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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (BP) – What a contrast! Oklahoma Baptists have celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first Crisis Pregnancy Center (now called Hope Pregnancy Center). At the same time, abortionists are rejoicing at the opening of the first new abortion clinic in Oklahoma in 40 years. One organization -- Hope Pregnancy Center, now with five locations in the state -- has spent three decades serving women facing a crisis pregnancy and saving the unborn child from certain death. Now, we have a new abortion death chamber dedicated to destroying the unborn child. One organization celebrates life, while the other celebrates death. The Trust Women South Wind Women’s Clinic opened for business in September. According to The Oklahoman daily newspaper, CEO Julie Burkhart described the clinic as committed to address the lack of reproductive health care in Oklahoma. Interesting choice of words. There is nothing reproductive about abortion -- it is anti-reproductive as an unborn child is eliminated with every abortion. While the clinic physicians will address other health issues for women, there is little doubt abortion is a central focus of their practice. Indeed, Burkhart proclaimed the clinic expects to perform 1,500 abortions the first year, with an expected level of 3,000 abortions to be reached each year. Let that soak in a minute. Every abortion kills an unborn child! Every abortion means money for the clinic. Let me put that number in perspective. From 2002-2015, Oklahoma averaged 5,646 abortions per year. After a peak of 6,807 abortions in 2006, the number dropped to a record low of 4,330 in 2015. Contrast abortion clinics with the Hope Pregnancy Centers. In 1986, God allowed me to lead a small group of pastors and churches to open the first Oklahoma Baptist Crisis Pregnancy Center in Oklahoma City; another center was opened in Tulsa. Oklahoma Baptists opened the centers to provide love and care for women faced with “unwanted” pregnancies. Rather than going to abortion clinics and shouting at the women who made their way to destroy their unborn children, Oklahoma Baptists determined to provide a loving alternative. Rather than charge for services, we would provide counsel, love, support and extended involvement with women facing crisis pregnancies. Over these last 30 years, the number of Hope Pregnancy Centers has increased to five. Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children operates these centers. The ministry of these centers cannot be put in mere numbers, but the numbers do provide a picture worth seeing. From 1986-2015, these centers of Christ’s love had 130,139 client visits. During these visits, each client was given a pregnancy test, factual information about the baby she was carrying and options beyond abortion. While we cannot absolutely know for sure the number of children saved through these centers, we do know of 9,807 children who were given life instead of death through this ministry. Since the inclusion of the ultrasound, the percent of clients choosing life over death for their unborn child is an amazing 96 percent. These centers are not only vitally involved in saving the lives of the unborn, but they also are committed to sharing with the mother the Good News about abundant life through Jesus. These centers have recorded 1,929 professions of faith by clients over these last 30 years. To God be the glory! Yes, there is a huge contrast between the Trust Women South Wind Women’s Clinic and Hope Pregnancy Centers. One receives payment to destroy unborn children while the other gives freely to help pregnant mothers choose life. Oklahoma Baptists are people of life, and the life of every unborn child is precious to us. We give and serve because unborn children are precious to God. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anthony L. Jordan is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. This article first appeared in the Baptist Messenger (www.baptistmessenger.com), the convention’s newsjournal. #JANUARY17

DALLAS, TX (BP) – O.S. Hawkins declared 2016 as the "Year of Influence," for GuideStone Financial Resources. He noted 2 Corinthians 10:13, which says, "But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you." Each year, the entity's president chooses a passage and theme to guide the ministry's work. GuideStone seeks to use its influence, Hawkins said, as an advocate for pastors and other ministry workers and investors it serves. Noting that people and organizations of influence possess vision, integrity and purpose, the GuideStone team sought to live those three characteristics throughout the year. Church retirement plan clarification law GuideStone began making available updates to church plans thanks to church retirement plan clarification language passed in 2015. Provisions of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act -- the PATH Act -- were meant to help clarify the purpose of church retirement plans, like those offered by GuideStone. It allowed church plans to include automatic enrollment features in their retirement programs regardless of state wage withholding laws, as well as allow for certain kinds of transfers and mergers between accounts of the same employers. Additionally, provisions addressing counting employees for benefit purposes among certain church-related employers help distinguish between different kinds of church and denominational governance structures. The legislation -- long sought by a broad coalition of large and historic denominational retirement plan providers -- took three Congresses to consider before being tacked onto the PATH Act in December 2015. