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by Timothy Cockes NEW ORLEANS, LA (BP) – After spending time this summer volunteering at the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans, medical school student Megan Duggins knew she had to take a proactive approach to the issue of human trafficking. Currently a student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Duggins spent multiple days a week volunteering with the Friendship House this summer and assisted with caring for survivors of trafficking. She soon realized her training was lacking. “It was very glaring to me that I wasn’t necessarily the best prepared to adequately respond to the situation,” Duggins said. “It showed me the level of care we need to provide for those victims, and it just really put two questions in my head: How am I as a future physician and my colleagues preparing to respond to these really delicate situations, and what can I do about it?” Duggins started From Red Flags to Freedom, a non-profit whose purpose is to “educate and empower future health care providers to identify the red flags of human trafficking and how to care for victims with dignity.” All of the paperwork and non-profit tax information was filled out by Duggins herself, and she assembled the board of advisors (made up of counselors, physicians, ministry workers and government leaders) through networking. She had it completed within two months of her time with the Friendship House. Duggins serves as the president of From Red Flags to Freedom and said the first goal is to create a training program, complete with videos and assessments, for future or current health care providers. The organization’s leaders will begin meeting this week to plan out the first training curriculum with a plan to launch early next year. Duggins said health care professionals are not completely unequipped to handle situations involving trafficking, but hopes that additional training will help rising physicians feel more confident in dealing with situations when they arise. “It’s better to be overprepared and know how to respond, than to say it’s never going to happen to you and deal with it poorly,” Duggins said. After initially resisting the call to From Red Flags to Freedom, she said her faith compelled her to take action. “I didn’t want to initially do it and it was kind of scary, and I thought that I was just a medical school student so what do they care what I have to say,” Duggins said. “But I don’t think it was a mistake that this need kind of came into my thought process. I’m really just trying to be faithful to the fact that I see a need and I want to meet a need with a level of integrity and care. “I’m learning as I’m going. I’m not the expert, but if I can be the person that brings the experts to my fellow students then that’s what my role is supposed to be.” One of Duggins’ main influences during her time with the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans was executive director Kay Bennett. The Friendship House has served the New Orleans community for more than 75 years. Bennett is also a Send Relief missionary and helps the Friendship House partner in ministry with Southern Baptist entities such as the North American Mission Board (often through its Send Relief Center in New Orleans) and the Woman’s Missionary Union (often through on-site training relating to trafficking). Bennett said Southern Baptists have a huge role to play in the prevention of trafficking in their local area. “If we as Southern Baptists could become educated about human trafficking so that we can take preventative measures, such as reaching out to people that are vulnerable, maybe living in poverty, folks that are experiencing homelessness, or folks that are just vulnerable because of abuse or things like they may have experienced,” Bennett said, “if we can be preventative in those ways then we can help to stop human trafficking.” Duggins said Bennett noticed signs regarding human trafficking situations that she was not able to pick up on, which is one reason she asked Bennett to serve on the advisory board of From Red Flags to Freedom. Duggins said the fact that every person is loved by God is what drove her to begin praying about human trafficking and then ultimately, to becoming part of the solution. “When you pray bold prayers, don’t be surprised when God gives bold answers and be prepared to do something,” Duggins said. “Don’t pray big and then not respond, because that’s a lack of faith. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. It’s one thing to pray but another to take practical steps of obedience. “God made every person with intrinsic value and loves everyone without partiality. That should transform how we view each and every person, and the things that would break Jesus’ heart should break ours.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer. #SEPTEMBER21

by Tom Strode NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Christians are not without means of effective ministry while religious freedom is under siege in countries such as Afghanistan and China, speakers said Thursday (Aug. 26) in a Southern Baptist-sponsored online conversation. