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by Garth Leno WINDSOR, ON – Stewardship is not just about money. It involves faithfully managing everything God has placed in your charge for the advancement of His kingdom. Open-handed giving is a powerful principle of God, designed to be a blessing both to the giver and the recipient of the gift. It is the supernatural overflow of a generous heart that desires to express the love and glory of God. So, why give? Here are five reasons why we give—and more specifically— five reasons why we’ve chosen to give to the North American Mission Board’s Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO). 1. We give because we love people. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16, NIV). What motivated God to sacrifice His Son was not a sense of indebtedness or obligation. The love He had for us compelled Him to send Jesus in order to meet our most pressing need. If love for others was what prompted God to give, then should it not be our primary motivation for giving as well? With spiritual maturity we should become less attached to our possessions and more concerned with meeting the needs of others and planting churches everywhere for everyone. 2. We give so we can be a blessing to others. God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:2: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” I will bless you…and you will be a blessing to others. This is our privilege and calling as people of God. We are blessed by God to be a blessing—to be generous—to others. Our gifts to the AAEO bless church planters and missionaries in compassion ministries, and through them, it blesses Christians and non-Christians across North America through Send Network and Send Relief. 3. We give to preach the gospel. It takes money to reach lost people with the gospel. Evangelism, church planting, developing residencies, strengthening churches, meeting needs– it all takes money! If we are committed to spreading the gospel, then we have no choice but to support it with our finances, and that includes the AAEO. The AAEO helps to train and financially supports church planting missionaries. It helps to resource their plants with funding for ministry equipment, worship space rent, community outreach events and much more. 4. We give because it’s a biblical principle. There is a force of financial blessing that is released in our lives by the giving of our money. In 2 Corinthians 9:6 it says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Our giving is the seed which awaits a harvest at a later date. Our level of harvest through Send Network may be directly related to our level of giving to the AAEO. 5. We give to fill a void. As important as money is, it will never fill the void people have inside them. Ever since Adam fell, and sin entered the world, man has been seeking fulfillment in external things. He has tried to rebuild the Garden of Eden by his efforts, looking to find satisfaction in pleasures, possessions and status. The void can only be filled with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Nothing else will satisfy the inward yearnings of our souls. But once our hearts have been filled with the Spirit of God, and Jesus lives in and through our lives, then giving becomes a joyful ministry of obedience to the Word of God. Giving gives meaning to life! There are many great organizations to give to that are advancing God’s mission. But perhaps what’s just as important as where you give is that you give and are generous stewards. As for us, we have found significant kingdom impact and personal joy by supporting thousands of missionaries in church planting and compassion ministry through the AAEO. To learn more about how you can generously invest in the work of church planting in North America and find resources to lead your church to give, visit AnnieArmstrong.com. Want to hear more about what it means to be a generous steward? Listen to this episode of the We are Send Network podcast ABOUT THE AUTHOR Garth Leno lives in Windsor, Ontario Canada, with his wife and one daughter, Jamie. Two more children, Nathan and Kristin, are married with families of their own. Garth is the senior pastor at The Gathering, which he planted with friends in 2014. He also is on the Send Network Canadian Advisory Board. He has a doctorate from Bethel Theological Seminary and loves to preach. #MARCH22

by Chad Wells PORTAGE, MI – You've seen the scene: the camera sweeps across vast desert terrain, following a solitary track, zooming in on the lonely struggler. "Water, water," he says, crawling through the desert sands crying through parched lips, "Water..." Perhaps you've found yourself in a similar struggle. You wander, calling out for what is so desperately needed, but as yet unseen. You wait, searching for illusive answers as you traverse a desert of the soul. "Why am I here?" "Where is God?" "What is the meaning of this mess?" You believe, but the underlying unbelief challenges your perseverance, if not your faith itself. Spiritual deserts have a way of drawing us inward. The big picture gets lost as self begins to dominate the landscape. Confusion. Isolation. Loneliness. Temporary circumstances seem eternal. Momentary inconveniences seem insurmountable. Remembrance of past provision fades. The reality of ever-present help is forgotten. Consider the story of Israel. An enslaved people, desperate for deliverance, brought out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God. Yet, the same generation that was given incontrovertible evidence of God's presence and power failed to walk faithfully in the wilderness. There they groaned for a return to the land of their burden, longing for the predictable life of oppression over the vulnerability of dependence. With each complaint their hearts hardened. With each groan, their conclusions become clear: the God that would lead them to the desert could not be trusted. To be clear, they were in the desert, but they were never deserted. The Lord was present in the cloud by day and the fire by night. His power and provision were seen at every turn. The mountain quaked with the weight of His glory. From the tent of meeting to the tabernacle, the Lord was with His people. Rocks brought forth water. Manna rained like dew. Meat was miraculously provided. Yet, the sojourners complained, failing to recognize the greatest blessing of the desert. God was with His people Israel. You may be in the desert, but you are not deserted. He has promised to never leave or forsake you. To those who thirst, He gives springs of living water. To the hungry, the Bread of Life. The desert is never easy, but it is not a curse. If anything, the desert makes clear our need to die to self. It reveals our own insufficiencies, and highlights our need for our Shepherd to lead us home. Will you learn in the desert what a generation of Israelites failed to grasp? Will you look past your own circumstances and comfort, and see that He is with you? Will you trust His leadership and love as He walks with you through the shadowed valley? Look up and remember. Depend on and trust. He is faithful. He is with you. You are not deserted in this desert. He is leading you home. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chad Wells is the pastor of First Baptist Church-Portage and AMS for the South Central Baptist Association. #MARCH22

