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FENTON, MI – Family? Friendship? Community? Network? Whatever you call it does not matter, but you know it when you experience it at its best. You also know when that connection is missing from your life, and that is why the www.bscm.org/smo is more important this month than usual. WASTED SPACE A professor in seminary emphasized how every space in a church building or a gathering place should be maximized for people. He lamented the rooms where cartons of records or papers sat, year after year, until a moldy, musty odor filled the air. The professor winced when he recalled 4 out-of-tune, dusty pianos that filled a potential Bible study classroom, stating, “They looked like corpses awaiting burial.” I challenge you to take a look at the place where you gather for church and see if it’s true. That same professor, however, would raise his voice with excitement when he told us how those who attended worship would give a certain amount to the church. He went on to explain that those who took part in discipleship groups or Bible studies would give yet another average percentage. Basically, what he said was those who shared life more often in a church would give more because that gathering place and the people who met there meant more to them. He even mentioned fellowship halls, saying the fellowship hall is where people spend time with one another sharing life so do not be afraid to provide that space for your people. TIGHT SPACE The last congregation I served was CrossPointe Church in Monroe, Michigan. The people in that church are genuine and caring people. When you go there you make friends in the first hour. We had two morning services split by a thirty-minute transition time to accommodate the growth. People flooded out of the building and exited the parking lot while others tried to stream in for the next service. It was choreographed well by all of the volunteers and people who loved people. There was an overwhelming challenge with the space. What we called a fellowship hall was about the size of most living rooms. We also lacked a foyer or entryway of any size. Our people, on Sundays, shared their lives visiting in the sanctuary and in the 8-foot wide hallways wrapped around the building. We made it work because we loved spending time with one another. Men, during winter, would joke that if you were not careful you would put your arm through someone else’s winter coat in the foyer of the church. Everyone kept their smiles and chuckled at the closeness of our fellowship. TREASURED SPACE All of this to say, this month we are using the State Missions Offering and Week of Prayer, September 10-17, to kick off a yearlong collection for the Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in Roscommon, Michigan. That incredible facility has fallen into disrepair so our goal is $500,000 in one year! Bambi needs improvements that more people of all ages might gather to worship, learn and grow in the Lord. All of the collected funds will go directly toward renovations and improvements. The retreat and conference center is a treasured space among our churches so join me in making a difference. Let’s make Bambi better! This year our theme is be a difference maker, #MIdifferencemaker, “We believe in the power of one.” You can be that one person who makes a difference by supporting the State Missions Offering for 2017. You can also learn more at: www.bscm.org/smo www.MIdifferencemaker.org Facebook: MI-Difference-Maker or #MIdifferencemaker “We believe in the power of one,” means one more: Salvation at the camp is worth our investment Contribution can make a difference for the next generation Christian surrendering to service will change the world Life turned obediently toward God will create a revolution I’m hoping you will join me as we start giving to the campaign to improve Bambi Lake. This month let’s start the event off with big gifts and big dreams. Then over the course of the remaining 12 months let’s find ways to contribute each month to that special place of fellowship. Bambi Lake is not wasted space. Back in 1958, approximately 100 people stood and prayed over the property envisioning what God would do with the woods and a 13-acre lake. I cannot estimate the number of salvations and re-dedications, in nearly 50 years, that have occurred at the retreat center but our Heavenly Father knows each one of them in full detail. Bambi Lake is not tight space. There are 240 acres on which you can walk, visit, or meditate. There are spaces for fun, worship, and late night fires. You can camp in a tent or stay the night in one of the lodge rooms with a complete meal three times a day. The choice is yours. OUR SPACE Bambi Lake is important to me because it is our gigantic fellowship hall and our natural entryway with the sky for a ceiling. It is the one place on earth where our church members meet from time to time during retreats and conferences. Marriages are saved. Lives are redeemed. People surrender to Christ things that need to be released. It’s the one place in Michigan where we are not members of separate churches instead we get to feel what it’s like to be united in Christ even though we come from every corner, shoreline, and town throughout the state. For a few days during each event, we are family. We are friends. We are community. We form a network. Let’s spend September and the next 12 months proving that we believe in a bright future for God’s people throughout Michigan. 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. #SEPTEMBER17

