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PLYMOUTH, MI – It was about 6:00am when I stepped out of the back door, quietly closing the screen so as not to disturb my wife and our gracious hosts. I took a long deep breath of the crisp mountain air filling my lungs with pure invigorating energy. The thermometer read 54 degrees and the sun was just beginning to flood the treetops with a soft yellow glow. I slipped into my hip waders, strapped on a tackle belt and basket for my krill and headed for the river. Just a few steps down a very steep but navigable slope waited a pristine ribbon of crystal clear water and an untold number of leviathans of the deep. As I entered the water I made sure not to disturb the bottom sediment and rocks unnecessarily. I wanted my approach to be as stealthy as possible knowing that my green rubber covered size elevens would already appear to be quite out of the ordinary to the inhabitants of these waters and they needed nothing else to spook them. Step by careful step I waded up the stream to a large clearing where the waters calmed and the tell tale swirls around a certain eddy disclosed a possible well of trout treasures. The faint rays of sunlight were beginning to turn the water's surface into a shimmering sheet of gold. It seemed as though the morning light had awakened this lazy liquid and it had begun a daybreak dance that would last throughout the day. I lifted my fly rod and inspected the ties and my reel. All was in order. With my left hand I pulled enough line out to begin my cast. In a smooth steady forward and back motion I advanced my line and fly. Ten o’clock – Two o’clock, Ten o’clock – Two o’clock. Back and forth I moved my right arm as the line followed my directions, as would the first violin follow an orchestra leader's baton. Cast after cast I worked this field of fish hoping that my lure would be enticing enough for one of these rainbow colored beauties to bite. This was a beautiful place and a soul filling experience. Everywhere I looked I could see God’s artistry displayed on the canvass of this rippling river. Every limb, rock, leaf, tree and bird had a place. Nothing appeared obtrusive or inordinate, that is until I looked down into the water just to the right of my feet. There, lying on the bottom among the water worn river rocks were the remains of an extension cord. It was bright orange in color with a black plug at one end. It didn’t belong. It was out of place. It just didn’t fit. In the midst of all of God’s beautiful creation this orange discard seemed totally out of place. It was ugly. I began to get angry at the insensitive lug that would have so little respect for all of this beauty, and with one thoughtless act mess it up. Didn’t he or she care about God’s creation? It was at that moment that I could see the inconsistencies and the spiritual debris that was cluttering and marring God’s greatest creation, man. Just as that discarded cord was out of place in the midst of God’s beauty so is the devil's discards in the life of a Believer and His church as a whole. We are God’s creation; His workmanship and we have no right to muck up His masterpiece. We are a work of art that our Father loves to admire, but sadly we have trashed His treasure. The junk of this world is ugly and out of place in the life of His children and His church. It is as ugly and as out of place as an extension cord in a pristine river. It’s time for the Christian community to clean up and clear out the garbage that is smudging our souls and trashing our testimonies. This present world order and modern culture can never be the standard by which we judge that which is right or wrong, nor can it be the guiding factor in our decision making. We must live Biblically and be led Biblically. Living based on expediency in business, relationships, pleasure or politics will not only end in failure, but will trash our spiritual environment and leave a trail of filth in our Christian faith that will decay for decades. It will leave us wanting and our witness waning. Now is the time to clean up our Christian environment. Now is the time to stop trashing it with the world’s garbage. 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. #MARCH20

PLYMOUTH, VA – I hope that phrase will become familiar to you. Creating a blog, podcast episodes, and newsletters are very new and frightening experiences for me. However, rest assured these efforts are not about me. This trio-platter is a means, by which I can brag on what I see God doing in the world. People tell me that I light-up when I tell stories about God’s actions in people’s lives. I hope that you can feel that “light” while you listen to or read the stories that I am going to share with you. Like everything I do, there will be variety. Some stories will inform you about the past. Others will be interviews with those who impact the world for Christ. And yet others, will be opinion pieces on current trends that I feel compelled to address. Whatever the subject of the podcasts, my goal is to bring honor to God. The words of Christ, in Matthew 5:16, will be the guardrails on the pathway for these podcasts. