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by Becky Ferraro GARDEN CITY, MI – I pulled up my calendar today to count how many days of summer vacation we have left, and could not believe that it is almost over. As we enter another school year, our children can have many different emotions; excitement, fear, happiness, loneliness, and nervousness are just a few. These feelings are very real to our children. This is a fantastic time to disciple them, and point them to their Creator. During the weeks leading up to the first day of school, talk to your children about what things they are excited about, and what they are nervous about. Pray with them about these things, guide them to Scriptures that teach God’s truths in the situations they will be facing, and write them down on note cards. As fears arise and triumphs come during the school year pull out the cards, and write out the testimony of what has happened. This is a wonderful way to help your kids lean on their Heavenly Father’s promises to them and reflect on how God has answered their prayers. Many of us are on different educational paths with our children. As parents, we can be tempted to think that one way is better than another. As Christian parents, our job is to lead, disciple, teach, and love these children given to us to raise. Just as our children are all unique, our educational paths will also be unique. Do not let Satan divide us on which educational path we feel is the best. I want to encourage you as parents to always take several weeks to pray about which educational path is best for your children (public school, private school, or homeschooling). During the school year pray for all the families in your social circles and encourage each other. May you lean on God’s wisdom and protection this next school year. I pray that you enjoy these incredibly special years of raising children for His glory. As your children enter this new school year, look at it with anticipation to the amazing things God will be doing in their hearts and enjoy being blessed with a front row seat as you watch what God has planned for them. “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured the cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.” -- Hebrews 12:1-2 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Becky Ferraro is the wife of Pastor David Ferraro. She is the mother of 7 children and has been homeschooling for the past 13 years. In her free time, she coaches baseball, substitutes in the public school, serves on the leadership board of Homeschool Academy, Wayne, MI and is the Preschool Director at Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City, MI. #SEPTEMBER22

by Art Werry CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI – Where has the summer gone? For that matter, where has 2022 gone? And here we are, at the beginning of a new school year. As Tricia and I get ready to send Hannah off to her senior year, it's a good time to think about how we should face the coming year. The last few school years have been difficult to say the least. School shootings. COVID-19. Unbiblical practices and values being taught to our children. Our Christian faith is being tested in ways we have never experienced in our lifetime. Is it any wonder we are seeing a dramatic rise in cases of depression and anxiety? In previous years, along with our children, we’ve experienced nervousness as the start of school draws closer - but not like this. Now for the good news, as we think about the coming year, let’s be reminded of two important truths. First, let’s remember God is in control. Yes, if we are not careful, this profound truth will ring in our ears like a hollow cliché. But within those four words lies great comfort and assurance. We can take comfort in trusting that God is in control of whatever will happen to our children at school and even at home, for that matter. The psalmist reminds us, our great God never sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4). Through all the ups and downs of the coming year, we want to send our children out the door with confidence that God is in control. We may feel like we are sending our children off into a war zone, but in reality, they are never out of God’s sight or away from His presence - no matter where they are. Make sure your children hear you speaking your faith and not your fears. Look for ways to calm their fears by pointing to our faith in God. Our children need us to help them keep their feet firmly planted on the Rock. Second, in addition to remembering God is in control, we should remember that we have a job to do. Each year, it seems like the light of the gospel shines less brightly. Instead of pulling back in fear, let’s step into the new school year with a renewed commitment to living out our faith. What better way than to regularly remind our children that they are going out as missionaries for Jesus? Find fun ways to help them start gospel conversations, maybe with a t-shirt or a notebook with a Christian message on it. When they come home and tell you about their day, use these teachable moments to help them learn how to weave the gospel into their day. Unfortunately, there will be days that provide the opportunity to teach “turn the other cheek” and “forgive as you have been forgiven.” But school provides perfect real-life examples of how we are to integrate our faith into our everyday lives. Going over the basics with our children is also a good way for us parents to be reminded as well. This year, when we kick the kids out of the nest to go face the world - let’s do it with confidence and purpose. As the missionary William Carey said, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tricia and Art Werry live in Clinton Township with their daughter, Hannah, and their dog Luna. Art has been pastor of New Life, Fraser for over 30 years. Tricia is the Administrative Assistant at Audio Sentry, a security firm in Fraser. #SEPTEMBER22

