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by Todd Gray LOUISVILLE, KY (BP) – Sometimes I know the best way to answer a great question about 30 minutes after the conversation is finished. That was the case recently when I was asked about an element of evangelistic preaching known as the invitation. The invitation is a time of response to the message from God’s Word that was just proclaimed. It usually comes right at the end of the sermon. There is often a song that is sung, and people are invited to come to the front of the church to indicate they are ready to follow Jesus, be baptized, join the church, answer the call to Christian ministry or possibly pray or re-commit their life to Christ. I am in favor of invitations and use them most every time I preach. It is not difficult to make a biblical case for issuing a call for public response. Jesus told Matthew to follow Him. He invited others to come to Him. He told weary people to take up their cross and follow Him. When a person heard Jesus speak, they were challenged to act. But there is another case that can be made for invitations today. In Acts 16:30 the Philippian Jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. They immediately answered his question and he responded. Our Sunday morning worship services do not normally allow for a question-and-answer time at the conclusion of the sermon. However, is it not possible, and in some cases likely, that someone in the congregation is asking, “What must I do to be saved?” If it happened in the Philippian jail it may also be happening in the pews of the church building, or the Facebook livestream, where you have been preaching. Here are five elements of a helpful invitation: Be Clear: Ask people to take action and tell them the action they need to take. Consider saying this: “I am going to ask you to give your life to Jesus today.” Then proceed to tell them how to trust in Christ to save them. Be Considerate: No one wants to be embarrassed, so be sure to go out of your way not to publicly embarrass people. Invite people to pray where they are and call on Jesus to save them. Then invite them to respond during the invitation song by meeting you in front of the pulpit for prayer and further counsel, or the back, or fill out a card, or some other appropriate action given the setting of the preaching event. Be Careful: One helpful practice for evangelistic preaching is to have invitation counselors trained and ready to counsel all who respond during the invitation. Make sure these mature men and women are trained to share the Gospel and then use them to provide spiritual counsel to those who respond during the invitation. Be Convinced: When Paul preached to a group of ladies, as recorded in Acts 16, God moved to open Lydia’s heart to receive the message Paul spoke. God still opens hearts today. Be convinced that God opens hearts through faithful Gospel preaching. Be Celebratory: Be prepared to celebrate every good thing God is doing when the Gospel is preached. God can also use a simple Gospel invitation to prompt those who are hearing the Gospel to respond publicly affirming the work He is doing in their lives. When God moves and people respond the entire church celebrates and gives praise to the God who saves. Keep inviting people to lay down their life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Todd Gray is executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. #MAY21

by Gail Faulkner I was a young mom with three children living far from home, in a foreign country having left all that was familiar and comfortable behind. My chaotic thoughts seemed to run in every direction. I wondered if my children would be scarred for life after being placed in an unknown culture with a language we could not speak and not a friend to call their own. Those years are faded memories now, but lessons I learned are tucked deep within the secret places of my heart. God was tender and personal. Allow me to share a few lessons I learned as a mother on the field. It is good to be fully dependent on the Lord – painful, but worthy. I think we have experienced some of that in 2020 with a worldwide pandemic. Strip everything away and the spiritual battle of loving God with all our heart, soul and mind is no longer clique words, but life itself. Teach children to be dependent on God. God is a God of details. He met the needs of our family in ways I could not. We met a French/American family that had 6 children and became immediate friends. Fellow missionaries were instant Aunts and Uncles. Sibling relationships cemented deeply. The Lord provided a beautiful home with wildlife, fruit trees, exotic plants and flowers that made this strange new home exciting. Nationals were welcoming and kind to us. In those early days of settling, I felt like Hagar in Genesis 16:13, “I can call the name of the Lord who spoke to me, ‘You are a God of seeing.’” The Lord saw us in that unfamiliar place, and as I journey back to those days and to the present I can still say, “I have seen him who looks after me.” Do not miss those opportunities to point your children to a heavenly Father who cares for us. I learned about God from a different worldview. I am so thankful we were exposed to poverty, different skin colors, foreign languages, strange food, discomfort, and loneliness. We try to protect our kids and make their world comfortable, yet it robs them of learning the heart of God for the nations. Face the unfamiliar roads with bumps and let that grow and mature your family. Sometimes God calls us to go across borders and other times we find the world in our own backyard. No matter where we are, we have been entrusted with the holy calling of telling God’s story. Let that be your legacy. I learned that God takes care of moms, too. We never outgrow needing a mom. I found mine on the mission field. She did not birth me, name me, and she did not raise me. I will never forget the safety of her embrace as she wrapped her arms around my frame to comfort and hold me. She whispered in my ear that all would be ok, and I was not alone. Her name is Elizabeth. She has no biological children, but hundreds of “adopted” children all over the world. I am one of them. Years later she is the one I call when I need a word of wisdom, gentle guidance or even a stern correction. You do not need to birth a child to claim the precious name MOM. Our influence touches those around us and our obedience to simply love ushers us straight to the heart of those we invest in throughout life. Open your arms and welcome others in. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gail Faulkner attends Hillsdale Baptist Church. She has been married for 39 years. Gail has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Her new hobby is gardening. #MAY21

