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BROWNSTOWN – Whenever I meet a fellow Christian, I like to hear about their journey with Christ. It inspires me to hear how God leads each of us to Himself. I hope my walk can give you something to think about as you consider your own walk with Jesus. I grew up going to a church system that emphasizes good works as a means of becoming right with God. The church taught to work hard, do good things, and if the scales balance in your favor then you will make it into heaven. By the time I was in junior high school, none of my immediate family (including myself) were attending church anymore. When I was 16 years old, a friend invited me to her church. I’m thankful that she was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and was willing to share Jesus with me. This reminds me of Romans 1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it’s the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes…” This friend of mine attended a Baptist church in the area. I really liked it, and started attending regularly. While there I heard the Gospel and realized it was different from what I had been taught before. The main thing that impressed me was the concept of God’s grace being the way to Heaven. The verse that the Holy Spirit used to draw me was Ephesians 2:8-9, which says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourself, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Once that sunk in, I realized I was not really right with God, according to the teachings of the Bible. I was relying on my good works. So, one Sunday, after I had been going to church for a few weeks I prayed and asked Jesus to be my Savior. I was baptized and continued to attend the church. After I accepted Christ, I was compelled to learn and grow in Him. II Peter 3:18. “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I learned to pray, read God’s word, and fellowship with those in the church. The church leadership even invited me to serve in the church, in spite of my young age. I sang in the choir, sang solos in the services, and directed a children’s choir. As the years went by, I attended a nearby college and turned to God’s leading for my future. I subsequently earned a degree in music education. I was able to use this education and experience to teach elementary music in schools for many years, while also serving alongside my husband, who is a pastor. I enjoyed a music ministry in each of the churches where he was the pastor. I am thankful that God led me to Himself and has been guiding me ever since. I rejoice in the truth of Philippians 1:6. “…being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” ABOUT THE AUTHOR JoLinda Russell lives in Brownstown, Michigan, with her husband, Dan Russell, who is one of the pastors at Calvary Church in Southgate. They have three grown children and nine grandchildren. JoLinda has a degree in Music Education and is a retired elementary music teacher from the Southgate Community Schools where she taught in several schools for 18 years. She has been involved in music ministry at all the local churches where she has also been a pastor's wife. #JULY24

BRENTWOOD, TN – Two years ago, the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade  and the right to an abortion. In the aftermath, many churchgoers say they’ve seen their congregations involved in supporting local pregnancy resource centers.   On June 24, 2022, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , the Supreme Court opened the door for states to pass laws restricting abortion. In the aftermath, local pregnancy centers have   received increased attention . A   Lifeway Research study  finds 3 in 10 U.S. Protestant churchgoers (31%) have seen at least one type of congregational connection with those local centers since the overturning of Roe v. Wade .   “In a survey of Americans conducted days before the Dobbs  decision was leaked, almost   two-thirds of Americans  agreed churches and religious organizations have a responsibility to increase support for women who have unwanted pregnancies if their state restricts access to abortion,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “According to those who attend, the majority of Protestant churches in the U.S. are not supporting a pregnancy resource center that exists either separately or as part of their church.”   More than 1 in 8 churchgoers say their church has supported a local pregnancy resource center financially (16%), encouraged those in the congregation to support a center financially (14%) or encouraged the congregation to refer those with unplanned pregnancies to the center (14%). Another 11% say their church has encouraged the congregation to volunteer at a local pregnancy resource center, and 7% say the church has had a leader from the center speak at the church. Among those who say their congregation is involved with pregnancy resource centers in some way, the median number of activities churchgoers hear about is two.   Others aren’t aware of any connection between their congregation and a local pregnancy center. More than 2 in 5 churchgoers (44%) say they haven’t heard of their church being involved with any of these measures to support a local center. Less than 1 in 10 (8%) say there are no such pregnancy centers near their church. Around 1 in 7 (16%) say they aren’t sure how or if their church is involved.   “More than 4 in 10 pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended according to the   Centers for Disease Control ,” said McConnell. “Changes to the legality of abortion do not change the reality that a large number of women and couples are not planning for the positive pregnancy tests they receive. They need compassion, care and tangible help but are often   not open to turning directly to a church for help .”   Churches offering assistance   Often, younger churchgoers and those who attend more frequently are among the most likely to say their church is working with local pregnancy centers. Those in Lutheran congregations and part of smaller churches are among the least likely.   Specifically, churchgoers under 50 (21%) are almost twice as likely as those 65 and older (11%) to say their church has financially supported a local pregnancy center. Restorationist Movement (22%), Baptist (19%) and non-denominational (16%) churchgoers are more likely than Lutherans (7%) to say this is the case at their church.   Additionally, those who attend four times a month or more (20%) are more likely than those who attend one to three times (11%) to have heard about their church giving financially to pregnancy centers. Churchgoers with evangelical beliefs (19%) are more likely than those without such beliefs (12%). And those at the largest churches, worship attendance of 500 or more, (23%) are among the most likely to say their church financially supports local pregnancy resource centers.   In terms of their churches asking them to financially give to such centers personally, adult churchgoers under 35 (23%) and those 35 to 49 (21%) are among the most likely to say their congregation has encouraged such support. Those at the smallest churches, less than 50 in worship attendance, (8%) are among the least likely.   Beyond financial support, churchgoers under 50 are also among the most likely to say their congregation has been encouraged to refer those with an unplanned pregnancy to those resource centers—27% of those 18 to 34 and 22% of those 35 to 49. Hispanic Protestant churchgoers (24%) are twice as likely as white churchgoers (12%) to have heard this type of encouragement. Restorationist Movement (22%) and Baptist (16%) churchgoers are more likely than those at Lutheran (8%) or non-denominational (10%) churches to say their congregation has been encouraged in this way.   Those who attend less frequently, one to three times a month, (11%) and those attending the smallest churches, less than 50 in attendance, (10%) are among the least likely to have heard such encouragement in their congregations.   Younger churchgoers are again more likely to have heard calls to volunteer at local pregnancy resource centers. Those 18 to 34 (19%) and 35 to 49 (20%) are more likely than those 50 to 64 (8%) and 65 and over (5%). Hispanic churchgoers (21%) are more than twice as likely as white (9%) churchgoers to say their church has encouraged them to volunteer. Baptists (13%) and non-denominational churchgoers (12%) are three times as likely as Lutherans (4%).   Again, the less frequent attenders (8%) and those at the smallest congregations (3%) are among the least likely to say they’ve been encouraged by their church to volunteer at local pregnancy resource centers.   