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WHEREAS, The messengers to the 60th session of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan are enjoying a time of worship, encouragement, and fellowship in the Lord Jesus Christ; and WHEREAS, We acknowledge God’s providence in all these blessings; and WHEREAS, We also acknowledge the kind hospitality of our brothers and sisters at Middlebelt Baptist Church; and WHEREAS, We further acknowledge our State Convention staff, volunteers from State Convention churches, associational leaders, and SBC entities who have worked so diligently to make our annual meeting an organized and pleasant one; and WHEREAS, We especially acknowledge the Lord’s grace in enabling our State Convention president, officers, various committees, musicians, and other platform personnel to conduct the affairs of this Convention with dignity and a Christ-like spirit; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the messengers to the 60th Annual Baptist State Convention meeting in Inkster, Michigan November 7-8, 2017, express our profound gratitude to the Lord and to all those through whom He is working to bring about an annual meeting characterized by prayer, grace, evangelism, worship, encouragement, cooperation, and purpose as we celebrate 60 years of God’s work through and among Southern Baptists in Michigan. Dr. David Roberts Chairman, Committee on Resolutions For more information please contact the BSCM offices. (810) 714-1907 or info@bscm.org. #DECEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Well folks, this is the season when we celebrate the birth of our Lord with all sorts of traditions, parties, food and gifts. It truly is the happiest time of the year. As I reflect on Christmases past my heart and mind are filled with childhood memories of cold December nights when it was so hard to go to sleep, and then wide eyed Christmas mornings that glistened with the wonder of tinsel laden trees and Christmas wishes wrapped in colorful paper. I can still smell the strong scent of an evergreen tree and the sweet, citrus aroma of fresh fruit. My mother would always buy the largest oranges and apples she could find, and fill our stockings with those and other candies. And of course, the comforting fragrance of a perfectly roasted turkey settled in around it all. Throughout the years I have received all sorts of gifts and gadgets at Christmas, but as a young boy a gift that became one of my most memorable was a pet hamster. I had seen a whole family of them in our local “five & dime” with their labyrinth of tubes and tunnels, and I just had to have one of these energized entertainers. Sure enough, Christmas morning came and there, under the tree was my very own hamster and self-contained habitat. Inside this rodent residence was a complete gymnasium of gadgets to keep the most lethargic and sedentary of fuzzy friends healthy and happy. Right in the center of all this menagerie of moving parts was an enormous wire wheel where upon my new found friend could race and run for hours on end. And run he did. In the middle of the night when all self-respecting relatives of the rat family should be fast asleep, ol’ fleet of foot would be running his race to nowhere. The first night of our new family member’s stay in the home, my dad got up to try and find out why the refrigerator or our home heating unit had suddenly developed an annoying squeak. It took him several sleepless nights until he discovered it was “Herman the Hamster” and his midnight marathons that were disturbing our long winter naps. Herman would get in his “nowhere wheel” and run for hours on end. He would then get off, have a bite to eat, rest, get a drink of water and then begin again. I never could figure out why he put so much energy into something that left him in the same place he started. Have you ever felt like Herman the Hamster? That life was going nowhere fast, and all you had to look forward to was another round in the marathon wheel of a monotonous life? Have you been scurrying about with all your Christmas traditions, trying to produce some modicum of fulfillment, and still find yourself going in circles? Is it possible that you have been quoting Old Testament passages like, “Vanity. Vanity. All is vanity.” There is a better Way. There is a Way that doesn’t leave you dizzy, dazed and desiring more. There is a Way that doesn’t make you feel like a termite in a YO-YO. There is a Way that has a destination of hope, peace, and fulfillment. That Way is He who was born in a manger on that wonderful Christmas morning more than 2000 years ago. And our Lord is the one who has come to provide for us hope, peace, and purpose in life. Let me invite you to get off the “wheel of misfortune” and step on to the Road of Life that leads to purpose and peace. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” The Gift of Christmas awaits and believe me, it’s much better than a hamster. 