Search Results

RICHMOND, VA (BP) – No one likes being the new kid on the block. Just thinking about it now takes me back to difficult times when I experienced loneliness and unfamiliarity in new places. It even reminds me of those awkward years trying to fit in with others in my early school years. That's why being welcomed into a new community can be such a wonderful experience. The simple truth is that "welcome" is a powerful word. Over the course of 42 years, my wife Kathy and I have moved a number of times, and with every move came the same unnerving feelings. Whether here in the United States or overseas where we served as missionaries, we always felt like the new kids on the block. I will always remember one particular move when our new neighbors rushed right over. They welcomed us and invited us over for dinner that night. It felt great to receive such warm hospitality. A single family reaching out to us made us feel completely welcomed to our new city and neighborhood. During the time we lived in Brazil, we moved from the city where we attended language school to our new city of ministry a thousand miles to the south. We tried to connect with our new neighbors next door the way our previous neighbors had done with us. They were cordial enough, but our conversation was stilted and superficial. However, I will never forget the Sunday morning when their shallow greetings turned into something more. They invited us over for Chimarrão, which is a caffeine-rich infused tea that's quite popular in southern Brazil. Being invited over to our neighbors to drink tea was exciting. We felt welcomed and honored to be included in one of the most culturally important customs of the region. "Chimarrão é amizade" is one of the local sayings. Translated, it means "Chimarrão is friendship." Our neighbors shared that adage with us, adding that drinking Chimarrão with family, colleagues or friends created a social bond. It didn't take long to become good friends with our neighbors. Our daughters were soon best friends and spent a lot of time together. What does it mean to “Be a Welcoming Neighbor?” International students especially feel lonely when they move to a new, unfamiliar place. They arrive with the pressure to excel in their studies in a second language, all while learning a new culture. It must be totally overwhelming, and feeling welcome in their new hometowns can likely help offer some much-needed comfort. We have an incredible opportunity in the U.S. to welcome almost a million international students who arrive from countries all around the world to attend American colleges and universities every year. Knowing that 75 percent of international students are never invited into an American home increases the importance of welcoming them in. Consider this excerpt from a WorldView column by missions writer Erich Bridges in 2011: "A foreign student preparing to return home after several years at an American university left behind a full suitcase with his roommate. 'What's this?' the roommate asked. 'It's full of the gifts I brought to give Americans when they invited me to their homes,' the student replied, a tinge of sadness in his voice. 'No one invited me.'" The opportunity for believers to serve international students through simply welcoming them and helping them acclimate to their new home and culture is astounding. No international student who wants to have an American friend should ever be lacking. Here are some practical steps to get you and your church started. 1. Contact your local university and ask about becoming a host family to an international student. This is usually arranged through a program in the international student office. Programs may differ but you'll generally receive a form to fill out that matches your family and a participating student. You'll typically be asked to host your assigned student throughout the school year. Currently, my family is hosting two students, and we make a point of including them in holiday festivities and meals as well as family birthdays, shopping excursions and worship opportunities with our church. 2. Pick up international students from the airport and help them get settled into their dorms or apartments. 3. Provide household goods and furniture for international students. Some churches and Baptist associations have developed ministries to provide these items. International students secure household goods and furniture as they settle into their new places of residence and return them at the end of the school year or when they return home. 4. Embrace students as a part of your life and become a genuine friend. Invite them for meals and to special family events, church activities and excursions such as ball games, bowling and amusement parks. On holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, explain the meaning of your observances and traditions. Remember that they want to experience life in America, and you are their guide. 5. Invite students to church. Offer to pick them up or coordinate with your church to provide a van that stops on campus taking students to and from church activities. When you reach out, you'll discover a multitude of opportunities to build friendships, meet needs and minister the Gospel to people God has brought to your community. All of this opportunity is available simply through the power of welcoming others into your life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Terry Sharp (@terrysharpimb) is the International Mission Board's state, association and diaspora network leader. This article first appeared at the mission board's imb.org website. #APRIL17

