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WINDSOR, ONTARIO – We often measure success by how popular or by how famous someone is. We measure success by our position in the office, by the size of a home, the cost of a car, or the length of a boat. But God uses a very different standard when he measures success. When God measures a man, he doesn’t put the tape measure around his head or his wallet, but around his heart. In 1 Samuel 16 God sends Samuel to Bethlehem to find a king, and this is where we read the familiar statement, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” You cannot measure a man’s effectiveness by the standards of the world. God has different measurements in mind for fathers and grandfathers. There are several measurements we need to consider. Commitment Effective fathers are committed first to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to living their lives for his honor and glory. Don’t be pressed or pressured into the world’s mold (Romans 12:1-2). Be transformed in your heart and mind. Follow Jesus and obey his Word. Your spiritual commitment to Jesus will lead you into a deeper commitment to your wife and your family! Oliver DeVinck was just three months developed in his mother’s womb when his mother had an accident. Gas leaked from the stove in the kitchen, and Catherine lost consciousness. She was rescued a short while later, but when Oliver was born six months later, they discovered he was blind. Eventually the doctors would tell the DeVincks that Oliver not only couldn’t see, but he also had severe brain damage. The gas that Catherine inhaled early in her pregnancy had affected Oliver’s development. The DeVincks asked the examining physician what they might do for their son. The doctor suggested they place him in a group home where he’d be comfortable. Jose and Catherine refused to consider such a possibility. “He is our son,” Jose said. “We will take Oliver home.” “Then take him home and love him,” the doctor replied. They did. For thirty-three years. They had a different definition of commitment. Appreciation The second measurement God uses is appreciation. Effective fathers express their appreciation for their children and to their children often. The Apostle Paul told the church at Philippi that he loved them and longed for them. He said they were his “joy and crown” (Philippians 4:1). Can you imagine what those same words might do in the heart of your son or your daughter? You are my joy and my crown! You are stinking delightful! You’ve got what it takes! Your children, and your spiritual children, need plenty of encouragement and appreciation. One young man said, “Growing up, I remember my dad coming into my room every night after I had slipped under the covers. He would kneel beside my bed and stroke my hair back and then he would tell me something specific that he appreciated about me. “Sometimes my father would focus his comments on my schoolwork or my sports. Often, he would comment on the way I cared for my siblings or helped my mother. But every night I went to sleep knowing that my father loves me and appreciates me.” Time Together Effective fathers also spend time with their families, and they communicate when they are together.  In a survey conducted several years ago, 1500 schoolchildren were asked one simple question: “What do you think makes a happy family?” They didn’t list money, cars, large houses, or computers. The answer they gave most frequently was “doing things together.” What makes a happy family? Doing things together! A debate has raged for years over whether dads need quality time or quantity of time with their children. But you can’t have quality without quantity! You must spend time together for your words of encouragement and advice to find their way into the hearts of your kids and your grandkids. Spiritual coaching Paul specifically addresses fathers in Ephesians 6:4 where he says, “Dads, you need to bring up your children in the training and instruction of the Lord.” We cannot delegate or neglect that assignment. Our first disciple-making responsibility is at home. It’s easy to be intimidated by this, but we need to embrace our role as spiritual leaders in the home. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 tells us to teach God’s Word to our children diligently and talk about the Word when we sit at the dinner table, and when we go for a walk; when we lie down, and when we rise. In other words, dads, take every advantage of every opportunity every day to encourage every one of your children to walk with God. When God measures a man, he doesn’t put the tape measure around his head or his wallet, but around his heart. I believe with all my heart, that in Christ Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work in you, you have what it takes to be an effective father or grandfather. With the resurrection power of Jesus Christ working in you and through you, you will measure up, and you can do this! Happy Father’s Day! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Garth Leno is the Pastor/Planter Care Specialist with the BSCM. He serves in a similar role with the Canadian National Baptist Convention, and he is the founding pastor of The Gathering Church in Windsor, Ontario, a church he planted with his wife, Patty, and a few of their friends. #JUNE24

PLYMOUTH – Father’s Day in my home was always a great day! I knew that as a kid, after church, the smell of charcoal would permeate our backyard and house as we cooked Dad his favorite meal - steak. I still remember it was a big day when Dad finally trusted me to cook it on my own! Once lunch was done, the best apple pie ever made would be for dessert, oftentimes with some homemade vanilla ice cream. My mom set such a great example for my sister and me on how to celebrate my dad on Father’s Day. As I got older, I became more aware of why my dad was worth celebrating. My dad has spent his entire adult life in ministry, and many of those years as a pastor leading country churches. He will never be famous or well-known here on earth, but I am thankful that God allowed me to be raised by a man of God who pursued His Savior, and loves his wife and kids so well. To this day, I know I have a father who loves me and prays for me daily. When I look at Scripture, 1 Corinthians 16:13 comes to mind where Paul wrote: Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. I am glad to say my father lives this verse out daily! We live in a society that has devalued fathers. Because of the vacuum created, so grow up without the example of a good father. Unfortunately, Christians are not exempt from this either. So many in the church have never experienced what a loving, godly father can be in their life. In spite of all of that, we have a heavenly Father who loves us, cares for us, and is strong when we are weak. He sets an example for every father to emulate. Even though Scripture tells us of the glory of God, and how His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts, Scripture also shows us in 1 John 3:1a that he has loved us and chosen us when John wrote, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. As we reflect on our fathers this month, can I encourage the men out there to be men who stand firm in the faith and be strong? Your wife and your family need a husband and father that will lead well. But in that leading, let us never forget to pursue Christ. Be consistent in your walk with Him, stand strong on what Scripture teaches, and never forget to lead through the lens of grace! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Barry Martin is the location pastor for Mile City Plymouth. His wife, April as well as Caleb, Chloe, and Liam have called Michigan home for the past 7 years and love the beauty of up north! Barry enjoys seeing people finding the call that God has on their life and helping them fulfill their purpose. In his free time, Barry loves to golf and spend time coaching basketball. #JUNE24

