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by Cindy Truesdale ROSCOMMON, MI – We are praising God for bringing us through so much in the month of August. Rick had a total knee replacement surgery on August 9th as planned. On August 16th, I was admitted to the hospital for four days with a blockage in the heart. Thankfully, a stent was implanted, and I too am on the mend. We both have a couple of other issues that need attending to, so we appreciate your prayers in these days. Thank you all for bearing with us as we have had to have a few weeks off to take care of ourselves. As we continue to heal, we are even more excited to get to our “little piece of heaven on earth” at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp in October and keep on mission with MI COM. Bambi Lake Repairs Monday, October 18 - Saturday morning, October 23, 2021 We will have a list of chores and maintenance jobs ready for everyone to jump in to help Bambi Lake Camp make repairs and close for the winter. Our workday will begin at 9:00 a.m. and we end around 3:00 p.m. For MI COM Members who come to work, camping fees are waived and meals are provided. Please note that we will not be making the big breakfasts as before, but will have continental style foods available. Bambi Lake Camp provides lunch and dinner for registered workers. MI COM Auction To raise money for MI COM expenses, we will be holding an auction for various items. In fact, we ask that you bring any items you would like to donate to the auction. The items can be used but functional, dorky but fun, anything you can’t sell in your garage sale. What you think is worthless or maybe $1, the bidding war might raise it to $25 or $200. Who knows what valuable things you need to get rid of? Pad your wallet and be ready to bid, too. 2022 COM National Rally June 7-9, 2022 North Florida Fairgrounds Tallahassee FL This will be the Golden 50th Anniversary of COM. “Renew in 2022” will be the theme. Mark your calendars, start saving your money for travel, and be ready to register when it’s available. More information will follow as we get it. Ladies Sewing Event Update A wonderful group of ladies came to Heritage Baptist Church in Grand Blanc on August 2nd to sew for the day. We accomplished several projects. We made pillows and personal bags for foster and refugee children and made burp pads for the little babies. We look for new ideas of simple, but usable projects to add to our future. Also, we accept donations of material to help cut costs. Thanks to Barb Richmond for donating 2 crates full of material! We always have a great time chatting and laughing as we work, as well as a nice luncheon. If you missed this opportunity, stay tuned for the next one. If you don’t sew, we will teach you or find other things you can do to help, like stuffing bears or pillows. Great is His Faithfulness by Brandi Dyke As we walk with the Lord in servanthood, we face an incredible journey of triumph, victory, and perseverance through faith in Christ Jesus. However, within these trials, we face adversity, disappointments, and opposition that often surfaces confusion. When our circumstances shift into a realm of unknown, we are habitually tempted to formulate an understanding that is, for us, unfathomable; thus, leaving us not only mentally exhausted, but mentally, physically, and spiritually burdened by our doubts and fears. This is nothing less than an entrapment from the Enemy. While it is difficult to know whether our sufferings are from the Lord or the Enemy, and this may consequently cause us to doubt His love, we can trust in knowing that He works all things out for our good. Furthermore, as we allow our trials to draw us closer into our relationship with the Lord, as opposed to push us away, He will faithfully bring us through anything that comes up against us. Therefore, we can rest in knowing that He will see us through the ever-changing seasons of this life, and that He will use everything that we endure to sharpen us in His purpose for our lives. Brandi & Jon Dyke MI COM Members Since 10/31/20 For more information about our journey and our mission for the Lord, please follow us at www.movingbyfaith.home.blog. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rick and Cindy Truesdail have been married for 29 years. Together they have 5 children and 14 grandchildren. During their early years together, they worked as leaders of a Single Adult Ministry. Rick is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a licensed SBC minister. He served as Associate Pastor with a Spanish-speaking church in Flint for 10 years and Cindy served as the Pastoral Assistant. They are active members at Heritage Baptist Church, Grand Blanc, and Presidents of Campers on Mission in their retirement. #OCTOBER21