I had visited Mr. “R” for a year because his health was declining and he was staying in a care facility. He was no longer able to make it to his Church. He was a happy seasoned Christian and always greeted me as a special connection to God. Every visit with him was a blessing for me as it was for him. The feeling that I received with his hand shake was far beyond the term “Chaplain.” It is a humbling feeling to be God’s representative chaplain- pastor. There is no way I could feel qualified for the position other than by the Amazing Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. To be a chaplain at the right place and the right time as God’s representative is not a job title, it is a special calling. That itself is a sacred moment with each visit. My last visit with Mr. “R” was truly a sacred moment I will never forget. He was no longer in a wheelchair and too weak to get out of the bed. I told him I had picked out a portion of scripture that I thought would encourage him and he said “NO.” He said “I want the one about the Lord being my Shepherd. It was racing through my head over and over again.” I read the 23rd Psalm to him as requested then he shared the story of his life with me because he knew it would be my last visit with him. He said “you know I was a blueberry farmer for many years. My business was successful and provided for my family because my business partner was God. I just did a little work and my partner brought the sunshine and rain. My partner actually made the blueberries we just had to pick them and sell them.” How simple was his life story. How profound was his life story. How sacred was the moment he shared it with his chaplain. The following week, I shared his story at his funeral, just as he had planned. If you have been called by God to be a chaplain or to be a support to our chaplains in prayer please feel free to contact Chaplain Bob Dennis at bdennis@bscm.org. For more information about the Michigan Chaplaincy ministry go to the BSCM website at bscm.org/chaplain. 2017 BSCM Chaplain Training Events: The first annual BSCM Chaplain Training will be during the Church Equipping Conference at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 1707 E. Twelve Mile Road, Roseville, MI 48066 on September 16, 2017. There will be a great key note speaker and topics selected. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chaplain Bob Dennis is the new Chaplain Coordinator for the BSCM. He became a North American Mission Board endorsed chaplain for the State of Michigan after ministering as a pastor in the Woodland Baptist Association for many years. He currently is a chaplain assigned to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. #APRIL17

MEMPHIS, TN (BP) – "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you'" (Matthew 28:5-7 NASB). Springtime is here. Dogwoods and daffodils bloom as winter retreats and warmer days are welcomed and across America, churches will soon be packed on Easter Sunday. Why? Easter is about forgiveness and hope through a sacred death and an empty tomb. Easter is about the grimness of the grave being overcome. It is about Jesus Christ rising bodily, victoriously and eternally from the grave. Behold our resurrected Lord triumphantly displaying the keys to death, hell and the grave in His nail-scarred hands! No wonder Easter is the annual apex for all Christians. No other religion dares to make such claims. Muslims readily admit that Muhammad is dead. Buddha and Confucius are also in the grave, as is Joseph Smith. But after Jesus died, He rose from the grave, never to die again. The women who followed Jesus to Jerusalem from Galilee had gone to the tomb to properly anoint their Lord for burial. There they found an angel who gave them three significant commands: THE FIRST COMMAND WAS "DO NOT BE AFRAID" (V.5) Those women came to the tomb wondering how they would remove the stone so they could anoint Jesus' body (cf. Mark 16:1). But when they arrived, an angel had already rolled the stone away (cf. Matthew 28:2). Jesus was not there -- He had risen! And because He had risen, there would never again be a valid reason for fear. As Bill Gaither's song says, "Because He lives, all fear is gone." THE ANGEL'S SECOND COMMAND WAS "COME, SEE" (V.6) There was nothing to hide. Jesus' body had not been stolen. This was no gimmick or fabrication, as the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem slyly suggested (cf. Matthew 28:11f). Jesus was really alive. The angel rolled the stone away, not to allow Jesus to leave the grave, but to let the women and everyone else to look in! Jesus' burial proved His actual death. His empty tomb proved His actual resurrection. Now everyone could "come, see" for themselves. THE THIRD COMMAND WAS, "GO QUICKLY AND TELL" (V.7) The good news of Jesus' resurrection demanded sharing. The angel's words at this point were similar to those spoken by Jesus after His resurrection and prior to His ascension: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (Mark 16:15 NASB). Jesus had risen from the grave and His disciples were commissioned to take that good news to the ends of the earth. As they proclaimed the gospel message, people repented of their sins, believed that Jesus died and rose for their salvation, and received Jesus as Lord and Savior by calling on His name in humble prayer. The book of Acts describes how those early disciples boldly shared the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome in just three decades. They could not stop speaking of what they had "seen and heard" (cf. Acts 4:20). Today we who follow Jesus must continue to tell the world the saving message of His death, burial and resurrection (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). No religion in the world claims anything like Jesus' empty tomb. His vicarious death and victorious resurrection are what make the good news "good." The angel's three commands echo through the centuries, calling out to us this Easter season. By faith, with spirit-ears, we still hear His commands: "Jesus is alive! Do not be afraid!" "Jesus is alive! Come, see!" "Jesus is alive! Go quickly and tell!" That is the message of Easter! That is what we must share with our lost neighbors. We must tell everyone that there is hope, healing and forgiveness for anyone who comes to Christ in repentance and faith, and that salvation comes from the bloody cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Do not be afraid. Come and see. Go quickly and tell. Have a glorious Easter! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Steve Gaines is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church. #APRIL17