Older churchgoers, those who attend less frequently, those at smaller churches and Lutherans are among the least likely to say their churches have had a leader from a pregnancy resource center speak at their church since Roe v. Wade  was overturned. White churchgoers (5%) are also half as likely as Hispanic (11%) and African American (10%) churchgoers to say this has happened in their congregations.   Churches that may not be helping as much   For some, their congregations may not be serving with local pregnancy centers because they aren’t aware of any near their churches. Those in the Northeast (15%) are more likely than those in the South (7%) or West (7%) to say that is the case.   Lutheran (14%) and Baptist (10%) churchgoers are more likely than those in Presbyterian/Reformed congregations (2%) to say their church is not near any such centers. Those who attend less frequently (12%) and those attending smaller congregations, less than 50 (15%) and 50 to 99 (12%), are also among the most likely to not be aware of any pregnancy centers nearby.   Regardless of how close a pregnancy resource center may be, some churchgoers aren’t aware of their church having any involvement with pregnancy centers since Roe v. Wade  was overturned.  Older churchgoers, those 65 and older (56%) and 50 to 64 (49%), are more likely than those 35 to 49 (32%) and 18 to 34 (22%) to say they haven’t heard of any of the five types of involvement.   White churchgoers (47%) and those of other ethnicities (56%) are more likely than African Americans (33%) and Hispanics (32%) to say they’re unaware of their church being involved. Lutherans (53%) are more likely than Baptist (42%) and non-denominational (42%) churchgoers to say they haven’t heard of their congregation being involved with pregnancy resource centers in any of the five ways.   “There is equal opportunity for all churches to point those with unintended pregnancies to help if there is a Christian pregnancy resource center nearby,” said McConnell. “Yet few churches are doing so in a way their congregation notices.”   For more information, view the   complete report  and visit   LifewayResearch.com .   Methodology   The online survey of 1,008 American Protestant churchgoers was conducted Sept. 19-29, 2023, using a national pre-recruited panel. Respondents were screened to include those who identified as Protestant/non-denominational and attend religious services at least once a month. Quotas and slight weights were used to balance gender, age, region, ethnicity, education and religion to reflect the population more accurately. The completed sample is 1,008 surveys. The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error from the panel does not exceed plus or minus 3.2%. This margin of error accounts for the effect of weighting. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups.   Evangelical beliefs   are defined using the NAE Lifeway Research Evangelical Beliefs Research Definition based on respondent beliefs. Respondents are asked their level of agreement with four separate statements using a four-point, forced-choice scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). Those who strongly agree with all four statements are categorized as having evangelical beliefs: The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe. It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Earls is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources. #JULY24

BRENTWOOD, TN – The days and weeks immediately following VBS are the most crucial for outreach. But so often this critical element seems to fall through the cracks. We all have good intentions for connecting with children and families again after VBS, but then the aftermath of VBS kicks in. The excitement of VBS is over; people are tired; life returns to normal; it’s time to go on vacation … there are tons of excuses, and most are valid. But here’s the thing. Follow-up will not magically happen on its own. You must have an intentional strategy in place before VBS and a follow-up plan ready to spring into action as soon as VBS is over. So here are five tried and true ideas to try as you connect with children and families: 1. Enlist a follow-up director just like you enlist a VBS director. Make this your point person for coming up with a strategy for follow-up that’s effective and easy for everyone to participate in. The follow-up director should enlist a follow-up team to work with VBS teachers to make sure every child is remembered after the week of VBS is over. This is especially important for children who are not already a part of the church family! Those first few weeks immediately after VBS may be the only time a church member is welcome in the home of an unchurched family. So don’t lose the momentum of VBS by putting it off. Activate follow-up teams immediately after VBS. People will never be more receptive to follow-up than they are immediately after the event. This is a great time to showcase what your church has to offer the entire family. And while we’re on the subject, send or deliver information about the church directly to the home. Don’t trust that fliers or handouts will make it home with kids from VBS. 2. Embrace a relationship-building approach to follow-up. Train every VBS worker to intentionally connect with parents during VBS. Talk to them when they drop off or pick up their kids. Try to find things you have in common. Find out where they normally attend church. Tell them how happy you are they’re here and how well their kids are connecting with other kids in their group. Outdo one another in being welcoming and inviting so when it comes to following up after VBS, parents have positive impressions of your church. Follow-up has to be more than a single postcard or phone call. It must be about building a relationship with children and their families. It takes time to develop relationships and an ongoing strategy to move unchurched families into the life of the church. But a relationship is what earns you the right to share the gospel. So it’s something we must take seriously. 3. Partner with other kids ministry leaders in your church to bridge VBS with other ongoing programming and summer events for kids. For example, ask children’s Sunday School teachers to participate in follow-up alongside children’s VBS teachers. That way visiting kids will already know a familiar face when they visit again. This is huge in helping kids feel connected when they return to church the next time. Kids need to feel a sense of ownership—this is my church, my classroom, my teacher, my friends—and giving them that sense of ownership is one way to help them feel loved and accepted and that they belong. 4. Provide opportunities for families from within your church to build relationships with unchurched families. Conduct a family movie night, a cookout in a local park, or some other activity for the whole family within two weeks of VBS to give unchurched families an opportunity to reconnect with the church. This year, why not partner with a local minor league ball team to host a Faith Night? Offer discounted tickets in a reserved seating block and encourage VBS families to attend. Plan for a picnic on the grounds or tailgating before the game begins. Encourage families to get to know a family they haven’t met yet. 5. Take a small gift to the home of each child who visited your church during VBS. It can be something as simple as the  Music for Kids CD ,  Music for Preschoolers CD ,  Kids Activity Book ,  Preschool Activity Book , or a small trinket ( bookmark  or  keychain ) or decoration from VBS. Any of these would make an excellent gift. Plus, each of these allows a parent to hear the good news of God’s Word their kids heard during VBS. Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving. So now it’s your turn. Which of these ideas will you implement this year in your follow-up strategy? ABOUT THE AUTHOR Melita Thomas is the VBS and kids ministry specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources. ABOUT LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Middle Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit   Lifeway.com . #JULY24