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on December 18. "This bill was a long-awaited and hard-fought bill to pass," said O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources. "We appreciate all who made this bill a reality." Additionally, GuideStone has been at the forefront of litigation concerning the rights of religiously affiliated groups to use church health plans, filing amicus briefs as part of an established alliance of large and historic denominational pension plans. Earlier this month, litigation in which GuideStone has supported the plaintiff's' position made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Though the cases will not impact GuideStone or its participants, the cases are important as GuideStone seeks to limit government interference in religious matters. http://www.bpnews.net/46254/church-retirement-plans-aided-by-2015-legislation http://bpnews.net/48020/hospitals-religious-liberty-and-the-supreme-court Training and education for church, ministry leaders In March, GuideStone played host to the Southern Baptist Business Officers Conference (SBBOC), where more than 100 business officers from Southern Baptist churches, organizations, conventions, foundations and educational institutions came to learn the latest in tax, human resources, retirement plan and insurance rules, regulations and legislation from GuideStone and industry experts. The SBBOC meeting will be combined with another GuideStone meeting, the Benefits Forum, and will take on a new form in 2017. The Employee Benefits Summit presented by GuideStone, March 27–29, 2017, will provide an expanded menu of networking and training opportunities. More information can be found by visiting EmployeeBenefitsSummit.com. Contraceptive mandate before U.S. Supreme Court On March 23, lawyers for GuideStone and other plaintiffs argued its litigation against the contraceptive mandate issued under the Affordable Care Act before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court issued a unanimous opinion May 16 ordering the government to work out a solution in the contraceptive mandate cases that would protect the religious beliefs of objecting religious organizations. This decision included GuideStone and the ministries it serves. The Court vacated the lower court decision that had gone against the religious organizations and ruled that the government cannot fine the ministries as the cases proceed. No new proposed regulations have been issued out of the ruling. The mandate would have required certain ministries served by GuideStone to provide abortion-causing drugs or devices as part of their health plan or face crippling penalties. Churches and integrated auxiliaries of churches are exempt from the mandate and its penalties. http://bpnews.net/46869/abortion-mandate-cases-returned-to-lower-courts Expectancy for 2017 The new year will have new changes -- a new president inaugurated January 20 will mean changes in the regulatory environment in Washington. Regardless of health care reform legislation, the high cost of healthcare will continue to be a struggle for insurers and providers alike. "Whatever changes come down in 2017, we will continue foremost to keep our focus on the Lord and honoring Him as Asaph said of King David, 'with the integrity of our heart and the skillfulness of our hands," Hawkins said. "Our commitment to serve our participants, whether they are the dear soldiers of the cross and their widows through Mission:Dignity, our retirement and insurance plan participants, our churches and ministries in property and casualty and our investors, is unwavering." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roy Hayhurst is director of denominational and public relations services for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – November 8, 2016 was a wonderful day for me. It was my birthday. I was born on an election day. My sister likes to tell the story that she was hoping for Nixon to win and for a baby sister. She got neither. I think she got over the disappointment but the jury is still out on that count. (Not the election part but the baby sister part.) Are you disappointed with this past election day's results? What about the Electoral College vote on December 19, 2016? Whether you are happy or sad America will inaugurate a new president this month. So how do we, as the church, move forward? Does the Bible have anything to say about how to respond to civic leadership? This is a good time to recall the lesson of the book of Daniel. The overarching theme of Daniel's experience is the sovereignty of God. In each of the first six chapters, we find the King of glory accomplishing His purpose during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius. In the second half of the book (chapters seven through twelve) we are treated to visions of the Lord of lords who controls both the present and the future. Just like in the book of Daniel, let us affirm that He is still King of all. We must place our trust in the Lord. Politics is a trust-trap. It lures us into a false sense of self determination. We have never, nor will we ever, be able to vote into office a man or a woman that will bring about spiritual reform or revival. Let me quote the words of the watcher that spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17 KJV) So with God in charge what is the church to do? Peter gives us a clear calling to walk respectfully and to do good even when the government does neither. In the second chapter of his first epistle, Peter instructs the church to be involved in good works for the sake of the lost “Gentiles” among whom we live. But then a very interesting command comes up. It's not, feed the poor or visit the homeless or raise money for our favorite cause-of-the-moment. Listen to the words of the apostle, “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” (1 Peter 2:13-14 KJV) We don't like that word “submit” very well, but notice how Peter couches the command. He says that we do it “for the Lord's sake.” It is glorifying to God when we submit to the governing authorities and a part of an “honest” lifestyle that we are to lead before a lost world. Remember the conditions Peter was living under when he was inspired to write this. Nero was Caesar. He cared nothing for Christ or the church, and blamed the fire of Rome on the Christians. A great persecution broke out against the church and it is in the light of such suffering that Peter teaches us to live humbly. He even frames it as a item of God's will for the church (1 Peter 2:15). So how do we respond to this most recent change in civic leadership? First, we must understand that the hand of God is overseeing all things. Then, with that trust as a foundation, we must act like the church of Jesus Christ and humbly submit ourselves to the governing powers so that the world may see the life of Christ demonstrated in us. “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” (1 Peter 2:17 KJV) ABOUT THE AUTHOR David B. Smith is a pastor and the founder and broadcaster of Daily Dose Radio, a five minute podcast studying the Psalms verse by verse. #JANUARY17

