Search Results

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Few men could spark the outpouring of respect and gratitude as Billy Graham upon his death today (Feb. 21) at age 99. Among Southern Baptists -- among whom Graham counted himself -- a range of leaders underscored the broad scope of the famed evangelist's influence. Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church: "Billy Graham is with Jesus. He has seen and talked with our beloved Savior. May the awareness of his death result in many people hearing the Gospel and being converted to Jesus Christ! "He is the nearest thing to a true prophet that Christians have had in the past century. He was a man of integrity, simplicity, love and evangelistic fervency. He preached to more people than anyone else in the history of Christianity. He was a legendary man of God, and every born again Christian will miss him. He was converted to Christ in 1934 at an evangelistic crusade in Charlotte, N.C., led by evangelist Mordecai Ham. He soon felt the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the world has never been the same." Frank S. Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee: "Along with countless others, I mourn today for the passing of Billy Graham. As I came to Christ as a young man out of a non-Christian home, he became a mentor to me from afar. I admired his preaching, his life and his integrity. I told him so years ago when I got to meet with him. Heaven is a richer place today. "For three-quarters of a century, he has been a faithful ambassador for Christ, seeking to reconcile men and women to God through faith in Jesus Christ," Page said. "He has borne witness for Christ without distinction, sharing the Gospel with the world's most powerful leaders and with the oppressed, urging the wealthiest and the most impoverished alike to find their hope in Christ alone." Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force and immediate past president of the SBC: "I am overcome with emotion when I think of Billy Graham and his influence on all of Christianity. He was a giant for God, a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-generation prophet of God's truth and grace. He called everyone, young and old and even boys and girls, to get up from their chairs and give their lives to Christ. And they poured out by the thousands.... I pray we may never forget his legacy and his unrelenting passion for Jesus, and may we follow his footsteps in calling people to repentance in Christ." Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board: "Only eternity is expansive enough to measure the impact Billy Graham had on our world. I will be forever grateful for the way he kept believers focused on the priority of proclaiming Jesus. I am thankful and grateful for the impact he made on my life and that of millions of others." Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: "The eyes of a North Carolina farm boy sparkled as never before this morning when Billy Graham entered heaven. After nearly 100 years spent largely in an effort to 'rescue the perishing and care for the dying,' the world's evangelist was called home to a prophet's reward. "Never accused of the hoarding of wealth or of sexual misconduct, his careful practices of conduct place him in a category of a man whose life was a proclamation of Christ as well as His message. His faithfulness to the proclamation of God's plan of redemption -- undergirded by his initiatives on racial justice and his concern for the lost -- set the standard for all who would attempt to preach the riches of the Gospel. His allegiance to sacred Scripture was legendary. Never did he allow doubt to shake his confidence in God's Word." R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: "An epic era of evangelical history has come to an end. Billy Graham was not only a titanic figure in evangelicalism, but in world history and perhaps represents the last of a kind. He dominated 20th-century American evangelicalism and remained a major figure on the world stage throughout most of the 20th century in a way that we can envision no evangelical leader in our times. He was a man of deep conviction whose passionate heartbeat was for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ." Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources and founding dean of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary's Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry: "Graham will forever be revered as one of the greatest evangelists the Christian faith has ever known. In a day and time when Mr. Graham could have easily commanded the attention of millions for his own gain, he chose to live a private, humble life. Throughout his life, it was obvious he wanted the focus to be not on himself but on one thing: the cross of Jesus Christ." Russell Moore, president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission: "We are fortunate to have lived in the era of Billy Graham. He was perhaps the greatest Southern Baptist in history, turning the world upside down with the Gospel. He was never ashamed to confront a brave new world with the old-time Gospel. Combining the power of a 'the Bible says' authority with the compassion of a 'Just as I Am' invitation, he projected the mission of Christ Jesus, full of grace and truth. Behind Dr. Graham's stately North Carolina accent, millions of people heard another voice, a northern Galilean voice calling 'Come, follow Me.' As we grieve the loss of Billy Graham, let's thank God that in this man's life we were able to see the Gospel that is, still and forever, the power of God unto salvation." Tim Patterson, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan: “Dr. Billy Graham was the voice of the evangelical church before and during my lifetime. His uncompromising clarion call of the Gospel that "whosoever will may come", will