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FENTON, MI – Christ is speaking to His Church! For many of us the study, “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby and Claude King was transformational in our spiritual lives. They helped us see that God is always at work around us, and to learn Biblical principles to identify what He is doing. We were challenged to align our lives with God and join Him in His work. The spirit of listening to and obeying the risen Christ will take center stage at the Church Revitalization Conference, September 22, at Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton. Richard Blackaby and Mark Clifton are helping churches across North America through: “Revive. Reversing the Trends. Reviving the Church.” The conference will focus on: “Christ’s Presence and His Church” “Christ’s Purpose and His Church” “Reclaiming the Glory” “Developing a Powerful Praying Church” “Leading Out of the Overflow” And Q/A with Richard and Mark I want to encourage you to do all you can to attend. Come with your church family as Michigan Baptist Churches seek Christ together. Burton is a long way from many of our churches, and we want to help you get there. If you drive with two (or more hopefully) in your car, and travel more than 200 - 250 miles round trip, we will send the driver a check for $25 to offset the gas expenses. If you have 2 (or more hopefully) in your car and drive over 251 miles round trip, we will send the driver $40 to offset the gas expenses. (Please note that you must fill out a W9 and turn it in at the event to receive your check. This offer is only available the day of the CRC.) Everyone who attends will receive lunch and two books: Flickering Lamps and Reclaiming Glory. All of this for $10 per person! Register at BSCM.org/register. Richard Blackaby is the President of Blackaby Ministries International. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace, as well as on spiritual awakening, Experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEO’s as well as church and family leaders. He served as senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, and then as President of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada for 13 years. He continues to serve as the seminary’s Chancellor. He has written or co-authored more than 30 books (From his bio). Mark Clifton is the Senior Director of Replanting at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Mark has served as a pastor, church planter, church revitalizer, mission strategist, coach and mentor to young leaders. He has planted and replanted numerous churches, and has also served as a national and regional leader for church planting and missions. His experience includes serving as the lead mission strategist for the Kansas/Nebraska Southern Baptist Convention, leading church planting efforts in the regions of north metro Atlanta, Georgia, serving as a church planter in Montreal, Quebec, as a Southern Baptist National Church Planting Missionary for eastern Canada, and has lead Southern Baptist church planting projects west of the Mississippi. Mark has been planting, replanting, and providing strategic mission leadership since 1978. (From his bio). 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. #SEPTEMBER18

FENTON, MI – From misused prescription opioids to heroin addiction, millions of people in North America are caught up in the drug epidemic. An average of 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Send Relief (NAMB) is catalyzing churches across the continent to help, and we need you and your church to be a part of the fight for change. You can help and together, we can make a difference. “Americans of faith have taken a leading role in the compassionate approach we need to take on this [opioid] crisis, and we’re eager to support their work, however we can.” — Secretary Alex M. Azar, II, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Do an internet search for resources, you and your church can download to help you get started. In 2016, over 11 million Americans misused prescription opioids, nearly one million used heroin, and 2.1 million had an opioid-use disorder due to prescription opioids or heroin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes that faith-based and community partners eagerly and willingly step in to meet the needs of their colleagues, friends and neighbors, especially during times of emergency and distress. That’s why HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (also known as “The Partnership Center”) was created. Partnering with government efforts enable a positive response to the current opioid health crisis. Email the Partnership Center for more information: Partnerships@HHS.gov. To Get Started here are just a few ways to open your doors to the community: Offer your space for weekly recovery programs and/or self-help support groups for people with substance-use disorders, as well as their families who may also need support. Connect people to existing support in your community. Offer free transportation to treatment services and/or recovery support programs. Advertise local meetings in your newsletters, community calendars, websites, and social media channels. Consider including: Local AA.org, NA.org and/or CelebrateRecovery.com mutual aid support groups. SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator. SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Free, confidential help in English/Spanish, 24/7): (800) 662- HELP (4357). A West Virginia pastor wisely said, “Churches are not neutral bystanders: What they don’t say is just as important as what they do say.” As stated earlier, finding a supportive community is essential to recovery. However, old conventions, as well as misunderstandings about addiction and the recovery process, often stand in the way of our communities providing the critical support and connections people need. Our hope is that as addiction is understood as a treatable, chronic, medical condition — and not a personal or moral failing — prejudice and shame will be replaced by a spirit of compassion and hope that opens doors, hearts, and resources to those suffering with a substance-use disorder Pray about how you and your church may become a positive part of overcoming this nationwide epidemic. #SEPTEMBER18

