Search Results

by Timothy Cockes NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Saying the global pandemic didn’t cause the crisis in the Southern Baptist Convention, but revealed “a deeper, more insidious crisis,” SBC President J.D. Greear challenged members of the SBC Executive Committee to “repudiate” a pharisaical spirit and unite for the sake of the Gospel. “The last year has revealed areas of weakness in our beloved convention of churches,” Greear said Monday (Feb. 22), during the president’s address to the EC at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. “Fissures and failures and fleshly idolatries. COVID didn’t produce these crises. It only exposed them.” Greear, senior pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area, continued as SBC president for a third year because of the cancellation of the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting. He said his desire as president was never to change the SBC’s doctrine or mission. “The change we needed was cultural,” Greear said. “Gospel doctrine and Gospel mission without Gospel culture is sterile, weak and even, according to Scripture, deadly.” But he decried division, which he said comes from a small but vocal minority, because it hinders the SBC’s cooperative mission of getting the Gospel to the nations. He described false accusations as “demonic.” Greear said the Pharisees possessed correct doctrinal beliefs, but resisted the ministry of Jesus more than any other group because “they were more concerned with preserving the purity of the nation than they were bringing in the outsider.” Noting the convention’s success, during the Conservative Resurgence, of repudiating “the leaven of the liberals,” he asked: “Are we now going to repudiate the leaven of the Pharisees?” “Do we … need reform? Absolutely,” Greear said. “Is doctrine important? Of course. These are not idle words; this is our life. Is eternal vigilance the price of doctrinal integrity? Of course. Should we ever forget the painful battles won on our behalf in the 1980s and 1990s? Oh, may it never be. “The problem is that many of our divisions are based on 90 percent misunderstandings, distortions and often outright lies. And it has grieved me more than you can imagine.” Greear cited charges hurled against him and other SBC leaders of drifting leftward, either theologically or politically, as examples. He said the controversy over Critical Race Theory has become a significant obstacle to cooperation. The issue has been a lightning rod since the adoption of Resolution 9 at the 2019 SBC Annual Meeting, with heated debate playing out largely on social media. Last November, the Council of Seminary Presidents issued a statement declaring Critical Race theory and any other form of Critical Theory as “incompatible” with the Baptist Faith and Message. Greear affirmed the seminary presidents’ statement, which drew a response from various ethnic groups and leaders, but said he understands how the issue has contributed to heightened racial tensions within the SBC. “Let me state clearly,” Greear said. “CRT is an important discussion, and I’m all for robust theological discussion about it. For something as important as ‘what biblical justice looks like,’ we need careful, robust, Bibles-open-on-our-knees discussion. But we should mourn when closet racists and neo-Confederates feel more at home in our churches than do many of our people of color.” In calling for unity, Greear said he would not water down doctrine. “I’m not talking about communicating ambiguity on things the Scriptures speak clearly on – the sanctity of life and marriage, the sinfulness of homosexuality – these are things that faithful Christians cannot disagree on and our consciences are captive in these to the Word of God.” But he asked: “Do we want to be a Gospel people or a Southern culture people? Which is the more important part of our name, Southern or Baptist? Are the Scriptures sufficient in laying out for us the non-negotiables for fellowship? If so, why do we have a set of secondary criteria, a hedge about the law, that we use to determine who is in and who is out?” Heading into the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting, scheduled for June 15-16 in Nashville, Greear asked Baptists to consider committing to being a Great Commission Baptist, committing to being a “Gospel Above All” leader and committing to being people of truth and integrity. He said the convention’s ultimate goal is becoming a Gospel people with churches that engage people of all different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. Citing Acts 15, when the early church was divided over whether Gentile believers should adopt Jewish religious practices including circumcision, Greear noted James’ judgment that Gentiles should avoid sexual immorality and to avoid food polluted by idols and the meat of animals that had died by strangulation. He quoted James’ reasoning from Acts 15:19: “We ought not make it hard for Gentiles who are coming to God.” “Brothers and sisters, I wish I could write some version of that statement over the door of every Southern Baptist church in America,” Greear said. “We ought not make it hard for Democrats to come to Jesus. We shouldn’t make it hard for Republicans to come to Jesus. Or Blacks. Or Latinos. Or northerners. Or southerners. “At the end of the day, if we’re a people who puts the Gospel above all … our Gospel is too precious and our mission is too urgent to let anything stand in our way.” #MARCH21

Hello, Campers! We have so many things to be thankful for in 2021! There are crimes happening every day, political unrest continues to rock our cities, and several areas of our lives are disrupted with COVID issues. However, we are reminded that God is still on the throne and in control. He knew ahead of time how these days would be and He promised He would be here for us. We encourage you to look on the bright side of life and keep your faith in Him. MI COM is determined to continue finding ways to evangelize and serve our churches and camps, all for the honor of our Lord. Our activities may be fewer than would be if the state was opened up more, but there is still plenty for us to do! We encourage you to keep updated with our Facebook page and Website. These electronic communications keep you regularly informed and our costs down. We understand that some are not “computer savvy”, so let us know if we can help you access these sources. Also, you can post on Facebook to keep us updated on what you are doing for Campers on Mission. If you aren’t sure how to do that, tell us and we will post it for you. We are encouraged to see when you are on task and how God is blessing you as you share His message and your efforts to help others. “Sharing Christ as we go!” God bless you, Rick and Cindy ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST MONTH Faith Fellowship Baptist Church Work Project MI COM went to Lansing to work on the housing project with Pastor Stan Parker. This project is taking more time than Pastor Stan had thought, and yet progress is being made. You may recall they have a veteran and a single mother waiting to have a home once this is completed. Others volunteer to work on the home and was