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2017 A Look Back FENTON, MI – Michigan Disaster Relief (DR) responded to two major events in 2017 - one in Michigan and the other in Texas. In July and August, Michigan DR assisted Midland residents with help cleaning out their homes after the most devastating flooding event in that city's history. The DR teams worked tirelessly helping the flood victims get back into their homes and see life return to normal, all in Jesus name. In September, after one of the most destructive hurricanes of all times devastated the greater Houston, Texas area (Hurricane Harvey), two Michigan DR volunteers, Bob Kiger and Fritz Kinsey, were asked to establish a Send Relief site in Galveston. Once the site was operational, they continued managing the site for two months while several other Michigan DR volunteers heeded the call, traveling to Texas so they could respond by preparing food and cleaning out homes. The Texas devastation will continue to need help to recover for months and years to come. We are thankful, as Michigan Baptists, serving through Disaster Relief to help the people of Texas in their time of need. We are the hands and feet of Jesus before those in need. 2018 A Look Ahead Michigan Disaster Relief will continue in 2018 to facilitate the integration of Disaster Relief services and Send Relief. The next generation of Michigan volunteers will be prepared by building on the successful training completed in 2017. If you and your church are not participants of this amazing hands-on ministry, it’s not too late. We will have training opportunities throughout the year and the needs are always there. Come join us in representing the Lord with our hard work and love for others. For more information about Michigan Baptist Disaster Relief, visit bscm.org/disaster-relief. 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. #FEBRUARY18

JACKSON, MI – I like being a servant of the Lord. Being a Chaplain, serving through the Michigan Disaster Relief (DR), just adds to the glory that I get to give back to God. Most often we are working with desperate people that have lost their homes and everything in it. It is moving when you go to their door and tell them you’ve come as a volunteer to help; to be God’s hands and feet. As a DR Chaplain, my main task is to spend time with the homeowner. I work to build trust and encouragement. I help them go through precious items that have been ruined by flood waters, tornados or other natural disasters. Item by item we go through pictures and Christmas boxes, especially Christmas decorations, as they lead to open doors for sharing the Gospel of Christ. Over the course of the day, I pray with homeowners about the unimaginable difficulty they are enduring. As the owner watches the DR team clearing the house, the tears flow down their already tear stained faces. It is my joy to take their troubles to God and seek wisdom and strength these people. We leave the homeowner, who has been devastated physically and emotionally, with a cleared-out home and a copy of Eternal Hope, God’s Word. A hard day’s work makes for eternal differences in many of their lives. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeannie Dolson, Disaster Relief volunteer since 2005. She lives in Jackson, MI and attends Grace Baptist Church. #FEBRUARY18

How Short-Term Mission Trips Can Make Our Churches Healthier SOUTHGATE, MI – As Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) churches across our great state seek to be healthier, the short-term mission trip can be one way to make that happen. There’s nothing quite like teams from our churches taking the Gospel to another place. There’s something very Biblical about it. There’s something very transforming about it. There’s something very healthy about it. Our church, Calvary Baptist of Southgate, has taken five short-term mission trips in the last seven years and the positive impact on the church has been very evident. We’ve been to Honduras, New York City, the Philippines, Los Angeles, and Peru. Those on the mission teams have experienced tremendous blessing from serving Jesus beyond the walls of the church and beyond the borders of their communities. And, the church family has been blessed by praying, supporting, and sending the teams. What are some healthy outcomes of sending mission teams from our churches to other parts of the country or other parts of the world? Here are just a few: 1. Short term mission trips can produce the satisfaction of fulfilling the Great Commission Healthy New Testament churches are to be “going into all the world to preach the Gospel” and the short-term mission trips are one way our churches can be obedient to this Commission. In the Gospel accounts, Jesus sent His disciples on short trips to other parts of Samaria and Galilee to share the good news of His kingdom (Luke 10:1-2). And, in the early church, Paul and Barnabas were led by the Holy Spirit to go on the first of three mission trips into Asia Minor and beyond (Acts 13:1-3). So, “sending” churches are being collectively obedient to the Lord of the harvest and are, therefore, healthier because of doing so. I recall when our church was “on mission” in Honduras, Central America, some years back and we made a conference call back to the church in Michigan. As we utilized technology to speak with the congregation over the church’s PA system during a morning church service, one of the closing comments to our team from a Deacon of the church was, “Thanks for representing all of us there in Honduras. It’s like we are there with you!” That statement was evidence that our whole congregation was healthier as they experienced the mutual joy of fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission into the “uttermost”. 