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NASHVILLE (BP) – A growing percentage of Protestant pastors report experiencing increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, while simultaneously feeling a decreased sense of support from people close to them, according to research by Barna. According to the 2022 survey of more than 500 pastors done by the Barna Group, 47 percent of pastors reported they “sometimes” felt lonely or isolated in the past three months, while 18 percent said they “frequently,” experience these feelings. This total – 65 percent – of pastors reporting these feelings is an increase compared with the 42 percent of pastors who reported the same in a 2015 survey, where 28 percent answered sometimes and 14 percent answered frequently. Mark Dance, director of pastoral wellness for GuideStone Financial Resources, said the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in the increase in feelings of isolation, but the issue has been around for ages. “I think isolation has been a challenge on-going for decades, and of course that challenge was exaggerated during COVID,” Dance said. “I’m not sure that isolation is unique to the ministry. I just think isolation is a challenge for everyone. What makes it unique is that pastors are surrounded by people constantly, and so in my opinion, isolation and loneliness are among the most preventable challenges a pastor has.” Dance said one factor in the survey data may be a younger generation of pastors who are more willing to be transparent about their feelings or ask for help. He even wonders if some of the percentages should be higher. “I wonder if the other percentage are being honest with themselves,” Dance said. “It is very normal to sometimes feel isolated. Some times are better than others. I would expect them to say sometimes they are lonely.” The same survey showed 49 percent of pastors reported they frequently felt “well-supported by people close to you,” within the past three months. This is a noticeable decrease compared with 68 percent who answered such in the 2015 survey. Dance said he often challenges pastors that feeling isolated starts with them, and they need to take an active role in seeking out people both inside and outside of their church who can “refresh” them in their ministry. “When I speak to pastors, which is almost every week, I remind them of how dangerous isolation can be, but also challenge them to embrace the responsibility to change that,” he said. “Isolation is downright dangerous, but it is avoidable. “The pain of isolation exceeds the awkwardness of church friendships, whether it’s staff friendships, member friendships or other pastors in your community. As Southern Baptists, we’ve got associations and state conventions that would absolutely fall over themselves if you called them or showed up for one of their events. “We have people cheering us on from every corner of our convention, so if we are feeling isolated, make sure that we are not isolating ourselves, because it is one of the most preventable challenges out there.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer. #AUGUST23

BRENTWOOD, TN (BP) – Many churchgoers are not familiar with the term “deconstruction,” but if they are, they’ve likely seen it within the church pews they sit in on a regular basis. A Lifeway Research study of Protestant churchgoers in the United States found more than 1 in 3 (36 percent) are familiar or very familiar with the concept of deconstruction. Meanwhile, more than 1 in 4 (28 percent) have not heard of the term before. A similar Lifeway Research study shows pastors are more likely to be familiar with deconstruction. Among U.S. Protestant pastors, more than 2 in 5 (46 percent) are familiar or very familiar with the concept of deconstruction, and 14 percent have not heard the term. However, among those who have heard of the term, churchgoers are more likely than pastors to say they have seen attendees of their church methodically deconstruct their faith (37 percent v. 27 percent). “It’s not surprising the majority of churchgoers are not very familiar with the term ‘deconstruction,’ since it often describes a person’s private journey or one that’s shared within a limited social set,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “The fluid nature of the term and its affinity among those on social media or podcasts distances it from many Christians. The term can be used both to represent a total abolishing of one’s faith or to describe one’s personal questioning and working out their salvation to greater faith.” Familiarity with the term There is a correlation between the churchgoer’s age and their familiarity with the term “deconstruction.” Churchgoers over the age of 65 are the most likely to say they have not heard the term “deconstruction” before (51 percent) and the least likely to say they are familiar or very familiar with the term (12 percent). The younger the churchgoer, the more likely they are to have heard the term before and be familiar with it. Similarly, younger pastors, those 18-44, are the most likely to say they’re very familiar with deconstruction (36 percent), while pastors 65 and older are the least likely to possess that same level of familiarity (12 percent). “The study did not ask churchgoers the characteristics of those they see deconstructing their faith, but strong age patterns in those noticing the dissection of their faith imply it is more common among those under age 50,” McConnell