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. #DECEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Someone reported that an average professional football game lasts 3 hours and 12 minutes, but if you tally up the time when the ball is actually in play, the action amounts to a mere 11 minutes. Do you find that unbelievable? I did at first, but it’s true. Consider this: It is reported that most professional football teams play between 60-70 plays per game with each play lasting a mere 6-7 seconds. That further verifies that when we watch those gridiron matches that we are actually watching a lot of things other than football. How does that make you feel? Three hours of other things and only 11 minutes of actual game time. Yet millions of people anticipate, prepare, watch, and talk about the aftermath of football games, day after day, throughout our country. Owners spend millions trying to make their teams better. Superior athletes work hard to become one of the elite players wearing pads while running up and down a field 100 yards long. I will admit it. Despite the obvious waste of time, I still like football better than other sports. I enjoy the sense of anticipation with every play. Special teams might return a punt or kick the entire length of the field. Defense might cause a turnover that will change the momentum of the game. The quarterback and receiver might connect on a seemingly impossible catch for six points. Twenty-two men completing their respective assignments to either advance or impede the football. Can the game be that simple?! As we approach the celebration of Christmas and the threshold of a new year, let’s consider the impact of 11 minutes of game time and the playing time of 6-7 seconds. I’m not talking about football any more; I’m talking about spiritual matters. At the annual state convention, Pastor Mike Durbin, (mike@bscm.org or 810-714-1907) introduced an outstanding outreach method unique to Michigan. You can locate it at bscm.org/mimoment - it uses the two peninsulas and the Mackinac Bridge to express the good news of Jesus Christ. There are items to download and use in the church or with a small group. Mike will come to the church or association, and lead a training event if you invite him. I believe Mike has created an outstanding witnessing method that is easy to use, and will be interesting to those who need Christ. The outline is simple: One story One verse One illustration I also think the method is attractive because it uses audio and video recordings that anyone can download using their smartphone. Imagine all of the people in the church prayed-up and prepared for an 11 minute discussion. If all of the members of the churches started using this method throughout the state, it would change our communities. Imagine what would happen if members of the church dedicated certain evenings to go out and share their faith with others. One of the easiest, low-risk ways to use this system is to pass someone a business card. That might take 6-7 seconds. Sound familiar? That interaction, lasting mere seconds, could be a game-changer for someone’s eternity. You or someone in the church, having downloaded their testimony on audio or video format, can pass a business card onto someone asking them, “I know you don’t have time now, but when you do, would you listen or watch this link on the card?” That request would only take 6-7 seconds. In high school, Mike and I played football. Though we were in the same graduating class of 77, Mike’s athletic ability gave him an edge. For example, Mike played on the JV Team while I played on the Freshmen Team. It was fun watching him run out of the backfield. Sometimes he carried the football, at other times he blocked for another running back. Regardless of his assignment, Mike gave it his all. I am confident you will find this new resource he’s created to be an invaluable tool for sharing Christ to those around you. Please, call or write to Mike asking him to help you advance the good news of Jesus Christ where you live, play, and work. Your 11 minutes and broken into 6-7 seconds moments will make the difference in someone’s life. For more information, visit bscm.org/mimoment. 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. #DECEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Christmas is in the air! Anticipation is growing in the hearts of God’s children (young and old) as we prepare to celebrate the coming of our King. For shepherds watching their flocks at night near Bethlehem, Christmas began with a good news conversation. “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). That conversation changed their lives as they made their way to Bethlehem to see the newborn Savior, Christ our Lord. It was an angel who got to share the first Gospel conversation. That privilege is now ours as followers of Jesus, and there’s no better time to share than now. Christmas is a time when many people are interested in spiritual conversations. Christmas is a time when talking about Jesus comes natural because the world over recognizes Christmas as Christ’s birthday. Southern Baptist Churches all across North America are joining together to take the Gospel Conversation Challenge. The goal is to have 1,000,000 Gospel Conversations by June, 2018. It’s a great challenge! But it is so much more than that. Focus not on the number, but on the lives you can touch with a conversation about heavenly matters. It all begins with you sharing your story and we call it - Mi-moment. Learn more at bscm.org/mimoment. Let me encourage you to signup your church to participate in the GC Challenge. It’s easy to do. Go to gcchallenge.com and do three things: 1. Make the pledge 2. Upload a 60 second video of your last Gospel Conversation 3. Download the Prayer Guide. We have resources at BSCM.org/sending to equip your church family to share the hope we have in Christ. Click on the link above to learn more about mi-moment. Contact mike@bscm.org if you have any questions. 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. #DECEMBER17

