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FENTON, MI – Recent reports about sexual abuse in Southern Baptist Churches by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express were heart breaking. Investigative reporters discovered more than 700 victims of sexual abuse and 220 offenders in SBC churches since 1998. The collective response from across the Convention has been one of concern for the victims and a commitment to prevent sexual abuse from ever happening. All 41 state conventions responded quickly and “...committed to partnering with the Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group to equip churches and ministries in our respective states to engage the issue of abuse with compassion and care. Our desire is for the churches and ministries in our states to become safe for survivors and safe from abuse.” The SBC Executive Committee is recommending a bylaw change to disfellowship churches that demonstrate an indifference to sexual abuse (and racism). Convention President, JD Greear, announced that a new resource called, “Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused” will come out soon. The study will be a free 12 lesson, 20-minute training for ministry leaders. The Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) wants to lead the way by requiring all Convention employees to take Ministry Safe Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. Ministry Safe is a leader in providing churches and ministries with tools to prevent child sexual abuse proactively. Gregory Love, one of the founders, says: “We want to equip people with the information necessary to understand the risk, see how it unfolds, so they can participate in what is necessary to make sure that the child isn’t placed in harm’s way.” The Sexual Abuse Awareness Training deals with: Facts and Misconceptions Abuser Characteristics The Grooming Process Methods to Reduce Risk Peer to Peer Abuse If a Child Reports Abuse Impact on Children Responsibility to Report As it relates to child abuse, our BSCM is making this training available to every Michigan Baptist pastor free of charge. Pastors, watch for an email with a link to the training. Our hope and prayer is to prevent sexual abuse from ever happening by making resources available to churches. For churches that are interested in using Ministry Safe training for all their children’s workers, we have an agreement with Ministry Safe to provide their service for a greatly reduced price. Contact mike@bscm.org for details. Another critical safety step is for churches to conduct background checks on every person who works with children. This not only protects children, it tells parents, the church family, and the community that we take our responsibility to physically and spiritually care for children seriously. Background checks are about safety, should not be considered optional, but mandatory for all who work with children. LifeWay has an excellent service that provides background checks for as low as $10. The era of thinking it can’t happen to us is over. Real people have experienced a devastating hurt and we grieve over their pain. Let us be the generation of churches and leaders that ends this forever! NOTE: For resources to help those suffering from sexual abuse, please visit bscm.org/abusehelp. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #MARCH19

2019 so far... ... two new churches launched in Detroit. ...17 planting families enjoyed retreat and refreshing at Great Wolf Lodge ... 3 new babies born to church planting couples. 2019 coming soon... ...Detroit Assessment Center with 5 church planting candidates. ...new churches looking to begin public launch in this Spring. ...planter encouragement with Send Network Gathering in Chicago. ...partnership opportunities explored through Catch the Vision Tours. Read on to see what God is doing for his kingdom in Send Detroit! We are grateful for your partnership. 2 New Churches Already in 2019! Praise God for two new churches that are ministering the gospel in the urban areas of Detroit. On Sunday, January 13, The Commonwealth of Faith (Pastor Torion Bridges) began weekly services and hosted a community breakfast in Redford. Then just on Sunday, February 10, The Refuge Detroit transitioned to weekly services in Southwest Detroit where Pastor Drew Ansley aims to live out a church that lives out the gospel, and makes disciples in community 7 days a week. 2 More Churches Starting Soon! Mile City Church (Pastor Travis Whittaker) is following the Lord to plant a second campus in South Lyon later in March. Pray for God's grace upon them as they hold a preview service on March 3. Transformation Church, Waterford has been building a team and has secured a location for public worship services. Pastor Seth Springs is leading the church by faith for a public launch on Palm Sunday, April 14 Great Wolf Lodge Family Retreat February 8-9 Thanks to generous support of our partners, last weekend 17 church planting families numbering 63 people, were able to enjoy two days and one night at Great Wolf Lodge. Church Planting is challenging ministry, and the opportunity for retreat and refreshment was greatly appreciated by all. Please continue to pray for and support the missionary families of Send Detroit. New Babies Abound! Church planters have experienced growing families this year! Praise God for these precious new gifts of life and pray for God's grace in the lives of these growing families! John Robinson Guyer Born January 2, 2019 9 lbs, 4 oz To parents: Michael and Emily Guyer Treasuring Christ Church, Ann Arbor, MI Noah Cruz Caldwell Born January 5, 2019 7 lbs, 12 oz To parents: Roland and Tedi Caldwell The House of Restoration Church, Detroit, MI Lily Joy Springs Born February 5, 2019 10 lbs, 0 oz To parents: Seth and Taylor Springs Transformation Church, Waterford, MI 2018 Q4 Report Among 11 Send Detroit church plants that are 3 years or less from their launch we have some encouraging stats from the last quarter of 2018... 