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PLYMOUTH, MI – I lived in Flint as a child during the 1960’s. It was the era of big cars, smoky factories, black and white TV’s and simple-stick homes built for the rapidly expanding population of factory workers. Children played freely outside with one another, and only returned home when the street lights or porch lights came on at nightfall. I remember when my tonsils became so large that my voice changed into a laughingly, weird sound. At first it was amusing and I entertained my sister and cousins. Days later, my throat hurt so badly that I completely stopped speaking. As I laid motionless and silent on the couch, Mom gently rubbed the front of my neck up and down with her small soft hand. With each movement, I felt what seemed like large marbles in my throat. To me it was a mystery, but my mother said in a reassuring voice and with a smile on her face, “It’s time we go see Dr. Nitz.” The doctor spoke to mom asking about the family and work. Then Dr. Nitz removed the chrome lid off of a glass jar to remove what looked like the world’s largest popsicle stick. I can still recall the “tinny” sound of that lid opening and closing on top of the glass. Dr. Nitz approached me with a bright light shining from the band on his forehead and with what now looked, to a little boy, like a broomstick in his hand. His fingers reeked of the aroma of his last cigarette as he pushed around deeper, deeper into my throat. Then side to side near the tonsils. The force of his push could not stop the painful gagging. After Dr. Nitz pulled back, he squeezed my knee to comfort my lurching then he turned to Mom and said, “Those tonsils need to come out as soon as possible.” Little did I know that statement meant pain and fun. Today, I can take you to the vacant lot near the corner of South Ballenger and Beecher Roads, in Flint, where the hospital once stood and where my tonsils were extracted. Even now the unkept trees, bushes and grass reveal what remains of the circle driveway that approached the intimidating doorway to the hospital. The pavement and building are long-gone, but the memory of that event is still very fresh in my memory. I can still recall the pain after the surgery. Back in those days, there was no such thing as outpatient surgery. Everyone remained in the hospital-bed recovering for two to three days. Fortunately, the discomfort in my throat morphed into something less painful with each new morning. The fun during those days came in the form of a doctor’s prescription for my pain. I remember immediately after the surgery was over and I was coming out of my gas-induced sleep, the doctor standing at my bedside winked at my parents and said, “The best thing for this little man’s pain is for him to eat as much ice cream as he can.” With that commission given to me by a professional, I set-out to eat six portions of ice cream a day. It was a dream come true. In the midst of that pain and fun, I learned something important that I sometimes forget as an adult. I learned that I could not wait until I was playing with my sister, my cousins and my friends, again. There was no ice cream that was going to replace those people in my life. I wanted to return to my relationships with family and friends. I have some important questions for you. You might want to get out a pen and paper. You might want to print these questions out and create your own worksheet. There is a command on this page that will allow you to print this article on your printer. After you are released from the COVID-19 quarantine, what are your next steps? Will you return to life as normal? Will you find a new, improved normal? Has this time of solitude made you rethink your priorities? Would you write down what activities filled your hours pre-COVID? Do all of those pre-COVID appointments need to go back on your calendar? What was the reward from those pre-COVID scheduled events? What new priorities came to your mind during the quarantine? What specific steps do you need to take to secure the new priorities/appointments? With whom will you share your plan so that they can hold you accountable? Will you post reminders throughout your life to remind you of your new priorities? Before I let you scoot-off to reset your priorities, let me share with you one of my most-valued COVID-discoveries. My COVID-discovery and one of my reset priorities is simple. Like the little man in the hospital, during the 1960’s eating ice cream, I want to return to my relationships with family and friends. But, I want to nurture those relationships better than ever before. Therefore, looking two to three months in-advance I am going to place “personal” appointments on my calendar, when I am off of work, and spend it with family and friends. My free-time is no longer going to be wasted-time. I want to spend my time with my loved-ones and with those who yet don’t know the love of Christ. I am going to reset my priorities now so that I am prepared when my day of release, from COVID-19 quarantine, comes. I dare you to reset your priorities. Answer the ten questions above for yourself and reset your priorities for a more meaningful life. The Bible says, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do,” (Ephesians 5:16-17, NLT). I love those words! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tony 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. #MAY20

In our 62 years as the Woman’s Missionary Union of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, we have met yearly to elect our officers for their new terms of service. This year’s meeting was unique and a first in our history. We met via zoom conference calling. We gathered online to encourage and pray for one another. We want to thank Sharon Greer, (Orchard Church) who has served as our state WMU president for 5 terms (2015-2020). Sharon you are appreciated for your leadership and dedication to our team as you encouraged a love for missions, missionaries and mission’s discipleship around our state and in our great churches. Congratulations to Odelle Cadwell, (Temple of Faith Church) who was elected unanimously as our new state WMU president beginning her first term (2020-2021). We look forward to your leadership and guidance as you move us forward into the future. Thank you and congratulations to Elaine Hill, (Warren Woods Baptist Church) elected