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WINDSOR, ONTARIO – The most famous parenting verse in the book of Proverbs says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Rarely is a proverb so often quoted and so often misunderstood. “Train up a child” has become the slogan of parenting seminars. It gets referenced as a surefire promise. We see it printed on banners for the annual family week at church. Pastors quote it every time they dedicate a baby at church. Grandparents cling to it as a guarantee. Young parents hitch their wagons to this proverb-turned-promise with a determined hope that their diligent training will ensure the gospel-faithfulness and salvation of their children. Trevin Wax believes older parents “feel the proverb’s implicit judgment, weary from watching a child or two depart from ‘the way,’ and wondering whether their children’s disobedience points backward to their own failure in ‘training.’” Most of us feel the weightiness of this proverb, don’t we? First, as parents and grandparents who want to see our kids and grandkids love God and love others, and secondly, as pastors or leaders who preach and teach families how to make disciples of children who need to worship the only true God who sent His one and only Son to rescue them from sin. “Unfortunately, some interpretations of this verse miss both the genre of the proverb in general and the meaning of this proverb in particular. And getting this proverb wrong leads to wrongheaded conclusions about parenting, training, and the hearts of our kids,” writes Trevin Wax. The first problem for some interpreters of this verse is to forget that the proverbs are just that – proverbs. They are general truths about the way the world normally works, not specific promises that encompass every possible situation. The second misstep in interpreting this verse is getting the meaning right. Professor Jason DeRouchie, Research Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, suggests that the ESV’s “in the way he should go” is a very idiomatic way of capturing the Hebrew “according to the dictates of his way.” So, the command line of the proverb literally reads, “Dedicate a youth according to the dictates of his way,” or perhaps more commonly, “Dedicate a child according to what his way demands.” I believe Proverbs 22:6 encourages parents to train up their children according to the gifts, abilities, and natural interests of the child, according to what his way demands. In other words, we are not only giving children general training in godly living, but showing specifically how a child might utilize their own gifts and abilities – their bent – in the fulfillment of their God-given vocation in life. To not “depart from it” means they will bear fruit as they walk the path God has assigned to them. They will not depart from using the gifts, skills, and talents God has given them, and we have nurtured in them, and they will be successful and fruitful in that way. However you interpret Proverbs 22:6, we cannot deny the implication that the parents’ intentional moral and religious shaping early on will have a permanent effect on their child for good. This statement is not a hard-and-fast promise to parents, however, for the rest of the book of Proverbs makes clear that the power of the youth’s future depends not only on the parents’ guidance but also very much on the choices he or she makes. This proverb, placed in context of the whole Bible, is telling us that we should take our training of children seriously – both where we guide them and how we shepherd their hearts. But it’s also telling us to trust in the God who gave us this proverb, the God that all our training points to. In Jesus Christ – not in our training – we place our hopes for our children. In Jesus, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we find the motive, strength, and foundation for raising our children to be godly boys and girls who mature and grow in their faith to become mature, fruitful disciples in their chosen vocations, whatever that may be. As God the Father raises up parents in the way they should go, parents, in turn, raise up their children in the way they should go, and our Father gets all the credit. 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. #SEPTEMBER23

ROSCOMMON – I was first introduced to Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center in the fall of 2016 having no idea where this introduction was going to lead. For almost seven years Bambi has been my home, my work and my passion. Rarely a day has gone by that I have not dreamed about what Bambi could be or thankful for what it has been. God has been mighty in this place and I’m humbled to say He is still moving and working in the hearts of those who come here. God meets people here in very real and personal ways. Searching hearts are still finding Him, and hurting souls are still finding healing here in His presence. From the first day I stepped foot on Bambi property until this very moment, I am keenly aware that I am walking on sacred ground. More than a half century ago God chose Bambi to be a special place for the Southern Baptist of Michigan. A special place to encounter Jesus, hear His voice, and be transformed by His presence. A special place to find rest from the journey and nourishment for the soul. A special place to be spiritually equipped and refreshed. A special place to fellowship in a community of believers and be strengthened by their stories and friendships. A special place to bless God while completely immersed in the splendor of His creation. A special place of salvation for those who respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. A special place of declaration for the hundreds who have been baptized in the cold spring waters of the lake. A special place where all are welcome - a special place, a God place. I am honored and humbled to be a chapter in the story of Bambi. However, like all chapters in a book, they must end so a new chapter can begin. The end of 2023 will mark the end of my chapter as a director for the BSCM and Bambi Lake. It has been the most incredible blessing and privilege to serve the churches of the BSCM. I have been blessed to work alongside you as we together have striven to “punch holes in the