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) – Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has drawn praise from Southern Baptists despite charges by secular media outlets, environmentalists and theologically liberal clergy that his leadership could harm the environment. "Scott Pruitt is one of the finest, a committed follower of Christ and Oklahoma Baptist," Anthony Jordan, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, told the BGCO's Baptist Messenger newsjournal. "He has been a great attorney general and will be terrific at the EPA." Pruitt, a deacon at First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, Okla., was announced as Trump's selection for EPA administrator Dec. 7. That same day, The New York Times published a news article calling Pruitt a "climate change denialist" and noting his participation in a 28-state lawsuit challenging some of the Obama administration's carbon-emission regulations. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., vowed to "vigorously oppose this nomination" while numerous media outlets published objections to Pruitt's nomination by environmentalists. A coalition of Massachusetts Episcopal bishops released an open letter to Trump Dec. 13 expressing "dismay" at his selection of Pruitt. The Washington Post editorial board opposed Pruitt's confirmation Dec. 9 because he allegedly has a record of "rejecting or playing down the near-unanimous warnings of experts" on climate change. The Post took issue in particular with a May op-ed in the conservative publication National Review co-written by Pruitt and Alabama attorney general Luther Strange. In stating their opposition to a criminal investigation of oil and gas companies that "have disputed the science behind man-made global warming," Pruitt and Strange wrote that "healthy debate is the lifeblood of American democracy, and global warming has inspired one of the major policy debates of our time." "That debate is far from settled," they stated. "Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind. That debate should be encouraged -- in classrooms, public forums and the halls of Congress. It should not be silenced with threats of prosecution. Dissent is not a crime." Critics answered R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Pruitt is a trustee, said The Washington Post's critique appears to stem from an ideological framework that contradicts the Christian worldview. The Post's editorial board, Mohler said Dec. 13 in his podcast The Briefing, apparently regards the views of some contemporary scientists as "the ultimate authority not to be questioned." In reality, it is "an ideological framework to which they are committed ... advertised to the public as settled science." Christians, in contrast, should be "committed to the truth," which is pursued through "the scientific method" among other means, Mohler said. He noted science often revises its conclusions from one generation to the next. Pruitt "does not deny that there is a human impact on the climate," Mohler said. "He doesn't deny what's called now the reality of global warming or of climate change. He says that the debate is not settled and the degree and the extent of global warming is not yet fully known." Pruitt's pastor, Nick Garland of First Baptist Broken Arrow, told Baptist Press Pruitt displays "a tremendous amount of Christian character" and has been "faithful in every way to the church." As a public servant, Pruitt "obviously is a man who is a Christian," Garland said, yet he doesn't "operate with a bias based on his faith, but rather a clear-cut dedication to how this country was founded." Charges that Pruitt is "going to throw out" all environmental regulations are unfounded, Garland said. "Scott has always been concerned that we take care of the water and mineral resources that we have here in Oklahoma," Garland said. He has at times opposed specific environmental regulations "because he believes in constitutional law" and rejects "overreach" by the EPA "that would create problems for the local farmer or for the local oil industry." Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told BP in a statement, "Scott Pruitt is a dear friend and a magnificent Christian leader. I've known and worked with him since the beginning of his time on the board at Southern Seminary. Since then we've worked together on numerous issues of religious freedom and liberty of conscience. He has always modeled integrity and excellence, and I look forward to seeing his leadership at the EPA." Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican and fellow Southern Baptist, said in a statement, "Pruitt has served Oklahoma as a tireless defender of justice and law, and I am confident that he will serve America well. "I look forward to working with him to restore a balanced approach to regulations and governance that fosters economic growth, advances energy independence and ensures stewardship for the environment. Scott Pruitt knows the difference between a state responsibility and a federal responsibility. The American people deserve an EPA that rejects extreme activism and instead returns to its proper interpretation of environmental law," Lankford said. Pruitt's office declined an interview request by BP, stating an interview would violate presidential "transition protocol." 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. #JANUARY17