able to get the windows installed. Rick and William, a friend of Faith Fellowship, worked in January. They were able to frame in a door and sidewall. Rick says in February the next step is building another window header and finish framing, Once building, plumbing and electrical inspections are completed and approved, insulation would be on the list. COM attended Men’s Winter Retreat A few MI COM members attended the SBC Men’s Winter Retreat at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp in January. Bambi Lake Camp is beautiful all 4 seasons that Michigan offers. The winter is no exception. The men went sledding on the “Monster Hill”, enjoying good meals, and praising God together. The theme was “Grace Wins”, encouraging the men to have a better understanding of God’s grace. Grace works for us (salvation), works in us (spiritual growth), and works through us (reaching others). What a wonderful message for COMers! MI COM UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES Faith Fellowship Baptist Church Work Project Thursdays of each week, January 21-March 25th MI COM is committing Thursday of each week, beginning January 21st , to working on the Faith Fellowship Baptist Church Housing Project in Lansing. The workday will be 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The church ladies provide lunch at 1:00 and dinner at 5:00. The work team will head home by 6:00 pm. Friday will be the backup day if the weather is bad on Thursday. If you can go on Thursday to work, contact Rick Truesdail by noon the Wednesday before to schedule travel and meals. Pastor Stan Parker is excited as MI COM plan to continue work on the housing project, which is an extension of their ministry in that neighborhood. MI COM and other volunteers want to see this duplex home finished and providing a warm, comfortable home for a veteran and single mom. God bless you as you join in the work to see this accomplished. MI COM Ladies’ Sewing Event Saturday, February 20th, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm At Heritage Baptist Church, 5199 E. Hill Rd., Grand Blanc, MI 48439 Bring your sewing machine, cotton materials, threads, etc. If you can bring bath and hand towel sets that will be good. We will also have some supplies available. Our projects will be making the teddy bears, hooded towels, and non-sew throws for the foster and refugee children at Bethany Christian Services in Grand Rapids. Lunch provided. Bambi Lake Baptist Camp Work Week and Spring Rally May 20-26th Join us at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp, Roscommon, MI, Thursday, May 20, thru Wednesday, May 26, to work and get the camp ready to open for the summer and Memorial Day Weekend. Bambi provides MI COM members with campsite/lodge and meals. We will have a meeting and rally service Wednesday evening. If you wish to stay through the holiday weekend, just let us know when you make your reservation with us. You will be responsible on those days to pay for campsite/lodging and provide your own food. NATIONAL UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES The Great Passion Play, Eureka Springs, Arkansas April 5-9, 2021 All COM members are invited to volunteer at our 9th Annual National COM Work Week. Come for one week or more to work at this amazing place. All skills of every kind needed for construction, painting, repairs, planting trees, pothole repair, sewing, etc. To make your reservation, contact our National COM Coordinators, Jerry and Renee McGovern, at (479) 253-5879 or email nationalcoordinator@campersonmission.net Earliest reservations will get the top sites and hookups. Please DO NOT call The Great Passion Play directly, contact our National COM Coordinators. To learn more about The Great Passion Play, check their website: www.greatpassionplay.org COM National Rally 2021, Duquoin, Illinois June 8-11, 2021 Registration will be available online soon. Get signed up for the COM National Rally 2021 now! COM members bring their RV’s together, some stay in nearby hotels, and we all gather to share what COM is doing and get new ideas and motivation from each other. Here’s just a taste of what is offered at the COM National Rally: Classes & Seminars can include topics such as: Basic Electrical Basic Plumbing, Drywalling: Hanging & Finishing, Fire Safety for RVs, RV Maintenance, Senior Heart Issues, Staying Connected Electronically on the go, Witnessing. Entertainment such as a Christian Comedian and singers will be scheduled, as well as special Guest Speakers from various ministries such as missions, church planting, and camp directors. Be sure to visit our National COM website for more information: www.campersonmission.net CHAPLAIN'S CORNER What would you be without Jesus in your life? Who would you be apart from the grace and mercy of God that has been showed to you? How would you live this life without the Holy Spirit’s guidance and sanctifying work in your life? Why would you want to live even another minute without knowing and experiencing the love of God in your life? If we would take just a few moments each day and think through these very personal questions, it would probably make a difference in the way we think and act as we go through the day. I know what I was like over 46 years ago as a young 20 year old agnostic before receiving Christ into my life. I remember the emptiness and purposelessness and wretchedness I tried so hard to hide, or at least numb, by participating in the passing pleasures of sin. So, take a few minutes to thank the Lord and dedicate your life once again ... To the Praise of His Glory, Chaplain Chip BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Birthdays Keith McKnight – 2/3 Chip Collins – 2/15 Jeannie Peck – 2/20 Anniversaries Skip & Debra Maxson – 2/3 PRAYER REQUEST & PRAISE REPORT Prayer Request Pray for our COM National Coordinators, Jerry and Renee McGovern. Jerry suffered another stroke the last week in January, and that has been quite serious since the prior stroke about 3 years ago. We praise God that this was mild and he is gaining strength back, able to speak, walk, etc. They have great responsibilities and need our continual prayers. Pray for a Florida COM member we met when working at Lake Swan Camp, Don Shannon. His precious wife of 45 years, Connie, passed away. He is saddened but has the assurance she is with the Lord. We have several missionaries on the road full time now: Tim and Gayle Jones have been ministering in southern states for a few months now Jon and Brandi Dyke family headed south the end of January to begin their missionary journey Jerry Pipher is at Bambi on mission for the winter instead of going south. Praise God for these MI COM members who are willing to go out like this. Let’s keep them in our prayers. Praise Report Note from Renee McGovern 1/30/21 regarding Jerry's stroke: God is good all the time!! Thank you all for the very needed prayers for Jerry. We made it home last night... God is in every detail working things out! He had a very good night of rest. Appetite is good. Doctor said everything should return to normal. He passed all the tests for physical therapy, speech therapy; Jerry showed off a little. lol ... God still has a plan for Jerry. We love and treasure each one of you. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 If you have a prayer request or a praise report, please share it with us and we will post it on the website and include it in our monthly newsletters. MI COM TEES & HATS For Sale We have fun things and essentials for you to let others know you are a MI COMer!!! We encourage you to wear the tees whenever you are working or on a COM event. Patches are iron-on or easy to sew onto your shirts or jackets. Lapel Pins are easily attached to a suit jacket or coat. Pens and Stickers accent your writing and notebooks. Contact Cindy for your purchase. MI COM OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE BOARD Presidents/Project Coordinator: Rick & Cindy Truesdail Vice-President/Project: Tony Morningstar Coordinator Chaplain: Pastor Chip Collins Hospitality/Food Coordinator: Kim Norrington Sewing Project Coordinator: Suzie Collins Secretary: (Vacant) Treasurer: Gary Hannuksela Historian: (Vacant) Hospitality/Food Assistant: Maria Hannuksela Sewing Project Assistant: Janice McKnight NETWORKING CENTER Tim and Gayle Jones are traveling to reach people for Christ. Tune into their Facebook for their 1002 Show at 10:00 am; “Praise on the Porch” evenings at 8:00 pm; Thursday Night Bible Study at 6:30 pm. You will be blessed by Gayle’s singing and Tim’s words from the Bible. Facebook: Chasing the Joneses Cindy Truesdail enjoys machine embroidery. She like the challenge of sewing customized embroidery designs and your personalization is available on most items. Profits from sales goes to support them as they travel and work with MI COM. Facebook: Cindy’s Stitch Art Sharon Hessling knows how to bake and uses her talent to support their mission journeys to Africa. Profits from the sale of her homemade pies, cookies, and bake goods go to their missionary fund. She offers fresh and delicious fruit pies made to order. Facebook: Sahara Pies Plus Keep checking at our online Website and Facebook for announcements! Website: www.michigancampersonmission.org Facebook: Michigan Campers on Mission For more information, contact: Rick & Cindy Truesdail Phone: (810) 869-4716 Email: michigancampersonmission@gmail.com #FEBRUARY21

by Tony Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – Marcus, Metz, and Bristol have impressively replanted three older congregations within Michigan. They are offering themselves as sounding-boards to pastors and church leaders who want to bring renewed strength to their churches. They welcome invitations into conversations with no obligations and no cost to the churches. You can arrange a conversation below. Rick Marcus replanted City Church, 218 South Mill Street, Clio. The small town has a population of 2,400 residents and is 13 miles north of Flint. The larger county is home to 406,000 residents. Clio is like so many small towns scattered over the Great Lakes State where grain silos, sports fields and quick roadways to larger cities filled with employment are a brief commute away. Clio is like an island of neighbors and families surrounded by farmland. Rick has maximized his love for community, sports, and volunteering in his childhood hometown for the growth of the church. Tom Metz replanted The Valley Church, 3770 North Center Road, Saginaw. The city has a population of 49,000 people and the entire county hosts 191,000 residents. Saginaw is 25 miles southwest of the shorelines of Saginaw Bay but it isn’t known as a resort location. Saginaw is known for manufacturing and production. The 8-lane, 125-foot tall Zilwaukee Bridge, spanning the Saginaw River which enters Saginaw Bay, is an undeniable monument to Saginaw’s hardworking reputation. Barges and boats used to repeatedly stall traffic when the former drawbridge was raised as raw materials were brought into the city then once again shipped out as car parts and food supplies for the world. Tom uses his good humor, his entrepreneurial drive, and his big heart to pick-up on practical ways the church can express its love for others outside in the community. Rick Bristol replanted True North Community Church, 3003 East Mitchell Road, Petoskey. This coastal resort community has a population of 5,700 people with the county providing homes to 33,000 people. With Little Traverse Bay a mere 2-miles away, the Petoskey of the 1900’s cut tall timber and shipped limestone out of the bay to the world including supplies for the California Gold Rush. Today’s Petoskey and quaint Little Traverse Bay are filled with pleasure boats, million dollar yachts, and sailboats where teenagers learn to maneuver the winds. Millions of Michiganders vacation in the region playing golf course, sipping wine at vineyards, and strolling through small town streets. Standing in the backyard of the church one can see the bay to the west. Rick familiar with having worn four different military uniforms as a chaplain in the armed forces throughout the world, capitalizes on his talent at meeting strangers and converting them to friends. His latest venture is using a “scouting-like” club for boys and girls and drawing complete families into the church. Is your church struggling to embrace a changing culture and new community? Is your membership dwindling because of frustration, confusion, and exhaustion? You are not alone. There is hope. Would you let us help? State Director of Missions, Tony Lynn can facilitate a conversation with one church or a group of churches. Please, take the next step now. Click here if you would like to set-up a conversation with Tony or one of these proven replanters: Replant or Revitalize? Let’s Talk Click here if you would like to look at more information and more resources before starting a discussion: Let Me Look Around Before Talking to Someone ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tony 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. #FEBRUARY21

by Dr. Tony L Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – During January, I relished a 90-minute online meeting with the Send Network team in Michigan. I asked each church planting catalysts to describe one person who is approaching church planting then select someone on the screen to pray for that candidate. It was worship time. For privacy, I will change the name of the candidates. Tim Shrader, sporting a red St. Louis Cardinal jersey said, “Let me tell you about Darrick. I’m excited about him because he has a great job in Detroit and believes God is calling him to continue his employment while creating a new church. He wants to continue his career while planting because he sees his work site as a mission field.” Eric Stewart, revealing the wintery scene of his yard through the window behind his chair, spoke about Lyle, from Flint. Eric said, “Lyle wants to put washing machines in the church building he creates in order to provide a safe place for people to spend time. Lyle is in a community filled with need and he wants the church to help restore to the people what God wants them to have.” Ken Nether, in his smooth, calm voice said, “I’m excited about Michael who has been a longtime friend. He helped us tremendously with the start of Crossover Church. He has been a great partner. He came to me one day and said that God was calling him to start a new