by Karen Blanchard CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI – My husband is a pastor and we have been in ministry our entire relationship. Since he was already on staff at a church when we started dating, our relationship hasn’t known anything else. If you know anything about ministry, you know it isn’t a Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm job. There are many demands that come along with ministry and it can be very draining. For the majority or our ministry, we didn’t establish great boundaries. We were constantly giving of ourselves and our time, which finally caught up to me several years ago. God began to show me how out of balance we were, and He also convicted me about how I replaced “being with Jesus” with “doing for Jesus.” These two things are not the same. Since I was so busy with ministry and not prioritizing time for my relationship with Jesus, my other relationships began to suffer. Oftentimes, God allows us to hit a point of frustration, to wake us up and see the need for a change. Before we can ever lead others, we first have to learn how to lead ourselves. One way I learned how to lead myself well was by learning to choose my “best yes.” Early in ministry, I didn’t know how to say “no” to things; consequently, I would say “yes” to everything. Somewhere along the line I bought into the lie that the more I “do” for Jesus, the better I would look in his eyes. I learned that I could say yes to a lot of things, but I couldn’t do a lot of things well. I love this quote by Lysa TerKeurst: “A person who lives with an overwhelmed schedule will ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.” I now pray and ask God to remove the things in my life that he never intended for me to do. I only want to say yes to my “best yes” and do that thing well! Another way I have learned to lead myself well is to implement a Sabbath during my week. My Sabbath is the day of the week I live for. On this day, I give myself time to linger longer with the Lord. I am not rushed to get things done for ministry or for my personal life. It is the time I can sit at the feet of Jesus and feed my soul. When I do this, I am able to drink from the living water that Jesus provides; and then out of that water, I can overflow into the lives of others. When we fill ourselves up with Jesus, we can then give Jesus to others. In John 15:4 Jesus says: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” Our ministry should not replace our time with God; instead, it is from our time with God we get what we need to minister to others. Peter Scazzero, author of The Emotionally Healthy Leader says: “You cannot give what you do not possess. What you do is important, but who you are is even more important. The state you are in is the state you give to others.” Serving God doesn’t mean you have to run yourself into the ground in exhaustion by doing all things! Pray and ask God to show you exactly where he wants you to minister. Then live that out after you have taken time to sit at his feet and are overflowing with his Spirit. These verses are great to meditate on when praying and asking God for endurance to run the race well while leading people to walk closer with Him. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. - Colossians 1:10-12 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9 We can lead others well when we first lead ourselves well. 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! #MARCH22

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – At one time my hometown of Kermit, Texas was a thriving, pristine community. Though established in the middle of the sand hills of West Texas, it had been developed into a town that would make the community of Beaver and Wally Cleaver green with envy. (Those of you of a certain mature age will know of whom I speak) The tax base in that little hamlet was enormous because of the oil and gas production from which it drew the lion’s share of its resources. The county was, to say the least, wealthy and used its finances to create a living atmosphere that was storybook perfect for families. It was a planned community to some extent by what was then called the Gulf Project funded by the Gulf Oil Corporation. The downtown area reflected what you might imagine as the perfect town of the 50’s. Today many of the new subdivisions and planned communities being developed across the country are very similar to this homey little hamlet. The long main street was lined with business after business that ranged from the Rexall Drug Store on the corner to a feed store at the far end of town. One business we would frequent only once or twice a year was Richies Shoe Store. It was the only exclusive footwear establishment in the town. Other clothing and department stores carried a few lines of shoes, but Richies was the best. Besides, Mr. Richie was the local Boy Scout Troop leader, and could be trusted to give you a fair deal. Richies was, in my youthful opinion of the time, the premier provider of shoes and boots because they were the exclusive retailer of Buster Brown and Red Goose Shoes. From a young boy's perspective there were no rivals in the world of footwear. Nothing came close to those pentacles of podiatric protectors. It was extremely difficult for a six year old to make such monumental decisions between the two of the finest footwear known in kiddom, but some slick Madison Avenue marketing techniques were powerful enough to persuade me to go with the Red Goose brand. It had little to do with the quality of the shoe, and everything to do with the big red goose that was strategically positioned near the cash register. This was no ordinary red plastic goose. If a purchase of Red Goose Shoes was made the extraordinarily fortunate buyer received the privilege of pulling down on the long extended neck and head of the goose. The process of this neck bending would automatically release a golden egg from the gooses’ entrails, which would be expelled from its, well let’s say, posterior. Within that golden egg could be anything. Toy prizes