion appointment, as she laid on the table, all she could think about was the onesie Carr had given Harvey. She got dressed, rushed out to the waiting room and told Harvey she couldn't go through with it. They later found out she was expecting twins. "When I saw James standing here today, I had to do a U-turn," Harvey said. "James, you're not standing here for no reason." When the twins -- Harvey and Harmony -- were born, Carr and volunteer Justin Phillips were able to visit the family at the hospital. "I've had three boys of my own, and one of them is about to have a son that I can't wait to hold," Carr said. "But I'm going to tell you, there's nothing like holding one of these babies that's been rescued out of this place." A whole-church ministry Those twins and 33 other babies are alive today, thanks to the ministry of ONElife for Life, which started in May 2016. Carr has been the face of the ministry, but the one who got it started was Eric Stewart, lead pastor of ONElife Church. "I've been burdened as a pastor for several years that the Gospel has implications for injustices in our cultures," Stewart said. "I've always supported pregnancy centers and done everything I thought I could, but I felt like more needed to be done." So he began to pray about how ONElife -- a three-year-old church plant with 150 people -- could support a full-time ministry to help save the unborn. They soon cobbled together a network of crisis pregnancy centers, potential adoptive families, gift bag packers and parking lot volunteers. Phillips, for instance, works a full-time job but still volunteers at the site 20 to 25 hours a week. "A good percentage of our church is involved," said Stewart, who also serves at the tent on a regular basis. "For example, the women in our church are ready and available when we need someone to make friends with some of these moms." And someone is onsite at the tent every hour the clinic is open. "We consider it crisis intervention," Stewart said. "If they will cross the parking lot and talk to us, we are able to engage them with the Gospel there. What we have found is that 98 percent of them know it is murder and the reason they are afraid is finances [for raising a child]." Carr agreed. "Many of them are just looking for someone to tell them it's OK not to get an abortion," he said. For those women, ONElife for Life offers any resources they might need to choose life for their baby. The ministry also is working to acquire property next to the abortion clinic to give their efforts even more legitimacy, Stewart said. "We have a big vision," he said, "and we hope what we are developing is a prototype that can be replicated all over" -- a ministry that shows the redemptive love of Christ to expectant mothers near every abortion clinic. "We believe that we can't wait for [Roe v. Wade] to be overturned," Stewart said of the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. "We've been waiting 45 years for that. "At a grassroots level, we believe that's the way to end it -- take the Gospel to abortion clinics and witness that Gospel onsite for those babies," Stewart said. Tony Lynn, director of missions for Baptist State Convention of Michigan, said he's been amazed to see the way the ministry of ONElife Church has transformed the community. "Mothers approached in just the right manner and at just the right time have turned away from the doors of an abortion clinic into the arms of the grace of Jesus Christ because Eric Stewart and his young church plant saw the need in Flint," Lynn said. When Stewart shared his burden with the church, they responded with readiness -- and to top it off, God called Carr alongside them to help, Lynn said. Carr said, for him, it's been an amazing blessing to serve alongside Stewart and others in this way, and he only prays for God to call out more. He said the need haunts him. "We had one lady come up to our tent just after we began the ministry [in May 2016] and she was angry," Carr recounted. "She said, 'I was here in February and I had an abortion, and I've regretted it every day since then.' I said, 'Ma'am, we need to ask for forgiveness. The church should've been here for you.'" For more information about ONElife for Life, visit www.onelifeforlife.org. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Grace Thornton is a writer based in Birmingham, Ala. #FEBRUARY18

FENTON, MI – Baptist churches across Michigan are receiving their print version of the Baptist Beacon. This 28-page full color magazine illustrates the Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s (BSCM) emphasis of this year’s theme “The Power of One”. And there is a companion video on the BSCM website, that explains the vision for the theme. BSCM Executive Director, Dr. Tim Patterson says, “The power of one manifests itself in the power to change lives, communities, churches and the world.” Patterson adds, “The power of one when joined with the power of another, results in an exponential, ever expanding force that is unlimited in potential.” This issue of the Baptist Beacon highlights many of the areas of ministry within the state including the three primary goals of “starting, strengthening, sending.” The Starting articles share stories of friendship, prayer and new beginnings as ways to bring new congregations to communities where there weren’t any. It also includes updates and challenges for the effort of church planting in Michigan’s largest urban center, Detroit. The Strengthening articles cover a number of events from 2017 that are impacting the ministries of existing