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RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC (BP) – There was a time when the question of church membership was not much of a question at all. Jump back a generation or two, and nearly every church in the country had a roster of members. Now the question, however, is much more persistent. Many contemporary churches have membership but don't place much emphasis on it. Others don't have membership at all, encouraging their people to get involved and engaged without a more formal process. So should believers join their local church? When you look at Scripture, you won't find the word "membership." But that's not much of an argument against membership, since the word "Trinity" isn't in the Bible either. The concept is. The core concept of membership is having a covenant community where you belong. We see that evidenced in multiple places in Scripture. In 1 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul mentions a case of removing someone from the body of believers, which implies a formal category. In Acts 6, the believers have an election, again implying an "in/out" category. And in 1 Timothy 5:3–16, we see a clear teaching on how to handle widows in the church. In that latter passage, there's even language of creating a roster so the leaders would be able to care for these women well. The New Testament writers never say, "You need to become a member of the local church." But every letter in the New Testament assumes that believers are an active part of a local church gathering. We see this in the how the writers give instruction on submission to church authority, how believers ought to handle sin within the church, and the elders' responsibility to shepherd the flock under their care (1 Corinthians 5, Hebrews 13:17, Acts 20:28). If we are to take these commands seriously, we have to be joined to a local body to know who our leaders are. In my experience, many people resist joining the church because they approach the church with a consumer mindset. They don't want to belong. They don't want expectations placed on them. They want to receive something. It may be a good something -- biblical teaching, for instance -- but the overall approach is consumeristic. I'm not always opposed to consumer relationships. They're fine if you're talking about fast food. But apply that kind of thinking to relationships like your marriage or your children, and you will create major problems. The church is not a consumer relationship. The church is a family. And families are committed to each other. The biblical metaphor that shows this most clearly is that of being "one body" (1 Corinthians 12). Can you imagine your physical body with "non-committed" body members? What good is a hand if it's not actually connected to the rest of you? It's just as silly for Christians to think they can follow Christ without engaging in the life of the local church body. How do you use your gifts and experience the gifts of others if not in the local community? How do you fulfill the "one another" commands of Scripture unless you are, well, with one another? Generally, though, when I encounter someone who is reluctant to join a church, the issues aren't predominantly theological or ideological. They're usually more a combination of preference and personal history. Those of us in ministry should be sensitive to that, but we can also help disciple our people by letting them know that it is a categorically good thing for them to become members. For instance, I frequently have conversations like this with college students. They are plugged into their college ministry, relatively involved in church, and just don't see much need to join. But rather than bashing them with guilt ("Jesus died so you could join His church! Don't spurn His sacrifice!"), I try to remind them that the local church is a tremendous gift. In the local church, college students can find multi-dimensional discipleship and be led by elders whose very role is to shepherd them. In the local church, college students can practice love and service in ways that set them up for a lifetime of faithfulness. If you're hesitant to join a local church because it's full of imperfect people, you'll be waiting a long time. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said there are three stages of growth when it comes to Christians engaging in the church. The first is disgust at the sins of others. The second is disgust at your own sin. On their own, those first two stages push us away from the church. But the third stage is where we recognize that we can re-enter the church as an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer -- a Redeemer who has, in fact, redeemed us from being the self-righteous Pharisee committed to judging everyone else. Don't wait for the perfect church. It simply doesn't exist. And if it did, the moment you joined it, it wouldn't be perfect anymore. Instead, find a church with good biblical preaching, that emphasizes community and practices accountability, and that propels you into ministry. Then join in with everything you've got. ABOUT THE AUTHOR J.D. Greear is president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. This column was adapted from his jdgreear.com website. #AUGUST19

LANSING, MI – The Praise in the Park Block Party was again an exciting evangelistic event, sponsored by Faith Fellowship Baptist Church (FFBC). It was held at Walsh Park in Lansing this July. It was preceded by a Holy Ghost Tent Revival the night before the block party. There were many rededications and new souls brought to Christ. Faith Fellowship partnered with community businesses, local churches and the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) to make this outreach event a success. This partnership included financial contributions, equipment rental, and support to setup and breakdown event activities. Over the weekend 247 people attended, 22 made professions of faith, and another 7 made life rededications. In addition to the Gospel message presented by Pastor Stan Parker, this event engaged participants with gospel music entertainment. It included The Church of Elohim, Spoken Praise, Worship Without Words, and Kings Highway group. Each group/performer ministered a soulful praise to God that created a spiritual atmosphere and relayed a positive gospel message to the community. The Praise in the Park Block Party also provided a Community Resource Fair. The resources offered focused on health screenings, health care sign-up, and children’s summer activity opportunities. The participating groups were The Board of Water & Light, Church of Greater Lansing Network, The Ingham County Fair, The Lansing Police Dept., The Lansing NAACP, and The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.-Theta Rho Zeta, Lansing Graduate Chapter. The Zetas provided Health Screenings, Human Trafficking information and Health & Wellness information to the attendees. There were also prizes and games. The adults were blessed with a variety of gift cards and CD’s. Two of the children in attendance received new bikes. All of the children also participated in various games and activities, including bowling, bean bag toss, basketball, face-painting, hula-hooping, tic-tac-toe, and a bounce house. FFBC glorified God by engaging the community, and demonstrating the love of Christ. This engagement and display of love resulted in the adding of souls to the Kingdom of God. Some of the children who attended the Block Party also attended Vacation Bible School the following week at FFBC, with the potential of also attending Sunday School in the future to continue their growth in Jesus Christ. Pastor Stan Parker says, “We want to give a very special “thank you” to the Baptist State Convention of Michigan for partnering with us to make this event possible. Your steadfast support continually overwhelms us! For more information about FFBC events please contact us at 517-853-9897 or faithfellowshiplansing@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stan Parker is senior pastor of Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Lansing, MI and a regular contributor to the Baptist Beacon. #AUGUST19