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) brought together specialists in missions, international relations and religious freedom in a webinar titled “Baptists & the Nations: Religious Freedom Challenges Around the Globe.” Video of the event is available here. The discussion took place only hours after terrorist bombs killed 13 American troops and at least 90 Afghans outside the Kabul airport, where a massive evacuation effort is under way following the Taliban takeover of the country. The extremist Islamic group reportedly is already targeting Christians and other religious minorities, as well as Afghans who aided the United States the last 20 years. “This has been one of the greatest setbacks for international religious freedom that we’ve lived through,” Paul Miller told the webinar audience. The Taliban “will not respect religious freedom or any human rights,” said Miller, professor of the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He previously served as director for Afghanistan and Pakistan on the White House National Security Council. Todd Lafferty, executive vice president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB), said, “There are posters of believers now across the city of Kabul, and we know that [the Taliban is] going after them.” In addition, young daughters of Afghan Christians have already been taken from their families and given to Taliban fighters, he said. IMB is “doing everything” it can “to try to help facilitate getting people out of the country,” Lafferty said. “We hope and pray that our government on the ground will help facilitate that as well.” Chelsea Sobolik, the ERLC’s acting director of public policy, said the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities “will continue to increase as the United States falls back.” The Taliban’s treatment of women and girls also is “deeply, deeply concerning,” she said. In response, IMB is working to help with the refugee crisis caused by the Taliban’s takeover, Lafferty told participants in the webinar. “[T]here is a great opportunity for the church to rise up and minister and serve” during these crises, he said. “This gives us an opportunity as the church to reach the nations that have come among us. “So we need to pray that Christians here would receive them with open arms and see this as God’s appointed time … where we actually have an opportunity to minister to people that we would never be able to touch because they are behind closed borders and hard-to-reach places.” Southern Baptists have given generously recently through Send Relief to help Afghan refugees, Lafferty said. Send Relief is the SBC’s compassion ministry conducted through the cooperative effort of IMB and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Send Relief has seen “a strong, continuous and generous giving response from hundreds of churches and individuals in a matter of days,” a NAMB spokesman told Baptist Press. Sobolik told the audience, “[I]t can be tempting when we see these images and videos to feel utterly, utterly helpless, but we’re not. As Christians, we can get on our knees and pray on behalf of vulnerable people in Afghanistan and around the world who are facing persecution.” Christians also can pray “that people would share the Gospel” with the persecutors, in this case the Taliban, and “that they would come to know Christ as their Savior as well.” It is “appropriate to focus on the immediate need” by seeking to help through IMB and other charitable organizations or to aid in resettling refugees, Miller said. In addition to meeting immediate needs, Christians should focus beyond the headlines, he said. “There are a lot of other emerging and important issues that may not feel like today’s crisis and yet they are deeply concerning, deeply worrying,” including the rise of China as a world power, Miller told the audience. China has exercised oppressive practices against Christians and other religious groups for decades, but it has turned its attention in recent years toward Uyghur Muslims and other religious and ethnic minorities in the far western region of Xinjiang. The United States has declared the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign against the Uyghurs as genocide. The CCP’s policies have included detention in “re-education” camps, forced labor, coercive organ harvesting, and forced abortions and sterilizations. “I think it’s important to keep in mind that the way a government treats its people reveals its character,” Miller said in reference to China. “And that character will eventually also be revealed in how it treats other nations.” When the CCP treats the Uyghurs and other groups “as disposable without any rights or dignity, you can bet that sooner or later the Chinese government will also take that same attitude and apply it to its neighboring countries,” he said. Regarding the human rights/religious freedom crisis in Xinjiang, Sobolik said, “Christians should be on the forefront of advocating for dignity and human rights of all people, and we cannot remain silent in the face of injustices.” Lafferty told the audience, “[P]rayer is one of the biggest ways that we can continue to impact the Chinese government, the Chinese world at this time. But I tell you what, it’s exciting what God is doing across that land. That work is not stopping. The Chinese believers want to see their group grow by 10 fold in the middle of this persecution. They know that it’s coming.” Other countries that are not drawing as much attention but raise concerns about religious freedom and human rights, speakers said, including Belarus, Cuba, India, Nigeria and, as Miller described them in a follow-up email, “countries in which populism and nationalism hold sway, like Hungary, Poland and Brazil.” During the webinar, speakers also addressed inter-country adoption, guidance for missionary personnel during crises and the Great Commission’s effect on their work. Brent Leatherwood, the ERLC’s chief of staff, moderated the discussion. Among the resources on the crisis in Afghanistan produced by the ERLC is a prayer guide, which is available here. The SBC Executive Committee partnered with Send Relief to issue a prayer guide Thursday on Afghanistan. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tom Strode is Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press. #SEPTEMBER21

