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FENTON, MI – Family stories are funny. Decades ago, my mother paid the family bills by laying out money on the dining room table. You might remember the past when we put cash in envelopes to be used each week for groceries and gas. One evening Mom noticed that money was mysteriously disappearing from the table as she tried to balance the family budget. About this same time of the year, it seemed my younger sister, Tonya, had learned the art of blowing and wiping a runny nose. At the age of three, Tonya would put her hands in her armpits and flap her arms like a chicken to get more blowing-power. To my mom’s surprise Tonya had spent part of the evening walking by the dining room table and using the cash to blow her runny nose. Being a neat and tidy child, Tonya had flushed the cash down the toilet. She was fascinated by the swirl of the toilet. There was no retrieving that money! North American Missions Offering, March 5-12, 2017 During 8 days, Sunday, March 5 through Sunday, March 12, 2017 you, your family, and your church will be given an opportunity to make better use of your finances. Fifty thousand Southern Baptist churches will collect the annual North American Missions Offering. Some of us call the collection the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO), named after a prayerful, passionate, and writing woman who died in 1938. Please, watch this 2:31 video about one of the families who partner with us in Windsor, Ontario just across from Detroit. Garth Leno and his family partner with us. Menu to Create a Movement Please, click on this link to see the fantastic resources available to you: https://www.anniearmstrong.com/resources. Let me suggest you review this menu of resources available to you, your family, your class, your small group, and your church. 11 short inspirational videos Planning guide Bulletin inserts or handouts Bookmark Prayer Map Prayer guides in different languages Study guides for Bible studies Sermon illustrations & information Contact information for missionaries Be a Leader Not Just a Follower Take the lead and encourage everyone to give to this year’s North American Missions Offering. Have fun with this: Host weekly meals at home for friends & family then ask them to contribute what they would have paid to eat-out at a restaurant to the missions offering. Show one of the videos to your children each night and ask them what they would sacrifice in order to contribute to the offering. You’ll weep. Inspire your youth group to serve others within the church family with house cleaning, snow removal, or carrying donations to the local Salvation Army. Ask those served to make contributions to the missions offering. The creative ideas are endless. Simply inform and inspire others and watch what God does with your efforts. This year’s theme is “Together for His Kingdom.” Don’t do this alone; bring others along with you. Create a movement for God. Don’t be like my sister Tonya and simply flush your finances during the month of March. Make a powerful difference by contributing to missionary support, missionary development, and missionary benefits in North America. 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. #FEBRUARY17

FENTON, MI – Valentine's Day is approaching, and lovers of all ages are looking for just the right way to express their feelings. I received my best Valentine's Day gift my senior year of high school. Newspaper class was interrupted when fellow students entered the class with a Singing Valentine to the tune of "O My Darling Clementine." O Mike Durbin, O Mike Durbin Will you be my Valentine? You are sweet, so warm and tender Will you be my Valentine? My face turned bright red, I'm sure, as my lifelong curse of blushing took over. They sang (actually it was more reading than singing) and left without a word about who it was from. I spent the rest of the day in suspense. Who would do such a thing? I'd look at a cute girl and think, "Was it her?" Everyone was suspect. I knew who I wanted it to be. I hoped it wasn't Mom. It wasn't until the end of the day on the bus ride home that I found out who it was. I was sitting with a young lady from that Newspaper class, and she asked if I knew who sent me the Singing Valentine. "No," I responded, secretly hoping it was her. We talked for a few minutes until I mustered enough courage to ask, "Was it you?" We'd been sitting together on the bus since the start of the school year. Those moments on the way to and from school were my favorite parts of the day. We were in the same grade, had gone to the same Middle School and High School, but didn't really meet each other until we ended up on the same bus our Senior year. She says that when I got on the bus that first day I looked like I was mad at the world. Catching the bus at six something in the morning will do that to a guy. Just saying! She felt an inner nudge to talk to me, but got scared and didn't (not bugging the angry guy sounds pretty smart to me). She overcame her fear and the next day when I got on the bus by slapping the seat beside her and said, "You can sit here." We spent hours talking. She even asked me out. Well, sort of. A bunch of people were getting together at a basketball game and going sledding afterward. She asked if I wanted to go. I did, and it was one of the most enjoyable nights of my life despite a flat tire and a lost toboggan. One night we were at a school function together and she offered to give me a ride home. On the way home, she took a little detour because she wanted to tell me something. She pulled into the parking lot of an elementary school near our homes and said, "I think the world of you" and some other very kind things. I wrote her a letter the next day in my English class. It was a step up from: I like you. Do you like me? Circle yes or no, but not much. She had the same teacher the next hour so I asked the teacher to give it to her when she got to class. It worked. She accepted my invitation to go out. It could have worked earlier, but I'm a little slow. I missed hints, fumbled, and bumbled, but I married my high school sweetheart and Shar will always be My Valentine. 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. #FEBRUARY17