unanimously to serve an additional term as our Recording Secretary (2018-2020). We are grateful for our officers serving in their respected associations, we appreciate the hands-on leadership, encouragement and distribution of recourses to our churches. Vice President / Bay Area: Helen Henley Vice President / Greater Detroit: Odelle Cadwell Vice President / Motor Cities Metro: Elaine Hill Vice President / Northwest: Denise Smiley Vice President / Pines: Angela Kucharczyk Vice President / Southwest: Lisa Weimer Now more then ever, Michigan WMU will continue to do what our organization was originally created to do: Pray for our Missionaries and Pastors & Families (encouragement by contact) Encourage Missional Giving & Support (tithe to the local church) Support women in leadership (coaching & mentoring) “Congratulations on your faithful history and with anticipation, I look forward to the epic achievements you will accomplish in the future.” Dr. Tony Lynn, BSCM State Director of Missions Our Hope is in Our Heavenly Father, Susan Hodnett State Director of Women's Ministries Executive Director of Michigan WMU ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Hodnett serves as women’s ministry leader for the BSCM as well as WMU Michigan Executive Director. She has dedicated her life to ministering to women in Michigan. #APRIL20

RICHMOND, VA – Send Relief announced Francis K. Horton III as its new vice president overseeing operations outside North America on Thursday, April 2. Horton brings more than 20 years of international missions and relief experience to the role. The announcement comes one month after the International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) announced Bryant Wright, founding pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., will lead Southern Baptist’s national and international compassion ministries under the banner of Send Relief. Since 2016, Horton has served as regional director for West Africa with Samaritan’s Purse, leading the work of offices in three countries. From 2008-2015 Horton was area director for Central and South Asia with Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist relief and development agency which has been a primary ministry partner of IMB. In that role, Horton implemented community development, disaster response and refugee projects in 16 countries. “Francis has extensive fruitful experience in serving on the field for many years,” Wright said. “In 2016, he became the regional director for West Africa with Samaritan’s Purse. When he completes his service there, he will join us at Send Relief on April 15.” IMB President Paul Chitwood pointed to Horton’s extensive field service and his training as an attorney as assets for the role. “Francis brings broad experience in compassion ministries — which will greatly benefit Send Relief — to this new endeavor in Southern Baptists’ global work,” Chitwood said. “He is energetic and faith-driven, with exceptional insight in both the ministry aspect and the legal facets of international relief work. Send Relief and Southern Baptists are blessed to have Francis leading out in this role.” Wright noted that the addition of Horton in the global Send Relief role comes shortly after the announced retirement of Jeff Palmer, the CEO of Baptist Global Response, which has been an important ministry partner of IMB for many years. Southern Baptists are encouraged to embrace the new global aspect of Send Relief for future compassion ministries. “The whole BGR staff is very thankful for Jeff Palmer, who is retiring as head of BGR,” Wright said. “He has been used by the Lord in being the founding leader of BGR and building a team that is passionate in fulfilling the Great Commission through compassion ministries. Francis is excited about building on that foundation.” Horton said he believes consolidating Southern Baptist compassion ministries into one organization will unify Southern Baptists in a way that allows those who are hurting to see the tangible love of Christ. “Combining the compassion ministry efforts of IMB and NAMB to bring relief to those who are … suffering is a great opportunity to see the gospel spread and the Church grow,” Horton said. “The Send Relief umbrella is a great vehicle to better enable Southern Baptists to be involved in compassion ministries around the globe. Southern Baptists want to engage in both proclamation and demonstration of the gospel, and Send Relief provides a more unified and strategic way for us to help them do so.” Horton earned a bachelor of science degree from Mississippi State University and a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. He and his wife, Angie, have four children and eight grandchildren. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann Lovell is editorial design creative manager for the IMB. #APRIL20

PLYMOUTH, MI – With the surreal twist of life right now with the COVID-19 pandemic, I find myself sifting through my normal activities trying to find their true weight. As a Jesus follower, I want to evaluate everything I do through the truth of our Creator’s Word. One thing I did recently that I have a warm glow when I remember, is a mission trip to Puerto Rico with Send Relief. Serving others has true weight! Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 My husband, Tony, and I decided to use part of our vacation this year to go on a mission trip to help with hurricane and earthquake relief in Puerto Rico. It all started with our State Disaster Relief Director, Bob Kiger, mentioning the great need there. Then the Send Network Puerto Rico Director, Felix Cabrera, speaking at the Michigan Baptist Annual Meeting. Finally, our State Executive Director, Tim Patterson, and his wife, Sabrina, came back from a vision tour in Puerto Rico telling of the overwhelming need for help. They all shared the hardships that were going on in Puerto Rico, and we felt our hearts tugged to go. We contacted Send Relief and told them our desire to help in Puerto Rico if they needed us. They told us about helping with GenSend Break PR during March. GenSend Break PR is for U.S. university students to come to Puerto Rico during their Spring Break and help with the hurricane and earthquake relief. Each team would stay for one week helping to seal or put on new roofs, and do volunteer construction work. It is great how Send Relief Puerto Rico