Search Results

MOSCOW (BP) – A new Russian law that prohibits evangelism and preaching outside state-sanctioned sites reminds New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary professor Jake Roudkovski of his days as a youth in the Soviet Union. "Baptist churches in Russia will survive" the law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin July 6 and set to take effect July 20, Roudkovski, associate professor of evangelism and pastoral leadership, told Baptist Press. Such oppression "is nothing new to them.... They will stay faithful to the Gospel." Still, the law "will significantly undercut all of the missionary activities," though it "will not stop missions and evangelism altogether," said Roudkovski, who left the Soviet Union at age 17 but has returned on mission trips. The Red Square in Moscow, including views of St. Basil’s and the museum. (Photo by Cat Norman) The law, part of a package of anti-terrorism measures, will amend a 1997 Russian religion law to ban preaching, praying, proselytizing and disseminating religious materials outside state-sanctioned religious sites, according to a news release from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Russians who share their faith or distribute certain types of religious messages through mass print, broadcast or online media may face fines up to $15,000. Under the law, foreign missionaries must prove they were invited by state-registered religious groups and must operate only in regions where their sponsoring organizations are registered. Missionary groups found in violation face deportation and major fines, according to USCIRF. Jerry Johnson, president of National Religious Broadcasters, said the new law "should be a matter of grave concern and prayerful action by Christians of all nations. Following a pattern of other human rights abuses, Vladimir Putin's Russia is criminalizing a central duty for all followers of Christ -- sharing our faith. In keeping with the Apostle Peter's declaration, 'We must obey God rather than men' (Acts 5:29), I commend the faithfulness of Russia's evangelical Christians and urge believers across the world earnestly to seek God's protection for all those who are being faithful in their witness. I also commend NRB members who are seeking to share the Good News in Russia," Johnson said according to an NRB news release. There has been resistance to the law, according to Forum 18, an organization that monitors religious liberty violations in the former Soviet Union. Russia's Baptist Council of Churches published an open letter of protest to Putin, reminding him the government refused to support earlier attempts to restrict the sharing of beliefs. Legislators responsible for the bill did not seek the views of competent experts or the opinions of believers, the letter stated according to Forum 18. Igor Yanshin, a lawyer and member of a Pentecostal church in Siberia, created an online petition in an attempt to persuade Putin to turn back the bill. After 25,000 people signed the petition in three days, he sent it to Putin on June 29 via the Kremlin website. The petition remains active and reached 37,000 signatures by July 4, Forum 18 reported. USCIRF chair Thomas J. Reese said the new law builds upon a history of religious oppression in Russia. "These deeply flawed anti-terrorism measures will buttress the Russian government's war against human rights and religious freedom," Reese said. "They will make it easier for Russian authorities to repress religious communities, stifle peaceful dissent and detain and imprison people. Neither these measures nor the currently existing anti-extremism law meet international human rights and religious freedom standards." USCIRF listed Russia as a tier two nation in its 2016 Annual Report. In tier two countries, religious liberty violations supported or tolerated by the government are serious as well as "systematic, ongoing and egregious," the USCIRF release stated. The new measure is the most recent in a string of religion laws that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev signed a religion law in 1990 in the waning years of the Soviet Union that opened up more religious freedom to those outside the Eastern Orthodox Church, Russia's dominant Christian group. The Russian Orthodox Church pushed against the expansion of religious freedoms, and Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a law in 1997 that rescinded many of the rights afforded seven years earlier. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Daniel Woodman, who will be a junior journalism major at the University of Missouri, is a summer intern with Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention's news service. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists' concerns nationally and globally. #AUGUST16

FORT WORTH, TX (BP) – Although Emily Mitchell was excited to participate in this year's Crossover evangelism efforts in St. Louis, she often found herself feeling discouraged and, at times, even inferior. Mitchell has only been active in church for about two years, with God calling her to join a congregation one year and to ministry the next. She just completed her first year in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's master's in Christian education program, but struggled with feeling inadequate in sharing her faith compared to other Southwestern students and faculty. As the team began hitting the streets of St. Louis, however, Mitchell had one area of solace. Prior to the trip, God had spoken to Mitchell's heart at a church service in Illinois. "I love you, Emily," she felt Him saying, "not for what you do, but just for who you are." With this as her foundation, Mitchell, who had never led someone to the Lord prior to Crossover, obediently shared the Gospel with those whom God placed in her path. Over the course of her time in St. Louis, as well as the week after, God used Mitchell to bring three people to Christ. "I never memorized the 'Romans Road,' and others on the trip knew it by heart," Mitchell said of her initial feelings of inadequacy. "But each day, as I shared more and more, I began to be more bold, and God brought verses from Romans I didn't even know that I knew!" The first person whom Mitchell led to the Lord was a woman she encountered walking down the street. After sharing with her the message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Mitchell