517 average weekly worship attendance 65 people trusted in Jesus as Savior 25 believers were baptized 119 leaders active in making disciples for Christ Cooperative Program giving was $5,627 Send Detroit Assessment Retreat February 25-26 Send Detroit will be holding its 3rd assessment retreat later this month, hosted by Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City, MI. Please pray for wisdom and discernment among the assessors and God's will concerning the 5 church planting candidates who are planning to attend this assessment retreat. #MARCH19

NASHVILLE, TN – As U.S. lawmakers continue to debate the best approach to illegal immigration, most Protestant pastors say the solution should be multifaceted. Nashville-based LifeWay Research surveyed 1,000 Protestants pastors on their views on illegal immigration and how the church should view those in the country illegally. Eighty percent say the government has the responsibility to stop illegal immigration, while 9 percent disagree and 11 percent are not sure. Meanwhile, 70 percent of pastors say they are in favor of an immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for those who are currently in the country illegally. Seventeen percent disagree and 13 percent are not sure. Three-quarters of pastors (76 percent) say Christians have a responsibility to assist immigrants even if they are in the country illegally, while 14 percent disagree and 10 percent are not sure. Currently, almost 3 in 10 pastors say their churches are involved locally in assisting immigrants. Seven in 10 say they are not currently involved. “Lawmakers have left many of the bigger immigration questions unresolved often voicing ‘either-or’ positions,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Pastors don’t seem as conflicted desiring improvement in both border security and a path to citizenship for those here illegally.” Stopping illegal immigration While 80 percent of pastors today say the government has the responsibility to stop illegal immigration, that’s down from 87 percent in a 2014 LifeWay Research survey. “Among these questions, stopping illegal immigration registers the strongest sentiment from pastors,” said McConnell. “But support for this is now more in line with caring for immigrants already in the country and establishing a path to citizenship.” Today, African-American pastors are more likely than white pastors to disagree that the government carries the responsibility to stop illegal immigration (21 percent to 8 percent). Those in the Northeast (15 percent) and Midwest (12 percent) are more likely to disagree than pastors in the South (5 percent). Education, age and denomination all factor into how likely a pastor is to say the government bears the responsibility to stop illegal immigration. Pastors 65 and older are more likely to see that as the government’s job than pastors 44 and younger (85 percent to 75 percent). Those with a bachelor’s degree or less (87 percent) are more likely than those with more education (77 percent). Evangelical pastors (87 percent) are more likely to agree than mainline pastors (74 percent). Pentecostals (94 percent) and Baptists (89 percent) are more likely to agree than Church of Christ pastors (79 percent), Lutherans (74 percent), Presbyterian or Reformed (74 percent), or Methodists (68 percent). Path to citizenship More pastors today favor immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship for immigrants currently in the country illegally. Since 2014, the percentage of pastors who favor a path to citizenship has grown 12 percentage points from 58 percent to 70 percent today. The percentage who disagreed was cut in half—34 percent to 17 percent. “For immigrants in the country illegally, there are no real options for redemption,” noted McConnell. “That doesn’t sit well with pastors—the majority of whom were ready for lawmakers to offer a means of making restitution and gaining legal status years ago.” In 2019, African-American pastors are the ethnicity most likely to agree (91 percent), while pastors 65 and older are the age range least likely to agree (62 percent). Mainline pastors (80 percent) are more likely to back a path to citizenship than evangelical ones (66 percent). Methodist (86 percent) and Presbyterian or Reformed (80 percent) pastors are more likely to agree than Church of Christ (65 percent), Baptist (60 percent) and Pentecostal (59 percent) pastors. Support for immigrants Compared to 2014, a similar number of pastors say Christians have a responsibility