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by Lisa Misner SPRINGFIELD, IL – Abortion is a difficult subject to discuss with a friend or family member who is pro-choice, when as a pro-life Christian you perceive that choice as ending the life of another. Here are a few strategies for having a productive conversation: Pray. Ask God to give you wisdom as you speak. Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:39). Stay calm. Fear and anger often surround discussion that includes abortion. As Christians we know God does not bring fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Don’t allow yourself to be swept into those feelings. Meet strong emotions with love. You may not change anyone’s mind, but you may clear up some misconceptions. Be tactful. One Lifeway study found 4-in-10 women were regular church attenders when they had abortion. Just 7% felt comfortable enough speaking with anyone in the church about it at the time. Many women are still dealing with the emotional and even physical effects years later. Once, a woman tearfully confessed to our Sunday school class she’d had an abortion as a teen. She still carried that hurt and grief with her. Remember the men. Abortion is a woman’s issue, but it’s more than a woman’s issue. Another Lifeway Research study found half of men whose partners had an abortion were church attenders when it took place. Have consideration for their feelings as well. Stay on topic. If someone tries to divert the discussion, tell them they have a good point and you’re willing to discuss it later, but continue as you were. The issue isn’t if the Court will next overturn the Obergefell v. Hodges decision on same-sex marriage as some contend. Justice Alito stated in the leaked Dobbs opinion that no other cases were included in the reasoning behind the purported decision. Emphasize all life is important. Pro-choice people often express the belief that the “other side” only cares about abortion and nothing about the child who is abandoned or neglected. If you’re pro-life then you care about all life—from newborns to the elderly. That means helping women and children in need whether it be through crisis pregnancy centers, adoption, food ministries, or other outreach. It also means caring for the elderly or those with health issues. Our society thrives on keeping people afraid of what is going to happen next. But we can’t witness based on fearful speculation. For all the branding and sloganeering, love does win. The love of Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Misner is Social Media and Public Policy Manager for IBSA. #JULY22

by Nathan Sharpe ADRIAN, MI – The call on my life has always been to teach God’s Holy Word. For many of those years it had been in a Christian school environment. Around 2018, I started to feel a strong Spirit-led desire to move into the pastorate. God provided a small church for me to step into. Over the years, the church had dwindled down to about 18 people. I felt called to the church, but I did not feel that God was calling me to this church to close the doors. There was a future and a mission for this small congregation. I told the leadership team I would do it, but they had to be willing to make changes and step towards replanting the church. They expressed their desire to do so and they also believed that God was not saying it was time to close the church. Shortly after my installment, COVID hit and sidelined our plans. Like most churches we went virtual for a while, but the school where we were meeting showed no signs of letting us back in the building. We started to look for other options. Finally a realtor we knew told us about a small church that was not officially on the market yet and we went to see it. This was definitely a move of God. When we stepped into the building, I recognized the pastor and his wife. I attended high school with their daughter. We caught up a bit and viewed the church. It was perfect! It was a little big for a group of 18, but it would allow us to grow. It was also right in the middle of a needy neighborhood. There would be plenty of opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We prayed and felt like God had led us there for a reason. We bought the building and the congregation was so excited. But God wasn’t finished yet. About 3 weeks after buying the building we got a call from the pastor who had previously owned the building. He asked to meet with us. I was a little concerned that something might be wrong with the closing so we set something up for that day. Little did we know the blessing that God would give us. The pastor explained that because they were closing the church that they could not keep the money that the church had in its coffers. He said they had prayed about how to disperse the money, and handed us an envelope with a check for half of what we paid for the building. We were flabbergasted! Tears started to flow over this amazing gift that God in his sovereignty had shown. Over the course over the next few months God continued to show his blessing and communicate that the church, now known as Catalyst Church, has a future, and is part of his plan to reach Lenawee County and beyond. He has shown his blessing and support through Josh Tovey and Matt Thompson of Redemption Church in Grandville, MI as they became our sending church. He has shown blessings through the support of NAMB and the SEND Network. Over and over we have seen the Lord say, “You are not done yet. I have a mission for you!” The church is growing both in number and in love for God and others. We know that God will continue to provide as we step towards his mission for us to show the change Jesus brings to our neighborhood and Lenawee County. May His name be praised! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nathan Sharpe is a church planter and Lead Pastor for Catalyst Church in Adrian, Michigan. He is a school teacher and coach at Lenawee Christian school. #JULY22

by Rick Bristol PETOSKEY, MI – I find I am “the good kind” of sore, but what a blast I recently had in Petoskey. My church hosts a couple of Christ-based, scouting programs: Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls. We began this adventure in the Fall of 2020. We were a replant, starting at the end of 2017 and looking for ways to connect with our community and grow. We had only a handful of volunteers, and resources were extremely limited. When I pitched the scouting program to folks, I wanted to figure out some capstone event that would create stories for the kids, allow for mentoring opportunities, and still be something we could manage with our limited budget. What could be easier and more economical than walking? This is how “The Big One” was born. Before my time as a replanter, I served as a chaplain working with Marines. While the Marine Corps may have called them by different names, my time with them hiking and camping provided countless opportunities for Gospel conversations and showing Christ. I figured I could use what worked in that ministry context in my new context. The NCT (North Country