MONROE – Being a dad is hard. It's one of the greatest privileges we can have, but it's hard. It's hard because no two kids are alike. What specific strategy worked perfectly for your firstborn is all but guaranteed to fail for your second. And once you think you've started to figure out your child, they enter another stage of growth and development, and you wonder when your baby became a young adult. This is on top of all your other responsibilities. In the life of the godly father, we must work to find balance and place a priority on what matters. Here are some principles that fathers everywhere can apply that will help you navigate the challenges of modern life while modeling discipleship for those growing up in your care. Walk with God I know you know this, but my desire is that you will be stirred up by way of this reminder. It can be easy to relegate our relationship with God to a checklist, or even to neglect it altogether for the business and stress of the immediate. Don't give in to this temptation. How has God been speaking to you through His word? What prayer have you been begging God to answer? How have you been refreshed in godly community? Being a godly dad requires being godly. Spend Time with Your Family Husbands are called to love their wives like Jesus loved His church—sacrificially. In part, this means saying "no" to other things so you can say yes to your wife. Moses told the people of Israel to teach their children diligently including when they were sitting at home, taking a walk, going to bed at night, and getting up in the morning. This requires you to be there for these everyday moments, dad. There will be times for all of us that we miss these events on occasion, but is that the rule or exception in your home? Your family needs you more than your church or your job. Your church will call another pastor after you. Your children only have one dad. Prioritize Open Communication Your children will learn a lot from you, but they will also learn a lot without you. Recently our dinner table turned into a discussion of all the inappropriate words my elementary-aged children know. After discussing why some words are appropriate and good while others aren't words that we want to use, my wife and I were grateful that our children were willing to ask us about things they were unsure about without fear of judgment. This can obviously be more difficult at different stages of life and growth, but even (and maybe especially) moms and dads should be quick to hear and slow to speak. Learn to listen to your children. If they don't believe they can speak openly at home, they'll find somewhere else that they can. Seek Community Don't try to do it alone. Surround yourself with other dads doing their best to be godly examples for their families. Be involved in the men's ministry of your church as much as you're able. If there isn't one, talk to your pastor about how you can help get one off the ground. After all, two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. Lean into the opportunity for growth that is only possible as iron sharpens iron and friends sharpen friends. Embrace Grace Be quick to extend grace to your children. There will be days that they won't listen. There will be times when they hear exactly what you're saying and choose to do the opposite. Don't grow weary in doing good, dad. But embrace the grace that God has shown to you and pass that along to your children. And while we're at it, give yourself grace. In the moments that you respond in ways that you regret, acknowledge it, and repent of it knowing that the grace of God is what gives us the ability to be a godly dad anyway. Give Them Jesus You can be what many would consider a good parent without being a godly parent, but you will do your kids a disservice by doing so. Instead, all the other principles ought to serve to strengthen the relationship that you have with your children to help them lay this foundation for themselves. If they choose what our culture calls good without embracing Jesus, they are building their life on sand while a rock is ready to give them stability and salvation. You are the primary tool for discipleship in the life of your children. Give them Jesus. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nate Click has served as the Senior Pastor at Heritage Baptist Church in Monroe, MI, since 2021. He also serves as a member of the Southeastern Baptist Association Leadership Team. #JUNE24

In front of an Olympic venue, her phone camera hovers over the Olympic pin. The link appears and she selects her language, scans the landing page, and then decides she’d like to chat live with someone. Hesitatingly, she types “Hello” and waits. Three gray dots bounce up and down, indicating someone is responding. The answer comes from a digital responder who’s sitting on their couch, nursing a coffee as they wait anxiously for this moment. From there, a conversation starts, diving into the “Who am I” question she and so many people grapple with today. Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life, the volunteer shares, and then they talk about who we are in Christ. This is the kind of interaction IMB missionaries are hoping and praying for. Thousands of people from across the globe will descend on the city that’s home to the Eiffel Tower for the Olympics. The IMB has ministered at many Olympics, and volunteers who’ve traveled to the global cities have long been crucial to their ministry strategy. While ministry has been successful, interactions are often fleeting as visitors scatter. That’s where digital engagement strategies come in. While volunteers are traveling to Paris to serve, people can also minister from their living rooms. How? The IMB is using a digital engagement strategy that will extend the on-the-ground evangelism. Brant Bauman serves with the IMB as a digital engagement strategist in Europe. He said pin trading is a favorite Olympic pastime, and for many years, Southern Baptists have used custom-designed pins in their outreach. Bauman and other missionaries created three pins, each available at a different location, so pin traders have multiple opportunities for gospel conversations with on-the-ground volunteers. The Olympic pins have an NFC tag (near-field communication), which, with just a tap of one device to another, takes you to a website with questions and information about who Jesus is. It has a YouVersion Bible reading plan, and there’s the option to chat live with a biblical responder who speaks one of the 16 languages the team chose. Messages from interested people will also be coming in from online social media ads, that will run both in Paris and around the world. What this strategy relies on is people who are willing to be responders to these “chat now” requests. Bauman said without responders who speak different