to assist immigrants even if they are here illegally—76 percent today and 79 percent then. Evangelical pastors are more likely to disagree than mainline pastors (16 percent to 10 percent). Pastors 65 and older are least likely to agree (67 percent). Those in the Northeast (85 percent) are more likely to agree than those in the South (74 percent) or Midwest (74 percent). Holiness (88 percent) and Presbyterian or Reformed (87 percent) are more likely to agree than Lutherans (74 percent), Church of Christ pastors (73 percent), Baptists (70 percent), or Pentecostals (66 percent). Almost 3 in 10 pastors say their church is currently helping immigrants (29 percent), while 70 percent say they are not. Mainline pastors (33 percent) are more likely to say they are assisting than evangelical ones (26 percent). Lutheran (40 percent), Methodist (33 percent) and Presbyterian or Reformed pastors (35 percent) are more likely to say they are helping than Baptist pastors (23 percent). Pastors of churches with 250 or more in attendance are more likely to say they are currently assisting immigrants than pastors of churches with less than 50 in attendance (37 percent to 23 percent). “Pastors place just as much responsibility on their congregations as they do legislators,” McConnell said. “More than twice as many pastors say Christians should help immigrants than say their church is personally involved assisting local immigrant neighbors today.” Methodology: The phone survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors was conducted January 14-30, 2019. The calling list was a stratified random sample, drawn from a list of all Protestant churches. Quotas were used for church size. Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest of the church called. Responses were weighted by region to more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,000 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.2 percent. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Earls is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources. #MARCH19

FENTON, MI – Lake Amistad is a large lake that in some places straddles the Mexico and United States borders. The dam that stopped and controlled the flow of the Rio Grande River and subsequently created the lake was a joint effort of the two governments. Both countries knew that hundreds of acres of land and property would be consumed by the waters that would rise and cover the area when the flow of the Rio Grande was halted. The purpose was to help supply the ever-increasing water needs of Mexico and neighboring Texas. When mapping out the proposed site it was realized that a small town would be lost to the lake. No matter how they planned or what precautions they might take that little hamlet would soon be underwater. Much discussion went back and forth, and finally the decision was made to go ahead with the project and to relocate the people. It would be several years before the move would take place and much had to be done before the reservoir would become a reality. A major dam had to be built and thousands of tons of earth had to be moved. Land had to be purchased and deeds transferred. The paper work alone would take years. But something unusual took place during the interim. What was once a nice, neat and pretty little town began to deteriorate. The yards were no longer kept and weeds and debris accumulated everywhere. The houses went unprepared, broken windows remained open to the elements and badly needed paint was never applied. Trash was strewn about carelessly and potholes in the roads became craters. Automobiles were abandoned and left to rust where they stopped. Even though the community was full of people carrying on their daily lives, the town deteriorated and began to fall in around them. When the leader of the community was asked why the people had allowed this to take place even though they had several more years to live there he said, "When people have no hope for the future, then they just don't care about the present." How true that is! Just look at our society today. If deep down in our souls, we don't have a hope for the future then our very lives will fall down around us. Without hope there is no present and no future. Without hope, life has no meaning. Without hope nothing really matters. Many will question why the inner cities of our great metropolitan areas are such deplorable places. They wonder why the people of the ghettos and slums just don’t seem to care. Bony fingers of accusation are pointed at these blighted people accompanied with statements like, “They are just lazy. That is just their culture. Those kind of people will never be any different.” A life without hope always has the same effect. If there is no better tomorrow, then why care about today? The sentiment of hopelessness is not only reflected in our decaying inner cities, but it is reflected in our entire society and especially in our youth and young adults. As believers, it is our responsibility to share the Hope that we know and possess. Hope for tomorrow and for eternity is not only a good thing, but also essential. It is our job to give the world a reason for tomorrow. We cannot turn a blind eye to the blighted urban centers of our nation. We must deliberately and specifically focus on providing help and hope to those that have been engulfed with the floods of despair. We are the possessors and proclaimers of the only hope for mankind. It is high time that we set sail on the seas of despair, and share the lifesaving love of Jesus. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." - I Peter 3:15 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. #MARCH19

