Search Results

ROSCOMMON – The great philosopher, Jimmy Buffett, released a song in the late 70’s called Volcano. The hook of the song had these words - “I don’t know where I’m a gonna go when the volcano blows!” According to Wikipedia “the album and its title song are named for the then dormant Soufrière Hills volcano on the island of Montserrat in the British West Indies where Buffett recorded the album in May 1979 at AIR Studios.” Ironically the studio was severely damaged when the Volcano erupted in 1995 further bolstering the notoriety of the song. I remember hearing my dad sing or hum the chorus quite often as I was growing up, and of course, it got stuck in my head and my own kids have had to endure me singing it. Over the last 20 years of my life the big “what if” in the chorus of the song has resonated louder and louder in my mind. “What if” the Volcano blows? “What if” my health or my wife’s health goes bad? “What if” the economy tanks? “What if” my kids make poor life choices? “What if, What if, What if”?!? Unfortunately, it’s easy as a husband, dad, or pastor to get caught-up in listening to the broken record of “What if”. It seems every arena in my life can cause worries to play in my mind and sometimes become louder than reality. I imagine if you’re reading this you have experienced or do experience this to some degree. Reality is we will always be inundated with worries, fears, and anxieties. “The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional” –Max Lucado. God never intended for our lives to be ruled by anxiety and “What if”. The apostle Paul explains this in Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Paul is giving us some practical steps we can take to avoid being a prisoner of worry and anxiety - talk to God, ask for help, and thank Him for His help and presence in our lives. The promise of God’s supernatural peace is His protection for us against the onslaught of fear and worry. How awesome is that! Peace instead of anxiousness! All I have to do is set my eyes on Him and not the specter of “What if”. So what if the Volcano blows? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mick Schatz serves on the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. He is the State Director of Spiritual Enrichment and Retreats and lives at Bambi Lake. #MAY23

PLYMOUTH – The longer I live the more I realize that the persons we have become are a composite of all the experiences of our lives. Some of those experiences or events are more impacting and pivotal than others while some are mere blips on the historical radar screens of our past. It is usually in late evenings when I retire to my study that my mind puts on its hiking shoes and treks back over the landscape of my memories. Sometimes those shoes take me forward to the things that might be, but as more of my years are found behind me than ahead, I seem to walk around in those hills of previous days. The mental exercise does me good, and sometimes I stumble upon things that had been long forgotten or for some strange reason I am seeing for the first time. Last night I had one of those mental hiking epiphanies. I came to realize that life is a lot like really good lasagna. It consists of layer after layer of spices, pasta, sauces, cheeses, meats, and who knows what else, baked together to form one unique dish. Each item, though unique in and of itself, has melded with all the others to form something special. As I was inspecting a slice of my “lasagna life” I discovered a cheesy piece that I had not recalled since the event. At the time I was living in Marathon, Texas near the Big Bend National Park. I was serving there as the Associate Pastor (official title for flunky) of First Baptist Church under the watchful eye and tutelage of Pastor Walt Gallaway. He was a great preacher and a wonderful friend who taught me much about life and ministry. There was not a great deal to do in that little village, so we learned to entertain ourselves with various hobbies. Walt found pleasure and relaxation in tilling and cultivating a small patch of land as his own personal garden. Now that was no small task seeing that the ground there was composed of 90% rock, and water was at a premium. We may have gotten six inches of rain a year, and as the old ranchers out there would say, “you should have seen the day that it came.” He had worked for several weeks to get the ground prepared, and finally had a good crop of vegetables forcing their way through the hard surface. He had a really good stand of tomatoes and okra, and of course his favorite, Chiltepin Peppers. Most of the parishioners were quite amazed at his agrarian abilities. He was faithful to care for them and to keep up a regimen of spraying and fertilization. He was very knowledgeable about his little farming operation because he had worked with his father at his cottonseed processing plant in South Texas which had been relatively successful. He was aware of what insecticides were best, how to use them, and had several bottles of them in his storage area. One day his wife Gail, decided she would help him with his maintenance and she sprayed his entire garden with what she thought was a premixed concoction of his best bug killer. Her intentions were pure and her motives were sincere, but what she did not know was that the liquid mixture in the pump up sprayer was the very powerful defoliant 2-5-4-T, better known as Agent Orange. Within a matter of hours every green limb and leaf lay limp on the ground. It was not a pretty sight nor was the discussion that ensued. Gail, like so many in this life, was very sincere and well meaning, but she was sincerely wrong. Many have and still proclaim loudly and fervently if a person is really sincere in the matters of religion and life then that is all that is required. “Sincerity” and “Tolerance” have become the politically correct and socially acceptable standards by which we are to judge a person's veracity. My friends, ax murderers and rapists are sincere, but that does not make them right. There is only one standard by which we may judge something to be right or wrong, and His standard does not change with the winds of social and political variables. God’s Word is the standard by which we must live, not by present cultural norms or today’s acceptable practices. In fact, there was another woman named Eve who was very sincere in her dealings with a certain Garden and look where that got us. She was sincerely wrong. 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. #APRIL23 #MARCH23

