GRANDVILLE, MI – “Sharing the Light is a lifelong calling. We put it this way, God has you where he has you, to advance the Gospel through you”, says Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) church planter Josh Tovey. Redemption Church is less than two years old, but is already seeing more than 300 attendees each week. The church plant is part of a partnership that includes the BSCM and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Gifts from Michigan Southern Baptists to the Francis Brown State Mission Offering make new churches like Redemption possible in the state.
Lead pastor, Josh Tovey and his wife Stephanie have made a lot of sacrifices and overcome many trials to see Redemption grow to this point. Just 11 months into their marriage, Stephanie was diagnosed with cancer. The cancer returned four times, and Stephanie endured two bone marrow transplants over a seven year period. Despite the constant medical battles, the Toveys continued to pursue God’s call in their lives, and Stephanie has now been cancer free for four years. Stephanie says, “After all of that, I look at the future as one day at a time, not planning out years in advance because God might have something different planned.”
Eventually, God called the Tovey’s back to where they grew up to start Redemption in Grandville where they, as well as the other two staff couples, lived with their in-laws for more than a year to make the church plant possible. BSCM Church Planter Catalyst, Dan Ghramm jokes, “I’m not sure that is a sacrifice, I would be willing to make for God.” But Ghramm adds on a serious note, “My heartbeat is to add more lights, church plants, to carry the light of Jesus Christ to those who don’t know him. So we’re committed to doing whatever it takes.”
The 2016 goal for the “Sharing the Light” State Mission Offering is $90,000. Please consider your gifts to the offering to help support more church planters like the Toveys. For more information and resources to promote the offering, visit bscm.org/smo.