NOTE: The following poem is very long but has short verses. I am recommending it as a sample of the encouragement that God gave His people in times of hardship times of suffering and persecution. Doru Radu Golgotha Romanian Baptist Church, Warren, Michigan The Chick* Forlorn, all by himself in the shell the bright golden chick has finally felt ill at ease -- downright uncomfortable! For he discovered his world had somehow shrunk! “What could this be?” he thought. “What tragedy has befallen on me that I should live in this tiniest of homes that’s here becoming, smaller and smaller?... That I should find insufficient room lying on my face or on my back. And if this were not enough, Look, there’s this silly beak getting in my way. Alas, let me speak in bitterness, as fools do… But the beak is deaf as it falls limp now on the left, now on the right, like a beam in a useless dangle. On top of it all, two beady eyes appeared. And heavy wings have sprung out. To what purpose I know not! And here below there appeared a pair of long, crooked claws, that did pierce my belly. Lord, why ever did you give me these gifts that are so burdensome to me? And, turning on his side, The chick began to softly cry for the very first time in his life… But, knock-knock, who on the outside is calling? Fear grips him so... Whoever could it be, but really who?... And so, as if in a dream the chick responded to the call. Look! While knocking away, a window to the outside world is blown! Oh, Lord, what wonder, matchless sight this is! There, how wide it all is, for him to play at will, to lie down to sleep! And a voice so sweet does break a mother-like echo is being heard: Do come now! And jumped our chick out of his old nest. What joy it is to have eyes, and ears, too! How wonderful light is … To drink it all in! But what is this? A tender blade of grass … And lifting his eyes into the bright sunshine, the chick his first move did make! And then, as time flies, his eyes upon a well ripened grain did fall. Mmm! It tastes so good! And on a leaf of sweet basil a small beetle could be seen. But Lord, my beak is not at all misplaced! For here in the new land, what could I have done? if I had no wings, no claws; what was so burdensome in his hermit-like cocoon? Poor little chick … Brethren, his story is but ours … Honesty, purity, mercy, sacrifice, a humble heart, and heavy tears, kindness, and long sighing for the stars – well, what could we do with all these down here below? To be speechless as the sheep, when led to the sheerer; to be longsuffering, to aspire after no riches no name to try to make; to love him, who would if he could completely bruise you – well, what use would all these be in the world? When under the sun only the sly grin, only the heavy, grave pace only the gloved hand who looks after its own best; yea, when life is but a game where all come to the crossroads and throw at you only thorns and shards unlimited, you, should take up the cross and quietly carry, humble though with spittle covered ... Oh, Father, Merciful Creator, Why ever did you give us Gifts that seem such a burden? Why? Don’t you know? But wait a minute … There comes a time, when over this world a shout will be heard … Knock, Knock, knock! And in this old house a window will be opened to that marvelous world out there. And then, my brother, how good it will be to have done all this sighing? to have cross marks on your shoulders, and your temples furrowed by thorns? To have your face shining by the tears you shed! For all these will turn into white wings and light tunics and a ruby-filled crown and a kingly rod, that worlds will know how to handle (as John told us!), when across our foreheads the eternal Name will brilliantly shine: JESUS ! *Translated from Romanian by Dorin Motz of Washington, D.C. Published with his approval Costache Ioanid (Romanian poet, born 1912 in Ukraine, died in 1987, in Portland, Oregon) {1} This Christian poet could not publish in communist Romania, but God used his work to enhance the faith of His children who learned his poems by heart, copied them by hand or tape-recorded them. #SEPTEMBER22

by Timothy Cockes LAKE PLACID, NY (BP) – As the areas around Upstate New York prepare to host the Winter World University Games in January, Southern Baptist churches are preparing to serve. Scheduled for Jan. 12-22, 2023, the World University Games is an international sports competition for collegiate athletes from across the world taking place every two years in a different location. More than 1,600 athletes will compete in events such as skating, skiing, hockey, snowboarding and curling, and more than 40,000 people are estimated to be in the region for the games. Attendance is expected to rival that of the 1980 Olympics held in Lake Placid. Ryan Schneider is pastor of Saranac Lake Baptist Church and lead chaplain for the University Games. He said the event will be a great evangelistic opportunity for those in the area, including his own congregation. “If our population is jumping by so much, we have a responsibility to share and reach people with the Gospel,” Schneider said. “My challenge that I laid down is I would love to see all our church members at Saranac Lake to serve at least three of the 10 days of the games in some capacity.” Much like the Olympics, competing athletes will be housed in four villages across the four geographical areas across the Upstate region where events will be held – Potsdam-Canton, Saranac Lake, Queensbury and Lake Placid. At each of the four sites, Schneider explained, there will be an evangelical chaplain there to minister to the athletes. All of the chaplains have either competed in high-level athletic competition themselves or ministered as a chaplain during an Olympic games. Though the chaplains are important, Schneider said it will take more than their work to minister at such a big event. For this reason, the chaplains will also be highlighting and promoting the work of local churches. Schneider said there is one Southern Baptist church near each of the four areas where events will be held, and supporting them will be a high priority. “We realize that each community is unique and so the ways that they will reach their communities will be different, and so we’re just empowering the local SBC church and that pastor to really drive