said. African American pastors are more likely than white pastors to not have heard of deconstruction (24 percent v. 13 percent). Within the pews, however, white churchgoers (33 percent) are among the most likely and African American churchgoers (16 percent) are among the least likely to say they’re not familiar with the term. Churchgoers with evangelical beliefs are less likely than those without these beliefs to be familiar or very familiar with the term “deconstruction” (33 percent v. 39 percent) and more likely to have not heard the term before (32 percent v. 26 percent). Deconstruction in the pews More than 1 in 3 churchgoers who have heard of deconstruction have seen it play out among church attendees in their congregations (37 percent). The oldest churchgoers, those over 65, are the most likely to say they have not seen it in the pews of their churches (64 percent). And younger churchgoers, those age 18-34 (48 percent) and 35-49 (49 percent), are more likely to say they have than those age 50-64 (31 percent) and over 65 (15 percent). Denominationally, Methodist (19 percent) and Restorationist movement (29 percent) churchgoers are among the least likely to say they have not seen deconstruction among attendees in their churches. However, the majority of Methodist (63 percent) and Restorationist movement (55 percent) pastors say they have not seen people in their congregation deconstructing their faith. “While the majority of churchgoers have not seen anyone in their own congregation deconstructing their faith, the numbers are not insignificant,” McConnell said. “When a culture moves away from God, individuals question the teachings they have received.” Similar to the fact that evangelical pastors are more likely than mainline pastors to say they haven’t seen deconstruction taking place in their churches (72 percent v. 62 percent), churchgoers with evangelical beliefs are more likely than those without evangelical beliefs to say they have not seen someone in their church deconstruct their faith (54 percent v. 43 percent). For more information, view the complete report and visit LifewayResearch.com. Methodology Lifeway Research conducted the online survey of 1,002 American Protestant churchgoers Sept. 19-29, 2022, 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 more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,002 surveys. The sample provides 95 percent confidence that the sampling error from the panel does not exceed plus or minus 3.3 percent. This margin of error accounts for the effect of weighting. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Comparisons are made to a Lifeway Research phone survey of Protestant pastors conducted Sept. 1-29, 2021. “Evangelical beliefs”are defined using the National Association of Evangelicals and Lifeway Research evangelical beliefs research definition based on respondent beliefs. Respondents are asked their level of agreement with four separate statements using a four-point, forced-choice scale (strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, strongly disagree). Those who strongly agree with all four statements are categorized as having Evangelical Beliefs. The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe. It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marissa Postell Sullivan is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources. #AUGUST23

WATERFORD – These are the words spoken by missionary hero William Carey as he kicked back off the ledge and rappelled into an unreached India. Carey was compelled to go where the rocks of countless souls had not yet been turned by the Gospel. But, for Carey to go and make any considerable dent in the darkness, someone would have to “hold the rope.” In April, I had the opportunity to visit another location in South Asia where many rocks remain unturned. As I walked the streets of the city, I was overwhelmed by the mass of humanity in every direction, a city with more than 25 million people in a country less than 1% Christian. As the lostness ran through my mind, tears would run down by my face. It’s happening again as I type these words. So many people and so many stories. So much religion yet so little hope. Millions trying to make their way up to God, totally unaware that God came down to us. Thankfully, there are those like Carey who’ve said, “I will go down…” In this city, I encountered families who had also kicked back off the ledge and rappelled into the unreached. It was amazing to see in a city of 25 million, in an absolute sea of souls, authentic relationships are being formed and substantial Gospel conversations are taking place. Years of days of faithfulness are stacking up on one another. Sure, we saw some sites. This know-nothing country boy even got to lay his eyes on some crocodiles. But the most beautiful sight was a small group of people giving their lives away so that the nations can know God. There are those who’ve said, “I will go down.” Now, who will “hold the rope?” You’ve probably heard the words of Matthew 28:19-20. The resurrected Jesus appears to the 11 remaining disciples and says… “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” On this recent adventure to South Asia, I was reminded that Jesus’ commission was not just for the eleven or the elite, this is God’s vision for every follower and every church: “Go and make disciples of all nations…” We all have a part to play. Some of us will be compelled to go down, while others of us must plant our feet on the edge of the