by Tony Lynn
PLYMOUTH, MI – Good news! During 2019-2020, we saw new church affiliations and new church plants in spite of COVID-19. We want to thank you for your daily prayers, your faithful contributions and help.
1. New Churches
9 total new churches were, or soon, will be added to our convention
4 new affiliations
Trinity Baptist Church, Detroit, Pastor Maurice Flaniken
Chapel Pointe Church, Hudsonville, Pastor Joel Wayne
Love Ministries, Detroit, Pastor Charles Stubbs
Venture Church, Howell, Pastor Shea Prisk (application coming soon)
5 new church plants
Rhiza Church, Ann Arbor, Pastor Tito Diaz (SEND/BSCM)
Trails Church, Farmington Hills, Pastor Phillip Box (SEND/BSCM)
Journey Church, Gaylord, Pastor Donn Broeker (Pines Association)
Cross and Anchor Church, Detroit, Pastor Josh Bowers (SEND/BSCM)
CrossLife Community Church, Bay City, Pastor Mick Schatz (SEND/BSCM)
2. Recent In-Person Church Plant Assessment
Our last in-person church planter assessment took place on November 11-12, 2019. We saw six men or couples approved as church planting missionaries. Some will apprentice before launching the church plant.
Malcolm & Maisha Griswold, Detroit
David Clark, Detroit
Jon & Chelsea Hackett, Ann Arbor
Bryan & Tonia Kent, Mason
Jason & Amanda Aaron, Monroe
Jamison & Chelsea Bebiak, Owosso
3. Future Virtual Church Plant Assessments
The first Detroit Virtual Assessment is taking place September 29-30 with Nathan & Alison Sharpe of Greater Grand Rapids being assessed. Simultaneously, an additional 12 men, or couples, are being prepared for their assessments and future launches:
1 Grand Rapids area
1 Flint area
2 below the bridge area
1 Michigan Bay area
1 Michigan Thumb area
6 in the Greater Detroit area
4. Six-Month Send Network Training
After passing assessment, 8 church planters collaborated with peers, for six-months, refining their vision and strategy for launching, planting and growing a new church that will start new churches.
Tim Shrader & Darren Greer led church planters Ricky Pearson and Rick Marcus to successfully complete their training earlier this year, below the bridge.
Ken Nether & Tony Lynn led church planters Bryan Kent, Torion Bridges, Jon Hackett, Jason Aaron, David Clark and Malcolm Griswold to successfully complete their training earlier this year, in Plymouth.
5. Coaches for Planters
We are grateful for Dave Ferraro who matches coaches to planters in Send Detroit and Dan Russell who matches coaches to planters in Send Network Michigan throughout the year. Planters benefit from having two conversations per month with a minister with whom they can “talk things out” concerning ministry and life. Coaches listen attentively, ask questions and allow the planter to discover what the Holy Spirit is leading him to do in his circumstance and context.
6. Send Network Orientation
Twice each year, we provide an occasion for planters to participate in a nationwide orientation where they fellowship with brothers sharing their calling throughout North America. The upcoming events are scheduled for:
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
7. Planter Care
The Send City Missionary, 6 church planting catalysts and I continue our quest to discover, develop and deploy church planters throughout the region, while caring for almost 50 church planters somewhere in between their year-of-preparation to their fifth year of church planting. The state convention and the Send Network regularly bless the planters with expressions of love on your behalf.
Would you, please, pray for us by name one time per week during your daily devotions?
Wayne Parker, Detroit Send City Missionary
Ken Nether, Church Planting Catalyst
Barry Martin, Church Planting Catalyst
Tim Shrader, Church Planting Catalyst
Matt Thompson, Church Planting Catalyst
Eric Stewart, Church Planting Catalyst
Darren Greer, Church Planting Catalyst
Tony Lynn, State Director of Missions
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.