HERMITAGE, TN – Clayton Gangji would have been 16 years old on June 6. Yet, more than two years ago, Clayton was killed by gunfire at the age of 14 after being involved in a robbery involving stolen cars. But as always, God can use evil for His good. When Clayton was a young boy he lived in the same neighborhood as Vicki Hulsey, childhood specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Hulsey, a member of Hermitage Hills Baptist Church in Hermitage, Tenn., began conducting a Backyard Kids Club about 11 years ago in her neighborhood to reach children who might not attend church. Clayton began attending the backyard club at Hulsey's house and soon developed a close friendship with her. He returned year after year and eventually made a profession of faith. That profession of faith is what Hulsey and Clayton's grandfather, Rick Short, find hope in, two years after Clayton's tragic and untimely death. It's also the reason Hulsey is such a strong advocate for Backyard Kids Clubs, which take the Gospel outside the church doors into the neighborhoods. Statistics reveal that the majority of people who accept Christ do so before age 18, Hulsey noted, citing Barna Research that indicates adults age 19 and over have just a 6 percent probability of becoming Christians. She added that a survey from the International Bible Society indicates that 83 percent of all Christians make commitments to Jesus Christ between the ages of 4 and 14. Clayton is a prime example "of why it is so important to reach children with the Gospel," she noted. "What if he had not been reached?" Clayton was the product of a broken home and though he moved in with his grandparents -- Rick and Jo Ann Short -- at the age of 5, he was scarred by what he was forced to witness. Though he lived with his grandparents, he maintained contact with his mother and father and did not always encounter positive influences. When he entered middle school, Clayton was around older kids who also negatively impacted his life, Rick Short said. As a result, Clayton was arrested and spent time in juvenile detention shortly before he was killed. "He was influenced by the wrong people and we weren't successful in turning him around," his grandfather said. As one would expect, Short wonders what might have been. "My wife and I think about what we could have done differently," he acknowledged. Short said he finds hope in knowing that Clayton was involved in church and Backyard Kids Club and that he had professed faith in Christ. He said Clayton played a role in helping him turn his life around. Short noted he had drifted from God and that he drank too much. "In 2010, Clayton told me, 'Pop, you aren't the same when you drink.' That changed me," Short said. He immediately stopped. "I told Clayton he was the reason I quit drinking." By all accounts, Clayton was a good kid with a passionate heart who always looked out for younger kids and those who might not have been the most athletic. Hulsey was one of the speakers at Clayton's funeral two years ago. "I'll never forget that day in 2015 when Clayton spotted me after church. He gave me his usual bear hug and then excitedly told me that he had accepted Jesus as His Savior. He wanted to follow Jesus and to be like Him," she recalled. At the funeral Hulsey acknowledged that "Clayton wasn't perfect and I have no doubt that he made some bad choices. I also know that I'm not perfect and neither is any person in this room. But I do believe this. Just like He did with Clayton, Jesus sees who you really are. He knows your heart. He knows your worth, and He loves you no matter what." She reminded his friends that though Clayton died, "God can bring about His purposes not only through Clayton's life, but also through his death." And, in the two years since Clayton's death, Hulsey has found that to be true. "I have had the opportunity many times to share his story across the state as I share about the importance of reaching outside the walls of the church," she said. She once shared the story at a Weekday Early Education Conference sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. "One of the preschool teachers in attendance accepted Christ. She and her husband have since been baptized," Hulsey said. She has had numerous people tell her that Clayton's story has inspired them to reach the children in their community. "His story has motivated people to share the Gospel all across Tennessee," Hulsey said. "His story captivates people," she noted. "God is still fulfilling His purpose for Clayton through his death." Clayton's tragic death definitely has inspired his grandfather to continue to be involved in church and especially Backyard Kids Club. "I'm committed to doing everything I can to make a difference in my other grandchildren's lives and other children in the community so they don't go down the path that Clayton went," Short said. He urges "all parents and grandparents to action to watch for warning signs" and to take an active role in young lives to draw them to God and set the example to try to prevent other tragedies of young lives lost. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lonnie Wilkey is editor of the Baptist and Reflector (baptistandreflector.org), newsjournal of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. #AUGUST19

RIDGECREST, NC (BP) – As the annual Black Church Leadership and Family Conference opened to perhaps 1,000 attendees at Ridgecrest, N.C., Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear was in the number. "I want you to hear from me, who has the privilege of serving in this capacity as president, I want you to hear, 'Thank you,' and I want you to know that your sacrifices, and your prayers and your faith, have not been in vain, that God is using them," Greear told the predominantly African American audience on the event's opening night July 22. "And with our humility, and with our continued posture of repentance, we believe that even greater days are ahead," Greear said, "because God doesn't move in His church unless He intends to impact the world in the future." Greear, who has demonstrated diversity in his appointments to SBC committees, attended the urban ministry event with his wife Veronica and about 10 other members and staff from The Summit Church he leads in the Raleigh-Durham area. "By God's grace, He is moving in His church, and He is showing us that ... to be a reflection of His glory, we need to reflect the diversity of our communities, but we also need to proclaim the diversity of the coming Kingdom, and that is what gives glory to Jesus," Greear said. "You, brothers and sisters," he told conference attendees, "you have believed that, and you have prayed for that, for a long, long time. I think in recent days we have seen a new movement of God's Spirit in continuing to move us toward that." Intentional diversity, Greear said, is not about charity, but about truth. "It is really a recognition that we need the wisdom that God has put into your community to go into the days ahead," Greear said. "God has written a very unique story in your churches, in your lives. That is a wisdom that He intends to use sovereignly as we continue to proclaim the Gospel to our nation. It is something you are doing not as a service to the Lord Jesus, not only to Him, but also as a service to