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JACKSON – As I began to see the movie The Jesus Revolution being advertised on Facebook and television, I was carried back in memory of that time in my life. It was 1968 and I was in the Navy at the time stationed in Southern California at the Pacific Missile Range at Point Mugu not far from the city of Oxnard. The church I attended there was First Southern Baptist Church of Oxnard and was very active in the community. I was asked to work with the youth department there. I recognized immediately that something was happening there much of which I had not seen in the churches that I had been a part of in New Mexico as I grew up. The youth group in Oxnard had a fire in them that was causing many of their friends to surrender to Christ. That group was determined that people would come to Jesus. They not only witnessed to people at school, but everywhere they went. They joined Campus Crusade for Christ’s (CRU) effort in carrying the gospel to the beaches up and down the coast. Using the tract The Four Spiritual Laws, young people were reaching people for Christ on beaches from Ventura to San Diego. I was so happy to be a part of that. There were also concerts by contemporary Christian artists of the time like Larry Norman, Love Song, and Dennis Agajanian which had so many people attending that the crowds would flow from the venues into the surrounding streets. I remember attending one at a large church in Hollywood where the church was completely filled, so they put speakers outside and the police closed off the block to accommodate all the people outside who weren’t able to get into the church. Those were exciting places to be. I was even given the opportunity to play my guitar and sing gospel music at an Oxnard pizza restaurant named the Pizza Palace. During that time, is when I met my wife Diana. I had a part in leading her sisters to the Lord, so they brought her to one of our youth group’s Saturday night meetings. Their intention was for Diana to hear me teach about Jesus so that she would fall in love with Him like they had. They had no clue at the time that she would not only come to Jesus as the youth group and I witnessed to her, but that she would fall in love with me as well and become a pastor’s wife. A few years after we got married and I had been to Vietnam and back a couple of times, we moved to Poway, California where she worked with children at Poway Southern Baptist Church and helped me as I became a leader in the youth group there. The Jesus movement was still going strong and our youth group there grew from 8 to 63 in a little over two years. Again, it wasn’t me, but it was the Lord leading the students to win their friends to a saving acceptance of Him. The group outgrew every place in the church we were given to meet, so finally the church bought the house next door for us. We would sit shoulder to shoulder on the living room floor during the Sunday School opening where I would lead them in singing songs, and they would share testimonies; then they would break up into classes for different age groups. Also, they would meet during the week at different homes for Bible discussions and snacks. The youth choir also grew greatly and performed Christian youth musicals. What a wondrous time these years were in the life of the church! In my 46 years of ministry, I have not seen or experienced anything else like those years when I saw not only teens in the communities, but also sailors in the Navy turn to Christ in great numbers. That is also when I saw my best friend from Navy days, Elton Spurgeon who is now pastor of Thornhill Baptist Church in Hudson, MI, get saved. There is no doubt in my heart that it was truly a time where the Holy Spirit was moving. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Don Anderson was saved at VBS when he was eight years old. He started preaching at the age of 16 and has pastored one mission and four churches since the age of 28. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Texas Tech and a Master of Christian Studies from Union University in Jackson, TN. #APRIL23

MIDLAND – The Parable of the Minas in Luke 19:11-26 contains words and phrases like do business, accounting, increase, bank, interest, kept, saved, maintained, out of fear. In this parable, Jesus implies that Christians should have an entrepreneurial spirit regarding kingdom growth and activity. Even more, Jesus teaches that by playing it safe, you can lose what’s been given to you. In this parable, there are two kinds of people: 1) those who are driven by possibilities and 2) those who are driven by problems (or fear). Those driven by fear are more concerned about what they could lose than what they could gain. One thing is very clear from this parable; there is no reward for those who play it safe. Instead, this is a time to take risks – to look at the possibilities more than the potential problems. Faithful Christians are those who hear the Word and obey what it says. They share the Word and produce a crop 30, 60, and 100-fold. Business people understand this. If you were someone who had a store and went there every day and opened it up and sat behind the counter and never sold anything – that’s not faithfulness – that’s bankruptcy. But churches do this all the time and call this “faithfulness.” Jesus says, “engage in business.” So, there is a side to faithfulness that is about growth and numbers. Jesus wants us to have an entrepreneurial spirit for Kingdom work. Be intentional. Be deliberate. Think about it. Dream. What are the potentials? What are the possibilities? What could you do differently than you are doing now? Who are the people you need to get to know? Maybe there is that thing back there in your life that you always wondered about – whether God was calling you to do that and