BRENTWOOD, TN (BP) – Most churchgoers believe Christians have a good reputation with Americans in general, but they worry those feelings are starting to sour. A Lifeway Research study finds 53 percent of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say most Americans have a positive perception of Christians. Two in 5 (40 percent) disagree, and 8 percent aren’t sure. More consensus exists on the direction public sentiment is headed. Around 7 in 10 (69 percent) believe people’s perceptions of Christians in the U.S. are getting worse, while 21 percent disagree. Another 10 percent say they aren’t sure. “The percentage of churchgoers who believe most Americans view Christians positively is remarkably close to a recent national poll indicating 53 percent of Americans view Christianity favorably,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Though a majority agree, fewer than 1 in 6 churchgoers is strongly convinced most Americans view Christians positively.” Public sentiment With only a slight majority believing Christians are viewed favorably in the U.S., many demographic groups have differing outlooks on the current reality. Men are more likely than women to agree that most Americans have a positive perception of Christians (56 percent v. 49 percent). Additionally, African Americans (66 percent) and Hispanics (65 percent) are more likely to agree than whites (48 percent) and people of other ethnicities (44 percent). Restorationist movement churchgoers (61 percent) and Baptists (57 percent) are more likely than those who attend a non-denominational church (45 percent) to agree most Americans view Christians positively. Churchgoers who aren’t evangelicals by belief (57 percent) are also more likely than those with evangelical beliefs (49 percent) to agree. On the other side, churchgoers 65 and older (46 percent) are among the most likely to disagree. Also, those who attend a worship service four times or more a month (43 percent) are more likely than those who attend one to three times (36 percent) to disagree that most Americans have a positive perception of Christians. While 7 in 10 churchgoers believe the public perception of Christians is worsening in the U.S., some groups are more likely than others to see a downward trajectory. Other ethnicities (84 percent) are the most likely to say people’s perceptions of Christians in the U.S. are getting worse, while whites (71 percent) are more likely to agree than Hispanics (61 percent) or African Americans (60 percent). Baptists (73 percent) and non-denominational churchgoers (73 percent) are more likely to agree than Lutherans (61 percent). Also, those who attend a worship service four times a month or more (72 percent) are more likely than those who attend less frequently (65 percent) to believe the public opinion of Christians is declining. Those with evangelical beliefs (77 percent) are more likely than those without such beliefs (61 percent) to agree. “Surely the small growth in other religions in the U.S. and large numbers of Americans that once called themselves Christians but no longer do impacted churchgoer perceptions,” said McConnell. “Not all who left the faith have ill feelings toward Christianity, but indifference is definitely a worse perception than once identifying as one.” Reasons for a reputation decline Those who believe the public perception of Christians in the U.S. is worsening say responsibility for the decline belongs to both Christians and the rest of America. Out of seven options that may have contributed to the decline, 75 percent of churchgoers point to at least one of the two options holding Americans responsible and 71 percent choose at least one of the five options placing responsibility on Christians. Most blame both, as 53 percent point to at least one option that places responsibility on Americans and at least one option that faults Christians. Two in 3 churchgoers (66 percent) say a reason the public perception of Christians is worsening is because fewer Americans believe faith in God is relevant. Around 2 in 5 point to Christians not acting any different than those who aren’t Christians (45 percent), more Americans rejecting Christianity because it claims to be the only way (40 percent) and Christians often looking down on those who aren’t Christians (38 percent). Fewer claim the drop should be credited to Christians often treating each other poorly in person (29 percent), Christians often treating each other poorly on social media (25 percent) and Christians being too political (22 percent). Small percentages say none of these options (4 percent) or they aren’t sure (3 percent). “Many churchgoers admit Christians are getting in the way of the message of Jesus Christ,” said McConnell. “But if the only reason Christians are not accepted is because people reject the message of Jesus Christ, Christians have already chosen whose approval they desire.” Frequent church attendees are among the most likely to blame Americans. Those who attend a worship service four times or more a month are more likely than those who attend less often to say Christians’ worsening public perception is due at least in part to fewer Americans believing faith in God is relevant (70 percent) and more Americans rejecting Christianity because it claims to be the only way (44 percent). Those who attend four times a month or more are less likely than other churchgoers to say the declining perception is due to Christians looking down on those who aren’t Christian (32 percent) and Christians being too political (19 percent). Churchgoers in the South are among the most likely to point to Christians treating each other poorly on social media (28 percent). White Americans are among the least likely to place blame on Christians being too political (21 percent). White Americans (70 percent) and those of other ethnicities (68 percent) are more likely than African Americans (49 percent) to say a reason for the declining reputation is that fewer Americans believe faith in God is relevant. For their part, African Americans (47 percent) are more likely than whites (34 percent) to point to Christians often looking down on those who are not Christians. Churchgoers with evangelical beliefs are more likely than other churchgoers to say the decline is because fewer Americans believe faith in God is relevant (71 percent vs. 59 percent) or because Christians don’t act any different than those who are not Christians (48 percent vs. 40 percent). But those who hold evangelical beliefs are less likely to point to Christians often looking down on those who are not Christians (32 percent vs. 45 percent) and Christians being too political (17 percent vs. 29 percent). For more information, view the complete report and visit LifewayResearch.com. The online survey of 1,008 American Protestant churchgoers was conducted Sept. 19-29, 2023, using a national pre-recruited panel. Respondents were screened to include those who identified as Protestant/non-denominational and attend religious services at least once a month. Quotas and slight weights were used to balance gender, age, region, ethnicity, education and religion to reflect the population more accurately. The completed sample is 1,008 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error from the panel does not exceed plus or minus 3.2 percent. This margin of error accounts for the effect of weighting. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Evangelical beliefs are defined using the NAE Lifeway Research Evangelical Beliefs Research Definition based on respondent beliefs. Respondents are asked their level of agreement with four separate statements using a four-point, forced-choice scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). Those who strongly agree with all four statements are categorized as having evangelical beliefs: The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe. It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Earls is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources. #JULY24