by Chris Forbes The Cooperative Program: A missions impact multiplier I’ve spent some time lately thinking about the importance of the leaders who help oversee the stewardship of our local churches. Every church has them—those three or four people in whom the church places their trust to help them make wise financial choices. Sometimes they include church business administrators; other times it’s a member or two in the church who have experience with or a knack with things related to finances. As a steward of your church’s finances and missions giving, I know that your strongest desire is to assure that your church’s giving makes the most impact in the Kingdom of Heaven. Giving to missions is a kind of investment in the Kingdom of Heaven, after all. That got me thinking. What would the Cooperative Program look like if presented as an investment? I think it would show that the Cooperative Program (CP) is a diversified missions investment portfolio that gives your church a global reach and multiplied impact. Let me demonstrate why the Cooperative Program is a sound missions-funding vehicle that meets your church’s fiduciary requirements. The prudent-person rule “The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way” (Prov. 14:8). A staple of sound investing is the prudent-person rule. As Investopedia says, this investment principle “is used to restrict the choices of the financial manager of an account to the types of investments that a person seeking reasonable income and preservation of capital might buy for his or her own portfolio” If you are going to invest your church’s financial resources in the Kingdom of Heaven, you should exercise reasonable means to assure there is a return on your church’s investment, from a missions standpoint. While your church is not investing in missions as a means to make a profit, you would, no doubt, want to see your investment multiply impact. The prudent-person principle is wise, and it is based on some sound advice from the Bible. Other passages of Scriptures echo this instruction: The Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matt 7:24-27) The Man Who Builds a Tower (Luke 14:28) Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters (Eccl. 11) Since 1925, Southern Baptists have leveraged the biblical principle of stewardship prudence with great impact. Here is a video with a brief history of the CP. The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their respective state convention and Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) missions and ministries. Read on to see how the CP stacks up as a missions portfolio. A strategy with conservative stability Sound investors do not simply throw money into every new idea. Instead they seek to ensure stability in their investment portfolio. When cooperating churches include CP giving in their church budgets, a reliable stream of income is made available to provide a stable base for the thoroughly-vetted missions the church supports. The CP provides the stability needed to assure supported missionaries and ministry leaders around the world are freed from the time-intensive task of fundraising, allowing them to focus on ministry instead of development. The CP supports a diversified collection of ministries that reach and serve people at every level. Each ministry is overseen by Southern Baptist church leaders who serve on boards or as trustees, holding leaders accountable to their missional responsibilities. See more about how the CP is allocated in Oklahoma here. An aggressive missions multiplier funding strategy Conservative investments are the foundation of a sound portfolio, but growth-oriented investors want more than just stability. They want increase. Southern Baptists have an aggressive (in the financial sense) strategy for funding global missions. Another “prudent-person” aspect of the CP missions culture of Oklahoma Baptists is that our churches themselves take up the responsibility of fundraising for the CP and the convention’s designated offerings such as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO), the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO), and the Oklahoma Edna McMillan State Missions Offering (SMO). Because the Cooperative Program covers the administrative costs of managing and promoting designated offerings, 100 percent of these funds can go straight to the mission fields all over the world. This allows ministries that are supported by the CP to multiply their impact in engaging the world with the Gospel. Instead of the time and money-intensive mission society fundraising used by other organizations, our churches make raising support on behalf of our missionaries their task. This has been our consistent culture of generosity. This strategy means churches are not constantly inundated with appeals for money and requests for access to their pulpits for fundraising appeals. This also helps our churches maintain focus on ministry instead of fundraising. It’s an effective strategy, and it has worked for nearly a century. Every Southern Baptist ministry that receives funds from the CP is able to leverage maximum impact for special offerings that increase their missional impact. Each of these ministries has a proven track record for biblically-sound Gospel ministry. Look at the impact of the SBC missions portfolio when multiplied by the Cooperative Program: Unreached people groups are reached by IMB Missionaries on the field who are paid salaries through Cooperative Program funds. This means they are able to use LMCO money strictly for ministry projects. Look at the IMB impact report here. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) reports that mega cities and towns of all sizes are able to reach new people with the Good News through church multiplication. Church planters are discovered, assessed, trained and coached because of CP support. Many ethnic churches would not be able to function without supplemental support from the CP. A new generation of leaders are educated and trained through Baptist colleges like Oklahoma Baptist University and the six SBC seminaries. Every dollar these schools receive from the CP is a dollar less that has to be paid by these students, thus reducing student debt. The Cooperative Program makes it possible for Oklahoma Baptists to have a ministry profile on 41 college campuses in Oklahoma and at universities all over the United States, through Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM). The CP provides funds for full and part-time ministry leaders who reach students at a critical time of their life development. Because of CP support, future leaders of the world are being reached with the life-transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ. Comprehensive ministries to children, youth, young and senior adults are enhanced by the CP because the need to raise administrative costs is reduced. See also Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and Baptist Village Communities Southern Baptists are able to engage culture BY applying biblical principles to social and moral problems while promoting religious liberty through the Ethics and Religious Liberty Committee. CP funds help Southern Baptists maintain a strong voice for the church and help raise awareness of the needs of the unborn and broken people. Physical needs are met for people who are impacted by disaster because Oklahoma Baptists Disaster Relief units are able to maintain readiness through CP support. Because of the CP, money donated in times of disaster are strictly used for relief efforts and not for administration and fundraising promotions. One hundred percent of SBC Global Hunger Funds are leveraged to feed people, and zero money given to hunger relief is used for administration or promotion because the CP covers administrative expenses. In Oklahoma, thousands of youth are evangelized and discipled through Falls Creek with costs for programming covered by the CP. As you are responsible for helping your church make wise financial decisions, I pray you will take a closer look at what a wise investment the CP really is. For nearly 100 years, Oklahoma Baptists have been investing in the Kingdom of Heaven by giving through the CP. Imagine if every Oklahoma Baptist church would take a fresh look at the level of support they give to the CP mission’s portfolio. We can make a difference. Here are a few steps you can take now to help. Cultivate the culture of cooperative missions generosity in your church Review your church’s previous CP giving and evaluate how your church prioritizes cooperative giving Increase CP allocations in your church’s budget Include CP advocacy in church missions education Involve next generational leaders in the process of planning missions giving Get involved in the life of our convention, take leadership and help shape our collective future #APRIL21 #MAY21