that were beyond imagination were encased in that golden sphere of surprise. The sheer thrill of chance and surprise beckoned my imagination to worlds of childhood wonder. The story that circulated through the peers of my little world was that one boy actually received a genuine ray gun that projected images of space creatures on almost any surface. It is curious to me, that the older I get the less I like surprises. I think it has something to do with control. When I was that little boy of six nothing could bring me more joy and happiness than an egg from the posterior of a plastic goose. It’s funny how perspectives and priorities change. Those changes reflect maturity and understanding or at least they should. The things I loved as a child have faded to the inconsequential and unimportant. Today I have grown and developed a more sophisticated and refined list of wants and needs. God tells us that as we mature physically we should also mature emotionally and spiritually, but there are some of us who are perpetually stuck in an infantile and childish state. Maturity is a malleable and moving goal, and even now at my present age, I find it a summit I have yet to reach. Yet, I still strive for the prize. It is time to move on and move up. It is time to find our greatest joy and fulfillment in those things that are eternal and not temporal. I know that those goose-given-golden-eggs were really “swift” and “super neat”, but toy ray guns are no match for the wonders that await those who “seek first the Kingdom of Heaven.” When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. - 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 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. #MARCH22

by Dr. Tony L Lynn DETROIT, MI – Names of dynamic-duos easily role-off the tongue when we speak about them. Batman and Robin. Captain Kirk and Spock. Chewie and Han Solo. Pastor Corn and Marisa! For decades, Pastor Cornelius and Mrs. Marisa Roberson have possessed two identities. “Pastor Corn,” as he is affectionately called, has guided people through troubled times as a counselor in group and private sessions. Marisa has taken new employees with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan by the hand, guiding them to unlock all the services of an insurance agency to help people in times of crisis like we have all experienced. Pastor Corn and Marisa, by day, have assisted thousands throughout Michigan to escape troubled-times and discover renewed hope in their successful careers. Simultaneously while pursuing their careers, Pastor Corn and Marisa care for a family of scholars and athletes. Life gives the Robersons a lot and they give back more to others, wrapped-up in love. Along with all that I already mentioned, Pastor Corn and Marisa established a well-known neighborhood church in the heartland of Detroit’s underserved sections. Our partnership with Pastor Corn and Marisa started more than five years ago as they became an assessed and endorsed church planting couple in Michigan. The church building of Heart and Soul Community Church Detroit has become known as the cornerstone of the ministry because hungry children are fed, a secure environment is protected, and the Good News of Jesus Christ is taught and lived out in action. However, there is more to the ministry than the building, so don’t miss it. Frequently, the Robersons are seen walking the neighborhood’s one square mile of homes and families engaging people in conversations about faith, current events, sports, and the latest news on families. Tony Lynn, the church planting leader with Send Network says, “Among the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention, Pastor Corn and Marisa are identified as missionaries; and rightly so, because they will overcome barriers to share the Good News of Christ with everyone within their lives regardless of their age, their background, and their address. They are convinced that Jesus Christ changes everything in people’s lives.” Lynn having witnessed the church’s annual summer baptism celebrations at Kensington Metropark, Milford adds, “Pastor Corn and Maris’s affection for Christ overflows into their devoted relationships with neighbors. They speak about Christ with others as easily as they breath.” Marisa. while beaming with pride over her husband’s spiritual influence with others reports, “In the neighborhood, Pastor Corn is referred to as “The Sheriff” because he is always watching out for everyone’s best interest.” Boys and girls intentionally ride bikes or walk to the church building where they know they will encounter Pastor Corn or Marisa. When they speak to one another, everyone knows one another by name. There is a sense of family within this one square mile of Detroit. Pastor Corn, with a warm affection in his eyes and a smile on his face will tell you, “Marisa is my rib. I couldn’t do any of this without her.” The two are inseparable and committed to one another. It is hard to believe that a spiritual romance like theirs started at a Detroit Tiger’s baseball game, but it did. The Lord has taken their game into multiple innings and the city of Detroit is all the better because of Pastor Corn and Marisa. Yet suddenly this past year, through some pivotal moments, the Roberson’s lives shifted unexpectedly and dramatically! Like the day Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider then became Spider-Man, a new story started to unfold for Pastor Corn and Marisa. A friend of Pastor Corn was a longtime and loved pastor in West Bloomfield. Though the two men served miles away from one another, the two pastors made it a point to share life together and enjoy one another’s company. One day, Pastor Corn’s friend passed away leaving a widow and a congregation behind without a local shepherd. Recognizing the bond between the two pastors, Pastor Corn was asked to perform the memorial ceremony for his dear friend and the congregation of the deceased became rapidly attached to Pastor Corn and Marisa. Through a series of conversations, the members of the established church in West Bloomfield decided to merge their building, property, parsonage, and its leadership with Pastor Corn and Heart and Soul Community Church. The details are amazing. The new campus in West Bloomfield is across the street from the local high school which is a perfect combination for “Coach Corn!” That is right. He has another identity and superpower he is using for the Lord. A coach. Many volunteers contributed money and muscle to prepare the new site as Heart and Soul Community Church West Bloomfield. Separated by fifteen miles distance from the original campus, the Robersons and volunteers from churches like Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City, descended