Trail) winds through our town and ultimately near my house. My plan with the Big One was simple. We’d hike 50 miles over five days along the NCT as soon as school was out. Basically, we’d all walk to my house from the church. As you might guess, ultimately, it was not that straightforward. The kids got on board with the idea early as did a couple of parents. Throughout the winter, we refined and developed the plan. A lot of little ones wanted to participate but were not able to walk the whole way. So we figured out potential drop-off and pick-up points along the way. By this time, the planning process had moved beyond my knucklehead idea. Our Associate Pastor Dan Kucharczyk, his wife Angela, and some brilliant parents were the primary planners. Eventually, one parent suggested we could ferry all the kids back and forth to the church as a base camp during the event. So that is how we did it. After the Big One 2021, I discovered we had not only created opportunities for Gospel conversations. We created a discipleship laboratory. A great deal of grace was required not only by the leaders and kids, but also the families. I also know not all of the families are in the same place in their walk with Christ. Therefore, it was a living discipleship forge. I’d love to say we all acted perfect, but perhaps even better, we worked as people who needed grace, and tried to model it to their best. Fast forward to this year and the Big One 2.0, and we have added to our scouting capstone (and family discipleship laboratory). We added canoeing, fishing, and disc golf to our hiking and other camp activities. I am excited to report the same Grace Laboratory happened again. We had families attending various stages of their walks. As we spent four days living, working, and playing together, much of the public veneer vanished. When folks would come under stress or even into conflict, they revealed their source of strength. We have families who have been hurt in other church contexts, and folks with no church background. Those who have heard us talk about grace would get to see if we live it. Again, Praise God! Having a family (several families actually) show dependence on Christ and modeling grace throughout these times can be worth more than many “amazing” sermons. ABOUT THE AUTHOR After the Big One 2021, I discovered we had not only created opportunities for Gospel conversations. We created a discipleship laboratory. A great deal of grace was required not only by the leaders and kids, but also the families. #JULY22

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – A dramatic wakeup call is taking place in Southern Baptist life. Guidepost Solutions conducted an independent investigation of the “Executive Committee’s Response to Sexual Abuse Allegations and an Audit of the Procedures and Actions of the Credentials Committee.” The report released shortly before the Annual Convention in June, shocked Southern Baptists. A collective sense of grieving and heartbrokenness permeated the Convention for abuse victims, and the way they were treated. The recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force to address the situation were overwhelmingly approved. Chief among them was the plan to establish a website where “pastors and church leaders credibly accused sexual abusers will be listed.” Click here for information from the task force: https://www.sataskforce.net/updates/guidepost-solutions-report-of-the-independent-investigation It’s a great start, but there is more to be done. Recommendations and resolutions at the Convention are important, but systematic change takes place in the local church. That’s why the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) is paying for up to 10 US OneVERIFY Background Checks through LifeWay and 10 Ministry Safe Sexual Abuse Awareness Trainings. Our goal is to help every cooperating church provide safe environments for people to experience God, and grow in their relationship with Him. The BSCM is setting the example by requiring all staff in the office and at Bambi to have Background Checks and Ministry Safe Training. About Ministry Safe “MinistrySafe was founded by legal professionals and sexual abuse experts, Gregory Love and Kimberlee Norris. Through their litigation practice representing victims of child sexual abuse, they recognized a vital need to equip churches and ministry programs to better protect children from sexual abuse. The risk is real, and it's preventable. Prevention starts with awareness” - ministrysafe.com To equip those who work with children in your church with this Ministry Safe training, email dan@bscm.org with the names (first and last name) and email addresses of those who need the training. The person will receive an email link to the training. Upon completion, a Training Certificate will be generated. The cost of the training will be billed directly to the BSCM. About US One VERIFY Background Checks “The Lifeway One Source program provides discounted prices on background checks for churches and religious organizations looking to protect their ministries. Screen your staff, volunteers, treasurers, teachers, bus drivers, camp counselors and more!” Every church needs to create an account in the church’s name to take advantage of this benefit with the BSCM. This will allow the church to have all records on file in a safe place. Once the account is created, it will be easier to request background checks. The church will have to pay for the background checks (only US One VERIFY) and request reimbursement from the BSCM. Background Check Process Step-by-step process to obtain background checks of up to 10 potential staff members and volunteers. (Reimbursable by the BSCM) Go to: https://www.lifeway.com/en/services/church-administration/background-checks?intcmp=SRDR-background-checks Click the yellow “Register Now” button Register your church (you will need to start with someone’s name and email) Once logged in, you will need to select “Acknowledged” after you read the “Notice To Users” and “Summary Of Rights” Click “order packages” at the top banner A blue banner will appear under that; select “Create a URL” Under “Select a package”: in the dropdown menu, select “US OneVERIFY” for $12.00 (This is the only type of background check that the BSCM will reimburse.) Under “Start your search”: “Give this URL a name” NOTE: any name will do Under “Define Payment”: select “Our organization will pay” Click “Create hosted URL” at the bottom Copy the URL and send to ALL candidates Initially, you (the church) will need to pay for the background checks (see step 15) If a credit card was not entered during registration, follow these steps Click “My Account” Select “Account Settings” Click “View Billing Info” Click “Edit Billing Info” Enter credit card information If candidate is using an APPLE device: The first time an applicant clicks on the URL, it will go to a Review and Sign in page. Once there, enter an email address, select “No, I’m new here,” and create a password. A “Registration Failed” error will probably popup. If that happens, go back and click on the URL again to get to a new Review and Sign in page. Once there, enter the same email address, select “Yes, I have a password,” and enter the one that was just created. Once the report is complete, the email that you used to create the account and the candidate will receive notice that the report is available for download The email that you used to create the account will receive the background check results with all sensitive candidate information redacted such as social security number Send a picture of the receipt for all background checks to bookkeeper@bscm.org for reimbursement by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. 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. #JULY22