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Everything that I am describing, in this column, can be found at DrTonyLLynn.com. Blog The blog features a diary-type or log-type collection of written articles or “posts.” I will archive the posts online so that you can read them and share them with others. You can offer feedback after you have read the post. I want to create a conversation where we build one another up and help each other become more effective at what we do. Frequently, I will ask questions when I write. I really, really want you to answer the questions so that I can learn from you. The posts will be filled with summaries of past events, moments from interviews with influential people, opinion pieces on trending topics, and manuscripts from my sermons. Everything is sharable. You can start reading at DrTonyLLynn.com/blog. Podcast This month, I nicknamed my family room the “Recording Studio.” I am a rookie at creating podcasts. You will hear how “raw” my production is when you listen to my first audio recording. I reported on what I saw God do during November 2019. Though I tried to sound casual, the episode came across too rigid as I read the manuscript. I won’t do that again. I have smart friends helping me as I try to improve. You can listen right now at DrTonyLLynn.com/podcast. The podcasts are also available on Apple Podcasts and Google Play under the title "Great Lakes Conversations". Want to give me another chance? You can listen to the interview I had with Tito and Mollie Diaz who describe the new church plant launching on March 1. Or listen to my thoughts and application for leading a church by using a model that comes right out of Ephesians 4. It’s a topic that has regained new interest. One of the sweet things I like about a podcast is that you can listen while doing something else. One Friday, my wife was going to visit her mother while I drove to another part of the state to visit my mother. I sent my wife a podcast link through a text message. She started listening just as I did. Intermittently, I would pause that same podcast in my truck, 60 miles away, and call her up to discuss what we were hearing. You see, I love to learn in an interactive way. A podcast is something you can listen to, on a device, while driving, waiting, or doing something else. You can also sit with friends, listening as a group, then discuss what you heard together. I will look forward to the questions, answers and feedback you offer after you listen to a podcast. Newsletter Back in my earliest days of faith during 1970-something, if something was really important, a poster would hang on the wall over the drinking fountain at church or in the center of the bulletin board in the church’s foyer. To those of us who still enjoy holding a piece of paper in our hands or want a poster on the wall, I am going to write a newsletter and publish it each month. I know it’s best to keep it brief, meaning 2-3 pages. I will cover the very top highlights and refer to either a post on my blog or an audio file on my podcast; but, I think it’s worth it because some of us still like to see ink and feel the paper between our fingers. Again, everything is yours to share with others. Run-off copies for your friends. Post the news on the wall. Pass the newsletter onto others through email. Are you ready to see the newsletter? If so go to DrTonyLLynn.com/newsletter. Why Do All of This? I want to make sure you hear about what the Lord is doing. I need your prayers as I take on producing these pathways of information. My days are already filled with administration, meetings, planning, traveling, preaching, teaching, supervising, my family and spending private time with God; but, I feel compelled now more than ever that you need to hear, read, experience and share in the joy and anticipation I feel every single day of my life. I want to make sure I cast a light on our Heavenly Father so that you can see Him, and I mean really see and hear the evidence of our Father at work around us. 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. #MARCH20

PLYMOUTH, MI – Information is coming at us faster and from more sources than at any other time in human history. It’s hard to believe that there was a time in my life when I had to go to the local library to get or verify information. Research got so much easier when I could type a few words into a web browser and get information in my home. Now, I don’t even have to type. Depending on whether I’m in my home, office, or on the road, I say, “Hey Google, Hey Alexa, or Hey Siri,” and I can get or verify just about all the information I need. The rise of the internet has expanded information exponentially. Some have estimated that the internet is growing at a rate of 65% a year! There’s a plethora of information available 24 hours a day about everything and it’s growing. Don’t get me wrong. I love the feel of a book in my hand and I still go to our local library occasionally, but the internet makes parts of my life so much easier! Unfortunately, there is a downside to internet resources: Not all of the information on the internet is accurate. There’s no reliability or truth test a person has to pass to post something. There are no monitors making sure the information is accurate. Content on the internet could be false, misleading, inconclusive, or even fake. I read some contradictory information online recently for a project and it left me confused and in doubt about what to do. To be fair, my struggle for clear and accurate information is not limited to the internet. Daily, I hear or read news reports on television, radio and in print that contradict each other. Somewhere behind all of the noise of commentators, politicians, and pundits is accurate information. It’s just really hard sometimes to sort through it all and find it. Information is only as good as the source that it comes from. It’s unfortunate that the dramatic increase and accessibility of information doesn’t always bring clarity. It comes at us faster and from more places and perspectives than ever before, but not all of it is true or beneficial to our lives or the lives of others. It’s one thing to get bad information for a project. It’s