darkness” and bring Kingdom light to the lost and blind. Thank you for allowing me to worship with you in your churches and together here at Bambi. Thank you for inviting me to encounter your many unique cultural expressions of worship. I am extremely grateful for the many opportunities to be on mission, side-by-side with the nations who have come to Bambi to encounter the Father of Lights, the only King forever. I would like to say thank-you to BSCM Executive Director Tim Patterson for allowing me this incredible opportunity to serve here at Bambi Lake. Your friendship and mentoring in my life has challenged me to be Godly and love Him more everyday. Thank you BSCM staff for your encouragement and friendship. Your passion for gospel transformation in Michigan is awe-inspiring and infectious. Lastly, thank you to my amazing family, that is the Bambi Staff. It’s been an incredible journey and I will miss your friendship and love. Because of your hard work, servant attitude, and hospitality, Bambi truly represents the heart of God - a place of love for all people. May the God of peace, bless you and keep you and continue to shine His light on Bambi and all the churches of the BSCM. Peace out! 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. #SEPTEMBER23

MIDLAND, TX – Fern Heath Dannelley Goree used Jesus’ example and listened to each individual at their core. All who knew her were enhanced and blessed, and all are lessened because of our loss. Fern Heath was raised in Andrews County, TX. She did well in school which allowed her a WWII wartime opportunity to graduate from high school a year early, and begin college the summer before regular students would attend. She arrived at Howard Payne University as a 16-year-old freshman. She and the other early starter students found a church to attend, pastored by a young man who had just graduated from college himself, Jay Dannelley. There came a time when Pastor Jay was ready to look for a wife, and his eye was on a young woman who had a heart for mission. He noticed a maturing in her spirit and Christianity. He also thought she was very beautiful. By 19 she was a mother, a pastor’s wife and a student. It was a glimpse of her life to come. Husband Jay took other pastorates, and Fern moved their children and life wherever God led. She made friends, raised children and worked in the church. During these early Texas days, she also took classes to work on that college degree wherever she was. Edgar Roberts came to Texas to make a plea. He came from Michigan, where there had been a great influx of people from the South to fill the manufacturing jobs in the Detroit area. He asked pastors to pray about God leading them to come to Michigan to start new Southern Baptist churches for the Southerners moving to Michigan. It sounded like a million miles away from Texas, home, and extended family. And in some ways, it was. Jay Dannelley answered that call. They packed up their 3 children, Jay Jr, Deborah, and Bekah, and moved to Detroit in 1956, and began building a church. When that church got stronger, they moved to another neighborhood and built up another small church. At every place, Fern dedicated herself to her family, and to the church: developing children’s programs, women’s ministries and making lasting friendships. Eventually, she was pregnant again, and baby Ellen came into their lives. The Southern Baptist Convention of Michigan was a “becoming” entity led by its dynamic Director, Fred Hubbs. He was a mover, a shaker, and a finder. At one point, he found a campground near Roscommon. He shared his vision for what that camp could mean to their state work, and to individual children and adults in spiritual growth and training. They stood on the land in a circle, held hands and prayed. Fred Hubbs asked for a $100 commitment from each family to provide the downpayment for the property. Jay and Fern were there. They made the commitment and followed through with their $100 contribution. Thousands of lives have been changed at Bambi Lake Baptist Camp. By this time, Jay Sr. was a Director of Missions in the Central area of Michigan, and Fern, having finished her bachelor’s degree, was a teacher. She soon began working on her Masters to become a school social worker. The family watched her walk across the Michigan State fields accepting her Master’s Degree. For many years, Fern was a school social worker. First in Holt, and later in Bay City, when they moved to Midland, MI for Jay Sr. to take the Director of Missions position in the Bay Area Association. In the early 70’s Fern and Jay Sr. found an opportunity to do global missions. There was a need for a Bible teacher at a Baptist Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania. It began the family’s love affair with East Africa. Each person in the Dannelley family has lived or done mission trips in Kenya since that time. It was their heart-home. While living in Midland, MI, Jay Sr. developed a brain tumor and died quickly in 1975. Fern’s experience of strength through the day, and tears through the night were the examples she displayed. She pastored all the heartbroken people who came to her, even though her heart was the most broken. While continuing to work in schools to help children and educators, she became more active in Michigan Baptist’s work, and was honored by being elected First Vice President of the Michigan State Baptists. She was the first woman to ever have that position. Fern was involved in women’s work and missions in every way at the local church and state level. The Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention asked her to be on their board of trustees. The call to Africa was always on her heart. Gaborone, Botswana became her home as she became a single missionary at the age of 55. She once again set to work making relationships, creating a welcoming home, and developing and implementing the Bible Way Program. It was a study for those wanting to grow in relationship and ministry with the Lord, even though they were far away from a Christian educational center. Fern was in Botswana for 10 years before she retired and returned to the USA. Her mother and family needed her, so she moved to West Texas to live in Midland, TX. At the age of 70, Fern married long-time friend from Howard Payne, Bill Goree, who she first met when she was 16. She and Bill lived in Midland, TX and did many extensive mission trips to Southern Africa. They continued to enjoy family and work in ministries as their health allowed. Fern passed August 22, 2023 at the age of 95. Her funeral and interment were held at Walnut Creek Baptist Church, 12062 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753 on September 3, 2023. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ellen Bierlein is the youngest daughter of Fern Dannelley Goree. #SEPTEMBER23