2. Short term mission trips can produce longer term missionaries from within our churches Studies have shown that many of those that go on short-term mission trips will go on to consider being full-time career missionaries. In fact, most mission agencies, including the International Mission Board (IMB) encourage potential missionary candidates to go on a short-term mission trip before making their final decision about missionary service. This can be the way Jesus confirms to people that He wants them on a mission field for the rest of their lives. Could the apostle Paul have caught the vision for more missionary journeys after his first one? What if he would not have gone on the second and third journeys? There may have not been any Macedonian call and, thus, no Gospel witness to the continent of Europe and, thus further, no Gospel eventually going from England to America. Mere conjecture, indeed, but something to think about. Jesus could have used that first missionary journey to motivate Paul to keep going, and to keep making trips further out into the world. This phenomenon of short-term mission trips being “sparks” that light a “fire” in someone destined to be a career missionary is very real. And, while we may not want to lose the brightest and best from our churches to a distant mission field, we must admit that this very thing can make our churches healthier. It engenders a sense of deep joy that young people, as well as older people, in our churches who are spiritually healthy enough to receive the call of Jesus to the mission field. That means our churches are healthy, because it is a place where people come to know Jesus as Savior, grow in faith in Him, and are open to hearing His call to the mission field. And, as more and more people are called to missions, it continues to produce a healthy environment in our churches. This type of multiplication seems to have happened in the early church (Acts 9:31). May the churches in our state convention multiply in this way. And, for sure, mission trips can help facilitate that very multiplication. 3. ​Short term mission trips can produce more giving in our churches and to the Cooperative Program No discussion about the health of our churches can omit the mention of money. And, while “the love of money is the root of all evil”, the love of using money for missions is anything but evil. When our churches partner together to send a team of their own people on a short-term mission trip, it reveals the value of the money they are giving. They see the passion of the team. They see the adventure of the mission. They see the resulting souls saved, saints edified, and mission projects accomplished. It can give our churches a renewed desire to be faithful in the giving of their tithes and offerings to their own local church, as well as revive their loyalty to the Cooperative Program. So, these are just a few ways that short-term mission trips can increase the health in our churches. Feel free to come up with others. Let’s be bold to declare these things in our churches! Let’s be ready to go on a mission trip. Let’s challenge our people to get a passport, pray over it, asking Jesus to lead them on a mission trip beyond Jerusalem and Judea to Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Dan Russell is the Executive Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Southgate, Michigan, a NAMB Coach for church planters, and an adjunct professor for Spring Arbor University. He has 37 years of pastoral experience, including lead pastorates in Missouri, Kansas, and Michigan. Dan and his wife, JoLinda, live in Brownstown, Michigan, and have three adult children, along with seven grandchildren. #FEBRUARY18

'The Power of One' FENTON, MI – I am blessed to work with a team of women dedicated to serving Jesus and the women of Michigan. I am thankful to God for these women and their support and commitment to building our team Jesus-style, and their focus on the needs of the women in our churches and across our state. The development, equipping, and commissioning of the Women’s Ministry Team continues to be an exciting process. The advancement of the ministry will continue to reflect what we believe to be the vision and direction of God. Our objective is to build relationships and networks to assist in resourcing and supporting women leaders in ministry at churches of like-minded faith throughout our convention and state. The importance of developing and equipping new women leaders and the next generation will not be overlooked. Not on our watch! We will not permit a generation to lose the knowledge and understanding of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Reaching women in communities that need to know of the hope found only in Jesus is a commitment we intend to keep. Jesus is the builder of the team and a leader is only as good as her dependence on the Lord. 'The Power of One' = Jesus! Administration The resources to help you raise awareness for the special mission’s offering and weeks of prayer will be provided by the women’s ministry team. Offering envelopes, prayer guides, and posters are free to our churches for each of the offerings, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (March 4-11), Frances Brown State Missions Offering (September 9-16) and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (December 2-9). To order, simply email wmu@bscm.org. 'The Power of One' = Prayer Supporter, Offering Contributor, Missionary Special Events Are you ready for some girlfriend time? Are you ready for some “just you and God time”? When is the last time you sat before God without a To-Do list hanging over you, a pile of laundry you need to fold or transfer from washer to dryer, or family members pressing in on all sides? If you can’t remember, you need to attend a retreat, an intentional time away from it all so your soul can focus on being fed by the Lord. “To retreat” means to leave our normal routines and go to a place of safety, quiet, and seclusion. By going to a retreat, we physically remove ourselves from life’s distractions, the call of chores, and the demands of people in order to make space for God. If you think you’re less spiritual because you struggle to hear from God in the distractions of your daily life, be encouraged. Even Jesus recognized the value and need to get away, regularly stepping away from the crowds, sometimes even His disciples. In 2018, women’s ministry will offer several opportunities “to retreat”. Three day weekends at Bambi Lake, overnighters or one day conferences close to home, and three-hour evening sessions. All retreats will focus on bringing you closer to God and building ministry partnerships. Continue to check for retreat and conference information on our page at: BSCM.org, Strengthening, Women’s Ministry/WMU Missions. 'The Power of One' = Conference Leader, Renewed Retreater, New Believer Care Support Life is hard. We all need encouragement and support. Life isn't meant to be lived alone. As women in ministry we can come to a point of exhaustion quickly, if we are not careful. Care Support offers all women in leadership an opportunity to deepen their understanding of how much Jesus loves them. We provide safe and secure settings with other leaders who are available and willing to coach and mentor. We want to love on our leaders the way Jesus would. We know that pastor’s wives and church planters (wives) carry a heavy load of responsibility as they care for their families, their husbands, and people in the church. We provide care groups to remind them that they are appreciated and loved. Care Support offers opportunities for new leaders and encourages younger women with a desire to get started in their ministry roles with a safe place to ask questions. Our desire is to make sure they have the resources and training needed to be our successful leaders of the future. 