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by Jamie Lynn NASHVILLE, TN – The SBC Annual Meeting that met in Nashville Tennessee last week had been talked about with uncertainty in the media for a few months leading up to the gathering. There were so many things happening simultaneously, but this is just a glimpse of the activities. The crowd of messengers and guests representing the approximately 50,000 Great Commission churches swelled to almost 21,000. The possibility of several heated issues had been murmured about as to how and when they would be brought up during the meeting. Everyone seemed on edge. But God! The SEND Conference, June 12-13, was started with an all-inclusive hour-long prayer time with Pastor Robby Gallaty (Long Hollow Baptist Church Hendersonville, TN). That heartfelt time of pouring ourselves out to God seeking forgiveness and asking Him to fill our hearts with His love and unity in Christ set the tone for the remainder of the time in Nashville. A true peace about the upcoming days of the Annual Meeting came over the huge crowd. The NAMB (North American Mission Board) and the IMB (International Mission Board) had been invited to have a SEND Conference in the two days prior to the Annual Meeting that was usually for the Pastor’s Conference. NAMB and the IMB worked together to host representatives from thousands of SBC churches. Sunday evening lifted worship with Michael W. Smith, David Crowder and Pastor Tony Evans preaching a powerful message. Monday was filled with a Women’s Track with excellent speakers, Donna Gaines, Shelia Walsh and Katie McCoy and for the Pastor’s Track, David Jeremiah. NAMB had a luncheon which honored one church planter and his family. He had contracted COVID and had to have a double lung transplant. He was so blessed when he received word that his hospital bill was paid-in-full, and his wife received a new vehicle to transport him back and forth to his many doctor checkups. The IMB had a SENDING Celebration. It was so inspiring hearing all the new missionaries that were preparing to go to their field of service, tell their 1-minute testimony of how God had worked radically in their lives to call them to serve Him. Tuesday morning the SBC Annual Meeting began with President J.D. Greear presiding. His emphasis on prayer and the Gospel of Jesus Christ continued the spirit of accord that had begun in the prayer time with Pastor Robby Gallaty. J.D.’s easy-going manner, levity and always giving respect to the representative at the microphones carried the business sessions. The Minister’s Wives were treated to a special luncheon filled with inspiration and encouragement. Sabrina Patterson hosted a table full of Michigan pastor’s wives who had such fun visiting and listening to the speaker while enjoying a delicious lunch. The National Women’s Missionary Union report was given by Sandy Wisdom Martin and they were commended for how they support the Mission Offerings and Studies. The National Send Relief report given by Bryant Wright, National Director, and was uplifting in how Southern Baptist are known and have such a good name around the world in their relief ministries. The Resolutions were led by Dr. James Merritt. With several extensions of discussion times, the resolutions were amended or added until the voting messengers would come to an agreement to approve or refuse. This was the liveliest times of discussion. Dr. Merritt and the resolution team did an excellent job handling the resolutions. There was a Michigan Fellowship Dinner hosted by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan churches at a restaurant (Merchants) in downtown Nashville. The restaurant had a limit of 83 people, and it was filled to capacity! The tables were brimming with Michiganders sharing their thoughts on the Annual Meeting and what’s happening in their lives and churches. The food was delicious, but the kinship was sweeter. The SBC Annual meeting was closed with grace and the smack of a gavel. The new President, Ed Litton, 1st VP-Lee Brand Jr, 2nd VP Ramon Medina, Recording Secretary-John Yeats and Registration Secretary-Don Currence will now be helping Great Commission Baptist Churches across the US work together to reach our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jamie M. Lynn, I'm married to a God warrior, have 3 wonderful married children and 9 super grandkids. I love working at the BSCM office to help the churches in the Great Lakes area to thrive, serve God by drawing others to Him and to love their communities. #JULY21

PLYMOUTH, MI – I would like to send our congratulations to these fine students who graduated from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. I know that God is going to use them mightily in furthering the Kingdom of Christ. We are so thankful for the continuing education of our leaders here in Michigan. May God bless them and use them in great ways to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities, state and around the world. Tim Patterson Executive Director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan Student Name: Larry E. Rednower Hometown: Flint Home Church: New Haven Baptist Church School: Billy Graham School Degree: Doctor of Ministry-BGS Spouse Name: Janet K Rednower Student Name: Collin B. Smith Hometown: Tecumseh Home Church: Tecumseh Missionary Baptist Church (Tecumseh, MI) School: Billy Graham School Degree: Master of Divinity-BGS Spouse Name: Alysha Smith Student Name: Ethan Cole Hometown: Greenville Home Church: Calvary Baptist (Greenville, MI) School: Theology Degree: Doctor of Ministry-SOT Spouse Name: Kaitlyn Cole #JULY21