FENTON, MI – "CTV32" is sure to be unique. This CTV, Catch The Vision, is for Southern Baptist (SBC) pastors who have not yet experienced CTV in a Send City with NAMB. These events are part of an annual CTV emphasis in all 32 Send Cities where the aim is to mobilize new churches. A “Catch the Vision Tour” (CTV) is typically a two-day experience where SBC pastors and key leaders travel to a Send City and are hosted by NAMB's Send City Missionary. The purpose of the vision tour is to: Explore the city in-person and get a sense for what God is doing. Gain a better understanding of what it means to plant SBC churches in an urban environment. Meet church planters and observe their ministries first-hand. See communities that are in need of churches to send a planter. Explore potential partnerships, ask questions and pray. The most effective means of sending church planters than to place feet on the ground, your feet, and walk the streets where a new work is so vitally needed. Join NAMB, the Send Network, and venture out with others from churches near and far as God leads us to work collaboratively for the kingdom. Montreal is calling! The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is able to provide scholarships for the ground expenses of those seeking to attend. The limited scholarships allows for a SBC pastor to bring one person with him, usually a spouse or other staff member (Unfortunately, logistics of the event will not accommodate children.) Travel arrangements and expenses to/from the Send City are to be made and covered by the attendee. Only your ground expenses once at the CTV will be covered by scholarship. Once registered, hotel information, along with arrival and departure times, will be sent to you. Your hotel reservations will be secured for you by NAMB and a confirmation will be sent to you at least one week prior to the event start date. Guests are responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses to and from the Send City. For this specific CTV32 Montreal event, all hotel, meals and local transportation expenses in the Send City are covered by generous individual donations to NAMB for events such as this, beyond the Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong. Details of trip: CTV-32 Montreal April 24, 2017 - April 26, 2017 Friday beginning at 5:00 PM through Sunday morning 10:30 AM Eastern Time “God is doing something amazing in this city,” said Chad Vandiver, Send Montreal City Missionary. “We are seeing the beginnings of a movement happen here,” ... For more information visit www.namb.net/send-cities/montreal #JANUARY17

ALPHARETTA, GA – Dear Potential or Present (Bivocational) Replanter, When we went to seminary or Bible college we hoped—or more likely, expected—upon graduation we’d embark on a ministry path that would lead us to full-time pay and benefits. Unless you were independently wealthy, academically brilliant or came from a family who was blessed to pay for your education, you likely took out school loans or worked hard supporting yourself through school. If that was the case, your mindset was likely something like this: ”I’m so committed to pursue God’s call on my life, I’m happy to do whatever it takes (financially, vocationally) to follow His lead.” Remember those days when the math didn’t work out on paper, but you still had enough to pay rent, utilities, have groceries, with even a little le over? Remember the time when the car needed repairs and someone from far away sent you a letter with a check that covered your need? Remember the time someone graciously and generously blessed you, so you could take a vacation, go on a date, purchase that much needed computer? Remember how, in your heart and mind, you just knew God would take care of you because He promised to do so in His Word? What changed? You’re perhaps decades older now; your kids need braces, shoes, contact lenses and school books. Your wife would like a new wardrobe. You have to buy a new set of tires, and then there’s the summer AC bill, which seems more like a mortgage payment than a utility bill. You may find yourself struggling to sleep at night, dreading to look at the offering report from Sunday and fantasizing about receiving a call from a bigger church that could pay you a living wage, allowing you to have some left over. What changed? You’ve gotten a little older, and your expenses are a little larger. But God has always provided. Don’t fall for the illusion that pastors at larger churches with full-time salaries have it easier. Don’t succumb to the belief that you must not be important because you have to work another job to support your family. Don’t let the discouragement