NASHVILLE, TN (BP) – Late last Wednesday afternoon (June 12), the gavel dropped at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis and thus officially ended the service of those on the Convention’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force (ARITF). However, several weren’t there to see it. Instead, they were across the street at the FedEx store in the Westin Hotel. For hours, boxes were packed with copies of “Essentials,” the curriculum guiding churches through sexual abuse prevention and response and shipped to addresses handwritten by Baptist associational leaders. It was only one of the signals ARITF members witnessed throughout the annual meeting of the desire for churches to strengthen their safeguards and protocols regarding abuse, said ARITF member Brad Eubank. “The first guy who came to our table said, ‘I need this curriculum for my church, and by the way, I’m a survivor,’” Eubank said of the man who went on to share how his minister of music had abused him. “For four days, we heard those stories, one after the other.” The ARITF had a space in the meeting’s exhibit hall. The “Essentials” curriculum for guiding churches through sexual abuse prevention and response has received over 1,200 signups online in addition to the 6,000-plus copies distributed last week in Indianapolis. Launched by the ARITF, Essentials went live on June 9 and revolves around five areas of abuse prevention and response – training, screening, protecting, reporting and caring. Eubank, senior pastor of Petal (Miss.) First Baptist Church, said the online signups included nearly 600 unique churches. An extra 1,000 thumb drives containing the resource were distributed to churches alongside those that accompanied each set of materials given out at the annual meeting. Messengers voted June 11 to adopt recommendations from the ARITF, following the group’s final report to messengers. Those recommendations handed responsibility for overseeing abuse-related priorities to the SBC Executive Committee. The ARITF was formed after the 2022 Annual Meeting in Anaheim based on the recommendations of the Sexual Abuse Task Force and granted an additional year in 2023. The original SATF came into being after the 2021 meeting in Nashville through the will of the messengers.  Indianapolis included many conversations not only with sexual abuse survivors, Eubank said, but with numerous church staff and lay leaders expressing appreciation for the resource. While praising the materials found within the Caring Well curriculum launched in 2019, Eubank pointed to Essentials as streamlined to work better with smaller and normative-sized churches. “We listened to pastors and association leaders, and they said bivocational pastors are working full-time jobs while trying to do funerals, weddings, counseling, hospital visits and everything in between. “There’s nothing wrong with the resources at churchcares.com and Caring Well, but we tried to make this resource as simple and approachable as we could so that the average church could gather five leaders over five months to work through these five essentials,” Eubank said. The feedback from conversations with church leaders has factored in how Essentials gives steps for preparation and response in a situation of abuse. “We heard a lot of stories [during the annual meeting] from those going through situations right now,” said Kris Buckman, youth and kids missionary at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware who also served on the ARITF . “People needed advice on a situation, trying to figure out how to deal with it in the right way and the next steps. We were able to point to the book again and again and say, ‘Here, this is what you need to do.’” The remaining Essentials copies were shipped from Indianapolis back to the SBC building in Nashville. Some now-former ARITF members will meet back up in a couple of weeks to send out more shipments. Churches can access the free curriculum at sbcabuseprevention.com/ministry-toolkit/ . In speaking with BP, Buckman and Eubank both said a national-level, long-term response by Southern Baptists toward sexual abuse is important. However, reform and protection begins closer to the ground. “The real, generational change is going to come from churches,” said Eubank. “You take this information and implement it. Then you care for those who have experienced abuse.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press. #JULY24

ROSCOMMON – When one is in a quiet place for hours painting a fence, it gives one plenty of time to think. It was just my granddaughter and I painting the fence around the playground on the Bambi Lake campground. She was listening to podcasts, and I was thinking. “This is a long fence for just the two of us to paint.  I wish we had more hands available. What if we are not able to finish it in the days we have here. Then people that come will say, ‘Why did they only paint part of the fence’.” Then I thought of times that I had come to Bambi and asked, “Why did they not do____?, Why did they do _____?, Are they ever going to ______?” I was guilty of the very thing that I was worried that people were going to say!! I went back to thinking and painting. We, as members of Southern Baptist churches in Michigan, own Bambi Lake. We have a vested interest in the success of Bambi Lake. So, shouldn’t the pronoun be changed from they to we when asking those questions? What if church members who attend Bambi Lake begin asking, “Why do we not do _____?, Why don’t we do ___________?, Are we going to do________?” What difference would that switch in attitude and thinking make in the future of Bambi Lake. Wow! I believe this switch in perspective will take time and intentionality. The very next day, as my granddaughter and I were going to the campground, she said, “Are they ever going to do something about ___________?” Then we laughed as we said, “Are we ever going to do something about _________?” A couple of days later, she caught me using the they pronoun when talking about Bambi Lake. We have decided to hold ourselves and others accountable by asking what we can do to make improvements at Bambi Lake. We have also committed to being active volunteers to make things happen. We wish to see our up-north place of peace thrive in the years ahead. We wish to see Bambi Lake continue to be a place of refuge and spiritual growth for others. Thankfully many people have stepped up to volunteer and are working to make Bambi Lake a success. For it to thrive, we need many more people to take time to come and work at Bambi. As we all work together, let’s see what we can do at Bambi Lake! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sharon Hessling is mother of three grown children and grandmother to eleven beautiful grandchildren. A retired IMB missionary, she served with her husband, Warren, over 25 years in two West African nations. In retirement, she runs a pie-baking business out of her home. Since December, Sharon has been volunteering for Bambi Lake as the volunteer coordinator. #JUNE24

BURTON – I want to be better. At 6’3” it is a shame that the only post I’m going to be playing on a basketball team is the kind that checks the mail. If only I had the natural talent and life of instruction drilled into my mindset and frame. This is not a court I seem to be made for. I want to be better. I’ve been in the process of growing in my education professionally for 25+ years of my forty-something life and I still have difficulty on certain projects and papers. It seems professional education does not always overcome someone’s more than amateur-crastination practice. I am left wondering if this is not a court I seem to be made for. I want to be better. I look back on my forty-something years and behold that I’ve been in some sort of ministerial labor since the 1900s. Yet, I have not been able to apprehend all that is required to be a faithful servant who walks in a manner worthy of the gospel, and I am astounded at how often I fall short of the shepherding stewardship that has been entrusted in my calling. I am left wondering why this is a court I am supposedly meant for. I want to be better. As a husband of 20 years and a father to 1 adult, 2 teenagers, and 1 child, I think upon how I feel less like the lofty pop-culture example of Bandit Heeler, and more like the goof-ball father figures of my 80’s childhood. I am astounded that this could ever be a court I am intended for. I want to be better. While I probably won’t be able to do much of anything about my skills in basketball… there is something that we can take to heart as husbands and fathers. Paul wrote to the Corinthians… “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” This is such good news, ultimately in context of the resurrection, but also as a reminder that the same gospel that brings new life to our souls is what is more than to bring new life in our homes as husbands & fathers. As we walk in the footsteps of the ultimate Father, God, we have been given the opportunity to shape and mold our kids beyond just physical presence & provision. As much as this is needed and as much as we want to be better… We point them to the Lord who has a hope that does not disappoint. We point them to the Lord whose promises never fail. We point them to the height, depth, length, and width of His love that is able to save, sanctify, and sustain. We point them to the Lord who gives and serves even in the difficulties. We point them to the Lord who is mighty yet meek, holy yet humble, conquering yet compassionate. And all the while we take this grace dispensed to us with greater astonishment…we may see where we fall short and desire to be better…but we are drawn closer to the Father that loves you too brothers. Don’t just seek to be better, trust and be His. This is the court that you have been welcomed into. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jerome Taylor is the pastor of Eastgate Baptist Church in Burton, MI, co-director of the Genesee Baptist Association, Recording Secretary & former President of the BSCM, and a Send Relief Projects Manager for Serve Tour Flint. He is the husband of Melinda, and father the Abigail, Jackson, Hannah, and Naomi. #JUNE24