the train in their community for the ministry,” Schneider said. Several other churches in the local Baptist associations – Adirondack and Hudson – will be sending volunteers to help the four churches in their ministry at the games. Additionally, some mission teams will be traveling from out of state to volunteer with the churches during the games. Many volunteers helping with the games will be trained to use the 3 Circles evangelism method by representatives from the Baptist Convention of New York. Ministry plans among the four churches leading the way will include holding worship and evangelistic sermons at off-campus sites around the games, as well as volunteering in an official capacity at the games themselves. Volunteering at the games will include anything from ticketing, ushering, security and hospitality. One of the four churches located near a site of the games is Lake Placid Baptist Church. Jim Koenig is the senior pastor of Lake Placid Baptist Church, which is one of the four Southern Baptist churches located near the sites for the games. Lake Placid members will be serving as official volunteers for the games, Koenig said, and the church will be renting out a local theater downtown to have daily afternoon worship services where they Gospel will be shared. Koenig said he believes there is always value is simply being present with people. “We have been praying for the Gospel opportunities God will create for us just because we showed up,” he said. “Evangelism is no longer an event or an activity that we do quickly, it is a process and serving at the games creates relationships and evangelistic opportunities for us. I think there is great value in showing up and being invested in a community that will reap a harvest.” Showing up and ministering during athletic competition has always been a part of the DNA of Lake Placid since the 1980 Winter Olympics were held there. The church actually traces its origins to that time, when Southern Baptists began to gather in the area to prepare for the upcoming Olympics. In addition to smaller athletic events happening regularly, the Upstate New York area is home to the second-oldest Ironman Triathlon events in the North America. “Serving at these events has given the church a good standing in the community, because we’re seen as good neighbors that are involved in the activities that make our community thrive, and that’s really celebrated,” Koenig said. Schneider said the games will be an important evangelistic moment for New York churches. “Through all of these great plans, it all comes down to being Spirit-led and available for God to use us during the games,” Schneider said. “We’re asking people to pray and fast before the games and during the games for us. I would people to pray for boldness in sharing the Gospel. “In Matthew 28 we are sent out to go to all nations with the Gospel, but this event brings all nations to us, so our responsibility is to share the Gospel and be available to do that. When I look at what God is bringing here, we have a responsibility to share.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer. #SEPTEMBER22

by Tobin Perry ALPHARETTA, GA (BP) – Mickey Caison and his team of South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were exhausted when they pulled into First Baptist Church of Homestead, Fla., on the evening of Aug. 25, 1992, just one day after Hurricane Andrew barreled into South Florida with winds of around 141 miles per hour. The team had arrived in the area that morning and spent the day preparing to distribute food to those impacted by the hurricane. After getting to the church, they had a short team meeting and prepared for bed. That’s when the team heard police car sirens rushing toward them. A police officer in full riot gear met Caison outside of the church. “You can’t be here,” he told Caison. “We have permission though,” Caison said. “You don’t understand,” the officer told Caison. “There are hundreds of people outside waiting to steal everything you have. You can’t stay here, and I can’t protect you here.” That’s when the officer led Caison and the rest of the team to a nearby middle school surrounded by a chain-link fence so the police could provide better protection. Despite the difficult beginning, the next few weeks would be full of productive ministry for Southern Baptists responding to one of the most damaging natural disasters in American history. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers prepared 2.5 million meals to help those affected by Hurricane Andrew. That was the highest total until 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Caison led SBDR for more than 23 years at the Brotherhood Commission followed by the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He calls the SBDR response to Hurricane Andrew – along with its responses to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy – key turning points for the ministry. The Southern Baptist response to Hurricane Andrew was one of the SBC’s early multi-front disaster responses, deploying volunteer teams to both South Florida and Louisiana. Although Caison says the hurricane’s destruction didn’t cover a large land mass, it hit high-population areas hard. “There was massive damage in a high-population area,” Caison said. “So, when it came through there and the damage that was done, it afforded us not only a longer response in feeding operations, but it gave us an opportunity to engage more volunteers. It gave a taste of this kind of ministry to people who had not been involved in it.” Caison says that back in 1992, SBDR didn’t have the strict requirements for training and background checks, which made it easier to get involved. “It gave us a larger television presence, which was a public relations opportunity with new news media covering the activity,” Caison added. “It didn’t just cover the damage and the deaths and injuries, but it moved into the response activity for not only Southern Baptists, but other organizations, as well.” As the director of Florida Baptist Men at the time, Cecil Seagle knew business as usual for disaster relief wouldn’t work with