GARDEN CITY, MI – When you hear the name Daniel you probably don’t think of a young man from the Shandong Province of China. As you might have guessed, Daniel has a Chinese name as well but to make it easier for Americans, he simply goes by the name Daniel while here in the United States. Daniel’s story is not unique. He was sent to America as a visiting scholar by the Chinese government to conduct research at Wayne State University. In order to come he had to leave behind his wife and daughter and everything and everyone else he knew. Like most visiting scholars, he was chosen to come and had little to say in the matter. Of course, looking back, if he had been given a choice knowing then what he knows now I have little doubt that he would have jumped at the chance to come. Where Daniel’s story is unique is that unlike so many other international students, he met a group of Christians who love the Lord and were willing to reach out him with the gospel. Daniel’s life while polished on the outside was slowly falling apart on the inside. He says in his own words speaking about his life before coming to America, “As I was achieving each and every goal of my life, I found myself unable to find the meaning of life. Moreover, the strong belief that I had in the government and communism was slowly crumbling.” He went on to say, “The passion and devotion that I had towards my career were substituted with heartlessness and discouragement. I exchanged the love for my wife and child with anger and insensitivity.” The message of God’s grace and the gift of life that Jesus offers literally brought tears to Daniel’s eyes from the first time he heard it. He said, “Jesus’ precious blood covered all my sin and rescued my soul. God used his love to lead me back to Him.” The changes in Daniel’s life since coming to faith in Christ have been amazing. He can’t stop telling people about Jesus, and really struggles to understand why anyone would ever reject God’s love once it’s offered to them. In fact, his relationship with his wife and daughter has been miraculously restored. He shares, “The Holy Spirit reformed me. He patiently taught me the real meaning of love and how to love my family. Genesis 2:24 reads: ‘That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.’ Through this verse, I understood how important my wife is to me and I am now able to love her beyond the flesh. I used to not answer my wife’s telephone calls, but now I yearn for my phone to ring. Our short routine dialogue increased to an hour, two hours, or even three hours of loving conversations. The Holy Spirit taught me how to love my brothers and sisters in Christ. How great it is to be able to experience every day the sweetness of love! Praise the Lord!” Daniel will leave to go back to China in May and his biggest prayer request is that his wife and daughter, who have heard the gospel message and seen the changes in his life, will respond in faith. Tears fill his eyes each time he speaks of his love for them and how, so far, they have not placed their own faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Daniel’s passion for sharing the Gospel leaves the question, whom will we tell? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rob Parsons is College Pastor at Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City Michigan and Collegiate Director for the Greater Detroit Baptist Association. Rob and his wife Kelley are self-supported NAMB MSC missionaries who work together on the campuses of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan and Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. #APRIL17

ROSEVILLE, MI – Some of our most obvious evangelistic opportunities are with the people who are already members of our churches. You already have a relationship with them. You already have the advantage of consistently telling them and exposing them to the gospel. You also have some God-ordained opportunities to personally point them to Christ. Paul warned the elders of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20) that fierce wolves would come in among them and seek to do great damage to the flock. Christ warned several of the churches in Revelation 2-3 that they had unbelievers who were part of their membership. If these churches had unbelievers in them, we probably have some in ours too. But, how do we reach them? I am assuming that you are faithfully preaching the gospel and pointing your people to Christ. The effect of faithful gospel preaching is like napalm. It has a way of wiping out the terrain of everything else. But, in order to conquer, you still need troops on the ground. So, while you are joyfully preaching Christ, pursue these steps as well. Pray about the conversions of your church members. Pray that God would reveal the posers from the possessors. When your elders are praying this and you are publicly praying this, it helps to create a climate in your church where it is no longer assumed that just because you are a member then you are without a doubt a genuine follower of Christ. Most of you, I would assume, publicly pray at the beginning and conclusion of your preaching. These are wonderful opportunities to pray about this critical matter. Preach about the conversion of your church members. If you are preaching expositionally, you cannot preach too many sermons before you run into the issue of false conversions. The reason why