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (BP) – Messengers to the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting are being asked to weigh in a second time on whether to add to the SBC Constitution an amendment regarding churches that employ women in pastoral roles. The amendment’s proponents have often cited a June 2023 report, which listed 99 Southern Baptist churches with female pastors and a total of 149 female pastors from a sample size of 3,847 “randomized” churches. When extrapolated to the then-figure of 47,614 cooperating churches (now 46,906), the report estimated 1,844 female pastors serving in 1,225 churches. Of those 99 original churches, nine listed women with the singular title of “pastor.” Another one was the “lead” pastor while two more used the term “senior pastor.” Seven are “co-lead” with one titled “senior leader” (lead pastor with husband). The remaining 73 women serve in an associational role or a role designated as a particular ministry. For some, the above is proof that the Southern Baptist Convention needs clarity on the office of pastor/elder/overseer and the amendment is the way forward. For others, the numbers show that the nation’s largest Protestant faith group is overwhelmingly complementarian in makeup and practice and such an amendment is unnecessary. Opponents also point to last year’s change to the Baptist Faith and Message strengthening its complementarian language as well as messengers’ overwhelming votes to remove two churches from friendly cooperation due to their have women in lead pastor roles. Start of the (current) conversation Mike Law, pastor of Arlington (Va.) Baptist Church, originally introduced a motion at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim to add a sixth item to the SBC Constitution, Article III: that cooperating churches would not “affirm, appoint, or employ a woman as a pastor of any kind.” That motion was referred to the Executive Committee, which placed it in front of messengers last summer in New Orleans for a vote in spite of registering opposition to it. After a clarifying amendment brought by Texas pastor Juan Sanchez, Southern Baptists gave the amendment its first of two required two-thirds votes of approval. Perhaps with one eye on the tone of discussions leading up to the first vote and another on a year ahead of podcasts, social media posts and pontificating from all around, Sanchez’s comments after the vote were prophetic. “I think part of the problem is we are talking past each other in many ways,” Sanchez said. “I’m confident that there’s confusion about terminology that we should be having conversations about. “One of one of the things I lament in our conversations in the Southern Baptist Convention right now is that there’s a lot of weaponizing of language and there’s a lot of tactics of fear.” Choices and what follows Columnists whose pieces have been posted at Baptist Press have sought to stay away from those kinds of tactics, instead establishing positions on the amendment while expressing support for those on the other side. Denny Burk, professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, has written two pieces shared with BP. The first one in late November pointed to “no little bit of misunderstanding among some about the precise issues in dispute. “Southern Baptist aren’t debating whether women may serve in church staff ministry positions,” he said. “Of course they can and do, and I can’t think of any Southern Baptist who would say otherwise. Nor are Southern Baptists debating whether women should teach mixed-gendered Sunday School classes.” The debate isn’t even about complementarianism, he added, noting that the term wasn’t mentioned in the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BF&M). The debate is centered on if that document allows for women to be pastors and “whether the BF&M should be the basis for friendly cooperation within the SBC.” Where churches fall on those positions impacts the doctrinal integrity of the SBC. A stable middle way “is only a mirage,” he said. Burk followed up his comments with another post in February addressing the question of what happens with females on church staffs in roles like children’s pastor. “The answer to the question is ‘No, it doesn’t force their removal,’” he wrote. “The fact that so many seem to think that it does reveals that we have a pretty widespread misunderstanding of our polity.” Burk went on to say he has “zero interest” in “adjudicating a glut of membership challenges concerning such churches.” In citing the vote to uphold Saddleback Church’s disfellowship, he pointed out that messengers already have the power to take such steps. In short, the amendment’s passage would not make a church’s removal automatic. In a discussion one month earlier at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., SBC President Bart Barber agreed with Burk’s premise. However, he took a position contrary to Burk’s. “The SBC already requires that churches limit the office of pastor to men without the Law amendment,” he said, citing the votes at the 2023 Annual Meeting. “I think that when we face extremely confusing and convoluted questions, we ought to just let the messenger body pray about it and sort that out,” Barber said. “We have the framework in place right now without any amendment.” Debate over function In late February, North Carolina pastor Bruce Frank brought his thoughts on why the amendment is understandable, but unnecessary. It’s “unneeded, unclear and could lead to the potential unraveling of the SBC as we know it,” he said. A culture attempting to redefine gender makes it important for churches to emphasize the “biblical truth regarding God’s good design,” added Frank in lauding the SBC’s “unapologetically complementarian” position. “… The blurring of the God-given gender distinctives has often accompanied a denominational direction away from the authority of Scripture.” Agreeing with Barber, Frank, pastor of Biltmore Church near Asheville, said that “if the current mechanism is in place to remove one of the largest churches in the SBC, as it did in 2023, then the framework already exists for removing a church that wanders too far from the Baptist Faith and Message.” Frank also cited the debate over the amendment and the “function” of a pastor and how the amendment could be applied to women serving with the title of pastor, but in a non-senior role. The amendment’s phrase “of any kind” opens up those doors, he said. Frank added that Scripture calls on elders to lead in churches, protect churches from false teachings, pray for the sick and use good judgement in doctrinal issues. “We see men and women who are not elders being encouraged to carry out almost all of these functions in the New Testament churches,” he said. Baptist Press reached out to Law for clarity on whether the amendment’s aim is to address churches with women serving with the title of pastor, in the function of pastor or both and whether the amendment’s language was sufficient for those tasks. “The aim of the Amendment is to help the Convention walk in faithfulness to Scripture,” he said. “The Bible knows of no pastor/elder/overseer who does not perform the duties of the office. According to 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, Scripture does not permit women to serve in the office of or under the title pastor/elder/overseer. “Yes, the language is sufficient, and it is complementary to Scripture and the Baptist Faith and Message.” The “potential unraveling” Frank alluded to can come through Southern Baptists failing to maintain a “missional passion with doctrinal integrity.” Fears about where the amendment could take the Convention, he said, could lead churches to “voluntarily opt out.” This will not happen because churches “don’t have complementarian convictions but because they didn’t sign up for denominational drama that demands increasing uniformity on an ever-widening set of issues,” Frank wrote. “Missionaries