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – We had been collecting “coke” bottles for most of the day. Both of us had gone from house to house, and asked our neighbors if they had any lying around that they did not want. Some folks were very kind and generous while others just directed us back to the street from whence we had come. There was one gentleman on “Avenue D” that had what seemed to be an inordinate passion for Dr. Pepper. He also knew that periodically Ricky Burrows and I would be coming by asking for pop bottle donations to our very worthy causes. We always had a cause and as far as we were concerned, collecting enough money for the movies or for a box of “bee-bee’s” was as admirable as any foundation raising money for orphaned children. On this day we had decided that we needed food supplies for our “fort”. It wasn’t much of a fort, just a few scraps of tin and some construction wire covered with a tarp I had borrowed from Dad’s shed. Yet we knew full well that any army must be well fed in order to do battle with the mass of marauders like wild savages, Nazi’s or motorcycle gangs. (There were thousands of them in our town!) After several hours of collecting, we made our way to the local “Pick-Pac” convenience store, traded in our bottles, and purchased the needed provisions. We bought the largest jar of peanut butter that we could find and a loaf of bread. Now, of course, we didn’t buy the expensive Jif, but some store brand that had about an inch of oil floating on top. This didn’t deter us, but merely gave us an opportunity to play in the pasty brown concoction until the oil was well mixed. It was 4:00 p.m. when we finally made it back to the fort and that is when the feasting began. One after the other, Ricky and I ingested sandwich after sandwich. I think I ate four or five myself. When we could eat no more, all we could do was lay there like a couple of old hound dogs that just gorged themselves on fresh roadkill. We were full and miserable. About that time, I heard my dad’s familiar whistle, and I knew it was time for supper. I slowly, but obediently got up, and headed for home. When I walked in the back door, there spread out over the kitchen bar was a feast fit for a king. It was payday and Mom had prepared my favorite meal. Fried shrimp, french-fries and all the fixings. I could not believe my eyes, or my lack of appetite. I could not eat one bite of food. In fact, the smell even made me a bit nauseous. The infamous “spoiled appetite” had overcome me. In the church today, many come to the “table” with a spoiled appetite and a miserable attitude. I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard church attendees say, “I just didn’t get anything out of the worship service today. The preaching was boring, and it didn’t feed me, the music was dead, and besides, no one talked to me.” The problem is that the majority of those who voice those kinds of complaints, come to church with a “spoiled appetite” for truth and the things of God. Throughout the week they have gorged themselves with the garbage that can be found in social media and other media outlets, and have had their minds and attitudes manipulated by spurious and spiritually poisoning opinions of those who have nothing better to do than spout their venomous hate. On social media, anyone can say anything about whatever or whomever they choose and do so with no accountability. I have often wondered, who has that much time to spend on a social media account and still be productive in their vocation? I am thinking about one “poisonous pastor” who if he would spend the same amount of time sharing the Gospel in his community and ministering to his congregation as he spends on the internet, the vast majority of his town would be believers and his church would triple in size! (Of course, that is just my humble and accurate opinion.) Scripture tells us that “Satan walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I have often wondered where he wanders to and where his dwelling place may be. I believe I now know. Social media. This may not be the only place he dwells or his only roaming ground, but it is one where he does a great deal of damage and destruction. If we as believers, fill our spiritual stomachs with the hateful, hurtful, and heinous foods of a messed-up media and then gather in God’s house to be fed, it is no wonder we can’t “stomach” the spiritual food we so desperately need. (Of course, the problem does not lie with us or our lack of discipline but with the pastor and the rest of those Christians!) That is why so many among us who claim to be Christians today are spiritually malnourished, and dying a slow spiritual death. This week, carefully consider that with which you feed your soul. It may be titillating and tasty, but it could very well spoil your appetite and sour your spirit. We need all the holy nourishment we can get to be prepared for the real marauders we face and the spiritual battles we must fight. 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. #JULY22

by Dr. Tony L. Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – There are two men who I appreciate and admire. They are two examples of mighty men who serve with intentional, radical actions that change communities and lives. Pastor Billy Walker and Pastor Josh Tovey, on behalf of Michigan Baptists, let me say, “Thank you.” Though you both have growing families and full-time church ministries, you are making time to mentor two new church planters, and to see that their new church plants in Flint and Holland receive the necessary care from your established congregations. Wow! Pastor Billy Walker Pastor Billy and Laurie Walker of Calvary Church, Southgate are busy with a variety of big efforts in their lives. They have launched into their respective ministries living meaningful lives. They lead a congregation in Southgate in a cool, renovated former public-school building with its modern colors, comfortable/chic furnishings and sleek lines that make people feel at home; but ministry there is not about the cool building, it’s about the people encountering others in their daily lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On top of all of that, Pastor Billy and Laurie make time during the summer to lead a Christian camp in the upper peninsula of Michigan called Hiawatha Youth Camp, which is just fifty miles