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LANSING, MI – There were 24 professions of faith as 22 children and two adults found Christ at an exciting, evangelistic event sponsored by Faith Fellowship Baptist Church (FFBC) held at Walsh Park in Lansing, Michigan in July. FFBC partnered with community businesses, local churches and the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) to make this “Fun in the Son” outreach event a success. More than 235 children and adults attended this year’s event. In addition to the Gospel message presentation by Pastor Stan Parker, this event engaged participants through gospel music entertainment, which consisted of Gospel groups, such as Spoken Praise (Lansing), Life Challenge (Flint), and Kings Highway group (Lansing). Each group/performer ministered a soulful praise to God that created a spiritual atmosphere,and relayed a positive message to the members of the community. The Praise in the Park Block Party also provided a Community Family Resource Fair. The vendor selections focused on health screenings, health care sign-up, and children summer activity sign-up opportunities. And of course, no block party would be complete without prizes and games. Adults were blessed with a variety of gift cards. Two (2) of the children in attendance were blessed to receive new bikes. All children participated in various games and activities, including bowling, bean bag toss, fishing for ducks, basketball, face-painting, hula-hooping, tic-tac-toe, and bouncy castle excitement. FFBC glorified God by engaging the community and demonstrating the love of Christ. This engagement and display of love resulted in the adding of souls to the Kingdom of God. What a blessing! Many of the children who attended the Block Party also attended Vacation Bible School (VBS) the following week, with the potential of also attending Sunday School in the future to continue their growth in Jesus Christ. Pastor Stan Parker says, “We want to give a very special “thank you” to the BSCM for partnering with us to make this event possible. Your unwavering support continually overwhelms us. This partnership included contributions ranging from monetary donations and equipment rental support to event setup and breakdown activities.” For more information about FFBC events please contact us at 517-853-9897 or faithfellowshiplansing@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Reverend Stan Parker is the senior pastor of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church Lansing. #AUGUST18

NASHVILLE, TN – For some Americans, dropping a check into the offering plate at church is a bit like having a Discover Card. Both offer a cash-back bonus. About a third of Protestant churchgoers say their congregation teaches that God will bless them if they donate money. Two-thirds say God wants them to prosper. One in 4 say they have to do something for God to receive material blessings in return. Those are among the key findings of a new study on so-called “prosperity gospel” beliefs from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. For the study, LifeWay Research surveyed 1,010 Americans who attend a Protestant or non-denominational church at least once a month. Researchers found more than a few churchgoers believe giving to God leads to financial rewards, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “A significant group of churches seem to teach that donations trigger a financial response from God,” said McConnell. A controversial topic The belief that God gives financial rewards in exchange for offerings is a central part of the so-called prosperity gospel, which offers a “direct path to the good life,” as Duke professor Kate Bowler puts it. That belief is both controversial and fairly commonplace. LifeWay Research found 38 percent of Protestant churchgoers agree with the statement, “My church teaches that if I give more money to my church and charities, God will bless me in return.” Fifty-seven percent disagree, including 40 percent who strongly disagree. Five percent are not sure. Pentecostal and Assemblies of God churchgoers (53 percent) are most likely to agree. Churchgoers with evangelical beliefs (41 percent) are more likely to agree than those without evangelical beliefs (35 percent). African-American (51 percent) and Hispanic churchgoers (43 percent) are more likely to agree than white churchgoers (32 percent). Even if they don’t see a direct link between offerings and blessings, many churchgoers say God wants them to do well. Sixty-nine percent agree with the statement, “God wants me to prosper financially.” Twenty percent disagree. Ten percent are not sure. The more people go to church, the more likely they are to think God wants them to do well. Among those who attend at least once a week, 71 percent say God wants them to prosper financially. That drops to 56 percent for those who go to church once or twice a month. Churchgoers who have evangelical beliefs (75 percent) are more likely to agree God wants them to prosper than those without evangelical beliefs (63 percent). Pentecostal and Assemblies of God (80 percent), Baptist (74 percent), non-denominational (67 percent) and Methodist churchgoers (65 percent) are among