go there and start it. Maybe now is the time to exercise faith and trust God for it. You won’t know if you don’t try. What changes do you need to make? What adaptations should you consider? Be mindful that some people might try to discourage you, and the Devil himself might get you to doubt yourself and God with things like “you’re crazy, don’t overextend yourself, that’s too much, just think of what you could lose.” He tried that with Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross, He was told, “come down from there. Prove you’re the Messiah. Save yourself.” I’m glad Jesus didn’t give into temptation and come down from the cross! Jesus said, “Whoever loses His life for My sake will find it!” Do you believe that? What are you not doing that God wants you to do? What are you doing that God wants you to stop? If you’re a Christian, you have the assurance and hope of heaven because you belong to Christ, and He lives in you through His Spirit. So, why are you holding back? What are you afraid of? If you believe God’s Word is true, then be a doer of it and not merely a hearer only, deluding yourself. Stop being at ease in Zion. Stop bowing at the altar of comfort, convenience, and ease. Stop playing it safe! Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering what God would have done had you obeyed Him. Listen to The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast, as much of what I shared in this article came from an episode I heard there. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. David Roberts is Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Midland and serves as the Associational Mission Strategist for the Bay Area Baptist Association. #APRIL23

MONROE – The concept of family is an integral part of our society and personal lives. However, in today’s society, defining what a family is and what its roles entail can be challenging. One way to expound on this concept is through the lens of the Trinity, and how it can provide invaluable guidance for family relationships. The Trinity offers us insights into the importance of headship, submission, and obedience, as well as the need for spiritual growth and intimacy within a God-centered marriage. By looking at the characteristics of Christ's earthly ministry, we can see how they tie together the elements of the Trinity, and provide a clear example of how we should live our lives as family members. According to Webster’s dictionary, family is defined as “the collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children and servants, and as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.” When I think of a family, I instantly think of the collective body, not just individuals acting separate from one another. In all the time I have spent teaching God’s word and thinking about family dynamics, I never heard the family dynamic related to the Trinity in such a fabulous way. Bruce Ware of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary defines family roles in this way: “In each of these roles, the model of the Trinity provides invaluable guidance, for we see in the Trinity that the ones who submit are fully equal to the one who holds ultimate authority in their relationships. Equality and distinction, oneness and difference, unity and harmony, mark the Trinity. These same realities, in finite measure, ought to mark the family relationships we enjoy, as persons created in the very image of the triune God.” Within the context of this Trinity, I believe that the topics of headship, submission and obedience are all displayed heavily. Christ was obedient and submissive to the will of the father (John 6:39-40), yet Christ was no less God, but worked as a cohesive unit to carry out Christ’s ultimate goal: redemption of sin for the world (Luke 19:10). In Christ’s earthly ministry, we can also see discipline to the word (Matthew 4:1-11), diligence in prayer (Matthew 14:23), and also purposeful in the deliverance of the word such as the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7). All of the characteristics of Christ’s earthly ministry not only tie together the elements of the trinity but are a clear example of what our lives should be like as husbands, mothers, and children. All members of the family have responsibilities spiritually and physically, but individually we must spend time with Christ to cultivate that relationship. Within a family, I do not believe a husband is a dictator of the home, ruling with an iron fist. Instead, I believe the husband bears the weight of leading the family in a Christ-centered fashion, loving unconditionally just as Christ unconditionally loves each of us. Lastly, the family dynamic of intimacy and sexuality. I have always believed unapologetically that God created man and women (Gen. 1:27), and that mankind’s responsibility was to procreate and populate the earth (Gen. 1:28). The Bible is clear about the fact that intimacy belongs inside a marriage of a man and woman only inside the confines of a God-centered marriage (Gen 2:24-25, Proverbs 5:15-20,1. Cor. 7:3-5), and that deviance in a sexual or intimate way is a sin. In conclusion, the Trinity offers a powerful model for understanding family dynamics. As Bruce Ware points out, we can see in the Trinity the importance of equality and distinction, oneness and difference, unity and harmony. The Trinity provides us with invaluable guidance for understanding the roles of headship, submission, and obedience within a family. Moreover, the characteristics of Christ's earthly ministry show us how we can cultivate a Christ-centered family by being disciplined in the word, diligent in prayer, and purposeful in delivering the word. Ultimately, we must spend time with Christ to cultivate our relationships with Him and with each other. By following the model of the Trinity, we can build strong and healthy families that are grounded in God's love and grace. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matt Foley is Senior Pastor of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church of Monroe, MI since August 2022. He is a recent graduate of Liberty University with a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. #APRIL23

