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by Mick Schatz ROSCOMMON, MI – Summer has finally arrived here at Bambi Lake. It’s refreshing to hear the sound of children, teenagers, and adults splashing in the lake, screaming as they fly down the Bambi Booyah water slide, or just enjoying the many activities available here at the camp. The snow is gone and the grass is growing-fast. Projects put on hold during the long winter have resumed as well as new projects beginning. We know summer is here in Michigan because of the orange barrels that seem to pop up everywhere you drive. Here at Bambi Lake it always seems as if we are UNDER CONSTRUCTION. There is always maintenance to be done or projects to be started and completed. Every day seems to bring with it the promise of new opportunities to repair or build. Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated at the seemingly endless projects can be a battle. Fortunately, we have a great staff who can prioritize and accomplish the tasks at hand. So let me ask you a question - “Have you ever experienced this in your own life?” Have you ever felt as if you were constantly UNDER CONSTRUCTION? I have and do feel this way every day. I’m breathing six feet above the ground. The good news is that we should feel this way, if we are following Christ in our life journey. In his letter of encouragement to the believers at Philippi, Paul puts it this way - “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6. This truth should bring us great joy and encouragement each day we are alive. God is constantly shaping and molding us to be more like Him. This means we are in His process and He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. God is continually allowing situations in our life to strengthen our character, and remind us of our need to totally depend upon Him. Growing and maturing spiritually requires constant maintenance and attention. And just like here at Bambi, sometimes deconstruction has to happen before reconstruction can happen. Out with the old and in with the new is typically the only solution. This is especially true in our lives. God has to take out the old habits, faulty attitudes and toxic sinfulness and build something completely brand new and beautiful. At our most recent WildWeek Youth Camp we had 23 students experience God’s saving grace in their lives - out with the old in with the new! Just as being UNDER CONSTRUCTION is making Bambi a better and stronger camp, Christ is also transforming us more and more into His image through his construction on us. It may seem endless in the moment, but Christ has promised to complete us so we are perfected for His return. As for Bambi, I know God’s hand in this camp, and He is shaping and molding us to have a greater impact on this world for His Kingdom. So for now, I’m happy to be UNDER CONSTRUCTION! 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. #AUGUST21

by Dr. Garth Leno WINDSOR, CANADA – When we planted The Gathering in Windsor, Ontario, in 2014, we were a rag-tag bag of people who gathered on Saturday nights for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. We drank coffee after the study and ate too many cookies. In the beginning it was super casual. But when we organized and launched our small, but enthusiastic, church plant with SEND Detroit, we knew we needed to implement some structure. Since then, The Gathering has taken on more organization and ministry diversity. We hired staff and implemented policies, and the lanes began to feel a bit crowded with so many “good things” for us to do. Jesus is adamantly opposed to anything that gets in the way of people encountering Him. So, we need to ensure that our churches, newly-planted and well-established, do not become cluttered. Clutter makes it difficult for people to encounter the simple, powerful, life-changing message of the Gospel. We don’t want our earthly expressions of the Bride to get so weighed down with programs that people get busy doing church instead of being the church. Vision leaks and mission drifts, so we are convinced that we must cling to a simple process that pulls everything together; a compelling process that moves people toward spiritual maturity (Col. 1:28). What are we here for? The Gathering exists to bring glory to God through lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our mission statement succinctly describes our heart. We exist to bring glory to God. This is the chief aim and purpose of humanity and of all creation. The glory of God is ultimate (1 Cor. 10:31). What is your vision? What’s the vision for your church? Why gospel-centered? The gospel is the historical narrative of the triune God orchestrating the reconciliation and redemption of a broken creation and fallen creatures through the life, death, resurrection, and second coming of Jesus. In short, the Gospel is the good news that the everlasting and ever-increasing joy of the never-boring, ever-satisfying Christ is ours freely and eternally by faith in the sin-forgiving death and hope-giving resurrection of Jesus Christ (John Piper). We are unashamedly gospel-centered at The Gathering, as every church plant ought to be, because the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, and in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed (Rom. 1:16-17). We intentionally emphasize the centrality of the gospel in our preaching and teaching, in worship, in calling people into community with one another, in service that seeks to extend his grace and mercy to others, and in making disciples who make disciples and planting churches (Matt. 28:16-20). What’s at the center of your life and your church? How can we avoid “drift?” The expanding ministries