FENTON, MI – I was naïve during most of my childhood. I thought friends and family only did good things for one another. I was wrong. After forty-one years of adulthood, missionary service and ministry, I realize some people experience the most painful hurts and receive lasting scars from the friends and family members they should have been able to trust. When I learn about vulnerable people being abused, I feel my heart pound in my neck, my breathing takes on a deliberate pace, I become nauseated, and angry ideas swirl in my head. My remedy is remembering the voice of my university Old Testament professor, in his shrill, penetrating voice quoting ceaseless lines of Bible verses from memory. Even now, I can hear him quoting Exodus 22:22 (CSB), “You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.” Beginning on February 10, 2019, The Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, published a three-part series entitled an “Abuse of Faith.” The team of reporters, during their long investigation while reviewing the last twenty-years, found seven-hundred victims of sex abuse in the churches. Reporters created a database of two-hundred-twenty church leaders and volunteers. I read those articles each day they came out, then again in one-setting. My soul is still sorrowful from the reading, but what I feel is nothing compared to what the victims and their family members have felt. Dr. Russell Moore is president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention which is the moral and public policy agency of the convention. Moore praised the newspapers’ investigation and said people with “functioning consciences” have been “filled with rage” by the findings. Moore added, the two papers “really did a service to churches by collating together this information, doing the hard work of going through and talking to people who have experienced awful, awful trauma.” Looking back to last year, I realize that I was too naïve again, but I am grateful for leaders who understood the times in which we live. On July 26, 2018, Dr. J. D. Greear, pastor of the Summit Church in Durham, NC and president of the Southern Baptist Convention formed a Sexual Abuse Study Group. It was one of his earliest actions as president. Last year’s press release said: “The group’s purpose will be to consider how Southern Baptists at every level can take discernable action to respond swiftly and compassionately to incidents of abuse, as well as to foster safe environments within churches and institutions. This group will study both how Southern Baptists are currently engaging these issues and develop recommendations in consultation with relevant SBC entities on strategies and resources for ministering to victims and protecting people and churches from predators.” Greear in that same press release said, “How we as a convention of churches care for abuse victims and protect against vile predators says something about what we believe about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our churches should be a refuge for the hurting and a safe haven for the oppressed.” I hope you will join with the growing crowd who will be calling us to rapid, radical, responsible and repeated efforts to protect the vulnerable. Rapid – We must change immediately. Radical – We must change aggressively. Responsible – We must change personally. Repeated – We must change constantly. We cannot turn our eyes away from this matter even though it sickens us. We cannot abandon our personal response to 47,000 convention churches and do nothing in our own local congregation. We cannot expect national, state and associational leaders to police our individual churches. Each one of us must protect the vulnerable. For valuable resources, visit www.bscm.org/abusehelp. 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. #MARCH19

FENTON, MI – Recent reports about sexual abuse in Southern Baptist Churches by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express were heart breaking. Investigative reporters discovered more than 700 victims of sexual abuse and 220 offenders in SBC churches since 1998. The collective response from across the Convention has been one of concern for the victims and a commitment to prevent sexual abuse from ever happening. All 41 state conventions responded quickly and “...committed to partnering with the Sexual Abuse Presidential Study Group to equip churches and ministries in our respective states to engage the issue of abuse with compassion and care. Our desire is for the churches and ministries in our states to become safe for survivors and safe from abuse.” The SBC Executive Committee is recommending a bylaw change to disfellowship churches that demonstrate an indifference to sexual abuse (and racism). Convention President, JD Greear, announced that a new resource called, “Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused” will