Search Results

LANSING – In Luke 15 we encounter a scene where the Pharisees and scribes complain of Jesus’ association with tax collectors and sinners (15:1–2). Jesus having already encountered this criticism (5:27–32 Matt 9:11; Mark 2:16), uses three parables to serve both as a defense of His ministry to sinners, and as an appeal to the Pharisees and scribes to join the celebration of all who gain entrance into the kingdom of God. While the three parables are connected by a similar theme (the joy of the lost being found), the third one, ‘The Prodigal Son’ usually grabs the bulk of our attention. But why? Jesus starts this parable off with the statement, “A man had two sons,” immediately after his introduction and without any real explanation of why, he says, the younger son came to his father requesting his inheritance. A father’s inheritance was something he passed on to his children upon his death. Thus, the younger son’s request for his inheritance could be seen as equivalent to saying to his father, “I wish you were dead!” Since it would seem harsh for a son to wish for his father's death (especially in the case of a father who is loving and very caring to his children), it is probably more than likely that the son intended to communicate his desire to no longer be under His father’s authority. More astonishing than the son’s request is the father’s response as without hesitation he honors his son’s request. The father figures out what his inheritance would have been if he were dead and then the father gives his sons’ (both) their inheritance (v. 12). Upon receiving his inheritance, soon after the younger son packed up all his belongings and decided that it was best for him to venture out on his own into a distant country. But why would a good or loving father let his son go, knowing that his son would no longer be in his presence or underneath his protection? Simple, because a loving father loves you enough to let you leave. When things don’t go well for the youngest son, as they often don’t when we venture away from the presence and protection of a loving father, he returns. Yet, when his son returns the father does not reject his son. In fact, the reaction of the father when his son returns, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him v. 20). At the first sight of his son, without his son having to say a word, the father knows, the world and its pleasures will tear young people apart, and his son has not been exempt. To relieve him of the world and its cruelty, the father’s compassion is communicated to his son as he not only welcomes him home with compassion, but follows it with a celebration. Why? Because a loving father not only loves you enough to let you leave, but he also loves you enough to let you return. As we shift our focus from the younger to the elder son, we see him at work, somewhere on the property of his father. As the elder boy is coming in from the field, he hears celebration. Puzzled, he sought information from one of the servants. The servant informs him of his younger brother's return, and the celebration in his honor. The older brother becomes angry (v. 28) and even refuses to join the party. Not sure why this is a problem, even the father seems perplexed once he learns that his older son is not coming in. So, the father goes out, and pleads with his son to come in and join the celebration. Suddenly, in a moment of overwhelming emotion the older son expresses his objections to his father’s actions, for he feels overlooked, even under appreciated by his father. Now to the older son’s credit, he did not remove himself from his father’s presence or protection even though he had been given his father’s provision (v. 12). However, he illuminates his own self-righteousness and then further tries to validate his anger by telling his father what he had never done for him, “you never even gave me a young goat…” But his father with sadness written all over his face, compassion gripping his heart, opens his hands stretching his arms towards his son and says, “all that I have belongs to you.” Thus, the father further demonstrates the same love to his eldest son as he has to his younger. However, the father needs his oldest son to know that he loves them both equally, regardless of their recent decisions for his presence, his protection and/or provisions for them. Furthermore, the father will not dismantle the party already in progress even if it means losing his oldest son. Why? Because the father has already made his choice, for a loving father chooses both of his sons and what belongs to him belongs to them. But why? Because ultimately a loving father loves you enough to let you reject him or return, but he also loves you enough to let you choose. This Father’s Day will you choose to accept the love and compassion of a loving Heavenly Father choosing to accept His presence, protection, and provision over your life? Dads, this Father’s Day, will you and I choose to look like the good and loving Father that our God is as we seek to love our children, all of them, unconditionally whether they remain in our presence, protection, and provision? And Fathers, will we be wise and loving enough as good dads, to let our children choose? God Bless you men and Happy Father’s Day! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Coye L. Bouyer is the founding pastor of Kingdom Life Church in Lansing, MI where he has served since March of 2010. Pastor Bouyer firmly believes that he was not only called to Preach the Gospel as part of the process of reconciliation of man to God, but also using any platform as a bridge of reconciliation of man to man, and even more so amongst the brethren. Pastor Bouyer and his lovely wife Keturah (Gen. 25:1) have been married four over 20 years and have four children; Sierra, Seth, Cayla and Coye II. #JUNE23