by Brandon Elrod HAMMOND, LA – A week before Hurricane Ida hit southeastern Louisiana, William Bekemeier had just endured a heart attack. After he rode out the storm and felt the shock of a tree landing on his family’s house, he didn’t have the strength or stamina to clear the tree from his yard. He also didn’t have the funds to pay for the work to be done. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers from Arkansas arrived and were able to remove the tree from his house and clear his yard. “I wasn’t able to get out and do the clean-up myself,” Bekemeier said. “Thankfully, they showed up and started doing the clean-up for me, which was definitely a Godsend. I didn’t have the money or the energy to do it. They’ve been a big help.” In the week since Hurricane Ida made landfall on Sunday, August 30, hundreds of SBDR volunteers have spread across 12 sites in Louisiana, preparing meals, chain sawing trees, removing debris and securing temporary roofing. Volunteers with SBDR have already provided more than 26,000 work hours and prepared more than 175,000 meals as of Tuesday, Sept. 7. “This means so much to us for people to come out and help everybody because we still have a lot of people without water and lights and food,” said Gracie Colona, a resident of Loranger, La. “It has touched us from the bottom of our heart for these people to come here and help us in Louisiana, and I want to thank you.” Colona and her friend, Pam Hamilton, drove from Loranger to check up on Hamilton’s cousin in Independence, La. “We came in to try and help and to drive up and him tell us yesterday, ‘They already cleaned up my trees,’” Hamilton said. “We were like, ‘Praise you, Jesus.’ There are so many other things, so many things [to do]. We were all so grateful that you guys are showing up and doing this from another state…It touched him so much that you gave him a Bible.” Jimmy Blackford, a volunteer from First Baptist Church Marion, Ark., traveled to Louisiana with Arkansas Baptists as a part of a chainsaw team that removes downed trees that have fallen into hurricane survivors’ yards or on their houses. The services these SBDR teams provide can save residents thousands of dollars, and it is provided for free by the volunteers. “We’re here showing the love of Christ. That’s what we’re here for. These people, some of them don’t even know what to do,” said Blackford. “It gets kind of rough. They need to have somebody come by and help them, and we’re here to do that. We also share the gospel where we can.” With SBDR volunteers arriving from North Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, it has taken a cooperative effort from Southern Baptists to get sites up and running at the same time. “Hurricane Ida is one of these storms that’s overwhelming—the magnitude and the extent of destruction and damaged and the number of people hurting, the number of churches and homes that have been damage,” said Stan Statham, director of SBDR for Louisiana Baptists. An SBDR team with Texas Baptist Men cooked meals at Ascension Baptist Church in Gonzales, La., and they helped the church deliver those meals to a nearby neighborhood in need. The church had been struggling to make inroads to that community before they were able to use the meals to make connections with the residents. “Each one of the state conventions disaster relief teams adopted a region of southeast Louisiana to do ministry,” Statham said. “Our director of missions and associations across our state have been a big support. Send Relief, the North American Mission Board, provided more than 100,000 meals to help kitchens start providing food.” A second tractor trailer from Send Relief, the compassion ministry of Southern Baptists, delivered more recovery supplies—temporary roofing and flood recovery supplies among other resources—to southeast Louisiana on Monday (Sept. 5). Also included on the trailer was a donation of generators and box fans from The Home Depot for Children’s Hospital New Orleans that the home improvement retailer asked Send Relief to deliver to support the hospital. A Kentucky SBDR team arrived in Houma, La., over the Labor Day weekend and began surveying the storm damage wrought by Ida. Just 60 miles inland from where the hurricane made landfall near Port Fourchon, La., Houma experienced severe damage. “This is certainly one of those storms where it takes everybody working together,” Statham said. “To know, from Louisiana’s standpoint, that we have so many people who are willing to commit resources and people, it’s a humbling thing to know and something that we praise God for.” Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with more details about recent Southern Baptist Disaster Relief activity. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #OCTOBER21

by Staff PLYMOUTH, MI – The Frances Brown State Mission Offering will again be used to help pastors struggling with health and financial issues because of Covid. But this year, the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) has decided to add churches to the eligible list of receiving funds. BSCM Executive Director, Tim Patterson says. “The pandemic isn’t over and churches are struggling with the impact of Covid just like pastors are.” Over the past year, Michigan Baptists have been able to give thousands of dollars to pastors and their families in need through the state mission offering. Those needs included helping to cover medical bills to those struck with Covid, or supporting pastors who either lost income when the offerings at their church decreased, or were laid off from other jobs. Patterson says, “One of the great joys of being executive director is to be able to hand a check to a person who is in great need and see the change on his face.” The BSCM has received many letters of thanks for the support that Michigan Baptists have given through the State Mission Offering. One note read: “The gift from the missions fund was like strong medicine for my wounded spirit.” Another said, “the BSCM has put love for pastors into a tangible offering that really blessed me and my wife.” The state mission offering in the coming year will be used to provide continued support to Michigan churches and pastors. Patterson adds, “let's give to the state mission offering where it really will make a difference.” The Frances Brown State Mission Offering is September 12-19. Church leaders who are interested in promoting the offering in their church can go to bscm.org/smo for resources. And here is a quick video designed to be in worship settings and online to promote the video to your church. Pastors or church who need the help of the offering can request it here. bscm.org/pastorrelief. #SEPTEMBER21