by Karen Willoughby FLINT, MI (BP) – Because the Cooperative Program came to Flint 55 years ago, GM employee Jeff King became a Christian and a Southern Baptist. “I was told by my wife that I needed to go to church,” King said. “I walked into Ainsworth [Baptist Church] opening day of deer season in 1992, and just knew I needed to be there. “For whatever reason this small Baptist church that never had invitations had one that day. I don’t remember much of the walk. I admitted I was lost. And since then have been found, I guess. If it wasn’t for the Cooperative Program I might not be a Christian. I wouldn’t have an education through Seminary Extension. I might not be a pastor. I am where I am because of the Cooperative Program.” With the help of the Cooperative Program – the way Southern Baptists partner together in state conventions, North America and internationally – Lincoln Park Baptist Church in Flint started eight churches between 1953 and 1981, including Ainsworth Baptist, before the mother church disbanded in 2014. Ainsworth Flint, a congregation of about 50 that last year gave 13.1 percent of undesignated offerings to missions through the Cooperative Program, also partners with church plants in the Genesee Baptist Association to promote unity and strength of purpose among Genesee County churches. “Flint is a hurting area,” King said. “What we’ve found in the Genesee County area, our 30 [Southern Baptist] churches are touching less than 1 percent of the people. That’s why we’re getting together. That’s why we have this urgency. We want Flint to be known for the presence of Christ in what was once known as the No. 1 per capita murder city of the country. We want this to be a safer area. It’s going to take all of us working together to do it.” Working together is what Southern Baptists do through the Cooperative Program, the pastor said. “There are some who have the calling to go out [as missionaries.] We believe it is our privilege to help support that,” King said. “For us to be able to support someone who’s been called by God to be part of that Great Commission missionary call? In some ways we live vicariously through that.” As much as the Cooperative Program fuels international missions, it does the same at the local church level, King said. “With the support of the Cooperative Program, the churches in our area are able to use their different gifts and talents collectively and that makes us able to punch holes in the darkness more effectively,” the pastor said. “The Bible tells us three strands are better than two. “When it comes to getting the Gospel out into the community, 30 is much better than one, much more able to fulfill the Great Commission here,” King said, including the association’s 29 other churches in his statement. “As long as God is the third strand that binds us together, we’ll have the strength and ability to lean on one another, support one another, to walk side by side together.” Genesee Baptist Association didn’t always work together. For years, the only contact the churches and pastors might have with each other were church-league sports. That was one way a spirit of competitiveness restricted cooperation. “The old way of thinking was that churches wanted baptisms; they wanted numbers,” King said. “The new way, which has been over about the last three years, is, it’s about people coming to the knowledge and love of our Savior, rather than numbers. “God has brought in some young guys and even older guys with other experiences and we’re learning to work together for our association. The last three years, God has done some miraculous work in this [geographic] area. The churches had become kind of complacent and now we’re finally becoming like what God told us to be: we’re becoming one body. I know pastors are men and men have pride and we’re also competitive, but we’re trying to humble ourselves for the good of the Gospel.” Ainsworth Baptist has become an older congregation, said King, who has been pastor since 2016, after joining the church in 1992. He first served the church as youth minister, then deacon and fill-in speaker before being called as pastor. He retired from GM in 2009. Hordes of younger families have left the area as GM downsized its workforce by 90 percent during the early years of the 21st century – from 80,000 to 8,000. “The average age [at Ainsworth Baptist] is probably 65 to 70,” King said. “We do have some youth but not a whole lot of people in their 20s and 30s. But this is a very loving and giving and prayerful church; I will say that. If we bring in more, we give more. We’re pretty good about doing that.” Food is one way the church ministers to its members and the community. There are Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day breakfasts, and the pastor roasts a pig for the final event of Vacation Bible School each summer. Helping at a homeless shelter, food bank and pregnancy resource center are more ways Ainsworth Baptist serves God by serving others. “We treat everybody with love and respect,” the pastor said. “Covid has shown us there’s a bigger need than we thought. We look at COVID as being a bad thing, but for the church, we are finding people who are lonely, hurting, without hope. We’ve been able to build friendships. “Since we started as a mission church, missions and ministry is something we’re very big into. We’re trying to have it not just be money but people out in the community.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent with Baptist Press. #APRIL21

Hello, MI COMers! We are on the road this first day of April, going to work at the 8th Annual National COM project with The Great Passion Play, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Rick will be working on construction projects assigned, and Cindy has volunteered to work in the office. She also brought her embroidery/sewing machine in case there’s an opportunity to plug it in and listen to it sing. Not only are we excited to work but to also see COM friends we have already made as we have traveled this last couple of years. They come from various states to work together and it is a blessing to be a part of this effort. Our National COM coordinators, Jerry and Renee McGovern, put a lot into getting this organized and we thank them for allowing us to be a part of it! We are looking forward to MI COM Work Opportunity beginning May 20th. Be sure to get registered to come to that! This is also a great time to come together as COMers and bond with one another. We have new members that may be coming and we are anxious to get to know them better. As a Chapter we are growing and are trusting God to bring people to this ministry so