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OMAHA, NE (BP) – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) leaders have established several sites in the Midwest to respond to historic flooding that has created at least $3 billion in damages in recent weeks. "As soon as I got in the airplane and flew back home," said Sam Porter, national director of disaster relief with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), "it was stunning to see the farmland that still has floodwater on it. The river is back within its banks, but the land is so flat that there is still water trapped within thousands of acres." Porter traveled in and around Nebraska for several days as state SBDR leaders organized and formed their strategy. So far, SBDR has five sites that are operational with the expectation that more will be needed in the near future. "There were record levels of snowfall in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and much of that has yet to thaw," explained Porter. "The lakes in Minnesota are also still frozen. So, we're expecting further flooding of the region. "We are far from being close to finished with this flood." Whether from the runoff from melting snow or expected rainfall, Porter anticipates that Southern Baptists will need to broaden the scope of the response. Volunteers need to "stay tuned," he said, and churches need to continue praying for the region. SBDR has assessed homes in Nebraska and Kansas and have identified more than 2,000 flood-affected homes, and SBDR leadership expects a long deployment to provide relief for as many of those homeowners as possible. Volunteers in Iowa have begun the "mud-out" process of removing muck, damaged furniture and storm debris that has filled homes, cleaning roughly 20 homes in Sioux City. "We're trying to put boots on the ground physically to help mud out homes," Porter said, "but we're also trying to help out by teaching others how to clean out homes and fight the mold that will result from the flooding." Send Relief, NAMB's compassion ministry arm, has begun sending supplies -- crisis buckets, shockwave mold remediation, push packs and Bibles -- to resource volunteers and survivors as they participate in recovery efforts. In northern Missouri, Southern Baptist chaplains have been providing emotional and spiritual support for families as they waited for floodwater to recede before they could go back to their homes. "I get to see the Cooperative Program in action with our SBDR teams doing what it takes to help serve one another in the midst of disasters like these," Porter added in reference to Southern Baptist cooperative ministry. The North American Mission Board is responsible for coordinating national responses by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, which is one of the three largest providers of disaster relief volunteers in the United States. NAMB coordinates partnerships among 42 Baptist conventions that operate in all 50 states to gather volunteers and respond to disasters, including providing hot meals, chainsaw and mud-out relief work following natural disasters. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #APRIL19

LOUISVILLE, KY (BP) – "Stay in the story." That's the advice retiring missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken offer the next generation. "Don't quit before you see all that God has for you," Ruth said. "Don't get sidetracked." The Ripkens, known for their extensive research into Christian persecution, have relocated to Louisville, Ky., having signaled their retirement for March 2020 after 35 years of service with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. Originally from Kentucky, the Ripkens were appointed by the then-Foreign Mission Board in August 1983. Through the course of their career, they lived in seven countries: Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Germany, Ethiopia and Jordan. With a recent trip to Cuba, the list of countries they've visited reached 86. "We've also sat with believers in persecution for days and days at a time in 72 of those countries," Nik said. Those in-depth conversations shaped the Ripkens' lives and legacies. Their research, which spanned 15 years, resulted in hundreds of interviews and culminated in two books, "The Insanity of God" and "The Insanity of Obedience," and the feature film, "The Insanity of God." More than 90,000 people in 800 theaters viewed "The Insanity of God" when it was released in August and September 2016. Easter Sunday 1997 For the past several years, the Ripkens have focused on sharing in small groups, churches and conferences the insights they gained as they talked with persecuted believers across the globe. Their quest for understanding began after the death of their son Timothy in Nairobi, Kenya, on Easter Sunday 1997. Timothy died at age 16 from cardiac arrest brought on by an asthma attack. Describing the day of Timothy's death in "The Insanity of God," Nik wrote, "I was overwhelmed by my own loss. Ruth used the word 'resurrection' that night; I was fixed on the crucifixion. The pain was unbearable." Ruth felt Timothy's death was the most challenging experience of her missionary career, and the challenge of moving past the grief was equally great. "Beyond [Timothy's death] was figuring out how I continue to serve and live and be who I need to be post that," Ruth said. "How do I carry on? Believers in persecution taught us how to do that." The key, she said, is to "stay in the story." Yearly letters Nik and Ruth's story began in rural Kentucky. As a 9-year-old girl, Ruth attended Camp Cedarmore in Bagdad, Ky. There she met Bertha Smith, a Southern Baptist missionary who served in China and Taiwan from 1917 until her mandatory retirement at age 70 in 1958. "I felt so overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that that's what I wanted to do," Ruth said. She talked with a few people about what to do next, and they told her to write the Foreign Mission Board. "I did, and they sent