the most likely to agree. Lutherans, however, are more skeptical. Just under half (49 percent) say God wants them to prosper financially. Blessings linked to action Some churchgoers draw a direct tie from their actions to God’s blessings. One in 4 (26 percent) agree with the statement: “To receive material blessings from God, I have to do something for God.” Seventy percent disagree. Five percent are not sure. Southerners (30 percent) are more likely to agree than those who live in the Midwest (20 percent) or West (19 percent). African-American (44 percent) and Hispanic (34 percent) churchgoers are more likely to agree than white churchgoers (17 percent) or those from other ethnic groups (16 percent). Pentecostal/Assemblies of God churchgoers (34 percent), Methodists (29 percent) and Baptists (28 percent) are more likely to say they have to do something for God to get a material reward than other denominations. Lutherans (12 percent) are less likely. A previous LifeWay Research study on American theological views found similar results. In that study, 1 in 4 Americans said they believe God will always reward true faith with material blessings. Americans who hold evangelical beliefs were most likely to agree with that statement. McConnell said evangelicals appear to be to the most eager to embrace a link between God’s financial blessings and their actions. “A number of high-profile evangelical leaders have condemned the prosperity gospel,” he said. “But more than a few people in the pews have embraced it.” 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. People 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) who attend 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 sub-groups. Evangelical beliefs are defined using the NAE/LifeWay Research Evangelical Beliefs Research Definition based on respondent beliefs. Respondents are asked their level of agreement with four separate statements using a four-point, forced-choice scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). Respondents are categorized as having evangelical beliefs if they strongly agree with all four statements: The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe. It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation. LifeWay Research is a Nashville-based, evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches. For more information on this study, visit LifeWayResearch.com or view the complete survey report PDF. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Smietana is senior writer for Facts & Trends at LifeWay Research in Nashville, TN. #AUGUST18

FENTON, MI – I often ask God, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” It seems as though some of us are constantly doing battle with life itself and at every turn there is a new challenge. I have pastored people over the years that resemble the cartoon character from the Charlie Brown series, Pig Pen, who are never without a cloud over their heads. Everywhere they go, trouble seems to follow. One man said about them, “If they didn’t have bad luck, they wouldn’t have any luck at all.” Yet there are others who seem to live in the lap of luxury without a care of concern in the world. “God, why can’t life be as easy as it seems for some people? I would really like a lot more blessings and a lot less blisterings.” Every one of us have asked the same questions and made the same observations in our lifetimes. Now, I don’t have an answer to all of difficulties and problems in life, but I do believe I have some insight into at least some of mine. My family and I are staying at Bambi Lake Conference and Retreat Center near Roscommon, Michigan for a few days affording us the opportunity to fish in its beautiful lake. We have caught several kinds of fish, but to my surprise, no catfish. That is what jogged my memory about a catfish, and the insight into problems they have provided. Most of us who were reared in the south, love catfish for obvious reasons (they are very tasty), but after reading this you might find a completely new appreciation for them. Several years ago, I came across some fascinating information about catfish that illustrates the “why” of many of the difficulties we experience in life. In the northeastern United States, codfish are a big commercial business. There is a market for eastern cod all over the United States, especially in sections farthest removed from the northeast coastline, but the public demand posed a problem to the shippers. At first they froze the cod, then shipped them elsewhere, but the freeze took away much of the flavor. So they experimented with shipping them alive in tanks of seawater, but that proved even worse. Not only was it more expensive to ship in this manner, the cod still lost its flavor and in addition became soft and mushy enroute. The texture of this tasty delicacy of the sea was seriously affected. Finally, some creative person solved the problem in a most innovative manner. The codfish were placed in the tank of water along with their natural enemy--the catfish. From the time the cod left the East Coast until it arrived at its westernmost destination, those ornery catfish chased the cod all over the tank. The most amazing thing happened. When the cod