of our church must keep the vision and mission dead center at all times. We must remove congestion from our church by courageously saying “no” to good opportunities so we can say “yes” to the best opportunities. We cannot allow the vision to leak or the mission to drift off course. We must be tenacious and bold in order to maximize the energy of everyone in our church by creating alignment. If ministries or events do not align with our vision and purpose, we must firmly say no. At our church we seek to make gospel-centered disciples by following a simple plan: Create significant, meaningful, Christ-centered Sunday morning worship experiences that are full of simple worship, passionate prayer, and strong teaching. Expand the scope and influence of small groups so that everyone has an opportunity to join a gospel-centered fellowship where they can get connected, grow in faith, care for one another, and serve God and others. Life-change happens best in small groups! Offer courses, seminars, workshops or conferences (on topics like marriage, parenting, dealing with addictions, etc.) that supplement the teaching and life-change ministry of our church. Say “no” to everything else. Let’s keep it simple. Focused, directed, centered ministry. It’s the best way to make disciples. 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 is also on the Send Canada Advisory Board. He has a master’s degree in church planting from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and D.Min from Bethel Theological Seminary. #AUGUST21

by Dan Russell “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT) SOUTHGATE, MI – Attitude is everything! Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain during World War II said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Albert Einstein, the famous physicist who formed the theory of general relativity said, “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” So what kind of attitude should we have? A good one, obviously! A bad attitude is like a flat tire on your car… if you don’t fix it, you’re not going anywhere! In the world around us, attitudes are often defined as either “good” or “bad”, “positive” or “negative”, and can include having attitudes that are kind or unkind, cooperative or uncooperative, or unifying or divisive. Millions upon millions of dollars are spent in the areas of business, education, and counseling in order to cultivate attitudes that promote teamwork, academic excellence, and mental health. The dictionary definition of “attitude” is “a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways.” But what is God’s definition of “attitude” in His Word, the Bible? The word translated “attitude” in Philippians 2:5 is the Greek verb “phroneo”, which means “to think in a certain way”. We are told that we must think the way that Jesus did when He was on the earth. How did He think? Where can we find His attitude described in the Bible? Beyond the words of Jesus in the Gospels, which give evidence of His attitudes told many things, we are given His precise “thinking processes” in the verses that follow Philippians 2:5. In fact, in the three verses that follow, namely verses 6, 7, & 8, we are given the three main attitudes of Christ. We would do well to study them, apply them, and live them out in our lives! In Philippians 2:6 it says, “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges.” This clearly shows Christ’s attitude of SELFLESSNESS! He was selflessly willing to leave the glory of Heaven and His equal existence with God, the Father, to come to earth on a mission of mercy to save fallen humanity from the curse of sin. In Philippians 2:7 it says, “He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” This is a wonderful example of Christ’s attitude of SERVANTHOOD! He was willing to become a human being in order to “serve” human beings. This was the Master of the Universe becoming a slave to humanity for the purpose of dying for the sin that had enslaved each and every human being. In Philippians 2:8 it says, “When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on the cross.” What an awful, yet beautiful, picture of SUBMISSIVENESS to the authority of another. Jesus obeyed the call of His Father to drink the cup of suffering and death in order to appease the wrath of God and pay the sin debt for all human beings. Notice that from start to finish, from birth to death, throughout the entire existence of Jesus on the earth, He exhibited these three attitudes. In His incarnation and birth, He showed us how to be SELFLESS. In His life and ministry, He showed us how to be SERVANTS. And, in His suffering and death, He showed us how to be SUBMISSIVE to authority. In the midst of the tremendous truth of this great sacrifice of Christ is the example to Christians of what kind of attitudes we are to have as we walk the same earth Jesus did. And as we apply the attitudes of Christ to our relationships with Him, our family, our friends, our employers, our professors, our fellow-students, and all those we relate to in this world, we will have the same attitude of Christ Jesus! WHO Jesus was (and is) can be WHO you are as you seek to be a “selfless” “servant” who is “submissive” to authority. This is what it means to allow Jesus to live through you! As you yield to Him and have these attitudes, your whole life can be transformed into the Christian He really wants you to be. So stop “trying” to do it on your own and simply start “trusting” Him to do it in you and through you… through the transmission of His attitudes through you to those around you! Check out my book on this subject, The Christ In Christian: How Every Christian Can Experience The Three Divine Attitudes of Christ ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Dan Russell is the Executive Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Southgate, Michigan, a Church Strengthener for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, and an adjunct professor in the Christian Ministry Department of Spring Arbor University at two campuses in southeastern Michigan. He has 36 years of pastoral experience, including lead pastorates in Missouri, Kansas, and Michigan. He and his wife, JoLinda, live in Brownstown, Michigan, and have three adult children, along with seven grandchildren. #AUGUST21