this issue comes up so much in the Bible is obvious. This is a relevant issue in our churches. In your preaching, illustrate the point with stories from your own church family. When someone gets baptized, we give them the opportunity to explain the gospel and how they came to faith in Christ. Last month, David told our church family how he had pretended for years to be a believer. His story is a great example that I use and a great encouragement to those who are wondering about the validity of their own conversion. Be aware of this in counseling opportunities. Devin (not his real name) and his wife met with me for some marriage counseling. Devin was not all that interested since, as it eventually was revealed, he thought that he had found someone else. One Sunday, I stopped him after the service and told him that if continued down that road, he needed to know that he could no longer confidently claim to be a follower of Christ. In fact, his determination to pursue this adulterous relationship may be an indication that he had never become a genuine follower of Christ. Devin did not repent, but Greg (not his real name) did. Greg met a girl on a business trip and was ready to leave his wife and kids over her. I sat at his kitchen table one night and asked him what would it be: Christ or the girl, because he could not have both. Although Greg had professed faith and joined the church many years before, his life had demonstrated very little gospel fruit. Greg bowed the knee of his heart to Christ and by the grace of God, his was not only redeemed, but his marriage was rescued. Be aware of this in hospital visits and other life and death situations. Chuck (his real name) was in the hospital. The doctor had just told him that there was nothing left that could be done for his heart. He had already outlived the expectations, but the end was near. Chuck was a successful businessman, and had been involved in many Christian organizations. In previous churches he had served on boards and taught classes. Now, he was dying and he was terrified. Chuck carried around a secret that very few people knew. During WWII he flew bombing missions over Japan dropping thousands of pounds upon that country. He knew that he had killed hundreds if not thousands of lives. On his 24th mission, his plane was shot up pretty badly, but he was able to get it back to base. His co-pilot however, died. Chuck was eligible to go home after his 25th mission, but he was so angry about the death of his co-pilot that he signed up for another 25 missions and then another 25 missions so that he could kill more Japanese. And he did. After 76 missions, he finally went back home. On his way back to Michigan, he was at a base in California where he met some Japanese prisoners of war. Some of them were very kind and told him that they did not want the war. They just wanted to go back to their home as well. They showed him pictures of wives and children. Chuck’s anger turned to fear. He assumed that he had killed some of their wives and children. He began to realize that he had not only killed civilians, but he had signed up to do it. Now, sixty years later, the reality of facing God revealed his deepest fear. He would die and be condemned to hell. Chuck finished his story, tucked his knees under his arms, turned away from me and stared at the wall. His frail body made even a hospital bed look big. Chuck had heard me preach the gospel for years. But that day it was obvious that while he thought it was true, it just wasn’t true for him. His case was different. I sat silent and tried to imagine the weight of his guilt and then said, “Chuck, you are a big sinner, but Jesus is a bigger Savior than you are a sinner.” Chuck responded like he had been hit by lightning. He looked at me like he had heard this for the very first time. His eyes got big, his face was animated, and he said, “That’s it, isn’t it?! Jesus is a bigger Savior than I am a sinner.” Chuck died two weeks later. The joy of his life in those last two weeks made it evident to everyone who visited him, his chains were broken. His heart was free. Your members will let you into some of their most private thoughts. You may discover that they need Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in Canton, Ohio in 1960, Bob is a lifelong Buckeyes fan, for which he deservedly endures immeasurable abuse. He is married to the love of his life, Cathi (a Detroit girl), and they have three children, Bobby (married to Taylor), Rebecca (married to Stephen McGee), and Arianna (in Army Officer's Training School). Bob has been serving as the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone since 1989. He has a Masters of Divinity degree from the Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary (1997). #APRIL17

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – A fictional and emotionally destroyed Mack Phillips answers a mysterious invitation to a remote, isolated cabin. There he finds a trinity of fatherly love in a woman named "Papa" whose cohorts teach Phillips forgiveness and the faith to run on water -- literally. It's the synopsis of the movie "The Shack," based on William Paul Young's New York Times bestseller and award-winning book by the same title, that some described as a biblically sound parable. And as with the 2007 controversial book that sold more than 20 million copies, others are criticizing the movie as a farce that serves to deeply distort rather than affirm biblical truths. Among critics of the film is Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. If the movie is anything like the book, he says, it is dangerous in its false portrayal of the Holy Spirit, even though the book is a fictional fantasy. "We need to be clear. This depiction of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, of the Gospel is profoundly unbiblical," Mohler told Baptist Press. "The Bible warns