church just as we did together with Crossover. We’ve been focusing on that ever since. I love the way God called Michael out to plant a new church in his hometown of Oak Park.” Matt Thompson, with his boyish looks leaned into the screen with a big smile and said, “God is up to something big with Harrison. He wants to start a church among his people living in the Grand Rapids area who migrated here from Myanmar (Burma). Harrison is burdened for the 2,000 Burmese living near him and he is equally troubled for the people of his homeland. Harrison is working on his Ph.D. so he can prepare people to return to Myanmar as missionaries, and to plant more churches throughout America for the Burmese people.” Barry Martin, intermittently rocking back and forth in his office-chair and adjusting his cap spoke of Rick with a concern in his voice. “We’re excited about Rick because he is the first planter to be called-out of our church plant even though we’ve partnered with others who came to us to join our residency program. Rick wants to create a new church in Wayne because it’s where he grew up. We believe Rick will have a big impact on his hometown. Rick needs your prayers now because, even though he is in his thirties, during this winter he is having health problems. Please, pray for his healing.” Darren Greer, with the video connection freezing his image in one place spoke in a strong voice over the audio connection when he said, “We’re excited about Matt. He has been part of one of our established churches here in northern Michigan. He took part in elder training and church leadership has seen continual evidence of Matt’s spiritual progress. During December, Matt preached his first sermon after learning how to prepare from the leader pastor. Matt has indicated to us that God may be calling him to pastor or plant a church. We’re early in the process, discerning God’s will, but we’re happy to watch what God is doing in Matt’s life.” Would you please, pause and pray for these candidates? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tony 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. #FEBRUARY21

See what God has done in 2020 and how the new year in Detroit is getting started by His grace! What is Send Detroit? Send Detroit is church planting strategy that covers a region of 4.7 million in population and 5 counties (including Essex county across the Detroit River in Canada). Detroit is known as the Motor City by the world and continues to be a major influence in the automotive industry. Since 2013, we have seen God work in the planting of 39 new churches. We have continued to see God answer the prayer of Luke 10:2 to send out laborers into his harvest as He raises up leaders to answer His call. It is encouraging to recognize that 90% of these leaders are indigenous to Detroit. Click here to learn more. Commonwealth of Faith - "Rooted in Redford" The Commonwealth of Faith Church in Redford, Michigan has been a consistent model of compassion and care as they have ministered to their community throughout the pandemic. Pastor Torion Bridges leads the church who prepares up to 300 hot meals weekly and giving away thousands of pounds of produce, dairy products, meat and other groceries. Cars lined up each week from June through December. This new church was also able to host a free fair for the community and be a community site for drive-up COVID-19 testing. The church is engaging more servant-leaders and standing as a beacon of Christ’s love in Redford. Sending from within We continue to see new church planters answering the call and being equipped and sent into the harvest. In November, Ryan Cabildo was assessed and approved as a church planter apprentice out of Mile City Church (Plymouth, MI) with the aim of planting Lanterns Church in Wayne, MI. Though Mile City Church has launched 4 other church plants out of their new church, Ryan is the first planter who came to faith and has been discipled from the ministry of the church. Pray for Ryan in his journey! Send Network Orientation Also in November, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan hosted a watch-party style Send Network Orientation for Michigan and Ohio church planters. Included in that group were David Clark, Malcolm Griswold, Jon Hackett and Maki Umakoshi from the Send Detroit Network. Christmas care for church planters Over the Christmas holiday, we were able to care for church planting families by sending packages with Send Detroit hats, coffee mugs and coffee gift cards. As you see their smiling faces, select the link on their pictures and pray for these men, their families and their churches. Gathering struggles Pray also for many church plants in Send Detroit who continue to struggle to find places to meet in doors and in-person. Most of our schools and community centers have been closed due to locally mandated COVID-19 regulations. Among the affected are Treasuring Christ Church (Ann Arbor), Rhiza Church (Ann Arbor), The City Church (Ypsilanti), Transformation Church (Waterford), Life-Giver Church (Windsor). Trails Church launch - Sunday, Jan 10 Pray also for the Trails Community Church (Farmington Hills, MI) led by Phillip Box, who held online public launch of services on January 10. Phillip and his wife Kat prayerfully planned this launch along with team members that came with them out of their sending church, Mile City Church. Send Network Gathering Mile City Church, Plymouth, MI March 17, 2021 Join us for the Send Network Gathering that will encourage, inspire and equip you and your team to run into the harvest so together we can plant churches everywhere for everyone. We will have our own local church planters and pastors sharing with us! Schedule 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Check-in and Fellowship 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. Main Session #1 11:15 - 12:30 p.m. Lunch and Hangout 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Breakout #1 1:45 - 2:45 p.m. Breakout #2 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. Main Session #2 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. Wrap-Up Register at sendnetworkgathering.com #FEBRUARY21