Editors Note: To hear more about “Be the Church” listen to this recent “Punching Holes in the Darkness'' podcast. https://www.bscm.org/podcast/episode/d61f7417/be-the-church-the-cohorts HUDSONVILLE – I was sitting on the beach at Gull Lake. I was done. Hurt. Broken. I was wrestling with so many things. My life had not gone the way I expected. Ministry had not gone the way I expected. I believed deep down that I was called to the local church, but I had no idea what that was going to look like. A friend introduced me to Joel Wayne. He came and sat next to me on the beach that day. He believed that God had so much more in store for me. Since that day, I have had the honor to step in and help other pastors see the greater call God has for their lives. The Church is desperate to see spiritual leaders step up to the plate. According to the New York Times, 46% of pastors under 45 and 34% of pastors over 45 are considering quitting. We launched Be The Church in order to serve the local church. We help leaders clarify the vision God has for them. Sometimes that is all that it takes. We listen to the stories of pastors and help them to assess what the future looks like. We help pastors connect to other pastors through cohorts to foster healthy relationships in which they can grow, encourage, and sharpen one another. We develop a practical curriculum for leadership development. Most importantly, Be The Church lives to empower the Bride of Christ to be all that she can be. Spiritual leaders live from a place of deep conviction. They know without a doubt what they are called to and will do whatever it takes to accomplish what God has put on their hearts. Our churches are longing for leaders who live in deep communion with God and will boldly teach His Word no matter the cost. They are willing to step into conflict and suffer the consequences. We want to lift up the Bride of Christ. We believe the best way to do that is by empowering spiritual leaders within the local church. Has God called you to more? Maybe you are restless. You feel something stirring inside you. If you want to connect with like-minded, like-hearted people to explore the greater thing God has called them to, connect with us. Or maybe you’re just tired and you need help parsing out what next steps look like for you and your congregation. We want to provide you with a community that can help you see the potential that you could have in the next season. Wherever you are at in your journey, come join us at one of our leadership summits. We host several throughout the state and throughout the year. Our next Leadership Summit will be on May 18. Learn more about what Be the Church (bethechurch.org) is doing throughout the nation as we serve to empower pastors and how you can go. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Luke Bilberry is the Director of Operations for Be The Church at Chapel Pointe Church, Hudsonville, MI. He and his wife, Kathryn, have 4 children. #APRIL23

TROY – Early in my childhood years, growing up in Egypt, I was impressed and fascinated by America. I saw it as the most unique of all the other countries in the World. This created in my heart a special attachment and desire to seek and to know more about America. I was especially thrilled when I watched the movies that were so popular in my growing up years. Movies with stars like the late John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and others. Watching those movies, and seeing the beautiful nature and cities created in the heart of this young boy, a dream and a desire to one day be there, but means made it nearly impossible. Years went by, this young boy grew up and became a man, and went to school, learned about Christ and was miraculously saved. After I was saved, I learned a fact about America I never knew before; I learned of the important influence of American missionaries in impacting the Middle East and the Church in general through translated Arabic Christian literatures and even the Arabic Bible I carried in my hand which was translated from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts by American scholars. Not to mention the college of theology where I studied and earned my graduate degrees was founded by American missionaries. I graduated and started serving the Lord in Egypt and neighboring countries. In 2005, the Lord brought me to America, the country of my childhood dream. Not to be charmed by it, but to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ among my fellow Arabs living in the states. I was asked to preach in a conference of Arabic churches in the states. My visit made me realize that Arabs living in the States need the Gospel of Christ just as much as those living in the Middle East. Nevertheless, I returned back to Egypt preaching and teaching where God called me. Three years later, as I was serving the Lord in Egypt, I got a phone call from the States. A pastor friend of mine asked me if I would be interested in pastoring an Arabic church in the States, a church in Michigan. I had never been to Michigan, and all I knew was that it was the “car capital of the world,” where all three auto giants are headquartered. I did not know about the sub zero temperatures, where I grew up the temperatures hit between 100-120º F. I agreed to check it out. The Lord brought me to Michigan in a miraculous way, and I started pastoring Evangel Baptist Church of Troy. A church that had almost closed. But Christ told us; "…I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Mt 16:18 In a short period of time church attendance grew, and we had no room in the building. We built a larger sanctuary, and the Lord multiplied the ministry. In 2014, the church joined the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM), and the church outreach ministry multiplied. Our live broadcasts reach the Arab World. Our youth are growing in the Lord and being trained to become future leaders. Evangel Arabic Baptist Church of Troy has become a fortress for proclaiming the Arabic Gospel worldwide on radio, TV, and internet. The State of Michigan has the world’s largest Arabic speaking population outside the Middle East. Yet, it only has a few Arabic churches serving here. The Arabs living here are souls in need of the Gospel of Christ. In the past, American missionaries burdened in reaching the Middle East had to spend years raising support, learning the language, adjusting to the culture and weather, and being away from their loved ones and families. Today, however; God is raising His servants from their own people to reach them with the Gospel of Christ. We need to join hands in lifting up the ministry together and work side by side proclaiming the truth that sets ALL mankind Free! Believe me when I tell you from experience, not just talk, that the need for reaching Arabs in the States is just as vital as reaching them in the Middle East. In Michigan, Middle Easterners are here with their many Arabic accents, backgrounds, beliefs, cultures, traditions, and needs. Our responsibility as partners in the BSCM is to reach those Arabic communities with the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Please pray for me and the Evangel Arabic Baptist Church of Troy, as we seek to launch an Arabic Church planting ministry to serve the increasing need among the Middle Eastern community in Michigan. May the coming days bring about multiplied fruit as together we proclaim the salvation of Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amgad Beshai is pastor of the Evangel Church of Troy, Michigan. It is Arabic speaking. Amgad and wife, Eman, have 3 children, daughter Verine (20), son Kevin (17), and son Christopher (15). #APRIL23