another thing to get bad information for life. This Scripture caught my attention during my devotional time a day or so after my frustrating internet search: “Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, to send them out to preach” (Mark 3:13-14). There’s a lot in these two verses to reflect upon, but two things stand out to me. Jesus calls his followers first to be with him. Before he would ask them to do anything, he asked them to be with him. Being with him was their first and foremost assignment. It was their training ground for who they would become long before what they would do. As they did life with Jesus, they would discover the truth about God, themselves, and their purpose. In him, they would experience God’s love, forgiveness and grace and it would change their lives. Jesus was building their character as they spent time with him. Being precedes doing because character trumps activity. Second, from his presence, Jesus would send them out to preach. Notice the pattern: Being with Christ preceded being sent from Christ. The truth of who they were in him was reflected in how they lived for him. Character led to conduct that honored God and advanced his Kingdom. The information and misinformation around us is not going to change, and it’s not going to get any easier to sort through it all to get to the truth. There’s really not much we can do about it. What we can do is follow the example of the first followers of Christ. They spent time with Jesus and it changed not only who they were, but how they lived. They impacted the world because their character and conduct reflected the Christ they followed. 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. #MARCH20

ROSCOMMON, MI – Having spent the first 30 years of my life living in the state of Florida on the east coast, I have a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Along with spending many summers at the beach riding the waves, one of my favorite activities was fishing. My brother and I spent many afternoons drowning bait in the Indian River Lagoon. I’m proud to say along with drowning lots of bait we also caught lots of fish - all shapes and sizes. We were fairly savvy in our pursuit of fish. We knew where to fish, when to fish and what kind of bait to use to catch specific fish. Fresh, “live” finger mullet was the bait of choice for catching Red fish - a prize catch! It was always interesting to watch other fishermen float by us in their $25,000 plus boats, trying to find the fish and often getting as close to our spot as possible because they saw we were actually catching fish. We did not have fancy equipment (couldn’t afford it), and always fished from shore and usually caught our limit. Our freezer stayed stocked with Red fish filets! We just knew when to fish, where to fish, and what bait (or gear) to use. Spending time on the river in my younger years has served-up copious amounts of memories and numerous object (illustration) lessons in my life. One lesson in particular being - “Don’t take the Bait!”. Just like we knew what bait to use to catch specific fish, Satan knows exactly what bait to use to catch us. Make no mistake, he is out to catch us and destroy us - “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. His mission is to hook us, reel us in and leave us flopping around on the shore gasping for life. Unfortunately, he is very savvy at his mission and knows just what bait to use to hook us and pull our affections, our focus, and our mind away from God. In this worldly, materialistic/self-culture we live in, He knows exactly what bait is going to captivate our heart and distract us from enjoying intimate fellowship with God. Every Sunday my hometown pastor would always have us make the statement - “the main thing is the main thing”. He would then ask the question - “what is the main thing?” The congregation would then answer - “to love God and enjoy Him forever!” This is life-changing truth and it’s the very truth Satan continuously schemes to nullify in our lives. If he can get us hooked using the bait of material greed, ego, anger, un-forgiveness, bitterness, gossip, self-righteousness, comparing, lust, covetousness, doubt, just to name a few, then he can keep us from living in victory, worshipping God and spending time in His presence. “Don’t take the Bait!” - “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”. - Ephesians 6:10-12. Just as my brother and I were savvy with fishing, as Christians we need to be savvy and know who we wrestle, why we wrestle, and what gear (armor of God) to use. We have been given victory over temptation (bait), we just need to exercise our faith and live in it. “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.” - 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. We have been freed through the blood of Jesus from our obligation to sin, we no longer have to “take the bait!” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mick Schatz serves on the staff of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. He is the State Director of Spiritual Enrichment and Retreats and lives at Bambi Lake. #MARCH20