on the new site during long evenings and busy weekends, to redirect previous flooding problems, perform demolition, then refit and rebuild the space for a fresh start. During these past chilly winter months, the church launched at the new site: one couple, two campuses, God’s strength. Would you pray for the leadership and the members of the church as they find ways to minister in two locations fifteen miles apart? The leadership understands that in Detroit and West Bloomfield people need Jesus Christ because he changes everything. This one couple, Pastor Corn and Marisa, are focused on the two campuses with one eternal mission: to see every man, woman, and child offered an opportunity to know Jesus Christ. Would you like to encourage Pastor Corn and Marisa? Occasionally, God does things that are not on the agenda or in the budget for a local church. If you would like to express your appreciation in a tangible way to Pastor Corn and Marisa Roberson you can do so by sending a card and writing a check to Heart and Soul Community Church, then mail it to: Heart and Soul Community Church Attention: Pastor Cornelius Roberson 18701 Grand River Avenue, Suite 257 Detroit, Michigan 48223 Your expression of love will be greatly appreciated. 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. #MARCH22

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – Hi Silas and Abel, your mommy and daddy asked Grandma and I to record a message so you could hear our voices. It’s such a great idea! I’m Papa by the way and I want you to know my voice and hear it often. From the moment you were born January 16th, Grandma and I have longed to hold you and welcome you into our lives. Though our arms remain empty because of the special care you need, you are held firmly in our hearts and surrounded in our love. I remember when your parents told us the news they were expecting. We barely got seated in the restaurant before your daddy told us that they were going to have a baby. Joy flooded our hearts. You are the answer to multiple prayers offered years before that special moment. We couldn’t stop smiling. As we drove away from dinner, Grandma said: “Wouldn’t it be great to have twins?” Your mommy is a twin and some say that it’s not uncommon for twins to have twins. Imagine our surprise when we got the call that next day that you were indeed twins! A few days later we got another call. One that introduced us to a whole new vocabulary. Your mommy told us that you were MoMo Twins, meaning that you were identical twins sharing the same amniotic sack. Your Momma’s pregnancy would be special in a way that few are. You would face challenges as you developed in the womb - especially as your cords wrapped around each other much like a braid. That braid posed potential challenges to your health. Your daddy, and especially your mommy, made incredible sacrifices to give you life. One of our many prayers for you came from the Bible: “For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). We entrusted you to God - asking Him to knit both of you together in His miraculous way. And here you are! You are born into a world full of wonder. Your 3½ or so pounds look so tiny, yet you are perfect in every way. Right now, you are surrounded by caring doctors, nurses, and machines in the NICU that are helping you grow, but soon you will enter a whole new world! Your mommy and daddy will introduce you to a world that is beyond anything you can even begin to comprehend. And Silas and Abel, you will introduce your parents to the world in a whole new way. Your growth, your discoveries, your looks of surprise, laughter, and even tears will take them to depths of wonder they didn’t know existed. The fun part is that Grandma and I get to experience it with you too! We can’t wait. Like you, your world is pretty small right now. It won’t stay that way. Beyond the walls, and all the medical devices, are scores and scores of people who are praying for you. We are grateful for each one. It means the world to us! 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. #MARCH22

by Coye Bouyer LANSING, MI – Jesus teaches that if someone slaps us on the cheek, we should turn the other to them also (Matt. 5:39-40). Furthermore Paul teaches us that we should never retaliate against our enemies and those who try to harm us. Now in both cases these are not references to times of war or times of protection of our loved ones, but rather personal attacks from another. We are instructed not to retaliate or seek revenge. But how in the world are we supposed to overcome harmful attacks, physical abuse, or the verbal onslaughts that can leave us in physical pain or psychological and emotional instability? While it may be more difficult to decipher through the words of Jesus in the ‘Sermon on the Mountain,’ Paul gives us a sure way to put up with and even apply the biblical principle of turning the other cheek. Paul says, “we are to overcome evil, with good” (Romans 12:21). In essence, Paul is trying to get us to see that the only way to overcome evil is to make sure that we are committed to the practice of ‘doing good.’ Doing the right thing just doesn’t happen. It takes time, patience, and practice. Any successful athlete, actor or professional would agree that they did not get to the heights of their career without putting in long hours of practice, patiently and persistently trying to get it right. In the same way you and I will never achieve the ability to overcome evil with good, if we don’t first spend much of our time planning for and practicing the right thing so when personal attacks take place, we can do in public the good we have been practicing in private. So, what is the point of this month’s article? Simple, in order for you and I to live out the more difficult teachings of Jesus and biblical principles such as turning the other cheek, we must first practice them on smaller scales in the everyday scenarios in our life. You and I can start at home by sometimes holding our tongue instead of speaking our mind, thinking of something nice to say instead of something harsh. We began to think about the concerns, needs and even desires of others first before ourselves. At work we can hold the door for someone else, when we are driving slow down, let someone else into your lane, look for opportunities to give instead of receive. By doing things like these, we prepare ourselves for the day when someone attempts or even succeeds in wronging, taking away, or simply mistreating us. Only then will we still be able to turn the other cheek like Jesus said, and overcome their evil with our good like Paul teaches. God Bless! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Coye L. Bouyer is the founding pastor of Kingdom Life Church in Lansing, MI where he has served since March of 2010. Pastor Bouyer recently stepped into the Diversity Ambassador role for the BSCM and firmly believes that he was not only called to Preach the Gospel as part of the process of reconciliation of man to God, but also using any platform as a bridge of reconciliation of man to man, and even more so amongst the brethren. Pastor Bouyer and his lovely wife Keturah (Gen. 25:1) have been married four over 20 years and have four children; Sierra, Seth, Cayla and Coye II. #MARCH22