works alongside local Pastors. Each repair project had a local Pastor to do follow up. Tony and I felt this project would be perfect in that we would be helping the people of Puerto Rico, and also helping university students with their faith journey. The Send Relief PR staff (Itamar, Nancy and Derrick) were great. We found a kinship in working alongside them toward the same goal – helping the university students show God’s love to the Puerto Rican people. We were picked up from the airport, fed and housed. I found joy in helping with the operations of GenSend Break Puerto Rico. I cleaned, helped with meals (I was so thankful for Elizabeth who catered great local cuisine), drove vans filled with luggage and students back and forth to the airport, did inventory and purchase of major food and supplies for the students, worked to organize in the warehouse the donated items that came in, had touching conversations with students, encouraged the local Pastors, saw the beautiful island as we drove to job sites to capture images and videos of the students at work. If any church is looking for a great ministry opportunity for their church later in the year, Send Relief is a great option. They have projects set up in many different places. Check it out at https://volunteer.sendrelief.org/ they have so many volunteer projects waiting to be filled! There are 39 Poverty projects, 14 Refugees & International projects, 5 GenSend weeks, and 3 projects on Human Trafficking. The crazy thing I keep thinking about is how I took a “working” vacation, and yet I came back refreshed and renewed in my mind and heart. I asked myself the same question that I asked the university students, “How will having been in Puerto Rico helping the people and softening the ground for new church planters to come, impact my life back at home?” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jamie M. Lynn, I'm married to a God warrior, have 3 wonderful married children and 9 super grandkids. I love working at the BSCM office to help the churches in the Great Lakes area to thrive, serve God by drawing others to Him and to love their communities. #APRIL20

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Leaders are making tough decisions in light of COVID-19 that can have significant ramifications for large numbers of people. As committed Christ followers, we can use our influence to make a positive impact on the Kingdom during this crisis. Here are just five practical ways we can be the hands and feet of Jesus. Christ will do the miraculous in our midst if we allow Him to use us for His glory. 1. Share God’s peace. The starting point is allowing God’s perfect peace to fill our hearts. Then become intentional people of peace in your community. Start by being an active listener, connecting with people at their point of pain and offering encouraging words of hope. It’s surprising just how much a calm demeanor can reassure others. Be people of peace sharing the love of Christ everywhere in your community as you are able to get out and about safely. 2. Minister to the elderly. Many elderly are quarantining themselves. Can you imagine the increased levels of isolation and loneliness? Create a system to reach out by phone daily to make sure they are okay and have what they need. Be willing to assist with their needs such as medication refills, groceries or household supplies, walking dogs, etc. 3. Consider creating a community prayer line. In the days and weeks to come, large numbers of people will be confined to their homes. The idea may be appealing the first day or two, but boredom is going to set in quickly. They will begin to look for ways to reach out and connect. Offer to pray for them and to pray with them. 4. Know where to find assistance in your community. How can you help the hourly worker who has been sent home and may not be getting a paycheck until this is over? How do you minister to an isolated young man who is overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness and is now entertaining thoughts of suicide? With many school closings, what about children who are food insecure without a mid-day meal at school? Reach out to a helping professional—a social worker, nurse, or teacher, for example. Ask them about needs in your community and services offered so you can help and encourage others. Be familiar with the resources in your community. 5. Tell of God’s transforming power. Most importantly, take every opportunity to share the Gospel so people may come to saving faith in Christ. If you are stuck at home, think of just one person a day to reach out to and give a joyful witness to the transforming power of God at work in your life. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sandy Wisdom-Martin is the executive director of national WMU. #APRIL20

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated since its original publication. NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time in 75 years. Citing authority provided by the SBC Constitution "in the case of grave emergency," the decision was made Tuesday (March 24) in a unanimous vote of a body composed of SBC officers, the SBC Executive Committee and leaders of the SBC's boards and institutions. The Annual Meeting, which was originally scheduled June 9-10 in Orlando, is not being rescheduled. SBC President J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area, said he was "saddened" to make the announcement, but described it as necessary in light of the ongoing crisis and the uncertainty of when it might end. "We are a people committed to keeping the Gospel above all," Greear said, "and our sole purpose in coming together is to support one another in that mission, catalyzing our collective mission efforts. This year, our unusual circumstances mean we can best meet that goal by not meeting together." At the time of publication March 24, almost 400,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection had been reported worldwide, with more than 17,000 deaths. In the United States, more than 46,000 confirmed cases had been reported, with almost 600 deaths; the numbers continued to increase significantly each day. In an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which threatened to overwhelm the nation's healthcare system, government officials at national, state and local levels have declared states of emergency and encouraged or