SUWANEE, GA – Pastors are feeling increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs and more than 40 percent have considered leaving the ministry in the past 12 months. That’s according to data released this week by the Barna Group, a research organization that monitors cultural and religious trends in America. "The number of pastors who feel burnt out, lonely or unwell is growing," Barna said, pointed to findings from a recent survey of the nation’s pastors. "To put it bluntly, Barna Group’s current data does not paint a pretty picture of the state of the American pastor. Barna said pastors are also losing confidence in their calling and their overall sense of well-being is on the decline. That's especially true of young pastors, the researchers said. In 2015, 72 percent of pastors told Barna researchers that they felt “very satisfied” with their jobs. In 2020, that number had dropped to 67 percent. In 2022, only 52 percent of pastors reported being “very satisfied” with their jobs. "That’s an eye-popping 20-point drop over the course of just six years, and it’s notable for a few reasons," Barna reported. "First, the trend has continued as the pandemic response has eased, instead of leveling out as lockdown restrictions relaxed. Additionally, the drop is especially notable among younger pastors — just 35 percent of pastors under 45 say they are 'very satisfied.' This troubling decline in vocational satisfaction may cause significant problems for churches in the future." In 2015, 66% of pastors said they were “more confident” in their calling than they were when they started their jobs. By 2022, only 35 percent of pastors said they were more confident. “While only 14 percent are ‘less confident’ now than they were when they started ministry, this is a huge jump from the 3 percent who said the same in 2015,” Barna said. Barna said the overall percentage of pastors who say they have gone through a period when they significantly doubted their calling has more than doubled from the 24 percent reported in 2015. “Pastors aren’t just broadly less happy with their work than they used to be, they may also be less sure of where they’re supposed to be," Barna said. "The pastorate is increasingly stressful in our day and age,” said Ray Gentry, a longtime Georgia associational mission strategist and leader of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders. “So many different pressures are coming against pastors and churches.” Gentry said congregations need to show their love and appreciation for their pastors and provide sabbaticals and retreats so that they can rejuvenate and rekindle spiritually. “Church members need to keep their pastors at the top of their prayer lists all the time,” he said. “Pastors are like everybody else in that they need encouragement, trust and appreciation.” Gentry said the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the stress pastors are feeling. “Most churches have less attendance than they had before the pandemic,” he said. “That makes it harder for pastors to feel like their ministries are as fruitful as they used to be. We know that numbers are not everything, but they are still an important factor to be considered, so it’s hard on pastors when the numbers are not what they used to be. And in many cases, the pastor is working as hard or harder than ever.” Chris Reynolds, who leads the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's pastor wellness team, said the Barna findings are consistent with what he and his colleagues have seen among the state's pastors. "When we are overwhelmed, we have a tendency to isolate ourselves physically and emotionally," Reynolds said. "This is not healthy. I encourage our Georgia Baptist pastors and staff members to reach out to the pastor wellness team. We are equipped with resources and relationships to walk beside you through the stressful times." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roger Alford is the editor of the Christian Index which was founded in Washington, DC in 1822 by legendary Baptist leader Luther Rice. The Christian Index is the nation's oldest continuously published religious newspaper. #APRIL23

U.S. Protestant Hispanic churches are finding success in building community within their congregations and reaching those outside their walls. Hispanic churches in the United States face unique challenges but are finding success in building community within their congregations and reaching those outside their walls. Lifeway Research partnered with two dozen denominations and church networks to include what is likely the largest number of Protestant Hispanic congregations in the U.S. ever invited to a single research study. Sponsored by Lifeway Recursos, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, the study surveyed 692 pastors of congregations that are at least 50% Hispanic. “For decades, the Hispanic population in the U.S. has been growing exponentially, and it is imperative for churches to be informed about the specific needs of this community,” said Giancarlo Montemayor, director of global publishing for Lifeway Recursos. “This study will help us to continue the ongoing conversation of how to serve our brothers and sisters in a more strategic way.” Congregational snapshot The study reveals a picture of Hispanic churches that are newer, younger and more effectively evangelistic than the average U.S. Protestant church. Most Hispanic Protestant churches (54%) have been established since 2000, including 32% founded in 2010 or later. Fewer than 1 in 10 (9%) trace their history prior to 1950. Not only are the churches relatively new, but most people in the congregations are also new to the United States. The majority are first generation Americans (58%), born outside of the country. A quarter are second generation (24%), with parents who were born outside of the U.S. And 17% were born in the U.S. to parents who were also born in the U.S. As a result, a majority conduct their services only in Spanish (53%), while 22% are bilingual. Half of the churches (50%) are in a