churches as they move into this new year, and highlights a number big events the BSCM is hosting in 2018 that are anticipated to expand the ministries of our Michigan churches for years to come. The Baptist Beacon focuses on the Mi Moment tool that the BSCM has unveiled in recent months. This Michigan-centric approach to sharing the Gospel gives believers in our state a unique, comfortable way to discuss their faith. The Sending portion of the magazine points out the many areas where Michigan Baptists are leaving their churches to go and share the Good News. The articles highlight the ministries of Disaster Relief that are helping victims both here in our state and across the country. The impact of BSCM’s Women’s Ministry team, and a special story about the an African-American led international mission trip to St. Croix. Patterson says, “Our hope is that this print version of the Baptist Beacon will enrich the understanding about the our mission and “The Power of One” emphasis to Michigan Baptists across our state.” To view a PDF of the print magazine, click here. #FEBRUARY18

LIVONIA, MI – For most of their early lives, only thirty miles of Michigan roadways separated Travis Whittaker and Shea Prisk from one another. Travis Whittaker grew up in South Lyon. Shea Prisk grew up in Highland. The two of them did not know one another until 2009 when their first meeting took place at a conference in Ohio. The two of them began to collaborate on some projects. Their initial interactions were casual yet intermittent. The two men are somewhat different from one another. Travis has a smooth, calm voice. He appears dressed to go on stage. He inquisitively visits with people asking questions about their life. It’s no surprise because in his earliest ventures Travis was part of a band called Station2. He and his band were performing national and international concerts before God redefined Travis’ calling to become a church planter in Michigan along with his growing family. Shea is quick and witty in his conversations. He seems most comfortable in caps, t-shirts, and jeans. There is an intensity in Shea that explains why he made a great DJ and emcee for big events in his early years. Shea describes himself as a troublemaker back in his youth. Yet, today his boldness and sales experience has provided well for his young family. Though only thirty miles separated these men most of their lives, it’s obvious that God intentionally brought them together in 2009 to create an unstoppable divine initiative. One day, Shea took it upon himself to call Travis. The two men teased one another as they often did until Travis with a more serious tone explained to Shea that his phone call was no accident. Travis shared his call to start a new church and he asked Shea to join him on the adventure. As a result, just over two years ago, Travis and Shea started Mile City Church in Livonia, MI. Everyone remembers the launch day when Shea and his wife were introduced to the members of Mile City Church. They were expecting their first child. Travis said something like this to the congregation, “Shea and Andrea are expecting their first baby!” Everyone busted out in applause thinking that was the big announcement. Travis continued, “They’re pregnant and we’re planting pregnant as a church. Shea and Andrea are going to be the first leaders of the first church plant out of Mile City!” Again, the crowd clapped but even louder in response to this bold assertion. Many throughout the gathering that epic morning probably asked, “We’re not only starting a new church but we are already starting another church?” Mile City’s two-year growth has been shocking! Many have come to know Christ. Baptisms occur often. Home groups have created deep friendships. People are bringing friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to church. The members of the church have given back financially to the Cooperative Program and other special offerings setting records through their generosity. While Mile City continues on its increasing trajectory, Shea has stepped out into faith to start a new church in Grand Blanc, MI. Its name is Grumlaw Church. This year, the church will boldly launch their initial services at the Genesys Athletic Club in Grand Blanc, MI. Initially, more than 50 adults have committed to be part of the launch team. Other churches have come alongside the effort sponsoring the new church plant in practical and meaningful ways. To top it off, Travis announced late in 2017 that one of Mile City’s newest undertakings in 2018 will be a new church start in Lyon Township, MI. Travis will preach in two locations in two church plants while Shea and his launch team create a new church in Grand Blanc. That is the power of one. Within three years, there will be three new church plants coming from one friendship that was started in 2009: Livonia, Grand Blanc, and Lyon Township. 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. #FEBRUARY18