GARDEN CITY – The clamor exuding from a passing school bus, last minute efforts to squeeze out the final drops of summer, and ah the smell of new school supplies (looking at you Crayola crayons!), the sights and sounds that punctuate this time of year have been defined through the years. Back to School time can be equal parts exciting and daunting. Our family has four children whose ages range from 8 to 16. They have always attended our local public school. It is from that perspective that I offer some tips that have helped our family ease the transition that I hope can help you and your child/children as well. Tip #1: Bathe the school year in prayer. Pray before school begins. Do a prayer walk (or drive) around the schools your child is attending (or even all the schools in your neighborhood). Pray for the students and staff. Pray specifically for your child and their teacher and classmates. When school starts, take time to pray for and with your children each day. For our family, praying on the way to school has been a long-established practice and the day doesn’t seem to be quite right if ever it is skipped. Inviting God into our day and turning our hearts and minds toward Him first thing helps us remember to Whom our days belong and Who will be with us to help and guide throughout our day. Tip #2: See schooling, whatever type of schooling your kids do, as a mission. If your children attend school outside of your home and they know Jesus, school is their mission field, and yours as well. Take frequent opportunities to show love and grace to each individual you encounter at their school and pray for opportunities to share the Gospel, especially for your kids. I have been amazed to hear accounts from my kids and, sometimes, their teachers, of how they have shared Jesus in their classrooms, after-school activities, and even at the bus stop. I heard once that school is the biggest mission field in America. Let God use your family to shine His light in your kids’ school and take comfort in knowing God can and will use your child for His Kingdom while they attend school. Tip #3: Remember that God will go with your children wherever they go. The first place we ever had to leave our child was when our son (our firstborn) was in a host (foster care) home when he was two days old. God used Joshua 1:9 to comfort our broken hearts during that time and my husband and I clung to the truth that God was with our son when we could not be with him. It was the ONLY thing that gave us the strength to survive the time away from him. I often still have to rest in that truth when my kids are away from me, particularly when they are at school. Tip #4: Give lots of grace as your children (and you) adapt to the new schedule that comes with the return to school. For our family, September is not usually a “pretty” month. Our kids are tired from adjusting their sleep schedules and working to adjust to a new teacher, new classmates, and, perhaps, a new school. Also, in our experience, there is often sickness that comes with the September package, as classmates reintroduce their germs to one another after the summer hiatus. Even if the changes to your home are minimal, it is likely there will be some changes. Give lots of love, patience, and support to make the transition as easy as possible. Also, if it appears your children need more “downtime” try to keep after school and weekend schedules to a minimum in this pivotal month. Tip #5: If you want to hear about your child’s day in more detail than the classic one-word response of “fine,” ask more specific questions. Instead of asking a generic, “How was your day?”, ask questions that require a more specific answer. You could ask, “Who did you sit by at lunch today?” or “Did anything funny happen today?” Specific questions may do a better job of rooting out more detail from your child. Also, choose your conversation time wisely, based on your child. If your child needs some decompression time when they get home before they answer your questions, let them have it. If your children are like mine, though, it means the best time to get the most information is as soon as they get in the car after school. Try to time your inquiries when you are more likely to get an informed response, based on your child/children. One final tip: Between me and my children, I am usually the one that feels the impending separation most keenly. I simply don’t like my babies being away from me, but God has called our family to public school, so off they go each year. It has gotten a little easier as they have gotten older, but I still struggle watching them go into school those first few days. I am determined; however, they will never know! I would never want to add unnecessary stress or fear onto them. Two things help me to “hide” my feelings: sunglasses, and (this is a trick I wish I would have known sooner) to stop yourself from tearing up, press your tongue firmly to the roof of your mouth-it works every time! I pray some of these tips and those you receive from other sources help make back-to-school time in your house a little bit smoother. May God bless this school year for your children and your family. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jessica has been on staff as Minister to Children at Merriman Road Baptist Church, Garden City, Michigan since January 2003. She and her husband, Joe, have four kids, one son and three daughters. #SEPTEMBER23