languages, gospel conversations with people asking about Jesus can’t happen. This approach expanded on the digital engagement strategy used in Ukraine and with Ukrainian refugees. QR codes connected Ukrainians with Ukrainian speakers who were available to chat. Potential Olympic responders may have wanted to travel to Paris to serve physically but couldn’t for varying reasons like finances, health or the timing, Bauman said. Signing up to serve as a responder is a crucial need. He noted the incredible diversity and language skillsets in the U.S. could serve. IMB alumni also make for ideal responders, he continued. “Alumni have cultural knowledge. They’ve spent time on the field. They have language because they lived there,” Bauman said. The Olympics and Paralympics start in mid-July and run through the beginning of September. Digital responders can sign up for a week-long virtual mission trip where they’ll be on call to answer chat requests. Volunteers will go through onboarding training that will expand on the strategy and give talking points. People who chat with a responder during the Olympics can be connected to a missionary serving in their country so that communication can continue long-term. That’s the beauty of this digital engagement strategy. Bauman gave the example of a South African spectator who comes to the Olympics and talks with a volunteer on the ground who gives them a pin. They scan the pin and talk with a digital responder about who they can be in Christ, and then, when they return to South Africa, they are connected to a missionary who continues the gospel sharing. “This is where the IMB shines. We are well-connected people,” Bauman said. For those interested in being a digital responder, click here. People can also sign up to pray at certain times. Prayer prompts will be sent daily. If this summer isn’t convenient, Bauman said this strategy will live on past the 2024 Olympics. His team is looking to use it at World Cups, future Olympics and other large-scale sporting events. Stay tuned for future opportunities to serve as a digital responder. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tessa Sanchez writes for the IMB. #JUNE24

As my good friend Mark Hallock says: “We can’t do this alone, which is why a replanting movement must be made up of churches, pastors and denominational leaders who practice humble, radical cooperation.” Churches help renew, revitalize and replant other churches by sending people and resources and sharing expertise. Increasingly we are seeing more formal and official partnerships like fostering, adoption and “campusing,” which are aiding churches to experience new seasons of vitality and growth. Even if you are not ready for a formal step, a congregation of any size can find opportunities to help a sister congregation. Before jumping in, answer these five questions: 1. Have you checked your motives? This step may seem less than necessary and unimportant but it is one of the most important first steps. I have seen partnership conversations breakdown because motives aren’t clearly evaluated. Are you engaging to help or rescue? Do you want to extend your church’s name or brand more widely? If you want to help a sister church out of a genuine desire to enable kingdom advance (read God’s Kingdom, not your church’s kingdom and influence), then you’re likely ready to take a step toward partnership. 2. What types of partnership are you offering? I love baseball, and one of the truisms is that every pitcher has to know his pitch. He can’t throw everything; he likely specializes in one or two. Do you know what kind of partnership God has equipped and called your church to provide? Some of the best partnerships are short term: church fostering, coaching and resourcing.  These are great ways to “test” out partnership before jumping into more permanent models like adoption and campusing. 3. Are you ready to go slow? Declining and struggling churches often are fearful. They know they need to change but fear the potential impact any change could have on the few remaining attenders and members. This means they’ll likely have a zillion questions that they will need answered more than once. They’ll want time to think and pray, rethink and pray again, which means helping churches have to hold loosely to timelines. Patience is key here, and slow ends up being faster than you think. 4. Do you need the credit? The simple reality is this: When a church is renewed, revitalized or replanted, the one who deserves all the credit is God. Sure, you may have been invited to play a part in the work of renewal, but you didn’t renew a cold and callus heart. God did that. You didn’t cause someone to cross the line between spiritual death and life. God did that. You didn’t breakdown preferences, prejudices and traditions. God did that. If you’re ready to give all glory to God, you might be ready to help a struggling or declining church. 5. Can you walk away? On average, it seems that 3 out of 10 churches that engage in some sort of conversation or renewal process actually end up experiencing renewal. That’s not great, but it’s also not bad. Sometimes a church has to make several runs at renewal before finally hitting the breakthrough point. If you aren’t ready to engage and experience resistance, pushback and rejection – if you’re not read to disengage and walk away and allow a church to season and warm to the Gospel and change – you might not be fully ready to help. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Bob Bickford is a Replant Pastor in suburban St. Louis, serves as the Associate Director of Replant for the North American Mission Board and is the co-author of Am I a Replanter, Pathways to Partnership and the Associational Replanting Guide. Follow Bob on twitter @bobick. #JUNE24

According to data analysis, a decline in reporting among Southern Baptist congregations may be leading to an undercounting of attendance. Officially, attendance at Southern Baptist congregations grew 6% in 2023, but it’s likely the actual gains are even higher. According to Lifeway Research analysis of the Annual Church Profile (ACP) data collected by Southern Baptist state conventions, a decline in reporting among churches is likely leading to an undercounting of attendance numbers. In 2013, 80% of Southern Baptist-affiliated congregations reported at least one number for the ACP. That percentage has steadily declined, falling to 69% in recent years. The 11-point decline in reporting in the past decade impacts the current numbers. The 2023 ACP reported the total weekly worship service attendance at Southern Baptist-affiliated congregations to be more than 4 million. Better reporting from churches could lead to a corrected number closer to 4.6 million. Southern Baptist-affiliated congregations reported a total weekly worship service attendance average of more than 4 million. Better reporting from churches could lead to a number closer to 4.6 million. “By any estimate, average worship attendance totals combined for all Southern Baptist congregations is still below pre-pandemic levels,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “However, looking at the reported totals in 2019 and 2023 alone gives the erroneous impression that 23% of attendees have not returned. That is not the case.” Declining reporting Around 7 in 10 Southern Baptist congregations (69%) reported at least one item for the ACP in 2023. When