SPRINGFIELD, IL (BP) – Secular pundits say the evangelical church is on its way out, Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear said at the Midwest Leadership Summit in Springfield, Ill. Things are changing, Greear admitted, but proposed that God might be reviving His church. "We're dealing with a significant loss of influence. We're watching our culture come unraveled all around us. What was unthinkable to our parents is going to become standard fare for our kids," Greear said. "We know that and we lament it and we worry about it." What if God, Greear asked at the summit held Jan. 21-23, is returning His church to simple convictions that compelled the earliest Christians? What if by removing some of the things we're accustomed to, He's setting up something Baptists have longed for over the past century: a transformative missional resurgence? More than 1,000 leaders from the Midwest gathered to learn from local and national leaders in large-group sessions and 98 breakout sessions. The event, held every other year, is facilitated by Midwest state conventions and national SBC entities. Greear wasn't the only speaker to call churches to embrace Christ's clear calling to make disciples. Leaders in church planting, evangelism, and discipleship urged churches to return to essentials. Scholars say there were about 7,500 believers at the end of the first century, Greear said at the Summit. Three centuries later, half the Roman empire identified as Christian because each believer and each church saw a responsibility to multiply, Greear said. "That is the strategy," Greear said, "that grows the church in every generation." Midwest mission field Charlie Robinson spent the first years of his ministry in a small Kansas town in an unusual seat: the passenger side of a tractor. That's how Robinson, pastor of Northridge Church in Sabetha, Kan., built the relationships he says are essential for church leaders in a small town. "There is no better program than one-on-one time," Robinson told leaders attending his breakout session on leadership principles for small-town church development. The pastor echoed Greear's words about church members being the ones in fulltime ministry. "Pastors are in fulltime equipping and unleashing," Robinson said. "The people are in fulltime ministry." At his church, ministry training is for everyone who is willing. Regular training sessions inspire church members to birth ministries and outreaches with Gospel implications. Northridge meets in four locations near the Kansas-Nebraska border, with two sites in each state. "Your outreaches, your ministries, are only going to be as good as your ministry team," Robinson advised. That's why the principle of "unleashing," he said, must become greater than a church leader's need for control. Pastors don't have the market cornered on the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling a believer, Robinson said. "It must be the people's understanding that it is their responsibility to be on mission and to do the work of the ministry." 'God, force us out' "Is a person a fisherman if, year after year, he never catches a fish?" Dhati Lewis, an Atlanta pastor and North American Mission Board vice president, posed the question after reading the fishing analogy from Darrell Robinson's 1995 book "People Sharing Jesus." In the passage, a group of people who call themselves fishermen invest their lives in everything related to their profession. The only thing they don't do, Robinson writes, is actually fish. In a keynote address, Lewis urged leaders not to fall into the same trap. Instead, he said, ask God to force us out of our comfort zones, toward people who desperately need Jesus. "We need more people that are willing to live amongst the people. In proximity," Lewis said. That's how believers can bring a tangible expression of the Gospel. "The harvest is plentiful, but it's the laborers that are few," Lewis said, quoting Matthew 9:37. "Too many of us define God's will by the path of least resistance, that God's will is all about getting easier and better." But often, what He's calling us to is harder, Lewis said. He encouraged leaders to pray a simple prayer: "God, force us out." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meredith Flynn writes for the Illinois Baptist, the newsjournal of the Illinois Baptist State Association. #FEBRUARY20

Read below for recent highlights in the Send Detroit Network and what we are anticipating God to do next! 16 Planting Couples Assessed! At the November Detroit assessment we were able to host church planters and spouses that represent the potential of 16 new churches across North America.  We are grateful for the team of assessors and volunteers who made this event happen and even more excited about what God will do through these planters and wives as they are sent out into His harvest!  Three couples are focused in the Send Detroit Area, two others also in Michigan while other areas represented were throughout the Midwest and even some from Florida. Our November 11-12, 2019 assessment required three teams of assessors working together to assist church planting candidates in God's calling. Ladies Nights Out & Guys in a Gondola We were able to host a few special planter care events in December that assist us in growing the relationships in our Send Detroit family.  Ladies got together on two occasions for cookie decorating lessons and guys had a night out hanging above the ice in the gondola at Little Caesars Arena watching the Detroit Red Wings together. Commonwealth Grand Opening Feb 2 After acquiring a new facility that was the Old St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Redford, Pastor Torion Bridges and the Commonwealth of Faith have been busy preparing their new space for public services.  This Sunday, February 2 is their grand opening service at 10:31am.  