back information," Ruth recounted. The mission board encouraged her to write every year and tell them where she was in the process. When the Ripkens went for their appointment interview with the FMB in 1983, the consultant showed the Ripkens their files. Ruth's file contained every letter she had written the FMB since she was 9 years old. "She had a small book," Nik said, "and I had a page." Throughout their career, the support of believers helped the Ripkens stay in their story. Ruth recalled the number of people across Kentucky and elsewhere who wrote them when they were serving overseas. "As we went to Malawi and East Africa and South Africa, ladies all over Kentucky handwrote letters to us, encouraging us in our journey," Ruth said. "Over the years, we could see their handwriting disintegrate (as they began to age).... So many women invested a lot of time in supporting those who were going to the nations." Then, after Timothy's death in 1997, Nik and Ruth lived on the campus of Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., from 1997 to 2000, hosting 60 to 90 students in their home for six hours every week. Of those, 60 have served as short- or long-term missionaries, Nik said. "Those students loved on us during that time," Ruth said. "Many of them are now overseas. We feel a huge responsibility to be a foundation and support to them as people have been to us." 'Stay in the story' Understanding the long view of God's plan helps believers stay in the story. In many cases, this may mean enduring difficult situations much longer than we think possible or necessary, Nik said. One powerful scene in The Insanity of God is the story of Dmitri, the pastor of a small house church in the former Soviet Union. One night, communist officials burst into his home during worship. They arrested Dmitri and sent him to prison for 17 years, more than 600 miles from his family. Dmitri was the only believer among 1,500 hardened criminals. The isolation from the body of Christ combined with the physical torture tested his faith and strength. But he found a way to endure. "For 17 years in prison, every morning at daybreak, Dmitri would stand at attention by his bed," Nik wrote. "As was his custom, he would face the east, raise his arms in praise to God, and then he would sing ... to Jesus.... The other prisoners banged metal cups against the iron bars in angry protest. They threw food and sometimes human waste to try to shut him up." Then, one day, after finding a piece of paper on which Dmitri had written every Scripture reference, Bible verse, story and song he could recall, his jailers beat him severely and threatened him with execution. As they dragged him from his cell down the center corridor toward the courtyard, Dmitri heard a strange sound. The 1,500 criminals who had long ridiculed him stood at attention by their beds. They faced the east, raised their arms and began to sing the song they had heard Dmitri sing to Jesus every morning. "Who are you?" a guard demanded. "I am a son of the living God, and Jesus is His name!" Dmitri replied. The guards returned Dmitri to his cell. Sometime later, he was released and told Nik his story. About six months ago, Nik heard that Dmitri had died. Nik contacted his son, who assured him Dmitri was still alive. "He is hurting every day from the abuse he endured, but he wakes up every day singing with joy. He is living a life of joy because his story is all over the world," Dmitri's son said. "Dmitri's story has outlived the persecutors' stories," Nik said. "His story has outlived the Soviet Union." As Nik started to end the call, the son said, "But Nik, wait. I want to tell you something. I'm now the chaplain at the prison that held my father for 17 years." "There is not a single minute, hour or day in those 17 years when Dmitri would have imagined that his son would be the chaplain in that prison," Nik said. "But look what God can do when you stay in the story." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann Lovell is a writer in Virginia who wrote this story for the Western Recorder published by the Kentucky Baptist Convention. #APRIL19

FENTON, MI – Moving day for the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) is rapidly approaching. The sale was to the Tyrone Township began simply enough as a check on a zoning discrepancy. Late last year, the BSCM Annual Convention messengers voted to approve the Executive Board to move forward with the possible sale of the Fenton building. The staff started the process of selling the building by contacting a commercial realtor at the end of January. That’s when the realtor discovered that the property was zoned residential vs. commercial. As the realtor approached the Tyrone Township government about the zoning discrepancies, the township showed immediate interest in purchasing the building. The process moved quicker than expected. The building was listed at $1.1 million, and the Tyrone Twp. countered with $1 million. Executive Board members were given a copy of the purchase agreement to review and bring questions, and on March 7, 2019, the Executive Board approved, and BSCM Executive-Director, Tim Patterson, signed the purchase agreement. Tim Patterson, with his Executive Leadership Team, Dr. Tony Lynn and Pastor Mike Durbin, looked at several different options for possible future office space. March 4th, Patterson and a transitional team that included: Pastors Jim Nelson, Stan Parker, Herb Harbaugh, and Jimmy Jones toured a potential office space at the Burroughs Building, 41100 Plymouth Road, Plymouth, MI 48170. The Relocation Team voted unanimously to make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees to lease the Burroughs Building as the BSCM offices, pending the sale of the Fenton building. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to recommend leasing the office space. The Burroughs Building office is approximately 1900 sq. ft. Because the office space is being newly renovated, it will be built to BSCM specifications. The cost for the lease will start at $25,000 and move up to $30,000/year, and will be secured for 5 years. The cost of the lease will be less than the annual expenses at the Fenton building. The building has ample parking, common meeting areas, fiber optic high speed internet access, conference rooms that can be reserved at no extra charge, a large meeting area that can accommodate the entire annual state convention (500+), a cyber café, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium. It is located near I-96 and the I-275 interchange. The office building also allows for expansion if needed. It is close to the Detroit airport and the population center of the state. The only current drawback is the extended travel time for staff to the new office site. The monies from the sale, which are expected to be $925,000, will be placed in a foundation, with WatersEdge, of the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma. A 4% - 7 % annual return is expected (approximately $50,000 return/year). The corpus of funds will not be lost. It will continue to benefit the BSCM with dividend/interest. With WatersEdge’s guidance, the residual of the corpus will allow the state convention to use the funds while still growing the corpus. Bob Kiger, Michigan Disaster Relief Director, was involved in the discussions on the new office and said, “Once we move the State Office to Plymouth, Disaster Relief supplies and equipment will be more accessible. It will also be conveniently located for volunteers to meet.” The Burroughs building has extra storage space available if it’s needed for BSCM items or DR equipment. The office hours will be maintained at 4-days a week, Monday through Thursday. The phone numbers also will remain the same. The address will be updated and sent to all the BSCM churches. BSCM churches and members are invited to check out the new office setting on and after June 1st. There is easy access and guests are always welcome. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jamie Lynn is married to Dr. Tony Lynn, with 3 wonderful children & spouses, and 9 amazing grandkids. Jamie works at the BSCM office as Administrative Assistant and Communication Coordinator. She is a part of Grumlaw Church Grand Blanc. She finds serving God in all areas of her life the best thing in the universe. #APRIL19

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead….” 1 Corinthians 15.20 ROSEVILLE, MI – Janell (not her real name) was our waitress for lunch. There were 15 of us (mostly pastors), and most of us had individual checks. Janell had done a great job, but one guy wanted to pay for another guy’s lunch and well…let’s just say it sort of messed things up. Janell started to apologize, then she broke down. You see, she suffers from high anxiety, and it doesn’t take much to trigger it. This triggered it. Anxiety is not rational. It makes mountains out of molehills. It tells you something is far worse than what it really is which is why anxiety is so crippling. Like an internal alarm clock that won’t stop beeping, anxiety says, “you are going to fail, you are going to be rejected, you are going to mess up, you are going to let others down.” And of course, when you listen to that, you tend to believe it which only reinforces it. You may know Janell. She may listen to you preach on Sunday, or sit next to you in church. In fact, you may be her. Does the resurrection of Jesus speak to her (you) in any meaningful way? YES! A thousand times YES!! 1 Corinthians 15 begins with Paul reminding us of the gospel. The gospel means “good news.” Good news is something that is announced. We do not make the news, we declare the news. We declare what has already happened. The resurrection of Christ is an event that has taken place which infinitely, decisively, and unalterably proved that Christ has indeed lived a perfect life. Christ has indeed died a perfect substitutionary death. Christ has indeed paid for our sins. Christ has indeed absorbed the just and righteous wrath of the Father that should have been poured out on us. The payment has been accepted. The check has cleared the bank. Christ has risen from the dead. Therefore, if you repent of your sin and trust in Christ alone, you are united with Christ – forever! You are now and forever in Christ! Nothing can separate you from the love of God – ever. That means that no matter how hard the battle is, how difficult the game may be, how challenging the situation is, at the end, you win. You win because Christ has already won. It is like this: Your basketball team is down by 2 with 5 seconds to go in the game. You are playing for the NCAA tournament championship. Your coach calls a time out, and draws up a play for you to get the ball and shoot a 3-pointer. If you hit it, you win. If you miss, well…you don’t want to think about it, but in that moment, you do. In fact, it’s almost all you can do. What happens if you miss? You look around. The crowd of 40,000+ is on their feet. Your parents are in the stands along with dozens of basketball legends. The cameras are in your face, the music is pumping, the sound is deafening, and it’s all going to be in your hands. The stakes do not seem like they could be higher. You feel your mouth go dry and your palms sweaty. But wait! What if you knew that you already won? What if you knew that your victory was already accomplished? What if you knew that from where ever you shot the ball it was going to go in? How would that affect you? Would you panic? Would you still be anxious? If you really knew that you would win, you would be excited to get the ball, and get this over with. If you are in Christ, the battle is over, the game is already won. Your mission is to live, fight, and play with that in view. Anxiety will not have the final word. Little things that feel like big things will not have the final word. Your sin, failures, and discouragements will not have the final word. Your accusers will not have the final word. Your internal voice of condemnation will not have the final word. Look at Jesus! Look at his empty tomb. Even death will not have the final word. He won. Game over!! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Johnson is the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville since 1989 and is very happy about it. #APRIL19