WINDSOR, ON – When you meet Garth Leno you just like him. His conversations are purposeful. He connects warmly with people and he makes others feel comfortable in his presence. His appearance is crisp. Even wearing jeans and casual shirts, he looks dressed up. If the Lord had not called him to the ministry decades ago, Garth most likely would have become a successful executive with a fat retirement account; but that is not his story and that has never been his purpose. In 2013 Garth was bouncing back from a devastating experience. The non-Southern Baptist church Garth had led for ten years in Windsor, Ontario, Canada rejected his leadership after a fruitful ministry. Garth had taken a public stand against denominational doctrinal drift, and during his three-month sabbatical in 2013 some people endeavored to end his ministry as the senior pastor. He was terminated “without cause” in August 2013. In the aftermath of that shattering setback, a remnant from that earlier congregation gathered in Garth and Patty’s home for Bible study, fellowship, and prayer. No one could have foreseen what God was going to accomplish over the next four years. Consistent growth caused the group to move from that home, to a meeting room at a local golf course, to a banquet hall, to a remodeled warehouse, and now to a 12,000 square foot facility on 6.2 acres of land. Equally inspiring, during these past two years Garth and the new congregation lovingly known as “The Gathering” sponsored the start of two new church plants in Ontario, Canada. One church plant is located in Sarnia, Ontario and the other is in Goderich, Ontario. The church in some ways reflects the border city of Windsor and the surrounding county of Essex. Diversity is more common than most churches. There are young adults passionately pursuing careers serving alongside retirees who have more time to devote to serving the Lord through the church. There are church members from China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mexico, S. Africa, Europe, and North America volunteering in many roles in the busy church. Yet, despite their diversity, everyone focuses on the mission of bringing glory to God through lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gathering’s intentionality and pursuit to do everything with excellence draws more and more people to join them each month. How did Michigan Baptists share in all of this? One day, Garth met Wayne Parker, the North American Mission Board’s Send City Missionary, at a regional meeting. Wayne is also the lead pastor at Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City, MI. It was through the friendship that developed between these two men that every mission resource of the Southern Baptist Convention was extended to Garth and The Gathering. The weekly contributions from churches to the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) supplied important resources for the new church start during its early days. As a result, people have come to know Christ. Many have been baptized. Members in the church have found vibrant ways to serve God corporately as a congregation, and personally in their daily lives. Furthermore, in order to express their gratitude to those who believed in them during their early years, The Gathering has been overwhelmingly generous when it comes to contributions to the Cooperative Program and the special annual offerings. Some recall hearing Garth say something like, “How can we do otherwise? All of you came alongside us when we needed encouragement. We want to do likewise for others.” That is the power of one. One new beginning for Garth and The Gathering is giving life to more new beginnings. 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. #FEBRUARY18

DETROIT, MI – We must constantly remind ourselves that Jesus is on the throne and that He rules and reigns today. I say this because, everything around us reports on the activity of the enemy. Every time you turn on the TV or read the paper you are confronted with the reminder that Satan is alive and at work. If you listen to Christians talk among themselves, you could quickly be led to believe that we are on the losing team. Friends, that is a lie from Hell. God is at work in our day and in the state of Michigan and we need to point one another to His activity. During the Baptist State Convention meeting in 2014, we were given the opportunity to invite Michigan Baptists to join us in Detroit, praying that, “the Lord of the Harvest would send out laborers into the harvest,” (Luke 10:2). In that meeting we reported the work of the Send Detroit Strategy Team and the recognition of 72 neighborhoods that we believed needed a Gospel-centered New Testament church. That revelation begged the question, “Where are we going to find all those church planters?” Our only strategy was prayer. I am thrilled to report that God has been answering your prayers. We have seen 23 launches and are working with another 30 men that are at different levels of preparation for the launching of new churches. But that is not all. Of these 53 men that God has raised up, 48 are from here. Several have launched churches in their home town and some in the High School they attended. This is evidence that God is moving among us. He is raising up laborers from the harvest! In September, we saw three new church launches in the Send Detroit area. Alin Patularu launched Life-giver Church in Windsor on September 24th at the Forest Glade Arena. Here is a couple that literally launched pregnant. Alin and his wife, Shelly, recently announced that they are expecting twins next spring. On September 17th, City Church launched under the leadership of Corey Parker at Ypsilanti high school with approximately 300 in attendance. Another plant, Journey Church, launched in Mount Clemens. This new church is meeting in the historic Emerald Theater and had 145 in attendance as they opened their doors to the city. As we celebrate these new beginnings, please understand that we cannot afford to become complacent. God’s kingdom is advancing. We can see the movement of His hand, but our enemy has not given up nor is he asleep. Therefore, we need to be all the more