by David Kemper LANSING, MI – We spend a lot of time, energy and effort trying to find new methods for church growth, rather than simply trying to carry out our “Commander-in-chief’s” last orders. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV) Two commands and one promise in those orders: ‘Make disciples’. Lead people to a born again relationship with Jesus Christ. ‘Teaching them’ to obey. ‘I am with you’ the promise is, that in doing this, He will be with us until He comes again. He didn’t tell us to make church members. He didn’t tell us to make Baptists. He didn’t tell us to come up with clever and innovative ways to grow crowds. He told us to convince people to be followers of Jesus Christ (disciples). And He told us to teach them to ‘observe’/obey all that He has ‘commanded’ us. Having been in ministry for almost fifty years, I have seen many changes in culture, methods and even gimmicks to build churches. I think it would be a great idea if we started once again to focus on just getting the clear message of the gospel out to the people in our communities. In my opinion, it is God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit that actually brings people to Christ. Be committed to God completely. Even for those in the ministry, it is an ongoing work to stay as close to the Lord as we possibly can. We all have stresses and temptations that interfere with our ability to effectively communicate the gospel. I am sure that the closer we stay to the Lord the more powerful our efforts will be in outreach and personal witness. Understand the gospel thoroughly. It may seem strange to say, but effective communication of the gospel requires a clear understanding of it. Many times we think we know it clearly but that is only because we know the ‘vocabulary’ of the Christian and the Bible, and don’t realize as we attempt to share the gospel that it is not that clear at all to one who has been unchurched all their life. If one only memorizes a ‘plan of salvation’ and doesn’t understand all of the nuances involved in that from the Bible it becomes very hard to extend the conversation to the point of salvation. Using a ‘plan of salvation’ is essential, but understanding it is much more than ‘a plan’. Learn to communicate the gospel clearly. I have found that the best way to communicate the gospel is to keep it as brief and simple as possible. When I first did ministry as a director of a Junior Church in Nashville, I learned quickly that the only way to communicate to the kids was to keep it simple and as brief as possible. That five year experience has helped me a lot in learning how to keep complex subjects easy enough for a child to understand. That’s how we must work if we are to communicate clearly. Don’t quit. Possibly the most important part of sharing the gospel is to be faithful. And absolutely ‘don’t quit’. If our efforts are not always visibly fruitful we can become discouraged. Be certain, God uses every effort we make to add souls to the kingdom, even if we personally never see the results. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9 DON’T QUIT!!! ABOUT THE AUTHOR My name is David Kemper. I retired as a systems analyst from Dart Container in 2011. I am now in my third year as the pastor of the Discover Life Church in Lansing, MI. #JULY21

by Jon Locke MOUNT MORRIS, MI – Growing up I always knew I was different, on the inside that is. I knew that my mind did not work or process like everyone else’s. Being born in the seventies there weren’t a lot of diagnoses floating around, but there was plenty of name calling. “Dumb, hyper, bad, worthless, class clown” and countless others that were attached to me growing up in Houston, Texas. Sadly, most of the names came from adults, teachers, and even “well meaning” church folk. It was difficult knowing that you were different, but not being able to verbalize what that difference was even harder. I was also taller and bigger than most kids too so that was a blessing and a curse. I had to learn to fight from an early age. I honestly fell through the cracks in the education system. I do not know how big those cracks were, but I fell through them, all of them. To be fair, I did get snagged a few times, but my well-meaning parents somehow would talk my teachers into passing me. This happened on multiple occasions. It wasn’t till high school that I thought my luck had run out. I was being forced to redo some credits, and I had to do them by correspondence. Well, I refused. So, my mom and my older sister who wanted me to have a high school diploma did all the work for me. There you have it, I did not earn my diploma on my own merit. In fact, it wasn’t till I went off to college at the age of 28 that I learned how to put a sentence together properly. This was only because a professor saw something in me and took the time to help me. Maybe it was pity, because all my other professors thought they were on that tv show “punk’d.” My papers were marked with so much red ink, they were questioning their own admission policies. Remember I started off with God has a plan. I honestly shouldn’t be alive. In fact, I tried most of my