by Clayton Knight But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.” 1 Kings 22:13-14 WARREN, MI – The older I get and the more seasoned I become in ministry, the more I am convinced that I have nothing to say to people. Now, what do I mean by that? I mean that I don’t have the necessary insight, life experience, or wisdom to help people. Oh, did I mention that I’m a pastor? Does that seem counter-intuitive? If that does, let me break some news to you: the fact that I’m a pastor doesn’t mean that I have all the answers. I’m not a professional Christian. I don’t claim to “hear from God” regarding our church’s 5-year plan. I’ve stood in my pulpit on a Sunday morning before and said, “I don’t know.” I’ve told people in counseling sessions, “I will do my best to help you, but there are certain times when I may say to you, ‘I don’t know what to do in this situation.’” To make matters more complex, I’m a sinner. I live and work and worship around other people who are sinners. So not only do I lack necessary words and wisdom, sometimes my words, opinions, or beliefs on a matter that I do have are sinful. Moreover, we’re all swimming in an ocean of ideas, opinions, and worldviews. Just try being dogmatic about “God,” “truth,” “morality,” “life,” “identity,” or “meaning” on a public online forum and see what happens. Any 10-year-old with access to Google is forming opinions about these massive realities as we speak. So, what is my role as a pastor living in this kind of wikipedia-style, pluralistic, relativistic age? And what do I do as a pastor who recognizes his own need to peel away the bad ideas he has imbibed from a lifetime of living in this broken world? And what hope do I have for effectively shepherding people for whom I will one day give an account? The short answer to that question is this: Go to the Word of God. The current state of affairs in 2021 America is not reason to retreat from Scripture. It is motivation to embrace it even more. Saturate your mind with the Word. Don’t settle for a vague familiarity with it, but grapple with the phrases, the inspired logic, the therefores, and the thus-es. Don’t settle for simply knowing the stories, but wrestle with what the stories mean. Don’t herald the indicatives (who you are in Christ), without proclaiming the imperatives (who you must be now that you’re in Christ) with equal tenacity. More than anything else, our churches need the Word of the Lord. We need to become churches filled with men and women and children who are growing in their knowledge, articulation of, and application of Scripture. What other source of wisdom is greater? What other word offers better comfort? What else lasts in this life? When people have been ripped apart by loss, they need to hear God. When a kid has no idea who they even are anymore, they need to hear God. When someone gets a dreadful diagnosis, they need to hear God. When conflict invades the church, they need to hear God. When life is good, we need to hear God. When life is hard, we need to hear God. The prophet Micaiah was resolved. “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.” May we likewise feel bound by the beautiful confines of the Word of the Lord, and may we model its relevance, power, effectiveness, timelessness, and sufficiency in our churches, homes, and workplaces. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clayton Knight is husband to his best friend, Sarah, and daddy to their sweet daughter, Aubrey. The Knights recently moved to metro Detroit so Clayton could serve as the Senior Pastor at Warren Woods Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan. #AUGUST21

by Cindy Truesdale GRAND BLANC, MI – Michigan Campers on Mission (MI-COM) celebrates our 1st Anniversary. Amid Covid, we persevered July 31, 2020 at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp, Michigan Campers On Mission became chartered as a National COM Chapter. National COM Coordinators, Jerry and Renee McGovern, came from Florida to administer the oaths of commitment. Don and Jan Kragness, COM Region 4 Representatives, came from Illinois to support and uplift us. Pastor Tim Patterson, Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s Executive Treasurer, offered a charge to the 28 charter members. We were busy before we were chartered, and continue to look for mission opportunities. We began this chapter knowing that Bambi Lake Baptist Camp is our “core” center to work and to support their efforts. Little did we realize then that we would be able to work with inner-city churches on their housing projects, too. Our most recent opportunity was for the month of July 2021. We worked with the Jachin Baptist Church ABC Program in Flint. This amazing program is open to boys and girls ages 7-17. It teaches the youth skilled trades (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, cooking, sewing, character) and life skills. The older youth worked on a house that Jachin purchased from the land bank. They ripped off siding and resided the home, installed windows, flooring, and much more. The younger children built lamps, benches, flower boxes, shelves, and other fun projects. Some young ladies learned to sew and made curtains for the home. The home will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to support the program next year. Campers on Mission appreciate Pastor Derrick and Christine Watkins for giving us the opportunity to work with this project. MI COM plans to make it an annual project because of the immense value and impact ABC makes on the local youth in Flint. Would you like to be a member of MI Campers on Mission? There are no membership fees. To join MI COM, go to our website: www.michigancampersonmission.org and click on Membership, and fill ill in the blanks. Or call Rick and Cindy at (810) 869-4716. We’d love to tell you more! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rick and Cindy Truesdail have been married for 29 years. Together they have 5 children and 14 grandchildren. During their early years together, they worked as leaders of a Single Adult Ministry. Rick is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a licensed SBC minister. He served as Associate Pastor with a Spanish-speaking church in Flint for 10 years and Cindy served as the Pastoral Assistant. They are active members at Heritage Baptist Church, Grand Blanc, and Presidents of Campers on Mission in their retirement. #AUGUST21