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore has clarified that he never intended to criticize all evangelical supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, noting many were motivated by "biblical convictions" and "voted their conscience." In a Monday (Dec. 19) blog post, Moore acknowledged “pointed conversations in my denominational family about the election" over the past month, "some of them ... directed at me." "I remember one situation where I witnessed a handful of Christian political operatives excusing immorality and confusing the definition of the gospel," Moore wrote. "I was pointed in my criticisms, and felt like I ought to have been. But there were also pastors and friends who told me when they read my comments they thought I was criticizing anyone who voted for Donald Trump. "I told them then, and I would tell anyone now: if that's what you heard me say, that was not at all my intention, and I apologize. There's a massive difference between someone who enthusiastically excused immorality and someone who felt conflicted, weighed the options based on biblical convictions, and voted their conscience," Moore wrote. Moore's blog post was published the same day as a Wall Street Journal article about the ERLC president with the headline "Baptist figure faces backlash over his criticism of Donald Trump." Moore has voiced criticism of Trump's candidacy since at least September 2015. The Journal, to whom Moore provided an advance copy of his blog post, included critiques of Moore by former Southern Baptist Convention President Jack Graham, Louisiana Baptist Convention executive director David Hankins and former SBC Executive Committee chairman William Harrell among others. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. and evangelical voter Ruth Malhotra, a Millennial Republican who opposed Trump, expressed support for Moore to The Journal. ERLC trustee chairman Ken Barbic told Baptist Press Moore “is a Gospel centered and faithful voice for Southern Baptists.” "He speaks with prophetic clarity to the pressing cultural and ethical issues of our time, with which every Christian must wrestle," Barbic, a member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, said in an email. "I am particularly grateful for his courageous and convictional leadership, under which I've observed within our convention and beyond, significant newfound energy and excitement about the work of the ERLC the last several years. I have had the privilege of seeing up close the remarkable efforts he leads the ERLC to undertake here in Washington, across this country and abroad, all of which make me thankful for his leadership within the Southern Baptist Convention." In the Journal article, Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and a member of Trump's Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, cited Moore's criticism of Trump during the presidential campaign for alleged "disrespectfulness towards Southern Baptists and other evangelical leaders, past and present." "It's disheartening that this election has created this kind of divisiveness," Graham said, adding Prestonwood is "considering making major changes in our support of the Southern Baptist Convention," presumably a reference to designating financial gifts to specific SBC causes rather than giving through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists' unified channel of supporting missions and ministries in America and worldwide, including the ERLC. Hankins told The Journal he knows of churches that "have said they are going to" divert their giving away from the ERLC. Messengers to this year's Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting referred to the convention's Executive Board a motion regarding concerns with the ERLC. Harrell, EC chair from 2006-08, made a similar assertion about churches' potentially withholding funds from the ERLC in a Nov. 15 blog post, stating the ERLC "was never meant to be a political voice which would promote a certain candidate or ... discourage people from voting for another one." As examples of allegedly inappropriate statements by Moore, Harrell, a retired Georgia pastor, cited a Sept. 2015 New York Times op-ed, in which Moore argued "evangelicals and other social conservatives" must "repudiate everything they believe" to support Trump, and a Jan. 2016 Roll Call article that quoted Moore as stating, "Ted Cruz is leading in the 'Jerry Falwell' wing of evangelicalism, Marco Rubio is leading the 'Billy Graham' wing and Trump is leading the 'Jimmy Swaggart' wing." Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee wrote in an email obtained by Townhall.com, "I am utterly stunned that Russell Moore is being paid by Southern Baptists to insult them." In support of Moore, Mohler told The Journal in an email, "I know his heart and his character and his love for the Southern Baptist Convention. I also have confidence in his ability to serve all Southern Baptists as president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission." Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Provost Jason Duesing and former SBC president Bryant Wright have expressed similar sentiments. Duesing wrote in a Nov. 8 blog post that Moore and the ERLC staff fulfilled their ministry assignment well during the presidential election season. "While no leadership team of the convention's public policy arm, past or present," Duesing wrote, "can carry out this task with perfection or to the full approval of every member of the churches they serve -- nor should they be held to that unassailable expectation -- it is always right to express thanks to them and for them for their service, courage, and efforts. Particularly, that is true during this election year." Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., tweeted May 9 following criticism of Moore by Trump, "Coming from Trump, this is a badge of honor. Thankful for Russell Moore's leadership." In May, Trump mentioned Moore by name when he tweeted, "Russell Moore is truly a terrible representative of Evangelicals and all of the good they stand for. A nasty guy with no heart!" to which Moore responded on MSNBC, "I am a nasty guy with no heart, which is why I need forgiveness of sins and redemption through the Gospel of Jesus Christ." The Journal quoted Malhotra, a 32-year-old Baptist, as illustrative of the "younger evangelicals" who allegedly support Moore and "who are becoming more diverse and appear to be turned off by the culture wars of their parents' generation." Moore seemed to reference that supposed generational divide in an Oct. 9 op-ed for The Washington Post, in which he stated, "The evangelical old-guard is easier to engage in politics, because they find identity in a 'silent majority' of Americans. The next generation knows that our witness is counter to the culture." Moore called "reaffirmation of support for Trump" by members of "the old-guard Religious Right establishment" "a scandal and a disgrace" but "not ... a surprise." His op-ed followed reports of "sexually predatory recorded comments" made by Trump. In his Dec. 19 blog post, Moore clarified that "many Christians, including some of my very best friends and closest ministry partners approached the ballot box conflicted but felt compelled to cast a ballot for the 