Pray that the Lord would continue to move in the midst of this church and the community of Redford to bring salvation. Rhiza Church is coming March 1 Tito and Mollie Diaz are excited about the upcoming launch of Rhiza Church in Ann Arbor, MI. They have been building a team, holding preview services and are preparing for a public launch of March 1 at Tappan Middle School. Please pray for God to be glorified through Tito, Mollie and Rhiza Church. Send Network Gathering in St. Louis April 27-29, 2020 We're heading to St. Louis with church planting pastors, wives, and team-members, sending church pastors, and potential church planters from across the Midwest. The aim of this gathering is to inspire every church to see themselves as a multiplying church in the making and to equip every church to discover their next step in the multiplication journey.  If you'd be interested in going with us via charter bus from Detroit please let us know! Catch the Vision Tour Come and see for yourself how God is moving in Detroit at our next Catch the Vision Tour.  We'll show you the city, introduce you to church planters so that you can pray for them effectively and see how you and your church can be involved in spreading the good news of Christ in Detroit. Next tour is March 9-11 Please email wparker@namb.net if you'd be interested in coming to Detroit. #FEBRUARY20

BALL GROUND, GA – Long-time communicators Paul Wynn and Doug Keesey have partnered with churches and ministries to produce videos that tell what God is doing in a particular place. Their new initiative, oneMESSAGE.tv, is aiming at an even wider goal. They’re creating videos they hope will have long-lasting gospel implications around the world. In 2019, they turned a remote village in Colombia into a movie set. With villagers serving as the actors, Wynn and Keesey filmed Bible stories in a language that doesn’t have a written translation of Scripture. Their goal: to create a way for missionaries to communicate God’s word with people who haven’t heard it before. And they’re hearing it in their own voices. Wynn and Keesey officially launched oneMESSAGE.tv in 2019, but the project started years ago when Wynn’s church contacted the International Mission Board about praying for an unreached people group. The Georgia church got connected with a people group in Colombia, and eventually started taking mission trips to work with missionaries in the region. Those trips led to another people group, one that had been pushed into refugee centers amid the country’s civil war. Before one mission trip, the missionary in Colombia asked the visiting group about their areas of expertise. Wynn and two others had experience in video, so the missionary devised a plan where they would create Bible stories using children from the refugee center as actors. The story would be narrated in the indigenous language. The team filmed the stories of the Good Samaritan and Zacchaeus and distributed them on DVD to the parents. “This is the first time they’ve ever seen a video of any kind in their own language,” Wynn remembered. Through video, the team was able to deliver something previously impossible—a portion of Scripture in a language that would take years to create in a written format. In September 2019, Wynn and Keesey went back to Colombia to shoot 10 Bible stories for a people group of 30,000. Fewer than 2% know Christ. They partnered with two missionary families who will distribute the stories largely through a texting app. Before each shoot, the missionary told the story in entirety. Actors from the people group then acted out the story, and narration in the indigenous language was added later. Wynn said they selected stories that speak specifically to the people group’s current belief system, based largely on animism. The team shot stories from the Old Testament, including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and the Israelites’ worship of the Golden Calf. They also filmed from the New Testament, including Jesus’ birth, resurrection, and ascension. Shortly after the trip, new restrictions in the village where they worked blocked non-indigenous religious groups from coming into the village. “It just reinforces the idea that when we have opportunities to go and share in whatever way, we need to seize on those opportunities—quickly,” Wynn said. In 2020, they hope to create libraries of Bible stories for three more people groups, possibly working again in Colombia and in Kenya. Their overall goal is a big one: there are 3,200 unreached people groups around the world, and most are oral learners, Wynn said. “At oneMESSAGE.tv, we want to help everyday believers reach those 3,200 groups.” To view video stories and find out about upcoming projects, go to www.onemessage.tv. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Meredith Flynn writes for the Illinois Baptist, the newsjournal of the Illinois Baptist State Association. #FEBRUARY20

DETROIT, MI – January 20, 2020 was not just another day in the winter season of Michigan. Yes, many remembered it was a National Holiday, Martin Luther King Jr Day. However, for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) it was a day of celebration at the statewide Martin Luther King Jr Service. The service was held at the Middlebelt Baptist Church where Larry Johnson is the Senior Pastor. BSCM Executive Director Tim Patterson was correct when he stated: "This will be a great time of celebration and unity for all churches in the Baptist State Convention". The atmosphere was one of unity and strength. The service was opened with the Middlebelt Praise team lifting their voices in praise to our God, whose desire is for there to be unity in the Body of Christ. As the service progressed we heard from Merriam Road Baptist Church where Wayne Parker is the Senior Pastor. The choir inspired all who were in attendance with their harmony and joy. The music portion of the program ended with a combined choir singing with such soul stirring melody. As a result many of the congregation was moved to stand and