by Brandon Elrod SAN ANTONIO, TX (BP) – With reports of increasing numbers of pastors leaving the ministry in recent months following increased pressures from the pandemic, the North American Mission Board (NAMB) has joined with state Baptist conventions to host Timothy + Barnabas Getaways for pastors and their wives. “We are, in a very real sense, on the frontlines of a very real battle,” Sagemont Church pastor Matt Carter said when addressing pastors at the Timothy + Barnabas event in San Antonio earlier this summer. “I’m convinced that Satan knows the name of every pastor,” Carter said as he explained that faithful pastors who share the gospel, preach the Word and make a difference can expect spiritual pushback in their calling. NAMB hosted the San Antonio in cooperation with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC). It was the first in a series hosted across the South. NAMB invited pastors for a two-day getaway for encouragement and equipping in Mississippi with events planned for the fall in Virginia and Louisiana. “It is part of our desire that no pastor or wife would ever be alone in the state of Texas,” said Tony Wolfe, associate executive director of the SBTC. “We want to be more than just a network of churches pooling their resources together for the advancement of the Great Commission. We want to actually pull our relationships together to serve and encourage one another.” That heartbeat to serve pastors has been the impetus for Johnny Hunt, NAMB’s senior vice president of evangelism and leadership, since he launched Timothy + Barnabas 27 years ago. “Timothy + Barnabas started out a deep conviction and desire to come alongside pastors to provide them with encouragement and instruction to help them flourish in their ministries,” Hunt said. “What started as a personal ministry now belongs to NAMB so that it will outlast me and serve pastors for many, many years.” To better serve pastors across North America, NAMB began working with state convention partners to host these events to provide a time for pastors to be encouraged in their ministries. These getaways are shorter than a typical Timothy + Barnabas Retreat and hosted in a location that is accessible for pastors who are served by the state convention. Texas pastors who attended the Getaway in San Antonio shared that one of their greatest challenges has been a sense of aloneness. So, the chance to come together with other pastors and hear from other leaders encouraged them. “I think the nature of the pastorate inclines all of us toward isolation. When things get hard, we tend to withdraw more rather than gather with others,” said David Norman, pastor of University Baptist Church in San Antonio. “Hearing stories and rubbing shoulders with guys who are facing the same difficulties, running into the same struggles and just realizing you’re not alone—that’s encouraging.” Russell Smiley, pastor of Pleasant Run Baptist Church in Colleyville, Texas, shared the same sentiment about how easy it can be for pastors to feel detached. “It’s been very encouraging to sit amongst other leaders of other churches and not only commiserate but also encourage one another about how God is moving through all of these things,” said Smiley. Preaching from Matthew 13:15, Carter cautioned attendees about the dangers of a dull heart, deaf ears and dim eyes that might lead a pastor to go through the motions of ministry. To combat complacency and feelings of weariness, Carter encouraged pastors to remember the beginning of their calling, learn to be content in their calling and to maintain focus on the end of their calling, which will yield an eternal reward in Heaven. In reflecting on his years of pastoral ministry at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., during a session with the pastors, Hunt described the urgency and impact of living a life centered on the Kingdom of God. “I’ve really attempted to, in leadership as a pastor, to build a church that is a Kingdom church,” Hunt said. “I’ve got one life. One day, I’m going to appear before the King who changed my life. I’m going to have to give an account of what I did with what He gave me.” Kathy Litton led sessions for the pastors’ wives. Litton, who serves as NAMB’s director of planter spouse development, has helped with Timothy + Barnabas events for six years. “The Timothy + Barnabas Getaways are such powerful, life-giving opportunities for wives,” Litton said. “The chance to disconnect with their husbands from the demands of ministry and connect with other wives can encourage them deeply. These women pour into their churches and people, and these gatherings allow us to generously pour into them.” The Timothy + Barnabas Getaway in San Antonio took place May 17 – 18. The following week (May 24 – 25), NAMB hosted a second Timothy + Barnabas Getaway for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB). “After this difficult year of ministry during the pandemic, the Timothy + Barnabas Getaway was such a blessed time of encouragement, refreshing, and instruction for our pastors and wives,” said John Pace, director of pastor and leadership development for the MBCB. Timothy + Barnabas Getaways with the Louisiana Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia will take place in the Fall of 2021. For more information, contact info@namb.net. There is also limited availability for the Timothy + Barnabas Retreat in Branson, Mo. NAMB will announce the 2022 Timothy + Barnabas Retreat dates in September. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #AUGUST21