of not having enough time to do what you would do in ministry—because you can’t devote yourself to it full time—overwhelm you. Why? You have automatic credibility in working a job outside the church. You have a better understanding of what it’s really like to work, have a family and participate in the life of a church. You are around more people who need to hear about Jesus every week than a pastor who works in a church building and has multiple meetings every week. You are more free to risk being bold in leading your church to radically embrace God’s call to mission. As a full-time pastor, you might be tempted to “back off” and avoid rocking the boat and stepping on toes to keep your job. You have the opportunity to serve a church that otherwise couldn’t afford to pay a pastor full time, and this allows the church to maintain a gospel witness in the community. Things will break, kids will outgrow their clothes and offerings will rise and fall, but please remember: God always provide! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Bickford is a National Replanting Catalyst for the North American Mission Board Chair of Church Revitalization Team of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – As I reflect on the verse Psalm 68:11, I am reminded that a team of great women continue to rise up to the call, to assist, to serve, to pray and to lead with purpose and intentionality in Michigan Baptist churches, associations and communities, all in partnership with the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. "The Lord issues a command. Numerous are the women who announce the news:" Psalm 68:11 ISV Some are called to lead as wives, mothers, teachers, administers and friends. Whether called to serve in their homes, in their work places, in their churches, or in their community, they lead others to worship the glory of God. Sharing the hope, reflecting His love and "Sharing the Light" of Jesus Christ. We will move forward into 2017 with the foundation of "Prayer" and a continued heart's desire to "Assist" in all ways possible with the advancement of Jesus Christ in Michigan. "Go" will be our themed focus for the new year. This will bring new challenges! Building on the foundation laid in the past two years, and using what we have learned, we will take it to new heights. It will move many of us outside of our comfort zones, but in turn bring us into a closer relationship with God. We will dare to be bold! Challenging Michigan Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. Sharing the Light in our communities, state, country and around the world. The call of the Great Commission is to "GO"! It is not only a call to move from our current location, it's a reminder to be on mission for Jesus wherever we are and whatever we are doing. Open your eyes. Slow down a little bit and choose to make time for the people in your path. Our continued commitment to making "Prayer" a first priority will literally continue to move us into communities and churches throughout our state, taking us to the next level of trusting in our God for direction and vision. Virtual Prayer Walking Events Prayer Walking events have opened the doors for more Michigan Baptists to be involved in praying for and encouraging our Michigan churches, both established congregations and new church plants. As people walk and pray sharing onsite photos and current ministry requests, the opportunity to personalize prayers for pastors, their families, their church leadership and their communities is given to those who follow online. Please visit our FaceBook page: www.facebook.com/michiganWMUprayerwalking to like and follow us in 2017 as we Prayer Walk Michigan. Our scheduled locations for the new year are: Michigan WMU / Prayerwalking - 2017 Calendar January - Detroit / Int'l Auto Show February - West Branch March- Grand Rapids / Wyoming April- Detroit (eastside) / Montreal May- Novi / FRe Outreach June- Waterford / Oakland / Sarnia / Port Huron July- Pines Association August- Sault Ste Marie, Ironwood, Iron Mountain & Menominee September- Bay Association October- Southfield November- Clawson December- BSCM / Fenton Alone our team can't reach all of Michigan, but with your help we can reach more areas together. If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact us and let's "GO" together. Prayer Campaigns Weeks of Prayer for the North American Mission Board, Frances Brown State Missions Offering and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for the International Mission Board and 40 Days of Prayer for the BSCM will continue to give intercessory opportunities and increased awareness of missions as we punch holes in the darkness in Michigan and the world beyond. Our Purpose As our leadership team comes alongside pastors, pastors’ wives, church planters and women in ministry our focus is to train, resource, encourage and assist them in their leadership roles. In 2017, every retreat, camp, conference, mission trip, coaching session and prayer walking event will include components to equip each participant with the means for success in leadership and ministry. First time conferences are being planned to target specific interest and/or age groups. Preparing future leaders for a mission lifestyle is an overall objective for all of our children's events. Mission education for our children is significant; they are our future missionaries. Children’s mission education centers on meeting the spiritual needs of boys and girls, preschoolers to high schoolers. The focus is to help them grow in their faith in Jesus Christ and teaching them how to minister to others. We offer many programs and material to assist leaders and parents in helping to growth their churches discipleship to children, youth and adults. Throughout the year the Women’s Ministry and WMU Teams sponsor many events, both evangelistic and mission focused. Many of our events are listed below. Continue to check www.bscm.org for the latest details on these events, ongoing and short term mission projects and more. 