PLYMOUTH – This year we have a college sophomore, a high school sophomore and a high school junior heading back to class. Gone are the years of the matching backpacks and lunch boxes. Crayola markers have been replaced with ipad cases and $12 mechanical pencils! Don’t even get me started on how much we’ve spent on clothes and shoes for three teens! Our budget reflects this season and we are not alone. The National Federation of Retailers released their projections for back to school spending for 2023 at 41.5 billion dollars in the US. That is more than every national holiday except Christmas. Let that sink in! Back to school is a BIG deal and whether you have a college student or a second grader, you are feeling the pinch. Preparing our children for the school year with supplies is important, and a great way to care for and prepare your children for a successful school year. But is there something we should be focusing on even more? Absolutely. Regardless if you homeschool or are sending your kids back to public, private or college - there are some ways that we as parents can invest in our kids' hearts all year long. 3 Simple (and free!) Ways to Spiritually Invest in Our Kids: 1. PRAY: No, REALLY pray. Pray for God’s leading in every area of their school life. Pray for protection and wisdom. Pray that God will give you sensitivities to know when you need to step in, and when your child has to “grow” through a situation. Pray for their friendships, their teachers and coaches, and their God-given gifts to shine. Pray with your kids on the way to and from school. Send teens or college kids your prayers for them via text message or instagram DMs. Get creative! Our kids need to know that we believe that prayer is important and powerful. It truly reflects our own faith in God. 2. EQUIP As Christian parents we cannot be complacent with our children and their exploration of who God is. Make worship, Bible study and spiritual conversations part of your family rhythm and daily expectation. This does not have to feel awkward. Worship music in the car, scripture memorization challenges, recapping the Sunday sermons. Put verses on sticky notes on your kids bathroom mirrors and instead of vain affirmations - give them God’s affirmations. Spend time together talking about what you see God doing in your lives and home. Your faith should be seen every weekday, not just Sundays! Keeping faith real in your home helps equip our kids to keep their faith real at school too! 3. CHECK-IN Spiritual check-ins should be part of authentic family conversations in a Christian home. We ask our kids if they are brushing their teeth, taking their vitamins and finishing their homework so why would we not incorporate check-ins with their walk with God? For some, they may not even have a relationship with Jesus yet, but that should not deter us. This is even modeled by Jesus who is recorded as having asked 307 questions in the Gospels alone. Questions help kids to critically think and allow us to have a peek into their thoughts. Ask the hard questions and help your child navigate the answers through the Scriptures. Trouble with a classmate? Facing temptation? Struggling with faith? What does God have to say about that? By checking in spiritually with your kids you are showing them that trusting God matters. Placing a higher importance on checking in on those straight A’s will never matter more than a student learning to follow after Jesus. Want your children to have a good school year? Keep pursuing their hearts! Pray for them, equip them and purposefully check-in with them, always pointing them back to Jesus. ABOUT THE AUTHOR April is a Pastor's wife and a mom of three in Plymouth, MI. She directs the Children's Ministries at Mile City church and enjoys every crazy second of it! She loves giving gifts, hosting people in her home, podcasts and learning new skills! (Currently learning to can fruits and veggies!) #SEPTEMBER23

HODGENVILLE, KY (KT) – DeWayne Gibson’s everyday life is like a blur. Not only is he in his 18th year of teaching in LaRue County but he’s a chaplain two days a week at Baptist Health in Hardin and teaches classes at Campbellsville University. That’s all on top of being the senior pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Hodgenville that has grown from 35 when he arrived to more than 600 every Sunday. Sleep? It’s overrated. There's work to be done. Gibson is a bivocational pastor that has a bivocational staff and a membership whose light is always green – meaning "GO!" —when it comes to evangelizing their community. Simply put: They follow their leader. “I’m totally blessed,” Gibson said between classes where he teaches at LaRue County Schools residential facility. “I’ve come to the realization it’s absolutely not me but all God. If He can use somebody like me, he can use anybody.” Gibson is going into his 12th year at Parkway, which was founded in 1991. He was leading a booming youth group of 150 at South Fork Baptist Church when God began nudging him to pastoral ministry. He finally relented. “God provided Parkway,” he said. Hodgenville is his home community, living in the area since he was 9 years old. He has coached football, track and field and girls’ softball and everybody knows his name. That has helped the ministry, the pastor said. But when he stepped into the pastoral role at Parkway, the challenge hit him in the face quickly. “I never knew much about Parkway,” he said. “My first Sunday there were 35 people there. I had stepped out of a booming youth group and my first Sunday, I was like, ‘What have I done?’ Into the second year, we started seeing good regular growth.” The worship center was mostly carved out of a ranch home and only seated about 150 with two narrow walkways. “By the second Easter, I was sitting the deacons down the hall so others would have a place to sit,” he said. “The church took a big step of faith, and we built a $350,000 worship area.” That was in 2015. The church paid it off in three years. And the growth continued as Parkway Baptist started becoming known for being involved in the community. “We’ve done some evangelical trainings,” he said. “We are learning. We don’t do everything perfectly but we’re investing in our communities, not just LaRue County. We have someone who attends our church from every county around us. It helps I’ve taught here and coached here. Now I’m doing their weddings. We invest in schools and local businesses. “So many in Hardin and LaRue who don’t go to church. If we get them to come to church, they will come