WYOMING, MI – Our busy Summer was kicked off with two weeks of neighborhood Middle and High School teens' ministry, a combined effort with Bridge Street Ministries, and Campus Life. It was demanding, tiring and amazing. We spent days reading the Bible while serving in our neighborhood, camping, eating, playing games and talking a lot about Jesus. In my particular group of six young men, four were working with English as a second language (from four different languages). This brought me pretty quickly to the realization that just reading the English Bible presented a challenge. As any ordinary person would, they were reluctant to express not understanding particular words, but as we developed trust, the atmosphere changed. After reading a passage I would just say "ok, words", and they would ask the meaning of different words in the passages, which took our study to another level. After doing this a number of times, the young men started seriously engaging with God's word, and asking questions. Some great discussions ensued. The picture below captured one of these moments. On the last evening, after explaining the gospel, one of the teens made a decision to follow Jesus. This teen happens to live on the end of my street, so we have ongoing contact with him and his family. Please be praying for our neighborhood teens as CrossWinds West Side continues to minister to them. A new threshold We are currently teaching a series called BLESS. It is a way to remember our strategy to bring the gospel to our city. Begin with prayer Listen Eat Serve Share After a couple of years of practicing BLESS in this neighborhood, we are having lots of opportunities to share. Now, neighborhood teens arrive in our backyard as a group, hanging out on our deck. We sit, eat and have great conversations. One neighbor I have known for over three years, told me the other night he was thinking about knocking on my door to talk about a traumatic experience he had at work, where a customer overdosed in front of him. He just said, "can I have a hug" and he cried. It's not something a lot of men my age say to one another. God is really working in his life. Pray as seek to get to the last letter in BLESS with our neighbors Thanks for taking a minute Because of the financial limitations of the communities that CrossWinds serves, we very much appreciate those who are able to participate in our kingdom work. For you giving partners, Thanks again for taking the time. #SEPTEMBER21

by Roy Hayhurst DALLAS, TX – They may not sound like they go together, but for 19-year-old Matthew Noss, they are absolutely intertwined. The college freshman not only launched his own lawn care business — he picked up his first client at age 14 when his mom would drive him to the house to mow the yard. Now tending some 30 yards and employing up to 14 people, when he’s not on a job site, he’s networking with a roofing contractor, local real estate agents and learning the importance of referrals to business success. Whether it’s cleaning gutters or spreading ice melt on walkways and driveways after a Kentucky ice storm, Noss is learning the rewards of hard work. He’s also learning the discipline of investing. As he’s working hard and earning money, he’s also begun investing $1,000 per month out of his earnings through an investment account at GuideStone®. “My dad said you’re getting older and making some money, so it’s time to start investing,” Noss said. “I’ve always heard that in investing, it pays to start early.” So early, in fact, that Noss is the youngest investment account holder at GuideStone. Noss’ introduction to GuideStone came in 2011 when his father, Dr. Wesley Noss, an associate pastor at Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky, joined the GuideStone Board of Trustees. “Through the years my dad served on the GuideStone Board, I became acquainted with financial information and education,” the younger Noss said. “It feels good to have the ability to do something like this, and GuideStone is the perfect place to start.” Individuals can invest with GuideStone Funds® directly with GuideStone, as Noss has, or through independent financial advisers who access the Funds through investment platforms. (Learn more about our options for individual investors.) For Noss, it was the connection to GuideStone’s heritage and history — like GuideStone’s commitment to pastors through Mission:Dignity® — and shared values that drew the younger Noss to putting his investments with GuideStone. “I invest in GuideStone because of the integrity of the organization, the consistent positive returns on my investment and the fact that their funds are socially-screened,” Noss said. GuideStone Funds do not invest in any company that is publicly recognized as being in the alcohol, tobacco, gambling, pornography