'The Power of One' = Coach, Mentee, New Leader, Pastor’s Wife Social Concerns The purpose of the Social Concerns group is to bring together leaders working in ministries so they can share their successes, concerns, and difficulties, network together and assist one another to better serve our churches and those in our communities. We serve to share information, communication, and network with many of our churches who are already doing social concerns ministries. This allows pastors, and leaders, the opportunity to gather with the many social concerns ministries, to encourage them, support them, and help them to better serve those in need. Social concerns ministries that are now in place include: Multi-Cultural Relationship Building, fighting against Human Trafficking, Abortion Care, Addiction Care, Adoption Care, and Grief/Crisis Care. 'The Power of One' = Rescued Victim, Healing Addict, Adoptive Parent, Valued Person Pathways You know God has called you to ministry, but where do you start? Looking for more resources to take your missions ministries to the next level? Pathways will provide, or can direct, you to foundational, advanced, and expert-level training within specific ministry areas. Whether you're looking to train volunteers, teachers, or missions leaders, we can direct you to resources to equip all individuals within your church. There are limitless ways to serve on mission. All you know right now is God has called you! Come, let’s discover all the various and exciting opportunities awaiting you. If God has called you to it, there are resources out there and we will help you find them! 'The Power of One' = Bible Study Leader, Discipleship Shepherd, Evangelist, Missionary Missions / Women’s Missionary Union This year, Michigan WMU (Women’s Missionary Union) celebrates 60 years of serving in our state convention. How inspiring and encouraging to know that we continue a legacy of many who had a heart of passion and excitement to serve God. The women of WMU have always been there with prayer support and encouragement. Bringing together tools and resources that help churches realize the importance of the necessity of mission education, continues to be our focus. Awakening leaders by sharing insight into the social issues and what is happening around them, provides information to start much needed ministries in their communities. Opening doors to the world of mission whether the focus is local, national, or international, and creating a passion and a desire to be on mission and to go, wherever He leads. With knowledge, comes power. 'The Power of One' = a Church with a Missions Mindset (Preschooler, Child, Student and Adult) Don’t ever underestimate 'The Power of One'! Take your place in God’s plan, be the ONE! Seriously, as you read this article, I know God has been speaking to you and this hasn’t been the first time He has tried to get your attention. What is He asking you to do? Where is He asking you to serve? Everyone who is saved by the power of His grace has ‘The Power of One”. You also have the choice to use that power. How will you use that power for His Glory? 'The Power of One' = YOU ! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett is the Women’s Ministry & WMU Consultant for the BSCM as well as the Executive Director for WMU of Michigan. She attends Lakepointe Church in Macomb, MI. #FEBRUARY18

FENTON, MI – When disaster strikes, “gold shirts” move. Some wear blue caps and others wear white caps as a distinction. Sometimes they stage themselves in advance of the catastrophe and danger. At other times, these generous heroes are instructed to stand down and arrive in waves, relieving one team after another, because the recovery in the hard hit region is going to take months. Regardless of the requests or directions, team members assist strangers because their faith in Christ drives their response to those in crisis. The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been around for fifty years. Throughout the nation over 80,000 trained volunteers respond when troubles come. One member’s pick-up is laden with relief tools because of his burden to be ready at a moment’s notice. A chainsaw swims in the bed of the pick-up while he drives. Unopened water bottles are wrapped in plastic and covered from dust from a previous relief effort. Volunteers always hydrate on the job. Rubber boots and leather boots, stained and scarred with evidence of previous missions, tell stories of long days, sore muscles and hearts of gold. In particular, Michigan Southern Baptists have a tested and performance-proven Disaster Relief (DR) team. They provide hot meals, clean water, childcare, laundry, and structure repairs. Many of them know how to safely cut 4-foot thick trees with chain saws. Others know how to remove the mud, filth, and water from a family’s basement while comforting the grieving family members. Married couples, sons and fathers, and teams from various churches form the brotherhood known as Michigan Disaster Relief. They are an elite group who find the balance between practical, rapid assistance and emotional, spiritual care. They work hard and show their compassion for others in the tears that stream over their soiled and exhausted faces. Michigan residents have benefited repeatedly from this army of volunteers. Tornadoes Years ago when a tornado followed highway M-50 across two counties in southeastern Michigan, trees were uprooted and thrown on top of homes and cars. House exteriors were ripped off and scattered miles away like debris from a tossed trash can. Finally, after the tornado had passed, residents exited the safe haven of their basements only to learn that their roof had vanished, or some other disaster has befallen them. Within hours, volunteers from Michigan, established their base of operations at Dundee Baptist Church. They spent weeks assisting those in need. Sawing, praying, feeding, counseling, their work was never-ending. They reminded residents that even in the aftermath of chaos that God is there to calm their fears. Floods One week in recent years, a storm dropped so much water in Warren that the infrastructure could not move or absorb the rain fast enough. Basements of homes were flooded. Bedrooms were destroyed. Within days, personal belongings were covered with mildew and stench. Mold grew from the floor toward the ceiling in