you remove those who only reported a financial item, however, only 61% of congregations reported any other statistics in 2023. In 2019, 75% provided at least one item, and 71% reported at least one non-financial number. Reporting percentages also vary dramatically by state convention. More than 9 in 10 Southern Baptist-affiliated congregations in New England (98%), Illinois (97%) and Montana (93%) reported at least one non-financial item in the 2023 ACP. Fewer than 3 in 10 congregations did the same in California (22%) and both the state conventions in Texas—Baptist General Convention of Texas (25%) and Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC) (27%). Among the state conventions, 30 saw a decline in reporting non-financial information since 2019, including Colorado (a 40-point drop), New York (28-point), Arizona (25-point) and SBTC (23-point). Only seven saw an increase in reporting percentages. Those include Minnesota-Wisconsin (a 33-point jump), Nevada (12-point), Utah-Idaho (11-point), Iowa (7-point) and Hawaii-Pacific (7-point). “We want to include each congregation every year in the statistical picture of what is happening in the Southern Baptist Convention,” said McConnell. “However, each year is a brand-new effort to invite congregations to participate and for a leader in a church to take the time to gather the statistics. Each year’s report is a beautiful picture of cooperation, but unfortunately, the picture doesn’t include everyone.” The drop in reporting is not the only issue complicating current in-person worship attendance numbers. Not only are fewer churches reporting, but this under-reporting causes pandemic-era attendance statistics to influence current numbers. Missing attendance numbers To account for churches that are still affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) but do not always report their attendance or other data through the ACP, Lifeway Research attempts to compensate for the missing data by using previous years’ information for some statistics. Without this, statistics would depend entirely on every church reporting every year and cause potentially wild fluctuations in the attendance numbers, according to McConnell. To prevent the current attendance statistics from being influenced by out-of-date reporting, Lifeway Research statisticians only include numbers from up to two years ago from churches that did not report attendance in the current year. Any numbers from 2021 and 2022 used in 2023 do not reflect the in-person rebound churches have experienced since COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. However, total SBC membership numbers are not as dependent on specific church reporting because adjustments to membership are not limited by time. The last number the congregation reported is used. A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant churches in August 2023 found the average church had reached 89% of their pre-COVID in-person worship service attendance, up from 60% in January 2021. According to the ACP data, Southern Baptist congregations were significantly lower than the average, rebounding to 77% of their previous attendance average. However further analysis found Southern Baptists are likely to be much closer to the national Protestant average in 2023. Comparing Southern Baptist-affiliated congregations that reported in both 2019 and 2023, the average congregation is at 88% of their pre-pandemic attendance. This indicates that if reporting returned to pre-pandemic levels, the attendance numbers in Southern Baptist congregations and conventions could potentially lead to a worship service attendance number closer to 4,600,000 than the current 4,050,668. “An estimate of this type never replaces actual reporting from churches,” said McConnell. “More than 4 million worship attendees in a typical week were accurately reported for 2023. But the higher number that is estimated keeps us from concluding that the attendance rebound is progressing worse than it really is.” For more information, view the 2023 ACP State Convention Reporting Comparison report. Lifeway Research studies can be used and referenced in news articles freely. This news release can also be republished in its entirety on other websites and in other publications without obtaining permission. Methodology The Annual Church Profile (ACP) is an annual statistical census of Southern Baptist congregations conducted cooperatively by local associations, state conventions and Lifeway Christian Resources. Around 7 in 10 Southern Baptist churches (69%) reported at least one item on the 2023 ACP. Projections are made using the attendance numbers of congregations that reported in 2019 and 2023 and applying those changes across the Southern Baptist Convention. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Earls is the senior writer at Lifeway Research. #JUNE24

NAZARETH, ISRAEL (BP) – As a 15-year-old high school student in Nazareth, Arab Christian Yasmeen Mazzawi wanted to learn the history of the Jews she met volunteering as a paramedic with Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical services. Her decision to visit Auschwitz with a team of MDA volunteers challenged her friendships with Muslim and Christian classmates at Nazareth Baptist School, founded by Southern Baptist missionaries in 1935. As her classmates and even teachers ostracized her, Mazzawi responded by embarking on a successful campaign to spread cross-cultural understanding among Israel’s diverse population of Jews, Christians, Arabs, Muslims and others. She spoke at nongovernmental organizations, schools and youth camps across Israel, and utilized social media. “To bridge between Arabs and Jews, to me that was a huge success. They understood that after they met the people, the Jewish people, they are just like us,” Mazzawi said of her classmates. “What connects us at the end of the day is values. Christians by themselves are different. I think this is the beauty of the world, that we are different. It’s like this mosaic and each one brings his added value and his own beauty to this world.” Her Christian faith and love of humanity drive her continued commitment to cross-cultural understanding during the Israel-Hamas War. Volunteering with MDA, she treats soldiers and civilians injured on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, combat overshadowed by the center of the war in Gaza. “Arabs and Jews, all of us work together to save lives,” Mazzawi said, describing MDA forces composed of Arabs, Christians, Jews, Muslims and Bedouins from very diverse backgrounds. “We are very dedicated and we love what we do.” She believes rising antisemitism since the Oct. 7 attack on Southern Israel stems from a lack of understanding. Particularly on U.S. college campuses, where students called for divestiture from Israel and freedom for Palestine, she believes scholarly conversations could have eased tensions. “I grew up on values. We grew up loving the other, accepting the other,” Mazzawi said. “If you try maybe to talk to one another, I’m pretty sure a huge percentage of these people will maybe not change their minds, but they can step back and maybe understand from the beginning.” On Oct. 7, Mazzawi had planned to travel to Mannheim Business School in Germany, where she completed her studies in November, but the attack changed her plans. “I stayed here in Israel in case there was anything