asked the woman if she would like to respond at that moment. When the woman said "yes," Mitchell responded, "Really?!" Mitchell proceeded to lead the woman in prayer, and she became a follower of Christ at that time. The second encounter occurred a few days later. Mitchell accidentally left several books she received while attending the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting at a nearby restaurant in St. Louis. When she returned to retrieve them, the waitress had them waiting for her. "Thank you for keeping these for me," Mitchell said to her. "Have some! They are Christian books. You're a Christian, aren't you?" The waitress replied, "What is the difference? I don't know what a Christian is." Mitchell shared the Gospel with her, and before she even had the chance to extend an invitation, the waitress said, "I want to be a Christian tonight. I want to make that decision." Mitchell and the other Southwestern students with her proceeded to explain to the waitress how to become a Christian, and the woman gave her life to Christ. They then prayed over her and gave her a Bible. When Mitchell returned to Fort Worth, she knew she had been changed by her experiences in St. Louis but nevertheless expected to find "the same routine life" she had left. But before leaving work one day soon after her return, she spent a few minutes sharing with a co-worker about her trip and all that God had done. This recounting of events gradually morphed into a Gospel presentation, and the co-worker's response proved that God was not done using Mitchell in an evangelistic way. "I feel something in my heart right now," the co-worker said, "and I am really excited. I want to say the prayer today. I want to be a Christian." "That's three people who made a decision," Mitchell noted. "All I did was open my mouth with nothing rehearsed and nothing contrived -- just the Holy Spirit using me. Even though those precious souls are very blessed with their newfound faith, I know I am so blessed, too, because God chose me in my weakened state with nothing to boast about, and He loved me enough to use me to share His glory. He is really awesome, and I know now without a shadow of a doubt that He loves me and loves us all as we really are." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alex Sibley is the senior writer/copy editor for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. #AUGUST16

ALPHARETTA, GA – Southern Baptist pastors looking to equip their churches in evangelism have a new tool to employ. The North American Mission Board has launched a blog to bring attention to “evergreen” principles that are working in some of the most evangelistic Southern Baptist churches in North America. Church leaders can already find content on a variety of topics related to these principles on the Your Church on Mission blog, including developing an evangelistic culture, encouraging your people to bring guests, engaging your community through service and strategic thinking. The blog’s content includes both text and videos. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) launched a new blog to bring attention to “evergreen” principles that are working in some of the most evangelistic Southern Baptist churches in North America. NAMB Evangelism Executive Director Joel Southerland (far left) directs the blog, which includes guest authors and video segments. Southerland hosted a three-segment pastor’s roundtable to discuss leading a church on mission. The panel included three highly effective evangelistic senior pastors, Rocky Purvis (second from left), Northside Baptist Church, Lexington, S.C., Steven Kyle, Hiland Park Baptist Church, Panama City, Fla. and Tim Dowdy (far right), Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church, McDonough, Ga. (Photo by NAMB Media) Joel Southerland, NAMB’s executive director for evangelism, says the blog doesn’t focus on “best practices,” because those may not be applicable in different geographic regions and different church sizes. By focusing on the principles behind the best practices, Southerland believes the blog will be universally applicable for Southern Baptist churches. “Evergreen principles should be true regardless of time, technology, culture or context,” Southerland said. “We don’t want to create tools that just applies to churches in the South.” Southerland says while evangelism tools can be helpful for churches, congregations must be ready when the tool no longer works in effectively sharing the gospel. “Many Southern Baptist churches are using these tools—and they’re great—but they all have a shelf life,” Southerland said. “And when the tool is over, too many churches don’t know what to do next. I’ve seen it in my ministry as a pastor. I’ve seen it in other people’s ministries, too. As long as the tool works, it’s great. But the moment the tool stops working we’re back to square one and we’ve missed the larger principles that are in play.” One such blog post by Georgia pastor J.R. Lee, urges pastors to establish an “evangelism culture.” Lee writes that many pastors focus much of their efforts on vision, which he admits is critically important. “Here’s the thing: Culture might be more important,” Lee writes. “Culture will eat your vision for lunch every single day.” He then writes about some of the activities his church has done in an effort to build an evangelistic culture. The blog also includes two video posts, each about 15 minutes long, where Southerland interviews in a conversational manner pastors Rocky Purvis, Steven Kyle and Tim Dowdy. One focuses on the principles behind an on mission worship gathering. The other focuses on helping your congregation live on mission. “Instilling in your people and reminding them to be a missionary doesn’t mean to sign up with the North American Mission Board or the IMB (International Mission Board) and go somewhere,” Dowdy said in the the video about missional living. “You’re on mission every day. Every day that God gives you on this planet, as a believer, you’re on mission. If we can talk about it enough so that when our people are waking up in the morning, what they’re thinking about is not ‘this is an average day’ or ‘this is a pressure-packed day’ or ‘I’ve got a lot of traveling to do,’ but they think this is the day I’m on mission with God.” Each video includes a guide to helps viewers find key points in the interview that address specific topics. To view the blog, visit namb.net/yourchurchonmission. On the page you can also find information about subscribing to it through an RSS feed. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tobin Perry writes for the North American Mission Board. #AUGUST16