COLUMBIA, SC – Hospitality evangelism isn’t new or trickery rather a way to connect with your neighbors and begin to live out your faith before them. Hospitality got lost in the me generation so we need to be more intentional in our efforts to invite people into our homes and show them the love of Jesus. Adapt these practices to your environment. 1. Reserve a night for “neighbor night.” Years ago, when my wife and I started talking about wanting to develop a lifestyle of biblical hospitality, we made a decision that changed everything for us. We always felt like we were too busy to really practice this in a substantial way, but we realized we had most Tuesdays open. So we decided to block off Tuesday nights for the purpose of being “neighbor night.” Neighbor night was specifically designed for us to host people with whom we were building relationships—whether it was a non-Christian friend or neighbor, a Christian who was struggling or someone God just had on our minds recently. The idea was just to make a little bit of extra food—whatever we were gonna make anyway—and have them over. This changed the game for us, because it took so much of the hassle of scheduling out of the equation. When this went into effect, anytime my wife or I met someone we wanted to have over, all we had to say was “What are you doing next Tuesday night? We’d love to have you over.” This practice, without a doubt, has been the most effective means of practicing hospitality we’ve ever experienced. We’ve watched God do so many incredible things over those simple meals in our homes. Of course, this doesn’t have to be every week—it can be on what your schedule allows. But if you don’t put it on your schedule, the odds that it will ever happen drop tremendously. 2. Practice the “always rule.” The idea of something like neighbor night often brings up questions like “How will I meet people to invite over?” or “How do I even meet my neighbors?” Of course, you can start by practicing hospitality with anyone—friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc. But often one of the best places to focus on is your neighbors, and the always rule is a helpful tool in that regard. This is something I created for myself years ago, because I noticed that when I am outside in my neighborhood, that’s my absolute best time to meet my neighbors. But it always just feels like the wrong time, doesn’t it? I’m getting my kids out of the car, or I just got my mail, or I’m unloading groceries. A neighbor that I don’t know walks by, but I’m busy so I just smile and wave. And if I ever see them again, it will be months or years. So, the always rule is a rule that when I see a neighbor that I haven’t met yet, I have pre-decided that I am going to stop and meet them and have a brief conversation. Always. This has been a tremendously helpful change for me to build relationships with those that live around me. Embrace the “always rule” and stop what you’re doing to be friendly. 3. Use sports. Many of us love sports, and so do your friends, coworkers and neighbors. If you’re all going to be watching a game, why not watch it together at your place? Sports can be a super simple way to get started practicing hospitality. Remember it isn’t about the game or which team you may prefer, rather about building organic relationships with the people God has placed around you. 4. Use shared interests. The same idea for sports can be applied to an endless number of things. You can use a TV show as a common interest to have people over, awards shows, video games or books through hosting a book club. These are low-barrier ways to get people doing things they are already interested in while also building a relationship with you. Win-win! If you are stumbling over this idea of shared interest it may be because you have yet to meet your neighbors and begin to learn about them. Just get started and listen. When someone recognizes genuine interest they will open up and share more than a casual acquaintance. 5. Host a neighborhood cookout. If you want to get to know your neighbors, hosting a neighborhood cookout is a fantastic way to start. We did this when we moved into our current house, and we had neighbors that had lived two doors down from each other for 15 years who met for the first time at our house. People often have a genuine desire to meet their neighbors and get to know them better, but most people just won’t take the initiative to do it. Maybe it’s a fire pit in your driveway with fresh coffee and good conversation. Maybe it is making your home a collection point for a food drive or such where your neighbors come to your home with a purpose. The ideas or endless. 6. Practice reverse hospitality. Reverse hospitality is when you do something hospitable for someone by taking something to their house. For example, when new people move into your neighborhood, you could practice this by making something and taking it over to them. This is often a great first touch point to begin building a relationship with someone. We live in a world where connecting with others, even those living next door takes effort. Be the one to step out, ring the doorbell and say, hello. The Lord will lead you from there. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Clements is a pastor, author and serves with the North American Mission Board’s Send Network. Brandon works with church planters across North America to engage communities with the Gospel message. #SEPTEMBER17

RICHMOND, VA – “Are you looking for ways to lead your church members to take their next step in God’s mission? Join us for the next IMB Sending Celebration on September 13 at 7:00 p.m. in Spilman Auditorium at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, North Carolina.” This will be a time to celebrate the sending out of new missionaries who will share the Good News of Jesus around the world. If you can’t attend in person, you are invited to a Livestream Sending Celebration to be broadcast live from Ridgecrest, N.C. Join in celebrating 51 new missionaries sent from Southern Baptist churches to the field. Register to watch the next Sending Celebration on your own, in a group or with your church family. http://IMB.world/Sept2017Sending “At the celebration, we will worship with the new missionaries, hear stories of their call to missions, and pray together for their families as they take the gospel to unreached people and places around the world and are challenged with a message from David Platt to do your part in participating in God’s global mission. Immediately following the service, we will have a reception outside Spilman Auditorium. We anticipate a large crowd, so please carpool and arrive early. Overflow seating will be available. “Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to gather with a coalition of churches to celebrate the sending out of missionaries. “Gather with a small group, your family or church to watch online with people all over the world and participate in worship, prayer and sending out missionaries.” “We hope to see you either in person or online.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie McGowan, APR. Julie is the Public Relations Manager for the International Mission Board, SBC and resides in Richmond, VA. #SEPTEMBER17