from the Mackinac Bridge. Then to top it off, Pastor Billy has a Spanish-speaking congregation led by Pastor Gerardo Sanchez and his wife, Desiree, who use a portion of the building in Southgate for a worship service in Spanish while the children, who speak English, attend Bible study at their age-level with the other children. It is a genius and generous idea! Pastor Billy and the congregation are always helping others in unique and bold ways, but this year they added a new initiative for Christ by helping launch a new church plant in Flint. Pastor Josh Tovey Pastor Josh and Stephanie Tovey of Redemption Church, Grandville are up to their eyeballs guiding three adopted siblings and loving every moment of the adventure. The Tovey family is unstoppable! Seven years ago, when they were called to plant a new church in Michigan, they continued even though Stephanie was battling repeated attacks from a persistent form of cancer. However, here they are years later with a vibrant church plant and a family of five. If anyone ever could have said he was too busy to undertake something new, it could easily have been Pastor Josh, but he never offers an excuse. He is ever ready to charge forward to help others and to make Jesus Christ known. In addition to enlarging their own family and their congregation, Pastor Josh has a voracious appetite for creating new churches through new men who are called to become church planters. That is why Pastor Josh has created a residency ministry at the church so that men can experience ministry partnership, for one or two years, to verify they are called to serve the Lord through church leadership. Anyone who would make the cut to experience a residency with Pastor Josh and his team would be greatly benefited. Pastor Josh and the church already helped start new churches in Adrian and Waterford, to name a couple of places, and now they’re launching a new church in Holland. Who Benefits? Every new Send Network church plant we start in Michigan must have a Southern Baptist sponsoring/sending church and pastor who stands-up for the new church planter, his family, and his endeavor. Pastor Billy and Pastor Josh are men who stand-up for the right thing. Pastor/church planter Leo Robinson Pastor/church planter Leo Robinson of Flint and his wife, Mio, have known Pastor Billy and his family for years. Pastor Leo spoke repeatedly up north at Camp Hiawatha. This church planting partnership is going to increase the bonds of brotherhood and friendship between these men and their congregations. The impact of this partnership is going to reap eternal benefits. Pastor/church planter Charles Kirby Pastor/church planter Charles Kirby ofHolland and his wife, Kallie, have connected with Pastor Josh for years. They have shared life during their younger years. This connection on the western side of Michigan is going to increase the Gospel saturation among a people who can become complacent in the comfortable communities along the shorelines of Lake Michigan. People without Christ Those who will benefit the most because of Pastor Billy Walker and Pastor Josh Tovey being sponsoring/sending churches are the lost in the areas of Flint and Holland who need to know Jesus Christ. As you are reading this article there are those who, at this very moment, do not understand that Jesus Christ is the promised one who leads to eternal life. However, because of the Lord’s created connection between these four pastors, communities and lives are going to change. If you are interested in doing something like Pastor Billy Walker or Pastor Josh Tovey, reach out to me and let’s have a conversation: tlynn@namb.net. 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. #JULY22

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – A dramatic wakeup call is taking place in Southern Baptist life. Guidepost Solutions conducted an independent investigation of the “Executive Committee’s Response to Sexual Abuse Allegations and an Audit of the Procedures and Actions of the Credentials Committee.” The report released shortly before the Annual Convention in June, shocked Southern Baptists. A collective sense of grieving and heartbrokenness permeated the Convention for abuse victims, and the way they were treated. The recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force to address the situation were overwhelmingly approved. Chief among them was the plan to establish a website where “pastors and church leaders credibly accused sexual abusers will be listed.” Click here for information from the task force: https://www.sataskforce.net/updates/guidepost-solutions-report-of-the-independent-investigation It’s a great start, but there is more to be done. Recommendations and resolutions at the Convention are important, but systematic change takes place in the local church. That’s why the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) is paying for up to 10 US OneVERIFY Background Checks through LifeWay and 10 Ministry Safe Sexual Abuse Awareness Trainings. Our goal is to help every cooperating church provide safe environments for people to experience God, and grow in their relationship with Him. The BSCM is setting the example by requiring all staff in the office and at Bambi to have Background Checks and Ministry Safe Training. About Ministry Safe “MinistrySafe was founded by legal professionals and sexual abuse experts, Gregory Love and Kimberlee Norris. Through their litigation practice representing victims of child sexual abuse, they recognized a vital need to equip churches and ministry programs to better protect children from sexual abuse. The risk is real, and it's preventable. Prevention starts with awareness” - ministrysafe.com To equip those who work with children in your church with this Ministry Safe training, email dan@bscm.org with the names (first and last name) and email addresses of those who need the training. The person will receive an email link to the training. Upon completion, a Training Certificate will be generated. The cost of the training will be billed directly to the BSCM. About US One VERIFY Background Checks “The Lifeway One Source program provides discounted prices on background checks for churches and religious organizations looking to protect their ministries. Screen your staff, volunteers, treasurers, teachers, bus drivers, camp counselors and more!” Every church needs to create an account in the church’s name to take advantage of this benefit with the BSCM. This will allow the church to have all records on file in a safe place. Once the account is created, it will be easier to request background checks. The church will have to pay for the background checks (only US One VERIFY) and request reimbursement from the BSCM. Background Check Process Step-by-step process to obtain background checks of up to 10 potential staff members and volunteers. (Reimbursable by the BSCM) Go to: https://www.lifeway.com/en/services/church-administration/background-checks?intcmp=SRDR-background-checks Click the yellow “Register Now” button Register your church (you will need to start with someone’s name