LOS ANGELES, CA – When you decide, as the pastor, to lead your church for the first time to be a Sending Church and take responsibility to start a new church, it’s likely you will receive objections from your people. This is common. Any time a pastor attempts to shape and lead a church in a new direction, he is sure to face opposition. A critical thing to consider is how you, as pastor, respond to those objections. Will you respond harshly or will you respond confidently with compassion that will help you lead your people to be passionate about multiplication? There are, of course, numerous objections that could be raised, but let’s just take a look at a few in this series of blog posts. “It costs too much.” This most common objection in most people’s mind is the cost. The reality is there are few churches with massive vaults of resources just sitting around waiting to be spent. Most churches are living lean — attempting to conserve their resources and do what they need to in order to meet their annual budget. The thought of adding something new, particularly something that is unlikely to produce any immediate dividends to the church, can be daunting to many. Most people feel this way because when they think of starting a new church, they only have your church in mind. Your church may have a building, programs, and maintenance that cost money to maintain. They think about the challenges your church faces each day and cannot comprehend starting another church and doubling the same challenges financially. Here are three ways to counter this objection: First, the truth is not all church planting costs a lot of money. Some church plants may not cost any money, depending on the model and the context. It’s entirely possible for a church plant to live lean for a number of years as it strives to engage the lost and make disciples. It could be years before the church has the type of financial needs that typically come to the mind of most. While a new church will contain your DNA, it will not be a mirror image of your established church. We have to lead our church to understand that the new church may not look like us. If you need an illustration, consider my two daughters. Thank the Lord they don’t look just like me. They would be ugly girls if they did! My wife gave birth to daughters, not duplicates. Help your church members understand that when you start a new church, you are birthing a daughter, not a duplicate. Second, even if the church wanted to be a part of something requiring high financial costs, partnering with other small churches can spread the burden of resources. The SBC is a denomination of small- to medium-sized churches. For these churches to engage in church planting, they must think beyond a model that requires a singular sending church to do all of the work. Instead, multiple churches can work together to help the church financially. Third, financial risk, while intimidating, requires the Sending Church to assess the current use of its resources and discern how it might conserve or save in order to fund what is truly important. Without the external pressure of a church plant, many would-be Sending Churches are never forced to ask hard questions about their current spending and find ways to give to planting endeavors. Though this type of self-reflection is rarely fun, it’s necessary for a church to truly embody its Great Commission identity. In summary, the cost of becoming a Sending Church is only one aspect of creating new avenues for reaching our world with the Gospel. How do you put a price on that? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shane Critser lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jennifer, and their three kids, Chase, Chloe and Charley. Before moving to Los Angeles, Shane served as the director of church and missionary discovery at NAMB. He previously served as the mission pastor at Hope Baptist Church in Las Vegas, Nev. You can follow Shane on Twitter @shanecritser. Courtesy of NAMB #Send Network Blog #SEPTEMBER18

Chasing the God Who Chases Us: Unshakable Pursuit “There’s a God pursuing us in love, tapping our shoulders, and telling us life will only find its rhythm when we chase after Him with everything we’ve got. There’s a world walking the paths God has orchestrated, just waiting for someone to be fully engaged in His story and share it with them.” (Grace Thornton, Unshakable Pursuit) You are invited to join the pursuit, and if you chose to connect, your mission will never be the same! Celebrate with us at the 60th meeting of the Michigan Women’s Missionary Union. A Missions Celebration of all that God has done and will continue to do through the churches of our Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Our time of celebration will feature missionaries from; the International Mission Board (IMB), North American Mission Board (NAMB), and our Michigan Baptist Staff. The Celebration is scheduled for, Saturday, September 29th beginning at 9AM and ending at 4PM. The missions experience will take place at the Bambi Lake Conference Center, in Roscommon, MI. More information and registration details are available at: bscm.org/bambi. Why Attend? Does your church have a ministry project, missionary or mission theme it supports or wants to support? Michigan WMU recognizes that churches in our Baptist State Convention have a heart for missions. We have prepared a one-day mission celebration that invites and will highlight missions, missionaries, and ministries in Michigan and around the world. We have over 40 missionaries and ministries who will be available to share information with you in the Display Center. If you are interested in having a table to share about your church plant, ministry or missions project, please contact wmu@bscm.org. What for? Your participation is sure to… inspire and energize your church members to get involved in mission both locally and globally. emphasize the foundation of Southern Baptist Cooperative Program of missions and evangelism. educate leaders about practical strategies to lead their churches in mission work that empowers, celebrates and shares God's love with all. invite the your church to be on mission through prayerful and pledged financial support. What is planned? You can engage actively with state and global missionaries, hear from national and local guest speakers, worship time, and personally connect with missionaries around the world. You will develop partnerships and gather information about opportunities to be involved in local missions. We will celebrate mission work already underway and present a vision for what could happen by coming together as the church with the common purpose of reaching Michigan for Christ. Why Partner Together? Experiencing missions together, Multiplies “The Power of One”. So What Do I Do Now? Pray and ask God if this is a celebration you should attend? Pray and ask God if this is an opportunity you should encourage other to attend? The “pursuit” is on…now that you know, standing still is no longer an option! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett is the Women's Ministries/WMU Director for the BSCM. She attends Lakepointe Church in Macomb, MI. #SEPTEMBER18