by Brandon Elrod INDIANAPOLIS, IN (BP) – Mo Wildey was working as a consultant for an inner-city parachurch organization and became an elder at a nondenominational church with a strong focus on church planting. When some of the work the inner-city ministry was conducting resulted in a need for a new church, Wildey approached his own church for help. “The church told me, ‘We will be involved with the church plant if you’re leading the effort,’” Wildey recalled. So, about seven years ago, Wildey and his wife, Susan, moved into an inner-city apartment building. Two murders took place just before they moved in, and Wildey described the complex as a place where an individual could buy whatever he or she wanted, “substances as well as people.” From there, he started to develop a model for reaching broken people, people who may never enter a church building. “To reach the lost we have to be able to go where they are,” Wildey said. “We need to meet them where they are and build a relationship with them, which leads to an opportunity to talk about Jesus in their purview. Now you’re talking about really being able to reach the lost.” Wildey developed the plan to put together a community engagement hub that would provide a place to help those fighting substance abuse and addiction. As they did so, they would plant churches among those broken people. Wildey calls his church planting movement the Yeshua Society. Callen “Cal” Ealy, Yeshua Society’s chief operating officer, is one of the lives that was radically changed by the ministry. Ealy was an alcoholic who had lost his business, his kids and his wife because of his substance abuse. Wildey met him at a Salvation Army shelter after Ealy had come close to taking his own life. He wound up committing his life to Christ and getting baptized. As Ealy went through the Yeshua Society’s recovery program, he told Wildey that he was all in and that he would do whatever God wanted him to do with his life. He neared the end of the program and informed Wildey that he had been offered a high-paying marketing job. “I told him that I was happy for him and that I hoped he would stay in touch,” Wildey said. “He said to me, ‘Why are you saying that? It’s like you’re saying goodbye. I told you that I said I would do whatever God told me to do, and God wants me to be with you guys.’ Since going through the program, Ealy has remarried his wife and reconnected with his estranged kids. While Wildey was seeing God move, he was not connected to a larger network of churches, but in 2017 he and his wife took a vacation that would change that. They needed some time away, but they also wanted to be intentional with their break from ministry. So, they looked for a Christian conference to attend and discovered NAMB’s Send Conference in Long Beach, Calif. “We had no idea what it was, but it looked like there were some pretty good people speaking at the conference,” Wildey said. During the conference, Wildey learned about NAMB’s Send Network and its focus on church planting and multiplication of churches. “When I went to Long Beach, I didn’t know what Send Network was,” Wildey said, “but I’ve never run across an organization, a group of people, who have a greater desire to plant churches for the right reasons – building the Kingdom of God.” With Send Network’s help, Wildey has planted a church in San Diego that follows his model – finding and reaching those in need within a community, helping them and making disciples. There are opportunities to go international. “What we’re doing now, we could not do without Send Network,” Wildey said. Including Indianapolis and San Diego, there are 200 people plugged into the Yeshua Society in some way. Of those, 75 either attend in person or are going through discipleship training. They began with their current model in 2019. “I think it’s time for all of us to be open to new ways, if you will, as America is going through what it’s going through,” Wildey said. “If we are going to reach the lost, we need to be open to new ways. Of course, what we’re doing is not new. It’s the way that the church in Acts got started.” Wildey is one of 51 missionaries or chaplains featured in NAMB’s 2021 prayer calendar, which can be ordered at nambstore.com or by calling 866-407-6262. The calendar is also available in a downloadable version. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #FEBRUARY21

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – Our Convention finished 2020 much stronger than any of us imagined as the pandemic spread across our state, nation and world. Michigan Baptist churches demonstrated a resilience that testifies to our enduring dependence on the Lord. We are strategically positioned for Kingdom advance as we implement the 500 Churches by 2021 vision that Pastor Tim Patterson cast at our annual convention last November. Through this compelling vision, God is calling us to punch holes in the darkness! As we embark on this journey, we are organizing our strengthening and sending ministries to assist churches with tools to implement the Vision. Here is an overview of the themes and resources churches can consider using for the 500 Churches by 2025. Every Church Praying It is estimated that four out of every five people in Michigan do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Many have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel, and some have no one praying for them. Paul’s passion for those who need Jesus is our example as he cries out: "Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation!" (Romans 10:1). We are recommending two resources for focused prayer: Who’s Your One? challenges and equips believers to pray for and share the Gospel with one person in their lives who needs Jesus. WhosYourOne.com Bless Every Home is a tool churches can use to pray by name for the community that surrounds them. BlessEveryHome.com Every Church Thriving 500 Churches by 2025 is not just about more churches - it’s about healthy churches working together to magnify God and punch holes in the darkness! It starts with “Healthy leaders who strengthen and start churches to advance a Gospel movement.” We are partnering with “Be The Church” out of Chapel Pointe in Hudsonville to strengthen leaders. The heart of “Be The Church” is to see spiritual leaders raised up and sent out to witness regions of the world transformed by the Gospel. By equipping leaders to discover and expand their spiritual voice and influence, hurting churches can experience revitalization and healthy churches can be multiplied. That will fuel the transformation of life for Jesus in communities around the world. BeTheChurch.org Every Church Equipping Equipped disciples are critical to mission and ministry advance. We are partnering with Michigan Baptist churches to punch holes in the darkness by providing training to strengthen and start churches. The Multiplication Pipeline is a resource from the North American Mission board that helps churches train leaders and send their people on mission. It uses simple, proven survey tools and an online training system to identify and train missional leaders within the congregation. Multiply the ministry of your church in your community and beyond. namb.net/pipeline We will provide Strategic Conferences to equip believers to share the Gospel and make disciples resulting in existing churches being strengthened and new churches started. Every Church Engaging Through Evangelism Grants, we will partner with Michigan Baptist churches to saturate the communities around them with the Gospel. Servant Evangelism is a strategic ministry to serve local communities in the name of Christ and increase opportunities to share the Gospel. Jesus sets the example as a servant. He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 Compassion Ministries focus on “Meeting Needs, Changing Lives.” Send Relief provides multiple ideas and opportunities for churches to minister in their communities and beyond. “There are people in your community and around the world who desperately need help. Send Relief provides a way for you to respond directly to these needs in lasting, meaningful ways while sharing the hope of the Gospel.” SendRelief.org Every Church Celebrating! Michigan Baptists are embracing a vision that will advance God’s Kingdom in our state and beyond. We desire to glorify God as we serve Him together. Our expectation is to celebrate God throughout the journey and especially in 2025 as we see an increase in believers, stronger churches, and 500 churches partnering through our network to advance God’s Kingdom. For more information on any of this tools just go to www.500churchesby2025.com, or contact me at mike@bscm.org. 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. #FEBRUARY21