arrived at the market, they were as fresh as the day they were first caught. There was no loss of flavor nor was the texture affected. If anything, it was better than before. Each one of us is in a tank of our own particular and inescapable circumstances. Yes, it is painful and sometimes almost unbearable to be in this tank we call life. I don’t know about you, but from my perspective, my tank is full. But I have come to realize that God doesn’t see it that way. Because He loves us and wants us to be the best we can be, He has made sure that there are enough God-appointed "catfish" in our tanks to bring sufficient tension to keeps us alive, alert, fresh and growing. It's all part of God's project to shape our character so we will be more like Him. At times you may think you will be eaten alive by the predators in your tank, but just remember, God is using those slimy creatures in your midst to accomplish His will in your life. Be tank-full to have them there. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 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. #AUGUST18

FENTON, MI – The Arkansas mission team was ready to return south a little earlier than planned during July because local construction permits had not been issued allowing the demolition & remodeling of the building. Pastor Garth, of the Gathering Church Windsor, told me, “The motor of the bus could be heard idling in the church’s parking lot as Arkansas volunteers prepared to leave, loading luggage, and saying their goodbyes.” In the midst of the farewells, a telephone rang, and Cindy Gietz, the Gathering’s administrative assistant, put the phone to her ear. After Cindy ended the call she reported to the crowd, “The construction permits have been issued, we need to pick them up.” With cries of celebration the Arkansas volunteers exited the bus, changed into construction clothes, and picked up tools. Sledge hammers and crowbars moved through the air. The snap of boards and drywall popping was everywhere. Pastor Garth said, “The volunteers did more to help us in hours than we could have done in weeks.” Twenty-two members of Union Valley Baptist Church (UVBC) from Beebe, Arkansas came through Michigan on their way to the Gathering Church in Windsor, Canada. Pastor Tommy Miller, of UVBC Arkansas, and Pastor Garth Leno, of The Gathering Windsor, having arranged the July 2018 mission trip, were glad to see their months of planning turn into reality. UVBC Arkansas volunteers made the 13-hour, one-way road-trip because they have a heart for missions that is larger than their own church and their own local community. The UVBC church brochure declares their mission is, “to build strong Christian families through our love of the Lord Jesus Christ.” That mission was evident by their intergenerational mission team. Volunteers worked equally hard whether they were senior citizens or teenagers. The days of partnership between the Gathering and Union Valley were filled with prayer, outreach, remodeling, and demolition. When mission trips do not go as planned fresh prayers provide divine direction. When mission teams and local church members invade the local community with love in interesting ways, new relationships are started where the Gospel can be expressed. The blisters and Band-Aids from hours of construction and demolition are like merit badges from the mission trip. Later conversations, after mission teams return home, increase interest in serving the Lord in others who missed the recent trip. Well-coordinated mission trips are intense lessons in becoming devoted disciples of Christ. Pastors and church leaders are missing great opportunities of learning, if they are not taking their members on mission trips outside of their local communities. Serving God in routine ways can give a person a sense of complacency. Serving God on a mission trip is more like riding a new roller coaster where every turn and drop makes a person scream. Having led many volunteers while I was an international missionary overseas, and now observing effective mission teams serving in Michigan and Canada I can list some great benefits to mission trips. Five Benefits from Going on Mission Trips Volunteers . . . Witness God’s actions in other places and in the lives of other people Gain a God-sized Kingdom vision rather than a mere local church concern Return home with a desire to do bolder things for the Lord Learn to abandon daily routines allowing God to do the unexpected Infect other people with a stronger passion for mission trips More Opportunities for Mission Trips? You might be asking, “Will there be more opportunities for mission trips?” The answer is a clear and loud, “YES!” All of the church plants in Michigan and in nearby Canada are at different stages of growth. Different phases mean that mission teams can partner with church plants in different ways. If you desire more information about the possibility of taking your church on a mission trip, contact one of the following two people concerning the following two areas: Pastor Wayne Parker, Send City Missionary of Detroit at wparker@namb.net Dr. Tony Lynn, State Director of Missions for Michigan at tlynn@namb.net or tony@bscm.org After an initial conversation, we can put you in contact with the pastor of a recent church plant. We look forward to hearing from you. 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. #AUGUST18