I am giving away 20 FREE BOOKS! I will give away 10 editions of John MacArthur’s, “Called to Lead: 26 Leadership Lessons from the Life of the Apostle Paul” I will also give away 10 editions of Robby Gallaty’s, "Growing Up: How to be a Disciple Who Makes Disciples" For those interested here are the requirements and rules to participate: On or before midnight, Tuesday, September 11, 2018 you must send a one-paragraph email to Andrew@bscm.org explaining why you need to learn more about becoming a more effective leader. In that same email, you must share your: Email address Mobile (preferred) or home phone number Church’s name and location Mailing address so that we can ship your book to you if you win You must be an attender, member, or leader of Southern Baptist church in Michigan who currently gives to the Cooperative Program through the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. You may only send in 1 email to Andrew@bscm.org and those entering can win only 1 book during this upcoming drawing. Drawing to be held on September 13 at 1:00 PM The results of this drawing will be conducted through a Zoom Online Meeting on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 1:00 PM. You need not be present to win, but your presence would be preferred. Names of those winning 1 of the 20 editions will be posted on the Baptist State Convention of Michigan Facebook page. Free Zoom Online Discussions Free Zoom Online Discussions will take place during September, October, and early November for those interested in learning more about effective leadership through online discussions. Tony Lynn will facilitate those discussions. Dates for those online discussions will be released at the time of the drawing on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 1:00 PM. Why Discuss Leadership? Why give books away on the subject of leadership? Why should we study and discuss this matter together? I am convinced more than ever that many of us share similar knowledge and experiences,but some of us lack the ability to influence others toward the greatest calling of life. That can become discouraging and even frustrating. A leader must be able to influence others. I want to help more of us discern how we can become more effective leaders. The Authors John MacArthur has served as the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969. His ministry of expository preaching is unparalleled in its breadth and influence. In more than four decades of ministry from the same pulpit, he has preached verse by verse through the entire New Testament (and several key sections of the Old Testament). He is president of the Master’s University and Seminary. and can be heard daily on the ”Grace to You” radio broadcast (carried on hundreds of radio stations worldwide). Robby Gallaty is the Senior Pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. In 2008, he founded Replicate Ministries to educate, equip and empower disciples to make disciples He holds a M.Div., Th.M., and a Ph.D. in preaching from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Kandi have been investing in believers for more than a decade and are the proud parents of two sons, Rig and Ryder. What are you waiting for?! 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. #SEPTEMBER18

FORT WORTH, TX – I don't know where I first heard it, but I have always loved the saying, "Having happy children is good, but a parent's real job is to mold great adults." It is with this thought running through my mind that I make my list of prayer requests for my children this school year. Yes, I would love for my children to ace all of their classes, always have someone to sit with at lunch and receive all of the best awards at the end of the year. However, would the ease of a great year truly build strong character and emotional endurance? Yes, it would be easy, but muscles are not built by a life of ease. In the same way, my overarching prayer for my children this year is that their spiritual, emotional and academic muscles will grow stronger and their endurance through instruction and personal relationships will grow deeper and wider. Specifically, these are the three ways I will pray for my children during the coming school year. 1. I pray they will grow in their love of God and learn to trust Him more. Just recently, all four of my children have accepted Christ as their Savior. I pray this year they will continue to grow in knowledge of Him. I wish this was as easy to measure as their physical growth, but this year I will look for opportunities to gauge where they are in their walk with Christ. I pray that my children will see Him move in ways they have not experienced before. I know this cannot always be done with sunny skies and cool breezes. I pray when the hard days come for my children, I can help them turn to Christ for comfort or direction. Of course, this means that I myself need to strive after the Lord wholeheartedly as well. If I desire them to draw closer to Christ, I must draw closer to Christ as well. 2. I pray they will continue to grasp the command of Colossians 3:23 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." (Colossians 3:23) As they do their math homework, as they do their chores, as they help a sibling, I want them to grow in their understanding of God-focused work. The sin tendency within us automatically gravitates towards laziness and self-centeredness, but I pray we will learn to counteract that tendency with a heart toward working for the Lord in whatever we find ourselves doing. In the same vein, the second part of this verse is equally important. Many tasks are attached to immediate rewards, either personal or social. A child does his schoolwork in hopes of a good grade. She completes chores with the expectation of an allowance. He practices an instrument to impress the instructor. Earthly rewards are not bad for children, and in some instances they help spur them on to work harder. However, the insatiable desire to please their Savior and honor Him with a good work ethic is important over a lifetime. Therefore, my prayer this year is that my children may simply grow in their understanding of what it means to "work as unto the Lord." 3. I pray my children will have opportunities to learn to love well. At school, there are many different personalities. Each instructor, each peer will have good days and bad days. I pray that my children will flex their love and compassion muscles to show grace to those around them. Honestly, this does not come easily for all my kids, but to love those around us is a way we can point people to Christ in a very tangible way. I pray my children will look for opportunities to be kind and to love with the same love that Christ has so greatly given us. When I first began to pray intentionally for my children in this way, they were in pre-school and early elementary. Now, they span middle elementary to middle school. Each has grown a lot in knowledge and stature. Their walk with the Lord is living and active, and it is the true joy of a parent to watch the Lord work in them personally. One of the greatest benefits of praying for your children is to see their daily struggles and triumphs. It is when I pray for them that I slow down and think, in depth about each of my children, each personality, each circumstance, each talent, each struggle. As this school year starts, it is my desire to continue praying for them with renewed purpose. May this year be fruitful and powerful in drawing each of us, myself and my children, closer to the Lord. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Melanie Lenow and her husband Evan, an ethics professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, are parents to four children. This column first appeared at BiblicalWoman.org, a blog of Southwestern Seminary. #SEPTEMBER18

MONTICELLO, MN – As church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders, we must be vigilant in our pursuit of spiritual disciplines. Most of us are aware of the obvious ones (prayer, spending time in the Word, etc.), but as I find myself in the months leading up to launching our first church plant, there is one area I have had to cultivate with more intentionality: the discipline of being mentored by older, more mature men. At a glance, that may not sound like a spiritual discipline, but I have come to believe it is as crucial to my spiritual development as almost any other area. In the following paragraphs, I want to give you three reasons why I feel so strongly about this, and offer a word of caution as well. 1. Being mentored by an older believer is healthy for the dynamic of leadership in your church. Those of us who are called to be preaching or lead pastors often are put in scenarios where we have the decisive vote. By nature of the position, the flock (and other elders) will look to us to cast vision, take the lead, and confidently follow the Lord as we shepherd His flock. Indeed, this is what we are called to do (1 Pet. 5:1-4). However, we must be wary of constantly putting ourselves in positions where we are the highest authority. Having a plurality of elders helps this immensely, but is not a failsafe. We must be in situations where older, wiser believers can speak into our lives and offer course corrections, encouragements, and exhortations. As a leader, this will help correct the notion that you are on the top of the pile. A good leader must lead with humility, putting the needs and desires of those in his care ahead of his own, and this is sometimes better learned from the experience of an older saint. 2. Being mentored by someone more mature than ourselves is modeled in Scripture. Consider the relationship Paul had with Timothy and Epaphroditus, as recorded in Philippians 2. From this text (and the book of Acts), we can infer that Paul spent a great deal of time with these men. Timothy traveled with Paul on some of his missionary journeys, and eventually, after training and mentoring him, Paul deployed him to establish churches in Ephesus (1 Tim. 1). We get a window into what this mentoring looked like when we read the pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy. In these, Paul reminds Timothy of many things they had discussed, and offers continuing admonishment, support, and encouragement to his protégé. This is what biblical mentorship should look like in our churches. Those who have walked with the Lord for 15, 20, or 30 years should gladly take on the task of training up the next generation of pastors, church planters, and all believers. This model is not confined to the New Testament however, in Psalm 71:17-18 the psalmist says: “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.” It should be the normative pattern of our lives that we are taught by God, through Word-centered preaching, discipleship, and fellowship, and we then in turn pass that on to the next generation. 3. Being mentored by a mature believer has shaped my life and ministry. The last reason I have to give comes from my own experience as a church leader and, now, a church planter. As I look back on how God has brought my wife and me to the place of planting our first church, I recognize very clearly the impact mentoring relationships have had on me, most significantly with two men named Brad and Dan. More often than I can recall, I have gone to these men for advice, wisdom, example, and stability, and they have come through every time. They have seen trends come and go, have weathered difficult times in church life, and can reassure me it will pass. They have experienced betrayal, loss, frustration, and anxiety, and can help me navigate through those times in my life and ministry. Your wife will be one of your greatest allies as you endeavor to pastor, plant, or lead, but there is a special strengthening effect that comes from being able to process with someone who is (probably) more objective, and has walked through these things before. Lastly, I offer a brief word of caution: Just because someone is physically older than you are, does not automatically qualify them for the role of mentor in your life. It is very possible you have peers who surpass the older generation in spiritual wisdom, discernment, and experience. More often than not, there is great value in the experience of years, but use discernment when choosing someone to help shape and mold you in your ministry. I personally enjoy my time with older saints, and no matter where you are in your ministry journey, I encourage you to take time to be mentored. It is biblical, it is wise, and it will bear much fruit in your life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacob Hatfield lives in Monticello, Minnesota, with his wife and four sons. He is in the process of planting an SBC church there with the North American Mission Board. #SEPTEMBER18

