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by Chris Tenneriello GRAND BLANC, MI – As I reflect upon my first pastorate, I remember how uncertain I was as a leader of a local congregation. I had learned many principles of leadership in seminary, but learning principles about leadership and being a leader, I found, were two different things. The principles of leadership are easy to know, being a leader, however, has taken me 30+ years to learn. Over those years of ministry I have learned 3 key leadership principles that have sustained me over the years of ministry in a local church. The first principle I learned was that to be a good leader I had to be a dedicated follower of Jesus. My life in Christ is the foundation for my abilities to lead a local congregation. I learned to nourish my soul as I worshipped Jesus daily by spending time with Him in His Word. Over the years in ministry, I cannot total the number of hours I have spent in study to teach His Word to others. But my quiet time with Him, when He was shaping me, made me both the man that I am and the leader He wanted me to be. Another key leadership principle I learned was that I had to be a man of integrity. My heart had to be completely devoted to Jesus. In the Old Testament book of Kings, integrity was described as having a “whole heart” for the LORD. In the New Testament integrity could be described as character traits that should reveal the life of Jesus in those who follow Him. In various lists in the New Testament that delineate leadership, character traits are repeatedly mentioned. One such list is found in 1 Timothy 3 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.” I recognized early in my life as a follower of Jesus that character does matter. Who I am, preceded what I know. To be a shepherd for God was to be a man of God. A final leadership principle I learned was the ability to say NO — to myself. Jesus clearly stated that …“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” I learned that delayed gratification is a necessary characteristic of a leader. If I could not say no to myself, then I would conflate my will with His. As a servant of my Lord, I had to be committed to do His will. The Lord expects nothing less. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” I can never think that I have a better way to build His church. I must always be mindful that I follow an ancient way that the Lord has used to build His church and I have been entrusted to adhere to that way as long as my ministry lasts. While I could continue to list more leadership principles that I have learned over my years of ministry, those three were and continue to be foundational for me. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chris Tenneriello is an Elder at Bethany Baptist Church, Grand Blanc MI. He is also a Certified Leader for the Antioch School of Church Planting and Leadership Development. #JULY21

by Barbara Hoffman YULEE, FL (BP) – When stores in Northeast Florida receive a delivery of Yulee BBQ Sauce they’re getting more than a collection of sauces and rub with tangy flavor perfect for grilling. “They’re getting a chaplain and pastor,” said Jimmy Flanagan, creator of Yulee BBQ Sauce, who personally makes the deliveries to his customers. Flanagan, pastor of Duval Station Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., has taken his passion for cooking to create his own barbecue sauce, which he sells in local stores and uses as a platform for sharing the Gospel. “I could knock on doors, do outreach programs, but when I go with the barbecue sauce, it totally opens everything up for ministry and witnessing,” Flanagan said, adding: “It’s not about me at all and it’s not about the sauce, it’s about people and it’s about Christ.” Growing up in Yulee, a rural bedroom community just north of Jacksonville, Flanagan relished helping his dad grill outdoors on the smoker or in a pit. He said those childhood experiences led to his love of cooking. As a young adult he began experimenting with creating his own barbecue sauce. “I prayed over every try,” he said. “It was just a hobby for years.” In 2007, after serving a church in Hoboken, Ga., Flanagan and his family returned to Yulee, and he assumed the pastorate at Duval Station Baptist, about 10 miles south. All the while, he continued cooking and perfecting the sauce. When he added a new ingredient to a batch of sauce, his family, who always thought his experiments tasted pretty good, raved about this new batch. He shared the sauce with friends and then served it at a local annual sportsman’s feast. For the next two years, he set up a table at the event and sold the sauce. Although excited that people liked his recipe, the pastor became concerned he was trying to do something outside of ministry. “I had prayed over every test batch and I realized that God gave it to me and that I should do all things to the glory of God,” he said. Five years ago, after meeting all the necessary legal requirements, with the help of a co-packer, Flanagan began bottling Yulee BBQ Sauce and selling it in local stores. It now comes in three flavors — original, sweet and hot – and in a rub. Ten stores carried the sauce the first year. He now produces 600-800 bottles every three months and sells it in 23 outlets – vegetable markets, meat stores and hardware stores – in eight nearby towns. “I pray before I make every delivery, that God will have His will with communications and relationships,” said the pastor, who added that God has helped him build relationships in each store. After making a recent delivery, he noticed the cashier had left the store. As he passed her on the sidewalk she asked if they could talk. Through tears she shared that her boss’ wife had just passed away and asked Flanagan to pray for her boss. At another store he noticed an employee, a young woman who rarely smiled and spoke little to him, was absent. He found out she had had a stroke and was hospitalized in a local Jacksonville ICU. Along with some members from his church, he drove to the hospital, prayed with her and her family gathered there. She told her family, “This is the barbecue guy.” Not long afterward, Flanagan’s father overheard a woman in a local store telling others how her daughter had been in ICU and the guy who sells barbecue sauce visited the family in the hospital. A month later, the young woman was back at work talking incessantly about how God had been working in her life. “She smiles now! That wouldn’t have happened without the sauce,” Flanagan said. Flanagan said when becoming a vocational minister, he was mostly around other Christians. “What I found missing,” he said, “was me being a witness, having spiritual conversations with new people.” His business now allows him “to point people to Christ in a regular, organic way. It’s been really fun,” he said. “I’m using sauce to reach souls.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barbara Hoffmann, a member at Eau Gallie First BC, Melbourne, served alongside her husband Mike for over 25 years as North American Mission Board church planters in Georgia, Maine, and Florida. She is a graduate of Florida State University and taught Pre-K/VPK for many years. While serving in Maine she wrote articles for the NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST, and currently writes articles for the Canaveral Port Ministry's newsletter. She and Mike have two adult children, and she enjoys spending time with their 4 grandchildren. #JULY21