back.” The idea that if you want something done, find a busy man certainly pertains to Gibson, who loves the life that God has chosen for him. He has surrounded himself with similarly hard-working bivocational leaders that make his job at the church easier. Shawn Edwards, the associational mission strategist for the Severns Valley Baptist Association, has watched Parkway Baptist blossom under Gibson. “For several years I have been amazed at how God is moving under the ministry of Pastor DeWayne and his church leadership,” he said. “I am excited that God will use Pastor Gibson at the upcoming Bivocational Conference sponsored by the Kentucky Baptist Convention. I believe the attendees will be encouraged by Pastor Gibson’s words.” The Bivocational Pastors & Wives Retreat will be Sept. 15-16 in Bowling Green at Calvary Baptist. The generous giving of Kentucky Baptists through the Cooperative Program and Eliza Broadus Offering covers all meals, lodging and resources for 60 couples. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Parkway has a husband-and-wife team, Caleb and Kate Canter, that minister to youth; a sound technician in Paul Dangerfield; Demarcus Compton leads praise and worship and Brittany Compton guides a children’s ministry that has 70 regular attendees. On Wednesdays the church has a group of professional teachers leading a group of 50 children, he said. Michelle Milford, an administrative assistant, is not fulltime, but “puts in those kind of hours because she’s passionate and loves it,” Gibson said. Her husband, Todd, a former deacon, is a connection pastor and fills the pulpit occasionally to give the pastor a break, or an opening for a mission trip. He has traveled to Northern Ireland the last 26 years. Parkway has baptized 80 this past fiscal year and 131 joined the church, Gibson said. “I only know those numbers because we just turned that in. I’m thrilled and aware but don’t focus on the big numbers.” One of those he baptized recently was his 17-year-old daughter, Lilli, who had been immersed at the age of 7 but felt the need to be baptized now. Her father had been preaching about baptism recently. Gibson said he wouldn’t change his busy life for anything. “Everyone has caught the vision here,” he said. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Maynard is the Managing Editor for Kentucky Today. #SEPTEMBER23

RICHMOND, VA (BP) – Kai Ininstoma,* a missionary in training with the International Mission Board, said his path toward full-time missions was heavily shaped by his experience with GenSend, NAMB’s summer missions program. Ininstoma was a part of the first official summer of GenSend in 2013, while he was a student at Texas A&M University. Ten years later, he is completing his final training before going to South Asia to serve full-time with the IMB. He credits GenSend for both changing his life and guiding his path. “Looking back, GenSend really has helped shape my life, how I lead, and how I view ministry,” Ininstoma said. “I’ve just continued to use a lot of the same tools I learned from it. “I’m such a fan of GenSend and that was really my first ministry thing I’d really ever done. It just really grew me a lot.” A self-described country boy from Texas, Ininstoma is the son of a pastor, but admits he never really had much missions experience until college. As an ecology major, he pictured himself working on a ranch somewhere out in the country, before a summer mission trip to South Sudan made him have second thoughts. Just as Ininstoma was “questioning what my future would look like,” NAMB’s Steve Turner, director of Next Gen Mobilization, visited the college ministry Ininstoma attended to talk about the GenSend summer program. Ininstoma soon signed up and joined a group of students spending their summer ministering in Portland, Ore., which he said “might as well been Mars,” for him. Despite how different Portland was from Texas, Ininstoma soon began to learn practical ministry tips which he said prove effective to this day. Some of those include: How to build relationships through a “third place” that people frequent besides work or home such as restaurants, coffee shops or gyms How to understand the spiritual climate of the city you are in How to meet people where they are in evangelism Upon returning from GenSend, Ininstoma would later become an IMB Journeyman, but struggled to “reorient,” back to life in the states. Eventually he fell into a season where he was working in West Texas as a horse trainer, but later thought to himself, “I’m more than what I’ve become.” In this time of confusion, Ininstoma returned to the message Turner gave his college ministry when talking about GenSend. “I remember Steve talking about that story where Peter steps out of the boat when Jesus was walking on the water,” Ininstoma said. “When he came and spoke to us, it was like ‘What is your boat? What does it look for you to step outside of your boat, out of your comfort zone, and trust in the Lord that He’s with you and to see that God is moving?’ Looking back on my 10 years, there’s been a lot of seasons where I was like, ‘Am I really going to step out of the boat or do what’s comfortable?’ “The biggest thing God showed me through GenSend was stepping out of the boat. It’s served me well.” Ininstoma said the reason GenSend is such a valuable program, is it catches college students at the exact crossroads he was at 10 years ago, and teaches them missions skills they keep for the rest of their lives. “There’s nothing new under the sun,” Ininstoma said. “College students still to this day before they graduate are in the same pickle I was in. If all you ever show people is you can work a 9 to 5 job, you could live an hour from where you grew up and you could have 2.5 kids … then that’s usually going to be the vision for their life. “But if you could cast a vision of stepping out of the boat and that you only get one life. We’re all going to spend it on something, so why not jump out of the boat and try to trust God for what He’s going to do? It’s worth it and it’s going to draw people to live in those Send Cities and it’s going to push people all over the world. They’ll use those same experiences wherever they go.” This vision will soon be a reality for Ininstoma. “So much has been given to me through experiences and through availability,” he said. “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but for right now as a single guy, it’s hard for me to justify doing anything else that I feel like could leverage what I’ve been given for the Kingdom more than this. “So, I’m jumping out of the boat again.” *name changed ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer. #SEPTEMBER23