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS The time is now! We are well equipped! "By All Means", we need to "Go", praying and assisting along the way as we share Jesus in Michigan! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett is Women’s Ministry Director for BSCM and Executive Director for WMU, Michigan. #JANUARY17

DETROIT, MI – When I hear the verse “For God So Love the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, and whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life“ (John 3:16), I just know with the gift of Salvation that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). I believe that I can reach the lost and grow the saved, feed the hungry, build shelters for the homeless, and comfort the heart broken, all by myself. I want to give to others this great gift that I received, a new life in Christ. As I started on my journey I quickly realized this is a God sized assignment. At Temple of Faith Baptist Church I took part in a great class called Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. Blackaby made a statement “join God where he is at work” and it helped change my perspective from not only working for Christ, but working with Christ. I believe that God is already at work in the Greater Detroit Area. Pastor Rochelle Davis Jr. has helped me to see the importance of the local church, and the Greater Detroit Baptist Association(GDBA), as well as how much we can accomplish together. We all have something to give, not only at this season, but all year long. The Bible says that “We have not because we ask not” (James 4:2). So I am asking you to give of yourself. Some have Time to give, volunteer at your local church or at the Association office. Some have Finances to offer, give to your local church, the GDBA, and BSCM. Some have Talent, become a teacher, a trainer, host a workshop, disciple others. When you give, the Lord will do what he said he will do. Luke 6:38 – "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Cox Sr. has lived in the metro Detroit area for more than 21 years. David is a member of Temple of Faith Baptist Church, where he currently serves as the Youth Minister and Director of Stewardship. In addition, he serves as treasurer for the Greater Detroit Baptist Association and the secretary of the Michigan African American Fellowship. #JANUARY17

FLUSHING, MI – Christ-Care at Christmas has been a long time ministry of Westside Church in Flushing, MI. It began in the early 1990’s and has grown into a partnership between six of local schools and Westside Church. Each year in November the school counselors begin to refer families that are struggling and may not have any presents for Christmas. Erv and Irene Willingham, the Christ-Care Coordinators, shop all year, buying sale items and stockpiling them for Christmas time. In early December, the church’s entire children’s area is turned into a department store. We have a boys department, girls department, along with teen and adult clothing rooms, as well as a large toy room. Appointments are made for each family to meet with volunteers from the church and take them through the store shopping. After they get all the clothes and toys picked out, they go into the wrapping room where several more volunteers assist with wrapping the presents and taking them to their cars. Pastor of Westside Church, Ed Emmerling says, “It is such a blessing to see the look on peoples faces and how empowered they feel as they get to pick out the presents their kids will receive.” Volunteers share how blessed they are to participate in this ministry, and they come back year after year. Emerling adds, “The goal when we started this ministry is still the same today: We want people to feel the love of Christ as we celebrate together the birth of the One who was born to die for their sins and ours.” Over the years Westside has helped more than 1,500 families and each year they share the love of God, and the hope of the Gospel, in a tangible way through the Christ-Care at Christmas ministry that God has led, provided for, and blessed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ed Emmerling has been the Pastor of Westside Church since 2002 which was started by his grandfather in 1955, and is the church he attended from nursery to adulthood. He pursues his personal mission statement which says, “Using my strength of casting vision and inspiring others I will be a part of a team in developing innovative and new ministries to impact people with the love of God and the Word of God to help them take their next step toward Christ.” #JANUARY17