large metropolitan area with a population of 100,000 or more. Around 3 in 10 (31%) are located in small cities, 9% are in rural areas and 8% are in suburbs. In the average Hispanic Protestant church, a full third of the congregation (35%) is under the age of 30, including 18% under 18. Another 38% are aged 30-49, and 28% are 50 and older. For the Spanish-language version click here “The growth in the number of Hispanic churches in the U.S. has been remarkable,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While some of these congregations were started within Anglo churches — 14% of Hispanic congregations in this study currently are conducting services within a church that is predominantly non-Hispanic — the missional impetus has clearly come from within the Hispanic community itself as two-thirds of these congregations are led by first-generation immigrant pastors.” In U.S. Hispanic Protestant churches, the average worship service attendance is 115. Like most other churches, they’ve not yet fully recovered from the pandemic. In January 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average attendance was 136. Still, 13% of churches are currently around their pre-pandemic levels. And 32% say they’ve grown in the past three years, despite the pandemic. Almost every Hispanic Protestant pastor (99%) agrees, including 94% who strongly agree, their congregation considers Scripture the authority for their church and their lives. Around 7 in 10 (69%) say their church has the financial resources it needs to support their ministry, which include some aspects that are common among most other Protestant congregations. Most Hispanic Protestant churches say they regularly offer weekly adult small groups or Bible studies (74%), weekly prayer meetings (66%) and weekly children’s small groups (52%). Fewer have weekly youth small groups (45%), weekly young adult small groups (40%), one-on-one discipleship or mentoring (34%), evening large group Bible study (25%) or evening praise and worship (24%). Just 3% say they offer none of these. When asked about moving weekend worship service participants to small groups, 42% of pastors say at least half of their adult churchgoers are involved in group Bible studies, including 15% who say at least 75% are connected to a small group. Around a third (34%) say fewer than 1 in 4 churchgoers also are members of small group Bible studies, including 9% of pastors who say none of those attending worship services are involved in groups. As to what hinders their congregation from participating more regularly in church activities, most pastors point to long work hours for their churchgoers (61%). Others say extended family gatherings (35%) and personal hardships or crises (30%). Around a quarter point to recreational or entertainment pursuits (26%) and lingering fear of COVID (24%). Fewer say sports activities (20%), a preference to watch online (18%), lack of transportation (17%), school events (13%) or caregiver responsibilities (11%). For the Spanish-language version click here “Many of the activities within Hispanic Protestant churches look similar to those in non-Hispanic churches in the U.S. with worship services, prayer meetings, Bible studies, and Sunday School classes being common,” said McConnell. “But pastors of Hispanic congregations are quick to point out immigrant families often have less time for church as many are working long hours, have family traditions and are impacted by American cultural distractions.” Evangelistic outreach Almost 4 in 5 pastors at U.S. Hispanic Protestant churches (79%) say they regularly schedule opportunities for members to go out and share the gospel. Specifically, most pastors say their outreach activities in the past year included church members inviting people to church (86%), using social media to share church activities (74%), children’s special events like VBS, Easter egg hunts or Fall festivals (59%), community programs like food distribution, toy giveaways, or providing clothing (58%), and church members sharing the gospel in conversations (56%). Additionally, some congregations did door-to-door evangelism (30%), evangelism training (24%) and provided financial support for a new church start (12%). Hardly any churches (1%) say they have not been able to do any of those recently. Their outreach seems to be effective, as close to half (47%) say 10 or more people have indicated a new commitment to Christ in the past year, including 24% who have seen 20 or more such commitments. Fewer than 1 in 10 (9%) report no new commitments. For the Spanish-language version click here As they’ve reached these new individuals, pastors say most are sticking around. Almost 3 in 4 (73%) of those new commitments have become active participants in the life of the church, according to pastors. As a result, 88% of Hispanic Protestant pastors say they consistently hear reports of changed lives at their churches. “Hispanic congregations are very active in engaging new people,” said McConnell. “Not only is there much evangelistic activity in Hispanic churches, but God is also blessing them with new people who commit to following Jesus Christ.” Building community As new members join Hispanic Protestant churches, they become part of congregations that are actively trying to grow together, according to their pastors. Almost 9 in 10 (88%) say their church has a plan to foster community in their church, including 53% who strongly agree. Pastors point to numerous activities as vital to building a strong sense of community within their congregations. At least 9 in 10 say praying together (96%), studying the Bible together (95%), choosing to get along and promoting unity (93%), welcoming those from different cultures and backgrounds (93%), choosing to be transparent and accountable with one another (89%) and checking-in or noticing when others are absent (90%) are very or extremely important aspects of unity in their churches. Additionally, most say the same about members working together to serve people in the community (79%), socializing outside of church (81%) and sharing resources with each other (74%). Most pastors say they’ve heard about their church members engaging in each of those actions at least a few times in the past month. “Fellowship among believers in a local congregation is something the Bible communicates should be taking place,” said McConnell. “Hispanic churches take this seriously and invest in these relationships.” Pastoral portrait Among pastors of U.S. Hispanic Protestant congregations, 93% are Hispanic themselves. Almost all (95%) are the senior or only pastor of a congregation, while 5% are Hispanic campus pastors with a multi-site church. More than half (56%) serve as a full-time pastor, 27% are bi-vocational, 