required extreme social-distancing practices, as well as the closure of many businesses, stores and restaurants. Current federal guidelines, including a recommendation to avoid gatherings of more than 10 people, have been adopted at various levels -- sometimes as mandatory orders. In some places, residents have been ordered to stay home. Convention organizers had anticipated the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting might draw the largest number of messengers since nearly 12,000 participated in the 2010 Annual Meeting, also in Orlando. But Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, said continuing uncertainty over whether and when large groups would again be able to gather -- as well as concern about when it would be prudent to do so -- prompted the move to cancel. Calling the SBC Annual Meeting "the most pivotal gathering we have as we advance our commitment to reaching the world for Christ," Floyd said SBC leaders were "faced with a decision that none of us believed we would ever face," and described the cancellation as "heartbreaking," but said, "the reality around us nationally and globally cannot be ignored." "We know it is the right thing to do," Floyd said. "We are extremely disappointed in having to make this decision, but God will see us through and give us a way until we are able to meet in person together again. ... We know our churches need to focus on ministering to their communities and to those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic. "While we will not physically be coming together in June in Orlando, we will be going together in unity as we minister to our churches, our missionaries, our church planters, our seminary students and our own communities." The last time the SBC Annual Meeting was canceled was 1945, during World War II, when the United States government banned meetings of groups larger than 50 people. The SBC was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, but instead skipped a year. The protocol followed Tuesday was instituted by messengers to the 1946 SBC Annual Meeting. The historic decision, set out in SBC Constitution Article XI, Section 4, was reached during two video conference calls. In a roll-call vote, the SBC Executive Committee voted 75-0 for cancellation, with seven members absent. It was followed by a unanimous vote of the body composed of the Executive Committee, convention officers and leaders of convention boards and institutions. Mike Stone, chairman of the SBC Executive Committee and pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Ga., said while the decision involved consideration of legal, financial and constitutional factors, he viewed the decision "as a pastor, not a board chairman." He added that the fact it was the first cancellation in 75 years "proves this is not a decision that is made lightly." "While the constitutional process of voting to cancel is a simple one that involves around 100 leaders," Stone said, "the information needed to actually make the wisest decision is quite involved. The EC staff, officers and legal counsel worked diligently to consider the various results of cancellation." Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary and chairman of the SBC’s Great Commission Council, called the decision “prudent given the governmental directives, travel uncertainties and advance planning needed for the convention meeting,” adding: “The goal right now for Southern Baptists is to ensure our global missions, education and ministry enterprises continue to function effectively – which we are all working together to accomplish.” The 2021 SBC Annual Meeting is scheduled for June 15-16, 2021, in Nashville. According to the SBC's governing documents, postponement of an annual meeting is only an option "if the entertaining city withdraws its invitation or is unable to fulfill its commitments." The SBC president has authority to convene a special meeting with the concurrence of the other officers of the Convention and the Executive Committee, but no such action is being taken at this time. Holding the SBC Annual Meeting either online as a virtual meeting or at various satellite locations is not an option under the SBC's governing documents. Although annual meetings have been live-streamed for years, the SBC's governing documents require all business conducted at the Annual Meeting be conducted by "messengers present and voting in person." Any changes to the governing documents would require approval of messengers at an annual meeting. In its meeting in Sept. 2019, the Executive Committee declined a referral made during the 2019 SBC Annual Meeting to study the feasibility of distance voting and remote participation in SBC annual meetings. The motion was one of many similar ones made over the years. In declining to study the idea, the EC cited reasoning that had been cited in declining earlier motions, including: The complexity of implementation; the vulnerability of sessions to potential technology failures; the accuracy of voting; and the mechanics of conducting business sessions, with messengers seeking recognition for debate. There's also no precedent for official business to be conducted using virtual methods at annual meetings of SBC state conventions. With the cancellation of the Annual Meeting, SBC officers would remain in office until their successors are elected at the next annual meeting. Members of many committees would remain in office, as well. The expiring terms of trustees of Convention entities would depend upon each entity's individual charter. “I certainly didn’t plan for a third year [as SBC president],” Greear said. “But [I] trust that the God who ordains our days will give us strength equal to the task. This is an incredibly important time for the church, as we seek to demonstrate the certain hope that God gives to an uncertain world through Christ.” The Cooperative Program Allocation Budget and the Executive Committee and SBC Operating Budget could be adopted by the Executive Committee, which has ad interim authority. With the cancellation of the 2020 Annual Meeting, all ancillary meetings that would have been held in the convention space have also been canceled. Bill Townes, chief financial officer for the SBC Executive Committee and convention manager for the Annual Meeting, said the Executive Committee staff would immediately begin the process of "reviewing and assessing all contracts and obligations related to the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting." Townes said organizers would reach out directly to pre-registered messengers, exhibitors and ancillary event planners. He said many questions would be answered in an FAQ section published on the SBC website, adding the section would be updated as needed. Townes suggested emailing other questions to SBC EC staff at annualmeeting@sbc.net. The SBC Pastor's Conference is a separate event. David Uth, president of the 2020 Pastor's Conference and pastor of First Baptist Church Orlando, said Tuesday that as an auxiliary meeting to the annual meeting, the pastors' conference would be canceled, as well. Uth's role as president for the 2021 pastors' conference has not yet been determined. Greear said even without an annual meeting in 2020, the mission of Southern Baptists "will go on," and urged Southern Baptists to find encouragement in focusing on ministry until the 2021 Annual Meeting. "The headquarters of the SBC is not in Nashville or Orlando," Greear said, "nor is its primary impulse for ministry what happens on the Convention floor. The headquarters of the SBC is the local church. Our strength is in its pulpits and pews. God has now given us a new challenge, and as He promises, He will give us grace sufficient for that challenge. "My prayer is that when we come together in Nashville in 2021, we will find ourselves stronger than ever and rejoicing that our God was with us." ABOUT THE AUTHOR George Schroder is associate vice president for convention news at the SBC Executive Committee. #APRIL20

ROSEVILLE, MI – Part of my responsibility as a pastor is to look down the road, and anticipate opportunities and threats that my flock will encounter. But in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the months and years of planning that I have been accustomed to, have been reduced to hours and days. Providentially I am preaching through the book of Acts and have dropped anchor in chapter 20, where Paul’s “upper room discourse” to the Elders from the church at Ephesus has become a wonderful template for my heart and church. The answer to the question of “how do you lead in a crisis” is the same answer to the question of, “how should you lead your church.” “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.” Acts 20:28 Your leadership in a crisis will be a reflection of your leadership overall. All that a crisis does is put us in a vice that squeezes into view what is on the inside. Here are 5 ingredients of good leadership that will serve your church well when the storm comes to your door. 1. Be Self-aware - “pay careful attention to yourselves” Times of crisis are indeed times of stress. But, you must be on guard against the temptation to rely upon yourself, thinking that you can rise to this occasion without relying on the Lord. We are so tempted to put our confidence in ourselves thinking that we do not have time to pray. When we are too busy and stressed to pray, we are not paying careful attention to ourselves. We are believing the lie that we are up for this, when we are not. But the call to pay careful attention is actually in the plural “to yourselves.” That is good wisdom, isn’t it? How is the leadership of your church as a whole? Do you pay attention to yourselves? Is there honesty, humility, transparency, accountability with one another? If these things do not mark your leaders, then what is being hidden will be revealed under the strain of a crisis. Someone has to set the mark in order to call the rest to keep the pace. Leaders do this for a congregation, but you may need to be the one who does this for the leaders. 2. Be involved and organized - “and to all the flock” Good shepherds smell like sheep. They do not subcontract the shepherding out to hirelings who like mercenaries, are only in the battle for the paycheck. They are with the sheep. They know their sheep by name. They know who is in the fold, and who is lost and will go after them. Shepherds know what it means to be in the flock. They can tell you who “all the flock” are and therefore, they know who they must pay attention to. It takes organization to know who all the flock is. It takes a commitment to details and procedures to have church membership and to keep that current. But unless you actually know who is in your flock, you won’t know who you are responsible to pay attention to. 3. Consider your calling - “which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” Yea, I too, missed that “preparing your church for COVID-19” class in seminary, and have wondered whether I can help navigate my people through these waters. On the one hand, I wonder why the Lord has put me into this position, and yet on the other, would not want to be anywhere else. If the Holy Spirit has put you into this position as an overseer (overseer, elder, pastor are synonyms in the NT) in your flock, then He who called you will equip you and direct you. Isn’t that comforting? Lean upon the Spirit for the wisdom that he promises. (James 1.5-8) 4. Be Loving - “to care for the church of God” We know that loving is more than words, but at the same time, do not overlook the need of your people in hearing you tell them how much you love them. One of the simplest ways that I can “care for the church of God” is to tell them how much I love them. Assuming that you love your church, tell them. 5. Live with Accountability - “which he obtained with his own blood” Jesus died for his church. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5.25). Wow! I am a steward of the flock that Jesus purchased and secured with his own blood. I will give an account for how I loved, led and fed his flock. And while that thought can be terrifying, it is at the same time comforting, because I am part of the flock that he loves, died for, secured and will keep. Am I and my leaders humble? How are we engaged with our people? Do we serve with a sense of calling? Do our people know that we love them? Do I realize my responsibility to Christ? The answers to these questions will guide you well as you lead your people through this present darkness and the others on down the road. Jesus is worth a beautiful Bride! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Johnson has served as the Senior Pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville, MI for the last 30+ years and is very happy about it. #APRIL20