come out soon. The study will be a free 12 lesson, 20-minute training for ministry leaders. The Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM) wants to lead the way by requiring all Convention employees to take Ministry Safe Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. Ministry Safe is a leader in providing churches and ministries with tools to prevent child sexual abuse proactively. Gregory Love, one of the founders, says: “We want to equip people with the information necessary to understand the risk, see how it unfolds, so they can participate in what is necessary to make sure that the child isn’t placed in harm’s way.” The Sexual Abuse Awareness Training deals with: Facts and Misconceptions Abuser Characteristics The Grooming Process Methods to Reduce Risk Peer to Peer Abuse If a Child Reports Abuse Impact on Children Responsibility to Report As it relates to child abuse, our BSCM is making this training available to every Michigan Baptist pastor free of charge. Pastors, watch for an email with a link to the training. Our hope and prayer is to prevent sexual abuse from ever happening by making resources available to churches. For churches that are interested in using Ministry Safe training for all their children’s workers, we have an agreement with Ministry Safe to provide their service for a greatly reduced price. Contact mike@bscm.org for details. Another critical safety step is for churches to conduct background checks on every person who works with children. This not only protects children, it tells parents, the church family, and the community that we take our responsibility to physically and spiritually care for children seriously. Background checks are about safety, should not be considered optional, but mandatory for all who work with children. LifeWay has an excellent service that provides background checks for as low as $10. The era of thinking it can’t happen to us is over. Real people have experienced a devastating hurt and we grieve over their pain. Let us be the generation of churches and leaders that ends this forever! NOTE: For resources to help those suffering from sexual abuse, please visit bscm.org/abusehelp. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #MARCH19

ROSCOMMON, MI – Here at Bambi we have been covered up with the white stuff for what seems like forever. When spring breaks through everything that was once covered in a sheet of white will become visible again. Covered-up projects left uncompleted will be back on the to-do list along with the unfinished landscaping that was so easy to ignore as long as it was covered-up. When the snow melts, everything that was once hidden will become visible again and require some attention. Honestly, as much as I get tired of the snow, it is nice to to have a rest from weeding, mowing, edging, and all the other yard maintenance stuff. Nevertheless, left unattended the grass and the weeds will become overwhelming and difficult to cut back. I know this for a fact because I have often ignored yard work and just the thought of mowing and trimming the yard back into a manageable situation is overwhelming. The longer it is ignored, the more difficult it is to fix and so on and so on. If I would just do regular maintenance on the yard it would never grow out of control. Well, such is life. I don’t like it but it’s true. My natural tendency in dealing with conflict, relational issues, or frustrating circumstances of any kind is to ignore it, and hope it goes away. Often, in the moment it seems so much easier to ignore the situation. It is easier to cover it up with rationalization, denial or busyness. If I can keep my mind preoccupied then I do not have to think about the problems. Obviously, this does not fix anything. Unfortunately, as broken humans, we use all sorts of coping mechanisms or escapes to white-out anything we don’t want to deal with or see. I like to dive into a project I really enjoy so I can validate the time I’m not spending on fixing the problem. No matter your choice of escape, all are equally wrong because it reinforces our selfish, sinful nature and denies an opportunity for God to intervene. My pride will keep me from experiencing God’s provision. My pride will keep me from experiencing God’s healing in me and in those around me. This will prohibit new growth and fresh life in my relationship with Christ. Spiritual/life maintenance is crucial to our spiritual growth. Colossians 3:12-14 tells us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” As God’s children we are to live life with compassion, humility, meekness and patience so we can continually maintain our relationships with others by holding them up in times of need and forgiving. Love is to be our default heart condition - we should never be without it! Oh the frustration, anger and stress we would avoid if we just maintained our lives with these Godly actions. Imagine the growth we would experience if we just act out of God’s love, and not our own selfishness. Imagine the warmth of healing melting away the cold of bitterness. 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. #MARCH19