and email) Once logged in, you will need to select “Acknowledged” after you read the “Notice To Users” and “Summary Of Rights” Click “order packages” at the top banner A blue banner will appear under that; select “Create a URL” Under “Select a package”: in the dropdown menu, select “US OneVERIFY” for $12.00 (This is the only type of background check that the BSCM will reimburse.) Under “Start your search”: “Give this URL a name” NOTE: any name will do Under “Define Payment”: select “Our organization will pay” Click “Create hosted URL” at the bottom Copy the URL and send to ALL candidates Initially, you (the church) will need to pay for the background checks (see step 15) If a credit card was not entered during registration, follow these steps Click “My Account” Select “Account Settings” Click “View Billing Info” Click “Edit Billing Info” Enter credit card information If candidate is using an APPLE device: The first time an applicant clicks on the URL, it will go to a Review and Sign in page. Once there, enter an email address, select “No, I’m new here,” and create a password. A “Registration Failed” error will probably popup. If that happens, go back and click on the URL again to get to a new Review and Sign in page. Once there, enter the same email address, select “Yes, I have a password,” and enter the one that was just created. Once the report is complete, the email that you used to create the account and the candidate will receive notice that the report is available for download The email that you used to create the account will receive the background check results with all sensitive candidate information redacted such as social security number Send a picture of the receipt for all background checks to bookkeeper@bscm.org for reimbursement by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. 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. #JULY22

by Coye Bouyer My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge. For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol. She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable; she does not know it. Proverbs 5:1-6 PLYMOUTH, MI – The father initially addresses his son in a very typical fashion, ‘my son,’ and with familiar admonitions ‘pay attention,’ and, more specifically, ‘incline or turn your ear.’ The aim of the father’s admonition is stated in verse 2, “That his son may ‘keep, guard’ or ‘observe discretion. The Hebrew word used for discretion can mean ‘wise, prudential consideration,’ or ‘the ability to devise plans with the best way to carry them out.’ In connection with the instructions of verse 2, verse 3 reveals the father’s motivation for the father’s present instruction, and it’s in regard to the ‘pitfalls of adultery.’ This would imply that the son is either old enough to get married or possibly already married. His dad’s instruction is clear as he wants to educate his son on why he should stay away from the loose morals of an adulterous woman. “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey…” Sexuality, whether we know it or not, takes place through dialogue. It has always been associated with speech, whether through courting, love songs, whispering sweet nothings in someone’s ear, or the subtle seduction in speech. The Hebrew word for ‘drip,’ means ‘to fall drop by drop,’ and this is significant because it is linked together with the ‘honeycomb,’ describing the adulterous’ speech as the purest, sweetest taste of honey. So, the father wants his son to understand that the lips of an adulterer oozes seductive charm, as she gradually utters words of flattery and conversation that is capturing. Furthermore, the father continues to describe her speech as smoother than oil. In ancient Israel oil was used for ceremonial purposes in religious observances, for the anointing of priests and kings or the body after a bath. Oil was also used for cooking, to light lamps, as medicine both internally and externally as it symbolized delight, gladness, and prosperity. Thus, the father is trying to teach his son that the adulteress woman’s speech is lubricious and seductive as it draws her victim irresistibly towards her mystery and delight, she is believed to offer. The writer says, ‘But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.’ Sharp as a two-edged sword symbolizes that an affair with her cuts on all sides, and if one chooses to take hold of this woman, destruction is inevitable. The father desperately wants his son to understand the outcome without having to experience it for himself. For, while many may assume that intimacy with her would be as satisfying as her sweet speech or as captivating as her conversation, an affair with her will NOT deliver real satisfaction but will cause bitterness and cut deeply into the life of the one who is with her. Finally, the father wants his son to know that the adulterous woman has chosen to abandon God and His covenant for marriage, and actually wanders aimlessly in moral darkness, staggering about in her sin. However, the son is not to have sympathy for her or even assume that she is the victim, for she is lacking in her inner conscience causing chaos for the one who falls for her subtle seductions and her invitation into sexual exploitation. She can no longer distinguish between right and wrong, she strays in regards to discretion causing death for her and even leads others to it, if one falls into adultery with her. CONCLUSION The Bible does not hide from or obscure the power of the temptation to illicit sex. In language that is refreshingly clear and direct without itself indulging in titillation, the text warns the reader of the debacle that awaits him should he succumb in this area. To assume that nice, Christian young people do not struggle in these areas or to speak only in whispers and innuendo on the grounds that they are inappropriate for the Christian pulpit is no less than gross neglect of duty on the church’s part. It doesn't matter whether one is dealing with the ritual prostitution of a fertility cult, the ordinary prostitute on the street, sexual solicitation in a magazine, on television or the internet. When one is falling for the simple lure of extramarital sex, the temptations and dangers are the same. The father knows all too well the sexual temptation(s) that awaits his son, not only as a single man, but even as a married one. Thus, the father attempts to warn his son against the deceitful and destructive outcomes of adultery; a conversation every father needs to have with his son, and one in which the church must preach to God’s sheep. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pastor Coye L. Bouyer is the founding pastor of Kingdom Life Church in Lansing, MI where he has served since March of 2010. Pastor Bouyer recently stepped into the Diversity Ambassador role for the BSCM and firmly believes that he was not only called to Preach the Gospel as part of the process of reconciliation of man to God, but also using any platform as a bridge of reconciliation of man to man, and even more so amongst the brethren. Pastor Bouyer and his lovely wife Keturah (Gen. 25:1) have been married four over 20 years and have four children; Sierra, Seth, Cayla and Coye II. #JULY22