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden and his family will kick-off the NCAA Football National Championship weekend next month with the release of the true story, "The Bowden Dynasty: A Story of Faith, Family and Football." The film explores the life and career of Bowden, the winningest coach in college football. "There is no question Coach Bobby Bowden is a legend on the grid-iron, but he also is a man that has 'run the race' in order to live a life that honors God in all he does," said Trey Reynolds, director of LifeWay Films, which is partnering with the film's promotion. "We encourage churches, small groups, and families to go to theaters Jan. 8 and experience The Bowden Dynasty on the big screen." Coach Bowden noted, "The most amazing thing about our dynasty years is how consistent we were. But what makes those dynasty years so ridiculously satisfying is that we ended each season ranked no lower than number four in the polls, won two national championships, played for three others and won 11 bowl games, including nine in a row." "None of us thought about these things at the time," he said. "Nor did we plan for them. In hindsight, I realize we accomplished something unique in college football history." From 1987 to 2000, the Florida State Seminoles thrilled their fans with 14 consecutive top-four seasons with 10 or more wins. Beginning with a come-from-behind victory in the 1988 Fiesta Bowl, Bobby Bowden's teams began a flirtation with perfection. In seven of those seasons they lost only one game. More often than not, the player’s quest for a perfect season came down to one play where mere inches or seconds determined the outcome. The feature documentary all-star cast includes: Fred Biletnikoff, the Bowden family, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Johnson, Jim Kelly, Burt Reynolds, Nick Saban, Deion Sanders, Charlie Ward, Peter Warrick, and more. The film was produced by John Corry, along with Rob Harvell and Brian Goodwin (ESPN Films' "The Book of Manning"). The Bowden Dynasty will be shown in U.S. theaters for a one-night premiere on Sunday, Jan. 8 live at 6 p.m. Eastern/5 p.m. Central and tape-delayed to 6 p.m. MT/6 p.m. PT. The event will be broadcast live from the Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla., on the eve of the NCAA Football National Championship happening across the bay in Tampa. Following the feature presentation will be an exclusive question-and-answer session and presentation with Coach Bowden and special guests. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices which are available on the site. More information about the film is available at www.BowdenDynasty.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR This report was compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources and Baptist Press. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – 25 YEARS!! 1992-2017 It is amazing how time goes by so fast. I am told that years ago a group of volunteers from Michigan Baptist churches would go to Ohio to help serve in a time of disaster. I guess when the Lord calls, you will work with anyone! (Go Blue). In 1992, Michigan Baptist Men invited Bob Dixon from Texas to come and speak at a Winter Men's Retreat at Bambi about disaster relief and how to get a chapter started. Bob Dixon is one of the 6 men from Texas who is credited with starting Southern Baptist Disaster Relief 50 years ago. From that meeting Michigan Disaster Relief was officially organized. Fred Kinsey, a layman from Monroe, was appointed as the first state disaster relief director. I have enjoyed talking with Fred about the challenges and blessings he and his wife Rose had together in disaster relief. They learned to use whatever they had, and prayed to the Lord for whatever they needed. Their willingness to go any where in the state to train volunteers and sometimes only for one person. Fred had no budget to speak of or salary, expenses many times were paid by Fred and the other volunteers. Tears would build up in Fred's eyes as he would share with me about the old equipment someone donated to DR, and how they sold it and raised money to buy the first feeding unit. We still have that feeding unit today. Fred said many times when they needed something for DR the men would chip in their own money to buy what they needed. Let me say, “Thank you Michigan Southern Baptists for your giving to the Francis Brown State Missions Offering and your special gifts throughout the year. In fact, while I am writing this article I was notified of a gift of $500.00 from one of our local churches. Thank You Jesus! The Lord used Fred in disaster relief work to minister in His name to people across the state of Michigan and across the country. Fred worked with the National Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief as a liaison person to the American Red Cross in Washington DC, retired as Michigan State DR Director in 2005, and became a volunteer with the American Red Cross full time. My job is easier today because of the groundwork he laid. In 2005, Rev. Stacy Britt of the Jackson area, was appointed as State Director. It was under Stacy's leadership I had my first mud out unit experience in Boston, Ma. It was one of those trips where if something was going to go wrong, it did. We had car trouble on the way, spent 24 hours on the road, and we had car trouble while in Boston. I still felt blessed and enjoyed the fellowship with other volunteers while sharing Christ love with the people we helped. In the 4 years before I became State Director, I was asked several times to serve as a blue hat leader and I refused. I was retired and just wanted to do whatever other volunteers did not want to do. I loved doing dishes at