the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Until then, most disaster relief work centered on feeding units. While Southern Baptists fed more people after Hurricane Andrew than any preceding disaster, Seagle wasn’t content with leaving the work there. John Sullivan, who served as the Florida Baptist Convention’s executive director from 1989 to 2015, had made available all non-essential state convention employees to disaster relief work. “They slept on floors. They slept in hot, hot buildings, and they stayed with us through this entire time,” Seagle said. “So, I rejected the notion of one-and-done feeding and we’re done because we knew that the devastation was at such a magnitude that we could make an impact.” Seagle dispatched disaster relief teams throughout communities, discovering needs and then networking in the evening with other volunteers about how they might meet those needs. He says Florida Baptists, with the support of all Southern Baptists, were committed to staying and meeting the needs of South Florida until all the money and volunteers ran out. “God miraculously gave us crew after crew after crew as we organized,” Seagle said. “And lumber – North Carolina absolutely overwhelmed us with materials that let us stay in there. And hundreds and hundreds of homes were rebuilt over those years.” Seagle says Florida Baptists learned several important insights through their experience serving South Florida during that time. They took those insights and created the state’s first disaster relief manual, which was critical as the disaster relief ministry in the state grew. The state initially had 500 trained disaster relief volunteers and a single feeding unit. Realizing through their response to the hurricane that they needed more volunteers and more resources, Florida Baptists began to emphasize disaster relief. In time, the state built one of the most effective disaster responses in the country. “I thank God for Southern Baptists who came,” Seagle said “Somehow, the Father allowed us to survive all of that and actually to thrive. It was a marker and a half for Kingdom work across South Florida.” Caison, a South Carolina Baptist pastor at the time, describes it as a spiritual marker in his own life. He had first gotten involved in SBDR when Hurricane Hugo devastated the area north of Charleston in 1989. Through his church’s response to Hurricane Hugo, Caison had met and started relationships with several leaders at the SBC’s Brotherhood Commission. But during Hurricane Andrew, as he led teams into South Florida, he strengthened those relationships. At one point, he was asked to represent Southern Baptists at the Red Cross headquarters in Miami. In June 1994, he became the first national director of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, a position he held for 23 years. Richard Brunson had become the director of North Carolina Baptist Men just a few months before Hurricane Andrew, and the response was the first as the leader of the state’s disaster relief work. Like Caison and Seagle, Brunson says Hurricane Andrew belongs in a long list of defining moments for SBDR. “In the life of most of us who worked in disaster relief, [Hurricane Andrew] was the first,” Brunson said. “It was the most devastating at the time, and it was different. We had to create new ways of [serving]. I think God inspired all those new ways and gave people vision. God was the one leading in that and bringing us along with how we could serve, in what we needed to do, and what kind of equipment we needed and how we needed to train people so that we could glorify Him in a greater way.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tobin Perry is a writer living in Evansville, Ind. #SEPTEMBER22

by Stan Parker LANSING, MI – Pastor Stan Parker and Faith Fellowship Baptist Church (FFBC) held their Annual Praise in the Park Block Party at the Walsh Park in Lansing on July 30, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 the event was not held the last two years. Historically Praise in the Park Block Party is an anticipated event for the Potter Walsh community and this year the same was true. Faith Fellowship is thanking God for over 150 individuals attended this year. As usual there were a few VIP guests such as, Andy Schor, Mayor of Lansing, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and other Lansing dignitaries. The event kicked off with a powerful prayer and hand clapping, toe tapping musical from Spoken Praise. Their lively singing set the tone for the rest of the event. Entertainment included contemporary Gospel singing and down-home quartet style singing. Each performer ministered a soulful praise to God, and an uplifting spiritual message to the community members. The community responded with full praise and worship. In addition to praise and worship there was family entertainment for everyone to enjoy. The family entertainment consisted of games, giveaways, and a Community Family Resource Fair to provide the attendees with information regarding health and Wellness. Children played games such as Ducks in a Pond, outside bowling, and enjoyed a Bounce house. Adults and children participated in creative Christian designs for faces painting. The Grand prize giveaways for adults and children, are one of the highlights of this event. There were three bikes given away to children, and gift cards given to adults. This is always a blessing to the families who receive the prize. This event indeed was a day of fun, fellowship and food. However, the highlight of the event was more than physical. The most important aspect of the Annual Block Party is when the attendees have an opportunity to surrender their life’s to Jesus Christ. Faith Fellowship is praising and thanking God for 32 confessions of Faith at this event. The church will be conducting follow up with these individuals through the end of September. The goal of the follow up is to have at least 5 communication touches with all of those who decided to surrender to Jesus Christ as Savior. Faith Fellowship Baptist Church is grateful to BSCM for their support, FFBC also is thankful for its members, the host of volunteers who came and supported this event. For more information about Faith Fellowship Baptist Church events please contact us at 517-853-9897 or ffbc1001@gmail.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Stan Parker serves as senior pastor of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church. He is on mission during his spare time, traveling domestically and internationally. He is the author of several publications, and serves as a regional director for the National African American Fellowship within the Southern Baptist Convention. #AUGUST22