early life not to be alive. In my desire to be “normal”, to be like everyone else, or to even to just have friends, my plan was destruction and death. Looking from the outside in, most would never have known that I was suicidal even from a young age. Who would think that the jovial, class clown, wanted desperately to leave this earth? To be honest, I still struggle with thoughts. It was after a failed suicide attempt when a borrowed handgun did not fire that I finally surrendered my life to Christ. Not some of my life, but all of it. So how does a husband, father, grandfather, pastor of a local church struggle with depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD and a host of other acronyms? I’m human, I’m a real person, just like everyone else. It wasn’t until much later in life that I was diagnosed with being on the Autism Spectrum. It is hard for adults to be diagnosed because we learn to cope, we learn to hide our “little secrets.” Sadly, ASD can be genetic and in a roundabout way that’s how I was diagnosed. We have five children and two grandchildren. Well, our fourteen-year-old son when he was ten had to be hospitalized because of suicidal ideations. He had already been diagnosed with ASD several years earlier, but some of his behaviors he was no longer able to control even with medicines. During the intake at the hospital, we learned that our son was very much like me, or I was like him. The intake nurse asked him if he had ever attempted suicide before and our hearts sunk. His little crying voice said that at eight he tried to hang himself in his closet. Why? He just wanted to be “normal.” Where have I heard this before? God has a plan, and He has a plan for you. It’s ok to be different, there is no “normal.” So many people are hurting and suffering in silence, but they don’t have to be. We have to take the stigma away from mental illnesses. We have to be able to open up without fear of rejection and shame before it’s too late. There are people and kids just like me and my son in your families and in your churches, reach out to them, open the lines of communication! If you, your child or loved one has a diagnosis or diagnoses they aren’t bound by those acronyms. Look at me! Who would have thought that a punk kid who everyone else threw away, who couldn’t even put a sentence together has multiple degrees. I'm a pastor, an author and have a beautiful family who loves me. All because God has a plan! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jon Locke serves on the staff of North End Baptist Church in Mount Morris. He is the Senior Pastor. #JULY21

by Seth Springs WATERFORD, MI – At the beginning of June, my wife and I attended our first ever Southern Baptist Convention meeting. It was an encouraging time as we gathered with 16,000 other Southern Baptists, including 2 of our church planting teammates. But, as we heard reports and casted votes, I began to ask myself a question that I believe many others have been asking themselves, “What makes me a Southern Baptist?” Why have I chosen to engage in Southern Baptist life? What keeps me committed to this family of Great Commission Baptist Churches? While you answer this line of questioning for yourself, I’d like to share 3 reasons why I am a Southern Baptist. LOTTIE MOON If you’ve been around SBC life for long, you know the name Lottie Moon (1840-1912). As a young lady, Lottie Moon offered her life to Christ through missionary service. This route included denying the comforts of home and declining a seemingly attractive marriage proposal. She would set sail for China at the age of 32, and never look back, making Jesus known among Chinese peoples for 39 years. You probably know Lottie Moon as the namesake of the SBC’s annual Christmas offering. This is because, while serving overseas, Lottie wrote letters urging churches to give generously and send missionaries so that the Nations might hear the Good News about Jesus. This has resulted in Southern Baptists giving over $5 billion to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. That’s $5 billion so that missionaries can be sent, the Gospel can be preached, and people “from every nation, tribe, people, and language” can call on the name of the Lord and be saved. This global cooperative effort is what makes me want to be a Southern Baptist. ANNIE ARMSTRONG Behind the organization of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering was a group of Southern Baptist women known as the Women’s Missionary Union. Behind that group was a woman named Annie Armstrong (1850-1938). Born and raised in the city of Baltimore, Annie always had a passion for serving those in need. As leader of the WMU, she helped mobilize other women, and their churches, to live on mission near and far. In 1934, The Home Mission Board (NAMB) renamed its annual offering for North American missions after her. Each year, Southern Baptists support the work of meeting needs, planting churches, and changing lives across North America through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Without this offering, the ministries of church planters like me would look vastly different! This cooperative effort, that our new church plant now has the privilege of participating in, makes me want to be a Southern Baptist! BRENDA CARTER Another significant reason I am a committed Southern Baptist is a name that you may not know. Brenda