MONROE, MI – When I said “I do” 47 years ago to my husband I never dreamed I would be a pastor’s wife. In the 35 years we’ve been in the ministry Bob has been a minister of education, a church planter, a pastor and served on the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Currently he is pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Monroe, Michigan. What an adventure our lives have been! On my refrigerator I have a sign that says, “No matter what the situation you can either laugh or cry, so you may as well laugh. There is absolutely nothing spiritual about this statement, but it reminds me not to take myself too seriously. I’m only 4’11” tall and sometimes Bob can’t find me in a crowded room, so he listens for my laughter to seek me out. Just thinking about all the funny things that have happened during my life in the ministry makes me laugh; like the time my foot slipped on the organ and hit a loud bass pedal during the invitation prayer. My teenage son knew he shouldn’t laugh at his mother, so instead he let out a loud snort – an embarrassing, but funny moment, for both mother and son! Then there was the youth musical where I played an adult role as a waitress named Heartburn Laverne. One sweet elderly lady, who probably needed hearing aids, thought my name was really Laverne and from that day on she was proud to call me, Laverne. What’s my identity and what are my ministries as a pastor’s wife? A lady once said that I didn’t act like a typical pastor’s wife (whatever that is) and I said “Thank you.” Another person heard this and said, “Do you think that is a compliment?” I responded, “Yes. I think it would be an insult to God who made me and gave me my personality to try and be something I’m not.” Sharing ministry with Bob has always meant a lot to me. That doesn’t mean that we always have the same ministries. My ministries have changed over the years. My foremost ministry has always been music. However, I’ve been a Sunday School teacher, taught ladies’ Bible studies, been a youth worker, cooked Wednesday night suppers, been a deaf interpreter and on and on. Sometimes God has given me a new ministry that is totally out of my comfort zone. Leading conferences used to scare me to death, but after leading VBS conferences and pastors wives’ events (both about which I’m passionate), I’m happy to do them. God does perform miracles. In 35 years of ministry we’ve lived in 4 states, 7 cities and 13 homes; that in itself is an adventure! Many lessons have been learned from living in so many houses. Number one lesson is that we’re not fixer-uppers. Our kids still laugh at some of the places we’ve lived. Wherever we’ve lived or whatever the ministry was, it’s all been worth it. I’m looking forward to many more adventures and definitely many more times of laughter! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sharon Wood is married to Bob, Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, Monroe, MI. They have two adult children and five grandchildren. #SEPTEMBER17

HOUSTON, TX (BP) – As of Monday morning, news outlets reported that Hurricane Harvey had already dropped 11 trillion gallons of rain over south Texas. More than 300,000 customers were without power. Officials have declared 62 counties disaster areas as the initial destruction caused by 132 mph wind gusts has been showered with unprecedented levels of rainfall. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) expected some of the hardest-hit regions to be accessible only to search and rescue teams. Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief (SBTC DR) teams reported they were still in a holding pattern as flooding closed numerous roads. Many of the rivers had not yet crested to their expected flood levels. As that happens, the number of road closings is expected to go up, making it even more difficult to send recovery units. Daniel White of the SBTC DR team said, "I have been hearing reports from different people that this may be worse than Hurricane Katrina. It may be the largest national disaster in U.S. history. I have never seen anything like this in my time in disaster relief." SBTC DR Units are "ready to roll" into Rockport and Corpus Christi, White said. They have dispatched laundry units to Latham Springs Baptist Camp and Retreat Center in Aquila where nearly 500 special needs evacuees have been settled. Mass care feeding, administration and water treatment units were preparing to set up in Houston along with several DR chaplains. Once the floodwater starts to recede, SBTC DR will be ready with cleanup and recovery as well as flood response teams. Texas Baptist Men (TBM) has faced similar challenges getting teams into heavily flooded areas. In Robstown on the outskirts of Corpus Christi, teams set up a shower and laundry unit as well as a rapid response kitchen. One kitchen unit has been embedded with the search and rescue responders, going from city to city and feeding first responders as they conducted rescue operations. Also along the coast, TBM teams were able to set up a feeding unit near Victoria, 30 miles outside of the Port Lavaca area. In both Uvalde and Texas City, the county judge asked for teams to help with the evacuees and victims located there. TBM has set up shower stations as far inland as San Antonio. Stations were also set up in LaGrange, west of Houston, in order to assist evacuees