by Mickey Gross GARDEN CITY, MI – Why should I attend a Women's Retreat? Do I even need a retreat? What would happen to my to-do list if I went away for a whole weekend? These are among the first thoughts that run through my head when the invitation to sign up for Harvest Retreat rolls around every year. Don't get me wrong—I LOVE God, His people, and camp ministry. But my life is also very full of work, family, household chores, and even church commitments. It doesn't feel wise to take time away from all of that for an optional experience. Then, memories of my first camp experience come flooding back. My parents, being wiser than I was at 8 years old, decided that it would be a good idea to send me away to GA camp at Bambi Lake for a whole week in the summer. I had never heard of such a thing, but my friends were going and I liked them. Despite the butterflies in my stomach from trying a new thing, I willingly packed my bags and went. The ride up to camp felt like an eternity, but once there, I was able to have an abundance of experiences that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. Five decades later, I still have vivid memories of that week: practicing sign language during rest time that Gina and I had learned in a mission-focused lesson watching the flag raise in the morning, presided over by none other than Ms. Frances Brown herself purchasing a daily Milky Way from the snack shack on the path developing an appreciation for nature that was not available on the eastside of Detroit, and being taught by Godly women who were committed to faithfully planting the Word in the hearts of the young. Attending camp for the first time set the groundwork for my love for God, His people, and camp ministry that is still firmly planted today. My decision to go to Harvest Retreat 2021 flowed from these precious memories. I will put aside my "normally occupied position" to experience God in His nature, His people, and His Word. I will go, because after being apart from faces for more than a year, it will be refreshing to see smiles, to hear laughter, and to connect in person. I will go because I will come back refreshed by Biblical insights, giving me a fresh perspective for ministry here at home. I will go because being there will help me to run and finish the race well. At whatever age and stage of life you are in, you too can gain a renewed sense of your purpose in Christ, worship alongside and learn from one another, and most of all, enjoy God and His good gifts. Harvest Retreat 2021: Love God, Love People October 15-17 Registration: https://bambilake.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/507983 CHECK IN: Begins at 3:00 pm Friday Retreat Ends at 11:00 am Sunday following worship Bambi Lake Retreat & Conference Center The Harvest Retreat Leadership Team is anticipating a full retreat, so sign up today! Using CDC guidance, we have an excellent plan to minimize COVID risk to guests and staff. We are adhering to regulations while still maximizing the opportunities for women to connect. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mickey Gross lives in Garden City, MI and is a member of Resurrection Church in Lincoln Park. She has devoted years in church leadership as a children's ministry director, praise team member, pianist, facilities coordinator, and event planner. Mickey loves camp ministry and has had the privilege of spending time at camp as a camper, serving as a volunteer, and operating on the leadership team for Harvest Retreat. #AUGUST21

by Eli Garza DETROIT, MI – Before going to bed in the very early morning hours of Saturday, June 26th, we heard a high pitched squeaking sound coming from the air vent in the kitchen. This led me to go to the basement to investigate the cause of the sound. I was shocked to see that our basement was flooding fast with approximately close to a foot of water filling the entire basement. My son and I quickly tried to rescue boxes, books, personal belongings and place them in our main floor rooms. The water finally stopped rising at 1.5 ft and slowly receded over the next two hours. We lost so much of our personal memories through pictures, books, and mementos. In addition we lost all of our appliances and book cases and suffered some electrical damages. I asked for prayer for our family over Facebook because of the unprecedented flood. Pastor Tim Patterson responded by notifying the BSCM Disaster Relief team to include us in their list of homes to assist. On Friday July 9th, the team, led by Don Bezeau, did a great job of removing many of our damaged goods, cutting out the damaged drywall, and wood paneling and sanitizing the basement. The team's work helped us save thousands in cleaning and removal costs. They were also a physical testimony in our neighborhood since we are very likely the only evangelicals in a two block radius of our neighborhood in East Dearborn. Our Muslim neighbor understood who the team was and represented, and thanked them for helping our family. Chaplin Jim Ellsworth was a great encouragement to me while the team worked as we discussed our hardship and the ministry needs of our city. We are so grateful for the Disaster Relief Team's hard work, joyful disposition and friendly contacts with our neighbors. An unexpected disaster will shake up one's life, routines, outlook and cause one to grieve deeply over financial losses and the loss of meaningful personal belongings. I felt like what David wrote in Psalm 61:1-3 as the waters receded in our basement in the middle of the night: "Hear my cry O God, listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe." Yet, the Lord provided unexpected love and help after the flood through a gift, offers for help,and the work of the Disaster Relief team. After the team left, I was encouraged by Paul's words in Romans 8:35-39, especially through the answer to the rhetorical questions of verse 35: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" The answer to these rhetorical questions is that nothing can. Paul makes it clear in verse 39: "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord". We are grateful for the Lord's care demonstrated in various ways and through the Disaster Relief team's work. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Eli Garza was born in Detroit, MI and worked as a structural engineer for 20 years before serving as associate pastor and senior pastor of First Spanish Baptist Church. He attended First Spanish for 57 years. His family lives in Dearborn, MI. #AUGUST21

