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WINDSOR, ONTARIO – The voice of God came to Jesus at all the great moments of his life. It came at his baptism, when he began the work that God gave him to do (Mark 1:11). It came on the Mount of Transfiguration, as he again affirmed taking the way that led to Jerusalem and the cross (Mark 9:7); and it came when he faced the ordeal of the cross (John 12:27-34). I believe that what God did for Jesus, he wants to do for us. God wants you to hear his voice. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NIV). No Quick Fix Choosing God's Best by Don Raunikar warns us not to go for the quick fix. “There's not a method to follow. Your relationship with God is the key to hearing when God speaks to you. The object of prayer is intimacy with God, not quick answers. Over time you will know his voice.” The sheep know the shepherd's voice because they spend time with him. They cultivate intimacy with the Master. That takes time. Accept the Answers Moreover, don't ask unless you're willing to accept God's answers. Don't ask for guidance unless you are prepared to act on it and have a desire to know, and do all the will of God. He is always willing to make his purpose known, but he will not show you his will if you are merely contemplating obedience, weighing the pros and cons. Jesus himself came down from heaven not to do his own will “but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38 NIV). He did not simply consider God’s will, he actively, purposefully, and joyfully obeyed. So must we. Listen Hard Don't expect God to shout either. Quiet is essential to effective listening. You can't jam your mind with social media and television twelve hours a day, and expect God to reveal his plans to you during a commercial. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). I find that hard to do because I am a Type-A, always-moving, kind of guy. But it’s fundamental to hearing God’s voice. “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3 NIV). Set your heart and mind on Jesus and listen. Watch Out for a Plug If we are passively or openly rebelling against God in some area of our life, we put a plug in the pipeline God uses to deliver his word to us. Unconfessed sin is a major plug. “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 NIV). Become God’s Fool We also need to be willing to be God's fool. God gave us common sense and he expects us to use it. Most of the time, his will makes sense to our reason and intelligence, but not always. Sometimes his direction cuts across all human reason, all human sensibilities, and even contradicts it. When the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to speak to you clearly, and give you marching orders, obedience may be counted as madness in the eyes of the world. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV). Friends, we need to hear God’s voice in the Scriptures in these last days, follow his leading, and obey him wholeheartedly. The charge is critical for all, but especially leaders in the church. “Keep watch over yourselves…” (Acts 20:28-31 NIV). Listen carefully to God’s Word and obey him for His glory and your good! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Garth Leno is the Pastor/Planter Care Specialist with the BSCM. He serves in a similar role with the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and he is the founding pastor of The Gathering Church in Windsor, Ontario, a church he planted with his wife, Patty, and a few of their friends. #NOVEMBER23

SHELBY TOWNSHIP – Years ago, I injured my back when I was reaching to throw something away, my chair rolled out from under me and I fell straight down, compressing my lower lumbar. Through the years, my back has had its ups and downs, but recently it’s been a constant area of struggle. I just completed my second round of physical therapy in the span of a year and a half. When I began, I didn’t begin with a positive mindset or even a great attitude. When you struggle with chronic pain, sometimes it’s hard to keep your focus higher than your situation. This round of therapy did not start off the same as the therapy I underwent previously. It was frustrating, hard, and I was ready to quit. I was so focused on myself, that I couldn’t see what God was actually trying to do. Several weeks went by and I kept pouring my heart out to God, not understanding why my healing wasn’t coming. Then just as our loving God does, He began to speak to me about my healing. He showed me that if He hasn’t removed this pain from my life, there must be a reason why He is allowing it to remain. My prayers began to shift. I continued to pray for healing, but I also began to ask God to reveal to me how he wanted to use this pain in my life. All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit began illuminating the conversations I had been having with my physical therapist. God reminded me that if I didn’t have back pain, then I wouldn’t know the people at physical therapy. So, about halfway through my time at physical therapy, my perspective shifted. I began to pray for opportunities to minister to my therapist. In John 5:17 Jesus says, “My father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” God is always at work around us, and He wants to use everything we go through in life to minister to others. It can be hard for us to look past ourselves. That is why we need the Holy Spirit to help us see where God is at work. My back is the worst in the morning when I first get up. Sometimes it will stay that way all day long, and other times it will loosen up as the day progresses. My therapist told me every morning when I first get up, before I shower or do anything else, I should lay over the exercise ball face down to stretch out my back. Of course, at this point I am willing to do just about anything! To my surprise it did help to decompress my back! Around day 4 or day 5 of doing this exercise first thing in the morning, the Holy Spirit impressed on my heart that I was beginning my day in a surrendered posture. Just as much as I needed to rely on this posture for my physical healing, I also needed to begin my days in a surrendered posture before the Lord. Whoa! I couldn’t believe this revelation! I felt the Holy Spirit impress on my heart the vital importance of surrendering my day to God in prayer, and inviting Him to own my day – even before I go to the Bible. With this revelation, my back pain didn’t seem to consume me anymore. I realized that God was actually speaking to me through my pain. He also showed me He has a purpose for it, and that made all the difference in the world. I then felt the Holy Spirit tell me to share that revelation with my therapist. So, on my final day of physical therapy I was able to share with my therapist how he had a much higher purpose than just my physical healing, but that God used him to show me something much deeper. Then I proceeded to invite him to church. Now I begin my days over the exercise ball, not just for my physical health but also for my spiritual health. I begin every morning with a prayer of surrender. I encourage you to implement a prayer like this into your morning routine. Attach it to something you are already doing and then watch God work! God, Today I surrender my day to you. Open my eyes to see where you are already working. Give me a heart to minister to the people you have put right in my path. I also pray for courage to act when you invite me into your plans. Help me to hold my plans loosely so that I can be available to fulfill the plans you have for me. I ask that you fill me with your Spirit today so that I can discern your will. Amen God wants to use you! We just have to look past ourselves and our circumstances to see where He is already at work in our regular daily activities and join Him. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen is married to Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, and moved from Florida to Michigan in the summer of 2009 to plant Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township. She enjoys mentoring and discipling women and also leads women’s life groups through her church. She is passionate about helping women find their purpose in who God created them to be. She is on staff at Lakepointe Church and loves being part of what God is doing in the Metro Detroit area! #NOVEMBER23