there. As TBM prepares to move into Houston, they have been tasked with providing meals for those sheltered in Houston's George Brown Convention Center. They expect to provide at least 20,000 meals a day. Very soon, they will be moving into Katy and The Woodlands, suburbs of Houston, as the water has started to recede. Terry Henderson, disaster relief director for TBM, echoed White's sentiments regarding the significance of the storm. "I would compare this to Katrina or bigger," Henderson said. "Our response is running smoother thanks to new technology, but this storm will probably affect a larger area than Katrina did." Leading up to the storm, Southern Baptists collaborated with the American Red Cross (ARC) to determine the best strategy for sending aid. The North American Mission Board's Send Relief team will continue to work with ARC as Southern Baptists prepare to send volunteer teams. A call for volunteers and prayer There are several ways Southern Baptists can and will help out in the coming days, weeks and months. In addition to traditional SBDR roles, NAMB's Send Relief will be mobilizing up to 4,000 volunteers to serve in storm shelters, feeding kitchens, childcare units and in other capacities. Experience in disaster relief is not required but background checks are necessary for those willing to serve in childcare. Send Relief is currently waiting for specific instructions from government officials as to when it will be safe to enter affected areas, but volunteers and churches can email sendrelief@namb.net to be added to the "mobilization ready" list. SBDR and Send Relief will be providing long-term aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Cleanup response teams will be mudding out houses and chainsaw crews will be clearing fallen limbs. Beyond that, Southern Baptists anticipate being involved in rebuild efforts to assist homeowners. "There are some events that mark a time in history for generations to come," said Kevin Ezell, NAMB's president. "I believe Hurricane Harvey is one of those events and Southern Baptists will be known by the way we respond." Donate online to SBDR or Send Relief by giving here. You can also text SENDRELIEF to 41444 to aid the residents of the Texas coast. Pray for the survivors of Hurricane Harvey as well as for those who are working diligently to respond in the wake of this tragic storm. Pray for the first responders, aid workers and the volunteers who will be working tirelessly to restore the communities affected by the storm. Frank S. Page, SBC Executive Committee president and CEO, said in a statement over the weekend, "Our prayers go out to the people of Texas in the massive flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. Our Baptist disaster relief units will be the first on the scene to minister in a variety of ways. I call on Southern Baptists to pray and be ready to assist through giving and going. God bless Texas." Steve Gaines, SBC president, also issued a statement: "Our prayers are ascending to the Lord on behalf of all who are suffering and endangered by the hurricane and its effects in and around the Houston area. Our Southern Baptist volunteers are prepared to help those who are in need. We will pray and we will serve in every way possible in the days to come." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #SEPTEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Some people are lucky, some see themselves as fortunate, but I am blessed. The idea of blessing has as its source the hand of God. I have been blessed by the hand of God in a myriad of ways, but especially with the woman that God has given me as my wife. God knew who and what I needed far in advance of what my finite mind could conjure up. He knew the personality she would need to deal with all of my eccentricities and flaws. He also knew that she would have to possess a loving and forgiving spirit because of all the unconditional love she would have to show me, and the almost unlimited forgiveness that she would need to offer me on a daily basis. I know that there is not a perfect wife out there, but mine comes as close to perfection as any could. She is kind, thoughtful and giving. In fact, her motivational gift is that of giving, and she exercises that gift very well. She is always surprising me with wonderful gifts on special occasions. Many Christmases ago she discovered and purchased for me an antique Victrola Phonograph. It is a beautiful piece of machinery, and a very nice representation of the craftsmen furniture makers of the time. It was built in 1904, and still works beautifully as it spins and plays those thick 78rpm recordings. Today, it resides in my office at the Baptist State Convention of Michigan where periodically it will provide some old Benny Goodman tunes for the entertainment, and at times, amusement of my guests. It amazes me that every aspect of the sound reproduction that the Victrola provides comes from entirely mechanical means. There is no electricity or the use of electronics used to reproduce and amplify the sound. The genius of Mr. Edison’s invention is that an individual storing up kinetic energy when a spring is wound up and then released provides the only power that is required. The volume of a phonograph is controlled by opening or closing louvers or doors. It is a simplistically ingenious machine, and for it’s time was cutting edge technology. Today the recording, reproduction and amplification of sound are not even in the same realm as the old phonographs. Today, the power of electrical currents are transformed and channeled through a maze of electronic wizardry to provide us with sounds that can mimic anything in nature, and can be amplified in such magnitude that hundreds of thousands of listeners can hear a recording at one time. Phonographs could scarcely allow the listeners in one room the pleasure of music. From the early phonographs to our present electronic marvels, power has been used to increase the volume of song. Power, whether provided by the turning of a human arm or by the turning of electric