cliff, shouting “we’re still here” and refusing to let go of the rope. I may have given the hint earlier that I’ve still not recovered from my visit. If you’ve ever been on one of these “global engagement” trips, you know what it’s like to “see what you can’t unsee.” You’ve got to do something to reconcile your life choices with the lostness that exists around the world. With this mind, I want to share 2 questions that I’m still wrestling through and invite you to do some wrestling too… 1. What am I doing with my life? Another missionary hero, Hudson Taylor to China, once said, “If in the sight of God, you cannot say you are sure that you have a special call to stay at home, why are you disobeying the Savior’s plain command to go?” I think it’s good and right, healthy and God-glorifying, to periodically ask questions like, “What does God want me to do with my life?” In a lost world full of dark places, where would the light of my Gospel-changed life shine the brightest? 2. What is my church doing with its life? As a Pastor, I want to lead a church that matters in eternity. When I stand before Jesus, I don’t think He’s going to ask, “So, how many people showed up last Sunday?” Transformation Church must live for more. We have limited resources. Our moment in time is brief. How can our church leverage our time, money, and people to honor Jesus’ commission and impact lostness around the world? How can we make disciples, develop leaders, and then release and resource them to live out God’s calling on their lives? What is my church doing with its life? How are we holding the rope? I’d like to close with a strategic prayer we’ve been praying at Transformation Church these last 3 years. It’s nothing fancy, but God is starting to answer it. Maybe He would lead you and your church to pray something similar… “God, please allow us to participate in a Gospel Movement in Waterford, Oakland County, and to the Ends of the Earth.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Thomas (Seth) Springs is Church Planter/Pastor of Transformation Church Waterford, Michigan. He and his wife Taylor have 3 children. #JULY23

PLYMOUTH – It was a really cold winter morning in the Glass Mountains of West Texas. This small range of barren outcroppings was located just to the north of the Big Bend National Park with one rancher owning a good portion of this entire mountain range. The foreman of that ranch was a member of our church and had on many occasions invited me to go out with him on one of his trapping excursions as he tried to capture renegade mountain lions. About three quarters of the livestock on this ranch consisted of sheep, and as you may know, sheep are one of the main listings on the menu for mountain lions. For a lion to take one or two sheep a week from flocks that consist of thousands is not a serious problem for ranchers and is considered acceptable losses, but one particular lion was doing far more than taking an occasional meal here and there. This lion was a mother of at least two young adolescent cubs that she was teaching how to hunt and kill prey. Her prey of choice just happened to be mutton a la rare. It was not unusual for this lioness to kill more than 100 sheep per night and not consume any of them. She would sneak into a herd at night as they slept and begin taking them down one by one while her children observed and learned. As one might imagine, an entire flock could be decimated in a very short period of time. The destructive habit of this lion had caused my friend, Robert, to set out on a trapping run to try to capture the lion so that it might be sedated and transported to another location where there was no livestock. He asked me to go with him, so we saddled up our trusty steeds and headed up the mountain. My ride of choice was a mule, but he preferred his favorite horse from the stables. I didn’t ride in the rough terrain of the mountains very often, and I wanted a mount that was sure-footed and stable. My beast was not pretty, but it sure was steady. At times on our way up we would have to cross some very steep valleys, and then climb up almost vertical slopes. On more than one occasion I was laying all the way back on my mule with my head resting on its rump, my feet pointing past its ears and holding on for dear life. The mule just took it in stride and deftly descended and ascended the rocky terrain with ease. Robert knew where the den of the lion was located, and most of its haunts. The lion had made its home in the very top of a mountain range in a secluded spot. It was a long hard ride, and the weather was deteriorating by the minute. A cold North wind was blowing, and the clouds had begun to shed a few flakes of snow. When we got to the area where a trap had been set, we found that the lion had been there, but had escaped. Our arduous trek had seemingly been for naught. As Robert reset the trap and placed more bait, I decided to ride over to the edge of the cliffs and take in the view from the top. As I approached the edge and began to peer over the side, my eyes widened with amazement and wonder. Never in my life had I seen such a beautiful sight. There I was at what seemed to be the top of the world looking down at an ever-expanding valley that stretched for hundreds of miles. It was cold and nasty on top of the mountain, but down below it was beautiful. Herds of cattle and sheep splattered and speckled the landscape like so many drops of ink from an artist’s pen. A small creek snaked its way across