ROSCOMMON, MI – Greetings from Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center and Merry Christmas! As I am writing this the snow is lightly falling, and there is a quiet calm over all the camp. I imagine it is much like the night (no snow or course) the shepherds were gathered around a fire swapping sheep herding stories, and keeping watch over their flocks. This is one of my favorite scenes in the Christmas story. The gospel of Luke records it like this – “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.””Luke 2:8-11. Now I don’t know about you, but I have been in a field at night when all you can see and hear Is the fire and the wood cracklin’, and every sensory receptor in your body is on full alert. If an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared before me I’m sure I would have lost full control of my faculties and died right on the spot. At best I would have “freaked out” like the shepherds, and been paralyzed in fear. Wow! What an entrance! However, imagine their relief when this glorious angel said “Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people…” I love the fact that God the Father chose lowly shepherds to be the first hearers of this heavenly announcement. This message of hope was not restricted to the religious elite, socially favored, or financially secure. It did not single out only those who dressed to impress, or looked the prettiest. This clarion call did not resound for those of a particular ethnicity, skin color, privileged background or ancestry. THE GOOD NEWS AND GREAT JOY OF JESUS CHRIST WAS ANNOUNCED FOR ALL PEOPLE! HE WHO IS EVERYTHING CAME FOR EVERYONE! All people have been invited to join in and celebrate Christmas. From the very beginning of our Savior's life here on earth we witnessed the banner of love for all being heralded across the sky. We heard the heart of a loving, heavenly Father calling out to His creation declaring a provision of hope and redemption through His son, Jesus. As Christians we bear the responsibility of continuously declaring this Good News and Great Joy. In a world full of selfishness and sadness we have Good News and Joy to bring to those around us. In a culture filled with noise and hopeless messages the Gospel is the only announcement loud enough and powerful enough to stop people in their tracks, and captivate their heart and minds with a love and joy that changes everything. Celebrate Christmas by sharing the Good News and Great Joy of Jesus Christ! 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. #DECEMBER17

ALPHARETTA, GA (BP) – When I met Dan Coleman a few years ago, he was a church planter with a vision for reaching the state of Maine for Jesus but he didn't have a lot of resources. Maine can be a lonely place for a church planter. There are only a handful of Southern Baptist churches, encompassing fewer than 1 percent of the population. Across Maine, only 22 percent of the population attend a church of any kind on a weekly basis. Still, God was working through Dan's church plant, and Kennebec Community Church in Augusta had grown to 200. In fact, they had outgrown their meeting space. A church building across town was for sale but the $1 million price tag was impossible for a church of Kennebec Community's size. Because of Southern Baptists' resources sent to the North American Mission Board through the Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, NAMB is able to give loans to church plants like Dan's. Most commercial lenders would not touch a church plant but our in-house property buyer was able to negotiate the $1 million price down to $400,000 and we were able to provide the loan. Overnight, Kennebec Community Church went from a building with a capacity of 75 people to one that holds 500. The church now averages 1,100 in weekend services. This story is only possible because Dan is connected to the greater SBC family. I see the difference it makes every single day. Because of that connection, Dan is not alone. Now, his church is training several church planting interns who will soon be planting churches in the Northeast. This kind of a network means the world to our church planters and missionaries. Yes, they need financial resources, but even more importantly, they need prayer and to know they are not forgotten. I hope you will take a moment and visit PrayForPlanters.com. We will connect you with a missionary for whom you can pray. It's a simple, easy way you can start having an impact right now in pushing back lostness across North America. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kevin Ezell is president of the North American Mission Board. #NOVEMBER17