turbines powered by nuclear reactors, is what brings the music to our ears and increases the quality of the song. Power is invaluable if the song is to be heard. In our lives each of us has a song to sing, a song of hope and love, a song of faith and forgiveness, a song of grace and mercy. The songs that we hold in our hearts are as varied as the souls that possess them. If they are to be heard by others, at times,the volume and quality of the song must be increased. To my amazement and surprise, I have found that God uses the power of pain to accomplish that. God uses pain in our lives to “crank-up” the volume of the song of our souls so that others may hear how, even in the midst of our difficulties and our disasters, God’s faithfulness and mercy still resounds in our souls. I know of few things in our lives that causes me to become more manifestly melodic than having come through great pain and finding God’s grace on the other side. Pain in our lives draws the attention and ears of those around us because all of mankind is keenly aware that we all have or will experience pain; mental pain, emotional pain, physical pain, spiritual pain and pains too numerous to mention. This is the lot of humanity. So when someone sings on the other side of pain or more especially in the midst of pain, folks take notice, not only do they notice, but we notice as well that the volume seems higher and the quality greater than before the experience. Many today have only experienced the song of a primitive phonograph kind of pain, but if God is good and gracious to you it may be your privilege that He allows you to experience the kind of pain that produces a volume and quality of song that comes from a high-fidelity, surround-sound kind of pain. Right now, you may be going through some of the most difficult times of your life. Right now, the pain may be unbearable. Just remember, on the other side is a song from your soul that has increased in volume and quality. It will be a song you will love to sing and a song that others will long to hear. Just crank up the volume. 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. #SEPTEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Family? Friendship? Community? Network? Whatever you call it does not matter, but you know it when you experience it at its best. You also know when that connection is missing from your life, and that is why the www.bscm.org/smo is more important this month than usual. WASTED SPACE A professor in seminary emphasized how every space in a church building or a gathering place should be maximized for people. He lamented the rooms where cartons of records or papers sat, year after year, until a moldy, musty odor filled the air. The professor winced when he recalled 4 out-of-tune, dusty pianos that filled a potential Bible study classroom, stating, “They looked like corpses awaiting burial.” I challenge you to take a look at the place where you gather for church and see if it’s true. That same professor, however, would raise his voice with excitement when he told us how those who attended worship would give a certain amount to the church. He went on to explain that those who took part in discipleship groups or Bible studies would give yet another average percentage. Basically, what he said was those who shared life more often in a church would give more because that gathering place and the people who met there meant more to them. He even mentioned fellowship halls, saying the fellowship hall is where people spend time with one another sharing life so do not be afraid to provide that space for your people. TIGHT SPACE The last congregation I served was CrossPointe Church in Monroe, Michigan. The people in that church are genuine and caring people. When you go there you make friends in the first hour. We had two morning services split by a thirty-minute transition time to accommodate the growth. People flooded out of the building and exited the parking lot while others tried to stream in for the next service. It was choreographed well by all of the volunteers and people who loved people. There was an overwhelming challenge with the space. What we called a fellowship hall was about the size of most living rooms. We also lacked a foyer or entryway of any size. Our people, on Sundays, shared their lives visiting in the sanctuary and in the 8-foot wide hallways wrapped around the building. We made it work because we loved spending time with one another. Men, during winter, would joke that if you were not careful you would put your arm through someone else’s winter coat in the foyer of the church. Everyone kept their smiles and chuckled at the closeness of our fellowship. TREASURED SPACE All of this to say, this month we are using the State Missions Offering and Week of Prayer, September 10-17, to kick off a yearlong collection for the Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in Roscommon, Michigan. That incredible facility has fallen into disrepair so our goal is $500,000 in one year! Bambi needs improvements that more people of all ages might gather to worship, learn and grow in the Lord. All of the collected funds will go directly toward renovations and improvements. The retreat and conference center is a treasured space among our churches so join me in making a difference. Let’s make Bambi better! This year our theme is be a difference maker, #MIdifferencemaker, “We believe in the power of one.” You can be that one person who makes a difference by supporting the State Missions Offering for 2017. You can also learn more at: www.bscm.org/smo www.MIdifferencemaker.org Facebook: MI-Difference-Maker or #MIdifferencemaker “We believe in the power of one,” means one more: Salvation at the camp is worth our investment Contribution can make a difference for the next generation Christian surrendering to service will change the world Life turned obediently toward God will create a revolution I’m hoping you will join me as we start giving to the campaign to improve Bambi Lake. This month let’s start the event off with big gifts and big