by Sharon Gilbert FRANKFORT, MI – Things are happening at Crystal Lake Church in Frankfort, Michigan! This church has had many ups and downs, mountains and valleys, growth, and decline, but after 28 years as the Pastor at this amazing tiny church, we’ve been blessed even through the low times. God is faithful. Around the beginning of the year, through a generous donor, we were able to hire Sarah Anderson as Director of Community Development and Youth, with the prayer that we can better reach young families. We also were able to finish the construction of our church which has been on hold for years. Even through COVID, we were seeing people being used to reach others for the Kingdom of God. Our Outreach Director developed the Facebook Page, M22 Fellowship, which is used primarily to reach community members who need a friend, who are lonely or have some kind of need. Through this platform, we met Robin who had brain surgery in February. She was struggling at the time, but now she is our biggest missionary. Robin loves the Lord, shares about His love and forgiveness to everyone she meets. Recently, we had a bonfire event to use for outreach. 33 people attended including 5 non-church families. We are praying for these new families, getting to know them, and hope to love them to faith in Christ. There are spiritual and physical changes happening at our church. We have hired an architect, and now we are ready to move to the next stage of construction. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sharon Gilbert has partnered in ministry with her husband Roger Gilbert, who has been the pastor of Crystal Lake Church Frankfort for 28 years. They have 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren, who all know and love the Lord, and serve Him. Crystal Lake Southern Baptist Church, or known as Crystal Lake Church, is associated with the Northwest Baptist Association and the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. #AUGUST21

by Scott Barkley DALLAS, TX (BP) – Jonathan Smith remembers the day he learned his church couldn’t afford a cup of coffee. He knew the church had struggled. It held plenty of building space but not the people to fill it. An aging membership reflected the difficulties in reaching the next generation. The congregation had been formative in planting other churches…but only because of a couple of splits in the fellowship. One day his ministry assistant was shopping around for a vendor when she called Smith. “You have to come see this,” she said. The church’s bank account showed $1.06. On top of that, the large crowds the church had drawn in the 1980s had dwindled to 25. Nevertheless, a process toward prioritizing the right things had been underway and would eventually lead to a $750,000 budget and attendance reaching 450. “You cannot out-mission the Messiah. We had to get back to the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, loving our community and loving the lost,” Smith, director of Church Health Strategy for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, told Baptist Press. “Over time the Lord just turned it around to becoming a really great, strong church.” In a culture that demands immediate results, it took about eight years for Smith’s church to experience the turnaround. That time consisted of building trust among members while identifying problems related to leadership development and missions involvement. One of the more difficult steps came through removing ministries serving more as a faded photo from yesteryear than effective outreach of the current day. “The upside-down church has a very large structure, but a small mission,” he pointed out. “It needs to be the other way around. We fall in love with programs, when we need to fall in love with the lost.” God began to move after missions and evangelism became a priority. When growth had reached 100 members, 40 of them at any time could be on a mission trip. After returning from Germany one year, Smith asked someone who the person was on stage leading worship for vacation Bible school. “That’s Becka.” “Who’s Becka?” Smith asked. “Oh, her family is one of the ones who came here while you were gone.” Five families had joined the church during Smith’s two-week absence in Germany. “That’s when it hit me that the more mission work we do and engage with the mission of Christ, the more people the Lord brought to us,” he said. “I tell pastors that we tend to focus on growing the church, when we should be focused on growing the kingdom.” That growth brought the need to develop leaders. It’s an issue churches tend to ignore when experiencing a time of growth, and when it’s not addressed also can hasten a decline, Smith noted. “Every pastor wants his church to grow until it does. We weren’t ready for growth, so we had to find ways to take care of the people God brought to us. I learned that you always have to be developing new leaders if you want your church to grow.” In a recent podcast with Church Answers, Smith called the layperson “the greatest untapped resource of the church. Our role as pastors is to develop and equip the saints.” Revitalization, he