Social media and mobile devices have fundamentally changed the way we communicate—particularly about faith. Substantive spiritual conversations have become harder not only because of 280-character limits but also because of shifts in the way the public perceives or subscribes to religion in the first place. For his most recent book, Learning to Speak God from Scratch, Barna worked with religion columnist Jonathan Merritt to interview U.S. adults for whom spiritual conversations are rare or nonexistent to find out why they don’t talk more often about faith. This research can also be seen in Spiritual Conversations in a Digital Age, a new report in partnership with Lutheran Hour Ministries. People who don’t talk very often about faith offer different reasons, but most of these fall into two broad categories: avoidance and ambivalence. For instance, the two avoidant responses (among the top four) given for not engaging in conversations are: “Religious conversations always seem to create tension or arguments” (28%) and “I’m put off by how religion has been politicized” (17%). The other two responses indicate ambivalence: “I’m not religious and don’t care about these kinds of topics” (23%) and “I don’t feel like I know enough to talk about religious or spiritual topics” (17%). Here’s the full list of options: Religious conversations always seem to create tension or arguments: 28% I’m not religious and don’t care about these kinds of topics: 23% I’m put off by how religion has been politicized: 17% I don’t feel like I know enough to talk about religious or spiritual topics: 17% I don’t want to be known as a religious person: 7% I don’t know how to talk about religious or spiritual topics without sounding weird: 6% I’m afraid people will see me as a fanatic or extremist: 5% I’m embarrassed by the way religious language has been used in popular culture: 5% I’ve been hurt by religious conversations in the past: 4% Religious language and jargon feels cheesy or outdated: 4% Among all adults who rarely engage, Boomers are significantly more likely to say they are not religious and don’t care about these kinds of topics (32% vs. 17% Millennials and Gen X, 22% Elders). Likewise, political liberals are more likely than conservatives to choose this option (28% vs. 15%). These groups tend more toward ambivalence or indifference than to frustration or fear. Millennials, however, are much more likely to feel afraid that people will see them as a fanatic or extremist (10% vs. 3% Gen X, 4% Boomers, 1% Elders). This generation has grown up in a culture that values tolerance and freeing people to make their own decisions. One of the great evils is to be perceived as bigoted. It makes sense that a fear of coming across as intolerant (often associated, as Millennials came of age, with religiosity) could turn them away from the topic altogether. Additionally, as we know from other research, young adults are more likely than any other age group to have friends who are different from them: different ethnicities, different religions, different social and political beliefs. They tend, therefore, to be more sensitive to offending other groups. They expect to live in a pluralistic society and so fear association with a group—fundamentalist Christians—that is often represented as opposed to ways of thinking or believing other than their own. About the Research The primary source of data in this report is a survey of 1,714 U.S. adults, comprised of an over-sample of 535 Millennials and 689 Practicing Christians, conducted online June 22–July 13, 2017. Respondents were recruited from a national consumer panel, and minimal weighting was applied to ensure representation of certain demographic factors, such as age, gender, ethnicity and region. The sample error for this data is plus or minus 2.2% at the 95% confidence level for the total sample. A subgroup of participants had either: “shared my views on faith or religion in the last 5 years” OR “someone has shared their views on faith or religion with me in the last 5 years.” Self-identified Christians select “Christian” from a list of religious affiliations. Non-Christians do not self-identify as Christian. Practicing Christians identify as Christian, have attended church within the past month and strongly agree that their faith is very important in their life today. Non-practicing Christians identify as Christian, but do not qualify as practicing under the definition above. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barna Group is a private, non-partisan, for-profit organization under the umbrella of the Issachar Companies. Located in Ventura, California, Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. © Barna Group, 2018 #SEPTEMBER18

IRONTON, MI – How many of us, with our final breath, will be able to say, “It is finished.” I ask this question because we have Jesus’ final words, “It is finished,” as he bowed his head and gave up his spirit in John 19: 30. Jesus completed the full mission before him during his short life as another example of us to follow as we strive to finish the race. How many of us will be able to say the same? I am not questioning a believers eternal life and salvation as a legalistic fellow might do, only what is written in the Book of Life under each of our names. How many incomplete sentences are under your name? This is something that keeps me awake at night, what have I left undone that God gave me the opportunity to do for his kingdom? In the Book of Revelation, chapter 20: 11-15, we read: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done….And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” How many unfinished sentences will be in the book of life under your name? In Jesus’ case, we know he fully accomplished the mission, he put a period at the end of each sentence. Jesus did everything required so people could be reconciled with God through his ultimate sacrifice for their sins. There are no unfinished sentences under his name. What about yours though? Has God whispered in your ear to share the Gospel with your neighbor and you have not? That is an unfinished sentence. Have you always felt a call to a foreign or local mission, but made excuses like finances and time not to go? Those are unfinished sentences. Does your church and community have needs you could fill, but you do not want to risk missing a football game or sacrificing some of your own time and money? That is an unfinished sentence. Is there a Bible Study available in your church where your presence would make a difference in another person’s walk, but you did not commit to being there for whatever reason? That is another unfinished sentence. Remember, if you can, all those people throughout your life God put in your path and you were too scared to share the Good News of Jesus with them? Those are all unfinished sentences. We will all stand before the throne and the book of life will be opened. We will be judged for our own lives, not anyone else’s. Therefore, I urge everyone to finish those sentences in the book of life and in so doing, give even greater glory to God. When you do this, be prepared to stand out among the crowd. People will ask why your faith is so transformative and you can honestly tell them, “I do not want unfinished sentences in the book of life.” I urge all Christians to get more involved, and finish those sentences. We have one life; let’s write more than a short story and glorify Jesus. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ian Minielly is pastor of Catalyst Baptist Church in Bessemer, MI. #SEPTEMBER18

NEW ORLEANS, LA (BP) – In September 1986, my life was changed forever when I was elected as pastor of a dying Southern Baptist mission called Franklin Avenue Baptist Church. I grew up in the National Baptist denomination. I was the middle of five kids raised by a single mom who required everyone in her house to attend church on Sunday mornings. At the age of 21, I was radically saved while lying in Charity Hospital in New Orleans not knowing if I was going to live the next 24 hours because of a serious head wound. A deacon of the church I grew up in put his finger inches from my face and said without apology, "Boy, obedience is better than sacrifice. If you were obedient to your mom, you would not be sacrificing your life here in this hospital!" That night I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life and woke up the next morning with a commitment to live the rest of my life as a born-again Christian. After getting out of the hospital, I started a street ministry in the neighborhood I grew up in because I wanted everyone to know about this Jesus who turned my life around. While preaching one Sunday at a National Baptist church, someone mentioned to me that Franklin Avenue was looking for a pastor and asked if I would be interested. I said, "Franklin Avenue is a white church, blacks do not go there!" That's when I was told about the transitioning neighborhood and how Franklin Avenue was now an African American congregation. Well, I submitted my resume, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. After meeting with the pulpit committee several times, I was then scheduled to teach a church-wide Sunday School and preach for the 11 a.m. worship service. After the service, there was about a 90-minute Q&A time with 35 to 40 members. Later that evening, I got a call from the pulpit committee chair to inform me that I had been elected as the mission's pastor. After hanging up the phone, I was both excited and scared because I had never led a church before. Upon becoming the pastor, I was committed to ask for help in all areas I thought could assist us as a church and me as a pastor. And that's when I was first introduced to the many benefits of the Southern Baptist Convention. I met on a biweekly basis with leaders from our local association and then was introduced to professors, staff and facilities at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Our association trained our Sunday School teachers and ministry leaders while our seminary provided the space we needed for outreach events. Because of our growth, within three years we were able to become an autonomous church. While brainstorming with our church leaders, one of our older members asked a question I did not expect. The question was: Since we are now an autonomous church, why don't we get out of the Southern Baptist Convention? I was floored by the question and asked, "Why?" I was once again floored when I was told about the history of the Southern Baptist Convention. I never knew that the convention I was now a part of started as a result of slavery. After a brief history lesson and intense discussion, I made a statement that I knew came from God. I looked each of those members in their eyes and said, "All of us have a past. All of us have done something in our past that we regret. However, there is nothing we can do about our past, but we can do a whole lot about our future." With that said, I then stated a number of reasons why I felt it would be in our best interest to not get out of the Southern Baptist Convention: Southern Baptists allowed us to worship in the building we were in at no cost. The SBC, through our local association, provided training for our ministry leaders without cost. The SBC, through the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, allowed us to use the gym and other buildings for outreach events. The SBC stands on the infallibility of the Word of God. The SBC does missions, both local and international, better than any other group in the nation. The SBC is a key leader in disaster relief nationwide. The SBC believes in the importance of evangelism, discipleship and planting churches. The SBC is the most racially diverse convention in the nation. I then stated, "The SBC is not a perfect convention by any means, but I truly believe that the SBC exists to do the will of God on this earth. So let's stay with this convention and help to carry out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ." I then asked for a vote and the vote was unanimous to stay in the Southern Baptist Convention. Looking back on that night, without a doubt, deciding not to "ditch our denomination" was one of the best decisions we have ever made as a church. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Luter is pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. #SEPTEMBER18