the canyon floor with small pools of water periodically finding a resting place along its course. What a beautiful place. The way I had traveled to attain this perspective was rough and rocky. My intended purpose and goals were never really met, but I found a visual treasure that has been one of my most prized memories. Could it be the way you are going is rough and rocky? Could it be that your purposes and plans have all been dashed on the hard places of life? Has your present destination brought only disappointment and grief? Just as Wayne Watson, one of my favorite songwriters and singers of decades past has so insightfully said, “sometimes the rough and rocky road will lead you to a beautiful place.” I want to encourage you today in this wonderful journey we call Christianity. Many times, our plans and purposes can be completely different from what the Father has for us. Remember, He sees what we cannot and knows well what we truly need. If you are frustrated with the way things are “not working out” or are disappointed with the place your chosen path has taken you, never forget that He is in control. He knows you well and His plans for you. Trust Him. Rest in His sovereign care. Let the peace that passes beyond your understanding have control of your heart and emotions. Be patient and wait. To be in the middle of the will of God is a beautiful place. Proverbs 16:9 – "A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 19:21 – "There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand." Romans 8:28 – "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Patterson is Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Elected unanimously in May of 2015, Patterson formerly served for 9 years as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. He also served as trustee chair and national mobilizer for the North American Mission Board. #JULY23

ANN ARBOR – One of the core memories that I have of my dad was a phone call. I have no memory of what the phone call was about, but what has stuck in my mind is the way that the phone call ended. I was in college and must have been between some classes and had called just to kill some time. Around five to ten minutes into the conversation he apologetically asked if we might continue a little bit later because he needed to get back into a meeting he had stepped out of. What became clear to me was that my dad was in the middle of a fairly important board meeting where he was presenting. He had paused the meeting to answer a call from his son, and upon finding out it was just a casual invitation to talk, he proceeded to step out of the meeting and talk with me for almost 10 minutes while everyone else waited for him to come back and continue. The reason I often think back to this moment is because it is representative of almost all my interactions with my dad. No matter what he was leading, involved in or busy with… I had his whole attention. Over the past twelve years as God has called us into different ministry roles, I have had the opportunity to help lead thousands of college students. Not many have stories like this. What each did have was a view of themselves, their world and their God that had been profoundly shaped by their view of their father. Five years ago, was the first time that I held my son Silas in my arms. I know now that he couldn’t really see much, but for about 15-20 minutes he just quietly stared up into my eyes. It was a powerful moment that I doubt I will ever forget. I was a father. This was my son. As his little eyes searched around for what was real and what was true of his world, in that moment he knew that he had the full attention of his father. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. I wish that were still true today. As a father of two with a third on the way I often wonder how the mismanagement of my attention will affect the way that my children step out into life. I wonder if they too will find themselves enamored with their phones when they get them, or whether they will disdain technology as the mistress of their father’s attention. I wonder if they will see their father as a hard worker who built a home for his family, or whether they will see him as someone who preferred remodeling kitchens to playing with them on the floor. What I wonder most often is if they will believe that the heart and the eyes of their father are fixed on them, or whether they were somewhere else. The greatest lie ever told was spoken to the very first children of our world, and this lie still haunts the caverns of our soul. It was a lie about the heart and the attention of their Father. Apparently, those who don’t believe that they have the attention and heart of their Father will journey all the way to hell looking for something to replace it. Tozer said that “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” What if the most important thing about our view of God is what we believe about his attention over us? A few years ago, I read a passage in Deuteronomy that I haven't stopped thinking about since: "Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day." Of all that is in creation, God has uniquely set his heart in love… on you. That while he owns the heavens and while the pulsating energy of the stars scream across the dark corners of the universe, his gaze pierces past the light of ten trillion suns to look at you. While he holds the unexplored and unseen edges of the cosmos in the palm of his hands, God cares most about holding your