added, requires a sense of urgency but also trust. Of course, those are difficult to mix when one works against time constraints and the other requires them. One way to address both is to “problem-cast” continuously – identify an issue and place it before the membership for their input. While discussing those issues, find ways to celebrate victories. Rather than have designated Baptism Sundays with several individuals, Smith would schedule one for each Sunday. Their story would be thoroughly shared and celebrated with testimonies by friends and family. As many churches age—both in membership and buildings—many have become more open to the necessary steps of revitalization. In much the same way, pastors and churches adopted online strategies last year when COVID-19 took away in-person gatherings. Smith maintains that such steps are more obvious than churches want to admit and often need to reach a point—like seeing $1.06 in the bank account—to make the move. “Every church has a psychology and instinctively knows what they’re supposed to be doing,” he added. “Nothing stirs the heart like three things: baptisms, new members and mission work.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is national correspondent for Baptist Press. #AUGUST21

by Timothy Cockes NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Southern Baptists continue to fight against human trafficking worldwide as the issue is acknowledged by the United Nations on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today, July 30. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world. Recently, the United Nations Global Report on Trafficking in Persons indicated there were nearly 50,000 detected victims of human trafficking in 2018. The U.S. Department of State estimates there are actually 24.9 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time, whether reported or not. Human Trafficking is defined by the United Nations Trafficking in Persons Protocol as “the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by such means as threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud or deception for the purpose of exploitation.” Traffickers have various purposes for their victims, including commercial sexual activity (sex trafficking) or forced labor. Many of the cases of trafficking in the Western part of the world are related to sex trafficking. Sex trafficking remains a large problem in the United States. The National Human Trafficking Hotline reports that of the 11,500 cases of human trafficking in 2019, more than 8,000 involving sex trafficking. Trafficking experts say the COVID-19 pandemic increased the number of people who could be vulnerable to sex trafficking. Southern Baptists are actively fighting against this worldwide evil year-round, not just on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Kay Bennett is one of the North American Mission Board’s foremost experts on the issue of human trafficking. Bennett, a Send Relief missionary and the executive director of the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans, La., told Baptist Press that 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, may be 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.” One of the main ways Bennett and the Baptist Friendship House (which has served New Orleans for more than 75 years) fight against trafficking in their community is by practically helping trafficking survivors who contact them. The Friendship House will provide out-of-state transportation to survivors who are in danger, and also houses survivors who need immediate shelter and safety. Bennett said they have served 30 human trafficking survivors already this year, including four in July alone. When survivors stay at the house, they receive backpacks with various hygiene supplies as well as a blanket and clothing. “That backpack says I care about you, but it also builds trust with them,” Bennett said. “And then it builds a relationship with them to be able to hear their story and share Jesus with them.” Send Relief, which also has a Send Relief Center in New Orleans, partners with the Friendship House in a variety of ways, including by helping prepare and distribute the backpacks to survivors. The Friendship House will also be participating in Send Relief’s national backpack day on Sept. 18-19, in which Southern Baptists are encouraged to pack a relief backpack as well as donate $10 for every backpack prepared. The backpacks will then be distributed among Send Relief ministries. Bennett said Send Relief also partners with the Friendship House to host visiting teams from other churches, ministries and state conventions. The visiting teams learn about the issue of human trafficking and how to prevent it so they can apply the information in their local context. Recently a group of 12 representatives from the Ohio Woman’s Missionary Union visited the Friendship House. Jean DiFilippo, president of the Ohio WMU, explained that Ohio ranks in the top ten for the number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The group plans to travel two by two (two representatives together) throughout their convention educating others on the awareness of Human Trafficking. “We have no desire to reinvent the wheel. There are many agencies [both Christian and non-Christian] that do a great job of rescuing victims and helping prosecute the abusers,” DiFilippo said in a statement to Baptist Press. “Our goal is to help people recognize the warning signs and to contact authorities. Our motto is ‘If you see something, say something.’ First and foremost, we need to bathe it in prayer. We personally prayed for a young woman and her child who were rescued while we were in New Orleans. “While we continue to pray for that young family, we also need to pray for the abusers. They need Jesus. We need to pray they will find Him and turn from their wicked ways.” The Woman’s Missionary Union is also very involved in fighting human trafficking on the national level. Human exploitation, which includes human trafficking, was a focus area for WMU from 2010-2014. There are several resources regarding human trafficking on WMU’s website including links to an online minicourse about trafficking and a simulation showing the realities of trafficking. Another ongoing ministry involving trafficking involves “WorldCrafts,” a WMU fair-trade ministry that supports artisan groups who help women at risk or involved with trafficking. “It is our privilege to partner with talented artisans in the WorldCrafts Support Freedom Campaign as they make beautiful items and rebuild their lives after being rescued from trafficking,” said Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director for the WMU. “When you purchase an item from these artisans and pray for them, you are a part of their transformation story.” Bennett concluded by stating it’s important for Southern Baptists to get involved with trafficking prevention through prayer and support, because no matter how many people are ministered to, every person is valuable to God. “I think we should pray for trafficking victims to be able to find the help that they need to get out of the situation,” Bennett said. “Pray for people like us at the Baptist Friendship House and in other ministry centers that are helping them and pray for wisdom and knowledge. “One of the greatest things also is for people just to pray for the needs that are around them. Most all of us live around people in need. It’s amazing when we start praying for the needs around us. God opens our eyes and opens the door for us to minister to people.” “It (fighting human trafficking) matters to every person that you reach … and it’s important to never give up on anyone, because Jesus never gives up on us.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer. #AUGUST21

by Tessa Redmond SHEPHERDSVILLE, KY (BP) – Cedar Grove Baptist Church is discipling women with unplanned pregnancies and single moms. The church partners with Embrace Grace, Inc., a non-profit that equips churches to love and support women and families through gospel-centered small groups with the intent of integrating them into local bodies of believers. “I think, historically, churches have made single pregnant ladies feel like outcasts, so this is an opportunity for us to not do that anymore,” explained Christie Vaughn, women’s ministry leader at Cedar Grove. “It’s an opportunity to really build relationships with people that are hurting and feel like the last place they can go is to the church. But we want them to know that’s the first place they should go.” Cedar Grove offers two different small groups: Embrace Grace for single, expecting moms and Embrace Life for moms who have given birth to their babies. Over the course of 10 to 11 weeks, leaders share their testimonies and present the gospel. Eventually, meetings explore parenting, financial habits, Bible study practices and time management from a gospel perspective. “It’s about relationship building,” Vaughn said. “It’s not just about an opportunity to get together and talk about the gospel. That’s one step. Let’s see how we can help you live out the gospel.” The church then provides a free baby shower to moms who have completed all or most of the program. And according to Vaughn, each woman has walked away changed. “They’ve gone from being hopeless and not knowing how in the world they’re going to handle having a child, or having another child, (and) they have hope,” Vaughn said. “They know they’re not alone. They know the Lord cares about them, and so they don’t feel lost anymore.” Several moms who have walked through Embrace Grace and Embrace Life are now attending church, both at Cedar Grove and with other congregations. One is doing a Bible study with Vaughn because she wanted to continue meeting. Vaughn believes local churches should consider ministries like Embrace Grace small groups because they facilitate lasting, generational change. “I think it’s this type of ministry that really changes people’s minds about abortion and changes their hearts towards abortion,” Vaughn said. “Their minds aren’t going to be changed by protest. Their minds are going to be changed by somebody reaching out to them in love, and supporting them, and sharing the gospel with them. When their hearts are transformed toward God, their hearts are going to be transformed about abortion.” Providing Embrace Grace groups has also impacted Cedar Grove members, who have discovered many commonalities they share with the young women who have benefited from the ministry. Leaders have been able to share their experience with abortion, adoption, sexual abuse and pregnancy outside of marriage. “It’s just neat as our church has come together around this ministry,” Vaughn said. “We kind of get in this habit of just focusing on what’s right in front of us, and we lose sight of the world outside the church walls. This has helped us to refocus ourselves on the Lord and then to reach out to our surrounding community.” To learn more about the Embrace Grace and Embrace Life groups at Cedar Grove Baptist Church, visit cedargrovebaptist.church. To learn how your church can start an Embrace Grace small group, visit embracegrace.com. #AUGUST21