by Dr. Tony L. Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – There are two men who I appreciate and admire. They are two examples of mighty men who serve with intentional, radical actions that change communities and lives. Pastor Billy Walker and Pastor Josh Tovey, on behalf of Michigan Baptists, let me say, “Thank you.” Though you both have growing families and full-time church ministries, you are making time to mentor two new church planters, and to see that their new church plants in Flint and Holland receive the necessary care from your established congregations. Wow! Pastor Billy Walker Pastor Billy and Laurie Walker of Calvary Church, Southgate are busy with a variety of big efforts in their lives. They have launched into their respective ministries living meaningful lives. They lead a congregation in Southgate in a cool, renovated former public-school building with its modern colors, comfortable/chic furnishings and sleek lines that make people feel at home; but ministry there is not about the cool building, it’s about the people encountering others in their daily lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On top of all of that, Pastor Billy and Laurie make time during the summer to lead a Christian camp in the upper peninsula of Michigan called Hiawatha Youth Camp, which is just fifty miles from the Mackinac Bridge. Then to top it off, Pastor Billy has a Spanish-speaking congregation led by Pastor Gerardo Sanchez and his wife, Desiree, who use a portion of the building in Southgate for a worship service in Spanish while the children, who speak English, attend Bible study at their age-level with the other children. It is a genius and generous idea! Pastor Billy and the congregation are always helping others in unique and bold ways, but this year they added a new initiative for Christ by helping launch a new church plant in Flint. Pastor Josh Tovey Pastor Josh and Stephanie Tovey of Redemption Church, Grandville are up to their eyeballs guiding three adopted siblings and loving every moment of the adventure. The Tovey family is unstoppable! Seven years ago, when they were called to plant a new church in Michigan, they continued even though Stephanie was battling repeated attacks from a persistent form of cancer. However, here they are years later with a vibrant church plant and a family of five. If anyone ever could have said he was too busy to undertake something new, it could easily have been Pastor Josh, but he never offers an excuse. He is ever ready to charge forward to help others and to make Jesus Christ known. In addition to enlarging their own family and their congregation, Pastor Josh has a voracious appetite for creating new churches through new men who are called to become church planters. That is why Pastor Josh has created a residency ministry at the church so that men can experience ministry partnership, for one or two years, to verify they are called to serve the Lord through church leadership. Anyone who would make the cut to experience a residency with Pastor Josh and his team would be greatly benefited. Pastor Josh and the church already helped start new churches in Adrian and Waterford, to name a couple of places, and now they’re launching a new church in Holland. Who Benefits? Every new Send Network church plant we start in Michigan must have a Southern Baptist sponsoring/sending church and pastor who stands-up for the new church planter, his family, and his endeavor. Pastor Billy and Pastor Josh are men who stand-up for the right thing. Pastor/church planter Leo Robinson Pastor/church planter Leo Robinson of Flint and his wife, Mio, have known Pastor Billy and his family for years. Pastor Leo spoke repeatedly up north at Camp Hiawatha. This church planting partnership is going to increase the bonds of brotherhood and friendship between these men and their congregations. The impact of this partnership is going to reap eternal benefits. Pastor/church planter Charles Kirby Pastor/church planter Charles Kirby ofHolland and his wife, Kallie, have connected with Pastor Josh for years. They have shared life during their younger years. This connection on the western side of Michigan is going to increase the Gospel saturation among a people who can become complacent in the comfortable communities along the shorelines of Lake Michigan. People without Christ Those who will benefit the most because of Pastor Billy Walker and Pastor Josh Tovey being sponsoring/sending churches are the lost in the areas of Flint and Holland who need to know Jesus Christ. As you are reading this article there are those who, at this very moment, do not understand that Jesus Christ is the promised one who leads to eternal life. However, because of the Lord’s created connection between these four pastors, communities and lives are going to change. If you are interested in doing something like Pastor Billy Walker or Pastor Josh Tovey, reach out to me and let’s have a conversation: tlynn@namb.net. 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. #JULY22

by Karen Blanchard SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI – At a young age I learned to be a rule follower. Being a rule follower isn’t a bad thing; it is actually a great thing! Rule followers typically do well in school, become upstanding citizens, and live in a way to not cause problems or step outside set boundaries. However, somewhere along the way I began to equate being a rule follower to my relationship with Jesus. As far back as I can remember, I would strive to be a certain type of person so that God would be proud of me. I always thought I had to do everything right to be in “right standing” with God. I viewed my relationship with him to be contingent on my behavior and what I did. This began a life of striving for perfection and pleasing people. In Galatians 5:1 Paul writes, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. As I began to grow in my walk with God, he showed me clearly the yokes of slavery in my life. Perfectionism was the first yoke of slavery in my life. This is still a constant struggle for me. I am the type of person that when I do something, I want to do it with excellence. The Lord revealed to me that if I am striving for perfection to prove something to someone or to bring glory to myself, then that is the wrong heart behind excellence. I have learned to give myself a lot of grace in this area. I am not always going to be perfect, because I am not perfect (none of us are!). In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Jesus responds to Paul and says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul responds in verses 10-11 and says, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It is in our weakness, that we allow God to shine through us. If we are constantly striving for perfection, then we will never embrace our weakness; we will never see a need for God and see him work in a way in our lives that we know it was