we can do more each year for His glory. Thank YOU for being a part of MI COM! We are so blessed to be a “mission family” and that you are a part of it. God bless you! “Sharing Christ as we go!” God bless you, Rick and Cindy FAITH FELLOWSHIP HOUSING PROJECT UPDATE In June 2020, MI COM began working on the Faith Fellowship housing project with Pastor Stan in Lansing. They worked at securing and stabilizing the walls, doors and windows, basically the whole structure. Inside walls were taken down and new walls were put up to accommodate the new floor plans for both apartments. They built headers where needed, rebuilt the stairway, ripped out and replaced rotted floors, and installed new door frames where needed. Finally, after working several months in freezing weather and where the cold air flowed inside, they insulated the structure. Now the house is sturdy, the effects of the weather outside will not come inside, and it is ready for the next phase of completion. Electricians came and wired the home. Plumbers got the lines put in but fixtures will be installed after drywalling is done. Two separate furnaces are installed so that each apartment’s temperature can be adjusted according to the resident’s comfort. Duct work is getting installed. Workers have started to drywall in the downstairs apartment. This house will soon be ready for the finishing touches to be done; painting, cabinets installed, flooring laid. In the near future, this will not be called a project any longer, it will be a home. Double that - a duplex home. Although MI COM does not have a scheduled workday right now, this project is still open for you individually to call Pastor Stan at the church and go there to work. Rick wants to thank all the men who came to work in Lansing. Even those this job is not finished; he is proud of the work that was accomplished. He also wishes to thank Pastor Stan for the opportunity to work with him these past months. And to those who provided food for the workers. Other work opportunities are needing our attention right now, but we will not forget this housing project and hope to be back when we can. Our prayerful support continues as well. LADIES' SEWING PROJECT UPDATE After the Ladies’ Sewing Event in February, we had dedicated ladies that bought more material and sewed at home. MI COM and Heritage Baptist Church (Truesdail’s home church family) ladies made 24 teddy bears, 18 hooded bath towels, and 38 blanket/throws. Maria Hannuksela will soon be taking them to the foster and refugee children at Bethany Christian Services, Grand Rapids. We know the children will be warmer when they sleep with a warm throw covering them or when they wrap up in a towel after bathing, and feel comfort as they hug their teddy bear. These are examples of how small things can make a big difference in these little lives. Thank you, ladies, for such hard work and devotion to this cause. God bless you. MI COM UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES Bambi Lake Baptist Camp Work Week and Spring Rally May 20-26th Join us at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp, Roscommon, MI, Thursday, May 20, thru Wednesday, May 26, to work and get the camp ready to open for the summer and Memorial Day Weekend. Bambi provides MI COM members with campsite/lodge and meals. We will have a meeting and rally service Wednesday evening. We will have the Country Store set up for you to purchase items you don’t know how you have gotten along this far without! If you wish to donate to the store, bring your items to put on the table. This money will go to our MI COM Fund and help pay for office expenses and food for meals we provide. If you wish to stay through the holiday weekend, just let us know when you make your reservation with us or call Bambi. You will be responsible on those days to pay for campsite/lodging and provide your own food. This is a great time of fellowship as other campers come in. You will see the campground busy with everyone making great memories! 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 HITCHING POST Are you familiar with the COM reference to “Hitching Post”? As the Truesdails travel from Michigan to Eureka Springs, AR, they stop to sleep for the night to rest before going on the next leg of the trip. They stopped for a night at Highland Lakes Baptist Camp in Martinsville, IN, enjoying a beautiful cold, crisp evening with beautiful sunshine peeking through the trees. Because they are going on a COM mission, there was no fee for camping this night. Several camps are happy to bless COMers by providing a free spot to cut their costs as they travel. By doing this, COMers are able to do more for the glory of the Lord. When you go on mission, check out the National COM website for a listing of these Hitching Posts. Call the camp you are traveling past to your mission and see if they have a spot available for you. CHAPLAIN'S CORNER I just this minute finished reading a book written by my dear mother-in-law about her family, including many old photos. The story centered around her great grandfather who was a Civil War veteran (of particular interest to me), and her grandfather. As I was reading, it occurred to me how each one of us leaves a legacy of some kind. Certainly, one of the greatest blessings of being a MI COM member is the hope that we are leaving a legacy through the work we do to help others in our service to the Lord Jesus. Not many may ever know much of what we do, yet there is only One that really matters—and He definitely knows, will never forget, nor allow your legacy to go unrewarded! Brothers and sisters, be encouraged ... To the Praise of His Glory, Chaplain Chip BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Birthdays Gary Hannuksela – 4/1 Earl Dewley – 4/19 Terry Malone – 4/28 Dean Norrington – 4/28 Anniversaries Richard & Linda Line – 4/7 Tony & Deanna Morningstar – 4/13 PRAYER REQUEST & PRAISE REPORT Prayer Requests As summer approaches and COVID restrictions lessen, many of us will be traveling more. Let’s pray for everyone’s safety as we drive and work. Pray for Bambi Lake Camp as well as all church camps as they open to minister to children, youth, and various adults through retreats and conferences. May many come to know Christ. Praise Report Warmer weather is here and we praise God for getting us through the past year. In Michigan we love the four seasons and spring is one of the favorite for many because it brings new hope and life. Thank you, Lord, for Your life! “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7 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 #APRIL21