ROSCOMMON, MI – The weather was cold, icy, and snowy, yet the weather was not be a distraction for those urban youths from Detroit, Lansing, Westland, Southfield and Ferndale who travelled to Bambi Lake for a camp to remember for a lifetime. For many of the students, it was their first camp experience. The weekend was filled with fellowship, great food, and lots of fun in the game room. The camp weekend was also a time of connection. Hundreds of miles from home, many of the youth discovered other students from their home schools who they were meeting for the first-time. This Urban Camp was a joint effort between the Michigan African American Fellowship team and the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). The fellowship team is extremely grateful for the support and assistance received from BSCM in helping make the Urban Youth Camp a blessed success. There were approximately 30 youth and several youth leaders who participated in the camp. The teens were from Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, One Mission Church, Oak Park Baptist Church, The House of Restoration, and Temple of Faith Baptist Church. The keynote speaker, Mark Williams of Kentucky, spoke on the theme “My Identity in Christ”. Williams had the youth engaged the whole time. The breakout sessions were also informative, and were facilitated by Pastor Roland Caldwell Jr, Pastor Antonio Wimberly, and Deacon Ron Swain. Each plenary session was started with praise and worship led by Kierston Thurmond from One Mission Church of Westland. Several of the youth offered prayer during the sessions. The most important highlight of the weekend was when three youth surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. 14-year-old Jacob who attended the camp said, “I thought this camp was going to be boring and not fun at all. Well, I was totally wrong. I enjoyed myself, learned a lot, met some new friends, ate well, and had fun.” 11-year-old Donta added, “Minister Mark was funny. He kept my attention and I learned good stuff about Jesus.” Each attendee was asked to complete an evaluation of their camp experience. 98% of the youth rated their experience as very good, and 95% strongly suggested scheduling the Urban Camp again next year. Only 5% thought we should do it in the summer when the weather is hot, and they could go swimming. Overall, the camp was well received. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Stan Parker is Senior Pastor of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Lansing Michigan and President of the Michigan African American Fellowship. #APRIL19

CUMMING, GA (BP) – Jim Burton sits up in his wheelchair, eyes bright with a big smile on his face as he begins to read. With his wife Kim holding a copy of his latest novel and a microphone, he breathes life into Jake and Shannon Blue, the lead characters in "Ransomed." It's a book for and about millennials set in Madison, Ky. -- a stand-in for his hometown of Madisonville -- but spans the world through adventure and intrigue. This isn't Burton's first foray into writing. He has been a professional storyteller for 43 years, first as a photojournalist for newspapers such as the Dallas Morning News. Later he served as an author and editor of publications targeted to laity at the former Baptist Brotherhood Commission and then the North American Mission Board. Even now, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, isn't keeping him from writing. After Burton was caught in a series of downsizings at the mission board, he launched into contract writing and selling insurance to support his family. He also served as bivocational pastor of the English-speaking ministry at Sugarloaf Korean Baptist Church. Barely two years after losing his job, his life took a drastic turn with a diagnosis of ALS. In short order he wrote "Life in the Blue Zone," a first-person account of his battle with ALS and Kim's battle with breast cancer -- "blue" being the color of handicapped parking spaces. Burton continued to struggle with employment options virtually nonexistent for someone in his late 50s. He eventually became well known to readers of the Georgia Baptist state newspaper, The Christian Index, as a freelance writer. He traveled the state in his wheelchair and specially equipped van, interviewing and photographing subjects and telling their story of how gifts through Southern Baptists' Cooperative Program were making a difference in the Kingdom. It was during this transition from a salaried career to living with ALS that the soft-spoken Kentuckian took up the challenge of writing novels, refusing to step aside from his calling as a storyteller and directing his talent to reaching out to millennials who, he sensed, were searching for spiritual direction and a sense of purpose. In creating Jake and Shannon Blue as main characters for what became a four-part series, Burton wanted "younger readers to see a successful millennial couple who were also committed to their faith." When he could no longer type, he learned how to dictate entire books, phrase by phrase, chapter by chapter, using voice recognition software with Kim's help. He wrote two published books in the Jake and Shannon Blue series -- "The Salt Covenant" and the recently released "Ransomed" -- and has completed two others in the series, "Redeemed" and "Adoption." A fifth book he recently completed, also a novel, will deal with workplace violence. The books tackle contemporary issues such as terrorism, kidnapping and sex trafficking, yet with an evangelistic undercurrent. Themes of humankind's fallen nature, forgiveness and redemption echo through each book. "My goal was for each to be a good two- or three-day