or abortion industries or any company whose products, services or activities are publicly recognized as being incompatible with the moral and ethical posture of GuideStone. Additionally, GuideStone strives to be an engaged shareholder, advocating for the values the Funds’ investors live. That is done through targeted outreach that encourages the adoption of Christ-like business practices and seeks to influence the way companies interact with their employees, customers and communities. An additional component Noss cited was GuideStone’s commitment to impact investing. Upon learning about the new Global Impact Fund, Noss immediately invested in it, as well. GuideStone Chief Investment Officer David Spika explained that the Fund is meant to be the next step in GuideStone’s model, which continues to include its faith-based funds and advocacy efforts. “We are putting our values into practice by making strategic investments in organizations that seek to create positive impact — and in doing so, we are serving the underserved while promoting the growth of God’s Kingdom,” Spika said. (For more information on the Global Impact Fund, visit the website.) Spika also echoed Dr. Noss’ advice to his son, advice Spika said is important for every investor to consider. “Invest as early as you can, invest as much as you can while living within your means, and stay invested are the three pieces of guidance I provide my own children,” Spika said. “The earlier you start investing, whether as a 19-year-old, which is simply incredible, or as a 25-year-old or even in your 30s, the longer you have to put money aside and watch it grow. “And even if you didn’t — or couldn’t — start as early as you should have, the next best time to start is right now.” That was guidance Matthew Noss took to heart as well. “Since I started young, I don’t have as many expenses as I’ll have when I’m older,” said Noss, who has paid his cell phone and car insurance bills since he was 16. “By establishing this habit now, I’ll hopefully carry it through my life.” Noss is preparing for a career in finance — he is currently studying at the Bluegrass Community and Technology College. The coursework allows him to focus on school 1-2 days each week and work the rest of the week. “I am a people person, and this business is all about connections,” Noss said. “My office is wherever I am working that day.” His advice for his peers — and their parents — is to start now, wherever they can. “You should treat investing like any other item in your budget; it’s just as important as those other items,” Noss said. “I’m learning that consistency and hard work pay off.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roy Hayhurst is director of denominational and public relations services for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mutual fund investing involves risk, including the possible loss of money. There can be no guarantee that any strategy (risk management or otherwise) will be successful. All investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss. You should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the GuideStone Funds before investing. A prospectus with this and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 1-844-GS-FUNDS (1-844-473-8637) or downloading one at GuideStoneFunds.com/Funds. It should be read carefully before investing. #SEPTEMBER21

by Sue Hodnett CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI – Michigan Baptist have always been relentless in their support to the Frances Brown State Mission Offerings over the years. The 2020 state mission offering validated the sacrificial giving and faithfulness of our churches by taking the offering to an even greater level. Some of the same pastors who over the years faithfully encouraged their churches to contribute to the state mission offering became the receivers of the donations. For so many pastors and their families the global pandemic made for financial hardship for so many pastors and their families. But…in the faithful custom of Michigan Baptists when approached with a need, provisions are shared at an overwhelming capacity. Your giving and prayers are making a difference for the families of our pastors! Watch this video to see just a few of the thank you statements. The 2021 Frances Brown State Mission Offering and Week of Prayer for State Missions is September 12th – 19th. This year's offering will be for the Pastors & Churches Relief Fund that will be used to help Michigan churches. We have some churches and pastors that have been struggling financially since the pandemic shutdown. This year's gifts will help pastors and churches that need help getting back on their feet so they can continue to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities. Our offering goal for this year is $70,000. Will you help us reach it? Will you join us as we continue, “Making a Difference”? Go to bscm.org/smo for details, the video & a free downloadable flyer. Week of Prayer Emphasis Guide “Pray over Michigan” Sunday, September 12th – Grief from COVID -19 Deaths Monday, September 13th – Churches in the Aftermath of the Pandemic Tuesday, September 14th – Family Stress/Anxiety Wednesday, September 15th – Children – School (in person/ online) Thursday, September 16th – Loss of Jobs & Income Friday, September 17th – Racial Relations Saturday, September 18th – Churches as They Serve Refugees Sunday, September 19th – Starting New Churches / 500 churches by 2025 Michigan WMU will be hosting an online Prayer Meeting, Tuesday, September 14th at 7PM. You are invited: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87553851466?pwd=Q2c3c1ZUV0Y2bnNEZ0RwT0VDTGp1QT09 Meeting ID: 875 5385 1466 Passcode: send email request to: wmu@bscm.org ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett serves as women’s ministry leader for the BSCM as well as WMU Michigan Executive Director. She has dedicated her life to ministering to women in Michigan. #SEPTEMBER21