I could help with. I stayed with my Jewish friends, and Arab friends were in the South,” she said. “We have to be here together, especially these days. We have to be united. We have to show that we are different here in Israel. We are diverse, but at the end of the day, we’re together, and we have to put politics away.” Many of her friends in Southern Israel were killed in the attack, and others were taken hostage. “What happened here in Israel was horrible. We found ourselves for two weeks going from home to home, to friends, staying with them and strengthening them,” she said of her family. “It was a really hard time.” She relies on her faith and fellow MDA volunteers for strength and resilience in war, leading paramedic teams into danger as others run for cover. Teams of paramedics systemically treat the most severe cases first, whether soldiers or civilians. “There’s always this fear. When we go to the borders, it’s dangerous, and I have to make sure everyone’s safe,” Mazzawi said. “We have to separate our minds from our hearts. We have to do everything we can to save lives. It’s not easy, but we know how to do it well. We are very dedicated and we love what we do. “Military teams are ready. We know how to deal with these situations. It’s very amazing if I zoom out and look at the scene, it’s just amazing how you see everyone working together.” She encourages others to look beyond politics and learn Israel’s history and contemporary culture. “Many people have lack of knowledge about Jews and Israel. They are talking about politics, but many in Israel don’t agree with politics,” she said. “Many Jews and Arabs don’t agree with current situation in Israel. “At the end of the day, Israel is an amazing country. People here want to live in peace. People here love one another.” She finds comfort in her belief that God is in control, and her hope for a brighter future. “My faith, it helps me with the fear,” she said. “I have this belief that our Heavenly Father is with us, and I believe He brought me here to make a difference. Things happen for a reason at the end of the day.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer. #JUNE24

As a Baptist who pastored in Catholic New Orleans for a decade, I came away with an appreciation for Lent. I have never given up chocolate. But some years I have shortened my screen time. Most years I add a devotional practice—a special Bible study or focused prayer topic. This year God shut all that down. The first day of the 50 preceding Easter coincided with Valentine’s Day this year. That day I had a relatively minor outpatient procedure that promised a couple of weeks off my feet, out of the pulpit in my interim pastorate, and working from home. That short break soon turned into several weeks of complications and nasty reactions that eventually put me in the hospital, as too many doctors tried to deduce the cause and staged a series of scientific experiments. On a spiritual level, my world shrank to silence. I haven’t experienced that often, but it has happened before. As a pastor seeking direction for a congregation, and most notably during my wife’s cancer journey, there were times when God’s answers on a particular need seemed a long time coming. But, I may say, this was my first encounter with total silence. Maybe it was the drugs. From Ash Wednesday to Good Friday, I felt God had dropped a small dome over me. No sound coming in, and as best I could tell, no prayer making it out. Huddled in this zone of silence, my vision was too blurry to read and I couldn’t form a cogent string of thoughts to direct Godward. I remember several days where my only movement was to sit by the window in the early hours, waiting for the nurse to dispense my next eligible dose and hoping the black sky would assume a tinge of gray. And whispering, “Lord, help me.” I don’t want to expand this beyond proportion. I was only in the hospital a week. Concerned people visited, the medical community was diligent, and friends in several churches assured me of their prayers. But for a long while, God seemed distant. I was missing the usual sense of his engagement. As my “help me’s” settled back from the brass ceiling, the silence was deafening. Some have called this the “heavens as brass” phenomenon. The term comes from God’s warning to the Hebrews that disobedience would disrupt their communication with him. “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron,” Yahweh said through Moses before the nation was to enter the promise land (Deut. 23:28 KJV). Since then, the term has expanded to any period when God seems silent. Disobedience is not the only cause, more recent observers would point out. There’s illness or some other impediment. I was keen enough to realize that the good friends who visited, the nurses who dropped by from other floors, and Christian caregivers who shared meds and faith were his way of speaking in the season when I couldn’t hear. Even in the zone of silence, the love of God is never in doubt. A silent season will cultivate in us the desire to listen more carefully. In rattle and bang of earthquake and storm, Elijah did not hear from God. Not until the prophet himself grew quiet did God utter a still, small voice at the mouth of cave. “What are you doing here, Elijah?” takes deeper meaning when it’s the first thing you hear after an extended period of hearing nothing. Silence has the effect of focusing our listening. Silence whets hunger in the heart for a fresh word from God. Silence stirs willingness to receive a word we might not have received before. “You’re sick. Hush up and get well. Take better care of yourself.” “You’re disobedient. Stop it and behave.” “You’re running. Turn around and go back.” “You’re impatient. Give me time. I’m working on it.” These are all words from God we might not seek, but we need to hear. On Good Friday, the season of silence ended. God lifted the brass dome. Back at church revisiting the words of Jesus from the Cross, I was reminded of the Son’s endurance of the Father’s silence—until Resurrection Morning, when all communication was restored. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eric Reed is IBSA media editor. #JUNE24

Based on their perspective on missing services for travel sports, many churchgoers see the potential impact differently than their pastors. Growing up, Aaron Bryant may have dreamed of playing in the NFL, but his family would’ve never dreamed of skipping church. Bryant was part of the Tennessee Titans when they made the Super Bowl in 1999. Despite playing multiple sports in high school, he says he rarely missed church services because of it. “Primarily, my parents prioritized corporate worship for our family and established a precedent that our time with our church family on Sunday mornings was more important than anything else,” he said. Today Bryant is the teaching pastor at the Church at Avenue South in Nashville, and like many pastors, sees some families missing because of sports. A Lifeway Research study of both U.S. Protestant pastors and churchgoers found most in both groups believe it’s OK to miss church occasionally for a kid’s game or travel sporting event, but those in the pews are laxer on the issue than those behind the pulpit. “Our culture no longer expects large numbers of people to be in church each week, so increasingly other events are also scheduled on Sundays,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Families