by Michael Goforth PORT AUSTIN, MI – It was our biggest outreach event of the year...and it was canceled. At least that’s what we thought The Background We are a church plant in the tiny town of Port Austin, Michigan. If you hold out your handy map of the state and look at the tip of your left thumb, that’s where we are. A charming beach town on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron with a year-round population of 600. (And I’m convinced Hallmark should film their next Christmas movie here.) God has blessed our church plant with a beautiful little building, and we are very thankful. However, when I say it’s little, I mean it. In fact, the people of Port Austin literally call it, “...the little white church on the hill.” But every year on Christmas Eve, more than 100 people cram into that little church building, including many first-time visitors. Together, we celebrate the One who came to rescue us from sin, and reconcile us to God on that very first Christmas. Unfortunately, an event like this with no form of social distancing would be impossible in 2020. We couldn’t offer multiple services for a variety of reasons, so we simply decided to rent a larger building. But when December came around, COVID-19 cases in our area spiked and the building we had lined up became unavailable. After exhausting our options and coming up with a lot of bad ideas, I was pretty convinced we would have to cancel. Another Bad Idea It was at this point that I came up with another bad idea. What if we met outside? I mean, how charming would a Christmas Eve service be in 20 degree weather with 25 mph winds coming off of Lake Huron? With a lot of hesitancy and the attitude of, “anything is better than canceling,” we moved forward with the idea. I reached out to the wonderful folks at our village hall and they graciously let us host the service next to the town Christmas tree on the village green. This is the part of the story where our church members came in clutch. They took the initiative to line up fire pits, secure a portable sound system, help set up a makeshift stage, and so much more. It was awesome to see the people of God doing the work of the ministry. (Eph. 4:11-12) The Big Day The day came around and we eagerly anticipated 12 people would show up. I’m slightly exaggerating, but the weather didn’t seem conducive to many more. That’s when God stepped in and completely exceeded our expectations. (He has a knack for that sort of thing. Eph. 3:20) I was amazed as the village green of our little town filled with people. It was the most well- attended Christmas Eve service we have ever had. People who happened to be walking by decided to join us and others pulled up in their cars to listen. On that cold December night, I had the incredible privilege of proclaiming the good news of great joy over a loudspeaker in the heart of downtown Port Austin. Jesus was lifted high, and people who may have never set foot in a church building heard the gospel that night. The Takeaway This experience was added to a large and ever-growing list of mine labeled: “God’s plans are always better.” I don’t know what 2021 is going to look like for your ministry, but I’ll echo what many have already said this year, “Don’t put your hope in 2021.” It may just be that in the sovereign plan of God, this year will be another difficult one. We may have to set aside plans, make adjustments, or even cancel some things. But we know that our Father is always working, even in the mess. (John 5:17) We would be wise to look for God’s activity, enter in, and trust that no matter what happens: His plans are always better. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael Goforth is the lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Port Austin, Michigan. He led a group to plant this church in November of 2016 with a vision to spread a passion for the glory of Jesus in Port Austin and beyond. He and his wife, Shannon, have been married for six years. #FEBRUARY21

by Jonah Fair SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI – “Prepare for Takeoff.” Hearing these words from the captain, I begin to imagine what we must look like in the eyes of our Creator as our plane begins to ascend 30,000 feet into the sea of blue and white above. With every hundred feet of ascension, I can't help but think of heartbreak and unrest that currently rests below as the earth groans from the current worldwide pandemic and social unrest. I can’t imagine what we look like through God's eyes. As I look around the cabin of the plane, I notice many responses as the plane continues the ascension higher... and higher. To my left, a man sits slouched as his baseball hat attempts to cover his eyes. Across the aisle, a woman is looking intently at the man sitting next to her with an apparent desire for comfort from him in an anxious circumstance. In front of me, I see many other people of all ages, races, and creeds stare out of the little windows of the aircraft, each holding onto their own unique and individual thoughts, worries, insecurities, prayers, and concerns… yet our Creator cares for each and every one with utmost passion. 30,000 feet never fails to remind me how small we are, but how GREAT the Father’s love is for us! I can only imagine the sorrow that our Creator must feel to know the brokenness that plagues us all. Tears swell in my eyes thinking of the fragile state of existence we live in. We are loved more than we can ever comprehend. I can’t imagine the sorrow our Creator feels to zoom in to view His precious daughter on her knees heartbroken and CRYING out for relief in a house below! I begin to try to imagine the sorrow He feels to see a husband and wife venomously yell at each other with hurt and insecurity spewing from the mouths that He created! Looking out into a sea of blue & white … ALL I CAN SEE IS GRACE!! Despite all of our brokenness, WHILE we were still sinners Jesus died for us! (Romans 5:8) Tears flood my eyes as my perspective changes from our failures... to our Savior! Whether heart-broken or in awe and wonder, we have a Creator, Savior, and Sustainer relentlessly trying to capture our attention and shift our perspective from ourselves and our brokenness, to His Kingdom and His AMAZING Grace that surrounds us day-to-day EVEN IN THE DARK SEASONS OF THE SOUL! We spend so much time fighting a war that has already been won. Through it all, the sun never stops shining. My friend, you are not alone. May we hold on to the Light that: Never leaves Never hides Never surrenders. Jesus, help our gaze be on You. Help us love as You love. Help us forgive as You forgive. Help us see ourselves, and others, as You do. These days matter. Forgive us for our shortcomings and lead us in Your way everlasting. Give us a humble heart. And through the darkness and the turbulence, may our heavy hearts reflect on this beloved hymn: "O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s a light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace..." “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 (NLT) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jonah Fair is the Student Pastor at Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township, Michigan. He also hosts The Colorinchaos Podcast. #FEBRUARY21