mere days. The catastrophe was unmatched. Volunteers slept in the gymnasium of Warren Woods Baptist Church. Daily, they carried brown-bags lunches to their work sites scattered throughout the city. They walked many miles up and down slimy staircases carrying water-soaked, heavy belongings out of the basements to the yard where the resident would decide whether to save or discard the personal possession laying in front of them. Frazzled and exhausted, the resident would look to the Disaster Relief Chaplain for encouragement and wisdom to make the best decision. On occasion the chaplain responds with, “We have safe chemicals that we can use to wash that down. We can save it.” At other moments, the Chaplain will say, “Mold is likely growing inside that. It will cause you respiratory problems if you keep it.” Regardless of the option, the DR volunteer reminded residents that God had not forgotten them in their times of trouble. Poisoned Water More recently, lead in Flint’s water made international news. Fortunately, Michigan’s Disaster Relief team was there throughout the crisis. Team leaders coordinated the call-out for volunteers as well as the delivery and distribution of water during the coldest months of winter. Some volunteers distributed water from icy parking lots where residents would gather while others installed water filters inside homes. Westside Baptist Church and Mount Carmel Baptist Church, in Flint, partnered with DR providing places for volunteers to sleep, eat, and recover after long, cold days of service. Michigan Disaster Relief members are eager to serve. The next time disaster strikes remember that someone from their fraternity is rapidly responding. When their phone or a text message calls them into action. The mail is stopped. The pets are entrusted to family members. Their homes are secured. They grab their go-bags and their suitcases are filled. The vehicle is fueled and they are ready to work. If you want to know more about how to support or join the Michigan Disaster Relief Team you can find the information you need at bscm.org/disaster-relief. 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. #FEBRUARY18

FENTON, MI – I don't know about you folks but I am a connoisseur of certain types of food. There are very few kinds of foods that I don't like and from a quick glance at my physical condition it is obvious that I don't pass up any of them. But there is one food in particular that I am an expert in determining its quality and worth, and that is gravy. Gravy, the sauce of saints. The heavenly concoction that can make the poorest of dishes edible. That flowing food that can turn a day old biscuit into a breakfast fit for a king and make over-cooked turkey a memorable event. But there is something very interesting about gravy. Not just anyone can make it. This stuff that comes in a jar and has a close resemblance to toxic waste, does not count. It is nothing more than the left-overs' from some soup company. Yuck! To make real gravy is an art and one that takes time to learn and master. Many a marriage has almost come to an early end because the new groom does not understand that good gravy only comes with age. I will never forget our early years of marriage when the gravy that was produced at our house was not served in bowl but on a plate and was sliced and then placed on your preferred food. At other times it had the consistency and look of skim milk. But the grace of God took us through those difficult times and I am glad to say that the gravy at our house today is of the highest caliber. One of the biggest problems of new-comer gravy is lumps. You know, those large bodies of unidentifiable matter that seem to never go away no matter how much you stir. You may try to spoon them out or just push them to the side of your plate but nonetheless, they are still there. Lumps! They come with every new marriage. Big ones, little ones, hard ones, mushy ones, and ones that seem to grow. Lumps are an inevitability of life, but just because you have lumps in your gravy doesn't mean that you throw it out. More than likely you will have just as many lumps the second time you try to make another batch because you are frustrated and in a hurry to make things just right. Your spouse and family will have to take your gravy, lumps and all, until you are able to build the skills and talents you need to perfect that sensational sauce. Not only is it inevitable that gravy will have lumps but so will your marriage. It's natural and normal to experience things that you don't like or understand. They will not be pleasant and could even be the source of some heated interaction. Just because you run into some lumps in your marriage doesn't mean you need to throw the whole relationship down the drain. Keep stirring, changing, giving, taking, and trying again and again. Don't give up and don't give in. Do a lot more encouraging and a great deal less criticizing. Learn to deal with the lumps together. Just like good gravy, a good marriage only comes with age. Give it time and patience. If you do, you might even hear yourself and others say, "Good gravy, what a marriage." 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. #FEBRUARY18

FENTON, MI – I served 13 years overseas as an international missionary. During that time, I learned to rely more on prayer. As missionaries, my wife and I, analyzed, planned, created action plans; but we did those things only after we prayed. Obstacles would fall down after we petitioned the Father. Opportunities arose that were simply not there, days earlier. Those who once opposed us, finally embraced us. Prayer has proven, for us, to be a powerful, underused practice in Christian ministry. Here in Michigan, I see similar miracles happening; but more must be done rapidly if we are going to shatter the spiritual darkness with God’s light. Jesus said, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father,” Matthew 5:16 (NLT). If each one of us did one thing each day to dispel the darkness for Christ, our state would radically change. Prayer! Below are five areas of our state in which your prayers could make a big difference. Imagine if we prayed for each of these areas, one day each week, every week. Imagine the impact on our prayer lives as God’s focus falling on a particular area of our state each workday became reality. The results would be inspiring. We want to see churches planted in rural areas, small towns, suburban sites, large cities, and the urban centers of the state. With our intense, united prayers they will make the change we need in 2018. The affluence and beauty of our state should not keep us from seeing the lost spiritual