will come home. That’s not hyperbole; it’s just math.” Church autonomy Tennessee Baptists’ state executive Randy Davis became the first of his peers to publicly comment on the amendment in a column from early May. Davis pointed to the amendment’s potential impact on historic Southern Baptist polity and possible unintended consequences. “Southern Baptists throughout our history have respected differences of opinion on doctrinal issues for the sake of a shared mission,” Davis said. “I sincerely pray we can capture that civility regarding this challenge. I respect views on both sides of the Law Amendment, but I believe we would do well to pause and give its implications thoughtful consideration.” One point of concern is how the amendment could effectively alter the purpose of the Baptist Faith and Message. Rather than promoting missions and including churches “of all sizes and cultures,” a “legalistically narrow road” could form. “Our historical Baptist polity is to trust the local church to decide its own structures under the umbrella of our doctrinal belief system,” Davis said. Fracturing that trust could lead to future debates about other issues that may affect cooperation – issues like using a particular Bible translation or whether churches adhere to reformed or non-reformed teachings. “At what point will we have thwarted the local church’s autonomy while continuing to propagate the idea that its members have freedom to govern themselves?” asked Davis. “As one of my fellow state executives said last summer, ‘The Southern Baptist Convention is organized to promote a mission not to police our churches.’” Shortly thereafter, Robin Hadaway shared a story where, as a first-term International Mission Board missionary to Tanzania in 1985, he found himself in a hard position. “I want to be a pastor,” he said in recollecting the words of a woman who had recently graduated from Tanzania’s Baptist seminary. “I explained to her why this was not biblical.” In 2002, Hadaway was regional leader for eastern South America and supervising about 350 missionaries when he encountered a similar instance. “I received word that a local Brazilian church had ordained a female IMB missionary,” said Hadaway, who is semi-retired while serving as senior professor of missions at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “A trustee and I asked her to rescind the ordination. She agreed, but soon after her retirement, a stateside Southern Baptist church ordained her.” The amendment “is not about a woman’s status before the Lord,” he said. While men and women are equal, they are different while complementing each other. Hadaway does not believe the amendment’s passage would result in a flood of churches submitted to the Credentials Committee, citing that group’s history in responding to issues rather than searching for violations. Considering consequences Last week, newly elected Executive Committee President and CEO Jeff Iorg said the amendment reflected his “theological commitments” in church governance. It’s the standard he upheld as president of Gateway Seminary for the last 20 years. However, the potential “complications and consequences” that could come from it are leading him to oppose it. Those implications begin with determining the amendment’s relevance to both the title and function of a pastor. If the former, churches can simply update the staff page on the website and reprint some business cards. However, Iorg said, continuing to function in the role as before “does not seem to fulfill the goal of the amendment.” “If the issue is function, then the SBC Credentials Committee must investigate job descriptions, church governing documents, work records and personnel policies of local churches to determine if a woman is functioning as a pastor,” he said. “This is unsustainable due to the number of churches to be evaluated by a volunteer committee which meets once a month.” Executive Committee staff created a list of churches in the SBC as an administrative tool 25 years ago, Iorg said. Since then, qualifiers amended into the Constitution have led to a change in perception – from the Convention consisting of messengers to instead consisting of churches. The result has become “a substantive change that is reshaping our identity” and led to a tension about when “church autonomy intersects with Convention autonomy.” His position is also influenced by two decades’ worth of observations leading the only Southern Baptist entity outside of the South. Pastors and church members tend to view the SBC through their local lens, belief system and interpretation of the Bible, believing most Southern Baptists agree with them, or should, Iorg said. “Some either do not appreciate the breadth of theological diversity in the SBC or, if they do understand it, find it troublesome or threatening,” he said. The “elasticity” of the BF&M and SBC polity has been “a hallmark of our success” that could be endangered. “By codifying a narrower interpretation of one part of our confessional statement in our Constitution, this may become a precursor to similar actions on other issues. Many Southern Baptist churches are out of alignment with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 on issues like regenerate church membership, Lord’s Supper practices, mode and purpose of baptism, democratic church government, church/state relationships, etc.” He has also heard from pastors who are “quietly disengaging.” “They are too focused on the demands of pastoral ministry to participate in denominational infighting over something they do not perceive as worth the battle,” he said. “…For some, the SBC is just not worth the hassle anymore.” Determining boundaries Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler unofficially supported the amendment before it existed, stating from the floor at the 2022 Anaheim annual meeting that Southern Baptists are not confused when it comes to the meaning of “pastor.” In February, he reiterated his support. “I see it as not only something that we need to pass, but we need to just have it as a part of our bylaws in such a way that it settles a question,” said Mohler, adding that if the amendment fails, the issue would not go away and be reintroduced annually. May 23, he released a video expressing his “confidence” in Southern Baptists as the annual meeting approaches. The SBC, Mohler said, faces “an inescapable theological responsibility” to reassert “the boundaries of our cooperation.” Previous generations of Southern Baptists didn’t have to say that the office of pastors is limited to men, he pointed out. “Southern Baptists, I believe, still are quite aware and quite convictional about [that] fact,” he said. But “confusion among us” has become “very dangerous” and “subversive to our ability to cooperate.” Mohler pointed to the “clarity and overwhelming consensus” of the 2023 votes over churches who were deemed to no longer be in fellowship. “Southern Baptists really do believe in the autonomy of the local church,” he said. “We can’t force any church to be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. “But the SBC also has the responsibility to define what are the boundaries, what is the basis, the foundation for the cooperation that brings us together for common work.” Messengers will vote on the amendment at this year’s SBC annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is national correspondent for Baptist Press. #JUNE24