DR, but not at home. My wife won't let me use a power wash machine in the house for the pots and pans. In March of 2007, Dr. Michael Collins, our state executive, ask me to serve as state director. I won't go into the detail, but after 3 or 4 days of thinking and praying about it, I said. “Yes.” It was not the knowledge about DR work or its organization, for I had only gone on 4 trips. It was the love I have for DR volunteers, and the ministry we do together to bring help, hope, and healing to a hurting community. I said, I would do it only if I had Dr. Collins full support, which I had, and only if the focus was only about Him, and not about us and what color of hats we wore. Dr. Collins said, “Okay, and you have a National DR meeting in Shocco Springs, Ala. in April and a Homeland Security meeting in Grand Rapids in May.” It has been a blessed time of learning. Michigan Disaster Relief has grown in the past 25 years from its humble beginning of working with Ohio and nine volunteers to more than 400 trained volunteers. I wish we had kept better records of how many souls have been won to the Lord from the DR ministry. The wonderful thing is the Lord keeps good records because once their name is entered He never removes them. We have 2 feeding units, 2 chain saw units, 2 mud out units, 1 utility trailer, 2 luggage trailers, a 12 passenger van, a portable water purification unit, a shower/laundry unit, and this past June, we were given a 40' MCI bus by the Missouri DR to build a command unit. God has given us what we need when we needed it. Michigan DR has truly been blessed. Our hopes for 2017 is to build a new garage next to the state office so our equipment can be protected and safe. It will also allow us to maintain the equipment better. Presently, our equipment is at 4 different churches and in the past 9 years we have had 2 trailers stolen. Michigan DR is strong and well respected in our state by our partners in Michigan Volunteers Active in Disasters(MiVOAD) like the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, World Renew and others. Michigan DR is now on several local government disaster relief action plans, such as Warren, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids and others. From this respect and awareness comes responsibilities. Are we still ready to do what God has put before us as Michigan Southern Baptist? I will be sending new information about the development and financing of the new garage in an upcoming Baptist Beacon. If you have any ideas about the new garage, and how we can raise the money please email me at dr@bscm.org. Also, as the plans for the 25th anniversary is finalized we will share it with you in the Beacon. If you would like to share any ideas you may do so at dr@bscm.org. As we remember our history with fondness and marvel at the results, let each one of us with a grateful heart look to the future with joy and expectation as we claim what God has promised us. Happy 25th Anniversary Michigan Southern Baptist Disaster Relief!! Happy 50th Anniversary National Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief!! REMEMBER, "IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM!!! Win Williams MI SBC DR State Director 810-923-2666 dr@bscm.org ABOUT THE AUTHOR Win Williams lives in Brighton, MI, has been married to Carolyn for 52 years, father of Christa McGuire, and has four grandsons. Win is a deacon of FBC in Brighton and has been involved in Michigan Baptist since 1961. #JANUARY17

NEW ORLEANS (BP) – New Orleans Baptist Theological President Chuck Kelley reminded graduates at their Dec. 17 graduation that though trials come and the future may be uncertain, "knowing the end of the story" changes everything. Kelley compared God's promise that one day all wrongs will be set right -- the end of the story -- to finding an overlooked gift under the Christmas tree. "No one goes through life unscathed," Kelley said, noting that difficulties come to every life. "That's what makes the most overlooked gift so important." Deep tragedy marked the life of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Kelley recounted, and suffering touched Longfellow's life one Christmas during the Civil War when he learned his son, a Union soldier, had been severely wounded. Longfellow penned the poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" as he despaired that the message of "peace on earth" as sounded by church bells would never come, Kelley said. Kelley told graduates that Longfellow's poem didn't end on heartache but moved to confidence that God would have the final word as he penned: "The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men." "It doesn't matter what life looks like today," Kelley said. "It doesn't matter what life looks like tomorrow … how many tears you cry or how helpless you feel, in Christ you have the end of the story." Challenging graduates to carry that message of hope to others wherever they go, Kelley reminded listeners to "unwrap" God's promise "every chance you get." New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary conferred 89 masters degrees and 23 doctoral degrees including 7 Ph.D.s, 12 D.Min., 3 D.Ed.Min., and 1 doctor of musical arts degrees. Forty-four M.Div. degrees, 18 with specializations, were conferred. New Orleans Seminary's Leavell College granted 54 bachelor degrees, including the bachelor of arts in Christian ministry degrees to 24 Louisiana State Penitentiary inmates at Angola, La. and to one inmate at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. The Lockman Foundation presented each graduate and awardee with a copy of the New American Standard Bible. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marilyn Stewart is assistant director of public relations at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – The staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) is finalizing plans for a number of amazing resources coming in 2017. There will be some incredible speakers, teachers and preachers coming to Michigan, each with a specific focus - informing, educating, encouraging and leading the churches of the BSCM. Men’s Retreat - January 13-15 at Bambi Lake where Jimmy Jones, Jim Palmer and our very own, Tim Patterson will be leading men in a time of fellowship, worship and bringing the Word. What better place for a bunch of guys to be gathered than a wooded retreat in January. Bring along a busload of your men. Click here to register for this event. Women’s Missions Retreat “By All Means” - February 17-19 will be led by Cindy Bradley along with resident missionaries Bill and Cindy Haas. Encourage the women of your church to make plans and join us at Bambi Lake for a time of interactive missions, Bible study, worship and fellowship. Registration is now open. Click here to register for this event. Every Believer A Witness with Dennis Dunn will be offered twice. February 27-28 at Riverwalk Baptist Church in Bay City and again March 2 at Southfield Road Baptist Church in Allen Park. Select a Friday evening and Saturday morning or the one day March second all day instruction. We should see every believer reaches a comfort level with sharing their faith and punching holes in the darkness. Click here to register for this event. Men’s Retreat - On March 10-12 we will be hosting Evangelist and TV personality, Chuck McAlister, for a Wild Game Dinner plus a jam-packed weekend with men from across the state. Let your men know and make plans now to be with us at Bambi Lake. Click here to register for this event. Expository Preaching Conference with Dr. Paige Patterson and Dr. David Allen will be an amazing opportunity to sit at the feet of, not one, but two great preachers of our day. March 24-25 at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville, MI will be an excellent opportunity to learn from, ask questions of, and gather insight into expository preaching in today’s church. Whether you’ve been preaching for decades or recently started a church there is much to gained from this experience. Click here to register for this event. Evangelism Conference - May 6 at Grace Church in Jackson, MI will be another opportunity to immerse yourself and your people in evangelism training. If we are to truly live out our faith as Christ Followers we must know how to effectively share the Good News. BSCM is offering yet another means of learning and growing the local church in such ways. Registration is open and you are invited. Click here to register for this event. These are just a few of the scheduled resources available to you in the first half of 2017. Check out www.bscm.org/register for further details and/or contact the BSCM office if we can help in anyway: (810) 714-1907 or info@bscm.org. #JANUARY17

BURTON, MI (BP) – Michigan Baptists will forward a larger percentage of Cooperative Program receipts to the Southern Baptist Convention this year, despite an anticipated decrease in CP receipts from the state's 262 churches. The $1,292,886 in CP funds the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) anticipates receiving from its cooperating churches in 2017 is 8.6 percent less than this year's receipts of $1,415,291, the BSCM reported. Yet, the state will forward $351,256 of 2016 CP receipts, 32.5 percent of the total, to the SBC for national and international causes. In 2016, the state forwarded 31.5 percent of CP receipts to the SBC. The state's total 2017 budget is also down from the 2016, with the new budget of $2,057,873 totaling 6.5 percent less than the 2016 budget of $2,201,778. The 2017 budget allocates 20 percent, or $212,098, to cover expenses shared by the BSCM and the SBC. "Celebrating Missions" was the theme as 167 messengers and 14 guests gathered Nov. 4-5 at Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton. Those in attendance represented 68 of the state's 262 churches and all 14 of its associations. North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell was the keynote speaker during the meeting. At the preceding pastors' conference Nov. 3 at Eastgate Baptist Church, former SBC President Fred Luter was the keynote speaker. In other annual meeting business, messengers elected 2017 officers. They are president Jerome Taylor, host pastor; first vice president Nathaniel Bishop Sr., pastor of Middlebelt Baptist Church, Inkster; second vice president Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, Macomb; recording secretary Roy Henry, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Battle Creek; and assistant recording Secretary Jeff Buchholz, pastor of Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City. The 2017 annual meeting is set for Nov. 7-8 at the Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in Roscommon. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Compiled by BP general assignment writer/editor Diana Chandler, based on reports from the Baptist General Convention of Michigan. #JANUARY17