your brothers and sisters of the Southern Baptist Convention." Ken Weathersby, SBC Executive Committee vice president for convention advancement, introduced Greear as a friend who has led The Summit Church to be used by God in a "tremendous way." "The church is drawing through sending out folks. That sounds strange," Weathersby said. "But God has called Dr. Greear to raise up leaders and send them out. And yet as he sends leaders out all over the country and around the world, God continues to multiply The Summit Church. The Lord grows the ministry by giving away." The Southern Baptist Cooperative Program of funding missions empowers all churches to be involved in sending missionaries and planting churches, Weathersby said, introducing an informational video on the Southern Baptist "Who's Your One?" evangelistic emphasis. Who's Your One? and keeping the Gospel paramount have been among Greear's top concerns during his presidency, now in its second year. The Gospel holds together the diversity of God's Kingdom, Greear told the gathering that also included Southern Baptist entity representatives. "God has given us a privilege to serve, to stand together, to come together around the Gospel being above all, for the purposes of the Great Commission," Greear said. "As I look around this room I see not only a very important part of the present of the Southern Baptist Convention, but even more so I'm overwhelmed by this being the picture of our future. "We know brothers and sisters what God's Word says about the church, that it's a group of people that come together not around skin color, or not around past cultural heritage, certainly not around political affiliation," he said. "We come together united in the Gospel of Jesus Christ." More than 60 percent of all Southern Baptist churches planted last year were planted with leaders of color. Nearly 20 percent of Southern Baptists are people of color, Greear said. Greear asked conference attendees to pray that Southern Baptists remain focused on the Gospel as the United States enters a national election season, which presents challenges based on political differences. "Southern Baptist churches are not always or ever at their best during seasons like this one. I want you to pray with me that God would allow this to be a season where we really do keep the Gospel above all," Greear said. "What I do know is this, salvation did not come riding in on the wings of Air Force One. That great Savior sitting on the throne of God one day is not going to be an elephant, and He's not going to be a donkey. He's going to be a lamb that was slain since the foundation of the world. Him we preach, Him we proclaim." Separating the church from the Gospel separates us from the power of God, Greear said, referencing 1 Corinthians 15, where the apostle Paul describes the Gospel as most important. The leadership conference, nearing its 30th year, is not exclusively for blacks, conference convener Mark Croston has said. The gathering is designed also for parents of black children, church leaders who want to reach black communities around them, and leaders of churches desiring to become more multicultural, said Croston, national director of black church partnerships with LifeWay Christian Resources. "To All Generations! Faithfulness, Forgiveness, Favor Forever" is the conference theme, with nightly worship, daily group Bible exposition, expanded breakout sessions, gender-specific events and recreational activities. LifeWay's Centrifuge Camp for grades 7-12 runs concurrently for conference families. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ general assignment writer/editor. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists’ concerns nationally and globally. #AUGUST19

ROME, GA – How would you answer the following question? The Bible is… A. A credible, historical document, accurately depicting its people, places and events. B. Somewhat credible in that the core story is true, but some parts have been added. C. Not a credible document, in that it has been added to many times over the years. Most churched people I have met would probably choose answer A, although they may be hard pressed to defend this answer. Most were raised to believe the Bible is true, and good Christians don’t ask hard questions. I have found that many churched people would choose answer B; they see the Bible is God’s Word but it is not really a historical document. Rather, it is viewed more as a “religious” document in that the core concepts are true, but not the details of the Bible. They have some doubts about how something that old and hand copied over the years could possibly be viewed as accurate and true. Many people outside of the church would choose answer C; the Bible is just a religious book with good, moral concepts. Presenting the Bible as a historical document would be ludicrous to them because of its age and supposedly suspect transmission process. What they do, and don’t know How would your youth answer this question? I can shed some light on this question. Every semester for the past seven years, I have asked that question (and many more) to my students at Shorter University. Every Shorter student must take Bible classes: Old Testament Survey and New Testament Survey. The number of students I have surveyed over the years has been about 1,600. At the beginning of these courses each student takes a Pretest on the Bible. The Pretest is a 30-question Bible literacy quiz, which shows what the students know (and don’t know!) about the Bible. There are two parts to the Pretest. One part asks questions which are specific to either the Old or New Testament, depending on the course. For example, one question in the New Testament Pretest asks who wrote the Gospels. There is also a second part made up of six apologetic questions that have been carefully woven into both Pretests. The same three questions on the Bible is in both Pretests (one such question is #1 seen above). The other questions are on God and Jesus. Why do I use a Pretest? There are two reasons: 1. Entry Level Knowledge – a good teacher desires to know what the student’s knowledge about the subject is as they begin the class. One effective way to discover this is by using a Pretest. A Pretest reveals not only the entry knowledge of the student, but also gaps in their knowledge or even misconceptions. This information guides the teacher in what to cover and address in class. 2. Exit Level Knowledge – how can we know if a student has truly learned in class? By testing the student’s knowledge about the subject as they finish the class. To accomplish this, I use a Posttest as the last quiz for the class. The Posttest has the same questions as the Pretest. By comparing the student’s Pretest scores and Posttest scores, a teacher can easily see what the student has learned and if the teacher was successful in teaching. As I have analyzed the Pretests/Posttests over the years, I have made two surprising discoveries: 1. The Bible knowledge Pretest scores are consistently very low. In fact, the average Pretest class score was 33 out of 100 points, meaning they only got about one-third of the questions right. 