read. And I wanted each to have a real message that could reflect everyday issues readers are facing," Burton says. "Having been a photojournalist for four newspapers I have met some fascinating characters and drew from those encounters. Character development is what makes a good book, and there are no better examples than people who already surround you," he says with a smile. Burton credits Bill Bangham as one of his mentors who brought him to where he is today. "Meeting Bill was one of the pivotal moments in my career when I joined the Baptist Brotherhood Commission. He was a very talented writer ... and remains so today ... and mentored me in writing as I mentored him in photography. We both benefited from the relationship." Bangham eventually established himself as a writer and photographer at the former Home Mission Board (now NAMB) and the International Mission Board, and he and Burton have maintained their friendship through the years. Burton and his wife recently hosted a book signing at the skilled nursing center where he now lives. Entertaining questions about how he writes brought him to one of his greatest regrets of the illness. "One of the things I miss the most is not being able to hold my Bible and turn the pages, reading from my favorite passages. But Kim has been a blessing and a patient helpmate to me as we encounter each new adventure in this joint experience." His legacy will be the books which will continue to speak words of hope and redemption for generations to come. Thinking back on his illness, Burton does not mince words about living with ALS. "People ask me if I am mad at God for contracting this disease. I say absolutely not because anger leads to bitterness and there is no healing from bitterness. "I admit that I am sad because I have grandchildren who were not even conceived when I was diagnosed. I am sad because I cannot lay around on the floor and play with them, but I do work for quality time with them. They are the joy of my life." Perhaps most important, he says he does not want to be remembered only as that guy with ALS. "I decided very early on that I did not want this to define me. I still don't; above all else I want to be remembered as a disciple of Christ and a father and husband with a family that I adore. I was blessed with a career that challenged me and gave me a purpose in life through a strong sense of divine calling." Burton says he believes in miracles of all kinds and is a living testimony that they exist. Most individuals survive only three to five years with the illness but he recently marked his seventh year. He remains a curiosity to his doctors. "I am not afraid of heaven," he says matter-of-factly. "There are unknowns, for sure, but the reality of heaven overshadows any questions that remain unanswered. "Scripture tells us enough about the afterlife so believers can have confidence about their destiny. It says we will claim our true citizenship and get new, disease-free bodies. "And I'm looking forward to that." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joe Westbury of Atlanta served as a Southern Baptist career journalist for 42 years, covering the story of missionaries around the world and throughout North America. #APRIL19

BEIJING (BP) – Beijing's Shouwang Church has become the fourth major underground church raided by authorities in China during the past seven months. The raids have led some to speculate the Chinese government may be preparing for a broader crackdown against Christians. "China's oppression against house churches will not be loosened," ChinaAid President Bob Fu said, according to International Christian Concern (ICC), an organization that monitors persecution of believers worldwide. "A systematic, in-the-name-of-law crackdown will continue to take place," Fu said. More than 20 police officers raided a Bible school class at one Shouwang Church location March 23, ICC reported. Attendees were taken to a nearby school, questioned and asked to sign a letter pledging not to attend the church anymore. They refused to sign. Meanwhile, believers from another Shouwang location also were detained and brought to the school for questioning, according to ICC. All the church members were released, but authorities changed the locks at the locations of both raids, according to media reports. Shouwang -- which has about 1,000 worship attendees -- and all its subsidiary organizations were closed, reported ChinaAid, a group that promotes religious freedom in China. The church said in a statement it will change its venue and continue to meet, according to ICC. Shouwang founding pastor Jin Tianming and two other of the church's pastors have been under house arrest since 2011, ICC reported. The church has been accused of failing to register with the government as a "social organization." As a result, according to ChinaAid, Shouwang has had its "multi-million dollar property" confiscated and been forced to meet outdoors -- even during inclement weather. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom "condemns Saturday's raid of Shouwang Church by Chinese police officers, part of #China's continuing and escalating crackdown on house churches," USCIRF tweeted March 26. "Shouwang Church has regularly faced persecution for refusing to join the state-sanctioned church." An estimated 93-115 million Protestant Christians live in China, with fewer than 30 million attending churches registered with the government, according to data reported by the Council on Foreign Relations. Shouwang is among a group of underground Chinese churches that have become what a March 25 New York Times report called "public megachurches." These churches still are known as "underground" or "house" churches because of their illegal, unregistered status even though they conduct their ministries largely in public and have hundreds of members. "Run by well-educated white-collar professionals in China's biggest cities, the churches own property and have nationwide alliances -- something