dreams. Then over the course of the remaining 12 months let’s find ways to contribute each month to that special place of fellowship. Bambi Lake is not wasted space. Back in 1958, approximately 100 people stood and prayed over the property envisioning what God would do with the woods and a 13-acre lake. I cannot estimate the number of salvations and re-dedications, in nearly 50 years, that have occurred at the retreat center but our Heavenly Father knows each one of them in full detail. Bambi Lake is not tight space. There are 240 acres on which you can walk, visit, or meditate. There are spaces for fun, worship, and late night fires. You can camp in a tent or stay the night in one of the lodge rooms with a complete meal three times a day. The choice is yours. OUR SPACE Bambi Lake is important to me because it is our gigantic fellowship hall and our natural entryway with the sky for a ceiling. It is the one place on earth where our church members meet from time to time during retreats and conferences. Marriages are saved. Lives are redeemed. People surrender to Christ things that need to be released. It’s the one place in Michigan where we are not members of separate churches instead we get to feel what it’s like to be united in Christ even though we come from every corner, shoreline, and town throughout the state. For a few days during each event, we are family. We are friends. We are community. We form a network. Let’s spend September and the next 12 months proving that we believe in a bright future for God’s people throughout Michigan. 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. #SEPTEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Shar and I were leading the church we planted in Brazil to build our first building. It was a tough time to enter into a building project. Inflation had been crippling the nation for years. Unemployment was high, and the people were experiencing harsh economic realities. To make matters worse, at one point, there were three different currencies in circulation. I had read about hyperinflation during the World War, but I had never experienced it. There was a time in Brazil when I walked around with bills in my pockets that had 100,000 written on them that could hardly buy a popsicle. The value of the money in my wallet went down every day I didn’t spend it. A few weeks after we arrived in the country, we had to wait over two hours for the bank we used to have enough cash on hand for us to buy appliances. We walked out of the bank carrying a small bag of money and a fanny pack full of cash. These were hard times, especially for our Brazilian brothers and sisters. It was tempting to not ask them to give. We resisted the temptation to ask family and friends in the states to help us fund the building project. We chose to teach that the resources are in the harvest, and that God loves a cheerful giver. We led the church to buy a load of bricks when we could. We hired a mason when we could, and we did what we could as a church family. Little by little, the foundation was laid and walls went up. Sometimes, it was only half a wall at a time. We went a long time with holes in the walls where windows would one day be. There was no option to borrow money. The building was built and finished a little at a time. Today, it’s a beautiful facility that has been added onto many times, but it took years to get to where it is. I’ve been involved in a number of projects that overwhelmed me in the beginning. I’ve learned that what looks insurmountable is doable when God is in it and consistent actions are taken to move the project forward. It’s a lesson that I needed to remember when we set our Frances Brown State Mission’s Offering Goal this year. Five hundred thousand dollars! $500,000.00! One dollar 500,000 times. It doesn’t matter how you write it or say it: That’s a lot of money! Our Convention, under the visionary leadership of Pastor Tim Patterson, has set this goal for the Frances Brown Offering for State Missions. It’s a monumental goal - basically five times more than State Mission Offerings of the past. It’s a God sized goal to get us started on a major renewal project at Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. There has been a lot of speculation in recent years about the future of Bambi Lake. I have been asked numerous times over the last two years if there were plans to close the camp. I have assured people time and time again that no such plans exist. There are no discussions at our state office to sell or give Bambi away. In fact, this goal is our declaration that “It’s a new day at Bambi.” I realize there is so much concern for the future of Bambi because attendance at the camp has been declining in recent years and because the camp needs a major updating today for the future. I am challenging Michigan Baptists to do two things to change both these realities. 1. Visit Bambi. If you have never been to Bambi or have not recently, it’s time make a visit. There’s a new atmosphere at the camp. It’s hard to describe, but people feel and see it. Updates are happening all over the campus. A number of our churches have sent mission teams to paint, remodel, clean up, cut trees, build picnic tables, and a whole lot more. These volunteers have made an incredible impact on the look and feel of Bambi. They’ve given a great beginning. We are grateful for their hard work and ministry to our churches. They are leading the way forward. 2. Give sacrificially. Michigan Baptists are blessed to have a place of such natural beauty and peace. God often speaks to us through the majesty of His creation. The Psalmist declared, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.” Bambi has been this kind of place for me and so many others. It’s the kind of place Michigan Baptists need as we serve God together. How can Michigan Baptists reach this goal? Here are just a few examples: Five hundred people could give $1,000 through their churches. Two hundred churches could give $2,500 each. One hundred churches could give $5,000 each. One hundred twenty-five churches can make it happen: Twenty-five churches could give $10,000 Twenty-five churches could give $5,000 Twenty-five churches could give $2,500 Twenty-five churches could give $1,500 Twenty-five churches could give $1,000. Yep, $500,000 is a lot of money for people like you and me. It’s more than our churches have ever been asked to give - five times more. How do we do it? Ultimately, we depend on God who delights in generosity and we start, but the insurmountable is doable! 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. #SEPTEMBER17