2. Based on these results, I have identified three different groups of students. I classify them as follows: Uncompromising – these students are passionate Christians raised in the church, active Christians while at school, and excited to be in a Bible survey class. Unchurched – these students are passionate pagans who know or care very little for the Bible and did not want to take a Bible class. Unsure – these students were raised in Christianity but are now unsure of their faith. Christianity was their parent’s religion, but now that they were away and on their own, they are not sure the Christian faith is theirs. This group had a lot of questions or doubts about God, Jesus, or the Bible. Where they land The groups of students were identified based on five demographic questions that were included in each Pretest: When you were a child, in what religion were you raised, if any? Options: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism, and other/nothing. Growing up, how many years were you raised in a religion, if any? Options: 0, 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, or 16-18. What religion do you practice now, if any? Options: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism, and other/nothing. How important is religion in your life currently? Options: very important, important, somewhat important, I’ll get around to it someday, not important, and unsure. In reference to the Bible, I struggle believing … Options: that it is the Word of God (inspiration), that the Bible does not contain errors (inerrancy), that the story of the creation in Genesis is true, that a man named Jesus actually existed, and nothing. The students I classified as Uncompromising answered question #1) “raised in Christianity;” question #2) 11-18 years; question #3) “practice Christianity;” and question #4) their Christian religion was “very important” or “important” to their lives currently. The students I classified as Unchurched answered question #1) “Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism,” or “other/nothing;” question #2) 0-18 years (if raised in a pagan religion); question #3) practice “Judaism, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism,” or “nothing;” and question #4) their religion is “not important” to their lives currently. The students I classified as Unsure answered question #1) “raised in Christianity;” question #2) 11-18 years; question #3) “practice Christianity;” but they answered question #4) their Christian religion is “somewhat important,” “I’ll get around to it someday,” or “unsure” to their lives currently. So how did each group score on the Pretest? In the next article I will reveal the surprising results. I will also give suggestions as to what parents and the church can do to move their teen from the Unsure group to the Uncompromising. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Randy Douglass (Ed.D., D. Min.) is associate professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University and is in his eighth year there. Prior to that, he pastored multiple churches and was on staff in two church plants. He taught at Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina and was professor of pastoral theology at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has co-authored two books with the late Dr. Norman Geisler – "Bringing Your Faith to Work: Answers for Break-Room Skeptics" by Baker Books, 2005; and "Integrity at Work" by Baker Books, 2007. #AUGUST19

TIJUANA, MEXICO (BP) – The two adult sisters risked their lives in a months-long journey from Cameroon in Central Africa to Tijuana, Mexico. Southern Baptist pastor Marshal Ausberry was surprised to see them at the Southern U.S. border seeking asylum in America. "It's just not people from Central America and South America that are coming," Ausberry, first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Baptist Press following his trip last week to the border. "There are people from Africa and Haiti that have migrated to Mexico in attempts to come through the border to the United States." Ausberry met the immigrants at a Baptist church in Mexico as he was on a fact-finding mission on border ministry with Todd Unzicker, an associate pastor at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. The Christian sisters fled persecution in Cameroon. "That was just one story, and there are thousands of those kinds of stories," said Ausberry, senior pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax Station, Va. "I kind of see it as a modern-day diaspora, that God is shifting the population around for His purposes. When people are willing to endure such great hardships to come to the United States from Mexico for their personal safety, it just moves your heart. "We don't get into the politics of it, but as believers in Christ Jesus, we're burdened to do that basic level of care," Ausberry told BP. "We still need to show them that human dignity of food, clothing and shelter, that care ... as they go through the political process of getting asylum and access to the United States and Mexico." SBC President and The Summit Church senior pastor J.D. Greear asked Ausberry, Unzicker and SBC second vice president Noe Garcia to make the trip, but Garcia was unable to make the trip and needed to remain home where he pastors North Phoenix Baptist Church. July 16-18 in Tijuana, Ausberry and Unzicker met with leaders of the National Baptist Convention of Mexico, Baptist pastors, Southern Baptist pastors from California and Southern Baptist workers in Mexico to learn about ministry to those caught in the crisis on the border. "As Pastor J.D. says, most of us are not called or competent to make policy decisions on the border, but we are commanded by Jesus to love our neighbors and those who are hurting," Unzicker told BP. "And this, what is a crisis, I think could actually be an absolute win for the Kingdom. "Nobody could doubt that God is moving the nations all around the globe right now, in ways that history has not seen before," Unzicker said. "We were able to go and share the Gospel with people who literally had nothing." The sisters from Cameroon were staying and serving at a church while awaiting an immigration hearing in the U.S., Ausberry said. "They really have the joy of Christ in them," he said, and prefer their current situation to Cameroon. "Their love for Christ, their hopefulness, is just tremendous. It touched our hearts, and we're thankful for the church opening their doors to give them a place to stay, a place to serve while they're waiting to go to the hearing to continue their path to seeking asylum." Ausberry and Unzicker visited five sites where aid is being administered. Baptist churches there do much with few resources, the two said. At one church, about 30 immigrants were housed on cots stacked to the ceiling. Churches were feeding, clothing and ministering to those who had fled home with nothing. "One pastor had such a burden," Unzicker said, that he asked his leadership for permission to house immigrants in the church's Sunday School classrooms. "His leadership team said OK you can make room for five people, so he went out and brought back 30. And so they made bunks that just went all the way up to the ceiling. "It's happening all along (the border) from Brownsville (Texas) to Tijuana," Unzicker said. "We want to catalyze that, and see all Southern Baptist entities and churches working together for one cause." Greear will use information gathered on the trip to Mexico to formulate ideas for ministry through Southern Baptists and partners, Unzicker and Ausberry said. Greear could not make the trip, as he was in Asia in July meeting with 51 missionaries from The Summit Church serving in Thailand and Malaysia. Ausberry noted there is "an urgent need here to show the love of Christ, and it's in real terms of food, shelter, clothing, a bath, a bed, just basic needs you and I take for granted. "I use the phrase, it's almost like we're making bricks without straw. They do what they can," he said. Ausberry and Unzicker described the situation as an optimum opportunity tangibly to show the love of Christ. "The nations are coming to our front doorstep," Unzicker said. "We want to certainly welcome them with arms that are full of blankets and food, and most importantly the love of Jesus." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ general assignment writer/editor. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists’ concerns nationally and globally. #AUGUST19