by Philip Miles MIDLAND, MI – In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul eloquently reminds the Gentile Christians of Ephesus that they were once far from Christ and the covenant promises of God. This alienation left them without hope and without God in their midst. However, in Christ, they were brought out of that alienation and made near to God and His promises. Jesus Christ broke down all of the hostility and division that separated Jew and Gentile, “...that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility” (Ephesians 2:15b-16). Out of this destruction of division and hostility emerges one citizenry who are members of the household of God, thus giving us all access to the same God through the same cross by the same Jesus. Following this, in chapter 3, Paul makes an astounding revelation that we should not miss. He says, in essence, that this was the plan all along. Though it was a mystery shrouded from understanding for a long time, it was always God’s plan that the gospel would make Jew and Gentile, alike, heirs of the same promise in Christ. Here’s the kicker. In Ephesians 3:10, Paul says that the church, uniting Jew and Gentile together in Christ and killing their long standing hostilities, demonstrates to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places, “the manifold wisdom of God.” In short, whenever the rulers and principalities and powers of the air raise an accusation against God or try to beguile Him and His foolish plan of redemption, it is the church to which He points to silence their hisses. In light of this, Paul in his imprisonment urged the church, “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6) This is the spiritual essence of the church. It should be that our churches represent the death of hostility and the unity of the Spirit. It should be that our churches are the places in our communities where people see genuine humility, gentleness and patience on display. The church ought to be the place where a body of people bear with one another and carry one another’s burdens. The church is called to display unity and peace. All of this is meant to be so regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, etc. The surrounding world craves this kind of community, whether they know it or not. Our churches should be living, breathing examples of the gospel’s work that smashes hostility and false identities and lives out our conviction that in Christ we are not defined by anything else, but by our position as joint-heirs with Christ. In the church, we all entered through the same door. We all have the same Lord, we all believe in the same gospel and we’ve all partaken in the same baptism. On a whiteboard in my office I have written the following: Beware of any teaching, “ism”, or school of thought that promises that which only the gospel can deliver. May we resist any effort on the part of the enemy to be drawn into a fight that unnecessarily threatens the unity of the Spirit and may we also reject anything that seeks to supplant the preeminence of the gospel and its work in our churches. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philip Miles, Pastor of Sunrise Church Midland, MI. Husband of Kari and dad to 4 children (teenage down to 6 years old). My hobbies include: podcasts, reading, guitar, cheering from the sidelines of whatever one of my kids is doing, and dreaming with my wife. #AUGUST21

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – Some time ago I made a quick trip back to Texas to visit a dear friend of mine. It was a great time for Sabrina and I to travel the highways of Texas because of all the beautiful wildflowers that are in bloom. Especially beautiful is the state flower of Texas, the "bluebonnet". This short excursion to my homeland really brought back some great memories of days gone by, and the ministries I have had in that great state. It seemed as though every sight, sound, and smell would cause the events and people of my past to spring up in my memory like the flowers of the season. One such gentleman who came to my recollection was a man I had the privilege of pastoring several years ago. He was a great man and a true friend. He had one slight problem. He had a severe hearing loss and needed hearing aids in order for him to adequately understand conversations. The problem really wasn't his hearing, but his refusal to wear his hearing enhancement piece. As long as he wore his "aids" he was a joy to be with and to talk to, but the moment he went without them, he became a completely different person. His whole demeanor would change, and his attitude would go “south” in a hurry. He would interrupt while others were speaking, and completely misunderstand what they were trying to say. On several occasions, he became enraged because he misunderstood another man's statement. It was quite easy to ascertain when he was driving, and not wearing his hearing aids as well. He would appear to be in his own little world, and totally oblivious to his surroundings. On several occasions he just barely avoided being involved in or causing an auto accident because he could not hear the warning blasts from other drivers’ horns. When large groups would gather, he would isolate himself from everyone, or just leave the gathering altogether. Many thought he was antisocial and did not like socializing. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. He loved people and enjoyed their company more than anyone could know. But all of this embarrassment, pain, and these problems could have been avoided if he would only use that which could help him receive communications clearly. All he needed to do was to use his hearing aids. In every Believer, God has given us a special "hearing aid". That hearing aid is the Holy Spirit that dwells in each of us. By Him, we communicate with our Heavenly Father and receive our directions, instructions, corrections, and encouragement. Today many of us travel the "information superhighway" and the vast majority of us are “connected” to the web through a plethora of media. The truth is that God established a "Supreme Information Superhighway" when He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us thousands of years ago. It is super "hi-tech" and you don't need to log on to it. All we must do is pray. But if we refuse to pray and use this wonderful gift that God has given us it will ultimately cause others and us untold pain and suffering. We will begin to isolate ourselves from other Believers, misunderstand and create unnecessary conflict. When we refuse to stay connected to our Father, not only do we cause self-inflicted wounds, but we can create an atmosphere surrounding us that can wreak havoc on those closest to us. Prayer is not so much us talking to God, but us listening to Him, receiving instruction from Him as to His will, and then living our lives accordingly. If we don't listen, we will not know. If we do not stay connected, we will be doomed to a life of isolation and misunderstanding. No one would willfully choose to be deaf. Deaf to the voice of God. Now that is sad! 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. #AUGUST21

by Tony Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – On July 19, 2021, in Flint, Michigan I witnessed the association of churches, in which I grew up as a teenager, make a bold decision to trim down their administrative expenses. This radical course change by the churches intentionally increased the churches’ funding for evangelism, community engagement, and church planting. Send Network Church Planter/Pastor Jason Loewen of Union Flint Church in Flint was elected Assistant Director of Missions. Pastor Ed Emmerling of Westside Church in Flushing was elected Director of Missions. Loewen and Emmerling’s bond and brotherhood grew during the early months of the COVID-restrictions. Church planter Loewen and the launch team found it very difficult to find a gathering place. Long time pastor, Emmerling was moved by Loewen’s radical focus on reaching local people for Christ and led his congregation to generously share their facilities with the new church plant originally located mere minutes from their established church. When other men would have felt fear, frustration, or jealousy, these two men increased in faith and felt compelled by God to combine their efforts and hearts for God’s Kingdom and for the redemption of the lost surrounding them throughout three counties. The two separate churches meeting in one location has intensified the presence of God, and the proclamation of the Gospel in the area. On that Monday evening, Transition Team leader, Pastor Chris Tenneriello of Bethany Baptist Church, Grand Blanc explained how the team altered course during this past year. The team admitted financial resources were too meager to hire as they had in the past. At the same time, the team was keenly aware that a mighty movement of collaboration had swept into the region more than a year ago. Corporate prayer preceded this associational transformation! Southern Baptist pastors and non-Southern Baptist pastors in the region, started a regular prayer gathering inviting God to create a movement unlike anything they had ever seen before. The attendance at the prayer meetings has remained one of the highest priorities of the pastors’ calendars. Those prayer gatherings gave way to conversations between pastors erupting in community-wide initiatives that are still being discussed months later. Following the very brief session where Loewen and Emmerling were unanimously elected new leaders, a gathering of BeTheChurch.org cohorts got underway with inspirational Pastor Joel Wayne of Chapel Pointe Church in Hudsonville facilitating the roundtable discussions. “Be The Church” comes alongside spiritual leaders of today and tomorrow to equip them through authentic leadership development, foster relationships that weather any storm, and discover the massive impact they can make in churches and communities for the Kingdom of God. There was an unmistakable rhythm of deep reflection as participants listened to Wayne speak, followed by enthusiastic roundtable discussions among pastors and church leaders. Participants during the evening, remarked that previous associational gatherings may have had ten people in attendance whereas on this night, seventy people were enveloped in dreaming about the increased effectiveness of their church and the collaboration of all of the churches. Emmerling has been overheard saying, “I’m at a point in my life, I don’t care who gets the credit, I just want to see more people saved.” Highlighting the radical transformation of the local association in which he has participated for decades, Emmerling explains the new design by saying, “It’s about getting more of the money from our churches into the streets of our communities so that others can receive Christ.” How does a transformation like this occur? Here are some of my observations: 1. Prayer I think the association’s transformation started more than one year ago in the midst of praying pastors who invited the Lord to do something radical. God is acting. 