ROSCOMMON, MI – Hello from Bambi Lake! It was a great summer here at the lake and the fall is going to be just as amazing. As I have never been here in the Fall, I am excited to see the amazing colors as the leaves change. Looking ahead, I am also excited to see how God uses the Frances Brown State Mission Offering to accomplish His purposes here at Bambi. Bambi is poised and ready to follow God’s direction and impact the state of Michigan and beyond. In Romans 1:16 Paul states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (NASB) This is the heart of Bambi. We are not ashamed and we will proclaim the Gospel! So, as we think about the Frances Brown State Offering and Bambi, I would like to share with you what happens when you give financially to Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. When you give to Bambi you are investing in the lives of present and future generations who will be attending camps and retreats at Bambi. You are giving many the opportunity to hear the gospel for the first time. Others are learning how to grow and mature in their faith. While others just needed some time to get alone with God, hear His voice and find some peace in this noisy culture. Your investment helps moms and dads give their children a spiritual experience that will stay with them the rest of their lives. You help marriages grow stronger. You help men and women grow deeper in their walk with God. When you give you truly are a “Difference Maker” in the lives of thousands. When you give to Bambi you are honoring the generations who have come before us. Bambi Lake has a great heritage of being a place where God shows up, and a place where you can come and enjoy God’s creation and just relax in His presence. This did not happen by accident. The founders of Bambi Lake purposely purchased and planned this camp for that reason. They intentionally wanted Bambi to be “Sacred Ground”, a “Sanctuary”, where the people of Michigan could experience God. What an awesome vision! When you give to Bambi you are strengthening that heritage, and reinforcing the vision that brought Bambi together. When you give to Bambi you are literally “Building a Better Bambi”. When you give to Bambi you are helping to build new buildings and new activities for campers to enjoy. You are helping to repair and maintain facilities and equipment. You are helping Bambi update its infrastructure and roads. You are helping to build retaining walls and landscape flower beds and walking trails. You are helping to support the staff, interns and seasonal workers who keep Bambi functioning all year long. To all of those who have invested in Bambi in the past, thank you. To everyone who will be investing in Bambi in the future, thank you. I believe God will richly bless as you invest, honor and build at Bambi and for the generations to come. 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. #SEPTEMBER17

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Data pointing to a dwindling percentage of Americans who identify with a specific Protestant denomination has spurred calls for churches marked by God's "presence and power" and for re-emphasis of biblical doctrine. Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines said a strong denominational identity doesn't seem to hinder the church he pastors or the SBC. Still, the manifest work of God in a church is far more important than its denominational identity, he told Baptist Press. "We are 'Bellevue Baptist Church,'" Gaines said of the Memphis-area congregation he leads. "I don't believe the word 'Baptist' hinders our ministry. I don't believe being part of the SBC hurts us. I believe if what is happening in and through a specific local church is Christ-honoring and Spirit-anointed, people will come and get involved regardless of what the name of the church is or what denomination it is part of." According to the Gallup polling organization, just 30 percent of American adults identified with a specific Protestant denomination in 2016, down from 50 percent in 2000. Over the same timeframe, the percentage of Americans who regard themselves as Christians without claiming a specific denomination rose from 9 percent to 17 percent, a July 18 news release stated. "I'm convinced that we should seek to have churches that are marked by the supernatural presence and power of God," Gaines said in written comments. "If people sense the presence of Jesus at a church, they will come and be part of what God is doing. And they won't care whether that church is part of a denomination or not." Gallup claimed the shrinking percentage of Americans who identify with a specific Protestant denomination stems from two realities: "There are fewer Protestants of any kind in the American population today." Thus, "the pool of those who identify with a specific Protestant denomination is smaller." Protestants shrank from 57 percent of the population in 2000 to 47 percent in 2016, Gallup stated. At the same time, the percentage of Americans who do not claim a religious identity of any kind rose from 10 percent to 20 percent. Those who self-identify as Christians increasingly put themselves in the "non-denominational category." Of Americans who do claim a specific Protestant denominational identity, Baptists are the largest group with 10 percent of the population. Some 3 percent identified specifically as Southern Baptists in 2016, down from 8 percent in 2000. Gaines said the lack of denominational loyalty seems to parallel a lack of loyalty to corporations and