'lesser of two evils,' hoping for the best with a less than ideal president." Moore added, "We all owe it to our brothers and sisters in Christ to understand their convictions and be slow to judgment when biblical motivations are the primary motivators. In the heat of an extraordinarily divisive campaign, that is something all of us, myself included, are wise to remember." Here is the link to Russell Moore’s blog post of December 19, 2016. http://www.russellmoore.com/2016/12/19/election-thoughts-christmastime/ 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. #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – Well my friends, it’s a new day and a new year. It’s that time of year when we get a new calendar from the funeral home or our life insurance agent. Have you ever thought about that? One group depends on your death for their livelihood and the other depends on you staying alive, and both of them want you to count the days. The New Year is a time for new beginnings and starting again, fresh and new. Throughout the history of all mankind the New Year has been a time of second chances. A time where everyone can put the past where it belongs and forge ahead with renewed vision and hope. The New Year is the annual opportunity to do right when in the past we have done wrong. As a kid growing up in West Texas while playing certain games, one could ask for a “do over”. The adult equivalent of that is the infamous “mulligan” in golf. At one time or another, we all need a “do over, mulligan or second chance,” and the New Year provides just that. It is a time to clean house and to get rid of the old, broken and burdensome stuff of life. Those inventive people, the Italians, have a custom. As midnight on New Year's Eve approaches, the streets are cleared. There is no traffic; there are no pedestrians; even the policemen take cover. Then, at the stroke of 12, the windows of the houses fly open. To the sound of laughter, music and fireworks, each member of the family pitches out old crockery, detested ornaments, hated furniture and a whole catalogue of personal possessions which remind them of something in the past year they are determined to wipe out of their minds. Now I am not suggesting that we clutter the streets of our Michigan cities and towns with our physical junk, but it would be most beneficial if we would do some real spiritual house cleaning and get rid of all the junk that is cluttering our souls. Now is a great time to get quiet and ask the Father to show you the encumbering garbage in your life, and to confess it and the give it the old spiritual “heave-ho.” Were you deeply hurt this past year by someone or some event? Don’t let that hurt continue to dominate your heart. The person may or may not have had evil intent, but one thing for sure, as long as you allow that pain to reside in the house of your heart, it will continue to crowd out the good and new that God has for you. Did you make some big mistakes this past year? Did you, as we say around here, “step in stupid”? The cause or the source is really not the issue. The issue is to get clean and clutter free, and now is a great time to begin the holy, healing, and helpful process. Clean out every nook and cranny, and don’t forget to get under the bed and sink. Don’t leave any rug unturned or any baseboard untouched. And all that past guilt and grime that has been weighing you down - chunk it! The only caution I would give is that you make sure everyone is off the street and out of your line of fire. If you are like me, there could be plenty of debris for the dumping. I hope you have a Happy New Year and a really good house cleaning. 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. #JANUARY17

Please, let me introduce Will Mancini to you. Will Mancini says and writes, “Clarity changes everything.” He also states, “The greatest secret for real church growth is unleashing the personal vision of your people.” Our team of 6 church planting catalysts and I are reading and discussing Mancini’s “out-of-the-box” approach to ministry. Will Mancini earned a chemical engineering degree at Penn State and a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Those two seemingly opposing studies created a man who reflects on “process.” I think that is what makes his discussions about ministry so interesting. He looks at ministry and its development differently than most. Let me recommend 3 of Will Mancini’s books and his website to you for these cold, short days of winter. In Church Unique, Mancini explains that each church has its unique culture that reflects its particular values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions and shows how church leaders can unlock their church’s individual DNA and unleash their congregation’s one-of-a-kind potential. The framework is an easily teachable and transferable tool that helps you answer the five irreducible question of leadership: What are we ultimately doing? (mission) Why do we do it? (values) How do we do it? (strategy) When are we successful? (mission measures) Where is God taking us? (vision proper) Innovating Discipleship provides a simple and powerful way to innovate your disciple-making strategy. The book helps you answer the question, "How do I want my church to be different in the next two years?" The book is built around a little formula, 1 + 2 + 4 + 16 = ∞. The formula points to 1 whiteboard drawing, defined by 2 vision decisions, which creates 4 pathways to the future. These 4 pathways are "walked" using 16 super questions that lead to limitless ministry innovation. God Dreams by Mancini was published in 2016. The book’s ultimate purpose is to add greater meaning and freedom in the busyness of church ministry. It does this by showing how to inspire others and focus your team around a specific, vivid picture of your church's next big dream. The most unique feature of this book is the 12 templates. Each template comes with biblical, historical and contemporary illustrations of dynamic vision. The templates are just one step in a guided process as you build your own visionary plan for your church. After you have investigated Will Mancini’s writings, his blog, or his materials, please feel free to contact me and let me know what you think. I strive to share resources that will create a movement forward for your church: Tony Lynn (734) 770-0608 or at tony@bscm.org. 