whose kids play sports often have to choose between attending church or being with their team.” Pastoral perspective More than 1 in 3 U.S. Protestant pastors (36%) say it’s never OK to skip a weekly worship service for kid’s games or travel sporting events, but almost 3 in 5 (58%) see at least some allowance for missing in those circumstances. Around 3 in 10 (29%) believe it’s acceptable once or twice a year. A quarter (26%) say a few times a year, while 3% say many times a year. Another 6% say they aren’t sure. Pastors 65 and older (43%) are among the most likely to say it’s never acceptable. Evangelical pastors are more likely than mainline pastors to say never (40% v. 28%). Those at the smallest churches, less than 50 in attendance, are also more likely than pastors at the largest churches, 250 or more, to believe skipping for sports is never OK (38% v. 24%). Regardless of how accepting their pastor may be, Bryant said families often feel overwhelmed by all their tasks and events and feel as if they need to make a choice. “Unfortunately, for the children, when they choose to eliminate something from their schedules, it’s often corporate worship involvement so they can continue to remain involved with team sports,” he said. Nate Walter, pastor at Goshen Christian Church in Goshen, Indiana, says the impact of travel sports on his congregation grew after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. “There are many families with kids that we won’t see for the entire summer because they are constantly traveling to a different tournament,” he said. Recent research agrees. A report published by the Aspen Institute found children ages 6-18 spent an average of 13.6 hours per week playing sports, including 4.6 hours of practice and 3.7 hours of competition, before COVID-19. While those all dropped during the pandemic, by September 2022, children were involved in sports for 16.6 hours per week, with 8.1 hours of practice and 3.7 hours of competition. According to Wintergreen Research, travel sports has grown into a $39 billion-a-year industry and is projected to reach $72 billion by 2029. Walter also noted school sports and activities have crept into Sundays. “As many schools are limited to one gymnasium, they have to find time for all the athletic programs to practice, and Sunday evening is becoming a very common time,” he said. “This drastically affected our Sunday evening youth activities.” Still, Bryant said he and his wife encourage their children to be involved in sports and extra-curricular activities, but they discuss together how it might affect their family. When advising other parents, Bryant said he encourages them to affirm their child’s desire to be involved in sports even if it involves some travel. “Sports mirror the game of life, and our kids can learn perseverance, accountability, hard work, humility, teamwork and much more from sports,” he said. “However, I would caution all parents to count the cost and the impact sports will have on their child’s spiritual development, the impact it will have on their marriage, finances, etc.” View from the pews Based on their perspective on missing services, many churchgoers see the potential impact differently than their pastors. Fewer than 1 in 5 U.S. Protestant churchgoers (18%) say it is never OK to skip church for kid’s sports. Around 3 in 4 (74%) believe it’s acceptable at least occasionally, including 22% who say once or twice a year, 39% a few times a year and 13% many times a year. Another 9% say they aren’t sure. More than 1 in 3 U.S. Protestant pastors (36%) say it’s never OK to skip a weekly worship service for kid’s games or travel sporting events compared to fewer than 1 in 5 churchgoers (18%). As with pastors, age is a factor for how likely a churchgoer is to see missing church for sports as OK. Those 50 and older are more likely than adults under 35 to say it’s never acceptable (20% v. 12%). Churchgoers 65 and older (7%) are the least likely to believe it’s OK to skip many times a year, while those under 35 (26%) are the most likely. Additionally, churchgoers who attend more frequently are less accepting of skipping because of sporting events. Those who attend one to three times a month (45%) are more likely than those who attend four or more times (35%) to say missing a few times a year is OK. Meanwhile, those less frequent attenders (12%) are less likely than those who attend more often (22%) to say it’s never acceptable to miss because of a child’s game. For churchgoers who do decide to miss because of sports, Bryant encourages the whole family to capitalize on the opportunity. “Perhaps you will be able to share the gospel with someone on the team, or another parent, who would otherwise never attend a worship service,” he said. “But those gospel engagements won’t happen accidentally, so you’ll have to be proactive and intentional.” When he’s coaching sports, Frankie Creel says this is his mindset. Creel, an elder at CrossLife Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, coaches high school sports and used to coach a travel softball team. His daughter is still part of a travel team. “If I am coaching, I use it as an opportunity to talk to the ladies about their identity in Christ and use it as a time of study and discipleship,” he said. They try to avoid Sunday games but there are occasional major tournaments that lead to them missing four to five Sundays during the summer. “As long as it is not an absurd amount of time, I am OK,” he said. Creel encouraged parents to ask themselves why they want to be involved in sports before committing. He said for younger players, he would avoid travel as much as possible. Camps and one-day tournaments can help those athletes continue to develop. Once the child reaches 10th grade and wants to play beyond high school, he said those larger tournaments become more necessary. For Creel, churches can serve parents of travel sports athletes by creating “resources that encourage parents to have Christ-centered conversations with their kids, whether its online sermons, books or just tools to help disciple the child.” Bryant says they are working to equip and encourage parents at the Church at Avenue South, and they’ve seen some results. “Some parents are now embracing more than ever that all 168 hours in a week are important for reinforcing biblical truths, not just taking their children to church for one hour of corporate worship on Sundays,” he said. “Some are repurposing the time they have with their children, whether in the car during the trip or around the team hotel to invest the gospel in their children.” Lifeway Research studies can be used and referenced in news articles freely. This news release can also be republished in its entirety on other websites and in other publications without obtaining permission. Methodology The phone survey of 1,004 Protestant pastors was conducted Aug. 29, 2023 – Sept. 20, 2023. 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 at the church. Responses were weighted by region and church size to reflect the population more accurately. The completed sample is 1,004 surveys. The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error 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. 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. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron Earls is the senior writer at Lifeway Research. #JUNE24