FENTON, MI – Imagine getting on an airplane for vacation. The getaway you’ve been planning is finally here. You anxiously anticipate the time you will spend at your destination, but first, you have to get there. The plane is boarded. The doors are tightly shut and the fight crew is making final preparations for take off. As the fight attendant walks down the aisle, he smiles and reminds you to fasten your seat belt. You cautiously try to get both parts of the belt buckled without touching the passengers beside you. It’s a real challenge! Your seat is small - too small. You realize that is not just the seat. Everything is small - the space above your head, the leg room, the luggage compartment, the aisle - small, small, small. You don’t even want to think about needing the bathroom! It redefines small. You scan the plane, and it looks like all 200 seats are taken. If you fly much, you know how real this scene is. As you think about the plane, realize that the Sunday morning crowd in 85% of all Southern Baptist Churches could fit in this plane! Let me put it another way: The entire worshipping congregation in 42,500 of the 50,000 churches in the SBC could each fit on a 200 passenger capacity plane. Yes, we have some megachurches - churches that have an average attendance of 2,000 people or more. All the senior pastors of all these SBC churches could fit on the plane and it would only be 3/4 full. Big doesn’t mean healthy; neither does small. Healthy is healthy, and Michigan Baptists are working together to have healthy churches. (I’ll come back to this in a moment). We are a convention of mostly smaller membership churches, and yet, the impact of our ministry is felt from our neighborhoods to the nations. I have been reminded over and over again that it is not the size of our churches, but the strength of our partnership in Christ that God uses to impact this world. We are a Convention of autonomous churches - churches of all sizes, ethnicities, and economic realities - that voluntarily partner together under the Lordship of Christ to send missionaries, train ministers, speak Biblical truth, minister to the hurting, and share Christ across our homeland and around the world. The impact of our partnership was vividly demonstrated on a national level at the Southern Baptist Convention in June. Pastor Frank Pomeroy and his wife Sherri took the stage during the Send Luncheon. Tears filled my eyes as they shared the horrific events that happened November 5, 2017. As the FBC Sutherland Springs church family gathered for worship, a gunman ruthlessly started shooting into the church from outside the walls. It was the start of a rampage that left 26 people dead. The Pomeroy’s 14 year old daughter, Annabelle, was killed that tragic day. Pastor Frank’s faith in Christ touched our hearts as he shared, "Though there was pain, evil didn't win.” “... I would hope that when people think of Sutherland Springs, they think of Christ. And if everything that happened and everything we do thereafter gets people to focus on Christ, then that's what it's all about. Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board, said to Pomeroy, "I've had the privilege of watching you lead in a crisis that no other pastor in this room or North America has ever led through. You have been an incredible model of leading a church while at the same time walking through crisis personally” (Baptist Press, June 12th, 2018). You may be interested to know that our SBC family, through the leadership of Kevin Ezell, paid for the 26 funerals of the Sutherland Springs tragedy. NAMB is also leading an effort to build a brand new church building for our brothers and sisters at FBC. It’s an incredible picture of what it means to be part of the family of God, and what can happen as we work together. This is only one picture, a beautiful picture, of what is happening because churches just like the one you attend partner to advance God’s kingdom. I want to thank you for your partnership with the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, especially as we approach the Frances Brown Offering for State Missions. One of the ways we use this offering is to Strengthen Churches. A major focus of our Convention is Church Revitalization. In a recent blog post, LifeWay President Thom Rainer, wrote that in North America there are “...300,000 or 85%, of all churches needing some level of revitalization, from modest to radical revitalization” (July 9, 2018). That number is staggering! It means we have unhealthy churches and a lot of them. It caught my attention. Some level of revitalization is necessary in 85% of churches: That’s big churches, small churches, and every church in-between. The good news is that revitalization is possible. We have invited Richard Blackaby and Mark Clifton to lead us in our first Church Revitalization Conference. They will focus on the subject, “Revive, Reversing the trends, Reviving the Church.” The Conference will be held, September 22 at Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton from 9:00 to 3:30. This is an event for the whole church. Go to BSCM.org/flyers for more information. 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. #AUGUST18