ALPHARETTA, GA (BP) – A group of students in Calgary had the opportunity to share their faith with another student and saw him come to Christ. The next week, another team of students, 3,400 miles away in Puerto Rico, led a grandmother to Christ. In New York City, an unexpected subway detour led a student to a gospel conversation with a Muslim man. All summer long, students participating in Send Relief's GenSend program have been living "on mission" in 19 cities across North America by serving with North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionaries. "We teach students how to live their lives on mission in a different context by putting them alongside church planting and compassion ministry missionaries," said Steve Turner, senior director of next generation mobilization with NAMB's Send Relief ministry. "We teach a set of principles that are transferable," he noted, "no matter where they go." The GenSend team in Calgary stayed in summer lodging at a local university and had the opportunity to interact with other college students living there, including the one who gave his life to Christ. "He spoke to us about everything that he was struggling with and told us that he needed Jesus," reported Carly Hale, a member of Cross Church in Fayetteville, Ark., on behalf of her team. "We were able to pray with him and lead him to the Lord." In Puerto Rico, part of their GenSend team worked with a local church plant's Vacation Bible School (VBS). As parents and guardians dropped of their children, the college students were able to share the Gospel with the adults. There, a grandmother who had grown up in and around the church heard the Gospel for the first time. "After a lengthy chat, she confessed her need for Christ," said Itamar Elizalde of the Puerto Rico GenSend team. "Later, the grandmother admitted that she went [to the VBS] so her grandchildren could be entertained," Elizalde said, "but [she] understood that the Lord had a deeper purpose." As GenSend students live in their cities over the summer, their intentional focus to share the Gospel with their neighbors leads them to cross generational, ethnic and religious boundaries. Several teams reported encounters with members of other faiths -- including Baha'i, Mormonism and Hinduism -- where they had to engage in respectful dialogue to defend and share their faith. When a recent blackout in New York City led GenSend student Bruno Telma to take a different subway train, he wound up sharing the Gospel with a man who was asking for money. "I asked him if I could pray for him," Telma said. "Then I started telling him about Jesus, and he told me he was a Muslim, but he really wanted [to respond]. So, he accepted Christ right there." Katherine Hafley of Bush Memorial Baptist Church in Troy, Ala., and a student at Troy University described her anxiety ahead of going door to door to invite people to a sports camp hosted by a Washington, D.C., church plant. She realized she needed the Holy Spirit's help to have the courage and overcome a fear of rejection. "Between the group of four people, we had about five gospel conversations and one profession of faith. And that's just the fruit we saw that day," Hafley said. Several kids from the neighborhood signed up for the sports camp and one person started attending the church regularly. "The work ... reminds me that we have no idea what God can do through our faithful action," said Joel Whitson, a student at Spurgeon College at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary who has been serving in Chicago this summer. "We simply need to listen, act and watch as God grows the kingdom one soul at a time," he noted. During their summer in the city, the students are encouraged to learn the city's routines by visiting coffee shops, hosting activities at public parks and finding the hubs where residents are building community. Turner calls this "exegeting the culture." "We teach them to find people of peace," Turner said. "We teach them to really find the places of community where you can hang out, meet people and build relationships." Part of reading their community led GenSend participants to take note of the needs affecting their cities. GenSend introduces students to Send Relief's compassion ministry efforts -- and to how these efforts help in making gospel conversations easier as students and churches seek to meet needs with the goal of seeing lives changed through the power of the Gospel. For example, GenSend students continued to help citizens in Puerto Rico rebuild after the devastating hurricane in 2017. Across North America, GenSend encouraged students to meet needs through Send Relief ministry centers and through their local church plants. For ways the church can get more involved in meeting needs in the community, visit sendrelief.org for ministry guides and other helpful resources. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #AUGUST19

RICHMOND, VA – Whether "metro surfing" in one of the world's megacities or bumping along dirt roads, a missionary's daily commute can look -- and feel and smell -- very different from typical transportation in America. Sometimes it's eyes squeezed shut and a prayer on your lips as your bus careens down the road. Sometimes it's like a real-life video game, dodging obstacles on a motorbike. And sometimes it's just a normal car ride -- on the left side of the road. Here are various ways around the world that missionaries get around. Boats Christian missionaries have used boats since the days of the apostle Paul. Boats remain an essential method of transportation among coastal peoples, refugees and the peoples of the Amazon and other remote regions. In the Amazon, a missionary may journey by boat into the interior of Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. Riverboats facilitate trade and maintain communication between villages and cities. One journey can last three days; some last three weeks. Nevertheless, it "is the only mode of transportation to further the Gospel," a missionary in Brazil said. Elsewhere, an IMB missionary may take a 13-hour boat ride across the historic Lake Tanganyika in Africa. In Hong Kong and other parts of East Asia, ferries extend the reach of public transportation, making more destinations accessible to missionaries. Metros Light rail, designed to make travel within a metropolitan context more efficient, is commonplace in commutes for missionaries in the world's megacities. The Cairo metro system, for example, sprawls across the city, delivering an estimated 4 million passengers per day over three different lines and nearly 50 miles of train track, both above ground and below. Metros, like Cairo's, are usually crowded, so riding the metro can be an exercise in letting go of personal space. New urbanites often learn metro skills such as "metro surfing" -- riding the sway of the metro like a surfer rides a wave. "Sometimes," one missionary said, "I just laugh along with a complete stranger, hands stuck to our sides, since there is nowhere else to go, and ride the ebb and flow of the metro car." Trains In some locations, people spend days on a train, such as this one originating at the Hua Lomphong Railway Station in Bangkok, Thailand, to reach their destination. As missionaries roll across the countryside, children play with newfound friends, people swap stories and the conductor sells ice cream. In India, the railroad brought during British colonization remains one of the country's most efficient modes of transportation. However, because railcars often are overfull, passengers have been hurt or even