by Steven Elkins FENTON, MI – Is your church or ministry considering hosting a COVID-19 vaccination site? If yes, it is very important to have a Facility Use Agreement in place. One of the best steps your ministry can take to help reduce the risk of liability is to develop a facility use agreement. This written and singed agreement outlines the relationship between your ministry and the outside organization. Here is a Sample Facility Use Agreement, which may serve as a template to strengthen your own similar agreement if organizations seek to use your ministry’s facilities. The following are provisions that should be considered when drafting your facility use agreement. Indemnification Facility use agreements should contain indemnification, defense, and hold harmless provisions because this language offers your ministry protection from potential future claims which allege that it is liable for injuries or damages. If an organization is using your ministry’s facilities for particular purpose, then the organization should be responsible for losses that result from that use. If an organization agrees to indemnify the ministry, then the organization is making a promise to be financially responsible for the legal responsibility of the ministry. Similarly, when the organization agrees to defend the ministry, usually referred to as a “duty to defend”, then the organization is promising the ministry that it will hire an attorney to defend against legal claims made against the ministry. Additionally, if an organization holds harmless the ministry, it agrees to release the ministry from liability and will not hold it responsible for some potential liability or loss. Accordingly, when paired with the duty to indemnify, the organization agrees both to cover the ministry’s losses resulting from certain liabilities and to not hold it responsible for those losses. When drafting facility use agreements, we strongly encourage the inclusion of language in the agreement that the organization seeking use will defend, indemnify and hold harmless your ministry. In addition to outlining the types of injuries from which the organization agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold the ministry harmless (e.g., bodily injury, personal injury, emotional injury, property damage, etc.), the ministry should consider including exposure to infectious/communicable disease. Insurance Facility use agreements should require an organization or individual that will use the ministry’s facilities to carry liability insurance in the organization’s or the individual’s name which will cover losses at the ministry’s facility. The insurance should also name the ministry as an additional insured. This will provide the ministry with an additional layer of protection if an injury or damage occurs at the ministry’s facility. When determining how much insurance the ministry should require the facility user to obtain when preparing its facility use agreement, ministry leaders might find Brotherhood Mutual’s article “How Much Liability Insurance Do I Need?” to be helpful. Your ministry is encouraged to require the organization seeking use to carry general liability insurance and, if necessary, auto and worker’s compensation insurance. Because there likely will be medical professionals performing the vaccinations, it may be a good idea to require, that the organization and the medical professionals have professional liability or medical malpractice coverage. Other Considerations Your ministry should also consider the cleaning and disinfecting process that will be utilized by the organization after the organization is finished using your ministry’s facility. With potential use of the building, another point for ministry leaders to consider is whether to limit the organization to using only certain areas in the ministry’s facility in order to decrease the time it takes to clean and disinfect following use. Lastly, when discussing a facility use agreement with an organization, we encourage your ministry to request that the organization utilize a waiver and release form for each participant. This may be accomplished by adding the waiver and release language to a sign-in sheet that each participant signs upon entering the facility. In addition to the facility use agreement, such a waiver and release will provide your ministry with an added layer of protection should a participant bring a claim against your ministry or the organization. Here is a Sample Activity Participation Agreement(sometimes called a release or waiver). Have Questions? We’re here to help. Send me an email to steven@ctgins.com or call our office at (810) 695-0096. This blog/website is made available by the CTG Insurance, Inc., and Witt & Howard, PLLC, for informational and educational purposes only. This blog/website provides general information and a general understanding of the law, but does not provide specific legal advice. By using this site, commenting on posts, or sending inquiries through the site or contact email, you confirm that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and Witt & Howard, PLLC. The blog/website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. #APRIL21

by Michael Guyer YPSILANTI, MI – We've now lived with Covid for over a year. It feels like two years in Michigan! : ) In all seriousness, we are so thankful for God's sustaining and strengthening grace over this past year. As we approached another Easter in a pandemic, we were determined to view it not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity. Rather than hosting one big event, we decided to mobilize our people to host numerous small outreaches throughout our community. The money we would have spent, we put into the hands of our people for them to use to be a blessing to others and to help them be intentional in sharing the gospel this Easter. Over the course of this week and this weekend, we will host eight different outreaches. Many people are hosting Easter egg hunts for their neighborhoods, hosting brunch or a game night for friends, and putting together goodie bags for co-workers or neighbors. Through these events, many people were invited to join us for worship on Easter Sunday, During Holy Week, Emily and I had our neighbors over to our house for an Easter celebration in the driveway and coordinated Easter egg hunts at five different houses on our street. We were encouraged to have 14 adults and 12 kids show up. We have three or four neighbors in particular that we are seeking to serve and share the gospel with this year. Spring Brings New Hope As we begin Spring, we are excited about what lies ahead of us. If I am honest, this past year has been challenging, even though we've seen God work in some special ways. On the one hand, we are sharing the gospel, preaching God's Word, raising up new leaders, adding new members, making disciples, reaching and equipping families, and serving real needs in our community. And yet, we have also seen some of our people transition away from TCC or will do so this summer, we have been limited regarding our meeting location, and we still have a lot of caution in our community around Covid. While the challenges are real, we are just as determined to be faithful to our calling to reach our community with the gospel and make disciples. Below are some highlights from the past few months and some things we are looking forward to in the coming months: In January, we began meeting weekly on Sunday evening at a church in our community. This has led to a good relationship with their pastor. In fact, we are holding a joint Good Friday service with them this evening. We just hosted an Equip Class led by Pastor Chris entitled "How Do I Lead Myself Spiritually?" Over the past year, we have focused on equipping our people in sharing the gospel and studying the Bible. Many of our members have expressed how helpful and challenging these Equip Classes have been for them. Our Men's Discipleship and Women's Discipleship ministries have continued to provide opportunities for discipleship and community. The women recently read through the Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield, and the men are currently reading through Living Life Backward by David Gibson. Through our Jesus Kids Club