Sabrina and I have the privilege of having our two granddaughters Sarah and Abby stay with us for most of the summer. They are full of life and energy and that energy is many times released through their squeals at maximum volume. Both are constantly engaged in something from the time they rise in the morning until they crash in their beds at night. It is all that Sabrina and I can do to keep our eyes open until theirs are closed. We both feel like wrung out wash cloths by the end of the day. Yet, we bask in the joy these two bring to our lives and try to savor each moment. Having our “grandgirls” with us this summer has engendered great thought and contemplation on my behalf, and I have come to the realization that times have changed since I was a boy. I know that may come as a shock to many of you, but as shocking as that may be, the fact is, this is not the land of “Leave It To Beaver, Father Knows Best and Ozzie and Harriet.” What, you might ask, brought me to this world shattering opinion? Well, it was a very simple matter. In fact it is one that is found at the bottom of your legs, right there at the end of your feet. Yes, toes. Stubbed toes to be exact. I have come to realize, today there are very few stubbed toes on the children of our community. The kind of stubbed toes where a good portion of skin and subdermal are peeled back or completely absent because of the barefoot bliss they have enjoyed. It was not a good summer vacation unless there were at least two major “stub’s” during those months. Those badges of unrestrained summer time fun are seldom worn by the ruddy-faced youth of today. In fact, I can’t tell you the last time I saw a young child with a stubbed toe. I believe that one of the reasons for the curious disappearance of stubbed toes is that we are a more affluent society than we were in my childhood. Many today think that if a child is seen playing barefoot, there is some sort of parental deficiency involved. I would not doubt that somewhere laws have been enforced to protect our children’s “little piggies” and to punish such negligent parents. Also, today’s children are more occupied by their computer, video games and television than the children of several decades past. Indoor recreations have replaced the outdoor romps of former days. These pastimes in and of themselves are not the problem; it is just that the imagination is used in many of them is the imagination of the programmers, writers and producers, and not that of the children. His or her playtime is merely the extension of someone else’s enhanced, and might I say “adult” idea of what is fun. I know we cannot go back to the societal atmosphere of years past but so many of our children are missing out on having developed their own personal experiences of playing outside of the mind and frequently skewed perspective of some adults that have no connection to them at all. They just don’t get to create the experience for themselves. It comes in a box or through a transmitter and not from within. Children need to have their own personal experiences in developing the joys and happinesses of life. I am not saying that children today have no personal imaginative experiences, but I am saying that much of what we might call an active imagination is in reality the creation of some guy sitting at a console in the Silicon Valley of California. We need more stubbed toes. We need to experience things for ourselves and not rely on another’s experience. The vicarious encounters of another will never satisfy our own personal needs. When it comes to a relationship with God the same applies. We need to experience it ourselves and not depend on another’s perspective. We need to have our own stubbed toes in life. Not only can we look to them as badges of our life’s experiences, but they can be poignant reminders that we were there and it is more than just an active imagination. Take your shoes off and have a run through life. Remove that which protects you from experiencing life, and keeps you from direct contact with your Maker. You may stub your toe, but I promise the experience will be your own and not someone else’s. 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. #AUGUST16

During the month of September, ask your pastor and church leaders to share the videos that will be distributed by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan for the September State Missions Offering. Please, share them in your small groups and worship services. Share them online through your social network. Some of the amazing stories, below, will be seen on those videos. Greater Grand Rapids Area – A young married couple received the heart wrenching news. She has cancer. They were told to prepare for the worst. Call in Hospice. Make arrangements. But wait, they recalled, “Didn’t God call us to start a new church in the area of Grand Rapids?” This heroic couple, while battling cancer through surgeries and treatments, invited friends to join them in planting a new church. They didn’t offer them salaries. They invited them to sacrifice. Friends resigned from lucrative jobs. Some moved back into their parents’ homes to save money. A church planting movement erupted in Michigan because this couple refused to ignore God’s call. Greater Flint Area – An older church in the Greater Flint area was on life support. The few remaining church members were grieving, anticipating the worst. But, associational leaders and local pastors intervened before the doors were closed. A time of transition prepared this tiny congregation to restart with a new vision. The North American Mission Board, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, the local association, and local pastors created a coalition intent on launching this church on a new mission. The church was able to call a new pastor to lead them into a new future because Michigan Southern Baptists give to the Cooperative Program and the September State Missions Offering. Upper Peninsula – One of our missionaries in the UP reported that two hundred Native American youth, from all over the country, gave their lives to Christ at a Midwest retreat. Those teenagers moved from