smothered. Cars During the rainy season in eastern Myanmar and in other countries, roads are marred by potholes and ruts, and they're even more treacherous during monsoon season. "Some villages are completely inaccessible for months at a time without a four-wheel-drive vehicle," a missionary in Southeast Asia said. Driving on the left side of the road is a new skill that missionaries must master in a number of countries. Cars are popular among the middle and upper class in South Asia. In India, it's common for businessmen to have personal drivers to transport them to and from the office. Buses Many Hong Kong locals, for example, choose to use the intricate bus system, but it can be quite difficult for travelers unfamiliar with the system's many routes. Until recently, owning a car was too expensive for most East Asians. For the lower and middle classes, buses remain affordable and accessible. Even now, though the middle class has begun to buy cars, existing infrastructure does not allow for the increase in traffic. Matatus In Ghana, 12- to 24-passenger vans are called trotros, or matatus in various other countries. These long rides in close quarters -- though said to be not as crowded or dangerous as they once were -- can be great times for sharing the Gospel, a missionary in West Africa noted. In Nairobi, Kenya, matatus are brightly colored buses or vans operated by private owners, or saccos, taking passengers in and out of the bustling business district. The price is fixed, so saccos advertise their rides with unique decorations. A missionary in Kenya once saw a matatu with John Elway's picture on the wall -- a tribute to the 1980s Denver Broncos. A wild matatu ride is "definitely a cultural experience," he said. Trucks Passengers perch on a truck as it rumbles down a North African road. Some missionaries serve where seatbelts are only a formality, and riding in the back of a truck with 14 new acquaintances is an acceptable mode of transportation. Motorbikes In Tehran, Iran, it is not uncommon for a family to ride together on a motorcycle as a versatile and inexpensive means of transportation. In Jakarta, Indonesia, it's estimated there are 15 million motorbikes compared to 5 million cars. According to a worker in South Asia, motorbike drivers "go anywhere on the road they want: sidewalks, ditches, in between cars," interacting with an ever-changing flow of traffic. A worker in Southeast Asia confessed, "Seeing multiple people on a scooter at once always makes me smile. Although, [the bikes] are very dangerous. You learn to pray a lot when you drive in Asia." One missionary recalls driving on a one-way street when a motorbike carrying fresh poultry came from the opposite direction, causing a crash and hurling 30 chickens into the air. Bicycles A father riding a bicycle with his two daughters through the streets of Amsterdam reflects the Europeans' outlook toward biking as a way to be environmentally conscious, maintain a healthy lifestyle and save money. Missionaries in Europe say that as a result of biking, they've had conversations with other cyclists and, as one put it, "there has almost always been a chance to talk about our faith." And they often have the challenge of learning to balance groceries and/or kids as they ride through some of the foremost biking cities in the world. In Mumbai, India, you can find dabbawalas transporting dabbas, or "lunchboxes," via bicycle for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For some dabbawalas, transporting food is a spiritual journey rooted in Hinduism. Rickshaws While a rickshaw seems to have been designed for children, it's simply a tricycle made to carry passengers of any age, such as this rickshaw in Jakarta, Indonesia, where the driver waits for his next customer. One missionary recalls the day he tested the quality of seat padding in several rickshaws. Within no time, all of the rickshaw drivers were trying to convince him their rickshaw had the best seat padding. In South Asia, rickshaws, which are called "autos," are motorbikes within a metal shell. These are the taxis of the region, and missionaries have found that while drivers wait for customers they're often open to conversation. Animals Some missionaries work with people who use more lively (and ornery) forms of transport. Donkey carts can still be found in the villages of Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia and Europe. These boys, aboard a donkey cart, are headed to draw water from a well in northern Ghana where most houses do not have running water, and people rely on wells for clean water. Donkey carts can roll along dirt roads riddled with ruts. "It's not very comfy riding in the cart," a missionary admitted, "but that's probably due to the poor engineering of the cart, not the donkey's fault." In Chad, camels are a main form of transportation, capable of surviving with little water and food, making them a great choice in rugged, dry terrain, even if they do spit sometimes. In the Bible Jesus met people along the roads He traveled: His disciples on the way to Emmaus and the Samaritan woman are two examples. May we pray expectantly that God will place people in the seat next to us, so that they, too, will encounter Jesus along the road. "Whenever I have prayed that prayer honestly in South Asia or elsewhere," a missionary said, "I cannot think of a time when it was not answered." ABOUT THE AUTHOR This text was written by Lucy Campbell, an International Mission Board Journeyman serving in Eastern Europe. #AUGUST19

WASHINGTON (BP) – Christians and Muslims are persecuted in more countries than any other religious group, Pew Research Center said in a decade-long study showing high levels of persecution in 42 percent of countries studied. Christians and Muslims, the largest and most widespread globally of any group, experienced government and/or social religious persecution in 143 and 140 countries respectively, Pew said in the latest installment of its study on religious restrictions around the world. But persecution levels varied among countries. Study results released Monday (July 15) cover government restrictions and social hostilities based on religion from 2007–2017. Christians and Muslims suffered the most harassment in the Middle East-North Africa region, the study confirms, while the Asia-Pacific region showed the second highest levels of Christian persecution. Europe came in second in persecution of Muslims. Christians were persecuted in all 20 countries in the Middle East-North Africa region, in 73 percent of European countries, and in 60 percent of countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas. "The latest data shows that 52 governments -- including some in very populous countries like China, Indonesia and Russia -- impose either 'high' or 'very high' levels of restrictions on religion, up from 40 in 2007," Pew said in a press release. "And the number of countries where people are experiencing the highest levels of social hostilities involving religion has risen from 39 to 56 over the course of the study." While persecution levels have varied within the course of the 10 years the annual report has been compiled, the 10th anniversary of the study allowed Pew to document trends among 198 countries in distinct categories of government restrictions, termed the Government Restrictions Index or GRI, and social restrictions, tracked on a Social Hostilities Index or SHI. Comprising both the GRI and the SHI, 83 countries or 42 percent of those studied experienced high or very high levels of overall restrictions on religion, Pew said. The percentage is just below a 10-year peak of 43 percent in 2012. "As in previous years, most countries continue to have low to moderate levels of overall religious restrictions in 2017," Pew said in its press release. In general, Christians were persecuted in 143 countries in 2017, compared to 107 in 2007. Muslims were persecuted in 140 countries in 2017, compared to 96 in 2007; Jews, 87 countries compared to 51; Others, encompassing such faiths as Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Baha'i, 50 compared to 33; folk religions, 38 up from 24; Hindus, 23 compared to 21; and Buddhists, 19 up from 10. The unaffiliated were persecuted in 23 countries in 2017, Pew said, compared to 3 in 2012, the earliest year the group was studied. Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus experienced more widespread government harassment, while Jews were among those suffering more social harassment. Government restrictions In 2017, about a quarter of countries studied, 26 percent, showed "high" or "very high" levels of government restrictions including laws, policies and governmental actions restricting religious beliefs and practices, down from 28 percent in 2016 but up from 20 percent in 2007. On a GRI index of 1-10, countries registering highest in persecution are China (8.9), Iran (8.4), Malaysia and Syria (8.3), Maldives (8.2), Russia (8.1), Algeria, Egypt and Uzbekistan (8.0), Indonesia and Turkmenistan (7.9), Saudi Arabia (7.8), Eritrea and Vietnam (7.6), and Tajikistan (7.5). The GRI comprises 20 measures of restrictions including government favoritism of religious groups, highest in the Middle East; government laws and policies restricting religious freedom, which increased globally but remains highest in the Middle East; government limits on activities of religious groups and individuals, which has doubled in Europe but remains highest in the Middle East; and government harassment of religious groups, which has increased in every region since 2007. Social hostilities Countries with "high" or "very high" levels of social hostilities involving religion, including acts of religious hostility by private individuals, organizations or societal groups, registered at 28 percent in 2017, short of a 10-year peak of 33 percent in 2012. Sixty-six countries in 2017 rose on the SHI scale, while 75 countries fell. Countries ranking highest in 2017 on the SRI scale of 1-10 are India (9.5), Syria (9.0), Iraq (8.8), Egypt (8.5), Nigeria (8.1), Central African Republic and Pakistan (7.7), Israel (7.3), Bangladesh (7.2), Germany, Libya, Somalia and Ukraine (7.1), and Palestinian territories (7.0). The SHI measures religiously hostile acts based on 13 parameters grouped into categories including hostilities related to religious norms, which rose more in the Americas, Europe and sub-Saharan Africa; interreligious tension and violence, which declined most in the Americas; religious violence by organized groups, highest in the Middle East; and individual and social group harassment, which rose most substantially in the Americas. Pew terms harassment as an offense against a religious group or person due to their religious identity, and can include being physically coerced or singled out to make life or religious practice more difficult. Harassment ranges from verbal or written acts to physical violence and killings. Study results are available at https://www.pewforum.org/2019/07/15/a-closer-look-at-how-religious-restrictions-have-risen-around-the-world/. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ general assignment writer/editor. BP reports on missions, ministry and witness advanced through the Cooperative Program and on news related to Southern Baptists’ concerns nationally and globally. #AUGUST19

PLYMOUTH, MI – We had been collecting “coke” bottles for most of the day. Both of us had gone from house to house, and asked our neighbors if they had any lying around that they did not want. Some folks were very kind and generous while others just directed us back to the street from whence we came. There was one particular gentleman on “Avenue D” that had what seemed to be an inordinate passion for Dr. Pepper. He also knew that periodically Ricky Burrows and I would be coming by asking for pop bottle donations to our very worthy causes. We always had a cause and as far as we were concerned, collecting enough money for the movies or for a box of “bee-bee’s” was as admirable as any foundation raising money for orphan children. On this particular day we had decided that we needed food supplies for our “fort”. It wasn’t much of a fort, just a few scraps of tin and some construction wire covered with a tarp that I borrowed from Dad’s shed. Yet we knew full well that any army must be well fed in order to do battle with Indians, Nazi’s or motorcycle gangs. (There were thousands of them in our town!) After several hours of collecting we made our way to the local “Pick-Pac” convenience store, traded in our bottles and purchased the needed provisions. We bought the largest jar of peanut butter that we could find and a loaf of bread. Now, of course, we didn’t buy the expensive Jif but some store brand that had about an inch of oil floating on top. This didn’t deter us, but merely gave us the opportunity to play in the pasty brown concoction until the oil was well mixed. It was about 4:00 p.m. when we finally made it back to the fort and that is when the feasting began. One after the other, Ricky and I ingested sandwich after sandwich. I think I ate four or five myself. When we could eat no more, all we could do was lay there like a couple of old hound dogs that just gorged themselves on fresh road kill. We were full and miserable. About that time, I heard my Dad’s familiar whistle and I knew it was time for supper. I slowly, but obediently, got up and headed for home. When I walked in the back door, there spread out over the kitchen bar was a feast fit for a king. It was payday and Mom had prepared my favorite meal. Fried shrimp, french-fries and all the fixings. I could not believe my eyes or my lack of appetite. I could not eat one bite of food. In fact, the smell even made me a bit nauseous. The infamous “spoiled appetite” had overcome me. I cannot tell you the number of times I have heard people say, “I just didn’t get anything out of the worship service today. The preaching was boring, the music was dead, and no one talked to me.” The problem is that the majority of those who voice that complaint came to church with a “spoiled appetite” for the things of God. All week long they have filled their spiritual stomachs with the food of the world, and when they come to God’s house to be fed, they can’t “stomach” it. In fact, it is distasteful to them. (Of course, the problem does not lie with them or their lack of discipline but with the boring pastor and the rest of those Christians) Friends, when we have developed a taste for the things of the world and fill our lives with them, no wonder we cannot grow spiritually and do not have a desire for His Word. That is why so many of those who claim to be Christians today are spiritually malnourished and dying a slow spiritual death. Please consider carefully that with which you feed your soul. It may taste good, but it could very well spoil your appetite. 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. #AUGUST19