hand. And despite all the noise in the universe, his ears are tuned to the sound of your voice. As I think back to the gift that God gave me in my dad, there’s a profound and long list of things he gave me. Before I even became a Christian, my dad instilled in me a deep sense of the sovereignty of God. He gave me my doctrine and theology. He taught me how to think and how to love the outdoors. He taught me how to work on cars and fix things with my hands. He gave me wisdom and life advice. He showed me how to build a home, a marriage and a faith. Though more than anything, he gave me his attention. And somehow.. more than anything else in my life, this has helped me believe that I also have the attention of my Father in heaven. What if the greatest gift that a father can give his children isn’t his provision, wisdom or inherited skills, but simply his attention? Sometimes it is the simplest things that change the world. Through the course of my life, I have found that it was simply the time and attention of my dad that has helped unwind the lies at the center of my soul. The clearest gospel he ever preached to me was simply the way his eyes and his heart were always on me. So, to all the fathers with little eyes looking up at them to see what is real and true about their world: Let’s give them a picture that might help lead them home. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Livingston is Church Planter/Pastor of Treeline Church in Ann Arbor Michigan. Treeline Church is less than one year old. It is their passion to reach the students in the surrounding universities with the message of Christ. Dave and his wife, Steffi, have three children, one of which will be born later this year. #JULY23

There are usually two types of people when it comes to setting the alarm to wake up in the morning. Person number one (this is me) – sets the alarm for the last possible minute to when you actually need to wake up to not be late. Person number two – sets the alarm for about an hour before they actually need to wake up, because they want to be able to hit the snooze button over and over and over again. In student ministry, there is a massive reality that we need to wake up to. I believe most leaders are aware of it, know it needs to be addressed, but keep “hitting snooze” because they don’t want to deal with it or don’t know how to. What am I talking about? What is it that we have to wake up to and address? I’m thinking of the four major gaps in student ministry. There used to be one major gap in student ministry where teens would typically cease being part of a church. It was the gap between student ministry and collegiate ministry. In fact, for decades, we’ve heard stats shared and leaders express the need for fixing this. According to Lifeway Research, two-thirds (66 percent) of American young adults who attended a Protestant church regularly for at least a year as a teenager say they dropped out for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 22. This gap remains a serious concern, but in my exposure to hundreds of student ministries and tens of thousands of students every year, I believe there are actually four major gaps now. Fewer and fewer students are making it all the way through student ministry (sixth grade through senior year) before they even have a chance to drop out after graduation. What are those gaps? The gap between middle school and high school The gap around getting their driver’s license The gap between junior and senior year The gap between youth ministry and college ministry If the Church is going to be an effective student ministry moving forward, we must wake up to addressing and closing these four gaps. How do we do this? Here is a list of things that I believe will help in closing these gaps. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it is a start. Also, these are not in any particular order of importance, because I believe they’re all extremely important and urgent. A love for the Lord and His Word: Our ultimate call is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). Let’s be honest, some of our teens walk away from our ministries with a Ph.D. in pizza and laser tag and a Pre-K education in doctrine, theology and loving Jesus. Your theology will heavily influence your doxology. A love for Jesus, His Word and living it out has sticking power. Don’t dumb it down; disciple them up. Be a part of the church as a whole: If a student ministry is run like a “church within a church,” then when a teen is navigating through the different transitions within a student ministry or graduating out of it, it feels like they’re having to go join a different church that just meets at the same address. That’s why many leave, because they’re now being a part of something different that they don’t understand and where they do not have relationships. I definitely believe in age-specific ministries, but I also believe that the student ministry should be a part of the whole church. It’s one church that is multi-generational. Find ways to constantly be together instead of always separate. Build relationships: The more relationships a student has, the less likely they are to fall through the gaps. Help cultivate relationships with their peers and at the same time with those in the next phase. For example: if your middle school and high school ministries are separate, then multiple times throughout their eighth-grade year, strategically plan high school events where they’re intentionally being invited so