ROSEVILLE – Most of my ministry has been bi-vocational, primarily by my choice. And the most significant issue I had as a bi-vocational pastor was managing my time. Yet, all pastors must systematically structure their time to complete all their responsibilities each week. Therefore, how one appropriates their time for sermon preparation is essential. And selecting the text for the following week's message may take time away from their overall preparation time. Many pastors spend Monday and sometimes Tuesday before the following Sunday choosing their texts. But, unfortunately, this time takes away from critically assessing the text and context, meditating on its implications for them and their congregation, and developing practical applications. Therefore, one needs a system that helps them quickly move from text selection to text analysis—choosing a text in light of their congregation's spiritual needs and preaching and instructing from all of the Bible, not just from their favorite passages. Before one begins developing a system to select sermon texts, as the shepherd to their congregation, a pastor should know the answer to the following questions about the preaching schedules of the past. Which passages of the Bible have already been preached? What passages haven't been done in a long time? Have sermons from the Old and New Testaments been equally distributed? Are there any specific topics (like stewardship or suffering) that the congregation might gain from right now? Is there a proper division between praising God (worship), encouraging Christians (discipleship), and evangelizing unbelievers? Are the major theological disciplines fairly represented among the doctrinal subjects? Knowing the answers to these questions is helpful as one develops a long-term approach to selecting sermon texts. So, here are some ideas that will help one minimize their time in selecting sermon texts, with the last idea being one I have used successfully for years. The first idea is to preach through a book of the Bible like Ephesians or a specific narrative such as Genesis 37–50. This idea allows one to develop a series of messages quickly, therefore, less time selecting a text even though one still needs to choose the length of the passage of Scripture intelligently, considering things like the genre. Another idea is to respond through Scripture to specific issues the congregation may be experiencing. This text selection allows the listeners to observe how the Bible addresses themes essential to their spiritual growth. This type of preaching may be needed; however, a warning is necessary because this type of preaching may be considered as using the pulpit to bully people into one's positions or, depending on the topic, may come across as a sermon directed to a few select individuals in the congregation. This last idea is the one that I have practiced for many years. I use a Sunday school quarterly. I do this for several reasons: It gives me a scope and sequence that every six years, I will cover all the books of the Bible. It allows me to discover all the major themes of the Bible. It allows me to rotate between an Old Testament Book and a New Testament Book. It automatically will enable me to package my sermons in a series. It ensures I am never accused of picking a text that allows me to attack someone in my congregation. If I need to preach something different from the quarterly text, I have that freedom, such as when our country experienced tragedy on 9/11. Let me say that someone always feels a systematic system of choosing sermon texts does not allow God to speak. I would disagree. Whatever system one uses, there is always freedom to change it if one feels God speaking from a particular passage. Second, God can use any text to address people's hearts when they come to the service focusing on hearing from God. As Ephesians 5:16 says, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. (ESV) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Steele is the founding and Discipleship Pastor of Cross Waves Church, a house church network, and pastor of The Studio Connection in Roseville, MI. He is married to Terri, and has two adult children and one granddaughter. Tim speaks and writes on discipleship and is also a traveling stand-up comedian. #APRIL23

NEW ORLEANS, LA (BP) – Enhanced collaboration in spreading the Gospel was a key focus as national and regional Southern Baptist leaders gathered March 22 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The regional leaders gathering of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention (NAAF) and Send Network emphasized the benefits of working together, said NAAF President Frank Williams. “NAAF desires to actively participate in bringing our pastors and entity leaders together to hear firsthand what’s happening in convention life, ask questions, and interact in meaningful ways that hopefully bridge gaps,” Williams said, “that are sometimes formed through misunderstandings, perceptions of each other, or virtual experiences that do not bring out the best in others.” SBC President Bart Barber, North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell, SBC Executive Committee Interim CEO and President Willie McLaurin, NOBTS President Jamie Dew, Former SBC President Fred Luter, NAAF board members, SBC EC Vice President for Black Church Relations Charles Grant, Lifeway Christian Resources Black church relations leader Mark Croston, Send Network church