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep." John 21:17 HUDSONVILLE – I have 2 boys. My oldest is two and is learning how to communicate his needs. He will run and play so hard that he loses his breath, panting, “I need water.” That is a real need. At night before going to bed, he will also tell us, “I need a special treat”, as he reaches for the candy bowl. The truth is many people don’t know what they need. It is our job as pastors to lead and feed our people. Our deepest needs are met in Jesus Christ. We are sinners in desperate need of a Savior. We need God’s intervention to transform us from the inside out. We need to be daily living in prayer and Scripture. He is the source of all our wisdom and direction. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 People are longing to be led by spiritual leaders. People are lost and searching for direction. As pastors, we are called to spiritually lead and feed the people we are called to steward. We are called to be spiritual leaders in our community. We need to be rooted and grounded in the Word. And then, we need to help our people grow in the Word so that they are able to identify their needs and develop a biblical worldview. Where are you leading your people? Do you have clear expectations for the people that you are leading? Would your people know where you are leading them and what expectations you have of them if you asked them today? So many of us do not spend the time to actually lead our people, cast vision for them, and provide them with clear expectations. Spend some time praying about it today. Where are you leading your people, and what are you feeding your people? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrew Honeycutt lives in West Michigan. He is a husband to Krista and father to two little boys. He serves as the Byron Center Campus Pastor of Chapel Pointe in Hudsonville. #NOVEMBER23

KALAMAZOO – As fall approaches, we look in anticipation of the beautiful array of colors, crisp air, and of course, football. There’s also the annual celebration where many of us gather with family and friends to consider and recount the things for which we are grateful. If it continues as currently trending, many of us in Michigan will be thankful for a long-awaited winning season for the Lions. Like many of you, I was raised to be thankful, to express my gratitude, never taking our many blessings for granted. For me, it was a natural expression of my place in the world. I was not owed anything. Yet, I was blessed with loving parents, great friends, health, and security of a warm home. As I grew, the “attitude of gratitude” was a defining filter through which I viewed the world. I viewed my thankfulness and gratitude as a means of affirming and valuing others, which in turn fostered humility in my life. I was happy with my resultant world view. At the age of 16, at a Youth for Christ camp, I was confronted with the person of Jesus for the first time in my life. The presentation of Christ and the evidence put forth was compelling. I determined at that time, “If Jesus really is who He says He is, then I must therefore be who He says I am.” I was a sinner in need of His grace. I received Him that night. Again, I was grateful for all the people who prayed for me, those who presented Christ, and my buddy who tricked me into going to a Campus Life event in the first place. That’s too long of a story for this time. Many years have passed since I first gave my life to Christ. He has taken me on a journey that I never anticipated, and it’s been great. I have a wonderful and beautiful wife with the sweetest heart I could ever hope for. I have two awesome children that we adopted from Uganda. They are smart, funny and picking up way too much of my sarcastic humor. So much to be thankful for. Yet, in recent years I began to notice something I had never before realized. I was lacking worship in my prayer time. For years I had considered gratitude and worship to be synonymous. I thought, by expressing gratitude, that I was also expressing my love for God. My prayer would normally start and end with thanksgiving. That is, of course, a good thing. Yet I was missing something very important. You see, I realized you can be thankful for and express gratitude to someone you don’t even know. You do not need to love someone to be thankful for them. I thank the server who brought our meal, the uber driver, and the tech support person on the phone. Clearly God is worthy of much more. Too often, thanksgiving is transactional in nature. This or that was done, I liked it, therefore I am grateful. The server gave me great service. Thank you. Lord. You brought me a new job. Thank you. I have a warm home to sleep in. Thank you, Lord. I started to notice that my gratitude was too often based upon my approval of the situation or outcome. Again, it was transactional. A hard example was being laid off earlier this year. I wasn’t thankful. I was scared, confused and angry. But isn’t God still good? Yes. Does He still love me more than I could ever imagine? Yep. Does He still desire for me to sit in His presence? For sure. The big difference between thankfulness and worship is that worship is relational. It is God-focused. When our thankfulness is transactional, it is self-focused. God wants our heart to be in relationship with Him first. He wants our hearts to rejoice in who He is, not solely for what He’s done. It is in relationship with God that our proper worldview is formed, and worship is birthed. Our focus and worship of Jesus should inform our understanding and perception of our circumstances. Only then can we move from a transactional form of thankfulness and gratitude. It seems crazy, but it took all these years for me to recognize that God desires and is worthy of so much more than just my thankfulness. He wants a heart that delights in who He is, depending on Him alone. I’ve finally learned that true thankfulness produces worship, and true worship will produce thankfulness. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dale Frye is a Church Planter in Kalamazoo, MI. He is a husband and Father to 2 adopted children from Uganda. Saved at the tail end of the Jesus Movement in Southern California through YFC and Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. He has worked in industry leading teams of product designers and developers for nearly 40 years. Now, he is pursuing a new calling into Church Planting. #NOVEMBER23