by Mick Schatz ROSCOMMON, MI – Can one person make a difference? Back in the early 90’s when I was an intern on staff with a church in Florida (my birthplace), I met regularly with associate pastors who would speak into my life and mentor me. During this time, I also became engaged to my forever sweetheart (now 25 years married). In one of our weekly meetings one of my pastor friends shared with me this statement - “What’s more important, your rights or the relationship”. Wow, what a thought, especially as I was about to be a husband! That one statement has replayed itself in my mind continuously over the years of marriage and ministry. A constant guide and reminder that people are more important than my personal selfish agenda. I have discovered in 25 plus years of ministry that it is easy to get consumed with numbers, programming, outcomes, budgets and forget that God’s heart is for people therefore so should mine. Amazingly that one statement has replayed itself in my mind on many occasions to keep my perspective correctly focused. So, the answer is yes! One person can make a difference. It’s easy to believe you are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, please understand you were created by God for a specific purpose and impact in this life on this planet, and God does not scheme. God is not playing games with us. This is real life with eternity in the balance. God has placed you right where you are to impact those around you with the love and life of Christ. Nevertheless, in case you still doubt your significance and the impact you can have on the world, let me give you a few of my favorite examples: Moses - who had a speech impediment, yet led a nation to freedom Gideon - who led an army of 300 to defeat an army of thousands David - a sheep herder who defeated a giant Mary - a young virgin who believed by faith she was to give birth to Jesus (the son of God) Saul - who killed Christians, yet called by God to be Paul and be a missionary George Washington - who led a country to freedom over tyranny Winston Churchill - Leader of Great Britain during World War Two Bill Gates - Founder of Microsoft Steve Jobs - who transformed the music industry Rosa Parks - who campaigned and fought against segregation and racism Neil Armstrong - who walked on the moon Obviously, this list is just some of my favorites and the list could go on and on. History is packed full of people who impacted their community and the world. God uses folks of all shapes and sizes to achieve His purposes. Your shape and your size are included in His plans. This article is simply a reminder to you and me of how important our witness is in this hopeless culture. It’s a reminder of the “Power of One”. That’s one person (you/me) impacting one other person who impacts another person, and so on and so on. May we not be content with living our lives just for our own glory and satisfaction. Let's live every day with a Kingdom mindset, on a Kingdom mission for Kingdom glory! 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. #MARCH22

by Dr. Noe Garcia I wanted to reach people. I wanted to grow the church. I wanted to make an impact. But I didn't recognize what I was doing. Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from the Church Planting Masterclass. Sign up for the Church Planting Masterclass at NewChurches.com. When I first arrived in North Phoenix Baptist Church, I knew it needed revitalization. It was a great church. It had great bones. But there were things that needed to be done. I wanted to reach people. I wanted to grow the church. I wanted to make an impact. But I didn’t recognize what I was doing. I was moving 100 miles an hour. My mind was constantly going, thinking about the church. When I would go home after work I was still thinking about the church, to the point that I began unintentionally neglecting my family. Hitting the wall I began to run so fast, my eating habits, my mental state and my physical wellbeing became very unhealthy. And honestly, my spiritual life suffered too. I was preparing sermons every week but preparing a sermon and sitting alone with God — just God — simply to know Him are two completely different things. Eventually, I hit a wall, and I became really irritated. I was irritable at home and at work. I was frustrated when things didn’t go well. I was disappointed most of the time. I never felt like it was enough. If the church grew, I wanted to grow more. If people were saved, I wanted more to be saved. If people were baptized, I wanted more to be baptized. And because I never felt like I attained the goal, I began to question my calling. Here are a few of the common thoughts I had: “Man, I’m not going where I want to go with this church.” “Things aren’t turning out the way they should.” “People aren’t responding how I want them to respond.” “There is staff turnover; people are talking bad about me.” I lived this way for five years. It was discouraging. Think about that. Five years of pretty much non-stop work. That’s pretty crazy. Sabbatical I took a month-long sabbatical, and I left my cell phone in Arizona and went to an entirely different state. I forced myself to rest and let my mind rest, to let my thoughts rest and to let my body rest. During this time, three things happened: 1. God began to bring up what I was suppressing. Over the five years, I suppressed the criticism, the staff turnover, people leaving the church or the things said about me and my failures. I was moving so fast I didn’t stop long enough to take time to deal with the pain and grief. So, while I rested, God brought those that pain back up. He brought the failures back up. He brought the brokenness back up, and I could no longer suppress it by running fast. Because I slowed down, I was forced to deal with them. God did the miraculous work of bringing up the stuff that was in me, but once He showed it to me, He helped me to see how these things were connected to the other things He showed me. 2. I realized I was unhealthy. I was unhealthy in these areas of my life because I was so eager to be successful, and I neglected my own spiritual walk, my own mental