NASHVILLE (BP) – As the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting (June 12-13 in New Orleans) approaches, many Southern Baptist pastors and leaders are sharing the reasons they are glad to be part of the Convention using the hashtag #WhySBC. Matt Capps, senior pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, N.C., made the first video, where he pointed to thousands of churches plants, fully funded missionaries and seminary students as reasons to be encouraged about the Convention. “All of these are ways that we work together to reach every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state and every nation,” Capps said. “That is why I’m a Southern Baptist.” Capps told Baptist Press about his decision to spark the hashtag. “I was talking with some pastors in North Carolina and all of us lamented that the tone and rhetoric of the conversation online trends towards division and hatefulness as we get closer to the annual meeting,” Capps said in a statement to Baptist Press. SBC President Bart Barber, pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, made his own video under the hashtag. “At the opening session this year for annual meeting in New Orleans, is going to consist of a commissioning service for the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board,” Barber said in the twitter video released May 22. “We’re going to have the opportunity to celebrate the appointment of 92 new missionaries who are going to be commissioned at that service, and we’re going to be celebrating 10,000 church plants that the North American mission board has been able to achieve. “When you are Southern Baptist, you come to the point that you sort of take that kind of thing for granted, but that is amazing and wonderful and world-changing.” Capps told BP it can be easy to focus on the controversy in SBC life rather than the work God is doing. “If you only knew Southern Baptists from what you read on social media, you might think the Convention is more focused on personal campaigns and philosophical conflicts rather than the Great Commission,” he said. “However, the vast majority of Southern Baptists are encouraged by the work of the Convention and are hopeful for the future. The majority of Southern Baptists remain steadfast in stewarding this sacred effort to fulfill the mission given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s time to stop arguing on social media and start working together. “The #WhySBC videos came out of this desire. It wasn’t an elitist campaign, I am a local church pastor. My aim was simple, do what I can to change the tone of the conversation.” Clint Pressley, senior pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., also reflected on his personal experience of the way Southern Baptists impacted him in his early ministry. “I loved people, I loved Jesus and I loved the Bible … I didn’t know how to get those three together,” Pressley said in a video. “I didn’t know how to get those three together. Southern Baptists taught me how to do that.” In response to the videos posted by pastors, others in the Convention were retweeting and posting their own content supporting the sentiments of the videos. Tristan Martin, pastor of Alameda Baptist Church, Norman, Okla., simply posted a selfie holding copies of the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 and the IMB resource “Lottie Moon: a life of radical obedience.” Barber concluded that no matter the negatives or conflict that may exist in the SBC, the collective missional heart of churches is what keeps the convention alive. “God has chosen, in spite of whatever faults we have and no matter what our weaknesses are, He has chosen to use this family of churches to share the Gospel all around the world,” Barber said. “That’s the heart of FBC Farmersville. That’s why we’re thrilled to be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention, partnering with you to share the God news of Jesus Christ all around the world.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer. #JUNE23

NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force says it is preparing to launch a ministry database website as ordered by messengers to the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The website will not be connected to Faith-Based Solutions or Guidepost Solutions in any way, according to a May 25 release on the group’s website. “After listening and giving careful consideration, the Task Force determined, in consultation with the Credentials Committee, to move away from Faith Based Solutions (the Christian-led division of Guidepost) as the provider and manager of the website,” the update said. The group also announced that during the site’s initial launch, it will utilize only the first three criteria in the definition of “credibly accused.” ARITF Chairman Marshall Blalock told Baptist Press task force members are planning to have the website online when they give their report at the SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans on June 13. The names that have been vetted from categories one, two and three will be on the site at that time. “Name, alias, birth date, offense, location of offense, date of offense and a photo will be on the site in a searchable database. It will be available for public search without a password or user account,” Blalock said. Related to the fourth category, the update said, “The ARITF is not abandoning category four. We are, however, committed to implementing each category once it is fully developed. We will continue to work closely with churches, leaders, survivors and experts to thoroughly address concerns and ensure that the development of this category is as effective as possible in protecting all parties.” The fourth point of the credibly accused definition deals with the “Determination by an independent third party according to a preponderance of evidence,” according to the update. The group said the following statistics are among their rationale for the continued work to find a way to include the fourth criteria: 2 out of 3 sexual assaults go unreported. (RAINN) Out of every 1000 sexual assaults, only 25 offenders will ever be convicted. (RAINN) A male abuser who molests boys has an average of 150 victims. (Emory University) A male abuser who molests girls has an average of 52 victims. (Emory University) Only 16% of child victims ever tell about their abuse. (NCAC) At the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting, messengers passed the following definition for those considered to be credibly accused of sexual abuse: “A credibly accused pastor, denominational worker, or ministry employee or volunteer includes one who has confessed in a non-privileged setting, who has been convicted in a court of law, or who has had a civil judgment rendered against them. Additionally, an independent third party who has been hired by any church or other Baptist body, may determine, by preponderance of the evidence following an inquiry, that a pastor, denominational worker, or ministry employee or volunteer is credibly accused. A ‘preponderance of the evidence’ is the legal standard required for a civil judgment.” In the May 25 