express personal praise. Joyce Larkin stated "the music presented was voices directly connected to heaven". The main course for the service was the preaching of God’s word. The congregation was captivated by the guest preacher, Rev. Dr. James Dixon who serves as pastor of El-Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Maryland. The theme for the service was "Removing the Dividing Walls" using Ephesians 2:13-14 as the background scripture. Pastor Dixon encouraged and challenged the congregation to be part of those who would actively take God’s Word and use it to remove the dividing walls, within our churches, community and state. He exhorted us to remove the walls of injustice, racism, sexism and denominationalism. This direction is very consistent with the beliefs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who once stated "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Pastor Dixon reminded the congregation Christian has to be the answer and the moving force behind removing the walls which divide us. He exhorted us to remove the walls by operating in the love of God. As the service ended, the congregation was given a ministry challenge to be intentional in reaching out to those who don’t look like you. Pastors were challenged to consider pulpit exchanges and have their congregation do a community project together to be an example to the world. We are praising God over a dozen churches signed up to participate in this challenge. Curt Wright, lead pastor of Crossroad Church of Lansing, accepted the challenge and he stated he had a great time at the MLK celebration. Middlebelt members worked to serve a delicious meal after the service to all who wanted to gather together. There was laughter and good fellowship as those present shared the pleasure of good food. We thank Pastor Larry Johnson and the Middlebelt Baptist Church for hosting the service and the meal. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stan Parker is senior pastor of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Lansing, MI and a regular contributor to the Baptist Beacon. #FEBRUARY20

TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Traverse City is a beautiful place to live. A land of hunting, fishing, hiking, beaches, swimming, snow skiing, snowboarding, sledding, antiquing, awesome restaurants, snowshoeing, biking, camping, wineries, canoeing, having a small town, easy going atmosphere, etc. We are called the playground of the north, and for good reason. One thing is missing – strong, multiplying churches. In fact, the landscape is full of dead or dying churches. How could this be? In order to want to live here, you must have the means to do so. Many who can afford it do retire here and want to enjoy all the recreational amenities the area has to offer. When they come, they do not want God interfering with their dreams and plans. Thus, Traverse City is one of the largest de-churched cities in America (#12 in the USA). Also, Grand Traverse County has become the number one county in America for millennials who are millionaires to live. They can work from home in a country setting and enjoy the recreational playground this area provides. They do not have a need for God. When people get up on Sunday morning, they are not thinking, “Where can I go to church today?” God is the farthest thing from their mind. Traverse City is very liberal, with the countryside being very conservative. Michael Moore calls Traverse City his home – “nough” said. It has his fingerprints all over it. People do not have God on their radar screens. The dark places of Traverse City are not what most people think of – drugs, poverty, child or spousal abuse, alcoholism, murder, theft. Yes, these do exist, but the dark places here take the form of recreation. Yes, recreation is the god of this area. My wife and I are from the south and when people hear our southern accent, they ask, “Why did you come here?” Our answer is God. God loves us and has prepared us for this new adventure. He also loves the people here in Traverse City. In order to survive and start a multiplying church from scratch, you have to know God loves you and has called you to love others in this specific place. It is only this conviction that allows us to press on and not be discouraged. Most of our time is spent establishing relationships with those who are far from God and seeing how we can be God’s hands, ears, feet, and arms to love people to Jesus. Please pray that they would trust us enough to walk with them through their pain. This is slow, especially when you are trying to build with unbelievers. For those who think they are saved, God must work to get them unsaved before they can get saved. We praise God that many lives are being transformed by the love of Christ. This year, we actually launched our church in a middle school and now have a beachhead in Satan's domain. Pray that our church will not become discouraged at what some call “slow growth”. In times of weakness, I find myself praying that God would just send us some normal couples. If it were not for the love and compassion of Christ compelling our church to reach out, it would be easy to simply let the lost go. However, we all know this is not God’s will. As we follow Christ, He gives us His joy in seeing lives transformed, one at a time. God is at work and there is no time to get discouraged. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ricky and Sandra Pearson are church planters at Cornerstone Fellowship in Traverse City, Michigan. They have successfully planted four other self-supporting churches prior to coming to Cornerstone Fellowship. Ricky and Sandra are the parents of three married children with five grandchildren. #FEBRUARY20