FENTON, MI – I am looking forward to our time together at the annual meeting of the Convention of Michigan November 7-8 at Middlebelt Baptist Church. We are launching an evangelism strategy called “Mi Moment.” It is all about believers sharing life’s greatest moment. We use Mi because it refers to Michigan Baptist believers sharing their moment of trusting Christ. “Mi Moment” equips followers of Jesus to talk naturally about their faith using three simple tools: One Story: People share stories everyday about what is happening in their lives all over Michigan. Some are about great moments of celebration. Others are about brokenness and tragedy. As people share the many moments in their lives, we have an opening as believers to share our greatest moment - the moment we trusted in Christ as our Lord and the difference He makes in our lives. Since it’s our story, we are the experts. We can speak with confidence, authority, and assurance knowing that God is pleased when we talk about Him. We can also know that God is at work in the life of the person to whom we are talking, and He brings people into our path with whom we are uniquely wired to connect. One Verse: MI-Moment uses one verse from the Bible to share the Gospel. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). This verse is easy to remember and helps us share the Gospel message. Wages, sin, and death paint a dramatically different picture than gift, God, and eternal life. The difference between living in one reality or the other is Jesus Christ and our relationship to Him. It’s a vivid contrast, and only Jesus can move us from the one reality to the other as we commit our lives to Him as our Savior and Lord. One Illustration: Michigan is known for its two peninsulas, and the Mackinaw Bridge that unites them. The peninsulas are completely separated from each other by two of the largest lakes in the world. It’s impossible to go from the Lower to the Upper Peninsula by land from anywhere inside the state. It takes the five mile long Mackinac Bridge to unite them. This unique Michigan reality can be used as a powerful illustration to show Jesus is the bridge between man and God. Look for more information about this exciting resource at our annual meeting. We will be sharing the presentation, the learning materials, and encouraging one another to share their mi-moment with the people in their lives. For more information, visit bscm.org/mimoment. 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. #NOVEMBER17

LANSING, MI – When I became a Pastor’s wife, there was quite a change that took place. I noticed that most “people” started referring to me as “Pastor Stan’s wife.” In fact, when they see me on the street they often ask, are you “Pastor Stan’s wife?” I went to Kroger’s the other day, and a lady came up to me and said, “You are “Pastor Stan’s wife,” right? Now, I really wanted to say, if you know my name, I will give you $20, $30, going once, going twice ☺ ….but she may not have seen the “humor” in my statement You have probably guessed by now, I really lost my “identity” that is, no one seems to know my name. Yes, “Identity Theft” has taken place. I have often been “identified” by my relationship to the Pastor. Secondly, it is quite interesting “how” a person responds when they come into contact with a Pastor, when he is with his wife. I have noticed that most of the time, it seems as if they only “see” the Pastor and he is eagerly greeted with smiles, hugs, etc. It appears that there is “tunnel vision.” I often have to say, “Hi, how are you?” and then I may receive “recognition” but, not too many hugs. In addition, there is another example of “identity theft.” The Pastor’s wife, the “unidentified one” is sometimes referred to as the “First Lady” and I have asked “where is that “title” in scripture”? Again, another term given to the Pastor’s Wife by the “people.” If there is a First Lady, who is the Second Lady, or the Third Lady? This is a “call” to the Pastor’s Wives. Do you know “Who” you are? I hope you know “Whose” you are. Just a reminder, we have “Identity” in Christ. The Bible teaches that In Christ, There is now, no condemnation for me (Romans 8:1), I can never be separated from God’s love (Romans 8:38, 39), I am a new Creation (II Corinthians 5:17). I was chosen (Ephesians 1:11), I have received God’s Grace (Ephesians 2:7), and God knows “My Identity”, because He made me in His Image and He made me beautifully and wonderfully. As a Pastor’s Wife, I must know that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, and that “whosoever” believeth in Him, shall not perish but, shall have everlasting life. St John 3:16… and I know that God Loves Me. Therefore, I Love God, and must love His “people.” May everything that God has made, remind us of His goodness, love and care. God’s Love is true. God is expanding opportunities for me to love more, to increase and to abound in His Love. As a result, as a Pastor’s Wife, I must show love and care for others, as I “identify” with Christ. I know I have been chosen to continue in His Love. By this, shall all know that we are His Disciples, indeed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sis Char Parker is a graduate of Mich. State Univ.(MSU). She is the First Lady of Faith Fellowship BC , Lansing, MI, where her husband, Dr Stan Parker has been the Senior Pastor for 18 yrs. . She has been the Keynote Speaker at Women’s Conferences, and Missionary Programs. Sis Parker is also the loving Mother of four Adult children, five Grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. #NOVEMBER17