against any false depiction of God and calls it idolatry. Making that into a compelling story just compounds the theological danger, and when all of this is added to the creative storytelling power of Hollywood, it also becomes very seductive." James B. De Young, a Western Seminary professor who countered the book with his own 2010 book "Burning Down 'The Shack': How the Christian Bestseller is Deceiving Millions" has likewise criticized the film. "If the film is a faithful portrayal of the events and the theology of the book," DeYoung has told Christian News Network, "then every Christian should be gravely alarmed at the further advance of beliefs that smear the evangelical understanding of the truth of the Bible." The movie's makers promote it as an educational depiction of the love of the true God, and offers free resources intended to be evangelistic and educational, including movie clips, a downloadable Scripture-laden discussion guide, bookmarks and flyers. "Our discussion guide is designed to help you dive deeper into the themes of The Shack with members of your church, school, community and others," the guide is described at theshackresources.com. "We've added Scripture verses and discussion questions to help you unpack each section. Feel free to follow the prompts or use this guide as a jumping off point for your own insights. You may present the movie clips in your service or group setting." Eugene Peterson, retired Presbyterian pastor and author of the award-winning "The Message" Bible, praised the book as comparable to the classic "Pilgrim's Progress," but Peterson is not listed among the movie's endorsers. Instead, top endorsements on the movie's website are offered by Dick Rolfe, co-founder and CEO of the Dove Foundation; Geoff Tunnicliffe, former head of the World Evangelical Alliance and Bob Waliszewski, director of Focus on the Family's (FOTF) media and culture department, among others. "The film will do a lot to point a world desperately looking for answers to a God who loves and cares," Waliszewski said at theshackresources.com/endorsements, but did not review the film on FOTF's Plugged In movie review program he directs. Waliszewski has since posted a review of "The Shack" at pluggedin.com. Mohler believes the movie is dangerous as entertainment as well as education, he told BP, because of the incredible power inherent in storytelling. "There are many Christians who sadly may not be sufficiently grounded in biblical doctrine to understand just how unbiblical this movie is," Mohler said. "Secondly, they'll be many people who are not believers, who will go away believing that the movie depicts biblical Christianity, true Christianity. It creates a cultural conversation in which the bottom line issue is that the makers of this movie have sought to create an entertaining story at the expense of biblical truth." In a 2010 review of the book on which the movie is based, Mohler points out the book's skewed presentation of the Trinity and its concepts of universalism, universal redemption and ultimate reconciliation. In the book "Jesus tells Mack: 'Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, my Beloved.'" LifeWay Christian Resources no longer offers the book. "We stopped carrying 'The Shack' a few years ago," LifeWay Director of Communications Carol Pipes emailed BP, "because although it is a work of fiction, the theology presented as integral to the story clearly conflicts with the Bible on many issues, especially in regards to the character and nature of The Trinity." Mohler describes the book, and the movie to the extent that it aligns with the book, as the opposite of Pilgrim's Progress. "It is not credible under any standard of Orthodox Christianity," Mohler said. "Pilgrim's Progress is a parable that affirms Scripture. The Shack you might say is a parable at the expense of Scripture." The movie is now showing in theaters and stars Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer, Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw and Sam Worthington. Brad Cummings and Gil Netter (The Blind Side and The Life of Pi) are producers; Stuart Hazeldine is the movie's director. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' general assignment writer/editor. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #APRIL17

FENTON, MI – I don't know about you and your family but one of our pastimes is going to the "Mall". It seems as though the desire to shop is hereditary since both of our boys have taken on the traits of their parents, especially those of their mother. Without a doubt she is the consummate bargain shopper. If there is a sale within thirty miles, her seventh sense will pick it up and she can hone in on it like a shark following a blood trail. When she arrives at the "kill point" she will circle and survey it for hours at a time until she makes that final decision to move in. It is at that point that an unwary salesperson could be in danger of bodily injury or dismemberment if they tried to direct her to a more expensive "better value". Trying to bait and switch her would be tantamount to death. It was during one of these Mall Excursions several years ago when we lived in Dallas, that I had a most interesting experience. While she and the boys were circling a sale table I followed my nose to a nearby candy store that sold assorted goodies. The aroma of the popcorn is used like free cocaine on the streets to lure unsuspecting customers into its retail clutches. My sugar drug of choice are imported Gummy Bears. I don’t know if it is the taste, texture or the pleasure I receive from biting off their little heads. (Pastors do carry about a tad bit of frustration at times!) While I was standing by the counter and munching away on my gummy bears, a young boy came and stood beside me. He was about five years old and from his appearance had not had a bath in the last two of