Carter has championed cooperative missions for the entirety of her adult life. For years she has led WMU efforts in her church and local Baptist association. Once a month, she meets with ladies of her church to pray for international missionaries by name. Brenda has been on close to 30 short-term mission trips to the country of Brazil, and has served hard-hit communities through Disaster Relief. I know all of this because Brenda Carter is my grandmother. My favorite memories of VBS are of my grandmother giving the weekly “missions moments.” The first time I can remember hearing someone share the Gospel was when my grandmother shared the Good News about Jesus with a UPS delivery man right in her kitchen. When I was radically saved at the age of 15, years of mission moments and evangelistic enthusiasm finally made sense. I am thankful for the work of Southern Baptists, especially this one! What makes me a Southern Baptist? Simply put, I don’t want to miss out. The Great Commission really is great and we are better together. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Seth Springs serves in Waterford, MI alongside his wife Taylor and 3 young children. Seth is a church planter and one of the pastors at Transformation Church Waterford. #JULY21

by Chip Faulkner HILLSDALE, MI – “What just happened?” exclaimed John after we got back in my car. We had finished meeting again with the marketing director of radio station WCSR about our Centershot outreach event. How stunned we were to hear that a corporate sponsor, Whitetail Properties, had offered to cover the bulk of the fees for a huge advertising blitz to promote a multi-state tournament. The blitz promised to use radio, social media, and remote broadcasts to reach thousands of households. Centershot is a faith-based program that uses archery as an outreach tool to share the Gospel. Some of the folks in our church knew about Centershot, and I had recently become more interested in Centershot while on retreat at Bambi Lake. We contacted Roscommon Baptist Church to see about the possibility of having a one-day Centershot event at our church so we could better evaluate the potential of the ministry in our context. We soon learned that Centershot, the National Archery in Schools Program, and the International BowHunting Organization were looking for a location in our area to hold a Regional Open Tournament. A simple idea just kept growing into a bigger and bigger opportunity! The county fairground opened their facility to us and local businesses likewise got involved. In addition to the tournament, we were able to offer a Centershot “Fun Shoot.” The shooting range was full all day with young people safely enjoying archery. The response from the community proved hugely positive. Our church, as tournament host, not only got to serve our community, but we also staffed a prayer table and made many new friends. Through the registration process we were able to gather the contact information of numerous families interested in our Centershot ministry. What really stood out to me happened during the awards program at the conclusion of the tournament. The Centershot representative clearly shared the Gospel to the whole group using a color-coded LifeBow. For follow-up we will have another Fun Shoot outreach in August, and then we will be starting our first 8-week Centershot ministry starting in September. Several of our members have received their Basic Archery Instructor certification. We believe Centershot will be a vital evangelistic channel in our purpose of exalting God, equipping mentors, and engaging community. It’s so amazing to be on mission and experience the Lord Jesus showing his provision beyond what we could ever ask or imagine. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chip was called to Hillsdale Baptist Church in March of 2020. He has served churches in Oklahoma and Illinois and also as a missionary with the IMB. Chip and his wife Gail have three grown children and 5 grandchildren. #JULY21

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – Have you noticed that all of the sudden it seems as though everyone has become an "authority" on everything? You can ask the average "Bubba" on the street what he thinks is the answer to the situation in Palestine, and he will most likely give you exacting and definitive steps to deal with the problem. Now, of course, it doesn't matter if you offered him $1000, he couldn't locate this little country on a map, but he does have the right answers for this ancient conflict. In fact, he has the right answer for everything. Just ask him. If you present this individual with a medical problem, he will probably be able to diagnose and give what he knows is a proper treatment for the ailment, even though he couldn’t tell you the difference between a stethoscope and a periscope. Politics, religion, education, business, etc. It doesn't matter what subject, everyone seems to have the right answer. I can hear some of you out there right now saying,"Well, don't we all have the right to an opinion?" Sure, you do but that doesn't mean the world needs to be blessed with it or that those in leadership in this community, country or for that matter, our convention, needs to be bludgeoned by it. A fellow once told me that people have a lot in common when it comes to opinions and armpits. We all have a couple of them and they