10% are part-time, 6% are volunteer and 1% are in interim positions. Almost half of pastors in Hispanic Protestant churches (48%) are between the ages of 50 and 64. Pastors are more than twice as likely to be under 50 (37%), including 4% under 30, than 65 or older (16%). Almost 8 in 9 pastors (85%) are male. Two in 3 (66%) are first generation Americans, while 15% are second generation and 19% are third. Close to 3 in 4 are college graduates, including 44% who have a graduate degree, while 17% have some college and 10% have a high school education or less. Theologically, 4 in 5 (79%) pastors at U.S. Hispanic Protestant churches self-identified as evangelical. Around 1 in 6 (16%) say they’re mainline. For the Spanish-language version click here. Icons from the Noun Project via Santri Icon, Ali Coşkun, Deemak Daksina, Niloy Som, Made by Made For more information, view the complete quantitative, qualitative, and significant differences reports. View the Spanish-language release and access Spanish-language resources. Lifeway Research studies can be used and referenced in news articles freely. This news release can also be republished in its entirety on other websites and in other publications without obtaining permission. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron is the senior writer at Lifeway Research. #APRIL23

PLYMOUTH – I am going to an undisclosed location in South-Central Asia, and I cannot believe the privilege I get to experience. My travel partners, the missionaries on-site, and the people we are going to meet would love to have you pray for us. Four of us are going from Michigan this year. On April 21, 2023, I will depart from Detroit Metro Airport participating in the first-ever, joint effort of the International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) venture to send church planters overseas to discover how international mission works among our churches and the world! Dr. Paul Chitwood, President of the International Mission Board along with Dr. Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board, and Dr. Vance Pitman, President of the Send Network made this enduring mission effort possible. I agree with, and I am inspired by, their collective vision and the priority of resourcing such an undertaking. This year, approximately fifty church planters will visit one of five mission sites: two are in Europe and three are in South-central Asia. In the coming years, we are hoping one-hundred planters, annually, will take the plunge into a short international mission’s experience. Very few of today’s newest church leaders grew up attending age-graded classes at church learning missionary stories, world geography, and memorizing Bible verses about going to the nations with the Gospel. Fewer have met and interacted with missionaries from our churches on assignment in their mission field. Meeting and interacting with courageous heroes of the faith can be life-altering! I am certain the experiences for these church planters will do the following: Personalize international missions for the man and the church he leads. Increase their generosity in terms of prayers, personnel, and provisions. Display the international pathways open to church members and church leaders. The outcome of this experience is going to yield results for generations. Here are a few examples of what I believe will occur. See The church planters will see a contrast. Endorsed church planters, serving in North America, receive limited supplements to help them and their families create new churches. Endorsed, commissioned international missionaries receive overwhelming support while living abroad for years at a time. Language learning, lodging, travel expenses (locally and globally), salaries, health insurance, and other needs to complete the mission are generously made possible by the generosity of church members in the North American churches. Those funds are distributed worldwide in efficient ways by the IMB to those on the frontlines of the mission. Hear The church planters will hear people who need to know Jesus. There is nothing more powerful than the following two experiences: worshiping with believers in a language you do not understand and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ through a translator then hear the recipient of the message say that he or she wants to invite Jesus Christ into their lives. Those two experiences display how great God is, and how alike human beings are worldwide. Lostness is the world’s greatest problem and Jesus Christ is the solution. Increase The church planters will learn to enlarge their vision. As I lived overseas during my thirteen years of international service in Africa then Europe my heart grew three times larger for the multiple people groups scattered throughout the world. It took an overseas life for me to increase my vision. I have watched as church planters in North America experience their first calling to church planting, aim at reaching a precise people in a location or a language group become so focused that the church planter becomes a spiritual “sniper” targeting precise individuals his local church can reach and disciple. That is normal for North American church planters; but it is going to be inspiring to watch as the hearts of minds of my travel buddies become burdened for the peoples of the world during our excursion. That burden will be lived out locally in North America after their return, as well as overseas as these men will send future generations from their churches to the world. That larger vision will transform the prayers, the lives, the preaching, and even the future of these North American church planters. I am certain! Prayer Requests If you would join the families and churches of the church planters in prayer during our preparation and during our excursion, we would be grateful. This is literally the first-ever IMB/NAMB overseas trip in history among our tribe of churches. Here are the prayer requests: Continued good health in the church planters and their family members so that no one needs to cancel their overseas trip. Precise planning among the IMB missionaries that will bring about the Lord’s desires for salvations and life-dedications among the people groups with whom we will serve. Avoidance of distractions from the mission goals, such as the political riots in the city streets where we are going in South-Central Asia. Life’s unexpected happens all the time, but we want the Lord’s will to be done within our circle of influence while in country. Receive updates during the next 45 days on Facebook or Twitter, on my personal page DrTonyLLynn or at SendNetworkMichigan/SendMichigan. 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. #APRIL23