PLYMOUTH – Church Revitalization is the process of leading a plateaued or declining church toward a healthy growth, which begins when church leaders and church members come to the realization that the church is not healthy. Therefore, to begin church revitalization, it is important that we have a clear understanding of what a healthy church is and have an honest examination of our church. So why do we begin our discussion with the topic of the health of the church? Simply because most churches today do not realize that they are unhealthy. What we have found in the churches today is only 10% are healthy, 40% demonstrate symptoms of being sick, 40% are very sick, and 10% are dying. Therefore, it is critical to discuss and understand what a healthy church looks like. What is a healthy church? What is the purpose of the church? Is a healthy church always expanding numerically? These are all good questions, and there are several church growth principles that attempt to answer these questions. However, very few growth principles identify the need for a theological foundation, which I believe is essential for a healthy church. The model below developed by Dr. Chuck Lawless, a seminary professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary addresses the need for a strong theological foundation. The model is built with the goal in mind to make disciples, and contains three areas of focus: Theological Foundation, 6 Purposes of a Church and Application: Theological Foundation A healthy church must first have a theological foundation based on knowing God and who they are individually and corporately in Christ. This theological foundation is non-negotiable, and it is important that the foundation be biblically and theologically sound. Dr. Lawless’ approach is built on the first three chapters of Ephesians where Paul provides a strong theological foundation on which we should build our church. The problem exists when churches think that simply just teaching the Word somehow produces congregations with an orthodox theology. Unfortunately, this is a false assumption, and cannot be further from reality. To have a strong theological foundation it takes deliberate and intentional strategy on teaching theology and doctrine in our churches. 6 Pillars of a Church The pillars represent the purposes of the church as described in the scriptures: great commission (Matt 28), the great commandment (Matt 22), and the portrayal of the early church (Acts 2). The 6 pillars are: Exalt God through worship (Matthew 22:36-37 Acts 2:43,47) Evangelize the world through proclamation and missions (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:41,47) Equip believers through teaching and mentoring (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 2:42) Edify others through ministry and service (Matthew 22:39, Acts 2:44-45) Encounter God through prayer (Acts 2:42) Encourage one another through fellowship (Acts 2:42,46) Application Now we move to the rooftop which is the Application. This is built on the final 3 chapters of Ephesians where the emphasis shifts from the first three chapters of Ephesians which is focused on theology to the evidence of our faith. Here we find Paul focusing on the believers walk “In the manner worthy of our calling” This evidence of our faith is essential because who we are in Christ must affect every area of our life. Therefore, the Application identifies 4 areas of faith: our personal walk (Eph 4:1-6:9) at home (5:22-6:4), church (4:2-5:21) and workplace (6:5-9). As we began our discussion on Church Revitalization, we find it begins with the examination of the health of the church. As we look upon the model presented by Dr. Lawless and examine the church we need to ask these 4 critical questions: Are we intentionally teaching sound doctrine and theology? Are we living out the 6 purposes of the Church? Are we applying the gospel to all areas of our lives? At the cross are we preaching Christ – the Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascending, and Coming Again? The answers to these questions will help you determine on a scale of 1 to 10 where your church health is today. To have further discussion on church health and revitalization feel free to reach out to gary@bscm.org ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gary is a Church Revitalization Coach and Consultant for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, with 35+ years of experience working for companies like EDS and IBM as a director working closely with organizations worldwide to enable the execution of strategic initiatives. He has served in a variety of positions with Youth for Christ International, involved in teaching ministries for several churches, and a church elder. He received Certificates in Biblical Studies and Theology, New Testament, and Christian Apologetics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Gary is married to his wife Odena for over 39 years and has two children and seven grandchildren. #MAY24

PLYMOUTH – When my granddaughters were younger, they spent a lot of time with us in our home. It seemed we were always driving somewhere, so I would take those prime opportunities and teachable moments to talk with them about what was going on in their young lives. On one occasion, Sarah had shared some things that had happened with one of her friends that had her concerned. Thinking she was ready to talk about those concerns or maybe some other concern, I started what I assumed was a rather deep conversation with Sarah as I asked her, “What is something you are worried about?” She didn’t take two seconds to respond, and promptly responded with, “I’m worried about what my husband will look like when I grow up.” I had to suppress a giggle, but thought, if we were all honest, we at one time or another, wondered that same thing. When I met my future husband, Tim, I wasn’t concerned with his looks because he was quite handsome, but my whole world did center around him as I searched for the answers I was looking for in a husband. Were we compatible? Did he love Jesus and follow Him as much or more than I did? Is he compassionate and sensitive to my needs? Would he treat me the way my father treated my mother and so on. But the one thing I never even considered was that I was not only getting a husband, but I was getting a mother-in-law as well. It wasn’t even an option! Every one of us who is married or has married children, know what it is like to be a mother-in-Law. It is for that reason that I wanted to take this Mother’s Day article in a different direction this year, as I reflected on my “other” mother as well as being the “other” mother in my own daughters-in-law’s lives. God has shared with us one of the most famous mothers-in-law in His Word. Naomi, from the book of Ruth, is a biblical example of what a special blessing it is to be a mother-in-Law. We are not privileged with a look at how Naomi cared for her own sons, but we do have the privilege of having God’s Word paint a beautiful picture of Naomi’s qualities of kindness and care for others, and her sacrifice as a mother-in-law. We also see that she was a perfect example to others of faithfully and sacrificially following her husband, Elimelech, to a foreign country during a difficult time in her own homeland. How many of us would willingly leave our families, our customs, our language, our food