those years. He didn't say anything but just stared at my “gummies” and me. Well, being the great benevolent individual that I am, I decided to bless this poor little fellow. I thought how nice it would be to see the smile on his face and the warmth in my heart if I were to buy him some candy. I bent down and peered into his dark brown eyes and said, "Hey fella, would you like a bag of candy?" He replied with his southern accent and a twinkle in his eyes, "Yes Sir!" So I purchased the candy he selected and placed it in his dirty little hands. It was then I said to him, "Would it be alright if I had one piece of your candy? I've never tried that kind before." Without a halt in his voice or a hesitation in his decision he replied, "No way sucka', these is mine!" and took off running down the aisle. I guess you can imagine how I felt. All I could do was stand there with my mouth agape and my feelings hurt. The attendant at the counter looked over the top of her bifocals and said, "I bet you won't do that again." It was later that day as I was recalling the event that God began to speak to me. In essence He said, "That's the way many of my children treat me. Everything they have comes from My grace and goodness, yet they refuse to acknowledge the source and will not share. When I ask them to share the Gift I have given them, they refuse and try to run and hide." I wonder if you and I are guilty of the same selfish and ungrateful spirit that was displayed in that little boy? Don't you believe God’s heart is broken by our insensitivity toward Him and others? All good gifts come down from the Father, especially the gift of salvation. Someone in our life loved us enough to take the time to tell us the Good News of the Gospel. How can we be so stingy when our Father has been so generous? It is time for us to share. It is “A Time To Tell.” 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. #APRIL17

FENTON, MI – “A time to tell” is this year’s theme for our state convention. We want to remind ourselves that every moment of every day is an opportunity for redemption. That reminder is worth more when it leads to action. What part can you play in someone’s salvation by making sure they hear the Gospel? Looking back on my pathway to following Christ, I remember people who played a role in my salvation during the mid-70s. I remember important moments. You can see my laundry list below. You probably have a list of people and moments that marked your pathway to Christ, too. Mom Classmate Men Youth Group Brother Young Gift Bible Mom - During the late-60s, our family moved from Flint to Swartz Creek. Like other men, my dad worked a lot of overtime at General Motors. We dropped out of a church in Flint during the move. As I entered Swartz Creek High School during the mid-70s, my mom renewed her efforts to get the family back in church. To no avail, Mom begged me to attend church with my sisters and her. Classmate – After my mom and sisters visited the First Baptist Church of Swartz Creek near the high school on Sunday, a classmate named Mark spoke to me during gym class. His invitation to church was straight forward. Mark said, “Your mom and sisters visited our church this past Sunday, why don’t you come with them?” My reply was short, “Sundays are the one day I spend with my dad. We watch TV then work on the yard or house.” Mark persuaded me with, “I have three sisters near your age. Come to church and you can date any one of them.” I made instant plans to attend church. Men – During the early days of church while trying to win over one of Mark’s sisters, the men in the church won me over. The church’s average attendance was 40 people. My dad remained at home while the rest of the family went to church. I learned to address the men as Brother Young or Brother Horner. I learned the men formed a sort of fraternity who loved the Lord. One preached. One led music. One served as a deacon. One taught Bible study. Each man did something for God. However, all of the men made me feel welcome and valuable. They greeted me. They shook my hand. They called me by name. They asked about my team’s performance. Each time I exited the church they said, “Tony, I look forward to seeing you again.” Youth group – Initially, the children of three families formed the youth group. The youth group leader led us in simple Bible studies. Activities were carefree and cheap. Parties were held at homes. Teenage crushes came and went; but the huge constant for me was the sense of belonging and acceptance I felt in the youth group and a beginning of a hunger for the Word of God. Somehow I discovered more about myself in a youth group of 20 then I did in a high school with 2,000 students. Brother Young – The pastor of the small church of 40 people was bi-vocational, widowed, and retiring when I started attending. I hid away quietly in the dining room, one day when Brother Young stopped by to invite my dad to attend church with the family. The two of them were sitting in the living room. I still remember how I froze and didn’t breathe when I heard Brother Young explain salvation to my dad. Brother Young didn’t know it, but he shared his faith with two men that day, my father and me. Gift Bible – During the early days of church, I received a black cover, gift Bible from my parents in the King James Version. It had a zipper that closed and opened easily on three sides of the Bible. A cross hung from the zipper serving as the pull. The Bible was central to everything at church. We read the Bible during class, youth group, and worship. We read Scripture from the back of the hymnals taking turns in what was called responsive readings. My hunger grew for Scripture. When I read the Bible I sensed God was speaking to me in a personal conversation. I loved it! One Sunday night just before bedtime, after a great day at the small church, I zipped my Bible closed and slipped