God and not us! Another yoke of slavery God revealed in my life was people pleasing. From early on, I learned how to make people happy and lived by the opinions of others. I thought by fulfilling the expectations of others, they would accept me. Several years ago, I journeyed down this road with the Lord. He continues to show me that my acceptance is found in Him and Him alone. Now I walk in this freedom! I don’t let the opinions and expectations of people weigh me down any longer. The decisions I make aren’t based on the opinions of man, but rather, what I know God is calling me to do. In Christ, I have all I need. If someone doesn’t approve of what I do, it no longer bothers me, because I know who I am in Christ and what he has called me to do. Proverbs 29: 25 tells us, Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. When we value the opinion of man over the opinion of God, we care more about what others think than what God thinks. This mindset will keep you in bondage and you will never experience the freedom God wants to give you in Him. My husband is a pastor and we planted our current church, which means we started our church. If you have ever been part of a church plant, you know Sunday mornings are crazy and there are always things to do! One Sunday a few years ago, my husband Scott was running around during the worship taking care of many things. I remember thinking, he should not be doing these things…he should be worshiping! The next Sunday I told Scott to meet me in the front row at the beginning of worship and that I wanted to worship with him. Honestly, before that Sunday, I am not sure the last time we worshiped together. That worship moment for us was special, and we vowed to continue to meet on the front row and worship together. I share this story because people can look at me as the pastor’s wife and make many assumptions as to why I sit on the front row. I don’t allow those assumptions to bother me because I know why I am there. I also know who I am worshiping. When I worship on Sunday mornings, I don’t let the fear of man hold me back; I am in the moment with my Savior. This is freedom in Christ! I pray as you continue your journey, that you realize Christ is ALL you need. Ask God to reveal to you the “yokes of slavery” in your life that are keeping you from experiencing the freedom God wants to give you! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen is married to Scott Blanchard, pastor of Lakepointe Church, and moved from Florida to Michigan in the summer of 2009 to plant Lakepointe Church in Shelby Township. She enjoys mentoring and discipling women and also leads women’s life groups through her church. She is passionate about helping women find their purpose in who God created them to be. She is on staff at Lakepointe Church and loves being part of what God is doing in the Metro Detroit area! #JULY22

by Austin Collins JACKSONVILLE, FL – Practicing hospitality is a way to share God’s grace and bless others. But practicing hospitality requires just that – practice. If hospitality isn’t part of your thought patterns or family’s regular routines, then knowing where to start or how to do it might feel overwhelming. Biblical hospitality presents two challenges to us. First, hospitality in the Bible is a command. It’s not optional. Almost every instance of the word “hospitality” in the New Testament is connected to an imperative (Cf. Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9). Second, hospitality is active. Romans 12:13 says we are to “seek to show hospitality.” We can’t just idly sit around and wait for opportunities for hospitality to come upon us, though they might. We are to be looking out for occasions to open our homes and our hearts to others. It’s one thing to understand that hospitality is an active state of living we are commanded to carry out, but it’s an entirely different thing to practically obey and apply in our lives. With that in mind, I want to provide you with some real-world examples and advice on getting started on living a lifestyle of hospitality. Attitudes of Your Heart To practice hospitality, you must make time for it. If hospitality isn’t part of your natural family rhythms, stepping into it will take purposeful planning. To follow this biblical command, you might have to cut out other activities in your life or block out extra time for grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning. But the joy of going deep into the lives of other Christians will far outweigh any opportunity cost we might be paying. Not all entertaining is hospitality, and not all of hospitality is simply entertaining. Hospitality is about caring for your guests, getting to know them, and pointing them to Jesus. You can do this over watching sports or playing board games together, but you could also simply share a meal, talk, and pray with them about an issue they’re facing. Perhaps most important of all is to show hospitality without grumbling or complaining (1 Peter 4:9). Peter wouldn’t have felt the need to point this out if we didn’t have a sinful propensity in our hearts to gripe about others even in the middle of trying to care for them. When you commit to showing hospitality, you’re going to encounter things that might tempt you to complain – someone tracked mud into the house, kids spilled juice on the carpet, your guests stayed a little longer than you’d planned. But God wants the attitudes of our hearts to reflect the openness of our homes. Going deeper: The best way to grow in showing hospitality is through intentionality. My wife and I sit down every couple of weeks after the kids go to bed and plan out the next few weeks’ schedule and meals. We always discuss who we can be showing hospitality to. We intentionally schedule at least one or two times per month to try and have families over for a dinner or just to hang out. Rather than letting hospitality always come to us, we carve out time to host others in our home and build our schedules for the week around it. Ambience of Your Home Relax, enjoy the time, and get to know your guest. Remember the words of Jesus as you are serving: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Martha was an incredible host, but she missed the most important thing – fellowship with her guest. Food and fun will come and go, but relationships with other Christians are eternal. Stay off your phone! Resist the urge to show them the latest funny video that came across your feed. Don’t Google the year that movie came out. It’s just not as important as staying engaged in the conversation at hand. Opening the door to phones during table fellowship is the easiest way to shut the door to the heart. Be clean, but it’s okay if your house feels “lived-in.” When we anticipate hosting someone, we do clean the house – dusting, vacuuming, wiping down the bathroom. But we don’t try to make our house something it’s not. Going deeper: Buy your furniture (or even a future home) with hospitality in mind. We recently needed to purchase a new couch for our den. Since our small house doesn’t have a guest room, we