that they’re building relationships. When they already know people in the ministry that they’re about to step into, the transition is less intimidating. Get them serving and living on mission: When students catch the vision for serving, then getting a driver’s license is no longer an excuse to disappear. Instead, it’s actually leveraged to no longer have to depend on rides from others. They become more reliable to serve because they can get themselves there. When juniors and seniors have caught the vision for living on mission, then they no longer feel like they’re too mature for the student ministry. Rather, they’re making the most of being a leader by reaching their spiritually lost peers and discipling younger students to do the same, which points back to point number two. They should be serving and living on mission with the church as a whole, not only in the student ministry. Empower them to be involved in the whole life of the church. As next gen leaders, if we’re equipping and empowering students to have a love for the Lord and His Word, be a part of the church as a whole, build relationships and to serve and live on mission – then this will be the posture of their lifestyle from now until they see Jesus face to face. They’ll navigate the different stages in their life without falling through the gaps, because they’ll realize worshipping Jesus and being the church isn’t for a period of time but for all of eternity. “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6, CSB ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shane serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board. He and his wife, Kasi, reside in Rockwall, TX with their six children. He has been in ministry for over 18 years as a denominational worker, church planter, lead pastor and student pastor. Shane is the author of several books and co-hosts the Next Gen on Mission podcast with Paul Worcester. #JULY23

War, conquest, colonization, coups and dictators — Sudan’s history runs red. Blood flows now, leaving a trail behind the men, women and children who have, and are, fleeing to bordering countries. On April 15, fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group. An observer outside of Sudan who is familiar with the situation said the fighting is so devastating and all-encompassing that they think the winner of the conflict will stand on a pile of rocks. The conflict has, so far, internally displaced and made refugees out of an estimated 1.15 million people — about the population of Montana. Many of the refugees have no intention of returning. IMB workers, like Jerry and Meg Brown, are forming plans to assist refugees in bordering countries. Trauma healing counseling is a primary way they are meeting needs, and Sudanese Christians are receiving training in trauma counseling so they can minister to their people. Send Relief funds are being utilized to serve refugees as well as Sudanese who’ve remained in the country. “We don’t know why God permitted this to happen right now, but we do believe He’s given us a job to do,” Meg said. “Pray for the church there in the midst of it all.” A history of hardship Sudan boasts centuries of rich history, but its history is also rife with unrest and economic hardship. Part of the African nation belonged to the Kush and Nubian kingdoms, which were cradles of civilization, and lasted from 2450 BC to 1500 AD. The kingdoms were Christianized by Coptic Christians. Settlers from Arabia introduced Islam to the nation, and Christianity faded. Colonization by the Egyptians and the British followed, and in 1956, Sudan gained its independence. Coups, two civil wars, dictatorships, and wars extending past the country’s borders followed. While unrest and economic hardship have also been the markers of the past 50 to 100 years, this time, the violence broke out without much warning, Jerry said. The Browns live in another country in Northern Africa and the Middle East. Jerry said Sudan has undergone eras where it has been more open and Christian work was possible. The country is estimated to be roughly 3% evangelical Christian. Islam is the predominant religion, and Sudan is home to 67 unreached people groups. Though the situation is grim, the Browns are confident the Lord will redeem what seems unredeemable. “We do believe God will use this to build His church. Even though we don’t know how, we know He will because that is His will, that every kingdom, people, tribe, nation will hear, even all those people groups in Sudan that have yet to hear,” Meg said. Loving your neighbor Refugees in neighboring countries who left before the current conflict can minister and empathize with refugees who are now fleeing. The Browns say they expect terrific conversations to result. South Sudan is one of the nations receiving refugees. Many of those fleeing, the majority of whom are Muslim, once persecuted those who now live in South Sudan for their Christian faith. Christian Sudanese are loving their neighbors and welcome them wholeheartedly. Jerry said they are ministering to the people who threw them out of the country. “It’s really hard for people to go through the trauma of evacuating, but it’s often in those circumstances where they turn to God,” Meg said. A Christian fleeing Sudan had the opportunity to share with a non-Christian family the story of Jesus calming the sea. “God sees the turmoil we’re in, and He has the power to calm that,” the Christians shared. “We believe God is going to use this. We also really