by Jason Loewen FLINT, MI – After 21 years of faithfully serving the SBC churches in our area as the Director of Missions, Pastor Jim Marcus announced that his time in this role of leadership was coming to an end. The changing landscape of church because of the changing culture and the way that the COVID pandemic accelerated the change that was already taking place only affirmed his decision to land the plane. He wanted to finish well and pass the baton to the association’s new leadership. The challenge was laid before us. There were about 10 men from various churches in the association to seek the face of the Lord and identify what was next for us. We spent the next six months being brutally honest about what was, what worked, what didn’t work, things that had an eternal impact and the impact of territorialism on the church. A clear vision to set aside the old ways and to be the church, to cooperatively pursue a Kingdom agenda emerged from these six months. Through this process we grew in our love for one another and desire to see our county transformed by the hope of the gospel. In January a transition team was formed to explore a new leadership structure, develop a system that would invite accountability, find spiritually motivated leaders, and help the association effectively make this transition. The Lord in His kindness connected us to some key leaders from Be The Church, a new organization that was being formed on the west side of the state. Be the Church is passionately pursuing the revitalization of the Church by developing leaders and establishing a pipeline for new leaders. It was as if the Lord knew what was going on, and He connected us at just the right time to accelerate His Kingdom agenda. In the middle of the summer we made the transition in leadership and structure. Where previously there had been fewer than ten participants show up for a board meeting, now there are more than sixty from the exact same number of churches. For the previous three years the average number of pastors who were involved consistently was 10, now there are 15. Previously at a training event that was offered to the churches there were only 25 that showed up, now there are more than a hundred. Expectations are higher, accountability is anticipated, there are assignments given each month, and we launched in the summer. The Lord is in the business of transforming lives, and I believe that as pastors and leaders we are the ones most in need of that transformation. It is time for pastors to stop being chaplains, and begin actually leading the bride of Christ. We have an enemy and it’s not the church down the street. Transitioning our association to Be The Church didn’t require overhauling our constitution or bylaws, it didn’t require more meetings, it didn’t require more money. Actually, this transition has freed up time, it is putting 60% more money back into evangelistically focused ministry, we cut the HR expenses by 54%, and we have already seen more cooperation among pastors and energy in our churches. And the Lord is just getting started. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Loewen is a pastor of Union Flint Church. He has taken the new role as Assistant Director of Missions for our association to transform Flint and the surrounding areas. #SEPTEMBER21

by Roger Alford GAINESVILLE, GA – Nearly 50,000 vehicles pass by New Holland Baptist Church every day – one about every 1.7 seconds. For the past month, Pastor Brian Stephens has been sitting beneath a canopy tent overlooking the bustling thoroughfare, praying for the passersby. Just quietly praying. Stephens has sought no attention. He made no public announcement. He didn’t advertise. Yet, people here have taken notice of his simple act of obedience after he perceived God directing him to pray outside his church for a month, from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., every day, through the heat and humidity of a Georgia summer, through thunderstorms with gusty winds that threatened to turn his tent into a huge kite. He kept on praying. “People say I’m outside the box,” the pastor said. “I suppose people say that about anyone who does something that’s even slightly different.” But Stephens, as a lifelong pastor, knows the power of prayer. He said he has witnessed it firsthand in his life and in the lives of fellow believers. “God can do more in a moment that we can do in an entire lifetime,” he said. Townsfolk have started coming to join Stephens in prayer and to be prayed for. So far, about 200 people have tapped their brakes and pulled to a stop in the church parking lot. Some pray for wayward children. Some pray for physical healing. Some pray to cope with the grief of losing loved ones. Some pray for the heartbreak of broken relationships. Some pray for American military personnel serving abroad. Some pray for friends and family caught up in