BURTON, MI – When I was a small child, my grandmother would place me by her side on a bench in front of her old, dark wood stained piano. She would open up the little black and gold hymnal, and start singing “This Is The Day” and have my cherub-like voice (kidding) to sing along. That song still resonates in the corners of my mind every so often. It reminds me of precious moments with my grandmother of course, but it also reminds of something greater (which I think is the lesson Mamaw was trying to teach me). That we should, as Psalm 118 declares, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever." And that we should be reminded each and every day God has granted us is a gift of His marvelous grace. We indeed can be glad in them. As I look back over this last year, serving as your president of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM), I can’t help but be grateful and glad in the days that God has given us. I am thankful and I believe thankfulness is best expressed in “thank yous”. Thank you LORD for giving us days filled with love, care, and sacrifice from families that share their time to serve in Kingdom Work. Without their willingness to set aside these days the movement, that I believe has launched in this state, could have scarcely begun. We can never fully count the man-hours that have been yielded by volunteers from the churches in Michigan, and in our cooperative partnership with the BSCM. When I think upon this, I am indeed amazed, glad, and can’t help but say thank you. Thank You God for rekindling the hearts of our churches in evangelism. The Gospel is the gracious gift of our glorious God. It is the good news of Jesus that gives us hope in these days and the promise of better days. But of course, as Carl F.H. Henry once aptly stated, “The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.” We must be about the business of getting the greatest news of all time to people in their time of need and to tell them of the time to come. We are here for such a time as this. Indeed, this year, the rekindled flame of evangelism has been fanned. From training workshops to conferences, from renewed emphasis in churches to hosting harvest evangelists, from new church plants to mobilizing established churches with innovative strategies… It is a new day in Michigan. It is a day that declares we will not go quietly into that long dark night, but we will strive for that greatest of days. Indeed, this deserves gladness and the sincerest of thank yous. As your president this year, I have seen where we have been in past years. I see where we are now, building upon the great foundations of yesterday with what is needed for today. And all of this is so that we may look ahead and serve well in the days our gracious Lord continues to give. We want to be faithful as we move forward, but let us not forget to be thankful. Share your thanks to the Lord and to those he has placed around you, and do it today. For it is a day the Lord has made, let us rejoice within it. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jerome Taylor is the pastor of Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton, Michigan. He was elected to serve as president of the BSCM in 2017. #NOVEMBER17

BESSEMER, MI – A Bible passage that is easy to miss because of the cataclysmic events surrounding it, is one we would be wise to remember for the abundant hope it gives to the repentant. In Luke 22: 31-38 we read in the English Standard Version that Satan demanded to have Peter so he might sift him like wheat and that Jesus has prayed for Peter that his faith may not fail. This is a scary thing. Who among us simple Christians can hope to withstand the provocations of Satan, which not even Peter could manage after being directly discipled and prayed for by Jesus. If Peter is going to bungle his response to Satan's sifting, what are we normal folk going to do when facing similar pressure? The use of “demand” in the ESV is much more challenging to our sense of faith than the use of “asking” or “desired” in other commonly used translations. If we reference our Greek, which is not my “strong” suit, pun intended, we see the Greek is eksaitéomai or “totally hand over” with a corresponding Strong’s Greek # of 1809, and that this word only occurs in Luke 22: 31. Being the sole place with this verb, we would do well to understand the strength behind Satan's intention to remove Peter from the security of Jesus protection, and bring him into a state of condemnation and loss. Peter, unbeknownst to him, is going to be the site of another cosmic