ministry, we have been able to invite kids from our neighborhood to participate in some of our monthly activities. We have at least one family from the community that is participating monthly. By canvassing apartment complexes in the city, a few apartments are now putting TCC Invite Cards in their Welcome packets to new residents. In February, we were able to serve nearly 20 couples/families with Date Nigh boxes that included meaningful questions, some sweet treats, and a $50 Grubhub card. Over half of these couples were either not believers or not meaningfully connected to a church. We are preparing for our second Serve A2Y Week from July 21-25. This week allows us to tangibly serve businesses, non-profits, and our city with no strings attached. At the end of the week, we will host a block party and invite those from the community we serve during the week. We are continuing to pray for a more permanent location that would allow us to meet on Sunday mornings. We have also begun to consider meeting locations that would better position us to reach both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. We are working on various community outreach ideas for this summer that our Summer LINK/GenSend team will help us execute. How can you pray for us? Are you wondering how you can shoulder burdens with us during this time? Below are a few ways you can pray: Pray for gospel fruit. We are seeking to sow the gospel faithfully and trusting God to bear fruit. Pray especially for our ministry to our neighbors in the coming months. Pray for wisdom. We need wisdom and direction for what things look like as we head into this summer and Fall. Pray for laborers. We are looking to bring on new residents and two new roles (Worship Leader & Discipleship/Missions Pastor) this Fall. Pray for God to raise up the right people to serve in these ways. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michael started following Jesus when he was a teenager. Before starting Treasuring Christ Church, Michael served in various roles within the church, including missions, student ministry and college ministry. Michael is married to Emily, and they have three children Amelia, John, and Caroline. Michael loves serving alongside Emily, who oversees Kids Ministry and Women’s Discipleship for Treasuring Christ Church. In addition to hanging out with his family, Michael loves a good cup of Ethiopian coffee, anything with peanut butter, and just about every sport. His greatest desire is to see Jesus treasured above all things and His church established right here in Ann Arbor and to the ends of the earth. #APRIL21

by Tim Patterson PLYMOUTH, MI – Several years ago, Sabrina and I made a trek out West to Colorado in order for me to preach at a Bible conference, and also to spend a little time with some dear friends. The community in which we ministered was located on the Eastern side of the Rockies in the plains area. The vast expanse of this ranch and farm area reminded me of the seemingly never-ending flats of West Texas. Mile after mile of this slightly undulating land was covered with the infancy of new, fresh green sprouts of spring’s first crop of wheat. That which was not cultivated for wheat was planted in hay, or was in the process of being prepared for some type of feed grain. This was ranch and farm country at its best. Trees were almost nonexistent and the old saying that “you could see for a country mile” took on a whole new perspective. In fact, on a clear day, there was a line of sight of more than one hundred miles. Looking back West at the snow-capped Rockies was a beautiful sight indeed. This was also big beef and buffalo country. It was strange for these eyes to see hundreds of buffalo grazing the grasses of the plains by the thousands, like they did more than a century ago. Though the herds are a fraction of the size they were in the pioneer days, the old settlers and Native Americans would be proud to know that some of the old ways have not been forgotten and have in this case been revived. The pastor with whom I was working had the wonderful privilege of tending his flock of sheep in a rural setting. His church was in one of those small farm/ranch communities that dotted the landscape, and gave people a place to huddle together for comfort and community. As you may or may not know, the rural pastor, no matter how large or small his flock, is called upon to do a myriad of tasks the city parson would never dream of doing. When harvest time comes the preacher is there to lend a hand with the harvest and pray for a good crop. When the calves need tending, then he is called to saddle up and throw a loop or two. If “granny” needs a lift to the doctor, then the pastor is asked to function as the local taxi. The list could go on and on, but for the rural pastor it is all in a day’s work, and these responsibilities bring a great sense of joy and fulfillment to his life. My pastor friend, Jim Sheets, is more affectionately known in the larger circles of the Southern Baptist Convention as “Cowboy Bob”. While we were there, he was called upon to do a funeral. It was the same day he had promised to help a lady member take her prized Brahma bull and cow to the auction. Her husband was out of town and because of a medical condition it was ill advised for her to drive any distance on her own. So Jim asked Sabrina and I to take the cows to the auction. As the dutiful guest preacher at this conference, I was at his beck and call for any ministry that he deemed necessary, and this was a necessity. Early one morning we were dropped off at the farm, introduced to Reese, the owner, and loaded up for the trip to Brush where the auction would take place. It was an hour and a half trip across the plains before we pulled into the parking lot of the auction house. My mind went back to the auction barns and stables that I had frequented more than 40 years prior with my uncles, and from all appearances, things hadn’t changed in the least. When we sauntered into the restaurant all eyes were fixed on us. Now saunter is what cowboys do when they walk, and I wanted to look the part. Besides, I had watched enough John Wayne movies to have the swagger down pat, and this was my grand opportunity to practice. We were strangers and immediately considered an item of discussion and question. I saw the same old men, doing the same thing, wearing the same clothes, smoking the same cigarettes, drinking from the same coffee mugs, being served by the same waitresses, with the same hairdos as I saw forty years ago. Absolutely nothing was different. It even smelled the same, which immediately triggered some long-forgotten memories of decades past. It was as though I had stepped into some time warp out of an old Star Trek television show. These folks were frozen in time and liked it. One could tell they were comfortable with their surroundings, and for sure didn’t want anyone messin’ with them. It was good enough for their great, great grandfathers, and it is good enough for them. They were satisfied and secure in their surroundings. It was as comfortable as a well-worn boot. That all may be well and good for cattle auctions and cowboy cafés, but when it comes to impacting the world with the Gospel, we as His local and corporate Church must be willing to change with the culture and conditions that we encounter. To refuse to do so will be devastating. Before some of you go ballistic on me, I am not saying we