HOLLAND – Gratitude is a universal virtue. In every age and every culture, people enjoy being on the receiving end of gratitude. Even those who would doubt or deny the existence of God would see the expression of thanks as beneficial to all. In his book The Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards distinguishes between what he referred to as “natural” gratitude and “gracious” gratitude.[1] Natural gratitude shows appreciation for good gifts, such as pleasant weather, good health, and prosperity. Gracious gratitude starts from a different place. It’s rooted in who God is—his character, goodness, love, power. It is an indispensable attitude of the believer that says, “God owes me nothing, and I owe him everything.” Luke 17:11-19 is an account of how this attitude was cultivated in one man's life. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus entered a village and was met by ten lepers. Every natural reason to be thankful would have been absent in the life of a leper. The grotesque skin lesions rendered them unclean, estranged from their families, and banned from the temple. Luke reinforces the sense of separation by saying in verse 12 that the ten lepers stood at a distance. It’s a picture of separation and desperation. But are not the lepers a picture of what we are apart from Christ? As the Apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians 2:12, “Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Outside of Christ, we have something far worse than leprosy. We are covered with guilt that puts us in danger of being excluded not just from earthly friends and family but from heaven itself. Gracious gratitude is cognizant of our desperate state before God. Normally, a leper would have shouted “Unclean, unclean!” to warn people from a distance. But the lepers in Luke 17 do more than declare their hopeless situation, they cry for mercy: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (v13). Jesus always has time for people. It’s no wonder then, that in an act of compassion, he cleansed these men. He told them to present themselves to the priests according to Leviticus 14:1-32. But one of the ten notices that he is not only cleansed but healed: “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan” (vv15-16) Something different happened with him than with the other nine. It’s unclear why he started going to the priest with the other nine men. The priest would have never declared him clean—he was a Samaritan! He was despised, regardless of whether or not he had leprosy. Yet the healing power falls upon him, nonetheless. God’s grace is such that no matter who you are or what you’ve done, you can be cleansed and healed. This Samaritan didn’t belong in the temple, but he belonged to Jesus now. I don’t think we should ever get over the fact that Jesus—the happiest of beings, rich and powerful beyond imagination, who sits at the right hand of God—came to earth to take our miseries. Furthermore, Jesus’ response indicates that to be ungrateful is an affront to God. “Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’” (V17). Undoubtedly, you’re preparing to gather with friends and relatives over Thanksgiving to eat more than you should. That’s certainly something to be grateful for. But if that’s where it begins and ends, you’re no better off than the nine who didn’t return. Remember this: God owes you nothing, but he was gracious enough to send his Son on your behalf to absorb the debt of sin. Charles Spurgeon once shared the gospel with a woman who was so talkative that he could hardly get a word in. Eventually, she listened to him long enough to hear the Good News. Once she understood God's mercy for her in Christ, she said, “Oh, Mr. Spurgeon, if Christ saves me he will never hear the end of it!”[2] Isn’t that precisely the case? His grace demands eternal gratitude and we will be returning thanks to him forever. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ben Hernandez, PhD, is the lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Holland, MI. He holds degrees from Dallas Baptist University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Southeastern Seminary. He and his wife Sarah have one son, Theodore. [1] “A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in Three Parts,” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, ed. Sereno Dwight, revised and corrected by Edward Hickman (1834; reprinted Banner of Truth, 1979), 1:276. [2] This story from the life of Charles Spurgeon is recounted in R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, 2 vols., Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1998), 2:173–74. Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, vol. 1 & 2, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2009). #NOVEMBER23

YPSILANTI – Who would have thought we would thank God for a pandemic? I don’t have to tell you what it was like. You lived it. The fall-out from many churches felt like limbs being torn away from the Body of Christ. Gratefully, our little congregation didn’t lose a single life to a virus. But we watched the slow-motion, lockdown, train wreck, take person-after-person away to other churches where they had a) a building, b) kids programs, c) youth programs, or d) a like-minded political view. Since we had met in a rented school building where no outside organizations, including churches, were allowed to meet, we decided to offer an alternative way to “gather.” We knew that there was no substitute for physically gathered worship, but there we were. So for eighteen months we “Zoomed” our worship services. Before 2020 most of us thought that zoom was something you did when you were late for church! Since we couldn’t gather for a mid-week prayer meeting, we started one online. And the few who took it seriously poured their hearts out to the Sovereign God who works all things together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. Prior to that 18-month “prison-like lockdown” we never thought it would feel like a sunny new day when fifteen whole people bravely met inside a cavernous school auditorium that swallowed us up and made us feel even smaller. But we sang praises through joyful tears. We were together again, like post-exile Israel! Since we had been stashing away money usually spent on rent, we decided to invest in some equipment to help us stream our services to those who were still unable to make their way back to a physical space for worship. We dubbed the tech crew our “Stream Team,” and they learned a new craft via tutorial videos bravely trying something they had never done before. And of course, we heard from some who said, “It’s a shame so many people choose to stay home and drink coffee in their jammies when they should be in church.” And I get it. I really do. I have preached for years, and there’s no substitute for being with other members of the faith family to sing, pray, give, hear the Word proclaimed and explained, to be challenged to live as a true disciple, and to practice the biblical “one anothers.” But we asked, “God, where are you at work?” And since several members’ health and/or mobility simply wouldn’t allow them to make their way back, we streamed. And that’s when God did something wonderfully unexpected. He allowed others to find our streamed worship services. Many who joined us were also homebound. Some lived in other countries. We developed a relationship with a pastor in Kenya. He still emails to remind us that he’s praying for us. A pastor in India tells us he’s using our media Bible teachings to prepare for his own messages since they have no formal training where he lives. Now when we “gather” for worship, complete with streaming, we estimate that one third of the participants are actually inside a building. Two thirds are joining us from some other location, in several United States and at least two additional countries. Recently, after asking God to forgive me for my lack of faith, I said, “Thank you, Lord, for a pandemic. You are still a Romans 8:28 kind of God!” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clark Cothern is grateful to serve as Pastor at Living Water Community Church, Ypsilanti, MI. Living Water is a congregation continuing to learn how to R.E.A.C.H. (Recognize Everyone And Communicate Hope). Clark and his wife Joy live in Milan, MI. They have three grown children and two grandchildren. #NOVEMBER23