by James R. Ellsworth TECUMSEH, MI – Alaska Mission ministers to many villages in the Nome, Alaska region. One of these villages is Stebbins, Alaska on the Island of St. Michael’s, population 700. Brenda Crim is the director of Alaska Mission. When asked, “What can the people of Michigan do materialistically for a group?” She replied, “Tennis Shoes.” In March of 2022 an eleven-member team from Michigan headed to Alaska led by Pastor Dan Russel. This team joined 30 others from around the country and headed to Nome, Alaska to help Alaskan Mission with the Iditarod dog sled race. While in Nome, the team served the Iditarod itself as security for both the dogs and the race itself. Volunteers also helped at the homeless shelter, children’s home, battered women’s shelter. There was a local men’s and women’s double elimination basketball tournament. The mission team took turns at the basketball tournament cooking and serving concessions. The proceeds from all the sales went to the battered women’s shelter. The winters in Stebbins are long and hard. In the dead of winter, there is only 5 or 6 hours of sunlight. There are no shoe stores here. It takes 2 plane rides to get to a town with a Walmart. The cost of round-trip plane tickets alone can be as much as $1,500, and on the return trip if you have more than 50 pounds in cargo the airline will charge you extra. The school principal in Stebbins sent the Michigan mission team the sizes of all 238 students in the Stebbins school system from pre-K through the 12th grade. Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church (TMBC) along with the Lendale Association spearheaded the mission project. 575 pairs of shoes were collected and shipped to Alaska. A local store donated 106 pairs of shoes. More were donated. Many were purchased. The shoes arrived this July and are being distributed to the kids in Stebbins as they start the new school year. From Tecumseh to Stebbins, boxes and boxes of shoes. Sometimes the best mission trips start with a question. ABOUT THE AUTHOR James (Jim) is a member of Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church, Tecumseh Michigan. Jim has been married to Connie (Michelle) for 13 years. Jim is a member and an endorsed Chaplain with NAMB of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. #AUGUST22

by Julie Redmond Donavan In 1974, Tony Lynn heard the gospel from a bivocational pastor at First Baptist Church in Swartz Creek, Michigan. As a result Lynn became a Christian, and in his youth he thought God was calling him to be an engineer and build buildings for the Lord. “God called me to build people for the Lord rather than buildings,” Lynn said he learned later. His girlfriend (now wife), Jamie, encouraged him in the call as a pastor knowing her life would look different as a pastor’s wife. Lynn has since served 20 years in local congregations in Kentucky and Michigan, 13 years as a pastor overseas and now as state director of missions and a church planting leader at the Baptist State Convention of Michigan for seven years. He believes his background has prepared him to serve in the role he has today — along with a doctorate in postmodernism. “My life verse is Acts 20:24,” Lynn said. “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus — the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful grace of God. “My life is not centered on preaching directly anymore,” he noted. “I am not center stage, but others are so they can bring others to Christ. I am doing ministry from a supportive role now and I want to see others succeed in sharing the gospel.” Why a need for church planting? “Michigan is known for its factories, high production, pharmaceuticals, research, transportation and for the longest freshwater shoreline in the world,” Lynn noted. “Why not be a state that produces the gospel?” He said many people travel through Michigan, especially international college students. “So many people come to our universities, and they return to their countries as missionaries,” Lynn explained. The international influence in Michigan combined with Lynn’s background in overseas missions has opened doors for people who speak different languages to come together and hear the gospel. “Having been international missionaries in Africa and France made me and my wife more aware of the culture around us,” Lynn explained. “We have seen accelerated growth of Spanish, Arabic and Asian people in the last few years, and now we are having language assessments for non-English-speakers to prepare them for church planting.” Growing churches As church planting grows in Michigan, the convention is seeing church plants grow other churches and become sending churches. As a result, preachers are coming together, interacting with one another, coaching and collaborating, Lynn said. More preachers are coming to Michigan to help plant churches and they are risking their lives by leaving secure jobs and moving their families. “The process of church planting has been owned and it is important to all churches in Michigan — preachers want to see other preachers succeed,” Lynn declared. Tasks and friendships He said he helps more than 50 church plants and church planting families in Michigan, and wants preachers and church planters to know they are not alone. “One of the beauties of my job is that it leads to close friendships that last a lifetime,” Lynn said. “This is surprising to most people. I am here, as well as the rest of the convention, to serve preachers and new church planters, not to direct their agenda.” He noted that as the state director of missions and church planting leader his job is to help every preacher and church be successful at the calling God has placed on them. To learn more about the Baptist State Convention of Michigan’s church planting efforts through the North American Mission Board’s Send Network , click here. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie Redmond Donovan writes for The Baptist Paper, a national publication that gives you credible, balanced news you can trust from a Christian worldview. The Baptist Paper is a product of TAB Media Group, which has published The Alabama Baptist newspaper since 1843. #AUGUST22