ROSCOMMON, MI – Back in the early 90’s when I was an Intern on staff with a church in Florida (my birthplace), I met regularly with Associate Pastors who would speak into my life and mentor me. During this time, I also became engaged to my forever sweetheart (now 23 years married). In one of our weekly meetings a pastor friend shared with me this statement, “What’s more important, your rights or the relationship?” Wow, what a thought,especially as I was about to be a husband. That one statement has replayed itself in my mind continuously over my years of marriage and ministry, a constant guide and reminder that people are more important than my personal, selfish agenda. So, the answer is yes, one person can make a difference. It’s easy to believe you are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, please understand you were created by God for a specific purpose and impact in this life and this world, and God does not scheme. God is not playing games with us. This is real life with eternity in the balance. God has placed you right where you are to impact those around you with the love and life of Christ. Nevertheless, in case you still doubt your significance and the impact you can have on the world, let me give you a few of my favorite examples: Moses had a speech impediment yet led a nation to freedom. Gideon led an army of 300 to defeat an army of thousands. David was a sheepherder who defeated a giant. Mary was a young virgin who believed by faith she was to give birth to Jesus, the son of God. Saul was known to kill Christians yet called by God to be Paul and be a missionary for Him. George Washington would lead a country to freedom over tyranny. Winston Churchill lead Great Britain to victory during World War II. Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft. Steve Jobs single handedly transformed the music industry. Rosa Parks campaigned and fought against segregation and racism. Neil Armstrong was the first man to ever walk on the moon. Obviously, this list is just some of my favorites and it could go on and on. History is packed full of people who impacted their community and the world. God uses folks of all shapes and sizes to achieve His purposes. Your shape and your size are included in His plans. (To download this video for playing in your church service or small group setting, click here.) This year our Frances Brown State Mission Offering is focusing on “the Power of One Multiplied.” That’s one person (you) impacting one other person who impacts another person and so on and so on. When you set your mind on accomplishing His mission and allow His life to live through you, you personify, “the Power of One Multiplied.” May we not be content with living our lives just for our own glory and satisfaction - let’s live every day with a Kingdom mindset, on a Kingdom mission for Kingdom glory! For more information and resources to promote the State Mission Offering in your church, go to www.bscm.org/smo. 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. #AUGUST18

ROSCOMMON, MI – Back in the early 90’s when I was an Intern on staff with a church in Florida (my birthplace), I met regularly with Associate Pastors who would speak into my life and mentor me. During this time, I also became engaged to my forever sweetheart (now 23 years married). In one of our weekly meetings a pastor friend shared with me this statement, “What’s more important, your rights or the relationship?” Wow, what a thought,especially as I was about to be a husband. That one statement has replayed itself in my mind continuously over my years of marriage and ministry, a constant guide and reminder that people are more important than my personal, selfish agenda. So, the answer is yes, one person can make a difference. It’s easy to believe you are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, please understand you were created by God for a specific purpose and impact in this life and this world, and God does not scheme. God is not playing games with us. This is real life with eternity in the balance. God has placed you right where you are to impact those around you with the love and life of Christ. Nevertheless, in case you still doubt your significance and the impact you can have on the world, let me give you a few of my favorite examples: Moses had a speech impediment yet led a nation to freedom. Gideon led an army of 300 to defeat an army of thousands. David was a sheepherder who defeated a giant. Mary was a young virgin who believed by faith she was to give birth to Jesus, the son of God. Saul was known to kill Christians yet called by God to be Paul and be a missionary for Him. George Washington would lead a country to freedom over tyranny. Winston Churchill lead Great Britain to victory during World War II. Bill Gates is the founder of Microsoft. Steve Jobs single handedly transformed the music industry. Rosa Parks campaigned and fought against segregation and racism. Neil Armstrong was the first man to ever walk on the moon. Obviously, this list is just some of my favorites and it could go on and