ELIZABETHTON, TN (BP) – Jason Holly, the youth minister at First Baptist Church in Elizabethton, remembers when Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter was a boy playing in the local Grasscutter football league for 6-8-year-olds. Holly had a tiny Superman logo printed specifically for Carter. “I stuck it on the back of his helmet, and only his,” Holly said. “And I said, ‘You’re Superman.’ He was just that good.” Rangers fans are starting to agree with that assessment. Carter, who started the 2023 season in the minor leagues with Texas’ Double-A squad, is finishing it in the World Series. The 21-year-old became the youngest player since Mickey Mantle to bat third in a World Series lineup in Friday’s opening game. He made an immediate impact for Texas, doubling off the wall in the first inning to drive in the game’s first run. Texas went on to win 6-5 on an 11th inning homer by Adolis Garcia. Carter has reached base safely in all 14 games he’s played in this year’s postseason. “It’s a dream come true,” Carter told Derek Jeter in a postgame interview about playing in the World Series. “You always want to be ready to go in the minor leagues. To think that I’d have been in the World Series this time, this is unreal.” Holly coached Carter in youth football and baseball until Carter’s middle school years. He remembers joking with Carter’s dad that the kid would be going a long way in baseball. “He was just that talented, at a very young age,” Holly recalled. “When he was in little league, I remember throwing the ball to him as hard as I could, and he was about 9, and he just would hit it right back at you. He was a phenomenal athlete.” Carter’s family is part of Central Community Christian Church, a nondenominational congregation outside of Elizabethton. But he regularly attended programs and events at First Baptist Church during his childhood and teenage years. “Evan and his family are very grounded people,” Holly said. “They’re very humble. They’re very gracious. Evan has always been this even-keeled kid. With his faith, he’s always stayed steady.” That’s why Holly wasn’t surprised when, after Carter was called up to the Rangers in September, he took his first batting practice wearing a blue T-shirt with the message “Jesus Won” prominently displayed across his chest. “I always felt like Evan was grounded on the Lord, and he had his eyes, his ears and his heart the right way,” Holly said. In an interview in the dugout prior to his Major League debut, Carter wore that “Jesus Won” shirt while speaking to the media about being a part of the Rangers team. “It’s unbelievable,” Carter said to start the interview. “I’m grateful, and I thank God for the opportunity.” That shirt has become practically ubiquitous in Elizabethton, as Carter’s performance and profile have continued to skyrocket since his arrival with the Rangers. Fellowship of Christian Athletes sells a Carter edition of the shirt, with “EC” and Carter’s number 32 on the sleeve. Carter and his wife Kaylen shared on social media that they want to use their platform in baseball to give back to their community in Carter County, Tenn. Proceeds from sales of the shirt benefit Central Cares, a program from their home church that helps provide for children in impoverished situations, and to help provide an environment for young baseball players in their community to succeed. Holly said that Carter and Kaylen have been together since sixth grade. “You can just tell how they treat each other that the Lord is front and center for both of them,” he said. Holly, who also teaches at Elizabethton High School, said the “Jesus Won” shirt has given him the opportunity to engage a lot of students who wear it with the message. That’s just one way he says that Carter has made an impact on his community and how he is a role model to others. “Evan’s a very humble, quiet person,” Holly said. “The thing he tells a lot of people is, ‘You can be great without being loud, and you can be great without causing problems, and you can be great without being flamboyant.’” In that sense, Holly said Carter is similar to Elizabethton’s other star athlete, former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. “Both of those guys kind of have the same character,” Holly said. “They’re quiet, family people. They just show kids that you can be the right person and be awesome.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Ellsworth is associate vice president for university communications at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. #NOVEMBER23

LAHAINA, HI (BP) – When Mari Finn awoke on Aug. 8 to heavy winds and no power, she assumed it was like any other storm that would pass. But as the storm progressed, a wildfire blazed through Lahaina. It ultimately destroyed more than 2,000 acres and killed 97 people. Months later, Finn finally was allowed to return to her property, but she was not alone. A team of Texas Baptist Men disaster relief volunteers were right beside her in October as she sifted through the ash, hoping to find anything that may have survived. Standing on her property and looking at the devastation, she recounted Aug. 8, when the fire erupted. Finn, a technology coordinator at a high school in Lahaina on the island of Maui, expected to go to school for the first day of freshman orientation. She never made it. Maui was expecting a hurricane, but not in Lahaina. By 6:30 a.m., there were rumors of a wildfire by the elementary school, but soon cell phone service was disrupted, cutting all communication and access to social media. The wind continued to intensify. “You couldn’t walk around straight because of the way the wind was pushing you,” Finn said. “You had to kind of lean so you wouldn’t be knocked over.” Gusts of wind pelted the sand against her legs so hard she had bruises the next day. The wind continued to blow, and the fires continued to grow. Policemen used their car radios to inform residents to evacuate, but many residents felt they were safe from the fire. Because of the winds, it was hard to smell the fire, Finn said. It gave a false sense of security. Residents had no way of knowing how close the fires were until they could see them. By then, there was little time to escape. Finn and her family were able to evacuate, but many others