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – America has become increasingly divided by politics in recent years. So have its Protestant churches, according to a study released Thursday (Aug. 23). More than half (57 percent) of Protestant churchgoers under 50 say they prefer to go to church with people who share their political views. And few adult Protestant churchgoers say they attend services with people of a different political persuasion. Those are among the findings in a new report on churchgoing and politics, conducted Aug. 22–30, 2017, by LifeWay Research. "Like many places in America, churches are divided by politics," said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. "And churchgoers under 50 seem to want it that way." Political divide For the study, LifeWay Research surveyed 1,010 Americans who attend services at least once a month at a Protestant or nondenominational church. Forty-six percent agree with the statement, "I prefer to attend a church where people share my political views." Forty-two percent disagree. Twelve percent are not sure. More than half (57 percent) of churchgoers ages 18 to 49 agree. Fewer churchgoers ages 50 to 64 (39 percent) or ages 65 and over (33 percent) agree. Men (51 percent) are more likely to agree than women (43 percent). Methodist (57 percent), nondenominational (51 percent) and Baptist (49 percent) churchgoers are more likely to agree than churchgoers from other denominations. Lutherans (33 percent) are less likely to agree. "Only a third of churchgoers in the study had strong feelings on this subject," McConnell said. Twelve percent strongly agree, while 22 percent strongly disagree. "Politics doesn't seem to be a high priority for most Protestants when choosing a church to attend," he said. "But for a small group of churchgoers, it's really crucial." LifeWay Research also asked Protestant churchgoers if their political views match those of people in their church. Half agree (51 percent), while 19 percent disagree and 30 percent are uncertain. Churchgoers ages 35 to 49 (61 percent) are more likely to agree than those ages 50 to 64 (47 percent) or those 65 and older (44 percent). Men (58 percent) are more likely to agree than women (46 percent). Those who attend services at least once a week (52 percent) are more likely to agree than those who attend once or twice a month (43 percent). American churchgoers who hold evangelical beliefs (57 percent) are more likely to agree their political views match others in their church, compared to those who don't hold evangelical beliefs (44 percent). Baptist (58 percent), nondenominational (54 percent) and Assemblies of God/Pentecostal (53 percent) churchgoers are more likely to agree. Lutherans (31 percent) are less likely. Protestant churchgoers and other Americans who attend worship services at least once a month made up about half of voters (52 percent) in the 2016 presidential election, according to data from Pew Research. Churchgoers might stick around even if they disagree over politics. A previous LifeWay Research study of Protestant and nondenominational churchgoers found only 1 in 10 (9 percent) would consider leaving their church over political views. "More than a few churchgoers in the most recent study (30 percent) don't know the political views of people besides them in the pews," McConnell said. "Politics isn't the only thing that churchgoers care about," he said. "In some churches, politics isn't mentioned at all -- at least in the pews." Methodology LifeWay Research conducted the study Aug. 22–30, 2017. The survey was conducted using the web-enabled KnowledgePanel, a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. Initially, participants are chosen scientifically by a random selection of telephone numbers and residential addresses. Persons in selected households are then invited by telephone or by mail to participate in the web-enabled KnowledgePanel. For those who agree to participate, but do not already have Internet access, GfK provides at no cost a laptop and ISP connection. For this survey, a nationally representative sample of U.S. Protestant and nondenominational adults (18 and older) which attends religious services once a month or more often was selected from the KnowledgePanel. Sample stratification and base weights were used for gender, age, race/ethnicity, region, metro/non-metro, home ownership, education and income to reflect the most recent U.S. Census data. Study-specific weights included for gender by age, race/ethnicity, region and education to reflect GSS 2016 data. The completed sample is 1,010 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Margins of error are higher in subgroups. LifeWay Research is an evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Smietana is senior writer at Facts & Trends (factsandtrends.net) of LifeWay Christian Resources. #SEPTEMBER18

SALISBURY, MD – In the early days of his church plant, pastor Ryan Weaver and his team at Remedy Church scoured the newspapers looking for ways to serve the people of Salisbury, Md. It was a small ad asking for landscaping help that eventually caught their eye. “We saw the landscaping ad and when we realized the need was on Booth Street we knew it was the right place for us,” Weaver explains. Few others in the area might consider Booth Street to be “right place” for them to serve. This pocket of the community is marked by the darkness of crime and poverty that covers the local news on a weekly basis. Most of the families live in low-income housing and are struggling against the cycle of destitution that has permeated Booth Street for so long. Rather than shy away, Weaver and his team jumped into service on Booth Street, taking 25 people to the area for a day of service. “We showed up that day and just served–landscaping, weed-eating, cleaning up trash,” Weaver recalls. “But I noticed members of our team slowly starting to talk to the people on Booth Street, getting to know them and figure out their specific needs. That was really the catalyst to starting our congregation’s relationship with our friends on Booth Street. “Serving them enabled us to intersect in their stories and start having the kind of conversations that build trust and relationships. Service was the only way we were going to be able to share the gospel with our friends on Booth Street.” That kind of service is the heart behind the North American Mission Board (NAMB). They encourage churches to host a day or season of service in their communities in an effort to share the gospel in action with neighbors in need. And a service day is exactly the avenue to do that. Send Relief believes the Church is the solution. Our initiatives equip and encourage churches to engage in their communities and be the places that serves the least of these. Be part of Send Relief today. Tonaka Houston cried a lot in her first year of teaching at a Title 1 school in Memphis, Tennessee. The school was one of the lowest-performing schools, absenteeism was a problem and 95% of the children in the school were on the free lunch program. Many did not know how to read. While the situation seemed hopeless to Tonaka, help was on the way. A simple reading