drug and alcohol addiction. Some just wanted to be supportive of Stephens, bringing him breakfast, lunch and dinner and keeping him supplied with water. “I certainly haven’t gone hungry out here,” he said. “I’ve gained about seven pounds.” As he sits in the shade beneath the canopy, passing cars honk their horns. Someone asked if he knows all those people. “No,” he said. “Those are just people offering their encouragement. Honking is the new ‘amen’ for what we’re doing.” A huge cross, hammered together with heavy four-by-sixes, is covered with written prayer burdens. A staple gun is handy on a nearby table, ready to nail the next burden to the cross when the next person stops by. “There seems to be something happening in our community,” Stephens said on Day 30 of his month-long prayer initiative. “I’m sensing a move toward Jesus, a move toward prayer.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Roger Alford is the editor of the Christian Index which was founded in Washington, DC in 1822 by legendary Baptist leader Luther Rice. The Christian Index is the nation's oldest continuously published religious newspaper. #SEPTEMBER21

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – At times when I write, I do so from an overflow of recent experiences and residual emotions. I may do so because I have just watched the sunrise from my back deck and sensed the wonder of the Creator God and His use of colors from a palette that only He possesses. It could be the results of an encounter with a Believer who is far and away more passionate about his or her position concerning being a VAXER or ANTIVAXER, than being passionate about sharing the Gospel. (As you can tell I am a bit reactive to that one!) This past month, Sabrina and I have had our share of family and friends passing from this life to the next. None were the result of COVID-19. One was expected, though we are never prepared for the inevitable and the other was very unexpected. Both were heartbreaking. I participated in the internment and services of both individuals and shared the following life event in each of the memorials. To illustrate and give impact to the great hope we find in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58, I told a story from my childhood. The focus is on the first stanza of verse 55. Our Final Victory Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 As A result of being reared in West Texas, as a young boy I had to find creative ways of entertaining myself. The area around the hot little hamlet in which we lived was composed of sand, mesquite bushes, jack rabbits and oil wells. Not much else. So, my options of self-driven entertainment were limited. My mother would send us out to play in the mornings and lock the screen door behind us. We could return for lunch and a quick respite and then it was out the door we would go for the afternoon. Sometimes, if it was unbearably hot, she would show mercy and allow us back in, but we would be confined to our bedroom. (It was a small house, and we could get “under foot” easily.) One such hot afternoon, my best friend Ricky and I came up with the grand idea of catching wasps in wide mouth Mason Jars. The process was simple but precarious. Locate a good-sized nest of wasps on the eave of a house and make preparations to capture them. The first step would be to punch small holes in the flat part of the two-section metal lid. Then we would take a step ladder and carefully approach the wasps. With the lid removed, we would very gingerly and slowly place the large open jar over the nest and move it side to side and dislodge the nest. It would then fall into the jar, and we would slide the thin lid between the eave and the top of the jar, not allowing any wasps to escape. After the daring capture, we would retreat to the bedroom and begin the most difficult part of our adventure. With the second jar prepared we would very slowly slide the lid on the jar containing the wasps to the side, just enough to allow a wasp to push its antennae and head out of the jar. I would then, using a pair of tweezers taken from mom's dressing table, grasp the wasp and hold it. With another pair of tweezers my friend would remove the stinger. Once the stingers were extracted, they would be placed in the second jar. Many of you may be thinking that this does not seem like great entertainment. It was good, but it was not great. The great fun happened when we had collected twenty or thirty stinger-less wasps in a jar and took them into the kitchen where my mother was preparing dinner. It was then that we would fain an accidental loss of the jar lid and release the very angry and agitated wasps into the atmosphere. That is when the real entertainment began! My mother began screaming and swinging whatever was in her hands as she ran around that small, little kitchen. We only became concerned when she tried to go through the screen door and it was still locked. That is when Ricky and I began to yell, “there’s no stinger, there’s no stinger! They can’t hurt you.” It is at this point in my message I will say, “Though we may be terrified of the sting of death, and fear may cause us to lose all sensibilities, the fact is, that Jesus has removed the sting of death and those who know Him as Lord and Savior, have nothing to fear.” In a time of such uncertainty, fear and death, in which we now live, may you know the “peace of God that goes beyond all understanding,” and that the sting of death has been extracted and victory over death, hell and the grave has been given to all who believe. 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. #SEPTEMBER21