believe that God, will continue to build His church in Sudan,” Meg said. “Even though so many believers have had to leave again, God has not left Sudan.” A long-time Christian worker shared, “The church in Sudan belongs to the Lord, and He will nurture it, so it’s not like we left anything that belonged to us. It’s always been His church. He will take care of it.” The Browns ask for prayer for the Christians who remain in the country. Pray also for the Christians who’ve fled to be ministers of hope to people who have been hopeless for a generation. Pray for the believers ministering to refugees in surrounding countries to have wisdom, compassion and discernment. Eventually, refugees will make their way to Europe and the U.S., and Jerry and Meg said it will provide a chance for the global church to respond in love. You can be a part of bringing relief to hundreds of thousands of Sudanese in need. Please visit https://www.sendrelief.org/projects/sudan-crisis/ for more information. Some names have been changed for security reasons. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tessa Sanchez writes for the IMB. #JULY23

PLYMOUTH – Twelve thousand messengers, this past month, voted their personal convictions and in doing so defined the global and local direction of Great Commission Baptists. Those of us attending from Michigan helped shape that future. Where and when will next year’s convention take place? Indiana Convention Center 100 South Capitol Avenue Indianapolis, Indiana 46225 June 9-10, 2024, Pastors’ Conference & other special gatherings June 11-12, 2024, Annual Meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention Next year’s four-day convention at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 9-12, 2024, will be worth the drive, meals, and lodging costs! There is no participation fee for attending the convention, but advanced registration as a messenger representing your church is required. More details can be found at: https://sbcannualmeeting.net or at https://sbc.net. What happened last month? During the first two days, inspirational meetings with national and international impact met prior to the annual convention, such as the Pastors’ Conference, Woman’s Missionary Union, language/ethnic ministries, and more. During the second two days, important business matters were addressed with each messenger’s voice and vote counting as importantly as the messenger next to him or her. Officers were elected to guide the convention for another year. Trustees were elected to serve on the board of six seminaries, two mission agencies, and other important entities for years to come. Motions were received, acted on, or deferred. Resolutions were received, acted on, or deferred. Evangelism efforts saturated the city resulting in many salvations and baptisms. Seventy-nine international missionaries were introduced to the messengers, on stage, before departing for their overseas assignments. Breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, and banquets were held by a variety of ministries throughout the entire four days. Your selections are yours to make. Over two hundred exhibitors put their ministries on display with free access and free giveaways to make exploring options for your church as convenient as possible. Next Year is Near. Pastors, church leaders, and church members, I encourage you to make plans to attend next year’s annual meeting, June 9-12, 2024. Begin now by asking the church to set aside some funds to reimburse those who will attend next year’s convention from your congregation. Here are some distances and time estimates from some Michigan locations to Indianapolis: Location Miles Drive Time Marquette 600 9 hours Traverse City 400 6 hours Bay City 350 5 hours Detroit 287 4 hours Grand Rapids 262 4 hours Lansing 255 4 hours Arrangements for lodging can be made on your own at any time, or with the assistance of the national convention starting in October 2023 at https://sbc.net. Is Michigan’s Influence Important? Do we make a difference as Michiganders at an event filled with thousands? The answer is, “Yes!” Representatives from Michigan’s churches carry influence all year long, each year, by serving as trustees on national boards of convention agencies and entities. Here is a glance at those from Michigan who serve on national boards: International Mission Board – Mr. Warren Hessling, Memorial Baptist Church, Sterling Heights, MI North American Mission Board – Pastor Roy Henry, Faith Baptist Church, Battle Creek, MI SBC Executive Committee – Mrs. Nancy Spalding, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Roseville, MI Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission – Pastor Michel Guyer, Treasuring Christ Church, Ypsilanti, MI GuideStone Financial Resources – Minister David Cox, Temple of Faith Baptist Church, Detroit, MI LifeWay Christian Resources – Mrs. Sharon Greer, Orchard Church, Kingsley, MI Woman’s Missionary Union – Mrs. Odelle Cadwell, Temple of Faith Baptist Church, Detroit, MI Gateway Baptist Theological Seminary – Pastor Jerome Taylor, Eastgate Baptist Church, Burton, MI Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Pastor Edward Mattox, Forest Park Baptist Church, Farmington, MI New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – Mrs. Zeola Carey, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Roseville, MI Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary – Pastor Arthur Werry, New Life Baptist