update, the group clarified the definition of sexual abuse that will be used on the ministry check site, saying, “the term ‘sexual abuse’ is defined as any sexual act that could result in a criminal conviction or civil liability in the jurisdiction where it occurred.” Blalock told BP he had been encouraged by the cooperative spirit he had encountered from many Southern Baptists to rid churches of sexual abuse. “The passion of our people to prevent sexual abuse has been one of the encouraging blessings of serving on this task force,” he said. While he admits the task is great, he believes partnership is key. “It’s the heart of our people to cooperate,” he said. “It will take each church sharing information to help every other congregation identify abusers and protect their people.” The update said moving away from Guidepost is a primary reason it has taken a year for the ministry check website to be prepared. “… [T]his meant dividing the work related to Ministry Check between multiple providers,” it said. “This added complexity to our assignment, but our goal was cooperation. In order to encourage unity and the widest possible cooperation among our churches in combating abuse, we sought to remove every stumbling block.” It also sought to address “false narratives” being spread about the group’s work. “There is a narrative being promoted that these steps were taken in response to threats about churches or conventions withholding Cooperative Program funds. The ARITF agreed to pursue these changes for one reason: to have the widest possible participation by our churches to stop sexual abuse,” the update said. The group said understanding the timing of their decisions is important, “It is also worth noting that the ARITF met to make these changes before any public announcements were made by any state convention.” Blalock said the ministry check website will have information about prevention including a toolbox for local churches when it debuts in June. Last year, messengers in Anaheim approved the creation of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force, including the ground rules for the group’s work and how members are selected: The task force operates on a year-to-year basis and must be granted an additional year by messengers at subsequent annual meetings as needed. Vacancies on the task force are appointed by the SBC president at the time of the vacancy. This is the full text of what messengers passed related to the creation and ongoing work of the ARITF: “That the messengers to the 2022 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention approve the creation of an Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF), authorized to operate for one year, to be renewable by each subsequent annual convention as needed. The ARITF is to be appointed by the president elected by the 2022 Convention, who will also appoint its leadership. Any vacancies will be appointed by the SBC president at the time of the vacancy. The ARITF and its work are to be funded by the Executive Committee for the first year from the sexual abuse reforms allocation. The Executive Committee will fund the ARITF’s expenditures and recommendations, pursuant to the recommendations adopted by the Messengers, the approval of which may not be withheld. The ARITF will work collaboratively with entity heads to recommend funding mechanisms for reforms for following years. The ARITF will report to each annual session of the Convention that it is in existence.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Porter serves as Associate Vice President for Convention News at the SBC Executive Committee. #JUNE23

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The announcement that three churches will appeal the decision to deem them not in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention is a key point in a larger discussion likely to happen when Southern Baptists convene in New Orleans this summer. On June 13, messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting will vote on whether to uphold the decision to withdraw fellowship from Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky; Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida; and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. The SBC’s Executive Committee (on recommendations from the Credentials Committee) deemed the churches not in friendly cooperation in February. Two of the churches — Fern Creek and Saddleback — were disfellowshipped due to concerns over women serving as pastors. The action regarding Freedom Church stems from reports it did not properly handle an allegation of sexual abuse. Historic vote “SBC bylaws plainly outline the process for churches determined to be not in cooperation with the Convention to appeal their cases before messengers cast their votes,” David Sons, chairman of the Executive Committee, said in a statement May 16. “Since this is the first time in SBC history for this particular item of business to come before the Convention,” he noted, “it’s important for everyone coming to New Orleans to be prepared and informed about the process.” The SBC Credentials Committee announced in a statement May 16 that the Committee on Order of Business will consider the appeals during the miscellaneous business portion of the afternoon session on that Tuesday. A representative from the appealing church and a representative of the Credentials Committee or EC will be allowed to speak to the question of whether to sustain the decision to deem the churches not in friendly cooperation. Founded by pastor Rick Warren 43 years ago, Saddleback was one of the SBC’s largest churches before its removal in February. In 2021, the church ordained three female staff members, resulting in a review by the Credentials Committee. At the 2022 annual meeting in Anaheim, the committee initially proposed waiting to make a decision on Saddleback’s relationship with the SBC until they could gain more clarity on the use of the title “pastor.” After debate on the convention floor, including an appearance by Warren, the committee withdrew its recommendation. Warren, who has given five reasons for Saddleback’s appeal, retired in 2022 and Andy Wood succeeded him as lead pastor. Wood’s wife, Stacie, is a teaching pastor at Saddleback. Earlier this month, the church announced Katie Edwards, one of the women ordained in 2021, will serve as campus pastor at its Lake Forest location. At Fern Creek, Linda Barnes Popham has served as pastor since 1993. A closer look at structure, governing documents Bart Barber, president of the SBC, devoted a recent Twitter video to the larger issue of how the SBC’s structure and governing documents impact the process of determining which churches are in friendly cooperation with the convention. Article III of the SBC constitution says that to be considered cooperating, a church needs to have a faith and practice that is closely identified with the Baptist Faith and Message, Barber noted. “The thing is, nobody knows what ‘closely identified with’ means in terms of actually applying it to the case of individuals churches,” he said. Furthermore, Barber said, recently revamped responsibilities for the Credentials Committee require it to “fill in the blanks” on what kind of relationship a church needs to have with the Baptist Faith and Message in order to be in cooperation with the SBC. Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message states, “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” Barber said he is in favor of motions likely to be proposed in New Orleans to review the constitution and bylaws and suggest changes with regard to what cooperation means in the SBC, and also to review the Baptist Faith and Message to see if updates or clarifications are needed. He is also in favor of allowing messengers to vote on a proposed amendment to the constitution that would disqualify from friendly cooperation a church that affirms, appoints, or employs a woman as a pastor of any kind. Barber recently announced the program for the annual meeting includes more time for convention business, including discussion of proposed motions. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meredith Flynn is the managing editor for Illinois Baptist. #JUNE23

LOUP CITY, NE (BP) – They are two skills anyone can learn but many don’t – listening and trusting. Ryan Durham’s life has given him experience in both, and he uses them as pastor of Calvary Church, a replanted congregation barely seven months old. Before becoming a pastor, Durham was a trucker. Most of that was over-the-road, where he would cover all 48 contiguous states and be gone from his family for up to seven weeks. His introduction to that life started was he was 16 years old, and in a manner he says “wasn’t perfectly legal.” “I grew up in Texas but would spend summers with my uncle in Colorado,” he said. “He hauled cattle and liked to take a short nap before he got home so he wouldn’t be tired when he got there. He taught me how to drive the rig.” One day his uncle crawled in the back to nap while Durham waited in the passenger seat. A minute later his uncle’s head popped out from behind the curtain that separated the cab from the bed and asked what Durham was doing. “I said I was waiting on him and he said this would be a good time to head to the house. Then he said, ‘It’s that way.’” Durham hopped into the driver’s seat, but was aware he actually wasn’t alone. “I knew he was back there sitting behind the curtain. About five miles from the house, he popped his head back out and said, “OK, stop the truck. If your aunt sees you driving, she’s going to kill me.” Durham listened and learned. His uncle gave him the opportunity to put those lessons into action, albeit with 50,000 pounds of cattle in tow. Those principles have factored in to his role at Calvary. Durham and his wife, Brandi, began attending Calvary Church in Englewood, Colo., in 2015. Calvary had been founded in 1952, but by 2009 was near extinction. A desire to return to its roots with a focus on church planting led to establishing other churches in the state and beyond. Still a trucker, Durham felt a call to ministry. He began attending online classes through Gateway Seminary just as Calvary began a cohort training experience for those exploring a call to plant and replant churches. “They took a chance on me,” said Durham, “a blue-collar truck driver working 90 hours a week.” In 2019, living in the Denver area had become expensive and the Durhams were considering a move. An elder at their church suggested Kearney, Neb., where they could get some more experience with a Calvary church plant there. COVID extended those plans, leading to a longer stay in Kearney. So did their daughter, who still had another year of high school to go, when she was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Nebraska-Kearney. “We were like, well, we thought we’d be here for two years and now we’re here for a minimum of four,” Durham said. “We didn’t know what the Lord was doing, honestly.” One day at a yard sale he started talking to a young lady who mentioned a struggling church in Loup City, 45 minutes away, that needed a pastor. Durham connected her with Calvary leaders back in Colorado. Those conversations led to Durham’s meeting with the Loup City church in May 2022. The initial plan was to preach once a month during the summer “and then kind of see where things went,” Durham said. His and Brandi’s first visit to a midweek Bible study brought an instant connection. “The first question I asked was why they loved that church and everyone who was there,” Durham said. “Instead of talking about the things the church had done in the past, what they loved about the building and things like that, they talked about the community and how much they loved it. “They had kind of lost their way on really preaching the Gospel to the community and they knew that needed to happen. They were sheep without a shepherd.” Before the meeting was over, the couple had promised to serve the entire month of June. They haven’t left. The Durhams are a blended family and know about patience, working with others and how that can develop, or fracture, trust. In a town like Loup City – population just over 1,000 – people know what’s going on with others. Grace Bible was relaunched last October as Calvary Church, Loup City, and attendance has grown from the dozen or so last summer to about twice that. Durham is talking to a young man who is considering baptism. Other measures of growth come from local police telling Durham who they don’t see as much because of Calvary’s impact on the community. He’s still a trucker, but hauls fuel to a truck stop only 45 minutes away. Some days he’ll switch off from the fuel tanker and hook up a grain trailer to take grain to an ethanol plant. His new boss supports him as a pastor, giving Durham Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays off. Currently, Durham is looking for a job in Loup City to be closer to the church. Meanwhile, he’ll keep counseling over the phone while driving and listening to recorded commentaries. He’s working through one about the Book of Ruth that he recorded himself reading so he could listen to it again while driving. There are other aspects of being a pastor he says he’s learned from Mark Hallock, lead pastor at Calvary, Englewood, and Mark Clifton, director of Church Replanting and Rural Strategy for the North American Mission Board. “There’s a term, tactical patience,” he said. “There may be a hundred reasons a church is dying, and we can’t fix them all in a week. I learned that a lot with my family as we grew together. “That’s helped me a lot, moving into the replant world.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is national correspondent for Baptist Press. #JUNE23