both usually stink! Some have come to believe that social media has not only given them the right to express their opinions about anything or anyone, but it has demanded that they do so. As a result, many believe and receive as fact the preponderance of postulations and platitudes that are proclaimed. An old cowboy saying is that, before you ingest or eat something it’s not as important to know what it is but it’s really important to know what it was. I am fully convinced and fearful that too many good Christian brothers and sisters are ingesting any and everything they receive from media sources because it seem enticing in its present form without looking closely at its source. My father was a good and hardworking man that provided well for his family within the means that he possessed. He only attained an 8th grade formal education, but he received a PHD from the educational system of life. One of the words of wisdom that he shared with many was, “Don’t ever believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.” Opinions are best when they are filtered through the good and Godly standards we find in God's Word. If we would just be obedient to God's command to, "Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus." Phil 2:5, just think of the difference that would make in your life and the life of others. I am fully convinced that God is not concerned with our opinions. He wants us to know His mind, (His desire and will) and to live accordingly. In the grand scheme of all of eternity, our opinions don't really matter. His does! Proverbs 17:28 tells us, "Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is counted prudent." Now that verse gives a great deal of hope to a multitude of us here in this great family, we call Southern Baptist. If we can just keep our mouths shut, others might think we are pretty smart. My dear friend and partner in ministry, Mike Durbin, taught me to use the acronym, WAIT. In any debate or conversation, he tells himself to WAIT and ask: Why Am I Talking? Good and godly advice from a good and godly man. Then next time you hear one of those "specially appointed, I'm right and you're wrong" guys begin to spout their perfected insight, just remember what God thinks about it. HIS is the only opinion that matters. And for those of you who are in leadership, there will always be those with their opinions. Just remember, their opinions have a great deal in common with armpits. 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. #JULY21

by Dr. Tony L.Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – Wayne Parker, Send City Missionary for Detroit, created an outstanding newsletter and I thought I would share Greater Detroit’s latest news. Half of the state’s population resides in the region. The most diverse Michigan communities exist in the area, forming an interesting mosaic where the Good News of Jesus Christ has not yet been shared among millions. 3+3 New Church Plants We are praising God that churches are being planted in Detroit and throughout North America despite being one of the hardest hit cities in the country by the COVID-19 virus. In the last year, we saw 3 new churches launched: Rhiza Church in Ann Arbor with Pastor Tito Diaz, People’s Fresh Start Church in Detroit with Pastor Robert Lodge, Jr., and Trails Church in Farmington Hills with Pastor Phillip Box. We are looking forward to 3 new church launches this fall including: Heart & Soul in West Bloomfield with Pastor Cornelius Roberson, Reformation Church in Detroit with Pastor Malcolm Griswold, and Reaching Out Church in Windsor with Pastor Sameer Kabul* (*name changed for security). Four Nearby Mission Projects for Existing Churches With summer upon us, we want to let you know of just some ways that you and your church could partner with church planters and their new churches as they serve Christ in Send Detroit. Several of our church planting missionaries have projects that can use your support. See the different ways that you can help by sending a team to assist with work. Two to three days of service could make a big difference in one church’s impact. Heart and Soul Community Church, West Bloomfield Pastor Cornelius Roberson and the church recently acquired property with a building across the street from the local high school. The building needs work to prepare it for Sunday worship, Bible study, and other gatherings. They need assistance with a new roof, interior renovations, and exterior clean-up. House Church, Detroit Pastor Roland Caldwell Jr. just celebrated 4 years of public ministry. The church is passionate about serving the disadvantaged families surrounding the church. The congregation would appreciate any help in replacing exterior windows, painting interior rooms, and securing ceiling tiles in the worship center. Church at Clawson, Clawson Pastor Bob Morrissey has led this church for the past 5 years. The members of the church continue to renovate this former VFW hall location into an efficient church building every chance they can. They would welcome help replacing windows and refacing the outside wall surface. They want to relocate some interior walls to create an area for teens. An existing bathroom needs renovation and updating. One Mission Church, Inkster Pastor Antonio Wimberly has planned multiple ways to engage the local community all summer long. The congregation could use help with