health, my own physical health, and my own family. I neglected the most important things so that I can become successful. Sometimes I ask myself, “Did I want success for His Name, or did I want success for my name?” And that’s a hard question to have to answer. So, not only did rest cause these things to come up to the surface, but when He showed me these things, rest also showed me there were some internal things I needed to work on and deal with. 3. Rest renewed my sense of calling. Being a pastor is hard. Here are some commonly cited states that show this: 70% of pastors constantly fight depression[1] 38% of U.S. pastors have thought about quitting full-time ministry in the past year[2] Only one in three pastors is considered “healthy[3]” in terms of well-being Pastors are exhausted. We don’t know who to trust. We’re tired of feeling like we’re never enough. We’re tired of feeling like we can’t hit a home run sermon like we want to hit. We’re tired to feel like we’re not growing. No matter who leaves the church, even if it’s for the better, it always stings. You question your leadership. You wonder if you should go do something else, somewhere else. All of these things come to mind often. And we often feel like we’re failing. When I rested, and I dealt with these things that surfaced the unhealthiness was exposed. As I was dealing with these emotions, God reminded me, “Son, I have called you to this work.” He never promised it’s going to be easy. In fact, God knew the pains we would walk through when He called us into this work. He knew that as pastors, we would end up washing the feet of the very same people who would betray us, who would deny us, who would doubt us, just like they did Jesus first. Now, I get it. We’re not Jesus. But I think we can get an idea of what it’s like to wash the feet of the same people that end up hurting you. Church planters need rest too It was so good for me to stop, breathe and rest. And to be reminded that God has called me to this great task. God, the Creator, who hung the moon and the stars has called us to this work. I get it, pastor. It’s frustrating, and it’s exhausting. But let me encourage you with something. You can rest. You need rest. When was the last time you really rested? When was the last time you left your phone or email at home? Not just a quick half day break or even a day break. The truth is, it takes about three days just to unwind. Take time to rest and focus on you family and Jesus and be reminded of this call. You don’t have to do it once a year. You can find rest every day. You can come to the Father and find rest every day. You can find rest for your soul and be reminded that He has called you to this great task, and He will accomplish His purposes through you. Sign up for the Church Planting Masterclass at NewChurches.com. [1] Francis A Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development research studies in 1998 and 2006. [2] Barna [3] Barna defined “healthy” pastors as those who score themselves either “excellent” or “good” on all six of these six well-being categories. Currently, only 35 percent of America’s pastors fall into the healthy category. ABOUT THE AUTHOR In 2016 Noe became the senior pastor at North Phoenix Baptist Church. Shortly after arriving in Arizona Pastor Noe began to pursue and receive his Doctorate of Ministry and Executive Leadership degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Noe Garcia is a passionate preacher who loves challenging and encouraging people with God’s Word. He is not only passionate about the city of Phoenix, but he is passionate about people knowing Jesus and following Jesus. Noe and his wife Clancey have been married for 11 years and have 4 children. They both have a strong desire to see the lost get found and to see the found share the Lord’s saving grace. #MARCH22

by Joel Wayne HUDSONVILLE, MI – We crave authenticity. We don’t like knockoffs. Copycats are seen as a degradation of the original. We don’t like imitations. They are not the real thing. When you want an oatmeal cookie with a cream filling you want a Little Debbie’s oatmeal cream pie…. You don’t want the knock off brand. As Paul writes to the Church in Corinth He says, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1) Paul is pointing out that he is imitating Jesus. He is imitating Jesus. It is only in imitating the proper source that we discover the value of leadership transference. Leadership transference is the modeling of Christ in order to gain the courage to press forward. This begs an important question? Are we being sincere, authentic, to the call of God in our churches? Are we “copycats?” Are we simply replicating that which came before, or what the guys are doing down the street? Or are we attentive to the “new thing”, the “authentic call” God has for our lives. How would your leadership answer the above? We have been called to imitate those who follow Christ, but to also recognize when we have given up our identity for the sake of not having to do the difficult task of exploring all God may be asking from us. It comes from deep conviction and is rooted in that not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is teaching first that which God has called us to; while equipping others to make decisions that don’t slowly drift from the original call. I think back of when I was installing a 4-foot picket fence in my twenties. I cut the first picket, and then proceeded to use each additional picket as the template and model for the next cut. In time, my pickets were more than “off”. They stopped resembling the original. Have our churches stopped resembling the original call God put on our hearts? Are you transferring a calendar and program to your people, or are you transferring a movement of God that propels a ministry to engage your community with love and power? Are we imitating the right thing? The truth we discover in answering this question forces a deep evaluation of self. I know the leaders within the state are ready to not only help you discover that which you are transferring, but how to imitate the call and passion of Jesus. Don’t be afraid of the answer, fear being unwilling to ask the question. We are here to join you in serving a mighty God. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joel Wayne is the Pastor of Chapel Pointe and Executive Director of Be The Church. #MARCH22