anathema to the [Chinese Communist] party, which tightly regulates nongovernmental organizations," The Times reported. Another such church, Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, was raided in December. Its pastor and 10 other members remain jailed. A church of at least 500 members, according to The Times, Early Rain helps the families of political prisoners, founded a homeless shelter and protests China's use of abortion for family planning -- all in addition to its evangelism and discipleship ministries. Following the March 23 raid of Shouwang, Early Rain said in a statement its members "kneeled down to pray to give thanks and praises to our God, because we are delighted that the bride of Christ is closely following her husband." Two other large Chinese underground churches were raided in recent months as well: the 1,500-member Zion Church of Beijing in September and Rongguili Church of Guangzhou in December, which had some 5,000 attendees, according to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post. Christianity Today reported raids of larger Chinese churches suggest "the government may be 'testing' crackdown measures before more widespread implementation." ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Roach is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention's news service. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #APRIL19

FENTON, MI – On Thursday evening, March 7, 2019 the Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s Executive Board unanimously voted to accept the purchase agreement for the sale of the convention’s Fenton office building and subsequently voted, in total agreement, to lease 1900 square feet of office space in the historical Burroughs Building in Plymouth, Michigan. Through the sale of the building and acreage the state convention will net nearly one million dollars to be placed into the state convention’s foundation. The large investment into the foundation will provide annual dividends that can be disbursed for meaningful ministry priorities or reinvested in order to increase the strength of the Michigan Southern Baptist Foundation. During last year’s annual state convention on Friday, November 9, 2018 at Grace Church in Jackson the messengers of the state convention by vote entrusted the Executive Board to oversee the consideration and sale of the convention’s property. Conversations between leaders of the state convention, to consider the sale of the property, started early in 2018. When Pastor Tim Patterson became executive director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, during May 2015, one of his goals was to maximize the resources and the personnel of the small state convention in order to bring increased health to the established churches while planting multiplying churches. His financial and strategic leadership, in concert with the elected officers of the state convention and members of the executive board, has brought significant results in less than four years. Patterson and the state staff travel regularly to churches and regions throughout the state. Pastors, church planters, church members, and associational leaders have packed personal and vocational schedules making it challenging for them to find the time to travel to and attend large conferences of the past. State staff serve more as consultants now responding to personal requests to assist one church or a local group of churches at the same time. Mobility has become one of the major priorities within the ministry. Seeing images of state staff on social media attending the launch of a church plant in Grand Rapids, followed by a conference in Detroit, then preaching at a significant historical day in an established church in the upper peninsula in one week’s time has become common place. State staff build strong, supportive and trusting relationships with others throughout the state through those face-to-face ministry excursions. Online meetings and live streaming have provided valuable links to those geographically scattered and isolated throughout the region, including a few church planters in Canada who partner with the state convention due to proximity and identification. The Burroughs Building in Plymouth will provide robust tools to enhance the state convention’s connection with pastors, churches and associations. Meeting rooms with enhanced online connections will be conveniently provided at the new state convention site. Technology will never replace face-to-face meetings, but technology can create frequent and convenient follow-up meetings to enrich those deep, personal, interactive relationships formed by sharing life and ministry. The Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s ministry center will relocate to the third floor of the historical Burroughs Building in Plymouth. The Plymouth facility was once a production center, during the 1900s, for adding machines, typewriters and the early-edition computers used in the banking industry. Today, developers are remodeling the site as a high-service, interactive community for a diverse set of clients. Some of the neighbors joining the state convention inside the Burroughs Building are: an athletic club, a cafeteria, an electric car company, and one of the newest church plants in Michigan, Mile City Church. The state staff are looking forward to forging new friendships with a variety of people in the Plymouth and Burroughs Building community. 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. #APRIL19