believing in a Creator to believing in the Crucified and Risen One. Our Native American missionary, serving in the UP, has been moving eastward from his homeland of Oklahoma creating new congregations in his wake. He is currently creating new congregations in the area of Sault St. Marie. God is doing something amazing among the First Nation Peoples. How do I know? Another church planter is burdened for Native Americans in the Lower Peninsula. A church in Greater Detroit for years has been serving Native Americans on an island in one of the Great Lakes. Three individual ministries are coming together to create a movement. Greater Detroit Area – I watched a public school teacher weep as we created a video of a new church planter. She knew him in his early days as a high school student and a track star. Years ago, she poured her life into his life encouraging him to stand out rather than blend in with others. Her investment as a Christian in the public school system paid off. This young man is a popular preacher. He’s raising a family in Detroit. He receives offers from around the nation to become the pastor of established churches. Yet, he hangs on to his call to start a new church in the Greater Detroit area where he grew up because God laid a call on his life. This young church planter and his family depend on the love, prayers, and contributions of Michigan Southern Baptists. Michigan Southern Baptists, your offerings change the world. Cooperative Program – All year long and every time you give to your local church a percentage goes to missionaries in Michigan and around the world. Your gift cuts the cost of education for 20,000 students training for missions and ministry in six seminaries throughout our nation. September State Missions Offering – During the month of September, I hope 100% of our churches will dedicate 5-10 minutes during each worship service to feature the State Missions Offering. Please . . . Watch the videos Pray for our missionaries within the state Give generously September’s four Sundays or thirty days will make a difference if we will watch, pray, and give. Miracles are happening all over Michigan. Please, join the movement. For free downloadable resources to promote the State Mission Offering, visit www.bscm.org/smo. 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. #AUGUST16

She was visibly nervous as she waited for her appointment. Guadalupe was the last patient of the day. The 29-year-old woman had never been treated by a dentist. She openly shared her fear that the dentist would find something seriously wrong - that he would need to remove her teeth because she waited too long to receive dental care. The volunteers all took turns trying to calm the fears of this young mother. The smile on her face after the appointment was infectious. Her teeth were in great shape and she only needed a cleaning! On this day, most patients needed more than a cleaning. The volunteer dentist filled cavities, extracted unrepairable teeth, and did root canals to help people who had limited or no access to dental care. The services that the dentists and hygienist provided was exceptional. Every patient expressed humble gratitude for the dental services during the mobile clinic at First Spanish Baptist Church in Detroit. North American Mission Board Dental Clinic makes its first stop in Detroit. (Photo by Mike Durbin) The new mobile dental clinic is filled with state of the art equipment. It's designed to go where those most in need might be provided dental care, and Detroit was its first stop after being unveiled at the Southern Baptist Convention in June. The mobile clinic is being made available to churches, associations, and state conventions as a part of the North American Mission Board's (NAMB) Send Relief emphasis. Send Relief exists to mobilize churches to provide practical help to meet needs in their communities and to proclaim the life changing hope of the Gospel. First Spanish Baptist Church hosted the clinic and conducted five Backyard Bible Clubs in homes around the church as an outreach. The efforts caught the attention of the community and presented the church many opportunities to share the Gospel. Pastor Eli Garza says, "We are grateful for the opportunity we had to host the clinic. We were able to impact our neighborhood in a way that has never been done by our church. It helped us connect with our neighbors in an easy way that was helpful to them. It also helped us improve our contacts with other ministries in our community. We are grateful for the sacrificial spirit of the doctors and hygienist." The clinic was possible because local dental professionals volunteered to serve. They made an incredible impact helping people through their skills. Dr. Brian Bishop treated patients three hours longer than anticipated to make sure all patients received care. His professionalism, patience and poise brought everyone together as the first day started. There were some glitches, including an air conditioner that quit working, but Dr. Bishop kept everyone focused on helping people. Dental Hygienist, Susan Warren of Memorial Baptist Church, was the first person to volunteer. She heard about the dental clinic and offered to serve in any way needed, and she did. Warren used her professional skills as a hygienist, served as an assistant to the doctor, and cleaned and organized dental supplies. She demonstrated a "whatever it takes" attitude to serve. Dr. Peter Bulthuis injured his foot days before he was scheduled to serve and needed surgery. We expected to cancel his appointments so he could recover. When I called to talk to him about canceling, he replied, "I really want to help my community." His mobility was limited, but he came with his wife Martina to serve. Despite being in a cast, he found ways to move around the quarters of the mobile clinic to treat everyone. You could see the concerned look on his wife's face as he hopped on one foot to move from place to place. In addition, Bulthuis generously offered to treat several who needed additional care in his office. When the dental clinic became available to use in Michigan, Pastor Tim Patterson, Executive Director of the BSCM, led the staff to get involved when he charged "all hands on deck." The cooperative outreach brought together churches, community agencies, and convention partners. NAMB provided the mobile unit, delivered it to the church with a driver, five interns, and a supervisor. Michigan churches sent volunteers to serve at the clinic and lead Backyard Bible Clubs. For a more personal look at the mobile dental clinic from Pastor Eli Garza, click here. 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. #AUGUST16