didn’t make it. Some died trying to save their families. When Finn was allowed to return to her home two months later, it was destroyed. Dust, ash and rubble were all that remained of the home she lived in with her parents and niece. “It was surreal,” Finn said. “It still doesn’t feel right.” Finn returned to her property to recover any possessions that may have survived and connected instantly with the TBM volunteers there to help her. “This experience is horrible,” Finn said. “But these people [the TBM volunteers] are amazing humans. They have been a blessing in this entire experience, and I am so thankful and grateful to have them here helping. As we got through the day together, they became like family. I mean, they are just like extended members of our family now.” ‘There’s a lot of tears flowing’ TBM volunteers have been in Maui since Oct. 7, helping residents, like Finn, sort through the ash and rubble and look for possessions on their property. “There’s a lot of emotion that happens whenever they see their house for the first time,” said Curt Neal, TBM fire and flood coordinator. “When they left their house, it was fully intact. … And of course, they’ve seen their house from afar, that there appears to be nothing but ashes. But when they get up close, that’s when reality hits. So, there’s a lot of tears flowing.” Due to the condition of the properties and the potential of unsafe particles, volunteers must be fully suited in personal protective equipment from head to toe – white Tyvek suits, booties, a hood, goggles and a mask. The protective gear is meant to keep the unsafe particles away from the body, but it also blocks ventilation. It gets hot, almost suffocating, in the suits in the mid-80s temperature and no shade. The work is so physically demanding, the teams are required to rest 20 minutes for every 20 minutes of work. “Fire recovery efforts can be very demanding physically, emotionally and spiritually because we’re working with families that literally had to run from their homes to escape a fire,” said Gary Herndon, a TBM volunteer in Maui. “When they come back, oftentimes, there may be nothing left but a pillar or part of a cinder block wall. Trees, the vegetation, everything burned up. And so, it’s a work of love.” The volunteers were able to help Finn recover several items – ceramic bowls and plates, coins, some jewelry and her brother’s army medals, which she said was a blessing to discover. “I don’t believe we found a lot of things that are of great monetary value,” said TBM volunteer Ann Neal. “But what you find when you’re doing these ash outs is most people are not looking for those material things. They’re looking for things that mean something to them and their family that they can pass down through the generations.” Being at her property and seeing the destruction was overwhelming for Finn. But she found comfort looking to her left and seeing the same mountain that was always there and looking to her right and seeing the ocean and hearing the comforting sounds of the waves crash against the beach just as it always does. “The fire destroyed the material things in our lives, but left us with what is important – us,” Finn said. “Nobody in my family got injured or passed away, and we thank God for that every day.” This story appeared in the Baptist Standard. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aimee Freston writes for Texas Baptist Men. #NOVEMBER23

TROUP, TX (BP) – Preston Lindsey has worn a lot of hats in his lifetime. He’s been a logger, pipe-fitter, oil field roughneck, telephone lineman, and a shipping manager and transportation director for a grocery chain. He spent 15 years as an agriculture teacher with the Troup Independent School District before becoming its director of support services, a position he holds today. One thing the 65-year-old never expected to be was a pastor. Yet, since January 2023, he has worn that hat as well, pastoring at First Baptist Church of Troup where, through an emphasis on prayer, the church is experiencing new life. A native East Texan, Lindsey was raised in Mixon – a tiny community with fewer than 100 residents located seven miles southwest of Troup. He trusted Christ at age 10. He married Kelli, his high school sweetheart, attended Kilgore College, and later earned a degree from the University of Texas at Tyler. Lindsey still resides near Mixon on 50 acres with Kelli and two adult children, both with special needs. Another daughter and her family also live nearby. No stranger to church work, Lindsey served 40 years as a deacon at FBC Mixon, where he led dozens of mission trips. Following a mission trip to Mexico two decades ago, he realized he was serving himself more than serving God. “I realized then I wanted to serve Christ with all my heart,” he recalled. As he reached his 60s, he “really began to feel the call.” God was doing something. “He was leading me to be a pastor somewhere,” Lindsey said. “It pretty much scared me to death.” Meanwhile, FBC Troup lost its pastor in June 2022. Lindsey understood some of the circumstances. He knew many people at the church and was saddened by its struggles. One Monday morning, Lindsey drove by FBC Troup as usual on his way to work at the school district. He pulled into the church parking lot to pray for the church, its members and the community. Within 30 minutes, he received a call from one of the FBC Troup deacons asking him to fill the pulpit the following Sunday. He agreed, thinking the Lord might use him to help the deacons reorganize. He preached that Sunday and met with the deacons about the church’s issues. The next Monday morning, he once again found himself praying in the FBC Troup parking lot. “Lord, what are you asking me to do?” Lindsey recalled praying. Within 15 minutes, another FBC Troup deacon called to ask him to preach again the following Sunday. Lindsey agreed. The deacons then asked him to serve as interim pastor until things could be “straightened out.” Lindsey was astonished. Yes, he was a lifelong Bible student, but he had no formal seminary training. He had just gotten through studying Moses with the youth group at FBC Mixon. Was it time to step out in faith? “I wanted to serve the Lord,” he said. So he said yes. What followed is a “crazy story of what God’s doing,” Lindsey said. A matter of prayer If his ministry at FBC Troup was to honor God, Lindsey knew it had to begin in prayer – a truth he had learned at the 2021 Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting in nearby Flint. At that gathering, he said he heard “preacher after preacher” talking about how prayer had changed their lives and their churches. “I brought that focus to Troup,” he said. If his involvement at the church began with prayer in the parking lot, his time as pastor would also start with prayer. Whereas FBC Troup had once averaged around 120 in services, only 35-40 attended during the new pastor’s first month. The four deacons and Lindsey committed to pray, a commitment the church body, though small, also embraced. They focused on 2 Chronicles 7:14-16, Lindsey said, spending weeks on that passage. “We prayed in church services. We prayed as a deacon group. We really wanted to understand what humbling ourselves meant,” he said. The church held a 12-hour prayer vigil in 2022 and again this fall, with people signing up for time slots and coming to the church