The church planter’s wife flinched as my words left my mouth. All I said was, “These next few days our goal is to help you make new friends.” I did not observe her protest at the moment. I even thought I was mindful of every person’s needs when I added to the opening announcement, “I know retreats like this are made for extroverts; but, we want the introverts in the group to find other introverts and enjoy their small, corner conversations. Everyone needs friends.” Unknowingly, I had thrown a church planter’s wife into a conflict within minutes of the retreat’s beginnings without knowing my fault. In that same room as the woman was recoiling in emotional pain and regretting the retreat, I spoke loudly over the clamor of two-dozen ministers’ children playing with toys and carrying on childlike conversations. “My name is Aiden what’s your name?” “This is my sister; she is seven years old. How old are you?” “I want to go swimming. Do you know how to swim?” There was no stopping the children from interacting with one another. They were making friends without any pushing or guiding. During two consecutive years, I have arranged a summer retreat for church planters, bi-vocational pastors, their families and their teammates. It is difficult to find the correct recipe that will please everyone, all the time. There are too many factors to consider: introverts vs. extroverts, individual time vs. team building, married ministers vs. single ministers, inspirational speakers vs. practical break-out groups, athletes vs. gamers, and recreation vs. education. Some factors satisfy retreat-comers and other retreat-comers cringe at the same offerings. I concluded I can offer a buffet of experiences then let each person decide for themselves. Our Bambi Lake Baptist Retreat and Conference Center in Roscommon, Michigan led by Mick Schatz offers plenty of choices to please every individual choice: Canoeing, kayaking, boating or paddle boats Fishing, swimming, or the waterslide Beach volleyball, putt-putt golf or gaga ball Hotel rooms, rustic sites or the newest cabins Steak night: sirloin, ribeye, or one of each Monastic solitude, team building, or inspirational worship Throughout the three-day retreat, unaware of one person’s initial, stressful reaction to the retreat schedule, I made observations. A network of church planters from the westside of Michigan were having fun with one another and their children. They were building team. One wife and mother from Canada and another from the westside of Michigan became friends as they led the beach volleyball teams using their respective team training. I particularly loved the moment when one parent said, “I am thankful for how everyone is looking out for one another and helping them with the children. Thanks to all of you for helping my wife with our youngest when I am not around. You’re helping her to relax.” Two inspirational speakers, the North America Mission Board’s (NAMB) John Mark Clifton and Ziglar Legacy Speaker Toni Cooper, challenged and inspired the adults during a couple hours of conversations. Their profound impact continues well after the retreat is over. People are encouraged. New goals are created, and action plans are set into motion. Disheartened individuals find bold, renewed faith. Ministries are led with hope and anticipation. A particular, yet unproven problem was uncovered during this recent retreat. A pastor’s wife said to me, “Tony, did you know I checked with three wives, last week, to see if they were coming to the retreat and they said they didn’t know anything about it?” A light went on inside my head illuminating a prior suspicion. I replied to her, “I thought so! When I sent out promotions about the retreat to planters/pastors I wrote, “You know if your wife was receiving this letter that without question you would be attending the retreat. Wives/mothers know families need to get away and refresh themselves during the summer.” I was thrilled when my new informant said, “I can help you with that. I will gather the email addresses for the wives, and we can promote the 2020 retreat through the wives, too. That will definitely increase the benefit of the retreat for more people!” I want to offer one final word before I finish this article and start planning for the 2020 Church Planter, Bi-Vocational Pastor, Family and Teammate Summer Retreat. On the closing day of the retreat, the wincing wife and mother who I mentioned at the beginning of the article confessed her initial, emotional reaction to me. She explained that upon her arrival to camp she was looking for isolated family time with her three children and husband; but to her delightful surprise she made new friends and she was grateful she opened herself up to new relationships. She left renewed and encouraged. Would you like to attend the 2020 Church Planter, Bi-Vocational Pastor, Family and Teammate Summer Retreat? If so, send an email to Andrew@bscm.org asking to be placed on the promotional list. As I am writing, we are arranging specific dates with the Bambi Lake Retreat Team for the retreat. Some of this year’s participants, during 2020’s retreat, are going to come early or remain late and vacation with their new friends next year. Please, take part. We do this for you because we love you. 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. #AUGUST19

ROSCOMMON, MI – Can one person make a difference? Back in the early 90’s when I was an intern on staff with a church in Florida (my birthplace), I met regularly with Associate Pastors who would speak into my life and mentor me. During this time, I also became engaged to my forever sweetheart (now 23 years married). In one of our weekly meetings one of my pastor friends shared this statement with me - “What’s more important, your rights or the relationship”. Wow, what a thought, especially as I was about to be a husband! That one statement has replayed itself in my mind continuously over the years of marriage and ministry. A constant guide and reminder that people are more important than my personal selfish agenda. I have discovered in 20 plus years of ministry that it is easy to get consumed with numbers, programming, outcomes, budgets and forget that God’s heart is for people therefore so should mine. Amazingly, that one statement has replayed itself in my mind on many occasions to keep my perspective correctly focused. So, the answer is yes! One person can make a difference. It’s easy to believe you are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. However, please understand you were created by God for a specific purpose and impact in this life in this world and God does not scheme. God is not playing games with us. This is real life with eternity in the balance. God has placed you right where you are to impact those around you with the love and life of Christ. Nevertheless, in case you still doubt your significance, and the impact you can have on the world, let me give you a few of my favorite examples: Moses - speech impediment yet led a nation to freedom Gideon - Led an army of 300 to defeat an army of thousands David - Sheep herder who defeated a giant Mary - Young virgin who believed by faith she was to give birth to Jesus (the son of God) Saul - Killed Christians yet called by God to be Paul and be a missionary George Washington - Led a country to freedom over tyranny Winston Churchill - Leader of Great Britain during World War Two Bill Gates - Founder of Microsoft Steve Jobs - Transformed the music industry Rosa Parks - campaigned and fought against segregation and racism Neil Armstrong - walked on the moon Obviously, this list is just some of my favorites and it could go on and on. History is packed full of people who impacted their community and the world. God uses folks of all shapes and sizes to achieve His purposes. Your shape and your size are included in His plans. This article is simply a reminder to you and me of how important our witness is in this hopeless culture. It’s a reminder of the “Power of One”. That’s one person (you/me) impacting one other person who impacts another person and so on and so on. May we not be content with living our lives just for our own glory and satisfaction - let’s live every day with a Kingdom mindset, on a Kingdom mission for Kingdom glory! 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. #AUGUST19