LOUISVILLE, KY (BP) – A 25-year-old legal dispute has finally been settled in favor of Sunrise Children’s Services. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati unanimously affirmed the final dismissal of all the plaintiffs’ claims against Sunrise with prejudice in a ruling Tuesday. The dismissal with prejudice is the functional and legal equivalent of a final judgment on the merits in Sunrise’s favor following a full-blown trial. This was Sunrise’s fifth trip to the appeals court, and it prevailed each time. “We are grateful it’s over and grateful we were not found guilty of any wrongdoing,” said Sunrise President Dale Suttles. The case dates to 1999 when the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled for Sunrise in a dispute involving former employee Alicia Pedreira. Pedreira and the ACLU then sued Sunrise and the Commonwealth of Kentucky in federal court in 2000, falsely accusing Sunrise of LGBT and religious discrimination. The court rejected those discrimination claims immediately, and the dismissal was unanimously affirmed by the appellate court in the early 2000s. The discrimination claims remained dead and buried for the remainder of the case. Sunrise has never been found to have unlawfully discriminated against anyone on any basis. However, the dispute over Kentucky’s reimbursements to Sunrise for essential childcare services continued for the next two decades. Kentucky settled the case, but Sunrise refused to go along. Attorney John Sheller of Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC represented Sunrise throughout the 25-year ordeal. “What the court of appeals has done here is approve the district court’s decision to dismiss the case because of the settlement between Kentucky and the ACLU, a settlement to which Sunrise was not a party and did not agree,” Sheller said. “The essence of the case was the state’s decision to continue to partner with Sunrise. The judge determined if Kentucky and the ACLU want to settle their disputes, they can do so.” The dismissal of the case with prejudice means it cannot be refiled, he said. It is essentially a victory for Sunrise, Sheller said, “because it was not found liable, isn’t found to have done anything wrong and is free to continue doing what it was doing. That’s the long and short of the decision. There is a concurring opinion from the court that further underscored the First Amendment rights of Sunrise as a faith-based organization, Sheller said. Among the settlement terms between Kentucky and the ACLU were: engaging in affirmative action, recognizing same-sex marriage and having the LGBTQ community on staffs and in foster families. Again, Sunrise’s First Amendment rights as a faith-based organization were upheld. “Sunrise didn’t agree with that even though Kentucky did,” Sheller said of the settlement. Several recent religious liberty decisions rendered by the Supreme Court, including Fulton v. Philadelphia, and other federal and state courts reinforce the protection of Sunrise’s First Amendment rights. It is now the law of the land in all 50 states, thanks to Sunrise and others like it, that faith-based child-care providers can continue their support for vulnerable children without compromising or abandoning their religious values. Suttles said he was thankful for the 25 years of support and many prayers. “This is a case that never hindered us from serving these needy children, but it was always out there, always haunting us and it would always frustrate us,” he said. “We just wanted to serve children.” Sunrise achieved the outcome without a single child, parent, or guardian ever being forced to testify in the case or without ever having to disclose private, sensitive, and confidential information or documents about the children and their families, Sheller said. Sunrise never lost its state contracts, state funding, and never cut back on the children and families it was and is helping. In fact, over the last quarter-century, Sunrise has greatly expanded its size and scope and continues to be a top provider for the commonwealth’s most troubled and endangered children. “I really think God has some major plans for Sunrise to help the commonwealth through the crisis it is facing in trying to place teenagers,” Suttles said. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lawrence Smith is the communications director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. #SEPTEMBER23

MOSCOW (BP) – The raid by secret police of Russian evangelical leader Yuri Sipko’s home will not silence the former Baptist Union president’s “uncompromised” stance. Sergey Rakhuba, president of Mission Eurasia, promised as much in comments he shared with Baptist Press. (See related story.) “I have personally known Yuri Sipko for a long time,” Rakhuba said. “He is an uncompromised, powerful leader and preacher of the Gospel for whom truth is the most important thing.” Sipko’s home was one of many among prominent evangelical leaders that was raided by the FSB, Russia’s secret police, Mission Eurasia reported on Aug. 8. A critic of his home country’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, Sipko was accused of spreading false information about the Russian government and its army’s actions in Ukraine. He fled his home prior to the raid and is now in a safe location, reported Mission Eurasia. Rakhuba said the raid of Sipko’s home was “widely televised all across the news channels in Russia.” “[Aug. 15], the Department of Internal Affairs of Russia actually announced that Yuri Sipko, the former president of the Baptist Union of Russia and the president of the World Baptist Alliance, is Russia’s most wanted criminal. This means that his name is everywhere and his family is now being targeted. Yuri has 10 children and many grandchildren, and they are feeling threatened wherever they go,” Rakhuba