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. #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – From time to time, God lays a passage of Scripture on my heart that becomes especially important for a season of ministry. I sensed that recently when I read the Apostle Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. In this powerful prayer, Paul asks God to strengthen believers. That's what you and I need individually, and it's what we need collectively as Michigan Baptists. We need strong believers in strong churches glorifying God and punching holes in the darkness together. I am inviting Michigan Baptists to join me in asking God to strengthen our churches. The Apostle Paul is in prison for his faith in Christ as he prays these words. It’s a remarkable scene. This man who has traveled to some of the greatest cities in the world to share the Gospel is now in prison because of that same Gospel. His world is reduced to the space between prison walls. Physically, he can only move a few feet in every direction, but on his knees, he prays a prayer that touches the heart of God for the people of God. In my mind I see Paul as he kneels "before the Father" (verse 14). He is entering the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The word “before” means "facing." The picture is of an intentional turning toward God. Paul focuses intently on God as he bends his knees in humble submission. His heart and mind are captured by the God who changed his life on the Damascus Road. His body is imprisoned, but Paul’s reality is not going to be defined by the difficult circumstances around him, but by the Christ above him. Paul prays and the impact of that prayer reverberates in the church even today. The ask of the prayer is verse 16: "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man...." Paul boldly asks God for believers to be "strengthened with power through his Spirit in their inmost being." The burning desire of Paul in these verses is not for his freedom. It would have been OK for Paul to pray for release, but that’s not his first concern. He prays for God's people to be strengthened. Isn’t that amazing? His prayer isn’t about him. It’s about us. He asks God to make us strong in Christ. Notice where this strength comes from. It comes from the riches of God’s glory. Do you see the flow? It’s from God to us. It comes to us according to the riches of his glory. That’s good news because there is no limit to the riches of God’s glory. Paul asked God to strengthen us, not out of our riches, but according to His riches. The universe, and all that it comprises, cannot contain the riches of God's glory. Here is a deep, abiding, limitless source of strength, available to believers from the inexhaustible riches of God’s glory. Paul prays for us to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man according to those riches. Now, that’s a prayer! It's a bold, audacious, incredible prayer for the People of God! That’s what you and I need as we follow Christ. So let's follow Paul's example and pray boldly in the year to come for God to strengthen Michigan Baptists. Let's pray that God strengthen us according to the riches of His glory. And let's watch as God does great and amazing things in and through His strengthened people. 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. #JANUARY17

FENTON, MI – Our state is filled with missionaries who plant churches. God-called people who dedicate themselves to sharing Christ, creating disciples, planting or replanting churches, and multiplying that process all over again. We are blessed to live among them and we can rejoice over what God did during 2016. Lives were transformed. There were 209 baptisms reported through Michigan church plants. On an average Sunday in Michigan 1,564 people were worshiping God in our new church plants. Devoted missionaries surround us. At the time of this writing, 72 persons are currently training or active apprentices, interns, or church planters throughout Michigan & Canada as partners in church planting. New missionaries were added this year throughout Michigan. There were 24 church planting missionaries approved for service this past year. Of the 24 missionaries in Michigan, 22 of them are married, many with children in the home. We added 2 single missionaries. We conducted 3 church planter assessment retreats. Our new church plants gave back to God’s Kingdom. They contributed $85,554 to the Cooperative Program. They contributed $5,415 to other SBC mission offerings. They contributed $46,961 to other mission causes by church plants. In total, the new church plants in Michigan gave a sum total of $137,930 to Cooperative Program & missions. It takes an elite squad of dedicated people to create vibrant new churches. There were 17 pastors and churches from within Michigan who supported specific church plants. From outside of the conventional Michigan churches, 10 other churches supported specific church plants. There were untold thousands who gave so that we could assist 4 church plants in purchasing equipment for their ministries. There were many who prayed for the missionaries. “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God,” said Paul as recorded in Acts 20:24 (NLT). 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. #DECEMBER16

KANSAS CITY, KS (BP) – Over the past several years there has been an increasing interest in church planting. As a result of declining attendance and the closing of many existing churches, every major denomination is focusing more resources toward starting new congregations. In recent years, we have also seen the creation church planting networks that emphasize church planting across denominational lines. In the midst of this proliferation of church planting, one of the most significant trends is the starting of new churches by bivocational leaders. Historically the phrase “bivocational pastor” was used to refer to a leader who served a church that was unable to compensate a pastor with a full-time salary. Therefore, the pastor would work a second, or third job, to supplement what the church could provide. In many cases, it was out of necessity not preference. However, today there is a new movement among bivocational leaders. More church planters are choosing to plant bivocationally. They are making this decision out of conviction that bivocational church planting actually provides a more desirable way to plant a new church, rather than on the basis of limited funds. In other words, it is becoming a first option, not a last resort. While there is no need for bivocational church planting to compete with the more traditional approach—it is clearly a both/and proposition—there are some significant benefits to planting bivocationally, especially in a post-Christendom context. Lets consider three. 