diligent in our prayers. These church planters are under attack. They need our encouragement and our support. If you could hear directly from them, you would be encouraged by story after story of life change, salvation, transformation as entire families who have been restored by the life-giving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But, you would also hear about the hardships they are facing. Often these challenges are simply attacks from the evil one and they need our prayers. We also ask for continued prayer because we know that the task is not complete. We need to persistently pray that God will raise up more laborers for the harvest. We must continue to tell the story of how God is at work. At the same time, we are reminded that Jesus is ruling from His Throne today. He may not need us, but wants us to be involved, serving Him, and crying out for the lost and dying all around us. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Wayne Parker grew up in metro Detroit. He graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in education and received his Master of Divinity degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Parker now serves as the senior pastor for Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City, an inner-ring suburb of Detroit. Wayne and his wife Cindy have five children. Together they enjoy skiing, hiking, hunting and fishing. #FEBRUARY18

ALLEN PARK, MI – The threat to Christianity runs rampant across our globe. From Christian genocide in the Middle East to threats and acts of violence in America, each day’s news brings word of another attack to the Church. In the wake of the recent shootings, churches across America are beginning to see the need to protect their congregations during church functions. Yet our greatest threat is our own denial. We cannot continue to deny that we live in dark and wicked times; sin, immorality, racism, terror and violence is on the rise. Of course, it is. Biblically it is clear the devil will stop at nothing to continue persecuting Christians, and that he will use any method that he can. However, this does not mean that we should lock our doors and huddle within the four walls of church buildings. Jesus said that the we are to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15 HCSB). He also said that we should not hinder others from coming to Him (Matt. 19:14). As leaders of the church we have been given a great responsibility to protect the flock without sacrificing the mission. We must have a way to anticipate and handle situations that may arise in the church; this is called Crisis Management. “Crisis Management” is defined as a process by which a business or other organization deals with a sudden emergency situation.” For the Church, Crisis Management is the process by which we deal with disruptive and/or an unexpected event that threatens to harm the worship experience of people, the building(s), and/or property by identifying threats and using methods to handle the threats. The group that handles this in our Church is called the “Security Team”. As I look to scripture that supports the mission of church security and safety I am reminded of Nehemiah who, after finding out the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed, prayed and fasted. It must be said that your security team should operate as a ministry of the church and always begin in prayer. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, assessed the current situation; the damage and what was needed to complete the renovation. He gave the people a vision and plan to rebuild the wall. He recruited help who brought tools and armory items necessary to build and to defend against the attacks. Nehemiah gave instructions to all those working on the wall what they must do if an attack was to occur. Nehemiah implemented God’s plan and reassessed as they built the wall and gates, restoring safety to Jerusalem (Nehemiah Chapter 1-6). In our Church Security Training Program, we have outlined nine steps resulting in a successful church security team. Nehemiah also did something that all pastors must do, he devoted himself to working on the wall (Neh 5:16). Church security and safety is the pastor’s responsibility and you, fellow pastor, should lead from the front to have a great Security and Safety ministry. It is my prayer that you or your security team will find the time to attend one of our Security and Safety Workshops hosted by the BSCM and that you implement a security team for the safety of God’s flock. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy D. Jones is senior pastor at The Road Church in Allen Park, MI. theroadbyfaith.org #FEBRUARY18

ROSCOMMON, MI – This is a year of change and fresh vision for Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. With 240 acres of land, much of which is wooded and rustic, located in the beautiful setting of northern Michigan on the I-75 corridor, there is amazing potential for expansion and growth of our existing facilities. Thanks to the Francis Brown State Mission Offering being designated solely for Bambi Lake, the camp’s potential and expansion can now begin to be truly realized. Our vision is great, but our God is greater! The renovation and expansion of Bambi Lake will focus on three areas: people, programs and property. All three of these areas integrate and flow together so when we improve one area we are improving all three. Over the last nine months much progress has already be achieved in each of these areas. Bambi Lake strives to intentionally encourage, disciple and