service projects and outreach efforts among those living in a local community with park clean-up, painting, and Gospel presentations. They will have an August Block Party where mission teams could jump into help. Doxa Church, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Pastor David Livingston, during 2021, is inviting people to vision tours in preparation for a new church launch in 2022 that will reach university students on the campus of the University of Michigan and others throughout the surrounding area. University graduates are challenged to dedicate their first two years after collegiate graduation to the creation of a new church. It is very likely a hundred such students will participate in the vision tour then move themselves to Ann Arbor and find jobs so they can start the new Doxa Church in 2022. Reach out to Wayne Parker If you want to ask questions about how you can get involved in or contribute to the ever-growing ministries in the Greater Detroit area, write to wparker@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. #JULY21

by Coye Bouyer PLYMOUTH, MI – In 2020, churches were forced to move to services on-line and while many of us sat and watched worship in the comfort of our living room, we still sat in isolation (just our family) on Sunday instead of the community of local assembly. While it is true that God is still with you in the living room of your house, our physical absence from the church house meant that instead of growing together through the trials of 2020, we were forced to navigate through some very traumatic times disconnected from our local church body. The Bible says that we are not to neglect the continual getting together with the saints (Hebrews 11:25) as had become the habit of some. The writer of Hebrews along with multiple writers of the Scriptures instruct us on the significant growth that takes place in the midst of community. Whether it’s a sports team, colleagues at work, a workout partner in the gym, or a husband and wife, there is a special comradery within the company of others. Too often we think that because we don’t need the church to connect to God then we don’t need the church to remain connected to God. And while this is true, the Bible seems to assert that since the beginning our God intended for us to be in community. For God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone;” Jesus sent His disciples out two by two (Lk. 10:1) and the Spirit gives various gifts to different members in order to create a more codependent yet unified and functioning church body (1 Cor. 12:4-14). This is the case because God never intended for us to be Lone Ranger Christians rather He wanted us to be in unity with Him and community with one another. For as we grow in spiritual maturity making disciples for the Kingdom of God, these things are always better when we experience them together in community. In 2020 we experienced a major pandemic resulting in separations, sometimes isolation, and for many a sense of disconnection. But today you and I no longer have to hide behind masks, socially distant, separating ourselves from one another, nor bind ourselves in the confines of our own home in isolation. Rather, now we can Connect and Reconnect with shopping, restaurants, travel, outdoor activities and sporting events but we also have the chance to reconnect with regards to our worship with one another. While some will still find themselves worried due to health concerns and attempting to use careful caution with wisdom, I want to encourage you not to take too long in coming back to your local assembly where you can worship our God with the rest of the body. Not because you have to, but because your local assembly needs you to. For we are always better together than we could ever be apart. Your church misses YOU and WE hope to RECONNECT with YOU soon! 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. #JULY21

by Mick Schatz ROSCOMMON, MI – One of my favorite celebrations is July 4th. I love the color, the pageantry and celebrating the fact that our country was established on Christian principles. Also, no matter how old I become, I still get excited to watch and hear fireworks. My favorite place to watch fireworks is in Flagler Beach, Florida, close to the pier where the fireworks are launched. As a kid there was nothing better than laying on the beach, relaxing to the sound of waves crashing, smelling the salt air, and looking straight into sky and feeling as if the kaleidoscope of colors were going to fall right on top of me while waiting to hear the boom of the next round of fireworks being launched. The colors would be so vivid and expansive it seemed as if you could reach out and grab them. The boom would be so loud and explosive it would make your teeth rattle and shake you to the core of your being. The only bad part of the evening was it seemingly ended too soon; however, it would go out with a bang – a continuous 5-6 minutes of explosions of color and sound would fill up the beach sky – it was always an amazing finale! Reflecting back on this I am reminded of how God has called us to be light. In Matthew 5:16 we are instructed to let our light (God in and through us) shine before others so they may see our good deeds and bring glory to our Father in heaven. Imagine for a moment living a life so infused with Christ, so empowered by His love, so visibly loud