made the conscious decision to purchase a sleeper sofa so we could comfortably host folks overnight. Plus, the upholstery is interchangeable and cheap, so when the inevitable stains of daily life start to happen, we can change it out easily. It might not be the most stylish or luxurious couch, but it serves us well in caring for others. Actions You Can Take Budget for hospitality each month. Know that it will cost you something and anticipate the expense. Shop the sales and the Buy-One-Get-One’s at the supermarket. Get a membership to a warehouse store like Costco or Sam’s to make bulk purchases on things you know you’ll need to host. If you’re new to regularly hosting in your home, start slow. Just do something simple like pizza and chips & salsa. As great as food can be, your guests are there for fellowship. Consider a repeated, staple meal that’s easy to make like a crockpot lasagna. In the flurry of prepping your home for guests, having a meal that’s easy to cook will cut down on stress and help prevent mistakes. Or find a recipe that you can prep the night before and freeze overnight. When it’s time for guests to arrive, pop it into the oven! One thing we’ve learned over the years of regularly hosting folks in our home is that it takes longer than you think to prep, so give yourself extra time to cook and tidy up. Have something on hand for last minute. Stock your pantry and freezer with a few items that have long shelf-lives – tea, frozen cookie dough, individually bagged snacks. That way, you’ll always be ready to host at a moment’s notice. Think of the whole family. If you’ve got older kids, but plan on hosting families with younger kids, get out your kids’ old toys and books from the attic for the littles. Going deeper: You never know when the Lord might be calling you to host for whatever reason. One way to be prepared is to prep three “hospitality baskets” – bathroom, guest room, and snacks. The bathroom basket can include basic toiletries, rags, and towels. The guest room basket can have sheets, an index card with the WiFi password, phone chargers, a Bible, and other useful items. The snack basket, of course, contains bagged snacks like chips, crackers, mints, gum, candy, and water bottles. You could store each of these baskets in storage bins in your closet to have ready to pull out when you need it. Wherever you are on the journey of growing in hospitality, I want to challenge you to take your next step in the next month. If you’ve not hosted another family in a long time (or perhaps ever), create some space in your calendar and invite someone over for dinner or even just coffee and dessert. If you’re a pro at hosting, help another family take their first steps into hospitality. No matter where you are, the grace we can share with others by practicing biblical hospitality is always worth it. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Austin Collins (M.Div., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Serve Pastor at First Baptist Church Jacksonville. Prior to joining First Baptist in 2018, he held roles in student ministry, as a worship pastor, and as the research assistant at the Institute for Biblical Worship. He is also a certified biblical counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors. Austin is passionate about turning strangers into servants and loves helping guests and church members take their next step of faith, whatever it is. #JULY22

by David Thompson NASHVILLE, TN – What does it really mean when people say that Jesus saves? Once upon a time there was a general understanding and cultural acceptance to the saying. Now, not so much. This month’s article seeks to inspire you by hopefully grasping a new appreciation for what it means to be saved. I used to think that being saved implied I was indeed saved from something like Hell or Sin or Evil. That was when I was a new believer. Much later I began to see that I was saved for something — like for my mission or purpose or to fulfill my calling. After forty literal wilderness years of knowing and following Christ, I have come to believe that Jesus saves me through something. To be born physically, one travels through a birth canal — in a normal delivery! To be born from above, one travels through what some call the Christian life. Being saved from something and for something is still true — but it is equally a reality that we are being saved through it. When we get this — a metamorphosis can occur: 1. We need never fear. Plato said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark…. The real tragedy is a man who is afraid of the light”. Why are you ever afraid if God is saving you? 2. We can attempt the impossible and not worry about falling. “Not failure, but low aim is the crime….in great attempts, it is glorious even to fail”. If Bruce Lee taught this, how much more should a child of the living God? 3. Live today to the fullest with zero thought of the sorrows of yesterday and the fears of tomorrow. Arnold H. Glasow states, “Live in the present and make it so beautiful it’s worth remembering”. Question — when was the last time you did something extraordinary and magnanimous? God has your back and is indeed all you will ever need. Dare to be bold and courageous. No Person is being saved through this life just to be boring and stale and lifeless. 4. We have a high degree of joyful anticipation. Terry Pratchett said, ”The meaning of life is to find your gift — to find your gift is happiness. Do you really believe Jesus is saving you through this sin cursed, hell bound world — and He that he is now hiding the best from you? Jesus wants His abundant life for you! (that does not imply no suffering ever)... it does imply joy and peace every step of the way. 5. We can allow Jesus to be in charge. “You have two choices: to control your mind — or let your mind control you,” wrote Paulo Coelho. The greatest thing a Christ follower can do is to completely surrender one’s mind to the leadership of the One who is saving them through it. 6. We can know that daily surrender means we can never ever give up. Alva Myerdol believes, ”It is not worthy of a human being to give up”. How much more for the One born from above, sealed by the Spirit, accepted in the beloved, washed in the blood, carried by Grace, and being saved through it all! Even Robert Frost had it right “The best way out — is always through “, he said. Frost was spot on! Jesus knows what He is doing in your life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. David L. Thompson holds an undergraduate degree from Belmont University in Psychology and Religion, a graduate degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Education, and a doctorate in Counseling and Pastoral Psychology. He has served as a chairman of the Church Planting Group and Executive Committee Chair at the North American Mission Board for 10 years. He has been a Police Chaplain since 1991 and served as a Corporate Chaplain to the Coca Cola Bottling Company in Nashville, Tennessee where he resides with his wife. He has six children and five grandsons. #JULY22