change the Gospel message or compromise the Word of God in the least. The message must never change, but the means and manner in which we convey the message must. If we do not, our churches will soon resemble the congregants of a cattle auction café. The same people, doing the same thing, and getting the same results while expecting something different. When someone new saunters in they will be looked upon with question and contempt. “Who do they think they are coming into our neat little place like that? They don’t look like us or act like us. We don’t want them here.” The results will be a nice, comfortable, and secure Church Café that will never impact its world for the Kingdom. Please don’t take this as a negative reflection on the Brush Cattle Auction Café. It was a great place, with great food (especially the cinnamon rolls), and some really good people, but it doesn’t translate well to the church. The Church should be the church and the Cattle Auction Cafes should be cafes, and the two should never be confused. As Paul said, “We must become all things, to all men that we might win some.” Yes, change is difficult. I have heard it said that the only people in a Baptist church that want to be changed are in the nursery, and they usually fuss and cry about it. Oh, by the way, we did sell the bull and cow. The bull was sterile and thus only got half of what he would have been worth. Hey! That reminds me of another analogy concerning the church, but I’ll save it for later. 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. #APRIL21

by Dr. Tony L. Lynn PLYMOUTH, MI – We were missionaries in Africa during the 1990’s. The 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser diesel, washed-out white color, with a wide faded red stripe down the side, was used when given to us as missionaries. We normally travelled with 2 spare-tires when we went into the brush of Africa but our problems with the cruiser were more serious. The head on the engine was blown and the engine would spew water and the radiator would boil over. It was easy to get stranded on the edge of the Sahara desert when daily temperatures were on either side of 100 degrees. Carrying extra water on top of the steel frame built on top of the land cruiser to transport the portable baptistery became essential on every trip. We put in multiple requests to, Bill, the regional missionary leader asking for funds to replace the old Toyota but we were turned down every year until Bill came to visit us. Bill wanted to visit a remote village area where many former Muslims had accepted Christ and then became our best evangelists among those living within the entire region. We took the old land cruiser when Bill traveled with us. I drove the cruiser and Bill sat to my right in the passenger seat. The former Muslims from the capital city, now followers of Christ, who I was training in ministry leadership filled the others seats of the land cruiser. We left early in the morning so the temperature was not yet skyrocketing over 100 degrees. The day in the village went better than planned. Bill got to see the recent converts in action leading worship, preaching, and teaching lessons from the Bible in small groups. Bill saw the intense fellowship between those from the capital city and those in the brush. Bill participated as we separated through a long time of open prayer before returning to the land cruiser for the long, late afternoon drive back to the capital of Niamey, Niger. However, the temperature had run-up on us during the long day. The worst was yet to come. During the trip back to the city, the land cruise spewed water from under the hood. The radiator boiled until it emptied itself of moisture. The aroma of something burning filled our nostrils. Bill offered “fatherly-like-advice” as to how to remedy the situation. We rapidly ran out of water from on top of the land cruiser. Now we were pacing our return home so that we could intermittently stop at tiny villages to draw water from their wells to fill the radiator. It was a long afternoon that spilled into the evening as we stopped, let the engine cool, drew water, then filled containers and the radiator over and over again. As you might expect, the very next morning over breakfast Bill announced that he would give us funds to replace the engine and radiator in the old land cruiser. It was not the promise of something new, just something resuscitated. It has been over twenty-years since I drove that land cruiser sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, and I sometimes wonder if that vehicle is idle buried with the seasonal blowing sands of the Sahara Desert or is that old relic of a land cruiser still on active duty helping someone in Africa. With Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday upon us and the Passion Week offering us times of reflection, renewal and gratitude for our salvation, I am so glad that Christ did not just replace parts in my life when He became my personal savior. Christ transformed me into something indescribably new. I love the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) that says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” I cannot blame Bill for trying to save money where he could during our missionary days, but I am grateful that our Lord and Savior holds nothing back when extending His salvation to the entire world. Paul continues to write in verse 18, “And God had given us this task of reconciling people to him.” My prayer is that this resurrection celebration season will create gratitude in our hearts and minds, then drive us to “go” so that others can look forward to their own resurrection in Christ after they are reconciled to Christ. 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. #APRIL21

by Brady Rueter SPRINGFIELD, IL – It was a typical evening and our family had just finished dinner. Before the kiddos could run off and play, we stayed around the table to do family worship together. The kids—5, 3, and 1—were wiggly and struggling to pay attention. Next came distractions and silly noises. We even had to hit pause to address some disobedience by our 3-year-old. I don’t think it’s too big a leap to say your moments of family worship are probably similar to ours, especially if you have young kids. If you are like me, you often feel frustrated and wonder if you’re accomplishing anything during those 10 minutes. I was greatly encouraged when one of my seminary professors, Don Whitney, shared how there was not one single time he finished family worship and thought, “Wow! I really felt the Holy Spirit move during our time together!” Yet, he faithfully taught his children the things of God year after year. Years later, during his daughter’s graduation speech, he was surprised to hear a tear-filled, heartfelt “thank you,” as she reflected on the impact those moments of family worship had on her life. God has sovereignly placed precious little ones in their parents’ homes, and has called parents to teach their children about him (Deut. 6:4-7; Ps. 78:1-8). As leaders, we can help them stay the course, despite the chaos that so often accompanies family worship. Remind them: We lead our families in worship first and foremost out of love and obedience to our Father. Our children need to see that God deserves to be worshiped. Let’s guard ourselves from letting the chaotic moments distract us from the bigger picture. We have the enormous blessing and responsibility of faithfully sowing the things of God into the hearts of our children through the word, prayer, and song. Parents can’t change the hearts of their children. But God can. His word accomplishes more than we ever could (Heb. 4:12). Faithfully proclaim the things of God and faithfully pray the Spirit would transform their hearts. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brady Rueter is a biblical counselor and elder at Delta Church in Springfield. This column originally appeared in the Spring 20201 issue of Resource magazine, available online at Resource.IBSA.org. #APRIL21