by Staff DETROIT, MI – Pastor Rochelle Davis Jr. of the Temple of Faith Baptist Church Detroit, retired to the position of Pastor Emeritus (6-30-2021). The time of Pastor Rochelle’s retirement was commemorated by A Drive by Celebration at the Temple of Faith Church parking lot. Pastor Rochelle was seated on a platform and each car drove by and had a moment to give their congratulations. He received a plaque from the Greater Detroit Baptist Association and the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (presented by Pastor Tim Patterson, Executive Director/Treasurer). Many pastors, church leaders and members came to give their respect and honor to a well-loved Pastor Rochelle. Here is but a small view of the faithful ministry and life of serving that Pastor Rochelle has had: RELIGIOUS: Received Jesus Christ as Personal Lord and Savior at age ten (10) Professed the call into Gospel Ministry in 1963 Ordained September 1965 at Baptist Temple Church, Shreveport, Louisiana FAMILY: Married April 12, 1958 – Mariah Drayton (deceased) Children (3) EDUCATION: Springville Senior High School – Coushatta, Louisiana Michigan Baptist Institute; Detroit Bible School; Boyce Bible School Institute of Holy Land Studies; American Ulpan Jerusalem, Israel Southern Seminary Extension AREAS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICE (SERVED): Became a Pastor in 1968 and have pastored the same Church for (53 years) Temple of Faith Baptist Church Executive Board Member – Baptist State Convention of Michigan Advisory Board – Metropolitan Department of Evangelism – North American Mission Board The Committee on Boards and Agencies – Southern Baptist Convention Moderator: Greater Detroit Baptist Association Task Force – Ethnic Liaison Unit of the BSSB 2nd Vice President – Baptist State Convention of Michigan 1st Vice President – Baptist State Convention of Michigan President – State Pastors Conference Committee Chairman – National Baptist, Michigan Southern Baptist State Coordinator – Black Church Relations – BSCM National Consultant – Evangelism (Black Church Relations) President of African American Fellowship of Michigan Served as Trustee on the International Mission Board, SBC Member of the Executive Board – Baptist State Convention Member of the Executive Board – Greater Detroit Baptist Association Member of the Detroit Neighborhood Reformation Team Member of Cody Rouge Faith Based Alliance MISSION PROJECTS: Coordinated a trip to Botswana, South Africa in relationship with the Foreign Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention Part of Mission Trip to Kenya, East Africa Participated in Overseas Evangelism project in England Participated in major project St. Lucia West Indies Mission trip to Brazil God gave Pastor Rochelle Davis Jr., a vision to develop a people to glorify God. God also gave him a motto: A Spark that continues to spark will one day become a Flame. His favorite quote: Stay Focused, Move forward, In the Right Direction Thank you, Pastor Rochelle Davis Jr., for faithfully sharing God’s love, not only with your words but also with your life. You have made a difference in countless lives. #JULY21

by Ed Litton NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – In the hours after my election as SBC president, there certainly were a great number of things to do and new places to be. The Lord allowed me moments in the hallways to meet and greet Southern Baptists at their best. There were those who heartily congratulated me. Yet the ones who caught my attention were many, almost too many to count, who reached out their hand to shake mine and said a very similar thing: “Ed, I did not vote for you, but I love you in Christ and I promise to pray for you.” We often focus on what disunity does to us. What I witnessed at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting was the real heart of Great Commission Baptists. What I saw cannot be chalked up to “Southern Hospitality” or even good sportsmanship. It is something deeper indeed. It is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing God’s Word to bear on hearts that in some cases were disappointed with the outcome of the election or concerned about our future together. Yet they saw fit to express to me their belief in a sovereign God and His purpose in all things. I was humbled. Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 4:2-3 “…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.“ In the days since the Annual Meeting, reporters have often inquired how I am going to bring unity or lead a divided people into unity. My answer remains the same: It is difficult to unify people who don’t want to be unified, but I believe that Baptists long for unity in the Spirit and the bond of peace. They know that in their own churches disunity not only hinders the advance of the Gospel, it also makes people bitter and irreconcilable. No shepherd wants that for his sheep. “With all humility…” It is not my job to humble you or yours to humble me. It is all of our jobs to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God. Pride always erodes relationships. It makes us more certain that our judgments are beyond question, and certain that our knowledge is full and extensive. It makes us more demanding of our way and less prone to listen or serve. “And gentleness…” When Jesus chose to describe Himself to us who share His yoke (Matt. 11:28-30), His first descriptor was gentleness. This is the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. He makes us like Jesus. “With patience…” If we demand to always have things our way, then genuine relationships will be the casualties. Our patience with one another says we value one another, we need one another and we work to see the best in one another. When we are quick to judge or criticize, we strain our relationships. Southern Baptists, even on such a large scale we must remain relationally connected. For this reason, I commit to doing my best to serve all Southern Baptists with wisdom and grace. “Bearing with one another in love…” Love requires that we are willing to put up with one another, willing to suffer from