thankfully continue to ring for generations to come. I can think of no other Christian voice that has impacted more people with the saving knowledge of Jesus than that of Billy Graham. He was a man of integrity and convictions, to which he stayed true for the entirety of his life. All of Christianity is saddened by his homegoing but we look forward to a great reunion one day soon.” Adam Greenway, dean of Southern Seminary's Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry: "The passing of Billy Graham marks the end of an era in American Christianity. He was incredibly passionate for evangelism and he influenced every level of American life. He was also passionate about theological education and the training of the next generation of evangelists and evangelistic pastors. That's personified by his support for the creation of the Billy Graham School at Southern Seminary -- the only graduate school ever allowed to carry his name. I think his greatest legacy would not only be those whom he personally impacted through his evangelistic ministry, but the scores of pastors and evangelists who have been trained to preach the same Gospel that he so faithfully proclaimed." Jerry A. Johnson, president of National Religious Broadcasters: "The world has lost a great man, but those in heaven are surely rejoicing in the homecoming of this good and faithful servant. Only God knows how many are there with him because of his ministry and how many more there will be. It seems trite to say he was a giant among men, but no one could doubt the truth of this statement. For more than eight decades, Billy Graham faithfully obeyed Christ's command to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature as our Lord commanded. Billy Graham loved the Lord with all of his heart and demonstrated this through his ministry. He was a trailblazer in the use of radio, television, film and other communications platforms to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.... Billy Graham was and will remain a shining example for us all." Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and former president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission: "I grew up in a home with a Christian father because of Billy Graham. Dr. Graham came to Houston’s Rice Stadium for a crusade in the early 1950s. Some of the men from the local Baptist church in our neighborhood invited my father to go with them to hear Billy Graham. It was there that my father accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior and became a faithful deacon and Christian father for the rest of his life. Similar stories have been repeated literally hundreds of thousands of times across the globe. I am eternally grateful that God sent Billy Graham to us and that he answered God’s call and became the greatest messenger for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ since the Apostles." Jerry Drace, a former president of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists and president of the Jerry Drace Evangelistic Association: "Graham's standards of integrity, honesty and genuine concern for all people of all backgrounds will forever be a model for every vocational evangelist. His single message of telling others that, 'God loves you' and his constant reminder that, 'The Bible says' was the foundation of his God-anointed ministry. One one occasion I was scheduled to speak to the annual meeting of religious officials in Shenzhen, China. Rev. Graham shared with me the message which he delivered to that same group a few years before. That evening when I spoke, I brought them greetings from Rev. Billy Graham and they applauded. I knew then that everything was going to be fine. His impact will continue to live on in the lives of the thousands of evangelists throughout the world who were blessed to have come under his influence." From Twitter: Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: "With news of the passing of evangelist Billy Graham, I am rejoicing over his magnificent life of faithful, powerful, fruitful Gospel preaching & careful, intentional, consistent Gospel living!" Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary: "I'm saddened to learn of Dr. @BillyGraham's passing. Yet rejoice that he is now in the arms of King Jesus, and for the legacy of evangelism he leaves." Bryant Wright, pastor of the Atlanta-area Johnson Ferry Baptist Church and a former SBC president: "Isn't it a fitting tribute to Billy Graham's life that on every major news outlet that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being shared over and over. Oh Lord, may Jesus and the Gospel be the focus as we live each day and when any of us are called to heaven one day!" Jack Graham, pastor of the Dallas-area Prestonwood Baptist Church and a former SBC president: "Billy Graham never wavered and preached Jesus faithfully without apology. The cross and resurrection and the public call to decision was the focus of every sermon." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Art Toalston is senior editor of Baptist Press, news service of the Southern Baptist Convention. #MARCH18