NASHVILLE (BP) – As the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention, I am excited to share with you the various ways we are committed to coming alongside Southern Baptist churches like yours. Our goal is to help you think biblically about the cultural issues of our time by providing resources that are rooted in the Gospel. Our commitment to assisting Southern Baptist churches is rooted in the unwavering truth of God’s Word and His gracious Gospel. We strive to be a trusted voice for you and your congregation as you navigate the challenging issues of our day. I encourage you to explore our website and take advantage of these valuable resources. Thank you for allowing us to serve your church and represent your interests on Capitol Hill, before the courts, and in culture. Here are some items that I think you will find particularly helpful: Light Magazine Our in-house magazine provides in-depth articles, interviews, and thought-provoking content on a range of topics relevant to Southern Baptist churches. I encourage you to explore our past issues where you can access content on pursing a culture of life, human dignity around the world, and being salt and light in the public square. Policy We have identified four key policy areas where our Commission is uniquely positioned to provide a distinctly Baptist voice in the public square on behalf of our convention. Our team continually produces insightful content and analysis in these areas, enabling you to stay informed and engaged. Visit our website to explore the extensive resources available in these policy areas: Religious Liberty, Life, Human Dignity, and Marriage and Family. Christian Ethics Primer Series We understand that navigating complex moral and ethical issues can be challenging. That’s why we have developed our Christian Ethics Primer Series, which provides concise yet comprehensive guides on a variety of topics. These primers serve as valuable resources for you and your congregation. Digital Downloads Over the years, we have compiled a library of digital downloads that cover a wide range of subjects, from guidance regarding religious liberty to cultural engagement strategies. These resources are readily accessible on erlc.com, allowing you to equip yourself and your church community with relevant information and practical tools. The Importance of Bylaws The ERLC worked with Alliance Defending Freedom to create a resource guide for churches to update their bylaws in light of challenges related to sexual orientation and gender identity lawsuits. Included are the five areas where churches can provide clear frameworks outlining their faith and religious convictions to protect themselves so that they can continue in ministry that is faithful to God’s Word and brings about Gospel transformation. Download your copy here. A Theological Framework of Sex and Gender We live in an age experiencing the disastrous effects of the sexual revolution. Confusion over basic concepts such as man, woman, and marriage are but the latest divergence between a culture committed to radical individual autonomy and a church committed to Scripture’s teaching. Local congregations daily face questions of gender dysphoria, same-sex unions, and on basic concepts of what it means to be a man or woman. The ERLC seeks to equip pastors and ministry leaders to answer those questions in light of Scripture’s clear teachings with resources like these and future projects. Download your copy here. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brent Leatherwood is president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. #JUNE23

PLYMOUTH – Throughout our childhood years, we’re asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” In my generation, the idea of being wives and mothers as our preferred career was looked down upon. Call me old-fashioned, but for me, my dream job has always been to be the best wife, mother, and grandma that I could be. I’m not saying it’s a must for all women, but it was for me. As for being a wife Mike and I will be celebrating our 45th anniversary in August. Seminars and studies on marriage benefited us both, but I didn’t get a B.A., Masters, or PhD in it. Not every woman wants or can have children naturally. There was a time when I couldn’t conceive. Many suffer that heartache. God’s Word has several examples. During that time, Mike’s 9 yr-old brother came to live with us. We weren’t officially foster parents, but experienced something similar. Later, God gave us 2 sons of our own—no instructions—no warranties. I tried to be excellent and intentional. It was easier when they were younger. Once the teen years with sports and activities came, it was a challenge. As an empty nester, I thought of so many things I’d done poorly, and what I’d do differently. Most every mother I know thinks that, too. There are no do-overs raising your children. Except…. Being a GRANDMA!!! It’s so much more fun! What a gift from our heavenly Father! What an opportunity and responsibility! God blessed us with 4 grands: Iris (14), Ethan (12), and twins Silas & Abel (15 months). When the first 2 were little, we taught them Bible stories, praise songs, life lessons, and prayed. Again, it’s more challenging as they age. God gave me the idea to make a daily journal for Iris’s 11th birthday. The introduction was my testimony and a challenge to write underneath each verse what God’s Word was saying. Nearly every visit she’d show me her journal. My prayer was it would get her started in daily one-on-one time with God. My “grandma heart” nearly burst when I learned she had Ethan join her in that special time every night. So, of course, he got a handwritten journal for his 11th birthday. The twins are under my “grandma-care” 2 days a week. What a privilege/responsibility to help bring them up in the Lord! I pray I will teach them they are truly miracles (That’s another story). What are some ways you are intentionally pouring into your grandchildren? It’s not too late to start. None of us are perfect wives, mothers, grandmas. Yet, our heavenly Father gives us new mercies every morning. We can’t change the past, but we are blessed with opportunities today to show our families love and purposefully invest in their lives. That includes our children’s friends, too. Many of them come from broken homes. Recently, a friend told our son that he loved being at our house. We showed him what a “real family” could look like. And all I thought I was doing was letting our sons have friends over… a LOT. Our lives are living examples. May God show us through His love how we are to love the people He brings into our lives. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shar Durbin is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She and her husband, Mike, have served the Lord together in various forms of ministry: as pastor & wife, missionaries in Brazil, associational ministry, and now serving BSCM churches. She enjoys using her gift of encouragement through conversation as well as making cards. #MAY23

SHELBY TOWNSHIP – A mother is someone who guides, nurtures, and corrects. A mother loves unconditionally and wants the best for her children. In a similar way, a spiritual mother offers these same things. A few years ago, God brought a woman into my life who helped me through a difficult time. Since then, she has been mentoring me and guiding me along my own journey. She has truly become a spiritual mother to me. She guides me when I need godly advice, she loves me as I am, and she points things out that I may be blind to. Her deep love for God and strong relationship with Him is what drew me to her. She knows just how to ask the right questions that the Holy Spirit then uses in my life to teach me the things He wants me to learn. When I think of her, I am reminded of the passage in Titus where Paul is teaching Titus how to lead the church. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. Titus 2: 3-5 (NLT) After experiencing this type of relationship in my own life, I recognized the need for mentoring relationships within the women of my church. A few years ago, I began to feel overwhelmed by trying to disciple and to help meet the needs of many women in our growing church family. I began praying about how a mentor ministry could be developed and for God to lead the way. When we surrender our plans to God, He is faithful to take the lead and show us exactly what His plan is! He confirmed this desire of my heart during time with God one day when I was reading in Numbers about Moses and how he was tired of carrying the load of all the Israelites. In Numbers 11:14 Moses tells God, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.” (NIV) I completely understood what Moses was saying here. This was the exact thing I had been praying to God about. I couldn’t keep up with all the needs of the women of our church. I am only one person. Continuing in Numbers 11:16 God responds to Moses, “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.” (NIV) I don’t think God could have spoken any clearer to me! Three years into this ministry, and it is still going strong! We have seen much fruit, not only from the women who are being mentored, but also within the spiritual mothers as well. When you mentor, you grow right alongside your mentee. Have you ever experienced a relationship like this before? Do you know of someone who could use a little encouragement and guidance in their life? If God has put someone in your life and you feel led to walk alongside them, reach out to them. Chances are, God is already preparing their heart for you. Or maybe you are someone who longs to have a spiritual mother. If this is the case, begin praying for God to send the exact person you need. He doesn’t want us to do life alone. God created us for community, and we are to encourage each other in our faith and help each other grow. 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! #MAY23

DETROIT – Many days I feel like one of those memes with a crazed-looking woman that says something like “I’m just over here trying to keep my kids alive, drink enough water, exercise, read my Bible, pay my bills, and dig myself out of a massive pile of laundry”. I can get overwhelmed thinking about all the things God’s given me a passion for, all the people He’s placed in my life, all the needs around me. Especially as a church planting wife, my eyes can be easily drawn to the things that should be done or improved. Psalm 27:4 has brought me back from the brink of crazy too many times to count. “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.” I love the simplicity of this one desire that trumps all else: to dwell with God, gaze upon His beauty, and come to God to seek/meditate/inquire. It feels like a breath of fresh air to my soul to lay down the laundry, pause my kids’ ministry prep, and sit at His feet. In Matthew 16 the disciples were talking about how they forgot to bring bread with them. Jesus says “Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand and how many baskets you collected? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many large baskets you collected?” I find myself asking the same question. “Don’t I understand yet?” My God is provider. He is sovereign. In each season of motherhood we need to find creative ways to spend intimate time at His feet asking Him to show us again who He is, what He’s like, what He’s doing, where we’re headed, and to help our hearts understand the implications of that, that we might rightly and fully trust Him. Watching for God’s unwavering faithfulness and promise-keeping throughout scripture is the best dose of encouragement for our hearts in the thick of motherhood. Seeing God be the same throughout history and move powerfully over and over again gives us great confidence that He will do it again in our lives. Our God can feed the 5,000, cares for the lilies and sparrows, raised Himself from the dead, etc. Will He not surely take care of us, our kids, and our ministries? Later on in Matthew 16, “Jesus turned and told Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.’” This is another question I ask myself regularly. Am I thinking about God’s concerns or human ones? Am I living in light of my