Michigan Baptist Convention disaster relief volunteer, Win Williams (far left) of First Baptist Church of Brighton, Mich., received the Robert E. Dixon award during the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief awards banquet on Wednesday, January 23. The award was given for his lifetime of service that helped shape the direction of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The banquet was held in Kansas City, Mo., during the annual meeting of disaster relief leaders from around North America. Ohio Baptist disaster relief coordinator, Sam Kelley (far right), presented Williams with the award. Also pictured: Williams’s wife, Carolyn (second from left and Michigan Baptist disaster relief director, Bob Kiger (second from right). Photo by Brandon Elrod. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #FEBRUARY19

DETROIT, MI (BP) – Not far from Eight Mile Road, a historic racial dividing line in Detroit, more than 100 diverse Southern Baptist pastors, state leaders and laypersons worshipped together on Martin Luther King Jr. day. The 7 p.m. service marked a milestone for 78-year-old African American pastor Robert Coverson, the event's preacher, who marched in Detroit with King during the civil rights movement. Many suburban residents are afraid to cross Eight Mile Road and venture into the deep inner city during the day, Coverson said, let alone after dark. "I saw last night God touching the hearts of people and I saw walls falling," Coverson told Baptist Press the next morning. "I saw hearts being tenderized for the idea of we are our brother's keeper. I saw a new love relationship starting. It was awesome." Pastor Roland Caldwell, vice moderator of the Detroit Baptist Association, hosted the event at Burnette Baptist Church. Mathew Vroman, a white pastor who leads the predominantly black Eastside Community Church (SBC) in Eastpointe, organized the event with Caldwell to help unify the community. "Everything in Detroit breeds race," Vroman told BP, referencing Eight Mile Road, racial riots of the 1960s, and racism that continues. "It was important to remember things that happened and proclaim Christ." The event emphasized unity in Christ, spotlighted the church's efforts to plant diverse churches, and proclaimed Christ while remembering King. "I think it was one of the most significant things I have seen in Southern Baptist life," Vroman said. "Not just talking about it with resolutions, but doing something that matters to the community, as far as making a statement to the African American community." Tim Patterson, executive director and treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM), attended the service. "It was extremely important for our denomination to see all of our pastors come together in a common cause for someone who did so much for so many," Patterson said. "It was a great time of celebration and a great time of remembering the legacy of Dr. King, and it's a great time for us to look forward to in our future and see what we can do together." In 2020, the BSCM plans to host a King celebration at a larger venue allowing statewide participation, he told BP. The BSCM had hoped to host an event this year. "God's called us to be one big family and I believe as we work together," Patterson said, "we can do more together." Such events are vital in displaying Southern Baptist unity and repentance from a slave-holding past, Coverson said, despite Southern Baptist Convention resolutions promoting racial reconciliation and repenting of racial sins. The SBC "has plateaued in the South and if it's going to grow, it has to go to the north," Coverson told BP. "And if it doesn't deal with this issue of confirming through their fruit that they're no longer the organization that historically discriminated against people of color, then people of color will not trust them or want to be a part of what they're doing. "And it hinders the spread of the Word of God in the north." Coverson, pastor of Meditation Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, served as president of BSCM in 2003. Rev. Rochelle Davis Jr. served as the first African American president of the BSCM in 1985-86." During Coverson's presidency, he encouraged the BSCM and state Baptist associations to adopt Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday for employees, which would allow greater denominational participation in such events. "For the first time in the history of our convention, we came together to celebrate a hero, Dr. King, in a way that broke down some walls," Coverson said of the Jan. 22 worship. "We didn't know each other on a personal level. We didn't know each other's story. And last night gave us an opportunity to tell the story. And God's Spirit permeated the place and we'll not be the same anymore." More than 100 people attended the event, Caldwell said. "My dream and vision is that the pastors and churches in the suburbs, and the pastors and the churches here in the inner city will come together and begin to work towards the goal of love," Caldwell said. "The church and Christ are under attack (by the world). They're coming after the church, and that's because we're separated." Caldwell recalled King's statement that 11 a.m. on Sunday marks the most segregated hour in the nation. "Whites stay in their church and the blacks stay in their church," Caldwell said. "Jesus said that by this all men shall know you are my disciples, that you love one another. Love is action. "The reason I joined Southern Baptists," he said, "is because I believe that we have to become one in order to win this battle." 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. #FEBRUARY19