by Mike Durbin PLYMOUTH, MI – Twelve pastors followed the example of Jesus withdrew from the hustle and bustle of life to rest, reflect, and refocus on what God is doing in our lives and what he is calling us to do. A four member team from Tarrant Baptist Association in Texas led us through a combination of active challenges and spiritual reflection around the theme of the retreat: re:Focus, the Journey of a Lifetime. re·fo·cus........rēˈfōkəs (verb) • adjust the focus of (a lens or one's eyes). • focus (attention or resources) on something new or different. Pastor Loren Stutzman of Holland Baptist Church shared: “For me the journey was exactly that. The format was such that it forced me to examine not just my ministry, but more importantly my relationship with God. What I realized was that I had backed into my role as a "Senior Pastor" with my eyes firmly focused on the previous pastor and his mistakes, and a determination not to repeat the past. My driving force was a reaction to the past, and I was trying to build a future in the shadow of the past. I came away from the conference with a much clearer vision of being chosen and called by God for such a time as this. God's glory is now my ultimate desire and goal. I thank God for the opportunity to get re-focused.” Significant discoveries and breakthroughs were experienced during the retreat. Pastor Rod Walker of Harmony Baptist Church shared: “I’m blessed and refreshed!! What a great time of encouragement with fellow Pastors at Bambi Lake. It was a time to regroup and gather ideas and thoughts. My transformational goal is to love my God ....MORE!! Thank you BSCM (Pastor Mike Durbin) and the team of Texan friends! During the retreat, participants were given critical time to spend time alone with God remembering spiritual markers of the past and where God is leading in the future. The focus was on our personal relationship with Christ and hearing from Him. Pastor Jim Stolt of Praise Community Church shares: “It was an incredible experience. I’m already looking forward to next time. Thanks again for inviting me. God really used it in my life to restore me and energize my faith.” One of the vivid realities of the time was the bonding that took place between the pastors. Most did not know each other before the retreat. They came from different cities across Michigan, but their bond with each other in Christ quickly took over as they listened to one another’s stories and prayed for each other. Many of the moments we shared will never be repeated as we respect one another’s privacy, but deep connection took place as pastors ministered to pastors and were ministered to by pastors. Jeff King, pastor of Ainsworth Baptist Church captures many of our hearts as he shares “Thank you! Met some wonderful gentlemen, enjoyed some great teaching, and had a refreshing, reflective walk with God. Been awhile since I've done that. God is good!” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #APRIL21

by Jane Rodgers BROWNSVILLE, TX (BP) – With the current migrant crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border worsening by the day, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) churches and disaster relief volunteers are sharing the love of Christ by ministering to the displaced. Politics and views on immigration aside, for those serving along the border, the issues are humanity and eternity. For Carlos Navarro, pastor of West Brownsville Baptist Church (Iglesia Bautista West Brownsville), migrant outreach is nothing new. He and his church have ministered to the displaced for decades. Since the migrant crisis escalated in 2019, West Brownsville’s Golan Ministries has supplied more than 8,200 people seeking U.S. asylum with Bibles, food, clothing and assistance in understanding their legal obligations. More than 3,245 have prayed to receive Christ following simple Gospel presentations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, most of West Brownsville’s migrant ministry occurred on the church campus or across the border, where migrants waited in camps and detention facilities in Matamoros. Things have changed with both the pandemic and the shifting political climate. “It’s three times worse than last time,” Navarro told the TEXAN. “We are seeing 200-plus per day in our part of Brownsville. Each day border officials release 200 who head to the bus station and from there go to New York, California, Boston, Florida, Missouri. Not as many stay in Texas.” They come hungry and often hopeless. Navarro and his volunteers offer hope. Three times a week, West Brownsville vehicles bring donated backpacks filled with Bibles, socks, underwear, t-shirts (sizes S-XL), shoelaces, towels, packaged snacks, bottled water, Gatorade, toiletries and hygiene kits. New to the gift packs this year are hand sanitizer gel and face masks. West Brownsville volunteers set up tables at the bus station and distribute items. With masks and other COVID-19 protocols in place, ministry occurs with as much social distancing as possible. Many of West Brownsville’s older members are still waiting on vaccinations and are unable to help as in years past. But the ministry gets done. The SBTC and Send Relief, Southern Baptists’ compassion ministry arm, have provided support, according to Scottie Stice, SBTC Disaster Relief director. Corporations, religious organizations and individuals have donated backpacks and towels. Navarro said they can use anything, but clothes larger than XL are not needed. Until the pandemic, West Brownsville’s facilities functioned as a day shelter, with meals, showers and counseling provided at the church. Now, volunteers pick up purchased or donated pre-packaged tacos or pizzas to provide a hot meal for migrants at the bus station awaiting transport north. “Every day more and more come,” Navarro said. “It’s bad. Real bad.” Navarro is aware that immigration continues to be a politically sensitive issue on both sides, but he knows the people who come have needs regardless, the deepest of which is Jesus. Elsewhere along the border, SBTC DR volunteers deployed March 24 to assist the Salvation Army at an immigration release center in Del Rio. “We’re working in support of the Salvation Army’s feeding operation,” Stice said. “Migrants arrive with little to no resources. A meal as they are released by federal authorities is greatly appreciated. … Our assignment is to be a blessing wherever we find a need.” A two-person team from Rockwall and Texarkana will serve in Del Rio for the next couple of weeks. The group has been called to serve because the immigration system is overloaded, Stice said. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jane Rodgers is managing editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN (www.texanonline.net), newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. #APRIL21