by Dr. Tony L Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – “Holy Scripture plus the Holy Spirit equals holy confrontation or holy transformation.” Recently during a random conversation, I repeated the simple formula above to highlight my confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit and Holy Scripture to transform lives. During the decades, I’ve said simple things like, “Salvation is found in Jesus Christ, not Jesus Christ plus something else nor Jesus Christ minus something else.” I created those talking points because, in the past, I often found myself discussing spirituality with those who followed other religious paths. Out of deep concern for my friends’ spirituality, I would summarize the discussion with one Bible passage and a short memorable statement in their heart-language (Zarma, French, or English). I would entrust the persuasion and conversion to the Holy Spirit following up with prayer and further relaxed spiritual conversations. Living in North America now, I surprisingly find myself using a similar approach with a Bible verse and a simple statement more frequently in my conversations among those who already follow Christ when it comes to clarifying theology and the application of Holy Scripture to life. I believe my tradition comes from seeing the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others around me during decades of ministry. I have seen the miracle of transformation in people who formerly knew nothing about Christ and within days, weeks, or months became spiritual warriors of evangelism and discipleship. So, can that same approach work moving a believer in Christ to a new, bolder level of dedication? I believe so. Acts 4:29-31 (New Living Translation), “Give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the Word of God with boldness. If I had to choose only one book of the Bible to read for the remaining days of my life it would be the Book of Acts. The words explode with divine power every time someone, in the face of adversity, fear, or persecution allows what little they know about Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice and resurrection of the Holy Son to radically embolden them to preach and teach Christ! Haruna was the only believer in his village in the Niger Republic where I served for six years. Illiterate, Haruna would listen to sermons and lessons about Christ with dedicated attention. He would repeat Bible verses over and over embedding them in his memory. I was moved to tears when he told us about how, after his conversion to Christianity, his family and friends refused to talk with him or trade goods with him. Each week, Haruna would travel a half-day’s journey and conduct business elsewhere and meet other Christians then return to his home village to constantly repeat what little he had retained in his most recent Bible lesson. Haruna was unstoppable and lovingly patient waiting for others to come to Christ. Richard, a Frenchman, became our friend in Paris as we were learning the language. Our frequent spiritual discussions seemed to swirl in circles like someone stirring brown sugar cubes into a strong coffee – a lot of motion without anything being absorbed; then, one day everything became clear. Richard dropped by after his workout at the Luxembourg Gardens, he perched on the edge of our small apartment brown sofa, and gushed, “I understand it all, now. I wanted to come by and let you know that I need to explain to my wife that I have become a follower of Christ. I received him today under a tree after my workout. I prayed just as you said and now, I understand.” I could go on and on about dedicated men and women in Michigan who took on the task of leading established churches or creating new churches as lead pastors and wives. In their cases, it was not about the multiple volumes of books they read nor the long lessons or sermons they heard. It was their obedient response to some miraculous, divine moment where Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit called them to a new level of commitment or dedication or reset that transformed who they were. Do not get me wrong. I believe in education, discipleship, sound preaching and teaching. I went to nine years of school after high school focusing on ministry improvement, but my pivotal moments of change and those pivotal moments I see in others are usually punctuated with an “AHA” experience that redefines the person. The ten prayerful words of Acts 4:29, “Give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word,” are the kind of explosions I want to hear myself speak repeatedly. I am confident that we can rely on Holy Scripture and the Holy Spirit to get us through whatever is ahead of us. 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. #SEPTEMBER21