Dear Dave, We’re working the debt snowball, and together my husband and I make $93,000 a year. The amounts of our remaining three debts are so close we wonder if we should take interest rates into account. Two are student loans for $2,970 and $6,700, while the other is credit card debt in the amount of $4,750. I also got a recent bonus of $3,600. Should we put that toward our debt snowball? Robin Dear Robin, In a strictly mathematical sense, my advice of paying off debt smallest to largest may be wrong, but it’s still the correct advice. Besides, if people were so good at math they wouldn’t have debt in the first place, would they? If I’m in your shoes, I’d have that lowest student loan paid off in a heartbeat with the bonus you mentioned. I’d throw the remainder, along with your regular snowball payments, at the credit card and keep the debt snowball rolling just like I normally advise. When you’re pushing to get out of debt fast, interest rates don’t really matter much when you add up actual dollars on interest spent. If you were going to keep debt around for six or seven years, then we’d have something to talk about. But when you knock out the little debt and immediately plow through the oth ers with a vengeance, it gives a real sense of accomplishment and confidence. Remember, personal finance is 80 percent behavior and only 20 percent head knowledge. So, mathematically speaking, the advice I’m giving you might be a few dollars wrong, but you’ll benefit in other bigger, long-lasting ways by gaining a sense of closure on your debts, learning how to delay pleasure and staying on a plan! – Dave Dear Dave, I’m in the middle of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I’ve worked for years in the automotive industry, but lately I’ve been thinking about a different line of work. The problem is I’m afraid I will be discriminated against when applying for jobs because of the bankruptcy filing. I think the government has given businesses the permission to look at my financial history. Do you have any suggestions? Joe Dear Joe, The government doesn’t give businesses permission to look at your history. They had that right anyway. And it wouldn’t be discrimination, because it’s a part of their analysis as to whether or not they want you working for them. That kind of thing is perfectly reasonable. It’s not discrimination. A lot of this, however, depends on the job and how seriously the employer is considering you. If you’d be doing something where you have to be bonded, then you’ll have trouble because the bankruptcy can prevent you from being bonded. If you would be handling large sums of money or be given access to large sums of money, the Chapter 13 bankruptcy would reflect poorly on you and make you a higher risk. Just be honest and disclose it, Joe. If they ask questions, explain things truthfully and the reasons behind why it happened. Also, don’t carry around a chip on your shoulder about the bankruptcy. We all make mistakes, and the smart ones among us learn from them. I wouldn’t necessarily have an issue with someone just because they had filed bankruptcy in the past, but it would create problems if they tried to hide it from me. – Dave ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 11 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations and digital outlets. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com. #AUGUST16

FENTON, MI - How is your summer going? American summers are made for adventures! Summers are times to reset and reinvent. I saw some of life's greatest changes occur during the hazy days of summer. Elementary school crushes cooled off during summertime. Anna was my first crush when I was in Kindergarten. She had dark wavy hair. She lived only 4 blocks from my home, but back then my parents wouldn't let me cross the streets by myself to visit with Anna. There was no way I was going to ask my mom to walk me to Anna's house. So, when first grade started in September, Anna had lost interest in me. During eighth grade, I was dumbfounded at how my classmates turned into "men" during the summer. You know what I'm talking about. They grew mustaches overnight. Their voices went deep without cracking. If I remember correctly, when I answered our home telephone during eighth and ninth grade everyone assumed I was my mother by the sound of my voice. It was an agonizing experience for a teenage boy. High school held some of the greatest changes: part-time jobs, driver's training, driving permits, followed by the ever-coveted driver's license. Relationships changed who I was. I moved from crushes, dating, to finding true love. Interactions shaped my view of the world and other people. Summer was a time of change. Here we are at midsummer. How are your changes going? Is it an adjustment in attitude? Are you focusing on altering some actions in your life? Have you realized that your affections have been misplaced? Is the pursuit of some ambition, within your reach, leaving you empty? Try something bold while you still have the opportunity. Half of the summer still remains. Reset or reinvent yourself. Be intentional. Be specific. Maybe it would be best to take some baby steps by trying to find out what God wants you to do. Here are some summer suggestions: Go solo. Plan a short interval where you are on your own. Disconnect. Turn off media. Silence social media. Tell your friends and family that you're going to be fine, but you're going off the grid for a few days. Assure them that you will resurface in 3-5 days. Reflect. Read meaningful words. Talk less. Walk the days slowly in an unusual setting. Rediscover the voice of God again. Go team. Set-up a new experience with 4-5 friends or family members. Initiate the conversation and suggest, "Let's do something unusual this summer." You don't have to be in control. Facilitate the fun. Often times my best times weren't because of what I did, it was all about who was included in what I was doing. Remodel a run down something for a neighbor. Take part in a cause. Start and finish something within 2-4 days. The achievement will create a new feeling. Go experimental. Try something new. Ask