by Rick and Cindy Truesdail Hello, MI COMers! Michigan is a beautiful state! We have a lot of lakes and trees, many campgrounds, and scenic places to visit. We enjoy four seasons! Spring, summer, fall, and... winter. Many people love the first three and go south for the winter. We have enjoyed that for a few years now, but this year we are here in the midst of a big snowstorm and icy roads. Cindy loves the snow; however, Rick is a little less excited about it. Whether you enjoy the winter weather, it’s difficult to look outside and not thank God for the pure white covering on the ground and the tree branches glistening with snow. Our prayer is that you will be thankful for whatever season we are in and praise God for His beautiful paintings in nature. We are in the winter of our life span and still struggling with health issues. Cindy has been diagnosed with CAD (Coronary Artery Disease) and has been unable to do much these past few months. However, we continually praise God for this season of our life and depend on His promises to see us through the rougher days. We appreciate your prayers for us as we seek His will as we make plans for MI COM in 2022. We ask you help as our chapter grows, and especially in the days ahead. We need leaders and workers along beside us. We are assured there are needs in Michigan that MI COM can fill, and many are lost who need to know about our Savior. Continue to stand firm in our commitment to MI COM and we know God will bless our efforts. Sharing Christ as We Go, Rick and Cindy Bambi Work Week & Spring Rally 2022 May 9-14, 2022 Monday noon – Saturday AM Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat & Conference Center Roscommon, MI Set aside this week to come to and be a part of MI COM on mission. We have four work teams: Construction, Cleaning & Beautification, Sewing, and Kitchen. There is always a place for you! Contact Cindy to make your reservation for a campsite or room in the lodge. We will have the MI COM Country Store set up, so bring something to put on the table if you can. Proceeds go to the treasury to pay for our non-profit/corporate expenses. 2022 COM National Rally June 7-9, 2022 North Florida Fairgrounds Tallahassee, FL This will be the Golden 50th Anniversary of Campers on Mission. "Renew in 2022" will be the theme. Mark your calendars, start saving your money for travel, and be ready to register when it's available. More information will follow as we get it over the next few months. MI COM Ladies Sewing Event MI COM Ladies met again in January to continue working on the sewing projects for various ministries. Some sewed youth bags, some worked on a new project of wash cloth mitts for children, and others cut and tied fleece throws for youth. Sewing Events will be scheduled periodically so that we can meet the needs that are growing each week. Ladies from Heritage Baptist Church join in to work with us too. Plan to join us when the announcement for the next one is posted and bring someone with you. MI COM membership is not required for this workday. We are always very thankful for the labor put into these items and know they are a blessing to foster and refugee children. Article from our MI COM Member Representing MI COM in Black Mountain, NC by Christine Truer We arrived at Black Mountain Home (BMH) on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. When we arrived, many of the Black Mountain staff were out due to COVID. Paul and Esther Shogren from the North Carolina Chapter of Campers on Mission were here to greet us and get us settled. They are currently the RV Hosts until sometime in February. We got settled but hit the ground running because so many people were out with COVID. I went up to Black Mountain Home's Smith Building to volunteer for whatever I could. They put me to work taking down and storing Christmas decorations with Esther and another volunteer, Pam. Once that was complete, I began cleaning the restrooms for the staff who work at BMH. Henry also worked on taking down the larger Christmas decorations and lights that were around the tops of the buildings. Then they put him to work painting the main Smith Building. We work 4 days a week, I work 4 hours per day and Henry works 6 hours. We have Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays off. We also have the last full week of each month off to explore the area. This past week, Henry has been working on electrical and painting. They have asked me to volunteer in the office with my computer skills and office experience. I have been answering phones, stuffing envelopes for bulk mailings and data entry. We are not able to interact with the 150 children who live here at the home due to COVID. They are hoping that will change in the near future so that we can be able to have one-on-one time with the kids to tutor and read to them. But until that happens, they are keeping us quite busy with their everyday needs. We met Jon and Brandi Dyke from MI COM before they left here and headed to Florida. What a lovely couple and sweet children. We did not have the privilege of working with them (Henry did with Jon for about 1 day); however, we are looking forward to the opportunity in the future as they loved being here at Black Mountain and hope to be back. Blessings from Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth and Families. Henry and Chris Truer ABOUT THE AUTHOR As retired pastors from Galien, MI, Henry and Chris are full-time RVers. They have committed to work at Lake Ann Camp near Traverse City, MI from May to November each year. They joined Michigan Campers on Mission to connect with the National COM register of mission opportunities. This winter they are working at Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth and Families. Henry and Chris were able to travel about 30 miles to Billy Graham’s Training Center, “The Cove”, to tour these facilities. The Cove is also a National COM mission opportunity. Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth & Families, a Nonprofit Organization in NC, seeks to glorify God by caring for children, youth, and families. This is one of our National COM projects. Learn more at www.BlackMountainHome.org. Chaplain's Corner The Taxman Cometh! Try as I can, I simply cannot find the origin of this phrase on the internet. If any of you know it, I’d appreciate an education from you. Anyway, it’s February 1st, and thus time for me to get all my tax ducks in a row because indeed ... the Taxman cometh! I know, some of you may be thinking I’m starting far to early, but the way I look at it: better to know where I stand sooner rather than later! And really, isn’t that the way it is spiritually? I mean, one day the Lord Himself definitely cometh! Every eye will see Him, and anyone who is not ready will pay the eternal consequences! Oh, but those who are indeed ready because they have been washed in the blood that fully pays for all spiritual debt—it is those blessed ones who will gain an eternal refund of blessings from the Father! Really now, who ever says: “Taxman, come quickly?” No one! But how many of you expectantly and gleefully say: “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!” I know I do, and I certainly hope all of you do as well! To the Praise of His Glory, Chaplain Chip Prayer Requests & Praise Reports Prayer Requests Pray for the Roelleke family from Florida Campers on Mission. Gerhard died from a scooter accident in August 2021, and Sheila died from a car accident the first Friday in February. May God comfort their children and families in the days ahead. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” - Colossians 1:9-12 NIV Praise Report Praise God for all things! “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” - Hebrews 13:15-16. If you have a prayer request or a praise report, please share it with us and we will post it on the website and include it in our monthly newsletters. MI COM Tees & Hats For Sale We have fun things and essentials for you to let others know you are a MI COMer!!! We encourage you to wear the tees whenever you are working or on a COM event. Tees are printed on the front and the back Patches are iron-on or easy to sew onto your shirts or jackets Key Chains are plastic on metal holder Hand-held fan is paper on wooden handle Hats are gray with embroidered logo, adjustable Lapel Pins are easily attached to a suit jacket or coat. Stickers to put on notebooks, computers, etc. Pens to accent your writing Contact Cindy for your purchase. MI COM Officers & Executive Board Presidents/Project Coordinator: Rick & Cindy Truesdail Vice-President/Project: Tony Morningstar Hospitality/Food Coordinator: Kim Norrington & Maria Hannuksela Sewing Project Coordinator: Cindy Truesdail & Terry Simmons Cleaning & Beautification Coordinator: Sharon Hessling & Ruth Farwell Secretary: Brandi Dyke Treasurer: Gary Hannuksela Chaplain: Pastor Chip Collins Historian: Cindy Truesdail Disaster Relief Liaison: Warren Hessling Networking Center Keep checking at our online Website and Facebook for announcements! Website: www.michigancampersonmission.org Facebook: Michigan Campers on Mission For more information, contact: Rick & Cindy Truesdail Phone: (810) 869-4716 Email: michigancampersonmission@gmail.com #MARCH22

by Jason Aaron MONROE, MI – A few weeks ago, after a very encouraging Sunday, I sent the pastor from my home church in Kentucky, a message summarizing the events of the day and said, ‘I want to do a better job of celebrating ALL the things God is doing by sending them to you. That way when I get discouraged, you can tell me to shut up and remember the faithfulness of God.’ I know that may sound a little crass, but it’s the message my sinful, but redeemed heart, needs. Outpost Community Church was birthed in January of 2019. A time where it felt easy to invite strangers and neighbors to the church doors and to our bustling home table for dinner. A time where we would pack into our living room every Thursday to learn from God’s Word, and not have to report fear, confusion, or even symptoms to those who attended three to five days later. Planting a church in a pandemic has come with its fair share of discouragement. Almost all the people who started the church with us have left. We shut the doors for months on a newly purchased building during 2020, and we’ve had to cancel several services since then because of last minute staff quarantines. How could I possibly be steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work of the Lord with all the uncertainty of then or even now? Because the Apostle Paul says to keep pressing forward in the work of the Lord because our labor is not in vain! God has redeemed, reconciled, created, sustained, and provided EVERY. STEP. OF. THE. WAY. While the world seems to be broken and heavily divided…we have seen marriages strengthened, leaders birthed, visions created, and new people joining. It has been a beautiful reminder that God is sovereign over all things. By God’s grace, we had our first youth night at the local community center at the end of 2021, and we’ve had several more since then. Our first event for middle-school aged youth drew 2 to 30 kids, many of whom I met through mentoring at the community center and local elementary school. This has been a five-year investment. Loving and serving these kids with the hope that seeds would be planted, and I could witness gospel transformation through the saving work of Jesus. It’s been an incredible first few months of this ministry, and we look forward to seeing all that God is going to do. For many of them it was their first time hearing the good news of the gospel. Even after five years, the labor is not in vain. Be encouraged brothers and sisters, the seeds you are planting now are NOT IN VAIN! There might not be fruit now, one year, two years, five years, or even in ten years, BUT be steadfast in pursuing the lost in your community. Your labor is not in vain! Just as important as pursuing the lost, the call of a shepherd is to equip and invest in the saints inside the church building. In my first couple of years I could sense that most of the men felt very inadequate with handling the Word. After being the primary leader of our men’s small group gatherings for the first couple of years, I wanted to equip new leaders. With a little brotherly love and maybe some arm-twisting, we’ve now developed a six-man rotation and are currently walking through the book of Proverbs. Not only have the men grown so much by leading our group discussion and studying the passage, but I’ve grown through their teaching. It seems small to celebrate five men accepting the invitation to lead, but that’s what we need to do! Celebrate ALL the work the Lord is doing, the big things and the little things. I pray these stories will encourage you to write down and consider what God has been doing in your life, in your family, or in your ministry during the past two years. Reach out and share it with your mentors, congregation, co-workers, family, neighbors, or friends. This will add fuel into your spiritual tank. Remember, your work for the Lord is not in vain so ALWAYS ABOUND in the work of the Lord. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason is the Preaching Pastor at Outpost Community Church where he also serves as an elder. Jason went through a two-year Pastoral Internship at Parkway Baptist Church in Bardstown, KY from 2015-2016 under Pastor James Carroll. Upon completing that, he accepted a Church Planting Residency at First Presbyterian Trenton under Pastor Aaron Carr in January 2017 and completed in December 2018. Jason completed his M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May 2018. Jason is married to Amanda and they have 5 children…Mackenzie, Ashken, Noah, Kane, and Trey. #MARCH22