on. History is packed full of people who impacted their community and the world. God uses folks of all shapes and sizes to achieve His purposes. Your shape and your size are included in His plans. (To download this video for playing in your church service or small group setting, click here.) This year our Frances Brown State Mission Offering is focusing on “the Power of One Multiplied.” That’s one person (you) impacting one other person who impacts another person and so on and so on. When you set your mind on accomplishing His mission and allow His life to live through you, you personify, “the Power of One Multiplied.” May we not be content with living our lives just for our own glory and satisfaction - let’s live every day with a Kingdom mindset, on a Kingdom mission for Kingdom glory! For more information and resources to promote the State Mission Offering in your church, go to www.bscm.org/smo. 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. #AUGUST18

In the country that birthed voodoo, Beninese Baptists are working collectively to pray for and support the spread of the gospel. It’s a story IMB missionary Barbara Singerman can’t share without tearing up. “They are investing in missions,” she said. “They are expressing a love and appreciation and oneness —participation in the work. We are completely overwhelmed.” She and her husband, Jeff, lived in the West African country of Benin for 24 years. When they moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), they continued to encourage Beninese Baptists to actively own the Great Commission. Then tragedy struck: A week after a visit to Benin in March 2018, the Singermans both endured severe injuries from a horrendous car accident in the DRC. They had no idea God was using this awful experience to mobilize their Beninese brothers and sisters. ‘Giving to God’ Friends from Benin presented an astounding love offering to Jeff and Barbara, who wept. Widows gave out of their lack to help their “Beninese brother and sister” who were suffering. Others were upset they hadn’t been able to contribute right away. “They’re not giving it to us. They’re giving it to God,” Barbara said. This is the first time she and Jeff have seen this group of Christians unite in prayer and sacrificial giving toward taking the gospel to the nations. Church leaders across the country are calling on their congregations to pray. People have told the Singermans they will pray until they are healed. “We’re excited to see what happens,” Barbara said. Please join the Beninese Baptists in praying for Jeff and Barbara Singerman’s physical healing. Ask God to continue to use this horrible accident to spur Beninese Christians to own the Great Commission. Pray Beninese Baptists will boldly share the gospel with their countrymen and the nations. Your gifts through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® support Southern Baptists such as the Singermans who are taking the gospel to people in Africa — and who help national believers lead out in that effort. Thank you for giving. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union. #JULY18

"FREE MONEY! FREE MONEY! FREE MONEY!" That always gets people's attention! The North American Mission Board has an agreement with Home Depot that when Southern Baptist Disaster Relief purchases material at Home Depot and uses the NAMB Pro XTRA number, they will receive a rebate at the end of the year. Last year NAMB received almost $400,000. The Baptist State Convention of Michigan has a Pro XTRA number and a tax-exempt number so that BSCM can receive a Home Depot REBATE also! If you are purchasing material for your church or association, please use the Pro number 8107141955 and the BSCM tax-exempt number 38-156-1623. When you are asked for the job name, use your church or association name. In 2019 we will post the total refund BSCM received. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Kiger serves as the Michigan Disaster Relief Director for the BSCM. He has been involved in Disaster Relief since 2008. Bob brings a wealth of diverse experience to the State Director’s position. His first major call out was in 2012 when he went to New York to help prepare meals for displaced residents after Hurricane Sandy. He was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ when he was twelve years old and has been a Baptist all his life. #JULY18

FENTON, MI – When we think of our American heritage and especially the early days of our nation, most of us have idyllic conceptions that our country was a deeply spiritual place. We still envision our pre-Revolutionary War community as a very religious and Godly people that reflected the heart and attitude of the first Christian pilgrims that settled on the Eastern coasts of North America. But the fact of the matter is pre-revolutionary America had moved far away from God, and in fact, persecution and demeaning of Christians and the local churches was prevalent. In the early 1700’s the standards of morality were at their lowest and alcoholism was epidemic. Life was hard and dirty in more ways than one. Lawlessness prevailed and a general atmosphere of decadence spread throughout most of the population. It was in the midst of this melee and mess