ROSEVILLE – From 1928 to 1934 the Portsmouth Spartans were a professional football team in Portsmouth, Ohio (near where David and Krista Dunham hail from).They played against the Green Bay Packers and beat them one year 19-0 in the famed “iron man” game. It was called this because the Spartan coach refused to make any substitutions and only used 11 guys the entire game. They also played against the Chicago Bears. In 1934 they were purchased by George Richards. George was the owner of WJR in Detroit and in a compliment of sorts to the Detroit Tigers, George named his team, the Detroit Lions. For 90 years Detroit has had a football team. It feels good to see George’s desire for his team to be the “Lions of the NFL” taking place. Why did Christ establish the church? The local church is the means that God set up to display his glory to the nations. The local church is the gathering of the people of God in an area to preach God’s Word, encourage one another, and equip one another so that we live as salt and light in our arenas and share the gospel with others. Evangelism is necessary. But, without a local church, the believers will be ineffectual, and eventually the gospel in that area will be lost. At the same time, it is not enough for a church to simply exist. A church has to know its purpose and mission, and must keep its eye on it. We’ve seen too many seasons where it seemed that the Lions were content with having a team. Now the goal seems to be intensely focused on winning and winning it all. We are seeing how much excitement and sacrifice people are willing to make to accomplish that. On an eternally larger scale, we need to think that way about the church. It is not enough to exist. We have to be committed to the goal of making Christ known, being faithful to the gospel, taking the gospel to unreached peoples, and establishing and encouraging healthy churches. The process looks like this: The gospel is proclaimed and shared in an area. The conversion of new believers occurs. A church is established. More people are sent out so that the gospel can be proclaimed in other areas. Repeat 1-4 (until Christ returns) None of these steps will take place unless there is intentionality and commitment. For many years we have (and continue) to be very intentional about preaching the gospel and building people up in it. God has kindly given us a good church. Therefore, we have been purposeful in seeking to help influence many other churches to help them pursue gospel integrity, biblical faithfulness, and health so that together we can help establish more churches and send out more church planters here and around the world. Our goal is to give away much resources and people in order that more gospel is proclaimed, and more churches are established and strengthened. It is gratifying to see the many ways the Lord has allowed us to be part of some strategic opportunities. I think we are just at the beginning of some great things. So, I want to encourage you. Jesus is worth a beautiful bride. Your faithfulness to gathering on Sunday (not watching on-line unless you are physically unable to come), your faithfulness to loving and serving one another, your faithfulness to pursuing godliness, your faithfulness to sharing the gospel, and your faithfulness in giving really, really matter. It is not enough to have a team. You want the team to win. It is not enough to have a church. You want the church to pursue its purpose. It’s not enough to do evangelism. We have to see healthy churches get established. God has established local churches to display his glory to the nations; and THAT is the goal!! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Johnson has been serving as the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone since 1989. He has a Master of Divinity degree from the Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary (1997). #JUNE24

PLYMOUTH – It’s great that we set aside a day each year to celebrate our fathers! The older I get and the more people I have deep conversations with, I see how crazy important fathers are to a family. I’ve spoken with grown adults who are struggling with some part of their life. Often, they will bring up their father having been absent, abusive, neglectful, disinterested, or if he was engaged with the family, loving, and helpful. Dads are extremely important in setting the course of their children’s lives. Children use their dad as a pattern for a how-to book of life. Dads who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their life have excellent help in the Bible and from the Holy Spirit’s guidance. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. – Psalm 103:13 ESV (I love how the Message version of the Bible voices the same verse: As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him.) Children thrive and flourish when they know they are dearly loved by their dad. I think that is why God called himself our Father. Even when we aren’t given a godly physical dad on earth, we can have an eternal Father God through Jesus Christ. I worked in a Michigan public high school with students who had massive absenteeism and were generally known as at-risk teens. They were at-risk of dropping out of high school, as well as not making it in society and the community. Through numerous conversations with these students, many described their fathers who had left, were abusive, didn’t love or interact with them, didn’t work or provide a living, or who abused drugs or alcohol. Their fathers had strong effects on the student’s views of life. To have a quick reminder for myself as I spoke with a student, I mentally began a general evaluation system of these students’ fathers. I would think a father was either a positive (+) in the student’s life (student felt supported and loved), or a neutral (0) (student felt ignored, unimportant), or a negative (-) (student felt unsafe and unloved). God is always a 100% positive Father. He has proven his faithfulness to us over and over in our lives and all throughout the generations as testified in the Bible. He loves us with an overwhelming love that provides salvation for us to come into a right relationship with Him. As Jesus-following dads, let’s love our children with abandonment! There should never be any doubt in our kids’ minds that they are loved by us. Out of love for our children, let’s point them to the Father that will never leave them and will love them with a fierce love. He (God) who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? – Romans 8:32 For I am sure that neither death nor life, not angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 Fathers, you don’t have to be a superstar, the most handsome, smartest, richest, or in the best shape… just be a dad who loves your kids like God loves them – fiercely! Let your kids catch you reading the Bible at home, praying for them by name, and taking them to church with a joyful attitude. (Don’t forget to show your wife love, respect, and tenderness in front of your kids so that your children learn how a Jesus following husband treats his wife.) Nurture your children as they grow in strength and wisdom in the Lord ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jamie works as Executive Assistant for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Her greatest joy is serving Jesus Christ. Her husband, Tony, their three children, and nine grandchildren are gifts from God that fill Jamie's life to overflowing. Mentoring young women in the Lord is a ministry of delight. Jamie and her family served 13 years with the IMB international mission work in Niger Republic, West Africa, and Paris, France. #JUNE24

PLYMOUTH – Many years ago, I had to make a trip to Texas from Florida, which required that I employ the services of one of the available airlines. The flight to Dallas was uneventful and brief in comparison to the 16 to 18 hours it would have taken if I had gone by way of automobile. The second leg of my journey was a bit different as I flew from Dallas to Corpus Christi, Texas but this time, I was in a petite propeller driven craft that was quite small and cramped in comparison to the jetliner I had taken out of Jacksonville. It was a very overcast day and the moment we took off we were in the clouds. No sight visibility, just blind flying through the soup. Bouncing. Rough. Sometimes moving up and down and side to side as much as we pushed forward. For one who has a great deal more faith in “terra firma” than in man-made flying machines, this made for a rather nervous and unsettling situation. The pilots had a door between them and the passengers. During the flight it sprang open as the result of a severe bounce the plane took when encountering an air pocket. I looked in at them and one pilot was reading a newspaper while the other sat casually peering over his instruments and completely ignoring the view through his cockpit window. They were flying by instrument and had engaged the autopilot. These pilots were being guided by a standard of reference that was outside of themselves. It mattered not what was going on inside that cabin, or for that matter in the immediate surroundings. That which was guiding them and ultimately us to our final destination was a set of directional beacons and transmitters that were constant and never changing, no matter what the pilots did or what the weather might be. The pilots knew that they must obey the instruments whether they felt like it or not. They understood that their own senses and feelings could be deceiving and unreliable, especially during times of turbulence and the loss of visibility. Those pilots had faith in their instruments and that is what brought us safely and uneventfully to our planned destination. Society could benefit greatly from the actions and attitudes of