each other’s unique and maybe even odd ways. We inhabit a sinful, fallen world and we are sinful by nature and by choice. We need the reminder of God’s call to bear with one another. Our love one for another makes God’s love more evident to the world around us. “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit…” Unity is the work of the Holy Spirit of God in us. It won’t be accomplished in our strength. We must be eager for it. I think at times we have forgotten how beautiful it is to be unified. Our unity is not uniformity. How pleased the Father is when a vast array from every tongue and tribe demonstrates a beautiful unity and cooperation for the display of His glory! “In the bond of peace…” Peace is a binding agent. It holds us together and refreshes our confidence that God has chosen us to live our lives with a Revelation 7:9 vision of every tribe and tongue around His throne. Our Southern Baptist family is the largest deliberative body in the world, and many outsiders think we are divided beyond hope. Yet in truth, many of the messengers I met in the waning hours of the SBC Annual Meeting were heading home to preach the Word, make disciples, serve their cities and baptize people in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. They don’t set the Twitter world on fire; they tenaciously lead and serve by faith. They are the kind of believers Paul had in mind when he wrote these words. I am most honored to be chosen to lead at this hour in this mission. Please join me in prayer, seeking the Heavenly Father to strengthen our unity in order to fulfill His mission of the glorious Gospel. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ed Litton is senior pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., and president of the Southern Baptist Convention. #JULY21

by Meredith Flynn SPRINGFIELD, IL – Ten years after our premarital counseling, the piece of advice that sticks out above the others is a Bible verse. I wish I could report that Paul’s encouragement in Colossians 3:16 to “let the word of Christ dwell richly among you” has seasoned all of my speech for the past decade. I can’t. But we have found speaking to one another out of the overflow of God’s word is a worthy goal. Especially once we added two daughters to our family, and particularly when statistics show biblical literacy and engagement are relatively low. The American Bible Society reported last year that only 9% of Americans used the Bible every day. That’s the lowest percentage since the annual State of the Bible survey launched 10 years ago. The survey pointed to specific challenges in 2020, but we’ve personally experienced other factors that were in place long before the pandemic: we tend to be over-scheduled, without margin, and apathetic about prioritizing the Bible every day. But recently, our family has stumbled into a few new ways to engage with God’s word together. These methods, helpful to us because our children are young, can be adapted for any context: Sing it. Our girls recently discovered the Slugs and Bugs series of songs based on Scripture. The lyrics are straight from the Bible and some songs have a generous helping of silliness. (“Deuteronomy 6:5,” for example, features verses sung by monsters and bumblebees.) For adults, worship leaders Shane & Shane have two albums based on the Psalms. Singing Scripture helps it take root in our hearts. Read it. We’ve used some wonderful storybook Bibles over the years, but we recently realized the value of reading stories straight from the Bible itself. Watching the stories of Joseph or Moses stretch out over several chapters of Scripture, for instance, gives us an opportunity to talk about God’s providence and provision in each part of their lives, and ours. Tell it. Ahead of Palm Sunday, our kindergartener wanted to tell us the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. That spurred our 3-year-old to tell us the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Their retellings reminded me of that piece of biblical advice from a decade ago. “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meredith Day Flynn is a wife and mother of two living in Springfield. She writes on the intersection of faith, family, and current culture. Used with permission from the Illinois Baptist. #JULY21

Our New Home It has been a long haul, but we have moved into our new facility, owned by our ministry partners Bridge St. Ministries. Bridge St. Ministries renovated a building just a block down the street that housed a liquor store, slum apartments and more, that exacerbated the brokenness of the neighborhood for many years. Now it is a coffee shop in the morning, a teen center in the afternoon and a church on Sunday. Because our ministries are so closely aligned with the same goals they don't charge us a penny. We very much appreciate their partnership in the gospel. In the third picture you see the garage doors on the right side, which open into the meeting room, as needed. The fact that this space is free to us allows us to keep overhead to a minimum, focusing our fundraising primarily to other ministry expenses. After School Programs, etc. This Spring has been a busy time between after school programs, neighborhood clean ups, after church lunches, and other neighborhood ministry. Plant 616 The CrossWinds team has been working with pastors across different denominations to start Plant 616. The goal of Plant 616 is to start new churches among the urban poor in the 616 area code. We held our first conference in May, with over 50 attending. You are invited to follow the link and watch a short video explaining 616, professionally filmed through the generosity of our church planting team, the SEND network. Plant 616 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plant616 Plant 616 Video: https://fb.watch/5U-KOT7hMR/ Adding Staff Cole Popkin (center of photo) is joining our CrossWinds team. Cole focuses on sharing the gospel with neighborhood teens through the schools, youth programs and kids hanging out in the neighborhood. Pray for Cole as he is raising support for this position, even as he faithfully continues his work in the neighborhood. Looking forward this Summer June is going to be a busy month for ministry. Our team is partnering with Bridge Street Ministries with a program called Immersion. Immersion will take place over two different weeks, one for middle school and another high school. During this week, area teens will be learning the gospel, building relationships with our teams, and serving in the community. At the end of High School week a team of twenty or more students will be working with us to host a block party on my street. Pray for us as we build relationships and reach out to our community over June. 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.