FLINT, MI – Harry Houdini, though famous for his illusions and spectacular escapes, was also famous for being able to take a punch to the stomach. Men would line up to see if they could buckle Harry’s knees with their “best shot”. Ironically, a punch to the gut may have helped to bring about the demise of the great magician. A college student asked Mr. Houdini if it was true about his ability to take punches, but before Harry could answer, the student started hammering away. Harry was caught completely off-guard. Unable to tighten his abdomen muscles may have led to the damage of his appendix or masked the pain of the oncoming condition. Leading to his death. Compassion is a “gut-shot”. It hurts deep down. But, the punches to the stomach we see in the Bible bring restoration and revival and healing and everlasting life. It’s the feeling Nehemiah had for his God and his city. Even if it meant death, he had to do something. It’s the feeling Pharaoh’s daughter had toward Moses. Even if it meant losing her standing with her father, she had to do something. It’s the good Samaritan helping a stranger, no matter the cost. It was the right thing and he had to do it. Or the father in the story of the Prodigal. Running to his son, grabbing his son by the back of the neck, hugging him and restoring him to the family. Against the religious leaders and the fears of other fathers, the father had to save his Son. And it’s that pain that pushed Jesus toward the Cross. In Luke 19, Jesus is getting closer to Jerusalem and He starts to weep. He hurts for the lost. He has to do something. He can’t help Himself. Christianity is a constant gut-shot. My pastor used to say, “The disciples saw the people as problems, Christ saw the problems of the people.” The disciples sent the people away, Jesus said come. The disciples wanted to rain down fire and brimstone, Jesus showed grace and mercy. Jesus had compassion on the hurting; the blind, the lame, the possessed, the diseased, male or female, Jew and Gentile. He went against what society thought, what the religious leaders thought, what his earthly family thought, and it would cost Him His life. I have been blessed to witness compassion in action. My Grandma King was a Girl Scout leader. But Grandma’s troop was for all the “undesirables”, the kids who were “different” physically and mentally. Back then the parents would isolate or institutionalize these children. When a child wasn’t allowed to go to school, Grandma would get that feeling in her stomach, and she would go to their house and beg them to let that girl become a scout. Churches have become more like Houdini. We tighten up so the punches won’t affect us. We are getting better. At Ainsworth we are coming together to feed, aid, and minister to our community. We have to. It hurts too much to remain silent and do nothing. We must show them Jesus is alive, or we’ll end up dead, like Harry. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jeff King is the pastor at Ainsworth Baptist Church in Flint, Michigan and he lives in Flushing. He married his high school sweetheart Lisa and the two have been married almost 39 years. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. #FEBRUARY20

MAYHILL, NM (BP) – Social media can be an awesome tool, but it can also be a terrible temptation. It's a mixed bag that gives people a platform to say whatever they want -- the good, the bad, and the ugly -- whenever they want, with little to no consequence. I've made several friends on social media and have been encouraged by thousands of tweets and Facebook posts. There have been days, however, when I've been ready to delete every last one of my social media accounts. But I've determined every second God gives me is an opportunity to "make the most of the time" (Ephesians 5:6). For this reason, I block the trolls, mute the troublemakers and am intentional and particular with what I decide to post. Another reason I do this is because of what Jesus says in Matthew 12:36: "I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak." Social media can be a breeding ground for careless words, which is why wisdom and caution are necessary. While I'm not always successful, before sending on an online message, I try to ask myself: • Is this true or false? • Does it build up or tear down? • Does it amplify or diminish Christ's Gospel? These questions help me accomplish three things in an effort to post to the glory of God: 1. Speak the truth "Lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but faithful people are his delight," (Proverbs 12:22). I might have tens of thousands of friends and followers on social media, but the audience that really matters consists of three persons in one: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It's out of the new nature I received from Christ I aim to speak the truth in love to those in my circle of influence (Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:15). These verses also inform how I process and respond to the news. When breaking news occurs, I try to wait at least 72 hours before giving commentary, as more facts often come to light after the story breaks. May we be known as a people who value honesty and likewise share the truth in love. 2. Share to edify, encourage and embolden "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). I'm a pastor of a normative size church in the middle of absolutely nowhere. The people I have the privilege of serving and leading are gifts from the Lord. But like all pastors, there are days when the rise and grind of ministry gets me down. Since most of my online friends and followers are pastors