condition of millions. An estimated two-thirds of 9.9 million people may not know the Lord Jesus Christ. I love the hope found in Isaiah 35:5 when God moves throughout a territory. It says, “And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.” Are you like me and crave to see that happen in our lifetime? If you’re willing, please join me in asking the Father for: Church planters to rise up to create new churches Launch teams of adults to work alongside the planters Church plants to give birth and guidance to newer church plants Mature, existing churches to spread the Gospel through church planting I would love to see the Lord create new church plants in the following areas: Monday - Marquette County From the Northern Lights to culinary pleasures there is something for everyone. Northern Michigan University, with 9,000 students and 100 academic programs, hosts cultural and sporting events year round. The university is a training center for Olympic athletes. A unique structure called the Superior Dome is the world’s largest wooden dome. The city of Marquette’s population is approximately 22,000 people with over 67,000 throughout the county due to a 4% growth rate in recent years. There are 77 waterfalls in the county. Inside or outside, the area is like a gemstone in the crown of the Upper Peninsula. Christ said in Mark 16:15-16, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refused to believe will be condemned.” Tuesday - Grand Traverse County Over 90,000 people call this area and the city of Traverse City home. The greater metropolitan area boasts almost 150,000 residents. The shoreline along Lake Michigan is one of the favorite vacation spots of the state’s residents. Many are retiring to the area after years of employment down state. Amusing events or places such as the National Cherry Festival and the Victorian City Opera add style and moments of fun for everyone. People can climb the sand dunes, sail the bay, fish the streams, or play one of the 16 golf courses in the region. Christ posed one of the most important questions ever uttered in history. In Mark 8:36 (NLT) Jesus asked, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” Wednesday - Ottawa & Kent Counties The two counties, with outstanding growth rates in Michigan, are identified with the metropolitan area of Grand Rapids and a population of over one million people, making it the second largest city in Michigan. The family atmosphere in the region is remarkable. The number of universities and colleges will overwhelm anyone. The variety of industries and businesses in the area keep people employed and content. Local governments and businesses have created a utopia for their residents. The many year-round, downtown activities are the results of an outstanding tourism strategy. Many are continually drawn to this area of the state with its stronger and diverse economic base. 1 Corinthians 9:22 was written by one of the boldest church planters in history. Paul described in simple words how he reaches a diverse population when he said, “Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some,” (NLT). Thursday - Ingham County The state capital of Lansing is located in this county. The metropolitan area of this area has over 464,000 residents with the city of Lansing showing over 114,000 within the city limits. Michigan State University reports over 50,000 students are enrolled at the school. The region is filled with communities of various types: charming rural areas, distinctive small towns, bustling suburbs, and a redevelopment of downtown Lansing. When we survey the center of legislation we might think, “What’s the use?” But I’m reminded of the words of a prophet in Zechariah 4:6 who learned how God achieves his desires, “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit,” (NLT). Friday - Greater Detroit: Oakland, Macomb, & Wayne Counties This region has a population of 4 million people comprised of residents from Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties. Almost half of the state’s population lives in this metro area. All of the major professional sports teams play in Detroit. Major industries and research facilities are scattered throughout the region. The world headquarters of Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors are still icons of endurance in the area. While many outside this area view Greater Detroit as one large metropolitan mystery, locals identify themselves more by their relationships and workday pathways. True Detroiters will boast about their urban connections because they’re proud of the people’s resilience and the renaissance of their community. Those in the surrounding areas will quickly identify where they reside by saying, “I live in Warren.” Or “I’m from Pontiac.” Or “I work in Detroit but I live in Dearborn.” Regardless of their mailing address, the people are making the most out of the relationships and resources in this world-class city. Motown needs to hear the Psalmist say once again loud and clear, “Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good,” Psalm 127:1 (NLT) Be forewarned. The power of A year-long prayer vigil, over the state, might frighten us as God releases His Spirit. It would be something larger and more powerful than we could control; but isn’t that what we want? Let’s ask the Lord to do more than He has ever done so that others become devoted followers of Christ. 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. #FEBRUARY18

FENTON, MI – Two of the largest freshwater lakes in the world separate the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. We are the only state in the nation to have two peninsulas completely disconnected from each other. It is impossible to get from one peninsula to the other by land from anywhere in the state. Before the Mackinac Bridge was built, traffic could back up for 16 miles and people waited as long as 18 hours for a ferry to take them from one side to the other. The Mackinac Bridge united Michigan and is an iconic image known around the world. At the time, the Mighty Mac was built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Contractors brought together the largest collection of maritime construction equipment ever assembled in peacetime to build the bridge. It was a massive four-year construction project that makes it possible for approximately 11,000 vehicles a day to cross from one side to the other in minutes. As you approach the Straits of Mackinac, the majestic towers of the Mighty Mac can be seen from every direction. They rise 552 feet above the water and descend 210 feet into the depths below. As massive as the bridge looks above the water, 75% of it lies