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – September 12 is Baptism Sunday. It’s a time when Great Commission Baptist churches collectively celebrate the professions of faith of those who are being baptized. Resources for planning this special moment are available at namb.net/baptismsunday. Baptism is a special moment for the person publicly professing his or her belief in Jesus as Savior and Lord! It’s encouraging when the church responds with heartfelt “amens” or thunderous applause. It is also a reminder that Jesus called us to be “fishers of men!” “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” Jesus, Mathew 4:19 Follow Me…(Invitation) The invitation of Jesus first heard on the shores of the Lake of Galilee continues to echo across the shores of the Great Lakes state of Michigan. Michiganders, known for using our hands as a map to show where we live, for our diversity, work ethic, and innovative spirit have heard His call and are following Him. Jesus unites us in churches from the northern shore of Lake Superior, to the western shore of Lake Michigan, and the eastern shores of Lakes Huron and Erie. His never ending invitation - Follow Me - is faithfully shared from the pulpits of Michigan Baptist churches to the individual platforms of believers who follow Him. We live in cities, towns and rural areas, and yet, we are one spiritual family following Jesus together. And I will make you…(Transformation) Jesus makes us into something we can never be without Him. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” John 1:12. Receiving Christ transforms us and draws us together as God’s children in churches across Michigan. It is unity in Him that brings together the wonderful mosaic of people known as Michigan Baptists. On any given Sunday, a diversity of people gather in a variety of settings around Him, demonstrating that the Gospel transcends cultural, racial, and economic lines. Together, we are the children of God. We are a living portrait of the transformational power of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus! Fishers of men…(Mission) Making disciples of Jesus is forever the mission of Michigan Baptists. We are driven to advance God’s Kingdom through sharing the Gospel, Church Planting, Church Strengthening, Church Revitalization, and cooperative missions in our state and beyond. His mission is ours until “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever” Revelation 11:15. 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. #SEPTEMBER21

by Coye Bouyer LANSING, MI – Jesus says, “for this reason, I say to you do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat, what you will drink nor for your body as to what you will put on…” In this paragraph, Jesus highlights one’s worry with regards to what one eats, drinks or wears. He says, “Don’t worry.” While at first glance this statement seems silly no matter who is saying it, Jesus does not flinch or fumble over his words when telling His followers not to be concerned with their basic needs. Why would believer’s not need to worry about their basic needs in this life? Jesus uses two illustrations to validate His statement. The first one comes from the animal kingdom as He describes the actions of birds. He says, ‘birds do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet the Lord feeds them.’ In other words, birds do not engage in the agricultural process of tilling the ground, planting seed, or harvesting and storing crops; yet they still eat. Why? Because God is in the agricultural process, and He provides. Jesus is not suggesting that the birds do nothing, idling waiting for food to fall from the sky, rather they look for it and they find it. Jesus’ point is not about the bird's work to obtain food, rather the bird’s expectation that they will find food. Likewise, you and I don’t sit idly by just watching, rather we look for it, because we can expect it. This illustration teaches the listener to not waste time worrying about food and drink because God will provide it. Jesus takes it one step further in v. 27 when He approaches this same thought from another angle, and draws attention to the limitations of human achievement. He says, ‘and who of you being worried, can add one hour to your life? As if to say, “you don’t have the power to extend your life for even one hour, so why are you worrying about something that is out of your control. Worry will not lengthen one’s life any more than worry can put food on the table. Isn’t it ironic that worry cannot lengthen life, but it can sometimes take away from one’s life? The logical conclusion is seen in vv. 31-32 where Jesus informs them that their doubt is considered as a dis on the character and care of God. Jesus comes back to His main point of the worthlessness of their worry by reminding them of the worries of the Gentiles (non-believers) to provide for themselves. Moreover, in reminding them of the Gentile’s worries, He also reminds them that it is God’s job to supply their basic needs. In closing, what if my 7-year-old son came into the house telling me how stressed he was because he had to find a part-time job over the weekend to pay for his school clothes and school lunch on Monday? Not only would this be ridiculous for him to think, but as his father I would be offended by his lack of confidence in me to provide these essential things for him. In a similar manner the Lord wants us to know that not only is our worry a waste and worthless, it’s also offensive because we fail in relying upon Him to provide our basic needs as His children. So, as you look at your life and the needs in it, stop wasting time worrying, worthlessly wondering about things that aren’t your responsibility. Just let God be God, doing what only God can do. Who knows, you might live a little longer! 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. #SEPTEMBER21