by Allen Ballard VANDERBILT, MI – In 1867 on a farm in South Africa, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs saw a stone glistening in the sun. The shining rock was eventually reported to a neighbor, who wanted to buy it from the family. Not knowing its value, Erasmus’ mother told the neighbor, "You can keep the stone, if you want it." Eventually, a mineralogist determined the stone to be a 21.25 carat diamond and worth a great sum. It became known as the "Eureka Diamond." (The Greek word eureka means "I found it!") Soon the fields near the Jacobs’ farm soared in value. Underneath the land was one of the richest diamond deposits ever discovered. Jesus said that the value of being part of God’s kingdom is like treasure: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matt. 13:44). When we put our faith in Christ, a spiritual "eureka moment" arrives. God gives us forgiveness in His Son. It is the greatest treasure that could ever be found. Now all of life can begin to center on the value of becoming a joyous member of His eternal kingdom. It’s our joy to share that valuable discovery with others. God’s kingdom is a treasure meant to be shared. When my family and I moved here in September of 2009, we had no idea how much of a "Eureka" moment this would be. I remember sitting on a bench and asking the question "When I say the word Baptist what comes to your mind". The responses were shocking; many said bible thumper or cult or they simply had no idea. For me that was a true sign that the Gospel was needed in North Michigan. This year we are slated to have another banner year. One of our successes has been the introduction of our live broadcast on Facebook and Zoom. During the pandemic we had the choice to slow down and give up, or we could see it as a different opportunity to get the message out. In the last two years our church has seen an increase in giving and an increase in attendance both on-line and in person. Our on-line presence has allowed us to reach those otherwise missed by "traditional" methods thus our "Eureka" moment. One person that comes to mind is Vic and Donna and his mother. Every Sunday they are faithful in both Sunday School and Worship as they are not able to travel very far to be with us in- person, but they are part of our church nonetheless. How can you change the way you do what you’re doing? We get stuck in a rut. You know what a rut is right? "It’s a grave with the ends kicked out". The church needs to find new ways to meet others, to reach out to people, and to stay engaged with our communities even during the worst times because that’s when we’ll find our diamonds. You see, If you’re looking you too can find your Eureka Diamond moment. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Allen Ballard is Pastor of Pigeon River Baptist Church in Vanderbilt, Michigan. He and his wife, Jean and family, have served there since 2009. Pastor Allen says that he is serving as senior pastor to a church and a community that needs the love of Christ both preached and shown by example. He believes that we are called to lead by being a servant first and an example unto the life of Christ. #AUGUST22

Bir Bahdur is a simple animal herder. Sometimes he works as a day-laborer. He’s quiet and meek. He’s uneducated and soft-spoken. He doesn’t consider himself qualified to share the gospel, let alone teach it. Many of his South Asian countrymen don’t think so either. But the beauty of the gospel is that it brings worth to those society considers not worthy. Bir Bahdur became a believer by hearing Bible stories that were translated into his language by a coalition of International Mission Board workers, Omega Training Partnership translators and another international translation organization. Together, these three organizations form one Bible translation project. After hearing and believing the truth, he knew he wanted to share it. With the encouragement of fellow participants and the trainers from the project’s workshops, he learned to craft and share Bible stories in his heart language. He started telling people he encountered each day the Bible stories. And people listened. “He’s not trained; he’s not professional, but he knows the God that he serves,” Royce Alyward, an IMB worker who helps lead the translation initiative, shared. “And he knows how to tell these stories. It’s by sharing those stories that God’s Word has gone forth.” Bir Bahdur reported that several of his friends professed faith in Christ after hearing the stories. His influence didn’t stop at those friends simply believing, though. He intentionally discipled these believers, and now from Bir Bahdur’s influence, two house churches began in his remote area. Bir Bahdur’s story doesn’t stand alone. Royce and his wife, Elsbeth, can tell story after story of churches being planted and lives changed because of this translation project. The idea behind this massive Bible translation project is to engage least-reached places with the gospel. Getting the Word of God into the heart language of remote people has fostered healthy church planting and multiplication. Since this coalition started in 2013, the Alywards shared that the project has seen: The completion of Bible story sets in 23 languages among many of the least-served people groups of South Asia. Multiplying of gospel-sharing and indigenous church plants across these 23 languages. The initiation and advance of New Testament translation in 16 of these 23 languages, with