for His glory, our lost neighbors would be in awe of our lives and know that only God could be responsible. Amazingly, we do not need to just imagine it. When we die to our old nature and let God’s nature supernaturally change us from the inside out, we become reflectors of His glory. We begin to shine in dark places and light up the night sky like the 4th of July. We are to let the light of God manifest and shine so brightly in all we do that the world will not only take notice but will give glory to God our Father for it! Oh, and do not forget, this light does not disappoint! This light has no end. It has no finale. It shines on and on for all eternity. Eradicating darkness wherever it shines! Healing broken lives, resurrecting lost dreams, restoring hope to the hopeless, replacing heaviness with joy, restoring relationships – this is the power of God’s light. So don’t hide His light, don’t be afraid where it may lead you. As long as His light is illuminating the path you can be sure of your next step. You never know, you may just be the fireworks that grabs the attention of your co-worker. You may just be the boom that causes your lost family member to wake up and look up. Go! Let your life light up the dark night. Light it Up and Shine Bright! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mick Schatz serves on the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. He is the State Director of Spiritual Enrichment and Retreats and lives at Bambi Lake. #JULY21

by Leslie Peacock Caldwell GAHANNA, OH – Wally Contreras had a passion for missions before he became a pastor in January 2020. Having previously served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, he lived overseas for six years in Europe and Central Asia – cross-cultural experiences that helped shape his love for the nations. After he became pastor of First Baptist Church of Gahanna, Ohio, and wanting to see his church’s commitment to international missions grow, Contreras prayed that God would lead them toward that goal and specifically to a missionary family the church could connect with on a personal level. In March 2020, IMB staff asked how they could pray for him. Contreras requested: “Pray that God would send us missionaries and raise up missionaries from this congregation. I want us to have a strong connection to the field.” Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Contreras spent the next several months focusing on the pandemic response and leading the congregation through it. All the while, he continued to pray over his church’s role in missions. In early fall 2020, Contreras was contacted by a local crisis pregnancy center about bringing baby bottle coin collection containers to his church. He was glad to invite his church members to participate in the fundraiser. When the representative called to confirm the drop-off, Contreras agreed to meet Christal at the church. What he didn’t know is that Christal was from a different agency, asking for the same participation from his church. Christal delivered the baby bottles and while at the church asked Contreras if their church had an established missionary connection. Her son and daughter-in-law had been appointed by the IMB and were visiting churches to invite them to partner in the work. Where were they going? Central Asia. In fact, they would be serving just a few hours from where Contreras had lived. He knew this was God’s answer to his prayers. The next day he received a phone call from the crisis pregnancy center which had originally called, and it was only then he realized the mix-up. Contreras laughed as he thought about the baby bottle deliveries. “It was through my own mistake,” he said. “The Lord wanted to make sure that I couldn’t take any credit for this. By my own error, the Lord brought us the missionaries we were praying for.” Contreras apologized to the first woman who called from the center, explaining they now had plenty of baby bottles, but he knew God used that mistake. He soon met with George and Judy Jameson* and eagerly shared his own experiences in Central Asia. He was also excited about the partnership with these new IMB workers. “The Lord was calling me back to a people group that I’d already met,” Contreras, adding that he soon told the church with confidence: “The Lord is calling us to partner with a ministry in Central Asia.” Immediately the church made plans to intentionally pray for the Jamesons and the unreached in their country of service. The church also increased their regular international missions budget in addition to increasing their giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. “We’ll gain by losing,” Contreras continues to remind his church. “The Lord has given us this opportunity and I don’t know how else to respond.” But for Contreras, the giving and praying isn’t enough. “When we just send money,” he said, “we’re outsourcing our responsibilities to the gospel.” He’s spending the next season getting his church excited about going—praying that his love for Central Asia will be contagious. “Get your passports ready because I’m dragging y’all to go visit these people,” he tells his church members. “We need to be ready to have full skin in the game.” When Contreras talks about the possibilities of bringing a team to join the work in Central Asia, his face lights up and he can’t help but look back at the ways God answered