by Garth Leno WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Although God’s work of redemption has begun, and his victory is sure, we still live in a world that is terribly broken. It does not function the way God planned when he put all things in place by the power of his word. The Coronavirus pandemic has turned the spotlight on that truth and on the church, like nothing else in recent history. Let’s not waste this opportunity. No passage of Scripture underscores the current brokenness of our world and our culture better than Romans 8. The Coronavirus pandemic magnifies the brokenness we see all around us. The creation is subjected to futility. It’s in bondage to corruption, groaning in the pains of childbirth. There is a constant, merciless, unforgiving senselessness to life in a fallen world. The pandemic amplifies this ever-present futility a thousand-fold for most of us and most of our churches. The Gathering in Windsor, Ontario is a Send Network church planted by God’s grace in 2014. We are determined to focus on the gospel and not waste the virus. We don’t want to squander the opportunities God gives us to share the love and majesty of Jesus because of the virus, not in spite of it. As a local church we aim to move and minister every day according to the grace of God. We have been able to provide some financial support to an assisted living residence in our city where many residents tested positive for Covid. We came alongside two church plants in our area and presented them with a cheque. We gifted more money to a local organization that works with the homeless. The Gathering Church celebrated an anniversary during the pandemic, and we gave away gifts to every car that stopped in for our Drive-By Birthday Party. At Christmas our generous people collected dozens and dozens of requested items like coats, mittens, hats, scarves, sweaters, food, and hygiene items for two groups that minister to people in the downtown core of our city. We assembled “baskets of encouragement” and delivered them to people struggling with the lockdown, and later, with the help of a locally-owned bakery, we made up bags of cookies with a letter of encouragement and delivered them to some of our most vulnerable friends to remind them of the hope we have in Jesus. Recently, we provided lunch for eight group homes in the area and for the staff and nurses who are working at one of the largest Covid vaccination centers here. We are seeking God’s wisdom daily to understand how he wants us to address the fear people have about the Coronavirus. We don’t want to waste the virus! So, we seek His wisdom to understand how we can speak to people boldly about something far worse than COVID-19, and that is their sin which can result, not in a fever and chills, but eternal separation from God our Father. If you are infected with the coronavirus, you may experience severe symptoms and even end up on a ventilator. In comparison, the consequence of living in sin, without hope, and without God (Ephesians 2:12) is far worse. The wages of sin is death – sure and certain eternal separation from God. So we must not waste this opportunity to share the love of Jesus with as many as possible. God has opened a door for us (1 Corinthians 16:9) to speak to people openly, and many times they begin the conversation with fear and worry. We know One who can help. Let’s guide the conversation to Him. 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. #FEBRUARY21

by Kevin Hester ST. JOSEPH, MI – These are different times that we are living in. A lot has changed in our country and in the world over the past year. As the world changes our strategies for evangelism must change, too. Like Paul said he became all things to all men, so that he might win some. Because evangelism has been a big concern and a deep passion of mine, I have had to learn over the years to be adaptable, and to be willing to try many unconventional things in order to open doors to share the message of the gospel with the unsaved. I've tried many different things in my community to share the Gospel. I have used photography, coaching sports teams, community events, and many other means to try and make opportunities to share Christ with individuals. A few years ago, God opened the door for me to become a part of our local Law Enforcement as a Berrien County Sheriff's Deputy and a St. Joseph Public Safety officer. While the training I must pass periodically are challenging for me, by God's grace I continue to pass them so that I can continue to serve Him as I serve our community. Because of God's perfect timing, I have been able to be at the right place at just the right time to pull drowning victims from Lake Michigan, to pull an injured person from a devastating car crash, and even talk people out of suicide. Most importantly God has opened doors for me to share the Gospel with many people from officers to convicts. I have even had the privilege of baptizing fellow officers in our beautiful Lake Michigan. I have also become acquainted with judges, attorneys, others working in our criminal justice system, and even those who have found themselves on the wrong side of the law who now watch our sermons online and seek me out for counsel when they face trials in their own lives. It hasn't been easy or comfortable. I have had to overcome my own fear as I navigate the dangers of law enforcement, but I am thankful that God has been able to use me to help others physically and spiritually, and to uphold His law and man’s laws. Here are some valuable lessons that He has taught me along the way. With God all things are possible. Don't fear He is able to do more than we can think or ask. We make our own plans, but God is the One who directs our paths. During these difficult and quickly changing times, it's so important that we remain willing to adapt as our ministry environment changes. We know as the coming of Christ draws nearer and nearer that sharing the Gospel is going to become more challenging, and will require that we are willing to try things that we thought we would never do. We need to be bold with the Gospel, and fearless as it relates to personal safety and comfort. Most importantly, we must be willing to walk in faith realizing that if we will only make ourselves available in some way, that God will do more than we could ever think or imagine that He would. Whether you are a pastor or a lay worker, please pray and consider how God wants to use you outside of the four walls of your church to reach those in your community with the soul saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kevin Hester is the Pastor of The Shore Church in St. Joseph, Michigan. He and his wife Mary reside in St. Joseph and have 8 children, (4 of which are still at home). Kevin is also a Berrien County Sheriff Deputy and St. Joseph Public Safety Officer. #FEBRUARY21