by Dr. Tony L. Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – Churches, would you please make it a priority to send your pastor and his family away to the annual, national Southern Baptist convention every June? I urge you to set aside some specific designated funds in the annual budget that do not take away from the pastor family’s income or benefits. Would you think about starting with $1,000-$2,000? Conventions and gatherings for pastors encourage and refresh in ways that cannot be explained. Let the pastor and his family represent the church then return home and give a first-hand report to the church during the summer about their experience. There is so much that takes place during the two-days of convention and the previous two-days of secondary meetings. This annual event is the only time Southern Baptists/Great Commission Baptists gather, as one voting body, to conduct business and address contemporary challenges. Who else meets? The Woman’s Missionary Union, associational mission strategists, evangelists, pastors, and ethnic fellowships discuss important matters and spend time in fellowship. The six seminaries host meals and share visions about their futures. Agencies and entities of the convention host meals and give away bags of gifts. New friendships develop among messengers and relationships from the past are refreshed during free times like Tuesday evening. Let the pastor’s family be your first messengers to the convention. Did you know that, based on the churches contributions to the Cooperative Program, that each participating Southern Baptist church may be allowed from 2 to 12 voting messengers. Other members from the church could travel with the pastor’s family for the convention then allow the pastor’s family to arrange a much needed family vacation on either side of the annual convention near the site of the convention. Here is where the upcoming conventions are taking place. Why would I make such a bold recommendation to your church? It’s because I believe that the members of our churches, in Michigan, will be emboldened when they see and hear from the pastor’s report what we attempt to do as we follow the Lord as a national convention each June and as a state convention each November. It was 1984 when I attended my first annual convention in Kansas City, MO with a group of students from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The ludicrous Ghostbusters film came out that same month while what is known as the Conservative Resurgence was taking place within the national convention. I was sitting front and center having face-to-face meetings with key players at the actual convention, asking questions, and learning all I could take-in about how we functioned. It was exhilarating! Our host professor had arranged meetings with influential leaders from both extremes of the convention. I saw Christian statesmen who disagreed with one another exhibit respect and kindness despite their differences of opinion. Here are some closing, personal thoughts. In recent years while at conventions, I have been impressed with the brotherhood I see during casual moments expressed in hallways, in restaurants, and on city sidewalks. On one occasion I watched as a pastor from a humble church in Missouri realized he was standing next to a well-known seminary president in the messenger registration line. The pastor fidgeted motioning silently to his wife trying to draw attention to the seminary president and his wife. I believe the president could tell the pastor was afraid to strike-up a conversation so the president squared-up and faced the pastor and his wife then warmly said, “Brother and sister, where are you from?” and after 4-5 minutes of conversation ended with a “Thank you pastor for all that you do. There is no greater calling than to be a pastor of a local church.” I wish you could have seen the change in that pastor and his wife. The Missouri couple walked away from the registration table walking lighter and beaming with joy. It was not about who they met; it was about how they were valued by someone else for being recognized as a pastor and wife. Churches, I hope you will find the resources to make it possible for your pastor and his family to attend the upcoming annual meetings for the national and state conventions. 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. #JUNE21

by Staff PLYMOUTH, MI – In a recent episode of Punching Holes in the Darkness, host Tim Patterson sat down with SBC Executive Committee CEO, Ronnie Floyd. Floyd shared his heart about some of the challenges facing the Southern Baptist Convention, and the goals he has set for the coming five years. In a recent column in the Baptist Press Ronnie Floyd shared what messengers will be facing at the upcoming Convention meeting in Nashville. He discusses the unprecedented challenges and the season of struggle, but he also brings a hopeful outlook of the many great things the SBC is doing together. You can read all of his thoughts below. Punching Holes in the Darkness is a podcast by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). Over the past year, Punching of Holes has shared conversations with Baptists across the state, as well as leaders in the national scene. Just recently, guests have included Danny Akin from Southeastern Seminary, and Randy Brandon in Alma, Michigan. You can go to www.bscm.org/podcast for a complete list of episodes or subscribe at Apple Podcasts or Spotify to have new episodes delivered directly to you. The present state of the SBC by Ronnie Floyd NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Before we come together for our 2021 SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville, I want to share a few thoughts on the present state of the Convention. This is not an easy task and time. Serving our churches across the nation and world daily, I do all I can to lead us as a Convention with consistent biblical leadership focused on advancing the Gospel and fulfilling our Great Commission work together. For more than 32 years, I pastored one of our Southern Baptist churches that was a loving, unified fellowship of believers, committed to reaching its region, our nation and the world. When God called me here two years ago, I knew I faced an enormous challenge; but in all reality, I find that this task is difficult each day. I remain astounded by what others perceive us to be and the direction some believe we are going. Please know that I will not fabricate a narrative, but I will be honest. As we come to Nashville for the first time in two years for an annual convention, we need to come with great expectation that God will meet with us, that God will lead us to face our challenges with objectivity and hope, and God will empower us to rally around our shared mission in a Christ-honoring manner. Therefore, today, I would like to share with you four matters. 