FENTON, MI – It was in the early morning hours of my little West Texas home, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon that the earth-shaking rumble began. I thought someone had driven their vehicle into the side of our home. The fact was that we had experienced a small earthquake, which was not that uncommon in those regions of the west. A few shakes, a plate or two knocked from their display in the den, and small amount of anxiety. That was all that we noticed during that seemingly uneventful time. It was just a tremor. They happen all the time. Nothing to worry about. Later that day, reports came in from different media outlets that a huge crater had formed in one of the surrounding oil fields. It was the size of several football fields, and as it formed it had taken several storage tanks into its depths and some sizable pieces of oilfield equipment along with them. A rumble, a shake, and all that was left was an enormous gaping hole. Every day in families throughout Michigan and the world, great quakings occur. With little fanfare, a rumble and a shake is felt in heaven and in the hearts of so many when one of our loved ones die. When they take their last breath and pass from this life into the next, they leave behind gaping holes. Not ones in the crust of the earth, but in the hearts and lives of all of those who remain behind. The loss of their presence and leadership as a husband and wife, father and mother, grandfather and grandmother, brother and sister, uncle and aunt and friend will leave many with an aching sense that something is desperately missing in their lives. For some, we knew their passing could be eminent, and at times, as Christians we have even prayed for that difficult yet sweet relief to come quickly. The fact remains that though our prayers of the ultimate healing are answered, we sense a great loss. Our hearts are broken, and a cavernous wound of grief exposes our inward most selves to the stinging winds of memory. Nothing can really fill the void our loved ones leave behind and for us who have the Hope of Heaven in our hearts, only time and the tenderness of God’s presence will heal the bleeding of our souls. C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasure, speaks to us in our conscience and shouts to us in our pain.” If that is true, and I believe it is, then it is during times of grief and hurt that we should hear His voice more clearly. It is during these times that our attention should be His. When someone dies the inevitable question always surfaces. Why? Why him or her? Why now? Viewing life from heaven’s perspective is not a privilege we have while the story of our life is still being written. My wife has the terrible habit of going to the last pages of a book, and reading them first to find out how the story will end. She just cannot tolerate the anticipation and suspense. For all of us, our life’s story, or the book of our life is a process. It is a process that must be completed in its entirety. Each page must follow the other with no interruptions. We cannot skip to the end of the book, read how it all turns out, and get a premature understanding of everything that transpires in our lives. Nor can we know in advance the purpose of it all, but one day we will. One day we shall no longer look through a poor mirror, but we shall see Him face to face and we will understand fully. Until that day arrives, we must be satisfied that He who knows the past, present and future, has given us victory over the gaping grave and provided eternal life for all those who will trust in Him. Though our lives may quake and rumble when death visits our world, Easter has filled the hopelessness of the grave and chasms of fear. The earth shook on that great Resurrection Day and death was defeated. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Patterson is Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Elected unanimously in May of 2015, Patterson formerly served for 9 years as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. He also served as trustee chair and national mobilizer for the North American Mission Board. #APRIL19

ROSCOMMON, MI – My best day as a kid was the last day of school. No more teachers, no more tests, no more sack lunches, no more getting up early, no more homework, just complete freedom. Freedom to have fun, go to the beach, stay up late, play in the woods, and freedom to stay with grandma for weeks at a time and eat as much ice cream as possible out of her magically stocked freezer. Sweet Freedom! Unfortunately, as we all know, this freedom was only temporary because school always came back to enslave my time and imagination. Thankfully, there is a freedom that is eternal and magnificent. As we celebrate Easter, we must remember this freedom we have in Christ because He gave His life for us on the cross where He paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Yet, there is a price we must also pay - the price of humble surrender. Compared to the price Christ paid, humble surrender would seems quite easy. Nevertheless, it is the most difficult act of the human will. Our pride and our ego are far too important to just surrender control. We know what’s best because we have all the answers. This unwillingness to surrender reminds me of an encounter between Captain Naaman and the prophet Elisha in the book of 2 Kings 5. Naaman was a great warrior, but he had leprosy. He was sent to the prophet Elisha for healing who told him to wash in the Jordan River seven times, and he would be healed (made clean and set free from the disease). The price of freedom was too high, too undignified, too humiliating so he stormed away full of pride and doomed to die. Proverbs 16:18 tells us that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling”. This was almost the end of Naaman’s story, and for many of us this scenario has become all to familiar. We desire to obey God’s word, and grow stronger and deeper in our faith until we reach the place where obedience and relationship demand too high a price. We choose disobedience over obedience, defeat over victory, ego over humility, self-reliance over surrender and captivity instead of freedom. Why? Because being free in Christ requires total reliance on him and not on ourselves. For Naaman to be free he had to humble himself, his ego, and assumptions, and literally allow himself to be “washed away.” Freedom comes through the blood of Christ washing away our self - all of our pride, vanity, ego and self-righteousness. When we choose to live in freedom, in victory, we discover healing for our souls, the desire to forgive and be forgiven, and the ability to see and want the best in others. The truth is, once you have experienced living free in Christ, anything less is unacceptable, and we desire others to also live in Christ’s freedom. Freedom is contagious, and victory is inspiring. Jesus won the victory for our freedom. Let’s live in it. Let’s share it! 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. #APRIL19