by Meredith Flynn MT. VERNON, IL – “Are you sitting down?” When adoption specialist Regina Thompson called Jennifer Money in October 2019, she knew what she had to say was potentially life-changing. Money and her husband, Daniel, had recently adopted a little boy after years of struggling through an often difficult process. Now, Thompson and Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services had another opportunity for the Money family—a baby would be born that evening, and would arrive in immediate need of a family. The couple only had an hour or two to decide what to do. After a few additional phone calls, the Moneys drove to the hospital, where they were handed hour-old Asher Brave. “We had been praying about this for years,” Jennifer said. The family, who attend Ozark Baptist Church, pushed through the fear and uncertainty of the unexpected second adoption with hard-earned faith in the God who had made their son in his image. “One thing we know is he’s the giver of life,” Jennifer said. “He knit him together in his mother’s womb, and he had a plan for this little boy.” She called their adoption story a “double miracle.” Joyful, painful journey Regina Thompson has served 30 years with Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. As project manager of the agency’s Faith Adoptions ministry, she helps couples complete the home study process, which involves several hours of interviews. As a licensed child welfare agency, BCHFS can also place children in adoptive homes. Thompson works with both birth mothers and adoptive families in Illinois, which is how she came to meet the Moneys. As a young married couple, Daniel Money used to joke that he and Jennifer would have 10 kids. Their oldest daughter, Abigayle, is in college now. Eight years after her birth and a struggle through infertility, the Moneys welcomed a second daughter, Anna. But severe complications after the birth left Jennifer unable to have more biological children. Jennifer said she struggled for a while after that, grieving something she wasn’t going to have. But God intervened. “I remember the day he opened our eyes to see that he wasn’t absent in our pain or suffering, but that he was literally in the midst of it,” she said, her voice breaking. God had a bigger picture, a bigger plan, she said. “When I rested in that, there was so much freedom, and so much life that was given.” God’s plan for life is at the center of BCHFS’s ministry to families across Illinois. At Angels’ Cove Maternity Center in Mt. Vernon, they provide a place to live for mothers and babies, as well as parenting education, counseling, and family care. Across the street, the newly opened GraceHaven pregnancy resource clinic offers counseling to expectant parents and free ultrasound services. Adoption is both a joyful and a grief-filled process, Thompson said. The hardest part of what she does is seeing couples grieve over infertility, and birth mothers grieve over an extraordinarily difficult choice. But, she said, “There’s joy from the grief of the one making the sacrifice.” There’s joy over knowing a child will have a loving home. In 2013, the Moneys started the adoption process, with Thompson helping them complete their home study. Soon after they completed it and the required training, they were chosen by a birth mom to adopt her baby girl. But at the hospital, the mother decided not to go through with the adoption. In the months that followed, the Moneys heard about several other children, but the birth parents chose other adoptive families. “You have to stay grounded in the faith and where God has placed you,” Jennifer said. “For us, it was like, ‘God has a plan.’ Whether we get to take this one home or not, we are compelled to keep going forward in it.” Knit together The next year, another mom chose the Moneys to adopt her son. The couple sat with her at the hospital for 30 hours, but they knew she wasn’t ready to let him go. They gave her all the things they had for the baby, who turned four last year. The Moneys still pray for him and his mom. The difficult experience was followed by a period of silence, the couple said. At the same time, abortions were increasingly easy to procure. The family went to St. Louis to protest Planned Parenthood. They also decided to cast a wider net, signing up with a Christian adoption agency and increasing their fundraising for an adoption. Still, any possibilities eventually came up empty. The process was wearisome, Jennifer said, and they were getting older. With their home study set to expire in February 2019, the couple decided not to renew it. After following through for several years, they thought God was saying no. She was waiting for her daughter to finish a violin lesson when she got a call from an acquaintance who knew of a baby due in February. The mother wanted to choose adoption, and the Moneys’ friend asked if they would be interested. On Feb. 26, they were at the hospital when Abraham was born. “It was the most bittersweet thing we’ve ever walked through,” Jennifer said. A birth is typically joyous, she said, but the couple was guarded because of past disappointments. And they were watching Abraham’s mother grieve too. When she was released from the hospital, the Moneys gave her a ride home. Then, they took Abraham home with them. The couple got to know their son’s birth mother well through the private adoption process, and still schedule visits for her and Abraham. Jennifer recounted a conversation that cemented their connection, when the young woman said she knew God is the creator of life, and abortion was not an option for her despite very challenging circumstances. “From the point that I heard that, it knit me closer to her,” Jennifer said. “And we would be in love with this boy together.” ‘Relentless trust’ The Moneys finalized Abraham’s adoption on Sept. 16, 2019. Two weeks later, Thompson called and asked the fateful question. “Are you sitting down?” BCHFS had gotten a call that day about a mother in labor who wanted to place her baby for adoption. “Our family and friends I’m sure thought that it was a little crazy,” Jennifer said of the possibility of a second adoption so soon after the first. But the couple trusted that God’s plan was perfect. Now, Jennifer said, “We can’t imagine our life without Asher.” Asher has since met his birth mom and extended family, and the Moneys pray everyone they’ve met through their long process will eventually come to know Jesus. Their years-long adoption journey has inspired what Jennifer called “relentless trust” in God, whose plans can’t be thwarted or changed. “I wouldn’t change any of it, at all,” she said. “Even our ages, where we are now. “His timing is perfect.” Even now, it’s easy to tell the story and forget the very real struggles and darkness they walked through, Daniel said. It’s not for the faint of heart, he added. “It’s going to be hard no matter what. But he is always good. He’s always right. He’s faithful.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meredith Flynn is the Managing Editor of the Illinois Baptist. Used with permission from the Illinois Baptist. #FEBRUARY21