planters and various pastors were among the 50 invited guests. Meeting attendees heard an update on a NAAF/Send Network partnership to plant churches in areas lacking African American Southern Baptist congregations. They also heard reports of diverse church partnerships and church replants, updates on church and discipleship trends, updates on Executive Committee resources available to pastors and churches, and received spiritual enrichment. “We are indeed better together,” Williams said, “and the Gospel compels us to go through the tough places, love when it’s hard, and celebrate how God is at work in our convention of churches.” Williams is pastor of Wake Eden Community Baptist Church and the Bronx Baptist Church, both in the Bronx borough of New York. McLaurin attended the meeting as a ministry of care and concern, he told Baptist Press. “The National African American Fellowship invested in me as a young pastor. Because of their investment, I was elected the first president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention African American Fellowship,” McLaurin said. “I needed to participate in the spring NAAF meeting to provide a ministry of care and concern. I’m letting NAAF members know they have a friend and partner serving on the SBC Executive Committee.” Such collaborations as the NAAF/Send Network partnerships are among convention hallmarks including cooperation and generosity. “Strategic alliances are best when churches are on a mission together. For almost 100 years Southern Baptist churches, through the Cooperative Program, have demonstrated interdependence,” he said. “I am incredibly thankful for the faithful focus that NAAF and NAMB are placing on partnership. The partnership will mobilize more Black Churches to reach the harvest.” The partnership is also a valuable tool in expanding Southern Baptists evangelism and diversity, McLaurin said. “Frank Williams and Kevin Ezell have provided a healthy model of collaboration which will accelerate the advancement of the Great Commission,” McLaurin said. “Now is the time for our entire convention to double down on our efforts to partner with every ethnicity. Over the past five years, our entities, state conventions and associations have witnessed intentional efforts to appoint minority leaders. In order to accelerate the momentum, the SBC must position more ethnic leaders in positions of service.” Grant unveiled a new video series highlighting the Navigating the SBC resource that has been heartily received. “The video enhances the partnership I have with NAAF. We’re working together for progress in assisting our churches in understanding the structure and functions of our convention,” Grant said. “The end result is to have a voice that edifies our convention for the glory of God.” Featuring Williams, NAAF Executive Director Dennis Mitchell and NAAF Secretary and Tracy, Calif., pastor Kevin James, the video includes testimonies of the benefits of the Navigating the SBC resources and describes best ways to use the guide. “It serves as a promotional and supplemental tool,” Grant said, “for sharing the orientation guide in the Black church context.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer. #APRIL23

What do you do when you want to plant a church in a new area, but travel is restricted? How do you know where in the city to plant the church and how to generate interest when canvassing and prayer walking aren’t possible? Missionaries with the International Mission Board are employing digital engagement as a new entry strategy for planting churches. IMB missionary Brant Bauman uses evangelism ads and QR code stickers on humanitarian relief packages to point people in Eastern Ukraine to an evangelism resource website. Paving the way for new churches IMB missionaries and Ukrainian Baptist pastors hope to plant churches in two cities in far eastern Ukraine — a region under an onslaught from Russia. Great need is coupled with great devastation in these areas, but people are coming to faith. Evangelism efforts are reaching the lost. In many locations, prayer walking and canvassing neighborhoods to meet people and invite them to visit are strategies to help a church plant. Given the dangers that come with war, this isn’t possible in Ukraine. Instead IMB missionaries are engaging these cities through digital media. Hope for Ukraine is a website launched by the IMB in the spring of 2022 to provide gospel resources, links to download a digital Bible and a chat feature where Ukrainians can reach out for prayer. Bauman helped create the website, which opened the floodgates for digital engagement in Ukraine and Europe. Bauman and his team are running evangelism video ads in the cities where IMB missionaries hope to plant churches. Almost 12,000 people have watched the videos to completion, which is a large number given the size of the towns. He is hoping the videos will help “prime the pump” so that when church planters arrive, the ground will be extra fertile. Bauman recently traveled to Ukraine with fellow IMB missionary Mike Domke, who served in Ukraine before evacuating during the onset of the war. They traveled to visit partners, check on Send Relief projects and for Bauman to connect with digital first responders who answer when someone contacts the website and investigate future opportunities for digital engagement. He’ll continue to look for ways to propel the work of church planters forward faster and further despite the limitations they experience because of the war. Bauman said they plan to continue running the video ads in the area, and they are looking at using this strategy in other countries. Humanitarian aid is another way digital engagement is pushing the gospel forward. Stickers make gospel connections Send Relief has facilitated 98 projects to serve Ukrainians. In Ukraine, there