FENTON, MI – Several years ago Sabrina and I frequented a particular restaurant that served a variety of foods at a reasonable price. The service was good, but the food was good enough to make you slap your grandma. One day the waiter, who had come to know us by our first names, told us about a brand new dessert item and suggested that we try it. On most of our dining occasions, by the time we got to the dessert portion of our meal there was no room for anything, especially dessert. But this particular time the dessert that was offered, and the unusual nature of this treat captured the attention of our curious little taste buds. The dessert that our waiter offered was fried ice cream. Just the thought of how frying ice cream could take place made you want to place the order. How would it keep from melting? What would it taste like or for that matter what would it look like? How could two seemingly opposing tastes, textures and states of being be brought together to produce anything that tasted good or for that matter was edible? It was almost incredulous to me that one could fry that which was to be an ice cold dessert, and it remain frozen and maintain it’s cold, smooth and creamy texture. Would modern miracles never cease? When our waiter did deliver our confectioner's crazy cold creation, it was a culinary delight. The combination of a hot flaky crust encasing a frozen center of vanilla ice cream was a gastronomical delight that sent my salivary senses into extreme agitation. In other words, I slobbered all over myself it was so good. The improbable and seemingly opposing tastes and textures had been combined to provide a most memorable dining delight. The same sort of culinary combination is accomplished with the “sweet and sour” sauces used in Chinese food. Logic and experience would tell us that these opposing tastes and textures should not get together but the fact of the matter is that they do. I have found these diverse combinations that produce unexpectedly wonderful blends are not unique to the world of foods. These perplexing paradoxes are found in our life experiences as well. Sabrina and I have experienced these paradoxical happenings on more than one occasion. I remember well when we moved our eldest son and his wife many hundreds of miles away in order for them to attend seminary. We were so excited and thrilled for them and their new adventure, but at the same time we were saddened and even grieved at the loss we sensed. We were fully aware that because they had been called into the ministry that the possibility of us living in the same area with them in the future was very unlikely. We knew that this meant that we would be with them on very rare occasions and with any “future” grandchildren. They now have three daughters in this foreign land. This happened again when my youngest son and his wife moved to Colorado and took our grandgirls with him. I believe it should be a law that our children must get parental permission to move grandchildren more than 20 miles away! If you are a parent or know what it is like to be separated from the ones you love then you understand the difficulty of such an event, yet at the same time this new life in a different place is exciting and fulfilling. How can these two blend to create a wonderful life experience? How can the joy of seeing your children step out into life’s great adventure mingle together with the grief of loss? Does the one outweigh the other and thus make it just bearable? No! The fact is that God takes the joy and the sadness, and combines them to create a brand new life experience that will be used to make us more like Him and honor His wisdom. He mixes the good and the bad, the joyful and sorrowful, the sweet and the sour, and makes something wonderful and new. Yes, it goes beyond our logic and the experiences of our past. It really doesn’t make sense, but God somehow synthesizes it for our good and His glory. If you have not already encountered God’s special way of combining life’s experiences, you will. Just relax and enjoy the meal. The fried ice cream is a tasty treat indeed. Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” I now know, that includes fried ice cream. 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. #MARCH18

FENTON, MI – Secondhand Faith is affecting our entire lives. Secondhand faith is the prevailing spiritual mood that allows individuals to create, recreate, or crush his or her personal spirituality without that spirituality ever being challenged by anyone. Those holding to secondhand faith no longer believe in absolutes. People, by way of the internet and instantaneous global communication, believe that societies with opposing worldviews appear to thrive and suffer at their own pace regardless of their religious affiliation. During four decades of service in Africa among Muslims, in Europe among postmoderns, and in North America among a mosaic of world religions, I noticed that a very small percentage of the population actually clung to classic religious teachings and practice. Most lived out a secondhand faith. Meaning Behind Secondhand Faith What do I mean by secondhand? Bargains were important to my family, when I was a little boy. We knew how to stretch a dollar. Possessions or gifts, whether they were new or secondhand, made no difference to us. My first guitar was a used-guitar with a neck so bowed that it was almost impossible to get the strings to touch the frets. I quit my guitar lessons after only three months, sore fingers and all. My red go-cart was also previously owned along with every small-engine that was attached to its frame. I have lost track of the guitar and the go-cart. I cannot remember exactly when I stopped playing with them or what became of them. It is no surprise. They did not cost me anything. They were mine. I enjoyed them for a time. Then I lost interest. They became unimportant to me. They were secondhand. It seems to me that we are treating spirituality in the same way that I treated my childhood gifts. We pick up our spirituality without a lot of thought. We hold it for a while. We modify it when we want. We mix our beliefs willy-nilly. We exchange it for another form whenever it suits our mood. And if life’s experiences threaten what we believe then we discard our quasi-spirituality. That is why I call this phenomenon secondhand faith. Six Markers of Secondhand Faith I learned to speak 3 modern languages. I’ve visited 20 countries and lived on 3 continents. I learned that our world is a colorful tapestry of languages, cultures, religions, philosophies, and peoples; yet, I found six markers of secondhand faith present in every