imminent plans to begin translation in four more. Ongoing discipleship and church enrichment interaction with growing churches in many of South Asia’s least-reached peoples. The key to seeing a work of this magnitude accomplished has been not only the partnership between the three organizations, but the strategic discipleship and deployment of national believers. “This task is too big for anybody,” Elsbeth said, “but it is certainly biblical to have this kind of collaboration between like-minded organizations.” As the groups partnered, they ensured they didn’t duplicate each other’s work. She continued, “We’re working on seeing every tribe, every language be able to have an understandable and appropriate presentation of the gospel in their language. This is such a huge need in this area of South Asia where you have so many harder-to-reach languages in harder-to-reach areas.” “We’re working on seeing every tribe, every language be able to have an understandable and appropriate presentation of the gospel in their language.” Sharing the burden alleviates the burden on cross-cultural workers to learn each of the 100+ languages spoken in their area. Royce explained, “As a new worker is onboarding, learning the major language is a huge task. As we move forward, for a cross-cultural worker, that can be very intimidating. “One of the things we’re helping them understand is that language acquisition is important. But we, as the expatriates, don’t need to learn every language from the area. We need to learn the main languages (such as Hindi),” Royce said. “We work with national partners who are bilingual. Once we can communicate with them in the main language of their area, we share the load with other believers and those who can help guide us in the language even before they come to faith.” This intentionality in sharing the load, specifically with those who are not yet believers, not only gives the IMB worker some relief, but it sets the translator up to be saturated with the gospel. “We can intentionally look into those relationships and see how God is working,” Elsbeth shared. “We see how God’s Word is so effective, especially when they hear it in the language that speaks to their heart.” IMB is a 501(c)3 charity. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by U.S. law. No goods or services will be provided in exchange for this gift. The IMB handles all gifts according to government regulations and is professionally audited each year. *Some names may have been changed for security reasons. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Myriah Snyder writes and edits for the IMB. #AUGUST22

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – There has been a great deal of talk about overturning Roe vs. Wade in the past few months and the matter of abortion has been a hot topic in almost every newscast. With the recent court ruling that corrected this terrible mistake of a law, the venom, hatred, and violence that issues forth from those that oppose the decision is growing and will continue to do so exponentially. Politicians on both sides of the aisle seize these windows of opportunity to grandstand for more attention “face-time” and to help garner more votes and support for their next campaign. Self-promotion is nothing new among politicians. Most see the issue of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice as fodder to fill their personal promotion cannon so that they may hurl their names or favorite cause into prominence. They care little for the lives they play with like rag dolls, only to be discarded when their usefulness is gone. Sadly, the issue is being used instead of enlightening. Most of what is being said or done on both sides is doing more damage than good. I want to be very clear, that I am overjoyed the with wise, logical, and morally correct ruling of the court. Life has been honored. I am a strong believer that actions speak much louder than words and as this is being played out in the media and main street, so much of what is being said is revealing the true nature of the proclaimers. Their words seem to be nothing more than empty pedanticism that cares little for the people they impact or the lives they can damage. As Christians, we must be kind and redemptive in our speech. We cannot let a particular political persuasion be the mantra that we mimic. Our words must be guided by grace and full of mercy that is empowered by His Spirit. Do I believe that we need to speak about the issues? Absolutely! I believe that we must speak clearly, concisely, intelligently, passionately, and compassionately because those who devalue pre-born babies will continue to militantly demand their selfish perspective and warped rights. The recent ruling did not “put the issue to bed”, but it merely moved it to our respective states. Dr. Al Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has very astutely summarized the perspective of most of us who revere and hold strongly to the sanctity of life. In a recent news release he said: Our nation celebrates financial abundance, but devalues human life. We have experienced an economic expansion, but a moral recession. We are obsessed with personal safety, but have made the womb a place of great danger. Our concerns for personal "rights" have eclipsed our understanding of what is right and what is wrong. Great advances in medicine have prolonged life for many, but we accept the most barbaric forms of the murder of the unborn. We have elevated convenience over conviction, and comfort over compassion. We have treated the blessings of parenthood as a burden. We have rejected the gift of life, and have claimed this as a "right to choose." “We are living on borrowed time. A nation cannot long prosper in its economy when it has sold its soul for personal choice. A nation is not strong when it destroys its weakest members. Americans demand rights rather than righteousness, and we are reaping a harvest of unrighteousness unparalleled in its magnitude.” Stating our perspective and defending our position is the role and responsibility of all Christians of conscience, but to speak only with our mouths and