someone to give you a chance as a volunteer for the remaining weeks of summer. Sweep the sidewalk or floor for a nearby store owner. Mow a neighbor's lawn. Teach a class for someone. Write an article. Take a class. Take someone's task on your shoulders and give them a summer's rest. You might find that you like what you're doing. Don't let routines turn into ruts that rot your life. Summers are times to reset and reinvent. Go mission. Last month, we kicked off "Send Me Michigan Summer Missions." On this website, you will find a list of churches inviting you to come as a short-term volunteer, (click here). Look at the opportunities. Look at the places. Look at the need. Select one. Call the contact. Make your plans. Events can change your life. After you make it through your summer change, and you want to share it with someone, I would be glad to listen. Call me (734) 770-0608 or write me tony@bscm.org. I will celebrate with you. Joshua 1:9 says, "Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go," (NLT). 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. #JULY16

ST. LOUIS, MO - I heard a dozen people say it while we were at the annual SBC June gathering. “This is like a family reunion,” they said. I believe there may be 3 C’s that motivate Southern Baptists to attend the annual Southern Baptist Convention: causes, connections, and celebrations. It may be a simple list, but I see one of those in just about everyone who attends the June meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. First, let’s look at the “cause.” It’s obvious each SBC president has a burden on his heart when he takes office. His sermons and comments echo his concern for the nation. His invited guests amplify the president’s emphasis. The intensity on one subject is timely. But even more so, as I walk the halls and meeting rooms of the annual meeting, it is obvious many of the church messengers come being carried by a cause or they arrive at the convention ready to discover and pursue a cause. There are so many worthy pursuits on display being described. I saw one man having a conversation with another after they had heard Dr. Russell Moore speak. The hipster asked, “Didn’t I tell you that you would love him? He speaks right to the issue. Addressing the culture isn’t hard for Dr. Moore. We have got to get him into our city talking to our pastors. Do you think he will come? Something has to change in our city!” Women were sitting beside a long table displaying dozens of books that the Women’s Missionary Union published. Books from the display were scattered on their 8-foot tablecloth covered table. They traded books feverishly squealing, “You’ve got to look at this one.” A young woman spoke to the older women at the table with a slower, sadder cadence, “We have got to get some of these books to share with the women back home. If I had read things like this I would not have made some of the poor decisions I’ve made. Do you think we can order some now?” Second, there are those who come for the connections. Those are easy to see. A woman screams out from one side of a crowded room to the other side, “Betty Lee, is that you? I haven’t seen you in years, girl. You are looking as beautiful as ever. You don’t look like a grandmother to me!” Men connect in a different way. They huddle up outside the convention doorway. They yell out to past friends from college, seminary, or past churches. They invite the next old friend to come join the huddle. As soon as he steps up they take their jabs at him. “Hey man, you look like you put on some weight.” “Are you still at that country club church or did you get a real place of ministry?” No harm is intended. It’s just what guys do to one another. Those silly connections often ended in spontaneous prayer. Women bowed their heads over their coffee cups on the café table and prayed for a woman who sobbed because her adult daughter was running from God. Men laid their free books on the floor and leaned closer into the huddle with their arms on one another’s shoulders because they learned their absent friend was home preparing for a bone marrow transplant. Those connections seemed to suspend all the crowd’s chaos. Third, there are the celebrations. I think everyone finds things to cheer about at the convention. The International Mission Board reports growing numbers of salvations among certain people groups. The North American Mission Board unveils focused ways to enter communities with the Gospel. Seminary presidents explain that the number of students coming to their schools for ministry and mission training is increasing. Veterans and active duty military personnel fill the front of the auditorium. Southern Baptists love to clap, say “Amen,” and cry over the big wins. At the start of the convention, veterans and active duty military personnel led the entire convention in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the National Anthem. Everyone stood to his or her feet. Right hands covered hearts. Men and women of youth and age saluted with their hands over their brow. Everyone guessed where each man or woman might have served. All of us were celebrating our freedom to serve the God we love. All of us felt the opportunity before us. All of us understood the treasures and resources that are within reach. Dreams of what might be filled our hearts during the first hour of convention. It was a celebration! 1 Peter 2:16 says, “You are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil,“ (NLT). Causes, connections, or celebrations? Come find your desire in Phoenix, AZ at the upcoming annual Southern Baptist Convention on June 13-14, 2017. You can find me. I will be in one of those huddles praying for a friend. 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. #JULY16