NASHVILLE, TN – As churches become aware of potential safety issues, more are signing up for background check services through LifeWay’s OneSource program. “The numbers have increased dramatically since we began our relationship with backgroundchecks.com,” said LifeWay’s Jennie Morris. “On average, we add 160 customers a month.” Since January 2009, more than 16,000 customers have conducted more than 320,000 screenings with backgroundchecks.com through the LifeWay OneSource program. In 2018, more than 1,800 new churches signed up for the program. Morris said part of the growth comes from offering a $10 price point for a search that includes nationwide sex offender registry, various terrorist watch lists, over 600 million felony, misdemeanor and traffic records searches, as well as Social Security number validation. According to Morris, around half of the searches return some type of offense. Most are only for minor incidents, but historically, close to 2 in 10 discover a misdemeanor or more serious crime. Churches have begun to recognize how pervasive abuse in churches can be. A 2018 LifeWay Research survey found 12 percent of Protestant pastors say someone on church staff has sexually harassed a congregation member at some point in the church’s life, while 16 percent say a staff member has experienced sexual harassment in a church setting. Having some peace of mind is part of the reason Rachel Steele, a ministry assistant at Mountain Creek Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, said their church uses the service. The background checks are the “first level of due diligence,” Steele said. “We want to have a basic idea of who we are working with,” she said. “For volunteers with kids, we need to make sure there are no offenses of note that would make it unwise to allow individuals to serve in those circumstances.” Les Seal served as a pastor at Harper Creek Baptist Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, and started using backgroundchecks.com for individuals working with kids and students. He said it was part of “taking steps to provide a safe and friendly environment for the children.” Protection for children at church is one of the primary reasons Oak Grove Baptist Church in Covington, Tennessee, decided to use backgroundchecks.com through LifeWay, according to Jim Martin, a retired deacon and Sunday School teacher. The church added a background check requirement for all teachers of students to their child protection policy. Martin said no one has been disqualified from serving because of a background check, but church members are at peace knowing someone is checking the history of those working with youth and children. He feels having the background check requirement in place may also have caused some potentially problematic volunteers from ever applying. A lawyer recommended Oak Grove use background checks for their volunteers to not only provide protection for the children, but also legal protection for the church itself. Martin said Oak Grove uses it for Sunday School teachers, AWANA leaders, Upwards coaches, children’s church volunteers, mission trip leaders, and church staff. “If you love kids, you have to protect them from folks with evil intentions,” he said. “You cannot just leave it up to a volunteer selection committee and hope for the best.” For more information on background checks, visit LifeWay.com/backgroundchecks or call (800) 464-2799. For additional resources to help churches prevent sexual abuse or other moral failures by staff members or volunteers, visit the links below: LifeWay.com/OneSource SBCLife.net/pdf/ProtectingOurChildren.pdf SBC.net/churchresources/sexabuseprevention.asp ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Earls is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources. #FEBRUARY19

ALPHARETTA, GA – Today the spiritual needs of North America are as great as ever. Approximately 363 million people live here with a projected 75% who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. Many communities, especially outside the South, have a serious lack of Bible-teaching, Evangelical churches. One look at the headlines tells the story of how secularism has overtaken our region. Poverty, violence, sky-rocketing divorce rates, human trafficking and an overflowing foster care system sadly demonstrate how greatly North America needs the hope of Christ. At the same time, the nations continue to come here in search of a new life. Many immigrants and refugees arrive from unreached people groups and can now hear the gospel for the first time. The opportunities are endless. That’s why the North American Mission Board, in partnership with Southern Baptist pastors and churches, is committed to sending hope. Every gift to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering—100 percent—goes to train, resource and deploy more than 5,000 missionaries involved in church planting and compassion ministries. Together we make a difference