pens with the absence of action in our lives is not only hypocritical, it is sinfully detrimental. We must live the Love we proclaim. The best way to get our message across is share it with lip and life, as did a young girl named Alyssa. All through high school, Alyssa tried to share her faith in Christ with her four closest friends. In long late-night conversations, they’d talk about everything from heaven to abortion to the existence of evil in the world. Alyssa loved her friends and wanted them to know Christ the way she did. After they graduated, the four friends tried to stay in touch. Even though they moved to different parts of the country, they e-mailed each other, got together at holidays, and even took vacations together during the summer. Sometimes they’d have conversations like the ones of old, with Alyssa talking about her beliefs and her relationship with God. While Alyssa’s friends always treated her with respect, they never became Christians. Their decision—or, rather, their lack of a decision—was a real disappointment to Alyssa. After college Alyssa accepted a job across the country and soon lost touch with her friends. When she came back home for Christmas one year, she ran into one of them at a local department store. Her friend was pushing a baby stroller and proudly introduced her new baby to Alyssa. When Alyssa found out that her friend wasn’t married, she thought, a lot of good all that talking about God did. Look what happened to her. She ended up getting pregnant before she got married. Toward the end of their conversation, Alyssa asked if she could hold the baby. As her friend handed the infant to her, she said, “You know, Alyssa, you’re partly to thank for this baby. If it weren’t for you, I would have had an abortion. But I kept remembering all we had talked about and just couldn’t do it.” Keep telling the story and living the life. It has and does make a difference. 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. #AUGUST22

by Dr. Tony L Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – My wife’s parents are with the Lord. Jamie’s father went to be with the Lord in 2011, and in 2020, Jamie’s mother joined her husband and the Lord in heaven. Both were strong examples of devotion to the Lord, to their family, and to their church. My parents are still with us. My father is 84 years old, and my mother is 83 years old. My father lives in the white, two-story, country-house my parents have shared for decades. North of Lansing, my father is surrounded by corn fields, deer grazing as the sun rises and falls, and he still tinkers on projects. My mothers, affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s, is settled into a residential facility where the kindest of professionals call her by name and energetically love on her all day long. She has been in residential care now for almost three years. Today on a Monday due to my weekends becoming busier with ministry and little time for family, I devoted a long lunch break to spend time with my parents. Enjoy the images. In this image, we were both restraining our chuckles. Moments earlier, I was walking down the hallway to get closer to Mom before calling out to her. Before I could get close to her, I heard my mom say to her caregiver who was pushing her wheelchair, “That man down the hallway looks a lot like my son. Upon hearing that, I called out, “Hi Mom.” To which she responded, “That’s my boy. He’s a preacher.” Then as she got within the reach of a hug she gushed, “It makes me so happy to see you.” This image reveals one of our traditions. Normally upon arrival to see Mom, I find her either rubbing her hands together, or rubbing her hand on a soft fabric of her clothing. These past three years, I move close enough to put our hands together and the constant movement of her hand rubbing settles down and her concentration then focuses on the conversation between us. It’s a connection I cherish, and I don’t take for granted. My father and I were beside his garage just after looking at all the things he has been doing. Little projects. One after another. In their own time. No hurry on anything. Dad likes to reflect before he starts and before he completes his projects. His latest creation is restoring an old golf cart. No, he does not play golf. He never has. Nevertheless, he is customizing the cart to match his style, his imagination, and the theme he has constructed. We ate lunch together. We filled his water softener, and I delivered more salt to keep that hard Michigan water softer. Men share love best when they share projects. In between visiting my parents, I stopped by to see the headstone my father and mother designed and had installed recently on their plots, just one mile from their farm home. There are two images that say a lot. First, Dad with a sense of humor will remind me that the passing dates are yet to be finished on the headstone. He says, “We’ll fill in the blanks later.” Dad is practical and has for years taken care of these sorts of things for family and friends most of his life. No one could stop Dad from making decisions easier for my two sisters and me. That is who he is. He expresses his love for others by doing for others. Second, Dad designed the stone with an image of a tree and a reference to Galatians 4:1-7. My father is the family genealogist. He has recorded stories, searched archives, interviewed people, and collected data on our family that would rival the FBI. I loved that moment today when I asked Dad about the tree representing genealogy and his reference to Galatians 4:1-7. Dad replied, “It just goes to show that no matter where you come from, the most important thing in life is to be adopted by the Lord.” He explained that the Apostle Paul was pointing that lesson out to the Galatians. Dad said he kept reflecting on this text after one of his daily Bible readings, “that we might receive the adoption,” (v. 5). I just thought I would share a testimony of my parents and their love for one another and for others. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Tony L. 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. #AUGUST22