TUSCALOOSA, AL (BP) – Fifty-seven percent of Americans live in multihousing communities -- apartment complexes, trailer parks, condo communities and so on, according to figures from the North American Mission Board. In Tuscaloosa, Ala., that number reaches closer to 65 percent, mainly because of the universities in the area, said Eric Boykin, missional strategist for Tuscaloosa Baptist Association since 2013. Since taking on the role in Tuscaloosa, Boykin has seen God open doors for more than 30 multihousing ministries -- something near to his heart since he was raised in Section 8 housing and adopted at age 9. Across the state of Alabama, Boykin explained, 50 percent of those who live in a regular-sized single family home are connected to some kind of evangelical church. But according to NAMB, only 5 percent of those who live in a multihousing community are connected to a church. Where the lostness is! "What that means is ... if you live (in a multihousing community in Alabama) you are 10 times less likely to go to church than if you lived in a home," Boykin said. "That's significant. Especially since 65 percent of our city lives in these kind of communities. They are spiritual black holes. This is where the lostness is." To reach those spiritual black holes of the state Boykin and his team at the association formed a strategy for starting what they call "missional communities," where they strive for "something spiritual" happening in the area. But he's not doing it alone. Boykin has gathered and trained a network of volunteer leaders -- made up of pastors, single people, mothers, students, retirees -- and meets monthly with them in locations across the county where they pray together, share strategies, compare notes and "see what they can do to work on the outreach together." NAMB also provided Tuscaloosa Association with 25 student missionaries in 2014 to live onsite and work in communities in Tuscaloosa every day to build intentional relationships with the hopes of starting missional communities. Established communities Some of the missional communities already established are at Green Village and Wood Village, both trailer parks, as well as Section 8 apartment complexes, The Links & Greens at Tuscaloosa. In January 2015, Boykin helped implement the missional community strategy across 11 metro areas of the state -- including Mobile, Montgomery, Auburn and Huntsville. NAMB and the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) have each provided $25,000 to implement the strategy and fund one part-time missionary in each of the 11 metro locations. Each missionary is a multihousing strategist (MHS) for that area, Boykin explained. Training up leaders MHS's are trained at a "Learning Lab" to see how the strategy has been implemented in Tuscaloosa and participate in the monthly network gathering. The end goal of the strategy is that each one of these missionaries will plant four missional communities in multihousing communities in the year -- or 44 missional communities across the state by the end of the year. In each missional community, leaders teach those who participate in a Bible study or other small group outreach how to study the Bible for themselves, Boykin said. Boykin noted, "We ask three questions: What does the Scripture say? What does it mean? What does it matter? We ask those three questions after studying the Bible together. We want (residents) to be able to do this themselves as opposed to needing a pastor or a Sunday School teacher to come in and lead them. We don't want them to depend on someone outside." So what's the secret to success in reaching multihousing communities in Tuscaloosa, and now other areas? It takes organization, prioritization and prayer, Boykin said. "First of all we cannot reach people with a program," Boykin said. "These are people. So we do ministry to focus on people by using the acronym PEOPLE: P – Pray with fervency. E – Engage the culture. O – Open the Word. P – Prepare key leaders. L – Launch sustainable ministries. (Bible studies, kids club, English as a Second Language classes) E – Exit with care. "Find the 'Lydia' of the community so they can be equipped and lead the ministry ... building sustainability to the ministry," Boykin said. Support from NAMB and SBOM has made it possible for Boykin to share this strategy in even more areas across the state, starting with multihousing ministry luncheons -- informational meetings held this spring in Opelika, Gadsden, Dothan, Birmingham, Bessemer, Montgomery, the Shoals area, Mobile, Baldwin County and Huntsville. At the Shoals area luncheon, held April 19 at Highland Park Baptist Church, Muscle Shoals, Boykin shared with more than 15 leaders and volunteers about the multihousing community strategy and had Bryant McGee, missions intern at Highland Park Baptist and MHS for the Shoals area, discuss how he's been a part of starting two large missional communities in the past year. McGee, a junior at the University of North Alabama in Florence, said, "We've been working at Sheffield Homes (a Section 8 area of town) ... and have seen 50 people come to Christ. It's just been awesome." McGee orchestrates a team of volunteers who host a weekly kids club at Sheffield Homes, noting that an average of 43 kids participate in the club. "Multihousing ministry could be anything but our main goal is to make something that will last," McGee said. "I report to Eddy Garner (director of missions for Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association, who then reports to Boykin) and I train people to take up the roles. A lot of my workers are high school and middle school students who are taking on teaching roles, recreation roles and craft roles." Rick Barnhart, director of SBOM's office of associational missions and church planting, who participated in the luncheon, suggested that church leaders consider planting "persons of peace" into communities they are trying to reach. Persons of peace "Be the person of peace and be the instrument in the community to lead," Barnhart said. "Find students ... that want to live the life of Christ out and be missional all around the state. Commission them to be missionaries ... in their apartment complexes." Above all else, when trying to reach multihousing communities, "don't go in there and do a one-time event," Barnhart said, "because you'll ruin the opportunity for folks to come in the future." Boykin noted, "If you're going to make a difference, it's not about the pictures or leaving a gift. It's about loving them and staying there. It's a process. There's a lot of struggle in those communities. There's not going to be a quick fix. We've got to dig deep." And Highland Park Baptist plans to dig even deeper at Sheffield Homes. Because there's been such a strong foundational relationship, the church plans to open a preschool in the complex in the future. But starting an outreach is not about growing the church, Pastor Brett Pitman said. "Your church exists for the Kingdom," he said. "Your church was birthed at a certain point and it's going to die at some point. They won't last forever. We've got to do everything we can to advance the Kingdom." And for Boykin, seeing missional communities flourish is "one of the most exciting things to be a part of in ministry," and working with NAMB and SBOM in this one-of-a-kind relationship is "just a win-win-win for everybody." For more information, contact Eric Boykin at eric@tuscaloosacba.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neisha Roberts is editorial production coordinator for The Alabama Baptist (www.thealabamabaptist.org), newsjournal of the Alabama Baptist Convention. #JULY16