have been 45 projects, with 35 of them still in progress. But as they try to aid Ukrainians in a humanitarian way, Bauman said, “what we primarily know is that the greatest need is the gospel because the greatest problem is lostness.” Bauman said his trip was eye-opening, and it quickly became evident to him that God is on the move. His goal was to determine how to get people the resources they need. They asked themselves, how do we incorporate the gospel into humanitarian relief? An ongoing method of digital engagement is affixing QR code stickers to humanitarian boxes being sent to eastern Ukraine. Nine hundred boxes were shipped in a single day. Bauman said attaching a sticker increases the likelihood someone will see it, because brochures may be lost or discarded. With a scan of the QR code, people can have access to the gospel message. Since the launch of the Hope for Ukraine website, QR codes leading to the website have been scanned 626 times. Bauman said they will continue to look for ways to intertwine digital engagement with Send Relief. He hopes the opportunities resulting from digital engagement opened in Ukraine will be an example for other cities. “We want to continue to be faithful to let this be a shining example of how God is working in and through digital engagement strategies,” Bauman said. “If we give God the ability to work in all ways and through every means possible, He comes through.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tessa Sanchez writes for the IMB. #APRIL23

PLYMOUTH – It is forever etched in history. April 14th, 1912. That was the night 111 years ago that the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg on her maiden voyage. The ship was built so well that some said even God couldn’t sink her. Two hours and forty minutes after impact, it was covered completely by the cold darkness of the Atlantic Ocean in a watery grave. News of the tragedy quickly spread in newspapers across the nation - much of it totally wrong in the early hours. An internet search of newspaper headlines from April 15th paints an overwhelmingly hopeful portrait of what happened. The British White Star Line, operator of the ill-fated ship, sent out a news release stating: “I am free to say that no matter how bad the collision with an iceberg, the Titanic would float. She is an unsinkable ship.” “Titanic Sinking” was the eye-catching headline in the Oakland Examiner April 15th. The subtitle read, “Ill-fated vessel begins to founder while limping toward Halifax after all aboard are rescued.” The headline of the Evening Observer in New York reported in bold print, “TITANIC RAMMED AN ICEBERG, LARGEST SHIP EVER BUILT WRECKED ON MAIDEN TRIP.” The article declared, “Great Steamers Rushed to Her Assistance When Wireless Flashed Out the Call for Help - Passengers Transferred In Safety--Crippled Monster Being Towed to Halifax. The Evening Sun (Baltimore) proclaimed in all caps “ALL TITANIC PASSENGERS ARE SAFE; TRANSFERRED IN LIFEBOATS AT SEA”. By April 16th the true horror about the tragic loss of life and the sinking of the Titanic was beginning to emerge. Less than one-third (706 people) of those aboard the ill-fated ship survived. 1,517 people died. Only six of those who fell into the frigid water survived. “In total, 50% of the children survived, 20% of the men and 75% of the women” (Wikipedia). The tragic news brought 40,000 thousand people to the dock in New York to encourage, comfort and help the survivors brought to safety by the Carpathia. Investigations in the United States and the United Kingdom sought to discover what actually happened and what could be done to prevent such a disaster in the future. It was discovered that one ship, the Californian, was near enough to the Titanic to see the distress signals, but failed to respond. British investigators came to the conclusion that had the California responded, “she might have saved many, if not all, of the lives that were lost.” The committee in the United States concluded that the Californian was “nearer the Titanic than the 19 miles reported by her Captain, and that her officers and crew saw the distress of the Titanic and failed to respond to them in accordance with the dictates of humanity, international usage, and the requirements of law” (Encyclopedia Britannica). Not everyone agrees with the conclusions of the investigations. From the beginning, there has been both information and misinformation. Stories of heroism and selflessness abound. One of my favorites is about John Harper - a Scottish preacher on his way to preach for 3 months at the famed Moody Church in Chicago. He traveled on the Titanic with his six-year-old daughter. After the collision, Harper made sure that his daughter was placed in one of the lifeboats. Survivors reported that after she was secured, he was heard shouting, "Let the women, children and the unsaved into the lifeboats." He gave his life jacket to a man who had none, saying “Don’t worry about me. I’m going up, not down.” As the Titanic sank into the depths, passengers jumped into the frigid waters, including Harper. Four years after the Titanic sank, one of the survivors shared this testimony at a reunion of survivors in Ontario, Canada. As he clung to a piece of debris from the wreckage, “Harper, who was struggling in the water near him, shouted out, "Are you saved?" "No," the man replied. Harper then shouted the words from Scripture: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." The man did not answer, and a moment later he drifted away on the waves. A few minutes later, the current brought the two men back together. Again, Harper asked, "Are you saved?" Once again, the answer was "no." With his dying breath, Harper shouted, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." He then slipped under the waves for the last time. Then and there, the man he had witnessed to decided to turn his life over to Christ” (BREAKPOINT Commentary - April 14, 1999 By Charles W. Colson). It was one week after Easter in 1912 that the Titanic struck the iceberg. John Harper believed the Gospel, lived the Gospel, and shared the Gospel. His life inspires us and challenges us to do the same. Happy Easter! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #APRIL23