2. Humility Established pastors, with many years of service in the region, have been gracious in receiving new pastors and new church planters into their numbers as friends. 3. Respect Younger men and older men in the ministry honor one another as those called by God to spread the Gospel among the nations and into local populations. 4. Collaboration Pastors and planters at different ages and who serve in different contexts share authentic feelings and thoughts that create bold, fresh initiatives. 5. Courage Every pastor is displaying his bravery by letting go of the traditions and preferences of the past in order to take hold of God’s new endeavors. 6. Laymen This divine movement is trickling down into the hearts of lay leaders within the local churches. 7. God The Lord is the overwhelming driving force behind this united effort overshadowing the other current topics that create divisions among believers. 8. Gospel The desire to see an amazing number of people come to know Christ is the foremost concern on the hearts and minds of my friends in the Greater Flint area. 9. Anticipation Everyone believes God is up to something only He can do, and they want to take part in His movement. Might we see evidence of God doing similar things like this throughout North America? I believe if we look around, we will see that God is making things like this happen all around us. 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. #AUGUST21

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – SPARK is BACK! SPARK is free online equipping for church staff, leaders and volunteers without the time or expense of travel. It’s training your church can access in teams or individually for greater ministry impact in your church, community and beyond! Much has changed in the last year and a half, but the need to “…equip the saints for the work of the ministry” remains. The Spark Conference is an incredible resource churches can use to equip leaders and volunteers taught by leading practitioners across our convention. It’s just what we need as we continue to engage our world with the hope of the world. It’s completely free for all who register before August 12th at thesparkconference.com. All content will be available for FREE from August 12 through September 4 if the individual, church, or association has registered before August 12. This incredible equipping resource is made possible through our partnership with Georgia Baptists. Hear keynote messages from Tony Evans, Charles Lowery, Ben Mandrell, and David Kinnaman. Over 40 Breakout sessions are available in the following categories: Discipleship, Evangelism, Kids, Students, Women, Worship and Music, Missions, Pastoral Wellness, and more. What will you learn? Strategies for ministry longevity How to teach teenagers Doing practical, simple evangelism Conversational apologetics in women's outreach New post-pandemic rules for small group success Starting missions from zero How your church can help end human trafficking Leading worship in a post-pandemic world New ways to get your church into church planting Starting a bulletproof church security program How to implement the 3 pillars of successful children's' ministry Gaining data-driven knowledge of your community Protecting your ministry in a changing culture Recovering a biblical framework for discipleship Engaging and mobilizing Gen Z Updating to current changes related to reducing risk of abuse Remember, Spark is free for everyone who registers before August 12th at thesparkconference.com. Follow this link for more information and a complete list of breakouts. Contact mike@bscm.org if you have questions. 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. #AUGUST21

by Coye Bouyer LANSING, MI – As a pastor I come in contact with a lot of different people, and over the years I have learned that people are very different. There are a variety of attitudes and actions just depending on who you’re talking to. I have also learned how to listen to just about anyone even if I don’t always agree with everyone. However, it never fails that at some point I come in contact with someone who instead of looking to listen and learn from biblical council, they would rather YOU listen to THEM, and simply leave them where they are. In fact, I have come to appreciate listening to all, but leaving some right where they are. Sounds a little like a Proverb I once read, “He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you,” (9:7-8a). In this particular Proverb, Solomon basically says, any attempt to alter the attitude or actions of an arrogant individual is only asking to be abused.” Wanting to express a fundamental truth that makes practical sense to many yet is only practiced by a few, Solomon highlights a principle that even Jesus will teach His disciples later. “Do not give what is holy to dogs or cast your pearls amongst swine.” Why does Jesus say this in Matthew 7:6? For the same reason as Solomon, both men recognize that intelligent individuals desire to illuminate and enlighten the minds of the naïve, foolish and young. But both men also understand that when you are dealing with an individual whose attitude and actions are marked out by haughtiness, pride, or simply arrogance (in Hebrew, “a scoffer”), then you are inviting insult, and in some cases, injury into your life. For whether they trample on your wisdom like swine do pearls, or turn on you to tear you to pieces like wild dogs, in the end the one offering help is left in need of help because they failed to pay attention to this simple piece of proverbial principle given by Solomon and promoted by Jesus. So, what is the point of this lesson? Simple, you and I as pastors, ministry leaders, lay-people, parents, and as everyday people must learn the balance and skill of ‘learning to listen to all, but leaving some right where they are.’ 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. #AUGUST21