1. Our Convention is facing unprecedented challenges. We are a large and diverse network of churches located across the entire United States. Coming out of a global pandemic, our personal lives and churches have been affected in every conceivable manner. All of this is converging with an ongoing godless culture that saturates our lives and operates in a way that conflicts with our Bible-based, Christ-centered worldview as Southern Baptists. The global pandemic has revealed that environments and mindsets are different depending on where you are located geographically. Therefore, an unhealthy collision is occurring. When a diverse national organization like ours is constantly saturated with this godless culture, the challenges are immense. Some even appear to be insurmountable. In this unhealthy culture, we are called on by our Lord to love one another and to advance His Good News to the whole world. The question this generation of Southern Baptists must answer is: Will we do this? 2. Our Convention is struggling through this season. With these unprecedented challenges piled upon us during this season, our Convention is struggling. Some predict we will decline our way into irrelevance, while others say we will destroy one another. Some of our churches question their trust in us because of statements made or persuasions shared in news accounts or conduct on social media. Some of these things may be true, but we must also recognize some is rhetoric, and perhaps some of it misrepresents the situation. Regardless, we need to operate always with the highest level of integrity and with the highest skill possible. Baptist associations, state conventions and national entities are accountable to the churches. These Baptist bodies should be representing our churches. The Southern Baptist Convention is much better when pastors and laypersons are involved in every segment of Convention life. We need to work diligently and continually to build trusting relationships. I pray our pastors and laypersons will clearly understand that our Baptist Faith and Message is still our confessional statement. Nothing has changed. This is who we are and what we stand upon as we move forward in our cooperative efforts. Additionally, we are still very committed to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations. 3. Our Convention is doing many great things together. Even in this pandemic year, our churches, working cooperatively, still: Sent 422 missionaries through our International Mission Board, planted 18,000 new congregations, and had no less than 144,000 professions of faith in Jesus Christ from people outside the United States. Planted 588 congregations across North America. Equipped more than 24,000 God-called servants through our six seminaries. Baptized more than 123,000 people when our churches were shut down for months beginning March 2020. Once things began to open, ministry was limited due to COVID-19 protocols – there were little to no events for children, teenagers and others, which can be great experiences of harvest evangelism. This baptism figure comes from only 69 percent of our churches reporting. Additionally, the professions of faith exceeded the numbers we have recorded, as significant numbers of people participated online. Gave $683 million through our Cooperative Program, our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, and our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Gave more than $11.5 billion for their church’s work regionally, statewide, nationally, and globally. Imagine what else God has done! While we are facing unprecedented challenges, and at times struggle through this season of Convention life, God is still doing great things through our churches and the work we do together. 4. Our Convention is pressing forward with a unified Great Commission vision. At the time of this article’s release, we have 12,542 preregistered messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting on June 15-16 in Nashville. Since the year 2000, we have only had four conventions with at least 10,000 messengers. This year appears to be above all of these, if indeed the people come. This could be one of our largest gatherings since 1995 in Atlanta, when we had 20,654 messengers. On Tuesday afternoon, June 15, at 2:30 p.m., we will unveil our unified Great Commission vision that will carry us through the year 2025. We believe deeply this vision is what our churches care about and will greatly represent their heart. We will request the Southern Baptist family support this vision in every way. We will also begin a major initiative in prayer across our entire Convention inside our nation and beyond. When we get our eyes back on sending missionaries, planting churches, mobilizing people and reaching the next generation, we will not have the time nor the desire to chase after every whim or debate one another over every detail before a world that needs Jesus. Southern Baptists, please hear me clearly: Nothing is more important than reaching every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state and every nation. To this vision, we give our lives. Now is the time to lead. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ronnie Floyd is the president and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. #JUNE21