by meeting needs, planting churches and discipling new believers. Transformation is taking place one life at a time. Things you want to know about this year’s offering: National Goal - $70 million Week of Prayer for North American Missions – Sunday, March 3 through Sunday, March 10 Offering Theme – Sending Hope Verse – “…He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” – 1 Peter 1:3, CSB Offering Resources Available: www.AnnieArmstrong.com Southern Baptists have generously supported the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American missions since 1933. These sacrificial gifts have made it possible for millions to experience the hope of the gospel through the work of missionaries across the United States, Canada and the territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. #FEBRUARY19

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Philip Nache could have given in to despair. Boko Haram, the jihadist militant group located in Nigeria, had threatened his life, martyred a convert to Christianity and continued to intimidate Christians. But despite the danger, Nache expected to return and serve the people he’d spent nearly 20 years ministering to, pastoring and planting churches among. He had come to the United States to attend Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a moment of divine timing that coincided with Boko Haram’s first threats on his life. As he contemplated whether and how to return to Nigeria, another divine appointment redirected his steps. “At that time, God opened the door for me to come to Minneapolis,” Nache said. “When I was told about the need here in the Twin Cities, I was still thinking of Africa, but after praying, I felt convicted to go to Minnesota.” So, he decided to plan a visit. When he arrived, he was surprised by what he saw. “It’s like I was in Africa—the northern part of Africa. Because I [saw a] basket full of people—Africans,” Nache recalled of his first vision trip to the city. Seeing fellow Africans opened his mind and heart, and Nache’s disposition toward Minneapolis changed. He sensed God’s leading and prepared to go. Nache saw how the nations had come to North America. This year he is a 2019 Week of Prayer missionary for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Missions. When he moved his family to the Twin Cities, Nache discovered a hunger for new churches among the various African populations. They lacked the means to make it happen until Nache arrived with the support of Southern Baptists. “One pastor came to me,” Nache recalled, “and said, ‘Oh, there are a lot of South Sudanese and Ethiopians and so many Africans that are there. I’ve tried even to start a church with them, but I couldn’t because of resources.’” That believer asked Nache if he was willing to reach out to those populations even though many of them were Muslim. Nache’s response was simple, “Why not? This is [why] God has brought me.” Nache joined a group of believers, started reaching out to their neighbors and began house-to-house fellowships. And that’s how God opened the door and established his church, Hope of Nations Gospel Church. Hope of Nations has gone to two services, one for South Sudanese and another for northern Nigerians. Nache and many of his church members have a vision to reach not only their immediate neighbors but the whole world. While in Nigeria, Nache pastored and planted churches, and now God continues to use his ministry in Minneapolis to reach the nations of Africa. In the Twin Cities, Nache said, “we are able to identify potential pastors who desire to go and reach out to their people and plant churches in their own countries.” One such example is Khemis Artema, a refugee from South Sudan. Artema traveled through refugee camps, where he endured physical suffering and lack of medication, before arriving in the United States. Nache said that Artema remained faithful to the Lord through those trials, and now he disciples him so that he can return to South Sudan and plant a church. “They [Artema and his wife] thank God,” Nache said, “that the Lord established this church and they’re able to know Scripture along with their children.” Hope of Nations sent Artema on a short-term trip to South Sudan, which was the trip that solidified God’s calling for him to return. Nache continues to disciple and train future missionaries like Artema. “Our desire is to keep multiplying and reaching out to more people groups, especially people from Africa,” said Nache. He sees donations to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® as a key part of that vision going forward. “I must say that without the help of the Annie Armstrong support that we are getting from the North American Mission Board,” said Nache, “honestly speaking, I don’t think this work will be possible…So, I seriously appreciate and thank God for this offering. Thank God for the churches all over North America that are helping to support this work.” Gifts made to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering go directly to support and resource North American missionaries in the field. To learn more, visit anniearmstrong.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Brandon Elrod writes for the North American Mission Board. #FEBRUARY19