said. Sipko’s opposition to Vladimir Putin extends back to the Russian president’s early days in power, particularly Putin’s past as a KGB officer. Those stances continued with Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. The next year Sipko spoke at a consultation hosted by Mission Eurasia at the Bishop of Canterbury’s headquarters in London to raise awareness over the invasion. The Russian government has continued targeting evangelical leaders across denominational lines who dare to criticize the Putin regime, Rakhuba said. One leader and his wife were detained, threatened and interrogated for two days. When released they were warned about sharing anything that happened during interrogation. A friend of Rakhuba’s was invited to share a word of encouragement at one of Moscow’s larger churches on Aug. 13. Sipko had previously preached at the church and was well-respected there. Before the friend spoke, church leaders warned him to not mention Sipko as they had received a warning from the FSB. “Most deny that this is the beginning of a new wave of repression by the Russian regime. [But] we are monitoring churches in the occupied territories in Ukraine through our Religious Freedom Initiative and have discovered that more than 500 churches have been seized, many pastors have been deported, some have disappeared and many have been killed by the Russian regime.” A common thread is emerging in those areas, he noted. Only the Russian Orthodox Church is allowed to remain. Religions and “any foreign religious influences” are being removed from the nation. “Mission Eurasia is doing everything possible to raise more awareness about this situation,” said Rakhuba. “We would really like the global Christian community to know more about all of our educational programs in Ukraine where we are training pastors to understand and deal with persecution, and to offer their prayers, support and involvement to help ease the pressure.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is national correspondent for Baptist Press. #SEPTEMBER23

Isabel Andrews was approached by Moises, one of her Togolese national partners and a church planter. He knew she was a physician’s assistant, her husband was a general surgeon, and, more importantly, they cared for people’s souls. His father, a leader in their village, was deep into animism. A short walk from his father’s home was an idol – a dirt mound resembling a face. Currently nailed to it was an animal sacrifice. The people of his village were lost. But as one of the youngest of 20 children, Moises had no real authority to persuade his father. His father’s spiritual state weighed heavy on his heart. Yet, today, he knew his father had a pressing physical need as well. Diabetes had taken its toll on his father’s body, and now an infected and swollen foot seemed to signal it would continue ravaging his body. Could the physician’s assistant and missionary stop by his father’s home and see if there was anything they could do? As Isabel examined the rotting foot, she grew concerned. She promised the village leader, Moises’ father, that she’d return with her husband, Brennan, the general surgeon. When Brennan came to the house, he examined the swollen foot. Seeing that it wasn’t as urgent as it looked in pictures, he advised the leader to go to the nearest hospital, one hour away, and left money for the journey. Moises’ father was perplexed. Why would this American, this surgeon, come to his home to examine his foot? Brennan took this chance to present the gospel, the same one Moises had shared countless times with his family. He shared with the father that with his health conditions, he wouldn’t be on this earth a long time. He wanted him to understand the urgency of caring for his soul, that his lostness really was his greatest problem. The father said he would consider their words. Next time they came to visit, he was armed with questions, considering the validity of these Christians’ faith, because they seemed to genuinely care about him. He wanted to be sure of his decision because he knew if he became a Christian, he would be sure to tell his whole village. Two weeks later, this animistic village leader evaluated the cost and left his old beliefs behind to follow Christ. He’s now faithfully attending a church that meets just a third of a mile from his village. Though there was little the surgeon, or the PA could do for his foot, their care for him led him to know God’s love in a tangible way. This is the premise of the IMB’s healthcare strategies – providing tangible help can lead a dying world to hope in Christ. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Brennan and Isabel Andrews are IMB missionaries on our team. As a general surgeon and a physician assistant they hope to be involved in the ministry of the hospital with the goal of coming alongside the Togolese church in engaging unreached people groups and seeing churches planted. Isabel is from Mason, MI. She went to Mason public schools. All her family is still in Michigan so their state-side time will be 50% in Michigan. #AUGUST23

TECUMSEH – On July 7, 1992, my dad went to Heaven. A few years later, my mom found a note he wrote hidden in some of his stuff. It was a handwritten letter to his children (Dick, Joanie, Mike & me) about the day he became a Christian. He never gave it to us, but my mom gave us all a copy. Here’s part of it. I hope it encourages you. What I’m going to tell you now is not what I did for you, but rather what God did for you. When Greg & Dick were about 3 and 4 years old, I began to think what a challenge me and your mother had before us raising a family. Then came a daughter and, Mike, when you came along, I really got serious. Although I wasn’t a Christian at the time, I began praying for each of you. That you would grow to believe in God and that you would become Christians. I didn’t know at the time that I was actually praying for myself. Then one August in 1970 God began talking to me. So, one Wednesday evening when your mother thought I had lost it (my mind) I decided to go to a Wednesday night Prayer Meeting. I had never been to church on Wednesday in my life, so I took Greg and Dick with me for support. I began going to church for the next 2 or 3 months pretty regular, thinking