PLYMOUTH – Save the date Saturday, 09/23/2023, 9 am - 2 pm, in Michigan. Imagine repeated waves of Michiganders making noise and reshaping communities worldwide with the Good News of Jesus Christ because of one important day on 09/23/23! Can you feel it? Can you dream it? Do you want to experience it in-person? You can! Highschooler? University student? Between the ages of 18-35 years of age? Leading a ministry with one of these age groups? On the shores of every Great Lake, the waves have been splashing the sand and the stones for thousands of years without stopping. Day and night. The Lord wants Michiganders to do the same with the Good News of Christ by diving into the lives of others throughout the world. Click this link to reserve your spot and to learn more about this event on 09/23/23: Sending Out New Generations Gathering. On 09/23/23 we will focus on sending new generations from Michigan to the nations, to those who speak Urdu, to those who drink water from open wells, to those who are hungry, to those who live in crowded cities, to those who live alone on mountain sides surrounded by jungles. Highschooler? Could you imagine Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, or Mexico? Yes, a one-week summer mission trip is possible! How? Learn more at this one-day event filled with food, swag, and unique experiences through English and other languages. On 09/23/23, you will learn how convenient it is to register and prepare for a youth group mission trip. University Student? Want to experience an entire summer living in England having conversations with university students in pubs,or living in a remote, tropical village explaining lessons from the Bible using another language? That could be your experience. We will show you a menu of mission sites that will make it nearly impossible for you to decide on just one mission trip. 18 or older? Over the age of 18? What about a 2-year assignment in Japan, India, Belgium, or Mali creating friendships and explaining Christ’s to those around you. With a 2-year assignment, everything is paid for by the generosity of church members: flights, housing, local transportation, and language classes. You will be empowered to live an adventure for the Lord that you will never forget. More importantly, the people who come to know Christ from your witness will live in eternity with you because you cared enough to risk a trip overseas. Language Groups We beg those of you who speak additional languages to come and join us. Pig-Latin does not really count as a language for overseas service. Ha. However, other languages are priceless. There will be a special breakout for those of you who speak Arabic, Spanish, Asian languages, European languages, and other dialects. Your superpower will be walking into a community speaking the heart language of the people. You will do more in minutes than most can do in months. Do not be shy, join us on 09/23/23. Black Church Missions Some of us have a unique role or experience in serving others. Some will more easily blend into an international culture that is visited because of the physical resemblance. Urban residents understand the challenges of urban dwellers in other nations. The George Liele Scholarship, through the International Mission Board, can assist local black churches with international mission efforts and education. There is a valuable place for you, and we want to hear your voice. Day’s Activities We are going to rock the day on 09/23/23 for Jesus Christ with sounds, aromas, flavors, experiences, swag, testimonies, music, prayer, and preaching that is going to tattoo into your heart and brain a permanent spot for those who have yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Did you know our word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word, “tatau” which means to mark or strike? The word tattoo refers to ancient methods where ink was “tapped” into the skin by using sharp sticks or bones. Be warned about 09/23/23, the Holy Spirit is going to tap, tap, tap into your heart and mind an unforgettable burden for other people around the world. There is no telling what the Lord will do in you and through you starting on 09/23/23. Save the date Saturday, 09/23/2023, 9 am - 2 pm, in Michigan for the Sending Out New Generations Gathering. Watch for more breaking news each month. 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. #MARCH23

PLYMOUTH – It is hard to imagine where I would be personally and more importantly where the life of Mile City Church would be without experiencing the benefits from the fuel of the Annie Armstrong Easter offering. Early on, having the financial support as a brand new church planter was monumental and helped give my wife Jen and I the courage to take the leap to start Mile City seven years ago. However, beyond the actual support dollars, was the spiritual support that was fueling and investing in us greatly. The church planter support system that is fueled by the Annie Armstrong offering is in a league of its own. It is the greatest church planting engine on the planet. Not only have I gotten to experience it myself, but now I have had the continuous privilege of walking with many other new church planters on their journey and watching them experience those benefits. At Mile City church it is a joy and honor to give back annually to the Annie Armstrong Easter offering that has helped give us the fuel that we needed to take off. To all the pastors out there reading this - if you have ever wondered if your investment into the Annie Armstrong offering is worth it; I humbly say with all glory to our great God that after seven years of existence, Mile City is now in two locations with three different languages, has multiplied six other times and is helping to plant many other churches. I’m living proof, and just one of many examples, that this offering is truly working. But as you know, there is much more work to do, and God in his amazing plan wants to use all of us to keep on fueling His great mission. What a privilege it is for each one of us to get a front row seat of watching him show off! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Travis Whittaker is Lead Pastor of Mile City Church. In 2015, Travis and a launch team of 75 people set out together to plant Mile City. Travis and Jen are raising their four children, Tristan, Lena, London and Tavin, and are honored to lead the Mile City family. #MARCH23

PLYMOUTH – It is now almost three years since we came to the US. One thing that our family is still getting used to is the potluck culture, which is not as common in Japan or Korea (where my wife Sunhee is from). So this happened last year when our family was invited to a dinner by one of our good American friends. We figured it will be a potluck, so we got some frozen mandoos (i.e. Korean dumplings) from a very fancy supermarket called Kroger. Three minutes in the microwave, bam! Easy peasy. Then, just to make it look more presentable, we placed the mandoos on a nice plate and brought them to our friend’s house. As soon as people saw the mandoos, they all exclaimed “how marvelous!” as if they have never seen a microwaved meal before. Sure enough, they all assumed that Sunhee cooked that thing from scratch. Even though I felt very guilty, it became too late to tell the truth and we went with the flow that evening. It really became awkward after that day, as people started talking about my wife’s homemade mandoos. Eventually, it became so awkward, and we found a good time to tell the truth, and it all ended with a big laugh. Oh, what a relief! If we are not careful, we can be living in a life full of lies. Scripture says that Satan is the father of lies and he is capable of cooking those lies as easily as those mandoos. I share this with you because Satan has been speaking lots of lies in my life. Since our church began three months ago, I wish I could say everything is going well. But things are tough. Some Sundays are great, others are not. Our church attendance is not growing as fast as I hoped. In those moments, the enemy finds a small crack, and speaks a lot of lies in my ears to discourage me. “Hey, do you really think you’re in the right profession?” “Do you think people are really changing through your sermons?” “Do you think you’re a good leader?” I’ll be honest. Sometimes I fall for those lies and get discouraged. There are mornings when I don’t want to get up from my bed. In those moments, what can I do but cling on to God’s truth. The Apostle Paul rightly said that we must wear the armor of God and fend those lies off with the truth of the Gospel. I am a child of God. I am forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ. I am not perfect, but Jesus is perfect, and He will build this church. It may not be according to my timing, but He will build this church in His timing and praise the Lord for that. As I write this, my heart goes out to those pastors who are discouraged. My heart goes out to those pastors who are feeling insignificant. If that is you, I want to gently remind you that Jesus has won this battle. The Author and the Creator of life has got this thing rigged, and he will open the way. Let’s cut the lies of the enemy and keep sowing, keep plowing, and God will show His grace upon us. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Maki Umakoshi is a pastor of Hikari City Church which was launched in October 2022 in Plymouth, Michigan. His family came to the US in February 2020 to bring the Gospel to Japanese people living in greater Detroit. His wife Sunhee is from South Korea and they have an 8-year old daughter. #MARCH23

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Faithfulness in difficult places sums up missionary Kay Bennett’s ministry to the marginalized in one of America’s most challenging cities.“Baptist Friendship House is a ministry center to folks who are impoverished, to folks who are unhoused and to human trafficking survivors,” Bennett said. “The people we minister to come from all walks of life. Some grew up here in NewOrleans, in Louisiana. Others come from different states, and some even come from different countries.” Bennett, a missionary with the North American Mission Board, has served through the Baptist Friendship House for more than 30 years. She works among those society routinely overlooks, believing the gospel message can transform any person’s life. Through their ministry, the Baptist Friendship House gives out food, clothing and hygiene kits in backpacks that help meet the needs for those in the community. “As we minister to those basic needs that we all have, it opens the door to minister to the spiritual need, which is the greatest need of all, so that a life-changing relationship can begin with Jesus Christ, ”Bennett said. Life on the street means — whether rain, shine, in oppressive New Orleans humidity or through the occasional cold spell — constantly enduring the elements outdoors. There are consistent threats of violence, addiction, sickness and infection. The National Library of Medicine stated in 2017 that the average lifespan for a homeless person is 17.5 years shorter than the general population. “You’re at risk every day of your life when you walk around on the streets,” Bennett