battle between the goodness of God and the wickedness of the devil. This is not a good place to be for Peter, and as the disciples frequently did, he totally missed the urgency and strength of Jesus' warning. Peter tells Jesus that he is ready to go to prison and even die with him. Peter makes a very bold proclamation of his faith and love of Jesus, and provides us evidence he failed to hear the warning in Jesus words as he did so. Jesus responds by telling Peter he will deny him three times today, affirming the falling, and that it is not the end of the story for Peter or Jesus. What is easy to miss in this exchange, and I missed it every time I read this story until preparing to preach this text to Catalyst Baptist Church, is the hope Jesus truly offered Peter. First off, Jesus prayed for Peter's faith, knowing full well he was going to stumble and sin. Secondarily, Jesus prayed for his faith in an intercessory manner that when Peter repented of his sin and turned back towards God, Peter would use his experience to strengthen the brothers. God really can get good out of bad and be glorified in the process. Now this is something we can and should all be thankful for. In our failures and repentance, Jesus still provides the promise of forgiveness and even more, that our failures can be used to actually strengthen others, and lift them up as they face their own sifting by the Devil. Our failures can breed hope and thanksgiving in ourselves and lift others because of the glory and faithfulness of God as it says in 2 Corinthians 4:15, “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ian Minielly, pastor of Catalyst Baptist Church, where I am finding joy again in fostering a drug-exposed bundle of joy with my wife Stephanie the past ten months. Answering God's call to minister and love an orphan, which God our Father accepts as pure and selfless worship is one of the greatest joys of our marriage and Christian walk, now if we can just keep ourselves unstained in the world. #NOVEMBER17

HOUGHTON, MI – There's nothing greater than times of reflection. Times where you can stop the pace of life for a moment! I am the Pastor of a young and growing church in Houghton. My wife and I have been a part of this church over fourteen years and on staff nine years. With every thought of thankfulness, there's a thought of triumph. Times where we have overcome great difficulty, times where we pushed passed the noise of life and ministry and times where we stayed the course regardless of what's been thrown at us. There's a great misconception in the church today about the lives of their leaders, and it's this, that the Pastor and his wife virtually suffer very little. It's actually quite the opposite. In fact, most leaders suffer quite a bit. It's God’s way of refining us and preparing us. This idea of thankfulness never reveals itself unless there's been problems, different life struggles, hurdles to overcome. This last year, our family has endured many trials, many obstacles. Our oldest son, Caden wrestled with a rare blood disease most of last summer and fall. He spent over a month in the hospital dealing with treatments, six months of being very ill. Not to mention, I have wrestled with my own illness for the last sixteen months, putting me in the hospital multiple times for multiple surgeries. Meanwhile, our church was building a large addition to house 100 more on Sunday mornings. It's been quite the year. We never stopped! We never looked back. We kept going forward. The valleys teach us a spirit of thankfulness. The hardships and times of great trials and suffering teach us to be thankful for times of peace and times of growth. The darkness teaches us to appreciate the light. This time last year with our son was still very sick, and me ill, not to mention, we just completed the building project, we were unsure what God was going to do. Today, I am thankful that the Good Shepherd not only took care of my son, but he healed my son. I am thankful that the Great I Am, not only encouraged me through the valley, but He's led me out of the valley. I am thankful that God used this season to grow us and grow our church. We averaged 109 a year ago and now we are averaging 145 each Sunday. Sometimes, 150 plus. Only God does stuff like that. We've led 6 to Christ this summer, and have baptized 25 new converts this year. Despite the seasons of darkness, God gives us seasons of thankfulness. Our story is not unique. We all go through such things, and come through stronger and more thankful than where we started. But we must look to God through both seasons. Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor David A. Whitaker, wife Gillian. Children, Caden, (9) Riann (7) and Kiptyn. (3) We've been married 11 years and have served on staff at Houghton Baptist Church for the last 9 years. God has called us to reach as many for Christ as humanly possible. We have much work to do! #NOVEMBER17