under the waves. It has been described as a “man-made mountain.” One of the most fascinating features of the Mackinac Bridge is its flexibility. It moves with the wind and changes in temperature. A strong wind can move the bridge up to 35 feet to the east or west. The temperature can lift it up or down by 10 feet and the towers can move toward each other by up to 15 feet. It’s flexible, but strong enough to withstand the waves, ice, and wind of the harshest Michigan winter. The Mackinac Bridge united the divided state of Michigan. This unique Michigan reality is a powerful illustration of the Gospel. The separation between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas dramatically illustrates the Biblical truth that our sins have separated us from God It is as though God is on one peninsula and man is on the other. The two are separated from each other by our sin. The Apostle Paul captures the reality of what sin does to us and the hope of the Gospel in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Wages, sin, and death paint a dramatically different picture than gift, God, and eternal life. The difference between living in one reality or the other is Jesus Christ and our relationship to Him. The free gift of God is His Son Jesus. Jesus dies on the cross, is buried, and rises again to reconcile us to God. He is the bridge that unites us with God. He makes eternal life possible when we turn from our sin and place our trust in Him as Savior and Lord. The cross pales physically in size to the Mackinac Bridge, but there is no comparison to the scope of what Jesus does on the cross. There are limits to how far the Mackinac Bridge can move up and down, side to side, and inward, but there are no limits to what Jesus does through His death, burial, and resurrection. He descends from the heights of heaven to become Immanuel - God with us. His grace reaches beyond our greatest failures, and He leans in so close that He is an ever-present help in time of trouble. Receiving Him is, and forever will be, MI greatest moment! For more information and to download free resources, visit bscm.org/mimoment. 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. #FEBRUARY18

ROSCOMMON, MI – Have you ever felt so out of balance, that no matter how hard you rearrange your life, it is still tilted one way or the other? Did you stop to figure out the cause of your imbalance? What are your priorities? Human nature causes us to find answers in ourselves. “I can do this, I don’t need anyone's help.” Pride is a huge factor in this. We say to ourselves, “I can find the next answer, the next big thing, the thing that will make my life complete.” Even as Christians we often forget that we don't have to do it alone. Yes, God has called us to be servants, to stand in the gap for those who do not know Jesus. Many times we find ourselves saying “Yes” to everything asked of us yet trying to do it in our own strength. When we give “all” that we have, in our own strength, our own level of balance gets tilted. We need to take a break to refill our hearts with God’s great love. Psalm 100:5 tells us “For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. Love, we feel it in many ways, for our family and friends. It is how we prioritize people in our lives. We love what we see when we look outside. The great beauty of God’s creation. God’s love is forever, never ending. In our busy lives we can sometimes forget this and our lives spiral out of balance. Well how do you fix this? When the battery on your phone is almost out of charge what do you do? Plug it in to recharge, of course. You cannot communicate with a dead battery. Or, have you ever tried to call a friend, loved one or spouse and it just kept going to voicemail? Sometimes, I believe we do that with God. He is constantly trying to speak into our lives but we send the message to our voicemail because we are not plugged-in, we are not charged. Communication is so very important in our walk with God, we need to continually be in touch with our Heavenly Father. When we are too busy even for Him, we need to find a way to get ourselves plugged in and recharge. Bambi Lake, in its many years of operations, has seen many generations come and go. People are now bringing their children and even their grandchildren to Bambi Lake. They are showing them the natural beauty of God’s Love. But they are also teaching them they need to take a step back, hit the pause button, so that their heart and soul can get a recharge. Bambi Lake offers so many opportunities to get away and recharge. Come for a retreat or just come alone and take a walk down the nature trail. Many people over the years have said all they have to do is pull in the driveway and immediately they feel that wonderful steadfast love of God come over them and begin to recharge their batteries. God’s love is so important that we need to continue to share this with others, but if we are not fully charged then we won’t be able to share or show His great love as we should. Remember, when you feel like your life is getting unbalanced, stop right then and figure out the cause. Find a way to recharge your heart and soul, so that you can be fully charged to follow the perfect plan God has for you. When we are at “full charge”, we can show others that God will always stand in the fire with us. And, when all else fails, come on over to Bambi. We will leave a light on. 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. #FEBRUARY18

LOUISVILLE, KY (SBTS) – Ministers of the gospel are instruments of God’s plan to renew the world, delivering humanity from its curse, said R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, at the seminary’s 220th commencement exercises, December 8. During the ceremony in the school’s historic Alumni Memorial Chapel, four master’s and doctoral students from Michigan received their degrees. In total, 156 students received their degrees as members of a 211-person graduating class. “Graduates, you are wearing the gowns of academic and ministry preparation. You will soon hold diplomas as evidence of your seriousness of preparation and devotion to the ministry,” Mohler said. “You are surrounded by a host of friends and family and faculty. Their own hopes and dreams of ministry go with you and in you. This faculty has taught you with conviction and affection, and now you go to bear the gospel of Christ and to preach the Word.” Mohler tied his address to the December graduates directly to the Christmas season. Many musicologists and worship leaders affirm that “Joy To the World,” published by Isaac Watts in 1719, is the most-sung Christmas carol every December, he suggested. But