that God did a deep and reviving work not only in the general population, but also in the Christian community. God used the preaching of men like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield to bring an entire nation back to God. It was estimated that 50,000 people, out of the colonies’, sparse population of 340,000 were added to the New England churches. Churches that had been lifeless and in danger of dying out altogether, received new life and vitality. The Awakening, as it has been called, had a lasting impact on the new nation that would soon be birthed. It had a significant influence on the development of American ideals of religious and political liberty. Many of the freedoms that we enjoy today were birthed in that extraordinary decade when the glory of God touched down on our infant nation. Today our nation seems to reflect and magnify the same decadent atmosphere prevalent in the days before our nation’s birth. Mainstream denominational churches are now condoning that which is specifically condemned in the Bible as sin. Who would have ever thought the great denominations that helped found this nation and themselves were founded on the Word of God would now ordain homosexuals and place them in positions of great power and authority? This is not the place for me to debate the sinfulness of homosexuality. In fact, there is no debate needed, if one believes the Bible. God’s Word is very clear in its condemnation of this destructive and damning sin. Today there are so many more of us, and the depth of depravity and sin is so severe, is it possible for God to do again what He did for our fledgling nation? Can a people who seem to be caught in the vortex of decay ever be rescued? Is there any hope for America or are we doomed to die a slow and agonizing death? The answer is yes! There is hope and our nation can be saved from self-destruction, but it can only happen when God does what He did for our forefathers. A great spiritual awakening is the only answer, and now is the time. If anyone is to blame for the moral decay of our nation it is the Christian Community. Far too long, we have been cloistered in our nice and comfortable monasteries that we call churches. Far too long, we have sat silently as opportunity after opportunity to share the Gospel passes us by. As Christians we must stand up for what is right. Speak out for Biblical truth, and kneel down before God and ask for Him to change our complacent and wicked hearts. If we will do this God will do it again. II Chronicles 7:14 – If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 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. #JULY18

DALLAS, TX – Get ready. Stop and write this message on your personal calendar for October 1, 2018: “10 AM (EST) - Register for a Birmingham, Alabama hotel on October 1, 2018.” Do what I am asking or be homeless in Birmingham. As that date approaches there will be more details at www.sbc.net. You will thank me, this time next year, for reminding you about this one-of-a-kind world event. Book Stacks Taller Than an Eight-Year Old I’m inviting you to a 2-day business meeting on June 11-12, 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama which is unlike any other meeting you have ever experienced! Crazy uncles. A carnival-like atmosphere. Free book giveaways that will stack-up higher than an eight-year old. Preaching that will melt your heart. Singing that will make your soul rise. Representatives from some of the 47,000 churches that makeup the Southern Baptist Convention will gather to hear reports and vote on recommendations, a budget, resolutions, and elections. Eating an Elephant One Bite at a Time Come experience how our network of autonomous, self-governing convention of 47,000 churches cooperate together to accomplish God’s will through 13 organizations. The national network of churches is so large that it is a miracle that we can accomplish so much in just two days of business. It is like eating an elephant one bite at a time. Monumental but doable. (Not that I have a craving for eating elephant meat.) You learn about and could one day serve on one of the following organizations. Executive Committee International Mission Board North American Mission Board Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Gateway Baptist Theological Seminary Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Women’s Missionary Union (an auxiliary) GuideStone Financial Resources LifeWay Christian Resources Become a TV Sensation If you decide you want to ask a question of one of the heads of an agency, approach a microphone. One of the many cameras in the auditorium will find you. In a split second, your face will fill the screens in the auditorium and be streamed live, worldwide on the Internet. First impressions matter, so be careful of what you say on screen and how you say it. Still, never fear. Your question, your vote, and your presence are equal to anyone else in the building. However, remember before you show-up, next year, in Birmingham, Alabama, have your church pre-register you as a messenger from your church. They always want you to identify yourself by name and church membership before you speak at the convention. Your annual church