Hello MI COMers! We were excited to be a part of the 8th Annual National COM Work Week in April 2021! In fact, we stayed on for three more weeks to work there. We left home April 1, no fooling, it was great to be on the road in our motorhome, traveling to our first Hitching Post at Highland Lakes Baptist Camp, IN; the next night at Lake Sallateeska, IL. After driving about 7.5 hours, we arrived Great Passion Play. Several IL COM friends were already there: Don and Jan Kragness, Sonny and Sondra McKenzie, Chet and Debbie Whyers. We quickly made new friends, Stan and Janet Casady, from MO COM. We got backed into our spot and they rushed us off to the cafeteria for dinner. To top the evening off, we attended The Great Passion Play at 7:30 pm. It seemed to be a long day and we were tired, but the play was fantastic and we were reminded why we’re doing this journey. To share the gospel to a lost world is so necessary and by our physical labors, we are able to keep camps and places like this open to be on the mission of sharing Christ. After a few hours of sleep, we woke early for an Ozark Mountain Sunrise Service.We met with other Christians at the foot of “Christ of the Ozark” statute which is with in walking distance of our campsite. At 6:00am, high on this mountain, it was a cool 54 degrees. The wind was cutting through our jackets and the sun was still hiding behind the mountains. But as we began praising God in song, we were soon rejuvenated to realize why we were doing this journey. We were ready to get to work bright and early Tuesday morning. After all, we are Campers on Mission! We are“Sharing Christ as We Go”! God bless you, Rick and Cindy THE GREAT PASSION PLAY – THE LIVE PERFORMANCE The performance begins with the resurrection of Lazarus and continues on through the Triumphal Entry of Christ into Jerusalem on the day known as Palm Sunday. During the performance you will witness the significant events leading to and including Christ’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. You will see the colorful spectacle of the marketplace, the pageantry of the chariot and camel caravan, and the hustle and bustle of the crowds as they go about their daily activities. You may especially enjoy seeing the live animals on the streets of Jerusalem, the poignant healing, the angel rolling away the stone at the tomb, and the dramatic and exciting ascension of Jesus into the night sky. Every effort has been made to be historically accurate and true to Holy Scriptures. THE GREAT PASSION PLAY – COMers IN ACTION We have been so very blessed to be a part of this ministry. Christ of the Ozark stands around the bend, the Holy Land tour keeps you remembering the Word, and everyone’s focus is ministering to the world in drama and The Gospel NetworkRadio Station. It has been said, “Being here on Magnetic Mountain is like being on holy ground. “ We agree! You can get tickets to the Great Passion Play Drama and the Holy Land Bible Tour. And there are free things to visit on the grounds: Christ of the Ozarks statute, Church in the Grove, Berlin Wall section, Israeli Bomb Shelter, Bible Museum, History Museum, Sacred Arts Museum, Noah’s Ark Petting Zoo, and the gift shop. Plus, there are over 20 miles of mountain biking and hiking trails for various ages and skills. There is a wide range of jobs you can chose from at this ministry opportunity. Before we got there, Janice and ladies had decorated the sets with flowers and greenery, which add so much to the reality of the play.Whatever your skills are, the warm and friendly staff will help you find the right job for you. We encourage you all to consider visiting and working at this ministry! NATIONAL UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES COM National Rally 2021, Duquoin, Illinois June 8-11, 2021 Registration online at www.campersonmission.net for the COM National Rally 2021 now! COM members bring their RV’s together, some stay in nearby hotels, and we all gather to share what COM is doing and get new ideas and motivation from each other. Here’s just a taste of what is offered at the COM National Rally: Classes & Seminars can include topics such as: Basic Electrical Basic Plumbing, Drywalling: Hanging & Finishing, Fire Safety for RVs, RV Maintenance, Senior Heart Issues, Staying Connected Electronically on the go, Witnessing. Entertainment such as a Christian Comedian and singers will be scheduled, as well as special Guest Speakers from various ministries such as missions, church planting, and camp directors. Be sure to visit our National COM website for more information: www.campersonmission.net CHAPLAIN'S CORNER In the few months that I have been privileged to be a part of MI-COM few and somewhat minor have been the opportunities for me to do physical labor. Yet, for most in this organization physical labor is and will be its mainstay. Without the work, all we have are well-formed bylaws which in the end become only empty words and vain good intentions. I’m reminded of a parable of Jesus in Matthew 21: 28-31: “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, “Son, go work today in my vineyard.” He answered and said, “I will not”: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, “I go, sir”: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first.” I have no doubt that sometimes some of you are not at first inclined to go work in the vineyard. But then you change your mind and go despite your misgivings. God bless you, friends, as you go! To the Praise of His Glory, Chaplain Chip PRAYER REQUEST & PRAISE REPORT Prayer Requests Pray for those who have still had effects of COVID and reactions to the vaccinations. Pray for Bambi Lake Camp as they open to minister to children, youth, and various adults through retreats and conferences. May many come to know Christ. Praise Report Summer is coming!Some have experienced a late April snow and a lot of April showers, but sunshine is coming to stay! “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” Romans 6:6-8 NIV If you have a prayer request or a praise report, please share it with us and we will post it on the website and include it in our monthly newsletters. MI COM TEES & HATS For Sale We have fun things and essentials for you to let others know you are a MI COMer!!! We encourage you to wear the tees whenever you are working or on a COM