said. “On Tuesdays when we have folks come in our yard at the Friendship House, one of the things that we often do is we have lots of first aid supplies, antibacterial ointments, creams and band-aids to give away for those who’ve been hurt.”No one wants to live this way, but the hurdles they have to overcome to get a job and find a place to live can seem insurmountable. They lack identification, and they have either lost or never had the documentation to get an ID. Many have endured trauma and abuse. They have run away or been cast out, grown up on the streets and become adults. “We encourage them to come to Friendship House where we can offer them counseling and case management and try to resolve some of those past issues too,” Bennett said. “I’ve even had folks that can’t read and write. So we’ll teach them to read and write, and then build on that skill and help them get their GED,” she noted. “Then, we build on that with life skills and with job readiness skills.” Bennett first met a young woman named Yvonne Schaad in 2006. Schaad visited the Baptist Friendship House when they were handing out food. For 10 years, Schaad would attend a Bible study while continuing to struggle with alcoholism and living on the streets of New Orleans before things began to change. The overwhelming love Schaad experienced from Bennett and others at the Baptist Friendship House played a huge role in her transformation. “You know, they loved me no matter what. And it took some time, but they showed me that there is a God, and He loves you,” Schaad recalled. “And that’s just amazing right there, everything that I’ve done and did, God forgives me,” she said. “It took me a long time to forgive myself, but I think that I have now.” Schaad has been sober for several years and regularly comes to the Friendship House to serve. With the help of Bennett and her staff, Schaad completed her GED and is successfully working. “I’m grateful I can come here ...and help them,” said Schaad. “Most of the people I used to run with have passed, but there’s some that I still see now and maybe they’ll see that there is another side.” Schaad’s transformation is just one of many that Bennett and her fellow staff members have seen. “No matter what circumstance or situation we find ourselves in, Jesus Christ is truly the only person that can turn somebody’s life around,” Bennett said. “I get to watch God show up and show out. It’s amazing to watch. He still works miracles.” The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering provides half of NAMB’s annual budget, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the field. The offering is used for training, support and care for missionaries, like Bennett, and for evangelism resources. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #MARCH23

WARREN – I got a report from Turkey from a friend, a Romanian pastor with Turkish ethnicity. He went there with aid to the Christians and is leaving again in March with a few pastors. He brings tents and small propane tanks. Our church supported some of the expenses. My friend grew up as a Muslim, graduated Muslim High School in Romania, came to know Christ, became a Baptist pastor and founded 3 Turkish churches in Romanian. I think seeing the disaster through the lenses of Christian relief teams is important. Here is his report as given through Google translate. “Today, I stayed in Antakya, Antioch. The place where the Lord's disciples received the name Christians for the first time. In Antakya, the first Gentile church was established. This is where the first Christian missionaries who brought the gospel to Europe left from. The city of Antakya now looks like it was hit by nuclear bombs. Nature took revenge on Antakya and overcame her. Antakya no longer exists as a city. It's almost completely destroyed! I went to the Turkish evangelical church. There are a few rooms left of the church building, but the brothers there told us that they were asked by the authorities to leave that building because it is going to be demolished. It is shaky, and not safe. In front of the Turkish church building in Antakya is installed a tent. In the tent live several dozen people who have lost their homes. An elderly woman asked us to pray for her. With tears in her eyes, she told us that five grandchildren and a daughter-in-law had died! The Turkish pastor looked at me and told me that he did not know how or what to pray. I felt the same. We finally prayed, through the spirit that gave us the right words and shed some more tears in our already empty bellows. Another 70-year-old man told us how he, his wife and their girl escaped from under the rubble after 21 hours. I asked his permission to take a picture of him because for me he is the symbol of God's miracles in Antioch of another time! My new friend says that behind us 17 people still lie under the rubble. I could write a lot more about today and it is not even over. But I have no more words. My vocabulary is so poor in the face of this tragedy that I don't even know what else to say. Tomorrow is Sunday. Pray for the brothers in Turkey, for those in Antakya in particular. Pray that God will bless this place and, “why not?”, make this place a source of blessing for Asia. HE can. In addition, you can also give through your churches for the afflicted in Turkey. And tomorrow, thank God for Grace and for peace, and for water and bread, and for your loved ones, and for the roof of the house where you live. It's good for you. For the moment”. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Doru Radu is one of the elders at Golgotha Romanian Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan. Radu immigrated from the communist Romania and likes to write stories about the good hand of our Lord who protected us during the 45 years of communist persecution. #MARCH23