future hope in Christ or do I have tunnel vision on my tasks for today? I often need to let someone in on my craziness. When I feel scattered and overwhelmed, I know I need to humble myself, let my community see where I’m at and encourage and pray for me. It can be uncomfortable to start letting others see that we don’t have it together, but it is a beautiful thing to watch our vulnerability give others the freedom to share their struggles too. When the overwhelm sets in: Find a way to sit at Jesus’ feet and gaze upon His beauty. Remember who God is. Count the ways He’s been faithful throughout scripture, history, and your own life. “Don’t I understand yet?” Pray for God to reorient your eyes to your future hope, that you might live in light of that and not be distracted by the things that won’t matter in light of it. Remember you are not alone. God has given us a new family: brothers and sisters to walk with as we navigate this broken world together as those who have experienced redemption and restoration through the gospel. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alyssa Fleet has been involved in three church plants with her husband Ben Fleet, who is lead Pastor of One Eight Church in the Downriver area, south of Detroit. She is a mother of two and is passionate about discipleship, building community, and sharing her life and the gospel with her neighbors. Alyssa has a heart for missions and church planting and feels so blessed to get to live this church planting life by God’s grace. #MAY23

PLYMOUTH – Women enter motherhood in many different ways including fostering, adoption, miscarriage, and spiritual influence. Just mentioning the name Mother brings a flood of memories to my mind. Childhood memories of how proud I was of my beautiful Mother and how I wanted to be like her, and look like her. How she lovingly cared for me the many times I was ill, or just skinned my knees and needed a “special” bandage. I will never forget the big smiles and applause I received whenever I accomplished something challenging in my life, and especially how she faithfully taught me that Jesus loved me and died for me. My experience of being a mother looked much different than the mother of my memories. She was so feminine, graceful and hospitable, and taught her daughters how to be a lady. I had the privilege of rearing two pretty amazing sons. When their tiny little hands closed around my finger for the first time all the discomfort of being pregnant and giving birth to them quickly faded away into some misty memory as they captured my heart. In the beginning, being a “boy mom” was very scary to me; I had no clue how to bring up a boy. It took a lot (and I mean a lot) of prayer, not because they were difficult, but because I didn’t want to get it wrong. I got many things wrong, but loving them was not one of them. Letting them go into adulthood was a whole different feeling. In the blink of an eye, they were teenagers and then in another blink, I watched them walk down the aisle with their new beautiful brides. A piece of me was ripped out knowing they no longer needed me like they did when they were younger. As life has progressed and I found myself getting older I now find myself in a new arena of life. Grandmother! Those two amazing sons gave me 5 of the most beautiful granddaughters a GeeGee could ever dream of having. They have brought pure joy into my life. As all children declare the funniest sayings, mine were no exception. One day Sarah piped up and said, “GeeGee, we’re just alike! Except you're strict.” Abby told me, “GeeGee, you should dress up like a witch for Halloween since you have the witch laugh down.” Or when Abby announced I was her second favorite, after her dog Oscar. And when Sarah walked into my closet and matter of factly said, “GeeGee, your closet looks like a mall – except there isn’t any popcorn or pretzels in it.” Then there was the time during Christmas my oldest granddaughter Kailyn, who was 2 1/2 years old at the time, said all she wanted for Christmas was a “pink” present. It didn’t matter what was in the wrapping as long as it was a “pink” present. She loved everything she received with a childlike wonder. She even slept that night with her Cinderella ornament, and then the next night with her Cinderella wand, and the following night she slept all evening in her Cinderella fuzzy house slippers. Just like my little granddaughter’s fun and good gifts at Christmas, God gives us good gifts every day. And whether you are a mother by giving birth, adoption, fostering, grandparenting or a spiritual parent to someone, you and I have been given the gift and responsibility to encourage and “provoke” others toward a godliness that results in tangible transformation. As Hebrews 10:24 tells us, we are the provokers of great love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works.” Below is one of my favorite quotes on motherhood, though I’m not sure of the source. I pray it is an encouragement to you and reminds us all of the privilege and high calling of being a mother. "Motherhood is a choice you make every day to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is... And to forgive yourself over and over again, for doing everything wrong." – Donna Hall ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sabrina Patterson is the wife of Tim Patterson, Executive Director/Treasure of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. She is mother to Micah Joel and Aaron Paige, and Grammie to Kailyn, Sarah, Abby, Jordan and Avery. #MAY23