preferences… all that we knew and take our children to travel to a foreign country? That was the sacrifice this wife and mother made. It was this same attitude towards loving and following her husband that was passed on to her daughters-in-law as we see Ruth live that out in following Naomi to a foreign land herself. Naomi’s encouragement to her widowed daughters-in-law to stay in their homeland while she returned to her home by herself, was a selfless act. She was all alone and without her husband or sons, but still encouraged her daughters-in-law to remain behind. Ruth 1:8-9 Naomi told them to “go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Because Naomi was an exemplary mother-in-law, one of her daughters-in-law, Ruth, refused to leave her. The two of them formed a deep relationship that took on the form that one only sees in a mother/daughter relationship. Naomi became an excellent example of faithfulness and was a source of strength and advice for Ruth that was much needed as she faced a new life in a foreign country without any man to provide for her. Even during Naomi’s suffering and loneliness as the result of her own severe loss, she thought about Ruth’s well-being and made it her mission to find Ruth a new husband. So, on this day of giving honor to our mothers, I wanted to bring to your mind a different kind of mother. Naomi offers us a wonderful lesson when it comes to self-sacrifice and compassion for others. She gives us a lens through which we may see beyond our myopic perspective. From her point of view, we are given the privilege of being able to focus on the goodness, care and comfort of our loved ones, understanding how precious a gift they are from God, though they may not be birthed from our bodies. I want to encourage mothers-in-Law to love your daughters-in-law (and sons-in-law) well.  Choose to love them as much as you would love your own children. I also admonish daughters-in-law and sons-in-law to have a heart that is grateful for the God-given gift of your mother-in-Law. I know from experience, even if they don’t walk with Jesus, your spouse’s mother has many life lessons she can extend to you, resulting in a better life for you and your family. It’s your choice to look for them. Naomi’s life was guided by faithfulness toward God and because of that faithfulness and in spite of all her losses, she found the true joy of being loved once again, not by a man, but by the daughter with which God had blessed her with. May your faithfulness and love for your Heavenly Father fill your heart with that kind of love for your mother-in-law. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sabrina is the wife of Tim Patterson, Executive Director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. My greatest accomplishment is being the mother of my two sons, Micah and Aaron, and the Mother-in-law to my two daughters-in-law and the proud Grammie/GeeGee to my five grandgirls. My heart's desire in ministry is to see women of all ages fall in love with spending time with God and His Word. #MAY24

NASHVILLE (BP) – “Welcome to the 2027 NFL Draft! We’re coming to you from the Caesar’s Sportsbook Stage, courtesy of BetMGM, with additional commentary from the DraftKings desk back in the studio. But as we watch the FanDuel blimp circling above the festivities, we first have this word from Genius Sports, the exclusive sports betting data provider of the NFL.” The only thing matched by the pomp and festivities of the NFL Draft, held tonight in Detroit, may be the level at which gambling has become entwined with the league (All the companies in the fake intro are actual NFL partners). The concern spreads to all sports. When baseball’s biggest star becomes embroiled in a $41 million betting scandal, people begin to wonder about gambling’s ultimate payout. “We want to show that the detriments are more than the benefits,” said Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. “Gambling supporters point to the tax revenue and how it can help fund education.” He specifically targets predatory gambling such as sports betting, parimutuel horse racing and video poker machines. There is a definite grooming aspect to draw people, even minors, into participating. “We’ve seen the data on how addictive gambling can be and that up to one-third of gamblers will attempt suicide,” he said. “It’s going to end up costing you.” A bad deal A 2018 Supreme Court decision took out a federal ban on state authorization for sports betting that had exempted Nevada. Other states jumped at the opportunity practically overnight, and today 38 of them offer legal gambling. Legislatively, there is little connecting California and Georgia. But they are the only two states where sports gambling legislation has been defeated. A 2022 rejection by California voters has set up a massive showdown over the issue. As sports betting has gathered steam, though, many are beginning to wonder if it is out of control. Studies show how it rewires the brain. A late three-pointer can affect the point spread and bring death threats, as one Purdue basketball player experienced this year. Andrew Hurley is a senior walk-on for the national champion University of Connecticut. Occasionally his coach and dad, Dan, would put him in at the end of Huskies blowouts and the younger Hurley will hear chants to shoot the ball. He would wonder later if money was riding on those shots. “It’s scary at the end of games,” he told the Boston Globe. “I don’t fully understand how much of [sports betting] works. … During the game I’m not thinking about that, but in the locker room after the game I’m thinking, ‘I hope nobody is out there jumping me for what I did in the game.’” Increasing effects The NFL previously had never broached the idea of having anything to do with Las Vegas due to its gambling background, and yet there was Sin City hosting the Super Bowl in February. The result was a record $185.6 million in wagers on the game by Nevada’s sportsbooks. Sure, there were winners in those bets. But as everyone knows, there are far more losers than winners. States are noticing an alarming rise in calls to gambling hotlines, with numbers more than doubling. It’s costing homes and relationships and skewing toward men in their 20s and 30s. “We believe, nationwide, the rate and severity of gambling problems have increased across the United States since 2018,” said Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling which operates a helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER, in an NBC News report. Griffin is in his 11th year as Public Policy representative. His predecessor, the late Ray Newman, was also pushing back on attempted sports betting legislation as early as 2010. This year there were at least 12 gambling bills, which Griffin shared in detail in a column for Georgia Baptists’ state news journal, The Christian Index. He knows he’ll have to suit up for battle again next year against gambling proponents. “It won’t stop trying until Jesus comes back,” he said. “They are misled into thinking that they can fix a problem by regulating it. … If you regulate it too well, though, there won’t be as much money to make. You need the problem gamblers. You need to increase the opportunities to gamble and entice more people to do it. “The house has to win.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is national correspondent for Baptist Press. #MAY24