1. Missional engagement Perhaps the most significant benefit of planting as a bivocational leader is that it gives the planter greater opportunities to connect relationally with people in the community. Their jobs give them access into a mission field that is not readily available to a full-time pastor. Many traditional pastors find themselves working inside a church bubble, spending the majority of their time talking with church people about things of the church. Even when a full-time pastor makes the effort to engage people in their community they often find it challenging to fully relate. It is not until a person actually incarnates into the local context that they begin to understand the values and interests of the people. It is difficult to really love and serve the people God has sent us to from a distance. We might call this approach “marketplace planting” because the majority of relationships that are developed are the result of the planter’s vocational connections. Their marketplace job isn’t a hindrance to what God is doing; it’s actually an advantage to engaging God’s mission. Bivocational planting also helps to diminish the sacred-secular divide when it comes to vocation. The congregation has the opportunity to see the church planter model the fact that all vocations are sacred. Regardless of what God has called them to do, if it paid or volunteer, or if it is inside the home or outside the home, it is a sacred calling. As a result, the benefits of being in the marketplace are multiplied exponentially as ever member recognizes how their vocation fits into the mission of God. Additionally, working a job in the community builds credibility with both those inside and outside the church. In a post-Christian context, where people are skeptical of the church, it is important for non-Christians to see that church leaders have jobs like everyone else. In a time when Christianity doesn’t have the best reputation, it can provide significant “street-cred” with those outside the church. It is important to understand this new breed of “bivo” planting is missiologically driven. Planting the church begins by engaging in missionary behaviors in the local context, rather than focusing on the creation of a Sunday morning worship service. The planter allows their missiology to inform their ecclesiology. By thinking and living like a missionary in a local context, new communities of faith are birthed out of missional engagement. 2. Financial Stability A second major benefit of bivocational church planting relates to the financial stability it provides in at least three different areas - The planter, the church, and the church planting entity. The church planter - When the primary financial support comes from a marketplace source rather than the church plant, there is usually less financial strain on a family. This is especially true when the planter is employed full-time in a vocation that provides benefits like insurance, vacation and retirement. The new church - A church led by bivocational leaders usually finds its financial base is much stronger. Without the need to provide full-time salaries and benefits the church can put more of its financial resources into mission and ministry. The church planting entity - Many denominations have made the commitment to plant hundreds, if not thousands of churches over the next several years. However, there simply aren’t enough finances to plant the needed churches with the current funding model. Bivocational planting provides the opportunity for funding entities to embrace more sustainable church planting practices. This is especially necessary for planters who are engaging socioeconomic diverse contexts that are made up of the very poor or immigrant populations. Many traditional church plants start with a large annual budget supported by multiple funding streams, including partnering churches and denominational entities. Because most funding models are structured over a three to five year period, it puts pressure on a church planter to grow the church quickly so it can become self-sustaining before funding runs out. The unfortunate reality is that a planter is often forced to attract financial givers rather than engaging the brokenness in their community. Bivocational church planting, on the other hand, provides a more viable financial model that allows the planter to focus primarily on mission. 3. Shared Leadership Bivocational church planting creates opportunities for leaders in the congregation to use their God-given talents to create a culture of participation rather than one of spectatorship. More church members, out of necessity, become involved in the mission of the church. Bivocational leadership helps to diminish the laity-clergy divide. If pastoral leadership is reserved only for the “professionals” then many gifted leaders will miss opportunities to pursue what God has called them to. It is important to understand that bivocational church planting is not simply about having two or more jobs; it is really about aligning one life. It’s about blending our calling to support our families and ourselves, with our calling to live a life engaged in God’s mission. We are called to be a missionary people sent into the world to participate in God’s redemptive purposes. One vital and urgent means to accomplish that task is to plant new communities as bivocational, kingdom leaders. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brad is currently the Church Planting Catalyst with the North American Mission Board in Kansas City. He holds a doctorate in the area of missional ecclesiology; his doctoral thesis was on assisting existing congregations in transitioning in a missional direction. Brad is co-author of Missional Essentials, a twelve-week small group study guide and The Missional Quest. #DECEMBER16