WINDSOR, ONTARIO – In a piece for the BBC, David Robson asks, “Where would the self-help and business media be without the secret habits of highly successful people? Almost every week there’s a new article outlining a high-flying individual’s behaviors—with the implied promise that using the same techniques could deliver us fame and fortune, too” (July 11, 2022). You hear about CEOs like Elon Musk who begin work early, skip breakfast, and divide their time into small, manageable tasks. Other inspirational figures are quirky in their habits. Bill Gates, for example, would reportedly rock back and forth in his chair while brainstorming. This was a means of focusing his mind, apparently. Further back in history, Robson notes, Charles Dickens carried around a compass so he could sleep facing north, something he believed would contribute to more productive writing. Beethoven counted exactly 60 coffee beans for each cup, which he used to power his composing. Benjamin Franklin was known to have sat naked in front of his window each morning in what he called “air baths” that would cleanse his body and prevent illness. Many successful people have eccentric habits. And we love to read about them, don’t we? We might even imitate them. If it works for them, then just maybe…! We are social creatures. We are hard-wired to look to people for help and advice. It’s somewhat natural for us to emulate successful leaders. But copying the patterns and behaviors of men like Elon Musk and Bill Gates will not guarantee spiritual success. On the other hand, Scripture does exhort us to remember our leaders. “Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7 ESV). Paul did tell the church at Corinth to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). Also, to the brothers at Philippi, he wrote, “Brothers, join in imitating me....” Is your walk with God imitable? Would you want men and women in your church to do as you do? To reproduce after your kind? Will it be a good thing if people in your missional community are copying you? If the elders in your church turned out just like you, would you have a mature, disciple-making team? Following the godly habits of our spiritual leaders is a biblical pathway to spiritual success. So, we must pay attention to the example we set. D.A. Carson, in his book From the Resurrection to His Return: Living Faithfully in the Last Days (Christian Focus), asks: “Do you ever say to a young Christian, ‘Do you want to know what Christianity is like? Watch me!’ If you never do, you are unbiblical.” The Apostle Paul hit this theme a number of times in his letters, as I mentioned above. Here are a few more: “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church” (1 Cor. 4:15-17). “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9). “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate (2 Thess. 3:7-9). Paul was able to say, “I urge you to imitate me” (1 Cor. 4:15-16 NIV). Can you say the same? 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. #APRIL23

ROSCOMMON – Have you ever pranked somebody on April fool’s Day? Have you ever been the victim of an April fool’s Day prank? Have you ever been curious as to the origins of the day and why it is observed and recognized worldwide? I was curious so I did some Googling and after much clicking of the mouse I discovered - no one really knows! There are a lot of historical and literary references, but nothing truly factual. However, the day has generated a lot of pranks on a very public scale such as: In 1957, the BBC reported that Swiss farmers were experiencing a record spaghetti crop and showed footage of people harvesting noodles from trees. In 1996, Taco Bell, the fast-food restaurant chain, duped people when it announced it had agreed to purchase Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and intended to rename it the Taco Liberty Bell. In 1998, after Burger King advertised a “Left-Handed Whopper,” scores of clueless customers requested the fake sandwich These pranks are creatively awesome and funny, and will be remembered as classic pranks. However, there is another day in April celebrated and observed by Christians that is also considered a Fool’s Day by the lost world. When you really think about it, to a lost heart, Easter must be the most foolish and most elaborate prank ever perpetrated on mankind. A belief, faith and hope in the power of the Easter story? It’s crazy, preposterous, foolish - it’s a “fool’s hope”. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). In terms of worldly reason? It really is mind-boggling. The apostle Paul admits as much. The foolishness and weakness to which Paul points in 1 Corinthians is the cross and the proclamation of the cross. The death that Jesus dies alone, betrayed, abandoned is a foolishness and a weakness that shapes all reality. “The power of God and the Wisdom of God” works according to God’s Grace, not man’s logic and reason. I like grace. Grace is illogical. Grace is God’s wisdom. Grace changes everything. The world needs grace. The world needs to see Christians living in the power of grace and surrendering their lives to the victorious calling of a “fool’s hope”. Our lives need to exemplify the great Redemptive Love of the Cross not the silliness of an April fool’s prank! Jim Elliot, a missionary who gave his life trying to witness to the Ecuadorian natives, made the statement, “He is No Fool Who Gives What He Cannot Keep, To Gain That Which He Cannot Lose!”. If the world considers me a fool, hoping in a fool’s hope - Great! Awesome! because God knows this fool’s name! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mick Schatz serves on the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. He is the State Director of Spiritual Enrichment and Retreats and lives at Bambi Lake. #APRIL23