the hymn, which is a bold and ecstatic declaration of God’s rule and reign over creation, is not fundamentally about Christmas, said Mohler in his commencement address, titled Far as the Curse is Found. It instead points to Christ’s second Advent, when he will make everything new. While it applies to the arrival of Christ incarnate, Mohler said, it reminds Christians that the full promises of God’s dominion are not yet fulfilled. The third verse of the hymn — which reads that Christ’s return makes his “blessings flow, far as the curse is found” — provides a clear summary of the church’s mission, which is also the mission of all ministers of the gospel, according to Mohler. The Lord commissions his people to take the message of renewal and restoration to every corner of the world where sin reigns. “We are gathered here because Jesus saves,” Mohler said. “We are gathered here because, on the cross, he bore the full penalty of our sin. We are gathered here because Christ, our substitute, died for us the death that was rightly ours. We are here because we celebrate this gospel. We are here because we are ready to send these graduates out to teach, to preach, and to tell this gospel.” Using Genesis 3 and Galatians 3 as his texts, Mohler showed how the curse of sin is traced out through the storyline of the Bible. Since Adam was installed at creation as the representative of all humanity, his sin condemned the entire created order to suffer under the curse of God’s righteous judgment of sin, Mohler said. “Everywhere we look, we see the curse and its malignant effects,” he said. “[It extends] to every atom and molecule of creation — from coast to coast, horizon to horizon, shore to shore, sky to sky, and to every square inch of the planet.” The curse not only affects the world around humanity, but it also renders every human soul to a state of condemnation. Every human is born under this curse and, according to Galatians 3:10-14, can do nothing to escape it. But God sent his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die on behalf of humanity, taking the penalty of their sin and removing the power of the law to condemn, Mohler said. Now, the mission falls to those who have experienced redemption from the curse of the law to take a message of forgiveness to the ends of a still-fallen world. “The world is full of sinners who live every day under the curse, and the penalty of the curse is sin. You go to preach the gospel and to declare salvation to all who believe in Christ and repent of their sin,” Mohler said to the graduates. “You go to feed Christ's flock and to shepherd the church for whom Christ died.” Those who still live under this curse need to hear God’s message of victory over sin and deliverance from its destructive effects, Mohler said. Graduates of Southern Seminary are sent out to preach the gospel and proclaim that salvation is available for those who repent and believe. “How far does the gospel reach? To what lengths must the gospel be taken? It is answered in the third verse of this hymn: ‘Far as the curse is found,’” Mohler said. “Go and preach. Go and tell. Teach the good news that Christ has redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us. Take the message of the gospel of Christ far as the curse is found.” During the ceremony, the seminary awarded a degree posthumously to Ronney Plemons, an Ohio pastor who completed the requirements of his doctor of ministry degree in Biblical Spirituality before he died on August 22. He most recently pastored at First Baptist Church in Fairborn, Ohio, and previously served at Southside Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, and Cornerstone Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Susan Plemons, a professor of music and worship at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio, and Ronney’s wife, was present to receive the diploma on behalf of her husband.“He had fulfilled all of the responsibilities for the doctor of ministry degree,” said Mohler, who attended the same church as a child that Plemons later pastored in Lakeland, Florida. “More than that, by God’s grace, he had fulfilled all of the commission that had been given to him as a minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Mohler also presented the Josephine S. and James L. Baggott Outstanding Graduate Award to Tyson W. Ziegler, a master of divinity graduate from Independence, Kentucky. The award was established in 1980 to recognize the outstanding graduate of each graduating class. Mohler’s address is available in audio and video at equip.sbts.edu/video/far-curse-found/. A manuscript of the address, “Far as the Curse is Found,” is available at albertmohler.com. The following are the students and their information: NAME: Jerrica L. Baxter HOMETOWN: Carleton, Michigan HOME CHURCH: NorthBrook Church, Carleton Michigan SCHOOL: SBTS DEGREE: TH-Master of Divinity UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Bachelor of Business Administration, Siena Heights University NAME: Douglas Brubaker HOMETOWN: Midland, Michigan HOME CHURCH: Crossway Christian Church, Bay City, Michigan SCHOOL: SBTS DEGREE: TH-Master of Arts in Theological Studies UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Michigan Technological University - 1999 NAME: David R. Coleman HOMETOWN: Lake Orion, MI HOME CHURCH: Saginaw Valley Baptist Church, Saginaw, MI SCHOOL: SBTS DEGREE: BG-Doctor of Philosophy UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Saginaw Valley State University, 2006 NAME: Douglas R. Wallaker HOMETOWN: Midland, MI SCHOOL: SBTS DEGREE: TH-Doctor of Philosophy UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE: Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 2002 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron is the Editorial Director for Relevant Media Group in Louisville, KY. #DECEMBER17