by Jamie Lynn NASHVILLE, TN – The SBC Annual Meeting that met in Nashville Tennessee last week had been talked about with uncertainty in the media for a few months leading up to the gathering. There were so many things happening simultaneously, but this is just a glimpse of the activities. The crowd of messengers and guests representing the approximately 50,000 Great Commission churches swelled to almost 21,000. The possibility of several heated issues had been murmured about as to how and when they would be brought up during the meeting. Everyone seemed on edge. But God! The SEND Conference, June 12-13, was started with an all-inclusive hour-long prayer time with Pastor Robby Gallaty (Long Hollow Baptist Church Hendersonville, TN). That heartfelt time of pouring ourselves out to God seeking forgiveness and asking Him to fill our hearts with His love and unity in Christ set the tone for the remainder of the time in Nashville. A true peace about the upcoming days of the Annual Meeting came over the huge crowd. The NAMB (North American Mission Board) and the IMB (International Mission Board) had been invited to have a SEND Conference in the two days prior to the Annual Meeting that was usually for the Pastor’s Conference. NAMB and the IMB worked together to host representatives from thousands of SBC churches. Sunday evening lifted worship with Michael W. Smith, David Crowder and Pastor Tony Evans preaching a powerful message. Monday was filled with a Women’s Track with excellent speakers, Donna Gaines, Shelia Walsh and Katie McCoy and for the Pastor’s Track, David Jeremiah. NAMB had a luncheon which honored one church planter and his family. He had contracted COVID and had to have a double lung transplant. He was so blessed when he received word that his hospital bill was paid-in-full, and his wife received a new vehicle to transport him back and forth to his many doctor checkups. The IMB had a SENDING Celebration. It was so inspiring hearing all the new missionaries that were preparing to go to their field of service, tell their 1-minute testimony of how God had worked radically in their lives to call them to serve Him. Tuesday morning the SBC Annual Meeting began with President J.D. Greear presiding. His emphasis on prayer and the Gospel of Jesus Christ continued the spirit of accord that had begun in the prayer time with Pastor Robby Gallaty. J.D.’s easy-going manner, levity and always giving respect to the representative at the microphones carried the business sessions. The Minister’s Wives were treated to a special luncheon filled with inspiration and encouragement. Sabrina Patterson hosted a table full of Michigan pastor’s wives who had such fun visiting and listening to the speaker while enjoying a delicious lunch. The National Women’s Missionary Union report was given by Sandy Wisdom Martin and they were commended for how they support the Mission Offerings and Studies. The National Send Relief report given by Bryant Wright, National Director, and was uplifting in how Southern Baptist are known and have such a good name around the world in their relief ministries. The Resolutions were led by Dr. James Merritt. With several extensions of discussion times, the resolutions were amended or added until the voting messengers would come to an agreement to approve or refuse. This was the liveliest times of discussion. Dr. Merritt and the resolution team did an excellent job handling the resolutions. There was a Michigan Fellowship Dinner hosted by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan churches at a restaurant (Merchants) in downtown Nashville. The restaurant had a limit of 83 people, and it was filled to capacity! The tables were brimming with Michiganders sharing their thoughts on the Annual Meeting and what’s happening in their lives and churches. The food was delicious, but the kinship was sweeter. The SBC Annual meeting was closed with grace and the smack of a gavel. The new President, Ed Litton, 1st VP-Lee Brand Jr, 2nd VP Ramon Medina, Recording Secretary-John Yeats and Registration Secretary-Don Currence will now be helping Great Commission Baptist Churches across the US work together to reach our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jamie M. Lynn, I'm married to a God warrior, have 3 wonderful married children and 9 super grandkids. I love working at the BSCM office to help the churches in the Great Lakes area to thrive, serve God by drawing others to Him and to love their communities. #JULY21

PLYMOUTH, MI – I would like to send our congratulations to these fine students who graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. I know that God is going to use them mightily in furthering the Kingdom of Christ. We are so thankful for the continuing education of our leaders here in Michigan. May God bless them and use them in great ways to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities, state and around the world. Tim Patterson Executive Director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan Student Name: Larry E. Rednower Hometown: Flint Home Church: New Haven Baptist Church School: Billy Graham School Degree: Doctor of Ministry-BGS Spouse Name: Janet K Rednower Student Name: Collin B. Smith Hometown: Tecumseh Home Church: Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church (Tecumseh, MI) School: Billy Graham School Degree: Master of Divinity-BGS Spouse Name: Alysha Smith Student Name: Ethan Cole Hometown: Greenville Home Church: Calvary Baptist (Greenville, MI) School: Theology Degree: Doctor of Ministry-SOT Spouse Name: Kaitlyn Cole #JULY21