PLYMOUTH – The reports of spiritual awakenings on campuses and the release of the Jesus Revolution film reignited a personal concern that is always on my heart. Today as an adult man, I find myself much less tolerant of the term, “Post-Christian.” When I read the term or hear it used, I raise my shoulders. I grit my teeth. I cringe. I guarantee you will never find me applying the label “Post-Christian” to anything. Let me explain my reasons. Over sixty years ago, on August 3, Christianity Today published an editorial entitled “Hope in a Post-Christian Era.” The article’s opening statement said, “The opinion is current in some Protestant circles today that the tide of history has turned against the Christian church and that the efforts of believers must be directed toward retrenchment or, perhaps ultimately, toward a radical transformation of the gospel message.” In 1962 when that editorial was originally typed on a mechanical typewriter and I was three years old, I could not have understood the title nor the words in the editorial. Today, the term of Post-Christian within the title annoys me. Recently, during March 2023 while I was outside the United States visiting a Dutch territory, I studied a text written and edited by Professor Herman Paul and Scientific Researcher Adriaan van Veldhuize from the Netherlands. Their book entitled, Post-Everything: An Intellectual History of Post-Concepts (Manchester University Press, July 17, 2021) displayed how the term Post-Christian dates as far back as the 1930’s when it was being used by right-wing political secularists who were celebrating the fading influence of Christianity on their respective cultures so that radical nationalism could influence the people toward preparations for World War II. Why would I embrace or use a term, almost one hundred years old, originally created by those who celebrated the decreasing influence of Christianity? I respect the rights of others who will continue to use the phrase, Post-Christian, but I will never use that descriptive term. I believe this is a case where a label such as Post-Christian is misleading and damaging. I believe those who will continue to use that phrase commonly justify their usage by explaining that Post-Christian signifies: An era in which Christianity is no longer the dominant civil religion. A culture in which Christian values and worldview are marginalized. A people who once defined themselves as Christians now identify as “Nones.” Why will I never label something Post-Christian? I believe the hyphenated, two-word phrase expresses the wrong message to those who are not following Christ and those who do follow Christ. It gives the impression that the Lord placed an expiration date on an era, a culture, or a people. When in reality I cannot think of an era, a culture, or a people where followers of Jesus Christ did not have to behave as missionaries. From the first century until present day, there have been times of increased and decreased influence. Oftentimes, the ebb and flow of Christianity’s influence had more to do with the health or sickness of Christianity’s expression in the lives of its followers and/or leaders than the response of a particular era, culture, or people. Bleak Point of View I cringe when I hear or read someone trumpet-out, “We are living in Post-Christian times,” or a person describes geographic environments, such as a nation or a continent, as Post-Christian. Some see hopelessness everywhere and they labor to make sure everyone hears or reads their gloomy analysis and their catastrophic predictions. We have all heard that misery loves company; but I often wonder if the Holy Spirit takes delight in the company of those who lost confidence in Him to sustain or start another divine movement. How can the hopeless ones cry out “retreat” when the Holy Spirit advances forward with redemptive plans? I cannot imagine. Erroneous History I am puzzled why anyone would think it accurate to describe a period of history, a locale, or a people group as previously, completely Christian. The phrase Post-Christian incorrectly creates the notion that there was a period of time, a location, or a people group that was at some moment 100% Christian and then at some moment God’s influence withdrew. Was there a heavenly meeting where the Trinity announced that personnel and resources were being withdrawn from a period of time, one place, or a people to influence others elsewhere? I cannot fathom that. God is the best at multitasking. Incorrect Indicator I am grieved when some create the horrible, false impression that God’s plans are overturned when believers’ societal influence and believers’ affluence is taken away. There are believing global heroes who impact others for Christ through suffering and persecution while living in the midst of poverty and enduring the chaos of violence, both in North America and worldwide. God’s desires can become reality even when believers lack political influence and even when believers are poor and even when believers are marginalized. Have not God’s plans, at times, been conducted and completed because believers suffered? I cannot ignore Scripture. There are plenty of biblical examples. Henny-Penny: The Sky is Falling I fear that some have taken it upon themselves to panic, and mislead others away from a better-placed confidence in the Holy Spirit by reenacting the part of Henny-Penny from the children’s English fairy tale where a falling acorn hit an old hen on the head. Frightened and believing the sky was falling, Henny-Penny incessantly repeated to everyone she met, “Goodness gracious me! The sky’s a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king.” Henny-penny convinced a rooster, a duck, a goose, and a turkey to join her rush to see the king with the worst news. On their way to see the king, the doomsday-barnyard band met a sly fox who convinced them that his deep, dark den was a short-cut to the king. With Henny-Penny’s agreement, she sent her friends one-by-one into the fox’s den ahead of her. The fox acted as if he was heroically leading the way to the king, when in reality he lurked in the darkness of the den and dispatched the naïve creatures one-by-one. At the last second, Henny-Penny just before dropping herself into the death-trap suddenly decided to return to her perch to lay one more egg before seeing the king and consequently forgot to tell the king about the falling-sky. Not Post-Christian, Just Divine Patience Because there is abundant evidence of God’s resolve in Scripture, I will forever believe all of us live in a Christian-something era, culture, and people where the anticipation of God’s influence is present every second of every day, even when we do not easily see it. Rather than waving flags of hopeless surrender in huddles of despair and anger, why not join the Lord in the never-ending war for redemption, discipleship, and transformation? Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.” I especially love the image of God patiently waiting for the salvation of more people as described in 2 Peter 3:9 and 3:14 (NLT) where it says, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent . . . And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.” I will never call anything Post-Christian because I know the Lord never retreats from a period of time, nor a place, nor does God abandon people. Psalm 121:4 (NLT) reminds us, the Lord “never slumbers or sleeps.” The next time others write or speak the phrase “Post-Christian,” after I finish recoiling; I will smirk and then silently repeat in my head, “There is no such thing as Post-Christian-anything; instead, God is everywhere patiently giving people time to be saved.” I strive to live in anticipation of the Lord’s movement every day of my life. As evidenced by today’s news, events, and reports, there will be spiritual movements that remind us that the Lord will do what he desires, when he desires, where he desires, and among whom he desires, when he desires. I like living with that reality and that description more than how others choose to describe today’s life. 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. #APRIL23