to pray. “After our church fell on our knees and asked the Lord for His direction, things happened,” Lindsey said. It started in the youth department. Tragedy brings unity “Our youth exploded,” Lindsey said, crediting youth director Matt Ranshaw and his wife, Brooke, for bringing new life to the group and encouraging mission trips. Like Lindsey, Ranshaw is bivocational, serving also as a policeman for Tyler schools. Students started sharing Christ with their friends. The youth brought their parents, friends and family to church. More than 170 kids and 35 volunteer workers participated in a recent Wednesday night youth group meeting, Lindsey said. That increase has spilled over into the church, which now averages 200 on Sundays. “We’ve had 60 baptisms so far this year,” Lindsey said. “We’ve seen amazing things through our youth and the leadership. All that is of the Holy Spirit.” Some of those amazing things started after a tragedy. Youth camp at Piney Woods in July 2022 started out as a struggle, Ranshaw said. Kids were not gelling. Groups kept to themselves. Ranshaw was discouraged. Wednesday of camp week, he called Lindsey and learned that the congregation had prayed for youth camp that evening. Things started changing quickly. Kids at camp started opening up that same night: students shared their struggles, some admitted to needing salvation, and others revealed brokenness. Camp ended on a spiritual mountaintop for many, and the students wanted to continue that when they got home. The youth group started growing in numbers and spiritual maturity, which would soon be tested. On Sept. 9, 2022, during the Troup homecoming football game, junior player Cooper Reid – Lindsey’s cousin’s son – collapsed on the field. Cooper had gone to camp with the FBC Troup kids, although he attended another church. Instead of the planned homecoming the following night, the school held a community prayer vigil for Cooper. FBC Troup kids attended, as did pastors, kids from other schools and community members. Ranshaw saw his students’ faith in action. “Sometimes you can teach kids all you want. Until they experience it, they won’t buy in,” he said, adding that he told his youth group, “Now you understand intercessory prayer.” The youth and church continued to pray for Cooper, who has since returned home and continues to make progress. Progress is real for Ranshaw, Lindsey and FBC Troup. And all the progress has come as God has continued to show Himself faithful through their continued prayers. This article appeared in the Southern Baptist TEXAN. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jane Rodgers is a correspondent for the Southern Baptist TEXAN (www.texanonline.net), newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. #NOVEMBER23

Over the past several years, Southern Baptists state conventions and associations have been taking significant steps to prevent abuse within their churches and provide support for survivors. While the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has faced criticism for its handling of sexual abuse cases in the past, many state conventions are now prioritizing abuse prevention and survivor care. Here is a sampling of the efforts made by various state groups to address this issue and protect the vulnerable within our congregations. Alabama Alabama Baptists have a webpage dedicated to helping churches be safer places, which includes resources to help churches create protection policies such as a screening form, permission for background and credit checks and a covenant of ministerial ethics. The convention also offers tools to implement the plan such as a sexual harassment policy, social media policy and computer and internet use policy. Additionally, the Alabama Baptists State Board of Missions offers a discount for churches to provide training and resources to prevent sexual abuse in churches. Alabama Baptists have also established a Sexual Abuse Task Force, which challenges church leaders to continue the work of preventing sexual abuse in churches. They have released a joint statement expressing their sadness and grief over reports of sexual abuse and how they were handled. Furthermore, Alabama law requires pastors, church staff and volunteers to report suspicions of child abuse. Florida The Florida Baptist Convention has established an affiliate relationship with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), a partnership that provides access to exclusive resources for child safety programs, training events from experts in the field and discounted admission to ECAP events. The Florida Baptist Convention has committed $30,000 in financial resources to aid churches that desire to develop robust abuse prevention. The Florida Baptist Convention has also adopted a special committee report regarding sexual abuse policies and procedures. The committee was authorized by the convention to address abuse allegation reporting, survivor care and prevention within the state convention. Additionally, the Florida Baptist Convention offers child protection training to raise awareness for abuse prevention and child protection. It also provides ministry leaders with resources to assist them in prevention and connect ECAP with area churches. Georgia The Georgia Baptist Mission Board offers a program called “Reduce the Risk,” which is designed to help churches train pastors, staff members and volunteer leaders every year with ease. This program is available through Ministry Grid, which is an online platform that provides training resources for churches. Georgia Baptists also provide free access to a Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. This training is designed to help churches prevent sexual abuse and care for survivors. Illinois The Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) encourages churches to study and establish effective policies for security and childcare, including check-in and check-out procedures. It also recommends background checks for all workers, including fingerprint checks of the FBI database and examination of the Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Illinois State Police. IBSA provides SafeChurch, a program designed to help churches prevent abuse and protect their members. The program includes training on recognizing and responding to abuse, creating a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults and developing policies and procedures to prevent abuse. IBSA is also part of the Caring Well Initiative, which is a unified call to action for churches to confront the abuse crisis. Kentucky The Kentucky Baptist Convention is offering training on sexual abuse prevention, response and care to church staff and lay leaders. The training covers child sexual abuse in Christian environments, understanding offender behaviors and the grooming process, appropriate prevention and responding to allegations, as well as understanding a trauma-informed response and care for survivors. The Kentucky Baptist Convention has also established a Sexual Abuse Task Force to help churches prevent and respond to sexual abuse. It has prepared a handbook to help churches prevent and respond to sexual abuse, with a particular emphasis on caring for survivors. Additionally, Kentucky Baptist leaders are responding to charges of sexual abuse in a number of Southern Baptist churches across the United States. Maryland and Delaware The Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware (BCM/D) approved a constitutional change that requires churches to take steps toward preventing sexual abuse and caring for survivors. The BCM/D also provides initial and ongoing training for staff, volunteers and church members that raises awareness and shares effective actions to prevent incidents. Pathways is a resource they use that provides churches with a clear and concise plan to prevent sexual abuse and care for survivors. The BCM/D is part of the Caring Well Initiative. The convention is also able to leverage faith-based and community initiatives which support several programs in mental health services, substance abuse prevention and addiction treatment at the national, state and local levels. North Carolina N.C. Baptists have created a guide to help survivors of sexual abuse. The guide provides information on how to determine the classification of the information that is shared with you, how to report the information, how to listen and provide counsel, how to train the leaders within your women’s ministry and how to refer to a counselor. They also provide resources to help churches by providing training to help churches recognize and prevent abuse, as well as care for those who have been affected by abuse. Pennsylvania and South Jersey The Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania and South Jersey is focusing on creating awareness of abuse issues and vulnerabilities in churches, as well as providing information and resources for churches to be compliant and safe. Some of the specific actions the network has taken include: Making it a requirement for all affiliated churches to have protocols in place for the security of minors and vulnerable adults, as already required by state law. Promoting local resources available to individuals and churches, such as Keep Kids Safe, Pennsylvania, which explains state laws and procedures governing child protection and the reporting of child abuse, and the PA Family Support Alliance, which provides education, support and training programs to make Pennsylvania safe for children. Offering ministry and care for those affected by abuse, recognizing the seriousness of these issues. In addition to these efforts, the Baptist Resource Network has also partnered with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to utilize resources such as the SBC’s guide on preventing abuse, which provides information on topics like preparing church leadership for disclosure by a sexual abuse victim, screening and training volunteers and more. This collaboration with the SBC allows the BRN to leverage the expertise and resources of a larger network in their efforts to prevent abuse in churches. Tennessee The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB) provides resources to help churches prevent abuse and care for survivors. These resources include training and education on how to recognize and prevent abuse, as well as how to care for those who have been affected by abuse. In 2019, TBMB developed a task force composed of Baptist physicians, therapists, student and children’s ministers and pastors to develop increased resources for Tennessee Baptist Churches. The information gathered by the task force is provided on the TBMB website as a starting place for church leaders. In November 2022, the Tennessee Baptist Convention presented a sexual abuse report, urging the adoption of best practices to prevent abuse. The task force was asked to evaluate the process of how the Tennessee Baptist Convention responds to allegations of sexual abuse and to evaluate the best practices to prevent abuse. Texas (SBTC) The Southern Baptist of Texas Convention (SBTC) offers Sexual Abuse Awareness Training, which is a 1.5-hour online course designed to help churches prevent sexual abuse and care for survivors. The SBTC also provides training and resources to help churches prevent sexual abuse and care for survivors The SBTC assists churches with awareness and education on the topic of sexual abuse prevention, specifically in ministry contexts. It offers resources and training to help churches prevent abuse and care for survivors. Texas (BGCT) The Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT) equips churches to combat sexual abuse through a proactive strategy of protection, reporting and caring well. Through a relationship with MinistrySafe, the BGCT provides numerous no-cost training opportunities to affiliated churches, covering topics including a 5-Part Safety System, Skillful Screening and more. Online resources explain when and how to report abuse and the biblical principles behind reporting. Texas Baptists Counseling Services provides financial support and referrals to its state-wide network of more than 250 licensed counselors for abuse survivors, their families and others impacted by instances of abuse across the Texas Baptists family. The BGCT has also produced a new 35-page sexual misconduct handbook outlining steps for abuse prevention and appointed a new Sexual Abuse Task Force to be comprised of executive board members, pastors, and licensed counselors to provide ongoing guidance in addressing the Convention’s abuse response. Virginia SBC Virginia provides resources to help churches prevent abuse and care for survivors. These resources include training and education on how to recognize and prevent abuse, as well as how to care for those who have been affected by abuse. One of the programs offered is Safe Church Training, which is a comprehensive program designed to help churches prevent abuse and protect their members. The training covers topics such as recognizing and responding to abuse, creating a safe environment for children and vulnerable adults, and developing policies and procedures to prevent abuse. SBC Virginia has also established a Sexual Abuse Task Force to help churches prevent and respond to sexual abuse. The task force provides resources and training to help churches create safe environments for their members. Editor’s note: This story was updated after initial publication to include information from the Baptist General Convention of Texas. #OCTOBER23

This summer, as thousands of kids, students and chaperones at Lifeway camps developed a greater understanding of missions and a heart for missionaries, they gave generously, entrusting their gifts for Great Commission purposes. As a result of this generosity, Ben Mandrell, president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, presented checks totaling $587,484.97 to International Mission Board (IMB) President Paul Chitwood and North American Mission Board (NAMB) President Kevin Ezell on Monday, Sept. 18, during the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee trustee meeting. “Every year, one of my favorite moments is presenting the checks to NAMB and IMB from thousands of campers from across the country who have put their money together to support Southern Baptist missions efforts,” Mandrell said. “I love missions, and our team at Lifeway is honored to help support our Southern Baptist missionaries.” This summer, as Lifeway hosted more than 111,000 kids and students at camps across the nation, representing more than 4,000 churches, it continued its partnership with the IMB and NAMB, providing missions discipleship and promoting missional giving among kids and students attending Lifeway