his prayer. “Send us missionaries” was his simple prayer. The Jamesons urged FBC Gahanna to seek local connections with Central Asians, as they learn about the people and culture. It didn’t take many prayers before God began to show them how their international mission partnership would begin at home. They’ve even discovered a local business owner from the exact country where the Jamesons serve. “FBC Gahanna is a prime example of the fact that Southern Baptist congregations everywhere are willing and able to have an increased personal connection to the field,” George Jameson said. “There are churches out there waiting to be invited into more intimate engagement with the work that they are already a part of through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Cooperative Program. The Lord is already making those connections and doing it by the wisdom of His providence and for His glory among the nations!” Jameson says that the partnership with FBC Gahanna is “exactly the kind of partner congregation you pray for.” He is encouraged by the church’s willingness to learn and pray, but also by its commitment to increased giving and their desire to join the work in Central Asia in person when the opportunity arises. “Coming and seeing what the place is like, meeting the people, getting firsthand experience of what is going on here has the potential to take their knowledge, connection and prayers to a new level,” Jameson said. For Contreras and the church, prayers are being answered, the journey has started, and the future is bright. He expresses excitement about seeing God move in this way and has no plans to back away from their commitment. “We’re full steam ahead,” he said. If you or your church is ready to make a missionary connection, email info@imb.org. Through the Church Connections strategy, IMB missionaries are hoping to connect with every Southern Baptist church. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leslie Peacock Caldwell writes from New Kent, Va. #JULY21

by Luke Bilberry Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV HUDSONVILLE, MI – This passage has been rattling around in my head like a BB in a tin can. These words resound with a twinge of sharpness that forces me to deal with the implications of what it means to be a temple where the Spirit of the living God dwells. Too often I rush past this reality—God almighty, the maker of heaven and earth chooses to take up residence in me. It reminds me of Psalm 8, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” This truth stirs awe and worship for God. Right now, God is with me, and I can dwell with Him. This is true for each one of us who have come to live in relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Right now, God is dwelling with you, and you can dwell with Him. Across our state God is dwelling from Detroit to the shorelines, from the southern border to the tip of the UP. We are part of God’s plan of redemption for the lost and broken in our state and across the world. I am not a native Michigander, but a transplant from Texas. In the last 4-and-a-half years, I have seen God moving across our state. I have seen churches partner together in unique ways. I have seen church plants and established churches collaborate in their communities. I have seen marriages restored. I have seen more people baptized and heard of lives transformed among your churches in the last year. I think it is because the followers of Jesus are becoming more aware that each one of us is a temple for the living God. How is this possible? Simply put—the Gospel. The Gospel has changed us, and it is changing others. Jesus told Peter, “Upon this rock he would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail” (Matthew 16:18). Just as Peter was leading the early church, this passage helps us see that the Gospel is what grounds us. It compels us into the lost and broken world around us as the temple of God. 1 Peter lays out a picture of what we as individual temples of God look like, but also what the collective of temples looks like. The temple is a picture of the place where God moves toward humanity and where humanity can move toward God. You and I are that same temple. God moves toward the people around us—through us. People can encounter God through us because of the Gospel. As the truth of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 has rattled around in my head, I pray that it rattles in all our heads. When we live with the understanding that God’s Spirit is dwelling in us, our state will continue to be changed by the Good News of Jesus Christ. We will continue to see lives changed as we steward the gifts (1 Peter 4:1-10) God has given us. Our state is diverse, beautiful and a gem in our country. This same diversity and beauty is seen in all the temples of our God that are scattered across Michigan. May our lives, the temples of God, be a place where the people of our state can encounter God through Jesus Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Luke Bilberry is the Executive Pastor of Multiplication at Chapel Pointe in Hudsonville, MI and serves on the leadership team of Be The Church. His primary role focuses on developing healthy leaders who strengthen and start churches to advance a Gospel movement. A native of East Texas, Luke has been married to his wife, Kathryn, for 13 years and they have three children. #JULY21