program in the Memphis area helped second graders in Tonaka’s class, and many other classes, learn to read using a curriculum based on sight words. Low-income schools in the Memphis area saw 142% increase in children reading sight words on grade level. That program was ARISE2Read, a ministry begun through Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee. ARISE2Read and Send Relief have partnered to train other volunteers and churches to use sight words to help increase literacy in low-income students. Donna Gaines, founder of ARISE2Read, describes why this ministry is so important: “The Lord commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves. These children are my neighbors. This is my motivator and it has given me a real sense of urgency.” The training for ARISE2Read is simple to provide, and the ministry works with each volunteer spending one hour a week working with two second graders. The results for those children and adults have been life-changing. The Needs In Your Community it is important to first take time to discover and understand the unique needs within your community. Explore the physical community, listen to and learn from people living and working in the area and seek God’s guidance by prayer-driving and prayer-walking the neighborhood. To learn more about how to identify needs in your community, download the Discovering the Needs of Your Community guide. If not, check out some of our other ministry guides for opportunities that fit for your church’s gifting and community’s needs. The Need For Literacy Ministry In America: Two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare. Almost 85% of teenagers in the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate. More than 70% of prison inmates in the U.S. cannot read above a 4th-grade level. Students who are not proficient readers by the 3rd grade are four times more likely to dropout of school. 61% of low-income families have no books for children in their homes. 75% of Americans who receive food stamps are in the lowest two levels of literacy. Teenage girls between ages 16-19 who live below the poverty level and have below average reading skills are six times more like to have children out of wedlock than girls who read proficiently. But, children in low-income homes who read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade have an 89% rate of graduation from high school. While these statistics paint a grim picture, there is hope! ARISE2Read found that in one year of working with these at-risk students, students showed a 135% increase in reading skills on the Fry Word grade level test in seven schools. That means that these students moved from a 31% proficiency level in October 2015 to 80% proficiency in May 2016. ARISE2Read partners with evangelical churches and businesses within local school districts to help strengthen second graders’ reading proficiently so they can enter third grade reading at the third grade level. The program works with each volunteer working individually with two second graders for 30 minutes each. It’s a one-hour a week commitment per volunteer that will have a lifetime impact on students and communities. The bottom line is this: You, and your church, can be a part of helping eradicate illiteracy in your community. Strategically Consider Ministry Opportunities Take the next step by enlisting a small group of people within the congregation to assess ministry opportunities by working through the following questions with you: What partnerships in your community have you considered connecting to meet this need and use this resource? These could include government officials, school officials and teachers, other community churches and leaders, local shelters or other pre-established programs addressing literacy. Who in your church is passionate and equipped to lead or participate in this ministry? Consider children’s workers, parents and/or families, teenagers or youth groups, Sunday School classes, senior adults, anyone with a desire to make a difference in children’s lives through reading. What resources and relationships has God given your church to support this ministry? Consider missions offerings, other financial resources, church members who are connected to local schools and Sunday School classes as places to start. These questions can lead this small group of local missionaries to determine whether or not: There a desire within the congregation to meet this need. There are resources of people, space and money to meet this need. This ministry is sustainable over time. You feel God leading you as a congregation in this direction. SEND RELIEF: PROVIDING AN ARISE2READ MINISTRY STARTING AN ARISE2READ MINISTRY God may be moving you to be the catalyst of starting a literacy ministry in your community. If so, where do you start? We’ve provided eight steps that can lead you to successfully meet this much-needed ministry: 1. Create awareness of the need for a literacy ministry. Enlist a group of people who are interested in reading and literacy (teachers, school administrators, children’s workers, parents, senior adults, teenagers). Evaluate what you’ve learned through local community leaders and individuals about the literacy needs of your community. Review what local programs are doing to address literacy needs in your community. Contact a local elementary school in a low-income area about working with second graders. Determine how the school wants to handle security with adults coming into the school each week. Contact second grade teachers to identify at-risk children who would benefit from one-on-one tutoring. 2. Create a ministry plan based on your findings. ARISE2Read uses the simple word curriculum called Team Read. ARISE2Read also provides teacher training in how to use the curriculum, and explains the requirements for new background checks for all volunteers. Contact ARISE2Read or Send Relief for specific instructions about enlisting and training volunteers. 3. Enlist an ARISE2Read Director. Begin by enlisting church approval and support of the ministry. The director has responsibility for: Enlist a leadership team and lead the team to establish program objectives. Work with area school second grade teachers to identify at-risk students. Keep school administrators informed. Be good partners. Coordinate the schedule of times when volunteers are at the school. Contact NAMB Send Relief for more information and available resources to begin your ministry to children. Make a difference in your community for the future. Courtesy of NAMB Send Relief #SEPTEMBER18