BURTON, MI – Every year, sometime in the beginning of November, messengers from our cooperating, convention of churches gather together to conduct the business of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. And, some years, God comes along side us to move our hearts to see Him and His glory, and experience a revival of the spirit. I believe we just experienced one of those years. Thank you Church Starting Mission Action Team for giving us an opportunity to meet and pray over our church planters, for helping us understand the struggles and blessings of these men and their families, for giving us hope that we as Michigan Southern Baptists can transform our state for the glory of God by expanding His Kingdom, and for thanking Old Navy for selling shirts for triplets (you would have had to been there.) Thank you Church Sending Mission Action Team for showing us opportunities to serve and for championing evangelism, not only in our churches, but more importantly, in our hearts. Thank you Church Strengthening Mission Action Team for informing us about all the opportunities that we have individually and as church bodies to be trained, to be encouraged, to be challenged. Thank you Dan and Angela Kucharczyk for faithfully serving as our camp managers for the last six plus years and for reminding us, as you so eloquently do, that Bambi Lake is a place where lives are transformed for the glory of our Lord. Thank you to the women who gathered for the Ministers’ Wives Fellowship led by our Executive Director’s wife, Sabrina Patterson. It was a good time of laughter, delicious food, and sharing - finding strength together. Thank you to all our Southern Baptist Partners; our International Mission Board, our North American Mission Board, LifeWay, GuideStone, our seminaries, for sharing with us what our partnership means and giving testimonies as to what the power of our cooperating together does to shape our world to better reflect our heavenly home. Thank you Dr. Kevin Ezell, Pastor Chuck Turner, and Pastor Tim Patterson for bringing conviction to our hearts to do more than we think we are capable of by relying on the strength of the Holy Spirit in each of us. So often during the messages, God’s Spirit taps us on our shoulder and says, “Did you just hear that? Take it to heart!” Thank you for being the vessels God can use to speak His truth. Sure, we passed our budget for 2017, we elected some officers, we passed a motion or two, but I think more importantly we were reminded that even though we come from various walks of life and different racial and economic backgrounds, we are still brothers and sisters in Christ. That is what unifies us today and forever. I hope you can join us next year as we celebrate 60 years as the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. We will gather together at our Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center on November 7-8, 2017. Come prepared. We may experience another revival! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anne Glissman is the Office Manager and has been employed at the Baptist State Convention of Michigan for 22 years. #DECEMBER16

LANSING, MI – In a day and age where so many things divide us, Michigan Baptist women are being invited to join the second annual MOVE Conference for Women April 28th and 29th, 2017 at Trinity Church in Lansing, Michigan. The MOVE conference’s beginnings started with a simple question before the women of the Kingdom Life Church traveled to Dallas,Texas. Worship Director, Keturah Bouyer, remembers, “As we gathered in the front room of a fellow member’s house for our bi-weekly discipleship meeting, I asked how things were going concerning our plans to travel to a women’s conference. As the conversation flowed, one of the women asked a simple question: “Why do we have to raise money to travel to conferences? Why isn’t there a conference here, where women can simply go and be fed no matter what they look like?” Immediately, I became angry and frustrated…why couldn’t they just get with the program?” Kingdom Life Church in Lansing is close to 50% white and 50% black with a small percentage of Hispanics. Bouyer adds, “That’s why we go to different conferences and retreats.” Bouyer says as she left that discipleship meeting, she was filled with conflicting emotions and one of them was anger. She says, “I thought ‘I don’t have time to search for this Lord!’ and I held onto that frustration for two days until I gave myself a mental shake and said to the Lord, ‘Okay, starting tomorrow I will look for ‘this conference.’ As I woke the next morning, I said a small prayer: ‘Help me, Lord as I look.’ My mind was unlocked as I began to recall conversations I had with other pastors’ wives in the area concerning partnering to put on a women’s conference. I began to recall names of churches with whom we had built relationships.” Bouyer says the name of the conference became clear: “The MOVE Conference for Women.” And the purpose became clear: “To bring women together from different churches, different walks of life, different seasons of life, and different cultural upbringings, from different parts of the city, in order to worship and experience God together. She recalls, “As I thought of this, fear immediately gripped me. ‘Who would come to this conference? I am just a church planter’s wife. No one knows me.’ I had these doubts and questions from the first meeting to the last...but God used my 12-year old daughter as she simply said to me one morning, ‘Mom, even if 50 women come, that’s amazing!’ So last April, they opened the doors to the first MOVE Conference for Women. More than 300 women from at least eight different churches came together to worship God and to lift high the name of Jesus Christ. At the conference a wide variety of emotions and beauty were displayed as diverse women from various churches sang songs, held each other, cried and worshipped God together. Bouyer says, “At this conference, I believe we caught a glimpse of what Heaven will truly be like.” For more information about the MOVE Conference, contact Keturah Bouyer by phone at 517/882-4660. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Keturah Bouyer currently serves as the Community Liaison for Kingdom Life Church. Keturah is passionate about reaching, teaching, and leading women. She is married to her best friend and love, Rev. Coye Bouyer, where they are church planting in their hometown of Lansing, Michigan. They have four beautiful children: Sierra, 12; Seth, 10; Cayla, 7; and Coye II, 5. #DECEMBER16