profile (ACP) needs to be completed this fall too if you’re going to represent your church home. Remind your church clerk or secretary to file the ACP this fall and pre-register you next spring. Offered Instructions to J.D. Greear If you come next year, what happened to me might happen to you. For example, I could tell you that I offered Dr. JD Greear, pastor of Summit Church, vital instruction mere hours before his election to president of the national Southern Baptist Convention. It would be true . . . sort of? Let me explain. You see the day after JD preached the closing sermon at the 2-day pastor’s conference which comes before the annual business meeting, JD and I had a chance encounter outside a set of elevators. I told JD how encouraged I was by his message. He in turn engaged actively in our conversation. During our brief conversation, JD entered my elevator which was going the opposite direction he and his friends were intending to go. I repeated what his friends were saying, “JD this elevator is going down, you need to go up.” After my explanation and instruction, JD said to me, “Thanks. Have a good day.” So, I did offer JD Greear instructions mere hours before his election to the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention. Though, my instructions were not as important as you might have thought. Ha! But Seriously folks Seriously though, you will have sanctified celebrity encounters all day long and every day you are at the annual convention. On Wednesday, I leaned back in my chair and thanked a former president of the SBC for mentoring one of our new church planters in Ann Arbor. On Thursday, I greeted another president of one of our agencies at the airport while he was buying caramel popcorn with his wife. You will discover that those who we think are unapproachable are actually loving, humble, pastoral people serving you and serving the Lord in their roles of leadership. You could very well be one yourself some day. Please, start saving now. Ask your church to help you go to the convention. Arrange your housing and travel itinerary. Pre-register as a messenger from your church. Next year will come sooner than you think. I hope to see you next year at the annual Southern Baptist Convention on June 11-12, 2019 and at all the other events that come before and around those incredible days. See you in Birmingham! 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. #JULY18

FENTON, MI – The hawk resting on his arm caught my attention. We were on vacation. Think white sand beaches, palm trees, light blue ocean and the love of my life. He walked around the resort, pausing for people to get their picture taken with this hawk. I was intrigued when he let the bird go free for a moment. It flew and perched on a nearby tree. My mind immediately wondered why this magnificent animal didn’t take advantage of his freedom to soar to the heavens. After a few moments, the hawk returned to the outreached, leather padded arm of its trainer. Then it happened! It was so quick that the trainer couldn’t respond fast enough. The hawk pushed off his arm, flapped his wings to climb a few feet, and then, like a dive bomber descended to the ground. The trainer took off after him and a small crowd quickly gathered to see what was happening and to take pictures. I decided to move closer to see the action as well. The trainer had the hawk on its back, holding him down with his arm stretched across the bird’s chest. With his free hand, the trainer was trying to pry something from the vice-like grip of the hawk’s talons. The hawk was clutching an eight or so inch, light green lizard. The trainer worked meticulously to free the lizard, trying all the time not to crush or hurt either animal. As the crowd dwindled, I was able to get closer to the action. The hawk, this magnificent hunter of the sky, was clutching onto a child’s toy lizard! It wasn’t real. I imagine that lizards taste good to hawks. That’s why he held on to it with such great tenacity, but the toy was an illusion, an imposter of the real thing. Had the hawk been allowed to keep what he desperately clung to, he would have been sorely disappointed with the first bite. As I walked away from what appeared to be an epic battle for the hawk, I wondered if I was clinging to anything in life that promises much and delivers nothing. Illusions are everywhere, and are as old as humanity. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6 ASV). We know the end of Adam and Eve’s story and yet, it’s played out in life all around us. It’s hard to describe what it looked like for the trainer to hold the bird down while he tried to free the toy. The hawk was his livelihood - he obviously did not want to crush or injure it. It may have been a cherished pet. He also did not want the bird to instinctively clamp down on his hand or fingers with his powerful talons. As he bent over the obviously distressed hawk, he also had to stay far enough away that the bird could not peck his face. He calmly, patiently released the toy lizard. And when he did, the hawk was free again. Truth does that! “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” - Jesus. 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. #JULY18