to the side of my bed and whispered this prayer to God: “God, I don’t understand everything about you; but, I believe Christ is your Son and that He died on a cross for me. Forgive me for all that I’ve done against you. Come into my life and lead me in all that I do. In Jesus name, Amen.” During the mid-70s, people in my life told me about Christ. Did you see the progress? What was formerly of no concern became important to me. What became important, became my quest. What became my quest, became my purpose in life. All because others knew it was a time to tell Tony that God loved him. This year as with all years, let’s remember “It’s a Time to Tell.” Would you, please, find a way to tell others that Christ loves them? Would you play a role in someone’s life like those whom God used in my past? And, if you would, please, let me know how God uses you to transform someone’s life. 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. #APRIL17

FENTON, MI – I woke up on a sandy beach somewhere on the Gulf Coast. The noise of the early morning commute woke me making it impossible to sleep anymore. It was still dark but the sun was starting to rise on the horizon. The painful scratches on my hand and arm reminded me of the previous night’s activities. I had been drinking heavily and got in a fight with a friend. I took a swing at him. Thankfully, he ducked, or I could have been waking up in detention. The scratches came from the broken glass of the window I put my hand through when I tried to hit him. What started out as the adventure of a lifetime when we decided to hitchhike from Michigan to Disney World ended on the beach that morning. I woke up hungover, alone, lost, embarrassed, and in pain. The things I thought would make me happy - freedom, parties, and good times - left me empty and afraid on a sandy beach. I was 16 years old and my life was a mess. Most of the people around me at the time would have said that I had a pretty good life. That's what it looked like on the outside. I was always surrounded by people. I never struggled in school. One year I was president of the class and another, captain of the football team. But beneath the facade I was struggling. Almost everything in my life was broken and to top it off, I ended up getting kicked out of the house for some bad choices I made. A family down the street, Husted and Patty Lynn (Tony Lynn's parents) let me stay with them until things worked out at home. I saw firsthand what their family looked like, and the importance of faith in their lives. They took me to church with them whenever I was willing to go. I wasn't living with them at the time, but one Sunday I went with them to church. I heard a man preach about the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus in the Bible. Nicodemus was a good man, a leader of his people and a devoted follower of his faith. Nicodemus was everything I was not. Jesus looked at this good and decent man and said, "You must be born again." Those words of Jesus, "You must be born again" grabbed hold of me. I wanted a new birth - a new beginning in life. The preacher went on to share how Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, was buried, and rose from the grave three days later. He invited us to trust in Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord and I did. That moment changed my life. Please don't get me wrong. I readily admit that I'm far from perfect, but I've come a long way since I woke up on that sandy beach years ago. Most of the people around me today, would say that I have a pretty good life. I have a wonderful family, a beautiful home, and a great job. And they're right. I have a pretty good life. That's what it looks like on the outside. And that's what it feels like on the inside. Thank you Jesus! What about you? What's your story? One of the most powerful ways to share the Gospel is your personal testimony. Paul shares his story in Acts 22. He builds his testimony by sharing his life before Christ, how he received Christ, and his life since following Jesus. Give it a try, won’t you?! 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. #APRIL17

ROSCOMMON, MI – I am extremely excited to be afforded the privilege to serve here at the BSCM and especially Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. God has used Bambi Lake to impact many lives in the past, and I look forward with great expectation to many more lives transformed in the future. Great days are ahead! At the recent Men's Retreat at Bambi Lake, the guest speaker spoke of being desperate to see an Awakening - a move of God that would shake the foundations of our nation as individuals surrender to the Lordship of Christ. As he spoke I began to think about the word "desperate". I asked myself "what is desperate" and "am I desperate"? God reminded me of a time when my son, Noah, was 16 months old. We were living in a new house, at a new church and my oldest daughter, Julia, was 3 years old. It was a relaxing Saturday morning and I told my wife, Jackie, to stay in bed and I would give the kids their baths. She thought this was a good idea and went back to sleep as I prepared the tub. I put both children in the tub - Julia in the back and Noah in the front sitting in a bath tub chair for toddlers. I filled the tub a quarter of the way, just enough to cover Noah’s legs and turned off the water. As they were kicking and making waves I decided to check on Jackie and let her know what a great husband she had married. As I headed back to the bathroom the phone rang and I answered. As I was talking on the phone I heard the water running in the bathroom. As quickly and politely as possible I said goodbye and tentatively walked to the bathroom. In the short time I had been gone, Julia had decided to turn the water on full throttle and fill the tub. This in turn caused the toddler seat to flip forward tossing Noah head first into the water. I quickly removed his floating body from the water and placed him on the floor - he was bloated and blue and not breathing! I yelled for Jackie to dial 911 and began to administer CPR, for which I never had training. In those moments, on the bathroom floor as I administered CPR, I began to desperately cry out "God let me have my son back!","God let me have my son back!". Miraculously, by God's hand, before the paramedics arrived Noah had coughed-up all the water and was breathing on his own. God had let me have my son back. Desperate? Yes, I have been desperate for my son, for my family. What about the rest of the world? My neighbors, my co-workers, other people groups, those who believe different than I do? Am I DESPERATE for the salvation of their lives? It is a life and death situation. IT'S TIME TO TELL! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael Schatz, State Director of Spiritual Enrichments and Retreats since March 1, 2017 when he moved from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. He and his wife Jackie have 3 children, Julia, Noah, and Emily. #APRIL17

FENTON, MI – Hey Parents! Are you looking for an opportunity to teach your children that they, too, can be missionaries every day in their own communities and neighborhoods? How about sharing time together with your kids on a project that will not only meet a need in your community but also inspire your family. Do you want to continue to develop your child’s desire to serve others throughout their life? Well, join us for “Love Your Neighbor!” For the past ten years during the month of March, children across Michigan have shared God’s love with people in their communities on Children Ministry Day (CMD). From feeding hungry people to visiting the elderly in nursing homes, boys and girls have been following God’s command to “put your love into action” as they participate in local ministry projects. This year, on March 18th, Children in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade, with their parents and leaders, will meet at eight church locations across Michigan to participate in community outreach events. Children will engage with the CMD 2017 “Love Your Neighbor” theme by giving of themselves to meet needs and share God’s love. As they participate in hands-on projects, the children, parents and leaders, will be reminded to give their all. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your strength and with all your mind. And, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Luke 10:27) This verse is our mantra and our passion. Children’s Ministry Day is an amazing missions experience for girls and boys with their parents and leaders. We are excited that eight churches across Michigan will be hosting this event. Each location will be staffed with qualified, Godly Children’s leaders who have a passion to reflect the love of Christ to your children, and help them experience the joy of missions and helping others. This event is conducted at no charge plus a pizza lunch will be provided. Parents are encouraged to stay on site, or may fill out a permission form at the location if they would prefer to leave their child for the four hour program (10AM – 2PM). Please register with the host church where you are planning to attend so they will be able to plan accordingly for food and project materials. Host churches: Harvest Baptist, 7650 23 Mile Rd, Shelby Twp, MI 48316 Contact: Anne Kinser, 586-731-7650 New Covenant, 4217 Squirrel Rd., Auburn Hills, MI 48326 Contact: Susie Birge, 248-249-0204 Legacy Church, 45301 W. 11 Mile Rd, Novi, MI 48375 Contact: Betty Ward, 248-349-5665 Springview Community, 12881 Andersonville Rd, Davisburg, MI 48350 Contact: Becky Swain, 248-701-0486 Sunrise Baptist, 2138 N. Jefferson Rd, Midland, MI 48642 Contact: Helen Henley, 989-980-0252 The Orchard Church, 4288 US 31, Traverse City, MI 49685 Contact: Sharon Greer, 989-329-4403 Churches hosting on a different day. Please contact leader for more details. Southfield Road Baptist, 14880 Southfield Rd., Allen Park, MI 48101 Contact: Gayle Jones, 314-650-4653 Warren Woods Baptist, 14251 12 Mile Rd., Warren, MI 48088 Contact: Mary Allen, 586-216-6439 Bring your children, be an example,and share the love of Jesus in our world. For more information, click here or call us at 810-714-1907. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett serves as the BSCM Women’s Ministry Director and WMU Michigan Executive Director. #MARCH17

FENTON, MI – It goes without saying that we have just come through one of the most belligerent and divisive political seasons in the history of our great nation. As a result, we as a people will not be the same. As I reflect on our present political atmosphere, I thought it would be appropriate for my first book to review and recommend in this column would be one that covers the life of one of our forefathers. The book that I recommend is John Adams by David McCullough and published by Simon and Schuster. Even though it was released over 15 years ago, it is still most relevant today. It is a nonfiction book that details the life of one of our Founding Fathers and gives us great insight into his foundation, family and faith. Biographies can, at times, be boring and tedious but David does an admirable job in keeping an identifiable human connection before us throughout the pages. The window that it opens to Adam’s friendship with Thomas Jefferson is illuminating and fascinating. The insight that is given into the life of Abigail, his wife and their loving, lifelong relationship is worth the read. It is not a short volume with more than 700 pages, including its source notes, but it will keep you engaged until the last page. This will be a great book for these long winter nights and one that will instill hope amidst our present political climate. 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. #MARCH17