event. Patches are iron-on or easy to sew onto your shirts or jackets. Lapel Pins are easily attached to a suit jacket or coat. Pens and Stickers accent your writing and notebooks. Contact Cindy for your purchase. MI COM OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE BOARD Presidents/Project Coordinator: Rick & Cindy Truesdail Vice-President/Project: Tony Morningstar Coordinator Chaplain: Pastor Chip Collins Hospitality/Food Coordinator: Kim Norrington Sewing Project Coordinator: Suzie Collins Secretary: (Vacant) Treasurer: Gary Hannuksela Historian: (Vacant) Hospitality/Food Assistant: Maria Hannuksela Sewing Project Assistant: Janice McKnight NETWORKING CENTER Tim and Gayle Jones are traveling to reach people for Christ. Tune into their Facebook for their 1002 Show at 10:00 am; “Praise on the Porch” evenings at 8:00 pm; Thursday Night Bible Study at 6:30 pm. You will be blessed by Gayle’s singing and Tim’s words from the Bible. Facebook: Chasing the Joneses Cindy Truesdail enjoys machine embroidery. She likes the challenge of sewing customized embroidery designs and your personalization is available on most items. Profits from sales goes to support them as they travel and work with MI COM. Facebook: Cindy’s Stitch Art Sharon Hessling knows how to bake and uses her talent to support their mission journeys to Africa. Profits from the sale of her homemade pies, cookies, and bake goods go to their missionary fund. She offers fresh and delicious fruit pies made to order. Facebook: Sahara Pies Plus Keep checking at our online Website and Facebook for announcements! Website: www.michigancampersonmission.org Facebook: Michigan Campers on Mission For more information, contact: Rick & Cindy Truesdail Phone: (810) 869-4716 Email: michigancampersonmission@gmail.com #JUNE21

by Wayne Parker DETROIT, MI – We are praising God that churches are being planted in Detroit 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 launch: Rhiza Church in Ann Arbor (Pastor Tito Diaz) People’s Fresh Start Church, Detroit (Pastor Robert Lodge, Jr.), and Trials Church, Farmington Hills (Pastor Phil Box). We are looking forward to new church launches this fall including: Heart & Soul West Bloomfield (Pastor Cornelius Roberson), Reformation Church, Detroit (Pastor Malcolm Griswold), and Reaching Out Church, Windsor (Pastor Sameer Kabul*). * name changed for security Mission Partnership Opportunities As summer approaches we want to let you know of just some ways that you and your church could partner with church platers 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 needed work. Heart and Soul Community Church, West Bloomfield Pastor Cornelius Roberson shares a blessing from the Lord that Heart and Soul has recently acquired property in West Bloomfield. It is their desire to begin an additional church location and get this property ready to facilitate Sunday worship services, church gatherings and other activities in order to bring the gospel to this community. There are needs to help with a new roof, interior renovations and exterior clean up. Select the picture above to watch a video from Pastor Corn and hear more! The House Church, Detroit Roland Caldwell Jr serves as pastor of this East Detroit church who just celebrated 4 years of public ministry. This is a church passionate about bringing the gospel of Christ to their community and meeting tangible needs. They are in need of help with replacing exterior windows, painting through out the building and replacing and securing ceiling tiles in the sanctuary. The Church at Clawson Pastor Bob Morrissey leads this church who has just celebrated 5 years of ministry in the Clawson community. As they seek to move forward following Christ they have endeavored on a renovation project of the former VFW hall location where the church meets. Some needed renovations include: Replacing of exterior windows and refacing the exterior walls Demolishing and relocating some interior walls, carpeting and painting to make a new and usable space for a teen gathering area. Stripping an existing bathroom to renovate and update. On Mission Church, Inkster Pastor Antonio Wimberly is preparing for a summer of community engagement and One Mission Church will be out in the neighborhoods to make Christ known. They could use assistance with outreach in Lemal Gardens Park in several ways: • Park clean up • Painting the corridor walls • Gospel outreach to people present One Mission is also planning Vacation Bible School June 24-26 and a Block Party later in August that teams could easily jump in to help with. Send Network Gathering Report March 17, we were able to host a local gathering of church planters, wives, pastors and church leaders to encourage and equip gospel work through church planting in Send Detroit. Mile City Church was a gracious host to nearly 200 guests. These were greatly encouraging times through the preaching of Ken Nether, Shea Prisk and Brian Bloye. Three break-out session discussion panels that were lead including restorative ministries, soul care for planter wives and evangelism in a COVID era. We are excited about how this event will further catalyze church planting in Michigan and beyond. Heading to Nashville? If you will be in Nashville during the Send Conference and the Annual Meeting (June 13-16) and would like to connect with myself or perhaps some Send Detroit church planters, please reach out to me. You can contact me at wparker@namb.net. Yours in Christ, Wayne Parker Send Detroit Missionary #JUNE21