brands among Americans, with workers frequently transferring "from company to company" unlike they did in previous generations. "Whether the lack of organizational loyalty is good or bad, I don't know," Gaines said. "But it is reality. That's why many churches have chosen to remove the name of their denomination from the name of their church. Many churches in the SBC have removed the word 'Baptist' from their identity. Again, I can't say whether that is right or wrong. That is between them and the Lord." Kevin Smith, executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland-Delaware, told BP he is "not surprised" by Gallup's findings. "As we have a greater number of therapeutic pulpits and fewer pulpits preaching clear biblical doctrine, theological (thus denominational) identity gets muddy, cloudy and irrelevant," Smith said in written comments. "I've always felt a responsibility to make sure ... members of churches I pastored have understood why we are Baptist." Smith added, "Sadly, for many 'Baptist' is a sociological indicator, rather than an exegetical/ecclesiological one.... Historic Protestant identity and confessions will be more important heading forward because 'evangelical' is becoming more and more useless" as a theological descriptor amid a vast number of people who claim that identity without holding key theological beliefs traditionally associated with evangelicalism. J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., told BP the rejection of denominations may be a rejection of stereotypes associated with those groups rather than a rejection of their doctrine. "While many say they prefer a non-denominational church, I think their bigger concern is not wanting to be a part of a church that fits their stereotypes of certain denominations," Greear said in written comments. "If a church is big on the Gospel, the mission and loving each other, then denominational affiliation is less of an issue. "In other words, I don't think the answer is downplaying our denominational affiliations, but on 'playing up' Gospel love. The greatest challenge is to clearly proclaim the Gospel message to a society that has increasing numbers of people who have faith in nothing," Greear said. Smith urged Southern Baptists to emphasize Baptist distinctives, like believer's baptism and regenerate church membership, in their discipleship processes. "We have the Baptist Faith and Message," Smith said. "The question is, do we care? Discipleship includes learning biblical truth. We need to do better in many cases." Churches "that have a membership process," Smith said, generally have membership classes with "a doctrinal component" and teach theology well. He expressed concern about the health of churches that emphasize "lowest-common-denominator" Christianity and eschew points of doctrine that distinguish denominations from one another. Such churches tend to "lack biblical and theological clarity and explicit identity," Smith said. Yet amid the increasingly non-denominational milieu, Smith said, "I feel pretty good about the SBC's identity, as it is so driven by Great Commission passions" -- especially surrounding the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board. Gallup's 2016 data was drawn from telephone interviews of 2,053 adults May 4-8 and Dec. 7-11. The margin of error in the survey was plus or minus 3 percent at the 95 percent confidence rate, according to the release. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Roach is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention's news service. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #AUGUST17

FENTON, MI – The Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) took a day to celebrate the retirement of two staff members whose work has become synonymous with the mission of the ministry in Michigan. Anne Glissman and Yolanda Chapa are retiring after many years of faithful service. The BSCM hosted an Open House and Retirement Appreciation BBQ on July 8th. Glissman has served for 23 years as the BSCM Bookkeeper and Executive Assistant. Chapa has tirelessly worked as a Ministry Assistant for 16 years. More than 150 people attended the event including friends, pastors and wives, as well as past coworkers. Crystal award plaques were given to each of the women in addition to gifts and cards of appreciation. The members from Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church helped with the preparation and set up for the BBQ. BSCM Executive-Director,Dr. Tim Patterson says, “Anne and Yolanda have given strength and stability to this convention for decades. They were my angels at the East of Eden. I love them so!” #AUGUST17

FENTON, MI – The Baptist State Convention of Michigan has announced the emphasis for the 2017 State Missions Offering. This year the collected giving will go toward much needed repairs and upgrades at Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center. Bambi, as it is most often referred, has been part of the BSCM for more than fifty years and has been ground zero for transforming lives of young and old alike. Bambi Lake is a place of spiritual renewal and refreshment. No matter the time of year, the natural setting has a way of inviting you to celebrate God’s creation while reminding you of His grace and love. Many a pastor and church staff member have found the tranquility of Bambi to be the perfect setting for reconnecting with God and “refilling the gas tank” to keep going. Youth of all ages have encountered a living Savior while experiencing camp life as well as men and women of all ages learning and growing in their love for missions. This year’s offering has a very specific goal to meet a very specific need. Plan to join us in prayer during the week of prayer, September 10-17. To learn more go to midifferencemaker.org and #MIdifferencemaker. “We believe in the power of one” and ask that you be that one to make a difference this year. Give generously as the Lord leads. (Click the image below to download a printable PDF file of the State Mission Offering flyer.) #AUGUST17