empower Christians and non-Christians of all ages in their relationship with Jesus. Whether it’s their first time to experience Jesus, the living Gospel, or if they have been a believer for years, Bambi Lake can play a special role in one’s journey with Christ. As Bambi Lake continues to expand we are excited to engage more and more people with the gospel. With every retreat or summer camp we are privileged to witness the Holy Spirit work in the lives of young and old, boys and girls, men and women. We are excited to see campers answer the call to serve in ministry. God loves people and so does Bambi! Helping people have a “difference making” moment with Jesus Christ is the motivation behind everything we do at Bambi Lake. This is why the Frances Brown State Mission Offering means so much - it gives us the much-needed resources to build upon the heritage Bambi Lake already has as a place where you can experience God. As we endeavor to encourage, disciple, and empower our attendees over this next year, we are exploring new programming options for our retreats and summer camps. We are also adding in some exciting one and two-day events to the calendar. Striving to provide high quality, relevant speakers and ministry equipping events, we are inviting The Smalley Institute, Ken Freeman, and Dr. Paige Patterson to be with us in 2018. Bambi will be hosting two gospel music weekends featuring “The Martins” and “Karen Peck and New River” along with other regional gospel groups. The funding provided by the State Offering will allow us to construct a stage and amphitheater so Bambi can host concerts and big outdoor events. To enhance our summer camps, we are adding activities such as paintball, archery and archery tag. A forty-foot water slide and water trampoline will be welcomed sites to the lakefront by campers, creating unforgettable summer camp memories. The tremendous variety of retreats and camps we offer at Bambi Lake truly provides something for everyone of all ages. Improving and upgrading the landscaping and facilities at Bambi Lake are essential to our vision and mission. We are committed to Bambi Lake being well-maintained, clean and refreshing. Minor repairs and paint have already improved the exterior look of the lodge. While there are still some upgrades needed on the exterior one major area we hope to address inside the lodge is the flooring. The first floor still has some of the original carpet. We are excited about the possibility of installing new flooring in the lodge to give it a fresh, new look. One of our guest rooms has been upgraded already and serves as a template for how we want to enhance and renovate the rest of the guest rooms. All of the chalets and cabins need a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, as well as complete renovating on the interior. In the Wilson Building, the dining room and worship center need new flooring and a fresh coat of paint. The gym needs a heating solution to make it usable in all seasons for indoor basketball, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, etc. This will expand the number of activities available for retreats and camps when the weather is not conducive to outdoor play. Funding from the Francis Brown State Offering will help us in remodeling, repairing and expanding the usability of our facilities. Landscaping upgrades are already in process. People who have come on the camp in recent months have noted many improvements and we are just getting started. Overgrown shrubs have been removed. Low maintenance shrubs, flowering shrubs and trees, perennial plants that are suited to the conditions at Bambi will be added in 2018. More clearly defined roads and driveways are also part of our landscape vision. State Mission Offering funds will be used to purchase new, maintenance free signs that show ½ mile from the entrance on Old 76 coming from the east or west. If you are approaching the back entrance, we hope to add a sign there to tell you to stay on the paved road and follow it to Old 76 and then turn right to the camp. As if that weren’t enough, another improvement we are looking forward to adding is in our campground facility. It is essential that all of our sites are sufficient to accommodate large motorhomes or small pop-up campers. We also have plans to accommodate families and groups who love to camp, but don’t have a camper and don’t like tents. We are planning to build cottages that provide electricity and sleep four to six comfortably. A remodeled bathhouse will be essential to provide bathroom and bathing facilities. Our vision is large. More buildings with more beds for more people to come. More rooms equipped for couples for married/family events. More activities to do when people are here. Maybe even a boardwalk by the beach with water features. Through the generous giving of Michigan Southern Baptists to the Francis Brown State Mission Offering many of these plans and renovations will become reality. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the generous giving of Michigan Southern Baptists will impact present and future generations to come. Amen! For more information about Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center or to register for Bambi Lake events, visit bscm.org/bambi. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mick Schatz arrived in 2017 to serve on the staff of the BSCM as the State Director of Spiritual Enrichment and Retreats. He spends the majority of his time at Bambi Lake where he resides, along with his wife Jackie and their three children. #FEBRUARY18