SOUTH LYON, MI – The pastors reading this article know very well that the comforts of familiarity are no longer an option in the age of COVID-19. This wasn’t an elective in Seminary that one could choose to study. Instead, this is an opportunity for pastors and God’s many local bodies to assist and encourage one another. Our church, First Baptist Church South Lyon, decided early on to suspend all services. Since suspending all corporate gatherings, we have implemented various digital options for discipleship. We have provided the weekly sermon with notes on our website and Facebook page. We have mobilized our Bible study leaders. They are contacting their groups daily and meeting with them through digital means. Many have resorted to Zoom and/or Facetime. We have some without the internet, so we have been mailing them transcripts of the sermons and calling them to discuss the Bible study each week. The pastoral staff has made an effort to contact each member at least once a week by phone, email or written letter. Some of the ministry in the church that we have experimented with include offering to all members over 60 years of age the option of grocery shopping and pharmacy runs. We have now expanded that option to all homebound, widows, widowers and single mothers. Now that families are home with no extracurricular activities, we have seen this as a great opportunity to encourage family worship and discipleship. We have started a daily Family Worship video with a study guide. The study guide includes songs, a sample prayer, a text with a short commentary and points to consider and questions to pose to kids. This has been very well received in our community. We are noticing a number of families with no affiliation with our church commenting that they are now worshipping together and using the materials provided by us. One thing that we are doing in our community is feeding those who are in need. We have a local food pantry called Active Faith. Our church supports them financially and with manpower. We have joined efforts with Active Faith to provide groceries for an entire week to anyone who requests it. We have this ministry open three days a week. Our church has approached three senior retirement communities in South Lyon and offered to deliver groceries to them. Many who are taking advantage of this ministry have also requested Bibles and prayers. So, the Lord is opening many avenues for ministry in this difficult time. I understand the pressures that have come with this pandemic. And like many of you, it grieves me deeply not to be able to worship corporately with the local body that God has placed me within. However, He has empowered us and equipped us to continue regardless of the uncertainty that lies ahead. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jason Meaux is Lead Pastor of FBC South Lyon. He recently moved to Michigan from Mobile, Alabama where he served as Pastor and many other ministry positions over the years. He is married to Aimee and they share three children. #APRIL20

ALPHARETTA, GA (BP) – As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the United States, many medical facilities have faced shortages of masks and other protective gear. In response, Southern Baptists have donated more than 228,000 sets of protective equipment to hospitals and healthcare workers in different states. On Thursday (March 26), the U.S. surpassed China as the nation with the most confirmed cases of the virus. Southern Baptist donations include more than 172,000 N95 masks and more than 56,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPEs) given to help protect medical workers serving on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis. Send Relief donated 30,100 masks and 45,520 PPEs to hospitals. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) teams from across the nation are donating about 142,000 masks and 11,100 suits to local hospitals and medical facilities. "Medical personnel need the masks greatly right now," said Richard Brunson, who leads North Carolina Baptists On Mission. "Besides, they didn't belong to us anyway, they belonged to God! God just let us hold on to them for a little while until He could use them to bless others." Baptists On Mission, of which the state's SBDR team is a part, donated 30,000 masks to various hospitals in their state. The masks are typically used in disaster responses, such as in flood recovery when harmful mold can build up in submerged homes, and in rebuilds. "Southern Baptists have been so generous in donating during this time," said Bryant Wright, president of Send Relief. "Really, it's not that we're unusual as a people. It's just that we are extremely grateful that Jesus Christ gave His life for us, and we want to be giving to our fellow man in a time of need." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended SBDR, as one of the nation's largest providers of disaster relief, to several different state emergency management agencies as an organization that can provide wrap-around services, such as food preparation and delivery and spiritual and emotional care. As Southern Baptists respond to the current crisis, they are doing so on a more localized, community-based level for the time being. Tennessee and Arkansas disaster relief teams have been supporting food delivery and distribution in several cities in their states. Colorado SBDR has set up a feeding unit in Centennial, Colo., south of Denver, serving vulnerable populations in the community. Louisiana Baptists are also providing meals in Lake Charles, La., with support from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC). Some SBDR teams, including California Baptists and the SBTC, have set up support hot lines, staffed by trained chaplains, to provide spiritual and emotional support. Other states have deployed shower units. "Like everybody else, this disaster does not fit our typical response mechanisms," said Gaylon Moss, SBDR director for Missouri Baptists. "We've been trying to distribute a lot of information to our churches and associations about ways they can serve." Missouri SBDR has deployed a shower unit for medical personnel at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and distributed N95 masks to state medical facilities. State SBDR teams across the nation are doing similar work. South Carolina Baptists have two shower units available for the homeless in Florence, S.C., and one unit for first responders in Hilton Head, S.C. Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Disaster Relief has activated a shower unit in Rochester, Minn., to support overflow at a facility for the homeless. Several states reported that local volunteers with SBDR teams, churches and local Baptist associations are serving in food pantries, blood banks as well as other organizations providing assistance. "We are trying to be creative, to think outside the box," said Sam Porter, national director for SBDR with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and Send Relief. "Teams are able to do things they've never done or do things they've never thought of. It's a time where Southern Baptists across the convention are stepping up." Send Relief, through its various ministry centers across the U.S., has been providing meals for vulnerable populations in Pittsburgh, New York City, New Orleans and across the island of Puerto Rico. In the next two weeks, Send Relief will be packing care bags at the North American Mission Board building in Alpharetta, Ga., the ministry center in Ashland, Ky., as well as in Denver, Colo., to give away to medical workers as an encouragement during this difficult time. "Send Relief is seeking to respond to needs wherever they are," said Wright. "Jesus is so strong about us loving our neighbor, especially our neighbor in need. This is certainly one of those times throughout all the world." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #APRIL20

HOUGHTON, MI – We serve in Houghton Michigan at Houghton Baptist Church, “A place for the Community.” We’ve been serving here for more than 12 years. 4 years ago we decided as a church to stop playing church and actually be the church. We opened our minds and hearts to new ideas and the possibilities of all that God has for us as a church. We built on, adding another 100 seats in our Worship space which also gave us a great space for our Children’s Church Ministry. We strongly believe as a church in reaching versus maintaining. Many churches, if we're being honest, spend their days maintaining and miss all that God has for them and their community. Six months ago we launched a second service to further grow as a church. It hasn’t been easy, but it was needed. Recently, we brought the entire church together for a One Service Sunday, and we had over 230 people show up for worship and lunch. It was a zoo! So thankful for the growth and the wisdom to take that step so we could further multiply. Growth takes faith and a willingness to trust God at his word. Since the New year, we’ve led 2 more people to Christ, and baptized 12 more people. Over the past 4 years, we’ve led 32 to Christ, and baptized 107 people in our church. It’s been an absolutely amazing to experience. The harvest is ripe and the workers are few. This is our purpose as a church; to reach lost and unchurched people, basically pluck them from the community and share Christ with them. Every change we’ve made as a church was worth the lives we’re seeing coming to faith in Jesus. But don’t misunderstand me, there have been trials. There’s been suffering. There’s been critical people. There’s been elevated spiritual warfare. We’ve even lost around 75 people the last few years, and it’s been heartbreaking. We fully understand the reason for all of this. Satan’s angry with our church and it’s leadership. That’s crystal clear. We’ve painted a huge target on our backs. We’re watching God break chains. Chains that have been there for years. More than half of our church didn’t even have a home church a year ago. Meaning they were unchurched. The majority of Houghton Baptist Church hadn’t been in a church for years. This is why the enemy hates us so much. These people were in the enemy's grip, but God has used us to rescue them. Every blessing is coupled with some sort of sacrifice. As the Lead Pastor, I’ve suffered greatly. Let’s be honest, serving as a Lead Pastor means you will suffer at some level. There comes a point in time in your ministry where people come against you. People that you’ve served with will leave you. They’ll say the most hurtful things. They’ll judge you. They’ll betray you. They’ll miss your heart and motives. The place that you are called to serve is supposed to be home and a safe place for you and your family, but that’s not always the reality. We lead. We love unconditionally. We serve sacrificially. We put our ministries first, and in the end, it cost us greatly. I’ve been chronically ill with a painful autoimmune disease for four years now. Do the math. At the height of our ministry here, we’ve suffered the most. The second we decided to be a church on mission all of hell has come against us. We’ve had to lean on Christ more than any other time in our ministry and that’s okay. God has placed favor on us and it’s evident. But don’t mistake favor for a trial-free ministry. Trials and hardships always come coupled with God's favor. This past Sunday one of our members handed us a check for $25,000.00 to put directly on the addition we built 4 years ago. It’s unbelievable. We’re putting the full amount on the mortgage which means we will only owe $53,000.00. God has made a way for us to reach the most broken people in our community. The poorest in our community, and yet we’re seeing gifts like this. Not to mention that last year was our best financial year since I became Pastor. Why do I say all that? Why did I go into all of what we are experiencing both good and bad? Because you must know the price of authentic ministry. You must know that it won’t always be easy. It won’t always be pain free. Some days you are going to want to run and hide from the hurt. Some days you’ll want to quit and do something else. But here’s the thing, you were made to do this. You were designed for a purpose. And God is certainly big enough to carry you and provide for you and your church no matter the situation. He’s faithful. We’ve seen salvations. We’ve seen baptisms. We’ve seen the church double in size. We’ve seen financial provision. Stay the course. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Whitaker, I a father of three amazing children, husband to one beautiful wife, Director of Operations at Love INC of the Copper County and Pastor at Houghton Baptist Church. #APRIL20