FENTON, MI – It's fun to look at photos and remember the special moments captured by them. I was recently scrolling through my photo stream and rejoiced at the images I captured from baptismal services in Michigan Baptist churches. One photo was taken on the deck of a church planter's home on a cold winter night. There was snow piled on the edges of the deck to make room for the baptistery and steam rising from the water as several people publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus. Another picture recorded the moment when a church planter baptized the woman who (unknown to either of them at the time) would become his wife. A smile broke out on my face as I looked at the photos from a pastor baptizing his daughters at a lake in Holly. Every baptism tells a story of someone who has been transformed by Jesus. Baptisms are times of celebration as believers profess their faith. Baptisms are exciting times for churches, families, and especially for those being baptized. They are also one of the ways we measure the advancement of the Gospel. Sadly, baptisms across the SBC are trending downward. In 2014, The Pastors’ Task Force on SBC Evangelistic Impact & Declining Baptisms reported, "SBC baptisms reached a plateau in the 1950s, peaked in the 1970s, and have stayed fairly constant since that time. However, the last 6 years show a downward trend in both SBC church membership and baptisms." What is happening nationally is also happening in Michigan. Baptisms have declined from 1367 in 2011 to 838 in 2015 - a reduction of 529. This trend concerns all of us. While there are many factors involved, let me suggest 4 possible actions your church could consider as you proclaim and live the Gospel: 1. Schedule evangelism training. Take a moment to look at your church calendar and you may discover that it's been a long time since your church had an evangelism training to equip your people. There are many evangelism approaches and training helps available. Go to BSCM.org and click on the Sending header. Take a look at The 3 Circles, Life on Mission resources or the One Verse Evangelism helps. These are highly relational and easily learned approaches to share Christ. 2. Take another look at your community. Communities are changing at a rapid pace opening new opportunities to share the Gospel. One helpful way to look at your community with fresh eyes is to request a free report from The Mapping Center available at the BSCM website. It can help you understand your community and develop strategies to engage the people around your church with the Gospel. 3. Lead your church to pray for family and friends. Pray 4 Every Home is a movement of people and churches praying for their neighbors. By signing up as a Praying Neighbor on our BSCM website, you will receive a daily email list of five people in your neighborhood to pray for by name. 4. Request an Evangelism Grant to reach out to your community. Churches can apply for two evangelism grants a year for up to $5,000 each depending on the strategy and church investment. Consider using a full-time evangelist to hold a revival or other harvest event. The never changing message of Jesus transforms lives! As believers profess their faith in Christ and are baptized, God is glorified, the church is encouraged, and the Gospel is proclaimed. 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. #JULY16

RICHMOND, VA – Hope* lived on a farm with her family. Her father had an office job and raised chickens on the side. They had a simple life, but she loved it. When she wasn’t studying, she hung out with her girlfriends and went to school parties. For holidays, she would visit her aunts, uncles and grandparents. They would play games and go out together. She dreamed of going to university and becoming a pharmacist. Then came the war. She fled Syria with her family. Her 5-year-old brother was shot in the leg and sent to the U.S. with his mother for treatment. She has not seen either of them in more than two years. Her aunts, uncles and grandparents are now scattered in different countries. She has few friends and raises her siblings in place of her mother. Hope is now 18 years old. Her life is now cooking for her family, cleaning the house, doing laundry, and getting her siblings ready for school. Otherwise, she spends her time reading, watching television or on her phone trying to keep up with family and friends from Syria. Her father works with cinder blocks and concrete to provide for the family, but they can barely pay the rent. This family, like so many others, wants nothing more than a safe place to be together. Their homes have been destroyed, their lives ripped apart. Yet even as they cry out for compassion – with their eyes, their voices, their very existence – others are doing everything they can to provoke us to fear. Brussels. Turkey. Paris. They strike in the places we thought safest. We feel the temptation to paint with broad fearful strokes about these people whom Jesus loves. These are the people I moved overseas to reach, and they now live down the street from many of you. As followers of Jesus, our reality is not one of fearing terrorists or hoping in governments. Our reality is the transforming love of Jesus for the world. Jesus told us, “And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in hell” (Matthew 10:28). And what does God require of us? To feed the hungry, care for the sick, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned (Matthew 25:31-46). Let us, therefore, act out of love and leave the consequences in the hands of our Heavenly Father, who sovereignly promises to work all things for good (Romans 8:28). Let us trust Him for that. (*Name changed) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brian Andrews is a writer for IMB based in the Middle East. #JULY16