by Dawn Reed PRESTONBURG, KY – “Maybe it just wasn’t your turn,” I told the young lady. “Maybe it wasn’t for you.” Upset about being left out of a non-church-related project, she was surprised at my comments, expecting something a little warm and fuzzy. Still, my words were true. We often yearn to be connected, included, involved. We fear missing out on a good time or even a bad time. We don’t want to be left out. I get it. We pray for God to open and close doors in our lives. Sometimes we don’t get to do the things we want … and it’s OK. He still has a plan; it’s just not our turn. It’s a lesson I’ve learned myself. My plan is not always the best plan. Several years ago, our church was planning a mission trip to Haiti. All the slots had been filled, except one. I had signed up to go. So had Stacy. Two women, one slot. My beloved, the pastor, was going to flip a coin to see which of us got to be on the team. Before he did, I came to my senses. I had been on several trips before; Stacy had not. I was concerned that it might hurt her deeply if her pastor’s wife knocked her out of going. I could go another time. It just wasn’t my turn. My beloved told Stacy she would be going. She was ecstatic! Because Stacy went to Haiti and I did not, a baby’s life was saved. No kidding! Stacy is a baby-holder. I am not. If she saw you this minute and you held even an ugly baby, she would beg you to hold it. I would not. One day while that mission team was serving in Haiti, a long line waited to see the doctors. Stacy had finished with Bible school activities and had returned to the clinic to help. As she passed the long line of people waiting to be seen, sure enough, she spotted someone with an infant. She automatically asked, “May I hold your baby?” As she took the baby boy in her arms, Stacy learned that it was actually his aunt who’d held him. He had been abandoned by his mother. He wasn’t there to see the doctor; the aunt was. Stacy knew right away that something was wrong with the baby. He was lifeless. She told the aunt through an interpreter that the baby was extremely sick and would need to be seen right away. Making her way through the crowd, Stacy presented him to the doctors. They found that he was dangerously dehydrated. IVs were started STAT. He had IVs that day and several following days. Many prayers were uttered. Though it was unlikely at first, he survived! Praise the Lord! Because it was Stacy’s turn to be in Haiti and not mine. God has a plan for us. It is unique and specific for us. It’s not someone else’s plan. He will open doors for us. When He does, we will praise His Name and probably share it on social media. When God closes doors, let’s stop knocking on them, trusting He is up to something else. Of course, it’s disappointing when we don’t get to do what our heart desires. Knowing that God is a kind and gracious God who puts our daily puzzle pieces together can help alleviate the frustration and give us a heavenly perspective. Moses didn’t lead the people into the Promised Land. Daniel wasn’t in the fire with his three friends. David did not build the temple. It just wasn’t their turn, and it was OK. God had a different plan. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dawn Reed is a newspaper columnist and pastor’s wife in Prestonsburg, Ky. #JUNE21

by Ricky Pearson TRAVERSE CITY, MI – I want to tell a story of the marvelous, unexpected grace of God in helping to start His church here in Traverse City. This is not a strategy you will read in a church planting book. Only God could do something like this. This story begins back in 2011 here in Traverse City. I was here to marry my son and his bride Sara. Sara’s maid of honor was Kelly. They were roommates while playing softball in college. Kelly's parents, Roger and Janice, came to the wedding because they knew Sara. After the wedding, Roger mentioned to Kelly that he had not been in church in many years. However, he said he liked the pastor who performed the wedding and would go to the church he pastored. Little did he know what he was saying. Fast forward seven years. God calls Sandra and me to start a church here in Traverse City. By now Kelly had married and moved to Traverse City, as did her parents. Sarah invites Kelly to come to church and she does. Kelly remembered what her dad had said seven years earlier and invited him to church. She said that the pastor who performed the wedding was now pastoring here in Traverse City. I think you can begin to see what God was doing. True to his word, Roger started coming and has been faithful ever since. He was not a follower of Christ at the time, but kept coming and had all kinds of questions. He was hungry for God, but not a religion. After a year, he committed his life to Christ on his own. Janice still weeps to this day when she tells the story of Roger’s decision. The story does not end there. Now, fast forward to this past Christmas. Covid was spiking here in Traverse City and Roger came down with it. It hit him hard and fast. He was immediately admitted to the hospital. The outlook was not good. His oxygen numbers were rapidly going down. They thought their only option was to put him on a ventilator. That evening after Roger was admitted to the hospital, our church called a zoom prayer meeting. Many of Rogers' friends and relatives joined us, but did not participate. We prayed and God in His grace answered our prayers. The doctors were about to put Roger on the ventilator when they noticed his numbers began to stabilize. Later the doctors told Janice that it was at the exact time that we were having our prayer meeting. As Roger was recovering in the hospital, the doctors and nurses said that they were certain Roger would not make it. They had no explanation of how he survived. We do – God! When he was finally released from the hospital, the doctors and nurses came down and gave him a standing ovation as he left. This trophy of grace has been the platform for many conversations about Christ. The end of the story is still yet to be written with transformed lives as a result of this miracle of grace. This past week in our men’s discipleship group, Roger said that he was finally beginning to feel as if he were connecting with God as he is learning to pray. We all know that God is powerful, and nothing is too big for Him. Why are we so surprised when He shows up? If God can work in such unexpected ways, maybe He would do this for you. I pray you would experience the wonderful, unexpected grace that God loves to show when we cry out to Him. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ricky and Sandra Pearson are church planters for Cornerstone Fellowship in Traverse City Michigan. Ricky got his MDIV from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth Texas. They have three married children and five grandchildren. #JUNE21