MIDLAND, MI – These are strange times to say the least, but they are not unprecedented. History has seen instances of plague and pestilence, and the church of Jesus Christ has survived them all. What is unprecedented, however, is the technology that is available to us, and how that technology can be leveraged to the benefit of the church in times of separation and confinement. What likely comes to mind when most think of the technology available to the church is probably live streaming software, social media, and other multimedia, but at Sunrise Church, we’re finding that the most appreciated technology is really just a good old fashioned phone call. While email and text messages are useful for accumulating information about needs and other informational updates, and video conferencing provides the visual face to face component, when it comes to connecting personally with our church family, each falls short in one way or another. Texting fails to communicate the mood or tone of whom you’re chatting with, and video conferencing can be cumbersome; requiring setup, planning and software downloads. Phone calls, however, are proving to be the best substitute for the usual face to face interactions that our church gatherings provide. The Elders of Sunrise are learning that our people are really appreciative of the effort to contact them by phone to check on them, pray with them, understand their needs and fears, and simply give them an opportunity to engage in conversation. A phone call requires the same kind of attention as an in-person conversation, takes time and deliberation, and can’t be multitasked. Across the board, each of our elders has noted the appreciation expressed by members of their shepherding group when contacted by phone. Email, texting, and video conferencing have certainly proven to be effective efficiency tools for our leadership as we are constantly responding to and disseminating changing information, but efficiency isn’t really the goal of the shepherd(s) to his/their flock. It is tempting to utilize these tools with the congregation, and they may make sense in the right application or context, but elders and pastors may want to consider the message of caring that is sent to a member of the church when the time is taken to call them on the phone, and give them personalized attention in this culture of social distancing. Though our church is scattered for now, it is our desire that regular, personal contact during this season will maintain and strengthen the bonds of our church body and build anticipation for the day when we will be gathered together again. Regardless of the medium by which we seek to maintain our connectedness, may we be faithful to Paul’s instruction, “​Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.​” Colossians 3:14-15 (CSB) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philip Miles has served in nearly every facet of local church ministry over the last twenty years from Florida to Washington and Texas to Michigan. He married Kari in 1999 and they have four kiddos; two biological (Gavin, 17 and Griffin, 6) and two adopted (Gunner, 15 and Mayleigh, 7). Philip has been privileged to serve since 2018 with a wonderful team of fellow Elders at Sunrise Church in Midland, MI and is currently the Lead Pastor there. #APRIL20

JACKSON, MI – What an incredibly unique time we find ourselves in! During this pandemic, it seems as if new orders from our governor and national leaders are coming faster than we can pastorally keep up with them. Pastor’s minds, schedules, and time have been consumed by issues such as: how to do a quality live stream or video, how to meet needs, how to help the church remain connected with each other, and even whether or not you can leave home to go to the office. Amid trying to get all of these things accomplished, I fear that we haven’t slowed down to consider what our practices and language communicate to people about our ecclesiology. Ecclesiology is the study of what we believe about the church. Christians throughout history have generally understood the local church to be a “group of Christians who regularly gather in Christ’s name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Jesus Christ and his kingdom through gospel preaching and gospel ordinances.” (Jonathan Leeman) When the local church gathers in corporate worship, this time includes fellowship, mutual edification, preaching of the word, giving, ordinances, and song. Considering these truths, we must be careful to not teach our churches that those other forms, whether it is through video or live stream or whatever else, are the same thing as the regular corporate gathering of the church in worship. Anything less than the face to face meeting of God’s people together falls short of and is but a shadow of corporate worship. What this means is that we must be careful in the language we use to describe what we do when we livestream or post videos. We must ask if the things that happen when the local church meets in person can happen through these other means. If the church is not gathered in person, can we advertise the livestream to be church? Should we tell people to “have church from their living rooms” by watching a video if the local church is not actually gathered? My encouragement to you is to use the means God has given to communicate to your people, but to also be careful and thoughtful about what you say about those meetings. Allow God to use this time to teach His church that anything other than them gathered in person can bring fulfillment or fully meet their needs. Know that it is okay for the church to feel a great tension that what happens through a video feed is not the same as when they meet together. Pray that God would use this time apart from one another to create in our hearts a greater appreciation and longing to come together again in corporate worship and in community. When we are able to meet together again, let that time be a time of great celebration to the Glory of God! ABOUT THE AUTHOR James Walling has pastored churches in Arkansas, Tennessee, and now Michigan where he has ministered as Grace Church’s senior pastor since March of 2011.  James has received degrees from several schools including a Doctor of Ministry degree in expository preaching from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. #APRIL20