I would change a lot of my habits and clean myself up a little and be a better person and father for going to church. After 3 months I couldn’t see much change, so I decided to give up on God. I called your mother from work one Saturday night and told her of this and that if she wanted to go back to the Presbyterian Church and keep you children in church it was fine with me. I was through with God and the Baptists. That Saturday night after I got home, God gave me what I believe today was a last chance. So that night while everyone was asleep but me, I began to fight, pray, cuss, cry, and everything else I could to put off God. So, after 3 or 4 hours of this I accepted Christ just like I was… standing there looking out the window on Decker Road. No hymns being sung by a choir or a preacher standing up talking or no one praying for me (maybe my mom in Kentucky)… just me and Jesus. The next morning your mother got us up, unaware of my nighttime experience and asked if I was going to Sunday School. The last she had heard was I was through with God. Even after I had accepted Christ that night, I still wasn’t ready to tell anyone. But decided to go to Sunday School with every intention of leaving Sunday School, skipping church and pick you all up afterwards. But when Sunday School was over, for some reason, I walked into the chapel and there was one seat left, beside your mother and next to the aisle. No place to hide. I don’t remember the sermon but on the first verse of the altar call, when I asked your mother if she was going with me, she thought I was going out the door. I made public then what happened to me earlier in the night. The Lord has spoken to me twice pretty strong, where He really had to get my attention, and this was one of them. One of the reasons I went into detail was to let you all know that God worked with me by using you four. Although I wasn’t blinded or seen a great light from the sky that night, my salvation was just as dramatic and meaningful to me as Paul’s was to him. With that decision to accept Christ I was able to turn you children over to Him and enlist His help in rearing you. I think He has done a fine job. You can also read another article about my dad: Today I Am As Old As My Dad Ever Was. or Judy’s dad: Remembering my Father-in-law. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Greg Burdine has been senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church since 1994. He has been married since 1981 to Judy, a preschool teacher in Tecumseh. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Greg’s passion is teaching the Word of God. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri and his Master’s and Doctorate degrees from Louisiana Baptist University in Shreveport, Louisiana. He has been in full-time ministry since 1982, serving churches in Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan. He likes to read, run, and play with his grandchildren. #AUGUST23

GARDEN CITY – I just got back from a popular music festival called “Alive” in Ohio I have attended almost every year since 2008. For most people, the big draw is the main stage artists that headline each of the three nights of concerts. This year did not disappoint, drawing crowds of 6000 fans to sit on the grass or stand in the mosh pit to cheer, dance, jump and sing along with the likes of David Crowder, Lauren Daigle, TAYA, Mac Powell, Need to Breathe and, yes, even the 80’s hair band Stryper. Families, youth groups, their leaders, as well as couples and groups of friends of all ages attend. The artists proclaimed God’s love, faithfulness and the hope that is found in Christ in song, testimony and infectious energy. I love to see God’s faithfulness as He brings His people to worship together under His sky, surrounded by His handiwork. My original reason for going was an opportunity to take my teenagers to see some of their favorite bands and spend time with their friends. But I was surprised to find that God used the time at Alive Festival with Him and my co-leader friends (who are further along the journey), worshiping under the canopy of nature, and hearing His truth from a different perspective. It was for my good, my growth, and my healing as I came face to face with God. He pointed out the truth of who He is, His character and His faithfulness as He drew me into His loving arms in a way that changed my perspective. As I leaned in, God uncovered hurt and sin, but provided peace by being near and whispering words of hope in scripture that I could hang onto for dear life. As He showed me a new way of living, one that was centered on Him, I received a purpose to point to the only One who can rescue from the lies of the evil one. This was my last year at Alive, but my journey is not over. As any loving Father would, He continues to give good gifts to me. One of the gifts that I am looking forward to is seeing what He has to say to me through Ellen Harbin at the Women’s Harvest Retreat, October 13-15 at Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. Harbin will be speaking on the subject, ‘Face to Face’, explaining how God’s presence shifted the gaze and focus of those in scripture. Having their eyes fixed on Jesus, from a face-to-face encounter with Him, allows proper perspective through the hardships in life, perfect peace amid our scattered pieces, and passionate purpose God reveals through the disruptions of life. This is available to us, too. I invite you and your friends to join me for the 2023 Women’s Harvest Retreat at Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. Register soon as we expect a full retreat. Go to Bambilake.churchcenter.com or call Bambi Lake (989) 275-5844. Cost range from $139.00-$149.00 before 9/30/23. Scholarships are available. Please contact darlene_walsh@yahoo.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mickey Gross lives in Garden City, MI and is a member of Resurrection Church in Lincoln Park. She has devoted years in church leadership as a children's ministry director, praise team member, pianist, facilities coordinator, and event planner. Mickey loves camp ministry and has had the privilege of spending time at camp as a camper, serving as a volunteer, and operating on the leadership team for Harvest Retreat. #AUGUST23