DEERFIELD, IL (BP) – The Lord blessed me with the wonderful privilege of growing up in a Christian home -- a faithful, Baptist home. Sundays included Sunday School, church services, afternoon choir practice as well as Bible Drill, Discipleship Training and Sunday evening after-church fellowship. It was generally a very busy day. Wednesdays included church suppers, prayer meetings, mission organizations, committee meetings and choir practice. During the week there were opportunities for outreach visitation, WMU and other activities. Summer calendars were built around Vacation Bible School, church camps and other church-related events. My family planned weeks and seasons around church activities. Our heroes were Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong and Bill Wallace of China. But apart from a world history course as a high school student, I do not recall ever hearing stories about the Reformation, Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin or other early 16th-century Protestant leaders in any church-related activity. My guess is that my experience parallels that of many other Baptists. Why, then, should Baptists pay attention to the many events and programs taking place this year to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation for we are not Lutherans nor Anglicans nor Presbyterians. Yet, whether we realize it or not, many of our core convictions as Baptists have been influenced or shaped by those 16th-century thinkers. What was the Reformation? Many people across Germany and Switzerland over a period of several decades contributed to the wide-ranging movement of theological and spiritual renewal in 16th-century Europe known as the Reformation. But the most visible event according to tradition took place on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther (1483-1546), a monk and university professor, nailed 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther was concerned with papal abuses and the selling of indulgences in the Roman Catholic Church, along with what he considered to be faulty understandings of justification by faith, biblical authority and other important doctrinal matters. Philipp Melancthon, one of Luther's colleagues who knew him as well as anyone, called Luther the Elijah of Protestantism and compared his influence to that of the apostle Paul in the first century. Luther roused the church from her slumber, reopened the fountain of God's Holy Word for many people and was responsible for directing a generation to know Jesus Christ as their Lord. When one thinks of the Reformation period, one reflects on the titanic force of Luther, the good sense and preaching ministry of Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) in Zurich, Switzerland, as well as the biblical exposition and theological articulations of John Calvin (1509-64) in Geneva. Among these three important leaders of the Reformation, there is general agreement that the one with the greatest influence was Martin Luther. What have Baptists inherited from the Reformers? For many people who grew up in a home or church with experiences similar to mine, we somehow had a sense that our parents, grandparents and pastors had received an understanding of the Christian faith as if it had come directly to them from the first-century apostles. We were naively unaware of what went on in between then and now. By and large, Baptists do not know very well our heritage, our history or our theological identity. The reality is that while we are "a people of the Book," shaped, formed and informed by Holy Scripture, we also have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before us who stood on the shoulders of others. Such a debt to those who have gone before us was recognized by seventeenth-century Baptists who, in the Orthodox Confession of 1678, acknowledged that they stood with and affirmed with all Christians everywhere the teachings of the Nicene Confession, a fourth-century document that clearly maintained a commitment to the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ as well as Trinitarian orthodoxy. Francis Wayland, a most significant Baptist leader in the 19th century, wrote these words in "The Principles and Practices of Baptist Churches" (1861): "I do not believe that any denomination of Christians exists, which, for so long a period as Baptists, has maintained so invariably the truth of their early confession.... The theological tenets of the Baptists, both in England and America, may be briefly stated as follows: they are emphatically the doctrines of the Reformation, and they have been held with singular unanimity and consistency." While most of us have not been directly influenced by the Reformers, our Baptist heritage and beliefs have been informed by the teaching of the Reformers as we will see in part two of our series. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David S. Dockery is president of Trinity International University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. This article first appeared in the Illinois Baptist, newsjournal of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Dockery, the author or editor of more than 30 books, is the former president of the Tennessee Baptist-affiliated Union University and former chief academic officer and professor of theology and New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. #NOVEMBER17