camps. “One thing people may not realize is the amount of missions education we do at our Lifeway camps every summer,” Mandrell told SBC EC members. “Students who attend camp learn about a church planter who serves through NAMB and a people group we are praying for and trying to reach with the gospel through the work of IMB missionaries.” In 2023, campers, camp staff and adult chaperones at FUGE Camps, CentriKid, Student Life Camp and Student Life Kids Camp across the country gave $400,310.67 to the IMB and $187,174.31 to NAMB. “Tomorrow’s missionaries, pastors and ministry leaders are in our churches today. And we must do everything we can to invest in them and raise them up so they are ready to answer the call,” Ezell said. “Specifically, to this year’s campers and their leaders, I want to say thank you for your generosity.” International missions FUGE Camps, CentriKid, Student Life Camp and Student Life Kids Camp all emphasized international missions partners through the IMB. Kids and students gave to the IMB through Lifeway camps, knowing their gifts would help fund efforts to reach unreached people groups, specifically supporting the work of missionaries serving in Panama working with the Emberá people. The Emberá people of Panama are one of more than 300 unreached people groups in the Americas. They live in remote river communities in the vast jungle between Panama and Colombia. Throughout the week, students learned about the Emberá people and culture and how IMB missionaries Kenny and Cheryl share the Gospel with them. And through daily videos at camp, they met some Emberá who have come to know Jesus, including Cenaida and her son Santiago. “We have formed a missionary team of local believers who have a heart to reach the Emberá for Christ,” Cheryl explained in a video that played each week at CentriKid and Student Life Kids Camp. “Teams like this are the reason people like Santiago know Jesus.” Through the missions emphasis in videos, teaching and prayer, Lifeway camps challenged students to consider how the Emberá could know and love God if no one told them, if they didn’t have access to the Gospel. By giving to the missions offering, these students are helping reach the lost for Jesus as God uses these gifts to change lives for eternity. North American missions Alongside this international focus, FUGE Camps and CentriKid also had a North American missions emphasis for kids and students each week at camp. Throughout the week, campers learned how missionaries Vergil and Kelsey Brown, along with their family, are planting a church in Portland, Ore. “The Lord made it clear to us that there were other communities in Portland that needed a new, healthy church,” Vergil explained in a video for campers. So, their family moved to Portland. “We wanted to be a role model of when the Lord asks you to go, you go,” Kelsey said. As campers heard the Browns’s story of faithfulness through daily missions videos, they were able to associate the faces of a specific family with the offerings they would be giving—offerings that will help more families like the Browns plant more churches in more places to reach more people with the Gospel. Giving for Gospel impact “Providing an opportunity to give at camp allows kids to learn they can be a part of the work God is doing all around the world,” Henry Dutton, CentriKid manager said. “Giving allows them to engage with God.” At the end of each week of camp, kids and students had the opportunity to give to the missions offering. “This partnership affords us a strategic opportunity to invest in the next generation of missionaries,” said Andy Pettigrew, IMB’s NextGen mobilization manager. “We know camp is one of the most important experiences in the life of a teenager. It is incredibly exciting to know that international missions is in front of them day by day to help them catch God’s vision for His purposes around the world.” This week, the IMB and NAMB reaped the financial fruit of this summer’s weekly offerings. “I hope students left camp knowing God is at work in their lives and at work all around the world,” said Justin McDowell, Student Life Camp event specialist. “Whether it be in their local communities today or in a mission field one day, I hope students’ hearts were moved to love others and share the Gospel.” These students were inspired to give because of the stories they heard of faithful missionaries and redeemed souls. Not only do these stories give students a vision for giving to missions but also a vision for going on mission. “I can’t imagine how many seeds are planted of future church planters, missionaries and church leaders who will one day start a brand-new Gospel work because they saw it demonstrated at camp,” Mandrell said. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marissa Postell Sullivan is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources. #OCTOBER23

PRUDENVILLE – Our church is tucked away in the pines, off the beaten path of M 55, and is commonly known as ”The Little Church in The Woods”. We talk about the church as a building, structure, or a location, but we all know the church is really people like you and me. People who have believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, and risen from the dead. Pathway Baptist Church is a loving church that has a heart to reach the lost with the Gospel. The church is active in many evangelistic outreaches and ministries: The Lions Den addiction ministry, the Roscommon County Jail Ministry, Christian Motorcycle Association, Tract Ministry, Children’s Ministry, and Video Ministry, (pbcupnorth.com). But for more than a decade the Outdoor Service and Dinner on The Grounds has been our largest outreach. An outdoor service is nothing new, Christians have been worshiping, singing, praising and praying to the Lord, and preaching his Holy Word in the grand cathedral of God’s creation for generations. No man made structure can match it. It’s been our experience that many folks are more likely to attend an outdoor service with an invitation. It is always our highest attended day of the year. The logistics of an outdoor service and dinner on the grounds puts the church at Pathway to work, and to work together. It is not glorious work, or work that is even recognized by most. There is weed eating, trimming, raking, mowing, power washing, cleaning, power cords, sound systems, amplifiers, mics (checked once, twice, three times), praying, and trusting God for good weather, food shopping, food preparation, food ordering, and serving each one with gratitude because they have come, at our invitation, to know the Savior through the hearing of the gospel, believing on him, and seeing him in us. What a privilege. Serving a good dinner after the service gives an opportunity for names to be spoken and remembered, friendships to be made and deepened, and personal ministry to happen as God's goodness and warm sun shines on us all. We have seen many come to faith in Christ, some follow through with baptism, church membership, and discipleship. The annual Outdoor Service and Dinner on the Grounds brings a smile to our faces here at Pathway. It is nothing new, but it is always a blessing. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Jeff and Judy Tuttle have served at Pathway Baptist Church, Prudenville, MI. beginning in 2009. They have four children and 10 grandchildren. #OCTOBER23