NASHVILLE, TN – LifeWay Christian Resources is charting a new course in 2019 marking a strategic shift of resources to a dynamic digital strategy. As part of the transition, LifeWay will close its 170 brick-and-mortar stores in 2019. The organization will continue to offer a broad selection of resources through LifeWay.com and the LifeWay Customer Service Center (1-800-458-2772). LifeWay Customer Service hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Central). LifeWay will also continue to serve customers through its network of church partners who work directly with churches. “LifeWay is fortunate to have a robust publishing, events and church services business. Our retail strategy for the future will be a greater focus on digital channels, which are experiencing strong growth,” said acting President and CEO Brad Waggoner. “LifeWay is moving into a new era with a strategic digital focus that will prepare us for the future and allow us to better serve our customers.” In January LifeWay announced it would reduce the number of its retail locations due to declining customer traffic and sales. “While we had hoped to keep some stores open, current market projections show this is no longer a viable option,” Waggoner said. “The decision to close our local stores is a difficult one,” Waggoner said. “LifeWay has developed close connections with the communities where our stores are located, and we have been honored to serve those communities. We will continue serving local congregations as they meet the spiritual needs of their neighbors.” The timing of store closings will vary depending on local circumstances. LifeWay expects all brick-and-mortar stores to close by the end of the year. In operation since 1891, LifeWay offers a comprehensive selection of Bibles, books, Scripture reference tools, Bible studies, children’s products, Christian music and movies, gifts and church supplies. Additional items including church signs, furnishings and buses, as well as background checks, electronic giving and other services are available through LifeWay’s OneSource program at LifeWay.com/OneSource. LifeWay also hosts a number of camps and events throughout the year for all age groups. As part of the organization’s strategy, LifeWay has introduced a number of digital resources including online Bible studies, worship planning, live streaming of events and online training opportunities. “LifeWay has been serving the church for 128 years, and we will continue to grow our ministry to churches and individuals into the future,” Waggoner said. “As the market continues to change, primarily through shifts in brick-and-mortar retail, we are taking steps to meet customer demand for digital shopping experiences and to expand our reach globally.” LifeWay distributes resources in 164 nations and licenses resources in more than 60 languages. Like other retailers, over the last decade the organization has seen commerce increasingly move online, while experiencing overall growth in digital sales. In one month, LifeWay interacts with five times as many people through its digital environments as it does through LifeWay stores. “Our world and our customers are increasingly online,” Waggoner said, “Investing in a dynamic digital strategy allows LifeWay to better serve the Church in its mission and only enhances our ability to provide biblical solutions for life.” More information about store closings is available at LifeWay.com/StoreFAQs. #MARCH19 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Carol Pipes is director of corporate communications for LifeWay Christian Resources.

ALPHARETTA, GA – Over the past several years there has been an increasing interest in church planting. As a result of declining attendance and the closing of many existing churches, every major denomination is focusing more resources toward starting new congregations. In the midst of this proliferation of church planting, one of the most significant trends is the starting of new churches by covocational leaders. A covocational church planter is one whose primary vocation is in the marketplace, but at the same time he feels lead to start a church. A “covo” planter is one who knows God has called him to be a teacher, or a mechanic, a web designer or a doctor and he desires to weave that calling into the plan to plant a church. He realizes those two callings are not isolated from one another; they are interlinked and equal. In Covocational Church Planting, Brad provides not only a new way to think about vocation, but also a fresh vision for church planting as a covocational leader. Covocational Church Planting E-book is available in both English and Spanish and can be yours free via namb.net/covocational. Plantación de iglesias covocacional está disponible en inglés y español. Envíe el siguiente formulario para recibir un enlace para bajarlo gratuitamente por correo electrónico. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brad Brisco is currently the Director of Bivocational Church Planting for the North American Mission Board. He holds a doctorate in the area of missional ecclesiology; his doctoral thesis was on assisting existing congregations in transitioning in a missional direction. Brad is the co-author of Missional Essentials, a twelve-week small group study guide, The Missional Quest: Becoming a Church of the Long Run, and Next Door As It Is In Heaven. He and his wife have three children and have been foster parents to more than fifty other kids. #MARCH19