DETROIT – Lately our church has been experiencing a renewal. During Covid we had dwindled down to well below half of what we had been. At one point our church shrunk down to just 30 people. These times were difficult to say the least. Seeing people choose to leave or go elsewhere is one of the toughest things to go through as a pastor. And, on top of that, we lost the building where we had been meeting. It was one of the lowest points of our existence as a church. We were vagabonds for nearly a year before we found a new place to meet, and even it was temporary. It was not a fun thing to experience. In 2022 we started meeting in one location consistently, and got back a little bit of a sense of normalcy. Despite everything over the past year God has done some miraculous things. Our church has begun to come back to life. Our attendance has gone back up above 100. (Nearly a 300% increase over the year, ha!) God has moved powerfully beyond the growth in numbers. The life change we see in people is truly remarkable to witness. The tangible presence of God as we worship and commit to preaching His Word is so beautiful. And people are experiencing miracles. God is faithful to build His church. And the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Why do I share these things? To encourage you. Joel 2:25 says that God will restore the years that the locusts have eaten. I’m not sure what you feel like you have lost. Maybe it’s something to do with your church. Maybe it’s a relationship. Maybe it’s finances. God is faithful and can restore anything that has gone. Not only that, but He can also turn that situation around and use it for His glory. In the middle of all of this, we decided to record an album. Our church has always loved to worship. It’s been a 3-year journey, but we finally released it. It’s called “Move In Your Church” and it comes from a desire to, you guessed it, see God move in His Church. That’s what we’re praying for. Not just that God would move in our church, but in His capital “C” Church across Detroit, Michigan, and the world. We’re praying for movement. For a re-igniting of passion for Him, His Word and reaching the lost. The world desperately needs the church. Now as much as ever. We’re praying that what we have started to see God do in our church, He would do across the world in all our churches. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Josh Bowers is the lead Pastor of Cross & Anchor Church, a NAMB church in Detroit Michigan. He and his wife pioneered the church in 2019. Cross & Anchor Worship has recently released an album called “Move In Your Church”. It is available to stream on all music platforms and we pray it is a blessing to you and your people. #APRIL23

SHELBY TOWNSHIP – One of my favorite places on our church property is the cross that stands in the back corner by the edge of the tree line. I find myself down by the cross time after time pouring my heart out to God. I can pull into the parking lot with no plans to go to the cross then suddenly feel an impression to go, sit and pray. There have been times when I was working in my office and felt overwhelmed, and I would grab my Bible and go sit at the cross. I have taken others to the cross with me to pray, confess, and offer forgiveness. It is truly a special place. When we come to the foot of the cross, we remember what Jesus did for us. Jesus was perfect, holy, and sinless and left heaven to come to die for you and for me. We are so undeserving of this act of love, and yet He died such a horrible and grueling death so that we could live. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV), "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus died so that we could live. Why is it then that we carry around our burdens, cares, and frustrations? These weights hold us down from living the life Jesus intends us to live. He died on the cross so that we could surrender all those things to Him. I like to think of it in this way: When we sit down in a chair, what happens to our weight? It transfers, right? Our weight transfers from our bodies to the chair. The same happens at the foot of the cross. When we come to Jesus and we give Him our burdens, cares, and frustrations, this weight we have been carrying then transfers from us to Him. If we truly give it all to Jesus, we should feel the weight lift from our shoulders. Jesus says in Matthew 11:30 (NIV), “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I also love the Message version of this verse: “Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Who doesn’t want to live “freely and lightly?” When we go to Jesus and remember what He has done for us, we can be confident that He will continue to help us carry the heavy loads we are faced with in life. However, He won’t just take it from us. We must surrender it all to Him and invite the Holy Spirit to have an active role in our lives. We can’t do this on our own! Sometimes we try to give the burdens we carry to Jesus, but oftentimes we end up taking them back. We may take them back because we don’t really trust God to take care of them. Perhaps God hasn’t taken care of them in the way we wanted Him to, so we take them back to regain control of the situation to try to make it turn out the way we think it should. We might take our burdens back because we think God may have forgotten about them, so we step in to help Him out. Whatever the case might be, by taking our burdens back from God we are essentially saying we know more about the situation than God does. We truly do not believe that He is in control, and we certainly don’t trust that He is going to work things out for good. So, we continue to stress, strive, and allow these burdens to steal our joy. This is not the life Jesus died for us to live. Today, I encourage you to sit at the foot of the cross and remember the price Jesus paid for you. Are you living a life of freedom and victory? Or are you still bound by the strongholds and sin that Jesus gave His life for? Take time to go before God and confess where you have been carrying the load that Jesus wants to carry for you. Then, visualize placing those things into His nail scarred hands and walk away. He wants to take them from you today, and He wants you to leave them there. It is time to live freely and lightly! 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! #APRIL23