these pilots. In the moral and spiritual areas, modern man has decided that he needs no outside standard of reference. From the perspective of most in our society today, the only point of reference that is needed is within oneself. This has given birth to a people where there are no absolute standards of right or wrong. Everyone does his or her own thing. Everyone is free to take his or her own path and to go in whatever direction they desire. They falsely assume that all roads lead to the same destination. Without a standard of reference outside of ourselves, we as human beings are bound for disaster. Our opinions are faulty. Our perspectives are skewed. Our morals have been corrupted and the standards of right and wrong have been so warped that they are hardly recognizable. The only hope that we have of arriving at our appointed destination as individuals and as humanity is by putting our trust in God's standards of right and wrong and let Him guide our lives. Only He can see matters in their completeness, and view them from a Heavenly perspective. It is imperative that we take our hands off the wheel and put our trust in the God of all creation who can and does have a perfect perspective. It is a scary thing to let go and trust completely in an outside source, but it is the only way to fly. 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. #JUNE24

PLYMOUTH – Fatherhood and Christian fatherhood are radically two different things! Billy Graham, the famous, world-traveling evangelist, understood that difference; but he likely captured that distinction during his daily devotions by reading the Bible throughout his lifetime for his own spiritual growth. While living as a global, spiritual mentor to millions, he never forgot his children nor abandoned his responsibility to disciple his children who were nestled away with their mother in the mountains of North Carolina. The Billy Graham Library collected quotes from many years, about fatherhood, from Graham. While Graham was in his home in North Carolina, with his two sons, Ned and Franklin, in 1965, he said: “A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” “The greatest tribute a boy can give to his father is to say, ‘When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad.’ It is a convicting responsibility for us fathers and grandfathers.” “Our lives speak loudly to those around us, especially the children in our home.” In Graham’s autobiography, Just As I Am, he wrote: “I tried to let all five of the children know that I loved them, no matter what they did; that I missed them when I was away . . . and that I wanted them to discover God’s perfect plan for each of them.” The Billy Graham Library shared a statement written into Graham’s last will and testament. The declaration was about fatherhood. He said: “I have loved and been proud of all five of my children and those whom they chose to marry. I have loved all of you equally, while each of you maintain a separate spot in my heart.” On another occasion, Graham spoke candidly about the ethical, moral, and practical impact of behaving as a godly father when he said: “If there were no heaven and no hell, I would still want to be a Christian because of what it does for our home and our families in this life.” Billy Graham once described what it was like to leave for another crusade after having spent time being refreshed at home in North Carolina surrounded by his wife and children. He said: “Many a time, I’ve driven down that driveway with tears coming down my cheeks, not wanting to leave.” Paul and Fatherhood Graham lived to be 99-years old. Much of what he said and wrote was recorded due to the fact that he was one of the most recognizable people in the world and his influence for the Lord was widespread. But Graham’s opportunity to influence his own children and grandchildren toward the Lord is similar to the occasion typical men have with their own children. A pressing question is, “How intentional are today’s men at being ‘Christian’ fathers to their own children?” More specifically, “Do today’s men, who declare themselves as followers of Jesus Christ, see themselves as ‘Christian’ fathers with specific responsibilities to promote a Christian faith with their children, and is there an example to follow?” The Apostle Paul of the New Testament saw himself as a spiritual father to many. Paul wrote to the people of Corinth and said: “I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So, I urge you to imitate me. That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go,” (1 Corinthians 4:14-17, New Living Translation). Look at the source, the start, the style, and the cycle of Christian fatherhood described in Paul’s words: Sincere Love – Verse 14 indicates that shaming others does not create spiritual growth, rather spiritual growth blooms best from sincere love. Spiritual Fatherhood – Verse 15 declares that spiritual nourishment for those young in the faith must come from a trusted source, rather than just any source. Sterling Example – Verse 16 boasts that those new in the faith could copy Paul’s life and testimony. Would today’s typical man say to young ones, “Copy me?” Subsequent Generations – Verse 17 displays the reality that newborns in the Lord need good examples to follow with each new generation and each phase of life. Do today’s Christian men see spiritual guidance as a heritage to be handed down into each new generation of children, as much as the Apostle Paul? How much more would the world resemble what the Lord desires if Christian men followed Paul’s example? Today’s life patterns would have to change for us to see a positive, spiritual impact. If hours of watching baseball or golf were replaced with spiritual guidance in the lives of those young in the faith, what would happen? If training partnerships in Bible reading, prayer, and service projects overcame the importance of tackling techniques and three-point shooting, what could the new generations achieve? If wasting vast amounts of the day scanning and touching digital screens were ended and meaningful conversations were started between fathers and children, what new discoveries in following the Lord could be enjoyed by each coming generation? We will only know if changes in life’s patterns occur! Pop Quiz for Fathers Research and observation tell us that most boys who grow up to become men do not enjoy reading. That same research tells us that men often only read what significant women place in front of them to read. So, the following pop quiz may never be seen by a man unless a woman places it in front of the man in her life along with the promise of a reward. But this “pop quiz” may be worth more than one could imagine. It could lead to a life change in the man and the new generations that enter his life. A Father’s Pop Quiz 1. Using street signs as an indicator, which of the following street signs would you put up for your children/grandchildren if they thought of looking closely at and imitating your spiritual life? a.  Enter b.  No Trespassing c.  Caution d.  Danger e.  Construction Ahead 2. If your children/grandchildren were to write down a list of evidence that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, what would they put on their list? 3. Where are you on a list of the top five people who influence your children/grandchildren toward the Lord? 4. What would it take to increase your influence over your children/grandchildren to follow the Lord? 5. If you were to create two “punch lists” of things 1) to improve your Christian life and to 2) stop from damaging your Christian life, what would be the leading three things on each list? After taking this pop quiz, each father/grandfather will have an assessment guide measuring his effectiveness at influencing his children/grandchildren to follow the Lord. It would be wise for each man to sit and discuss the results during the month of June with his wife or another man who could help him become a stronger Christian father. Setting goals, changing patterns and scheduling follow-up assessments every two to three months between this Father’s Day and next year’s celebration could help those in the coming generations. Share this article and the pop quiz with others during June. In the meantime, Happy Father’s Day! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the Send Network Director for Michigan and the Language/Ethnic Church Planting Catalyst. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as a lead pastor in Michigan churches and as an international missionary, along with his wife Jamie, in the Niger Republic, France, and Canada. #JUNE24