who are in the same boat, the absolute last thing I want to do is add to their headaches and heartaches. There's a time for everything, and I've found the time I spend on social media should be primarily dedicated to cheering on my brothers and sisters in Christ. Do I agree with all of my social media contacts on everything they post? Of course not. I'll never be in lockstep on tertiary issues with every pastor I follow on social media, but if we agree on the main things and aim to advance the Kingdom of God, I'll cheer them on with everything in me. We church leaders are fully aware we have more than enough critics. We could use a cheerleader or two to build us up rather than tear us down. So before your craft your next post, ask yourself, "Is this loving? Will it encourage my brother or sister?" If so, fire away. If not, holster that message. 3. Spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ "This is why you are also to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (Matthew 24:44). I'm going to assume most readers know what the Great Commission says. I'm also going to assume you agree with what the Bible says about eternity. Accordingly, I'm going to assume you haven't the slightest clue when you'll post your last tweet or breathe your last breath. For all any of us know, today could be our last day on this present earth. And none of us knows the day and time when Christ will return. In light of these truths from Scripture, are you posting with the Great Day in mind? Are your posts guiding people to salvation or away from it? The world is watching, and whether you have 50 online followers or 40,000, each post you launch into social media is either a flare of life or a missile of death. Our posts are either guiding people to an eternity in heaven or everlasting torment in hell. That should be enough to give us pause before we click "send." Be careful what you post knowing heaven and hell are real, eternity is a long time and every second is an opportunity to make the most of the time. Use your social media to speak the truth, encourage others and spread the good news. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matt Henslee (@mhenslee) is managing editor of LifeWay Pastors, coauthor of the book "Replanting Rural Churches" and pastor of Mayhill Baptist Church in Mayhill, N.M. He is married to Rebecca, and they have four daughters. #FEBRUARY20

RIDGECREST, NC – For each of the past four years, Ridgecrest Conference Center has seen around 65,000 guests pour into its camp and retreat facilities nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Many of those guests choose to visit from May to August—the conference center’s busiest season. To accommodate this year’s expected crowds, Ridgecrest is now looking to fill more than 100 summer staff positions. “At Ridgecrest, we desire to see lives impacted for God’s glory,” said Chris Fenske, support staff coordinator. “We want to serve our guests with excellence, and we need help to do that well.” The conference center is looking to deepen its pool of summer staff candidates to help accomplish their mission of cultivating experiences, nurturing relationships, and impacting lives for God’s glory. “My personal relationship with Christ was impacted in a true and authentic way working at Ridgecrest,” said Morgan Hays, who served as a summer staffer in 2017 and is returning again this year for a summer position. “I made so many lifelong friends,” she said, “I also picked up skills I’ll hold going forward, not only as a believer, but also as a professional in the workplace.” Fenske encourages Christians who know of college-age young adults who are looking for a summer job opportunity to check out Ridgecrest by visiting RidgecrestConferenceCenter.com Summer staff opportunities Ridgecrest is looking to expand its summer staff with young adults who have an authentic and growing relationship with Jesus. The conference center offers opportunities to learn and develop skills useful in future careers and everyday life. Staffers will gain training and hands-on experiences, while learning about the responsibilities and rewards that come with a variety of work roles. In addition to pay, staffers receive meals and shared, dorm-style housing, plus a chance to meet new friends and make connections. Their spiritual walk will be strengthened and challenged through small-group interaction and fellowship. Summer staffers also attend weekly chapel services, participate in planned activities, serve together and have free time to enjoy God’s creation. Start and end dates are flexible, and staffing opportunities range from 9-16 weeks. “Ridgecrest’s summer staff program is more than just a job,” Fenske said, “It provides a transformational experience and imparts lessons that staffers will carry with them for years to come.” Current summer staff work areas include: Recreation—facilitate high ropes courses, climbing tower, zip line, team-building activities, laser tag, sports tournaments and more. Kitchen—learn all aspects of food preparation, including entrees, salads, bakery, clean-up, dishes and organization. Food services—cater events throughout campus and serve on the buffet lines in the dining room. Outlets—serve guests through the operation of an on-site coffee shop, ice cream shop and retail store. Guest spaces—provide a welcoming setting for guests while serving in housekeeping, custodial and laundry services. AVCs—assist with cleaning and set-up of classrooms and auditoriums to create a space that is both functional and inviting for guests. For more information about Ridgecrest’s summer staff opportunities, visit RidgecrestConferenceCenter.com. #FEBRUARY20