area of the globe. Once these attributes are identified and understood it is easy to see how this fraudulent faith has woven itself into the fabric of everyday life. These six traits are equally evident on the streets of our cities and in the sacred places of our society. I have observed the same six markers of secondhand faith in Africa, throughout Europe, and in North America. The six markers of secondhand faith are: Divine Schizophrenia Blended Beliefs Plastic Morals Twisted Tolerance Worldly Ways Spiritual Consumerism Let me suggest, as you become familiar with these six markers, that you ask yourself if today’s ambiguous, self-designed spirituality, with its six traits, is helping us to create a better world – or simply a more confused, chaotic one? 1. Divine Schizophrenia “Divine Schizophrenia,” the first marker, says that any divine force is incapable of clear self-expression in one manner, simultaneously, to every culture and individual, therefore the divine force is revealed in different ways to different cultures and people. Some may believe this divine force is a personal god, while others believe it to be energy, a design, or a destiny. People seem to believe that all religions, worldviews, and truth claims are valid and equal avenues of spiritual expression even though they may be contrary to one another. Those who hold to this point of view think that no individual culture possesses a complete description of a divine force; therefore, each community must ignore the other’s differences and accept their points of view and practices. 2. Blended Beliefs The second marker, “Blended Beliefs,” like a spiritual buffet, allowing people to blend different spiritual views, into customized, confusing, and even contradictory mixtures. People are creating a spirituality that conforms to their own personal notions. To their way of thinking, there are no universal codes of conduct or standards of belief; that would be too confining. Each person is free to choose his own divine force, lifestyle, and beliefs, thereby, creating an array of spiritual dishes. 3. Plastic Morals The third trait, “Plastic Morals,” allows a person’s morality to change based upon their constantly changing circumstances, not their convictions. Much like the plastic plates, cups, and flatware used during a picnic, morals can be jettisoned after they have served their purpose. This conviction promotes personal happiness, without remorse or guilt, as the highest goal. According to this conviction, when it comes to moral issues there are no universally right or wrong answers. There are no appropriate or inappropriate judgments. There are no moral distinctions that apply to every occasion, every place, and to every person. Therefore, personal principles and practices can be followed or disregarded at the whim of each individual. 4. Twisted Tolerance The fourth attribute of “Twisted Tolerance” expects people to give their sincere support to the opposing beliefs and behaviors of other people. Twisted tolerance is likely the strongest conviction. Strange behaviors are more tolerated in society, while traditional values are marginalized, ridiculed, or dismissed as trivial. People are no longer expected to simply put up with opposing points of view; now, they must validate contrary, even repulsive, opinions as acceptable and normal. As a result, people distrust anyone who thinks he has an absolute response for every situation. People label anyone a bigot, militant, or extremist if he is not completely approving of everyone else’s lifestyle and choices. 5. Worldly Ways “Worldly Ways,” the fifth marker, shows how people have exchanged divine guidance for secular counselors. People are attracted to worldly guides and self-designed ideas focusing on self-discovery, self-help, self-affirmation, and feel-good philosophies. People focus much more on the here-and-now rather than the hereafter. They want spirituality that is relevant to their daily lives and think that traditional religions have fallen short on relevancy. They think that human-focused spirituality is more important than pursuing God. People no longer look for guidance from the God of the Ages; instead they are listening to the gods of this age. People are creating demigods from this era of politicians, atheistic moral philosophers, financial mammoths, and celebrities hawking the latest spiritual fad. 6. Spiritual Consumerism The sixth attribute, “Spiritual Consumerism” reveals how people are searching for that choice-driven, customized spirituality, suited to their own tastes, for the smallest cost to themselves. People have become avid bargain hunters when it comes to spirituality. People have grown accustomed to enjoying goods and services for their own immediate gratification. It should be no surprise that economic habits have shaped spiritual habits. Shrewd shoppers have learned to search for bargains at the local malls and on the Internet. In the same way, they want to get all that they can from spirituality while giving up as little as possible. Self-gratification has replaced sacrifice. Convenience has replaced service. People are no longer worried about the epic questions, such as, “Why am I here?” They are too busy dealing with life’s immediate questions, such as, “How can I be happy, right now?” From their perspective, religion exists in order to make people happy or to help them cope with life. Spiritual consumerism is on the rise and rapidly climbing. So how do we lead people to Christ and create dedicated disciples for the Lord is everyone is affected by secondhand faith? Let me invite you to read another section of this column during April, here in the Baptist Beacon, when I will explain how the people with whom we work are much different than decades ago. 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. #MARCH18

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