by David Kemper LANSING, MI – We spend a lot of time, energy and effort trying to find new methods for church growth, rather than simply trying to carry out our “Commander-in-chief’s” last orders. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV) Two commands and one promise in those orders: ‘Make disciples’. Lead people to a born again relationship with Jesus Christ. ‘Teaching them’ to obey. ‘I am with you’ the promise is, that in doing this, He will be with us until He comes again. He didn’t tell us to make church members. He didn’t tell us to make Baptists. He didn’t tell us to come up with clever and innovative ways to grow crowds. He told us to convince people to be followers of Jesus Christ (disciples). And He told us to teach them to ‘observe’/obey all that He has ‘commanded’ us. Having been in ministry for almost fifty years, I have seen many changes in culture, methods and even gimmicks to build churches. I think it would be a great idea if we started once again to focus on just getting the clear message of the gospel out to the people in our communities. In my opinion, it is God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit that actually brings people to Christ. Be committed to God completely. Even for those in the ministry, it is an ongoing work to stay as close to the Lord as we possibly can. We all have stresses and temptations that interfere with our ability to effectively communicate the gospel. I am sure that the closer we stay to the Lord the more powerful our efforts will be in outreach and personal witness. Understand the gospel thoroughly. It may seem strange to say, but effective communication of the gospel requires a clear understanding of it. Many times we think we know it clearly but that is only because we know the ‘vocabulary’ of the Christian and the Bible, and don’t realize as we attempt to share the gospel that it is not that clear at all to one who has been unchurched all their life. If one only memorizes a ‘plan of salvation’ and doesn’t understand all of the nuances involved in that from the Bible it becomes very hard to extend the conversation to the point of salvation. Using a ‘plan of salvation’ is essential, but understanding it is much more than ‘a plan’. Learn to communicate the gospel clearly. I have found that the best way to communicate the gospel is to keep it as brief and simple as possible. When I first did ministry as a director of a Junior Church in Nashville, I learned quickly that the only way to communicate to the kids was to keep it simple and as brief as possible. That five year experience has helped me a lot in learning how to keep complex subjects easy enough for a child to understand. That’s how we must work if we are to communicate clearly. Don’t quit. Possibly the most important part of sharing the gospel is to be faithful. And absolutely ‘don’t quit’. If our efforts are not always visibly fruitful we can become discouraged. Be certain, God uses every effort we make to add souls to the kingdom, even if we personally never see the results. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 DON’T QUIT!!! ABOUT THE AUTHOR My name is David Kemper. I retired as a systems analyst from Dart Container in 2011. I am now in my third year as the pastor of the Discover Life Church in Lansing, MI. #JULY21

by Jon Locke MOUNT MORRIS, MI – Growing up I always knew I was different, on the inside that is. I knew that my mind did not work or process like everyone else’s. Being born in the seventies there weren’t a lot of diagnoses floating around, but there was plenty of name calling. “Dumb, hyper, bad, worthless, class clown” and countless others that were attached to me growing up in Houston, Texas. Sadly, most of the names came from adults, teachers, and even “well meaning” church folk. It was difficult knowing that you were different, but not being able to verbalize what that difference was even harder. I was also taller and bigger than most kids too so that was a blessing and a curse. I had to learn to fight from an early age. I honestly fell through the cracks in the education system. I do not know how big those cracks were, but I fell through them, all of them. To be fair, I did get snagged a few times, but my well-meaning parents somehow would talk my teachers into passing me. This happened on multiple occasions. It wasn’t till high school that I thought my luck had run out. I was being forced to redo some credits, and I had to do them by correspondence. Well, I refused. So, my mom and my older sister who wanted me to have a high school diploma did all the work for me. There you have it, I did not earn my diploma on my own merit. In fact, it wasn’t till I went off to college at the age of 28 that I learned how to put a sentence together properly. This was only because a professor saw something in me and took the time to help me. Maybe it was pity, because all my other professors thought they were on that tv show “punk’d.” My papers were marked with so much red ink, they were questioning their own admission policies. Remember I started off with God has a plan. I honestly shouldn’t be alive. In fact, I tried most of my early life not to be alive. In my desire to be “normal”, to be like everyone else, or to even to just have friends, my plan was destruction and death. Looking from the outside in, most would never have known that I was suicidal even from a young age. Who would think that the jovial, class clown, wanted desperately to leave this earth? To be honest, I still struggle with thoughts. It was after a failed suicide attempt when a borrowed handgun did not fire that I finally surrendered my life to Christ. Not some of my life, but all of it. So how does a husband, father, grandfather, pastor of a local church struggle with depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD and a host of other acronyms? I’m human, I’m a real person, just like everyone else. It wasn’t until much later in life that I was diagnosed with being on the Autism Spectrum. It is hard for adults to be diagnosed because we learn to cope, we learn to