FENTON, MI – Well folks, this is the season when we celebrate the birth of our Lord with all sorts of traditions, parties, food and gifts. It truly is the happiest time of the year. As I reflect on Christmases past my heart and mind are filled with childhood memories of cold, December nights when it was so hard to go to sleep, and then wide eyed Christmas mornings that glistened with the wonder of tinsel laden trees and Christmas wishes wrapped in colorful paper. I can still smell the strong scent of an evergreen tree and the sweet, citrus aroma of fresh fruit. My mother would always buy the largest oranges and apples she could find, and fill our stockings with those and other candies. And of course, the comforting fragrance of a perfectly roasted turkey settled in around it all. Throughout the years I have received all sorts of gifts and gadgets at Christmas, but as a young boy a gift that became one of my most memorable was a pet hamster. I had seen a whole family of them in our local “five & dime” with their labyrinth of tubes and tunnels, and I just had to have one of these energized entertainers. Sure enough, Christmas morning came and there under the tree was my very own hamster and self-contained habitat. Inside this rodent residence was a complete gymnasium of gadgets to keep the most lethargic and sedentary of fuzzy friends healthy and happy. Right in the center of all this menagerie of moving parts was an enormous wire wheel where upon my new found friend could race and run for hours on end. And run he did. In the middle of the night when all self-respecting relatives of the rat family should be fast asleep, ol’ fleet of foot would be running his race to nowhere. The first night of our new family member’s stay in the home, my dad got up to try and find out why the refrigerator or our home heating unit had suddenly developed an annoying squeak. It took him several sleepless nights until he discovered it was “Herman the Hamster” and his midnight marathons that were disturbing our long winter naps. Herman would get in his “nowhere wheel” and run for hours on end. He would then get off, have a bite to eat, rest, get a drink of water, and then begin again. I never could figure out why he put so much energy into something that left him in the same place he started. Have you ever felt like Herman the Hamster? That life was going nowhere fast, and all you had to look forward to was another round in the marathon wheel of a monotonous life? Have you been scurrying about with all your Christmas traditions, trying to produce some modicum of fulfillment, and still find yourself going in circles? Is it possible that you have been quoting Old Testament passages like, “Vanity. Vanity. All is vanity.” There is a better Way. There is a Way that doesn’t leave you dizzy, dazed and desiring more. There is a Way that doesn’t make you feel like a termite in a YO-YO. There is a Way that has a destination of hope, peace, and fulfillment. That Way is He who was born in a manger on that wonderful Christmas morning more than 2000 years ago. And our Lord is the one who has come to provide for us hope, peace, and purpose in life. Let me invite you to get off the “wheel of misfortune” and step on to the Road of Life that leads to purpose and peace. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” The Gift of Christmas awaits and believe me, it’s much better than a hamster. 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. #DECEMBER17

SEARCY, AR (BP) – Bill Roussel has a heart for widows and widowers. For years Bill visited with two widows on Sunday mornings at First Baptist Church in Searcy. One day he told his wife Amy they should do something for the ladies, who had long worked in the children's ministry, to add an extra measure of joy to their lives during the holiday season. The Roussels decided to host a Christmas dinner for the church's widows and widowers at a local barbecue restaurant. "Most of our widows and widowers [have been] longtime workers in our church and community," Amy Roussel said. "[Bill] wanted to do something that was separate from the church and funded by ourselves. That way, the folks we invited would know it was not something that was an obligation but heartfelt." Each year about 30 people attend the dinner, which has been held for more than a decade. Evening festivities include door prizes and games, and Hal Stroupe, minister of education and administration at FBC Searcy, drives the church bus to take attendees on a tour of local Christmas lights. A few years ago the Roussels asked fellow church members Bob and Karen Davis to help out with the dinner. "There is no better reward for us than the hugs, smiles and thanks we receive from all the widows and widowers," Bob Davis said. "The fun and pleasure they get from eating, playing the games and fellowship enjoyed is evident in their faces. It truly is a festive affair where Christmas spirit abounds." Pat Charboneau, who has attended the dinner since her husband passed away in 2007, said it's "a wonderful thing they are doing, and I believe it is scriptural." "It is very much appreciated by all of us. It is a very special thing for us to be cared for in this way," Charboneau said. The Roussels and Davises see the Christmas dinner as reflecting the biblical mandate to care for widows and orphans in James 1:27: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" (ESV)." "The two dear women who inspired my husband are no longer with us but their lives are not forgotten," Amy Roussel said. "I believe the Holy Spirit touched my husband's heart to share in his unique way to provide a little light in these special lives. We hope this will inspire others to do even one small thing." Beyond the Roussels' Christmastime ministry, First Baptist members are engaged in carrying their faith into the local community and beyond. Its members help in staffing Searcy's interdenominational Good Samaritan Center each December. The church provides toiletries and other necessities as well as a ham for each needy family. At the end of December, the church's youth gather at the center to clean up and organize for the next year. In foster care ministry, several church families are either foster parents or have adopted foster children. Additionally, First Baptist provides a meeting place monthly during the school year for foster care training and childcare services. Church members also provide meals for foster families. In its missions outreach, First Baptist supports mission trips at home and abroad and contributes to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The church's women's group hosts "Lattes with Lottie" during the first week of December, learning about Lottie Moon while having lattes and raising money for the Christmas offering. First Baptist also contributes to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering. "When it comes to multi-generational ministries and global missions, the First Baptist Church family seeks to make a difference in the lives of people inside and outside the church," pastor Brian Whitney said. "I am grateful for the multiplicity of ministries this body involves themselves in for God's glory. Both at the Thanksgiving/Christmas season and all year long, this local church is loving each other, praying for the advancement of the Gospel, and serving each other in Jesus' name." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael Smith is a freelance writer based in Brandon, FL. #DECEMBER17