PLYMOUTH – We had been collecting “coke” bottles for most of the day. Both of us had gone from house to house and asked our neighbors if they had any lying around, they did not want. Some folks were very kind and generous while others just directed us back to the street from whence we had come. There was one gentleman on “Avenue D” who had what seemed to be an inordinate passion for Dr. Pepper. He also knew that periodically Ricky Burrows and I would be coming by asking for pop bottle donations to our very worthy causes. We always had a worthy cause, and as far as we were concerned, collecting enough money for the movies or for a box of “b-b’s” was as admirable as any foundation raising money for orphaned children. On this particular day we had decided that we needed food supplies for our “fort”. It wasn’t much of a fort, just a few scraps of tin and some construction wire covered with a tarp I had borrowed from Dad’s shed. We knew full well that any standing army must be well fed to do battle with marauding savages, Nazi’s, or motorcycle gangs. (There were thousands of them in our small hamlet!) After several hours of collecting, we made our way to the local “Pick-Pac” convenience store, traded in our bottles, and purchased the needed provisions. We bought the largest jar of peanut butter that we could find and a loaf of bread. Now, of course, we didn’t buy the expensive Jif, but some store brand that had about an inch of oil floating on top. This didn’t deter us but merely gave us an opportunity to play in the pasty brown concoction until the oil was well mixed. It was about 4:00 p.m. when we finally made it back to the fort and that is when the feasting began. One after the other, Ricky and I ingested sandwich after sandwich. I think I ate four or five myself. When we could eat no more, all we could do was lay there like a couple of old hound dogs that just gorged themselves on fresh roadkill. We were full and miserable. About that time, I heard my dad’s familiar whistle, and I knew it was time for supper. I slowly, but obediently, got up and headed for home. When I walked in the back door, there spread out over the kitchen bar was a feast fit for a king. It was payday, and Mom had prepared my favorite meal. Fried shrimp, french-fries and all the fixings. I could not believe my eyes or my lack of appetite. I could not eat one bite of food. In fact, the smell even made me a bit nauseous. The infamous “spoiled appetite” had overcome me. I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard people say, “I just didn’t get anything out of the worship service today. The preaching was boring, the music was dead, and no one talked to me.” The problem is that the majority of those who voice that complaint came to church with a “spoiled appetite” for the things of God. All week long they have filled their spiritual stomachs with the food of the world, and when they come to God’s house to be fed, they can’t “stomach” it. In fact, it is distasteful to them. (Of course, the problem does not lie with them or their lack of discipline but with the pastor and the rest of those Christians!) Friends, when we have developed a taste for the things of the world, and fill our lives with them, no wonder we cannot grow spiritually and we have no desire for His Word. This is one reason why so many of those who claim to be Christians today are spiritually malnourished, dying a slow spiritual death, and have great difficulty living the victorious Christian life. This week carefully consider what you are feeding your soul. It may taste good, but it could very well spoil your appetite. 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. #MAY23

PLYMOUTH – Leaders of all shapes, sizes, languages, and locations; I have a summer idea that you will love. An international mission trip in Michigan! During May, start planning a cross-cultural excursion into the lives of immigrants, refugees, and internationals who live around you in your daily lives, right here in Michigan. Think about it. People from around the world are all around you. Listen to their accent when they speak English. Watch for the decorations in their places of business. Smell the aromas coming from the apartments in your building. Your daily life is more international than you currently realize. The owner of the auto repair garage, the family running the restaurant in your hometown, the mothers of children who live in your neighborhood, and the students going to the university in your county who will spend the summer 5,000 or 8,000 miles away from family would welcome your approach and a friendship with an American family. It all starts with you taking the first step. The long sunny days of Michigan will provide a canopy of blue skies and mild temperatures for outdoor activities and shared meals. You do not have to do this alone. The International Mission Board (IMB) offers online courses used for international encounters. Look at https://www.imb.org/training/ to locate studies that you can use to prepare teenagers, adults, your family, or the entire church to take an international mission trip this summer. Did you know that a tiny portion of those born outside the United States, and who choose to live in America ever enter an American home? It is heartbreaking that so few who choose to make America their home share life with those of us born here. The Bible urges us to be warm, loving, and hospitable to those from other nations living among us. Imagine the experience you would receive getting to know someone from another part of the world. Imagine that through your friendship that person or his and her family became followers of Jesus Christ because of your gesture of friendship. During May, gather some family members, friends at church, or the entire church and start brainstorming how you could use the materials from the IMB to use the months of June, July, and August to cross into new relationships. What do you need to do? Pray with others asking the Lord for direction. Calendar frequent meetings to get things started, coordinated, and follow-through. Establish whether everyone in the meeting will make new friends by themselves, or will all of you work together as a team in each one’s neighborhood. Or will you mix it up throughout the summer? Calendar and protect the summer days right away for the international experiences, if not you will lose the opportunities. Invite those who come to your mind to share special events with you, such as family picnics on Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day. Explain the meaning behind the celebration. Invite those who are on your heart to share in a classical American experience, like a fishing trip, an overnight camp out with friends, a baseball game, or a birthday party. Offer to share in the cultural celebrations of those who came to live near you. Others, even when they live in America, observe traditional celebrations from their homeland similar to our celebrations. When you get all of your ideas planned, underway, and carried out, reach out to me so we can celebrate together. It would be great to have 2-5 stories in an upcoming issue of the Baptist Beacon retelling the joy you experienced during your Michigan International Mission Trip. Write to me or call if you need guidance getting underway. I am here to serve you. tlynn@namb.net or (734) 770-0608. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Tony L. 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. #MAY23