hide our “little secrets.” Sadly, ASD can be genetic and in a roundabout way that’s how I was diagnosed. We have five children and two grandchildren. Well, our fourteen-year-old son when he was ten had to be hospitalized because of suicidal ideations. He had already been diagnosed with ASD several years earlier, but some of his behaviors he was no longer able to control even with medicines. During the intake at the hospital, we learned that our son was very much like me, or I was like him. The intake nurse asked him if he had ever attempted suicide before and our hearts sunk. His little crying voice said that at eight he tried to hang himself in his closet. Why? He just wanted to be “normal.” Where have I heard this before? God has a plan, and He has a plan for you. It’s ok to be different, there is no “normal.” So many people are hurting and suffering in silence, but they don’t have to be. We have to take the stigma away from mental illnesses. We have to be able to open up without fear of rejection and shame before it’s too late. There are people and kids just like me and my son in your families and in your churches, reach out to them, open the lines of communication! If you, your child or loved one has a diagnosis or diagnoses they aren’t bound by those acronyms. Look at me! Who would have thought that a punk kid who everyone else threw away, who couldn’t even put a sentence together has multiple degrees. I'm a pastor, an author and have a beautiful family who loves me. All because God has a plan! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jon Locke serves on the staff of North End Baptist Church in Mount Morris. He is the Senior Pastor. #JULY21

by Seth Springs WATERFORD, MI – At the beginning of June, my wife and I attended our first ever Southern Baptist Convention meeting. It was an encouraging time as we gathered with 16,000 other Southern Baptists, including 2 of our church planting teammates. But, as we heard reports and casted votes, I began to ask myself a question that I believe many others have been asking themselves, “What makes me a Southern Baptist?” Why have I chosen to engage in Southern Baptist life? What keeps me committed to this family of Great Commission Baptist Churches? While you answer this line of questioning for yourself, I’d like to share 3 reasons why I am a Southern Baptist. LOTTIE MOON If you’ve been around SBC life for long, you know the name Lottie Moon (1840-1912). As a young lady, Lottie Moon offered her life to Christ through missionary service. This route included denying the comforts of home and declining a seemingly attractive marriage proposal. She would set sail for China at the age of 32, and never look back, making Jesus known among Chinese peoples for 39 years. You probably know Lottie Moon as the namesake of the SBC’s annual Christmas offering. This is because, while serving overseas, Lottie wrote letters urging churches to give generously and send missionaries so that the Nations might hear the Good News about Jesus. This has resulted in Southern Baptists giving over $5 billion to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. That’s $5 billion so that missionaries can be sent, the Gospel can be preached, and people “from every nation, tribe, people, and language” can call on the name of the Lord and be saved. This global cooperative effort is what makes me want to be a Southern Baptist. ANNIE ARMSTRONG Behind the organization of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was a group of Southern Baptist women known as the Women’s Missionary Union. Behind that group was a woman named Annie Armstrong (1850-1938). Born and raised in the city of Baltimore, Annie always had a passion for serving those in need. As leader of the WMU, she helped mobilize other women, and their churches, to live on mission near and far. In 1934, The Home Mission Board (NAMB) renamed its annual offering for North American missions after her. Each year, Southern Baptists support the work of meeting needs, planting churches, and changing lives across North America through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Without this offering, the ministries of church planters like me would look vastly different! This cooperative effort, that our new church plant now has the privilege of participating in, makes me want to be a Southern Baptist! BRENDA CARTER Another significant reason I am a committed Southern Baptist is a name that you may not know. Brenda Carter has championed cooperative missions for the entirety of her adult life. For years she has led WMU efforts in her church and local Baptist association. Once a month, she meets with ladies of her church to pray for international missionaries by name. Brenda has been on close to 30 short-term mission trips to the country of Brazil, and has served hard-hit communities through Disaster Relief. I know all of this because Brenda Carter is my grandmother. My favorite memories of VBS are of my grandmother giving the weekly “missions moments.” The first time I can remember hearing someone share the Gospel was when my grandmother shared the Good News about Jesus with a UPS delivery man right in her kitchen. When I was radically saved at the age of 15, years of mission moments and evangelistic enthusiasm finally made sense. I am thankful for the work of Southern Baptists, especially this one! What makes me a Southern Baptist? Simply put, I don’t want to miss out. The Great Commission really is great and we are better together. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Seth Springs serves in Waterford, MI alongside his wife Taylor and 3 young children. Seth is a church planter and one of the pastors at Transformation Church Waterford. #JULY21