Church, Fraser, MI Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – No Michigan representative on the board due to the seminary’s unique historical charter Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Pastor Larry Johnson, Middlebelt Baptist Church, Inkster, MI Tuesday Night is Michigan Night Michigan Baptists may be the only state convention celebrating together on Tuesday nights at the annual conventions. Michigan messengers gather together on the free, unassigned Tuesday night of the convention for fellowship. The president of the state convention and the state executive director host this special meal as a way to express their gratitude to messengers who support the Great Commission Baptist ministry at their own expense. Years ago, the evening started as simple as an ice cream gathering in Phoenix, AZ, then it evolved into a delicious fine meal in a private banquet room in Nashville, TN, and more recently became a loud party in a Cajun-style restaurant in New Orleans, LA. No one knows what to expect in Indianapolis next year for Michigan’s night, but we do hope that hundreds from Michigan will take part in all of the events at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN on June 9-12, 2024. Together, we can help churches take their next step to accelerate Gospel movement. Please, contact the state convention office if you have questions, or if you require assistance in preparing for next year’s annual convention: (810) 714-1907 or Jamie@bscm.org – I look forward to seeing you with others from your church in Indianapolis. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe. #JULY23

PLYMOUTH – Our college Philosophy professor pointed at a picture of a horse drawn cart and asked: “What is the most important part?” For much of the class, students vigorously debated the question, landing on one side or the other as they shared their reasoning, while he just smiled. Not a single student suggested the answer he offered - the idea was most important, for without it, a horse drawn cart would never have existed. It was an “ah-ha” moment for us. Ideas not only proceed reality, they shape it. I am reminded of that lesson from time to time as I think about just how incredible the world is because of ideas from my childhood that are reality today. In the cartoon, “The Jetsons,” George and his family live in a world filled with robots, communicate with each other face to face on phones, and get around in flying cars. Shar and I don’t have the flying car, but a robot vacuums our home, and we regularly FaceTime with our grandchildren. Someday I hope to have a self-driving car. All my friends hope I get one too. Ideas, that at one point seemed like the stuff of science fiction, are now reality and our lives are better for it. But what would happen if…? That’s the question that is being debated by some of the greatest technology leaders in the world today about Artificial Intelligence. Some have even raised concern that AI might ultimately turn against humanity. The discussion taking place is way beyond my capacity to grasp, or even to imagine, but it reminds me of something else. The ultimate story of created ones turning against their Creator is our story. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Genesis 3:5-6). Everything changes in that instant, but God does the unfathomable. He works through prophets, priests, and kings, until that moment in the “fullness of time” that He sends forth His Son to be born of a woman. That Son, Jesus, dies for our sins on the cross, rises again, and redeems us. The old, old, story of the Gospel is so familiar that I sometimes wonder if we fail to grasp just how radical it is. I’m afraid we take it for granted and lose the full horror of creation turning against the Creator. Compare what God did with my first thought about AI turning against us: pull the plug, kill it, and be done with it forever. God does just the opposite - He gives His Son who dies for us that we might have LIFE. He wins our affection, not by force or coercion, but by love so amazing that we willingly turn and surrender to Jesus as Lord. What a Savior! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil. #JULY23

WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Over a decade ago Thom Rainer asked several hundred church people to write down what they desired most in a pastor. “What kind of pastor do you want?” Among other things, people said they want a pastor who: loves the congregation teaches from the Bible has a good work ethic casts a contagious vision demonstrates healthy leadership models evangelism As you can see, serving as a pastor today demands much of us. Yet, God has called us! He has called us to be shepherds of the flock. He has called us to be pastors and teachers of his people. He has called us and anointed us to be leaders in the church of Jesus Christ, and that is what we are! So, what kind of shepherd; what kind of pastor; what kind of leader should we be? We need a sensitive heart 2 Timothy 1:4 – "As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy." Apparently, the last time Paul and Timothy were together, there were tears. Maybe it was just before Paul was taken to prison by the Roman authorities. We’re not sure, but Timothy exhibits a sympathetic, supportive, and sensitive spirit. A young leader who was not ashamed of his tears…. He loved Paul and Paul loved him. That’s an indispensable ingredient for making disciples and leading a church. You must love your people. Paul said he had no one like Timothy, “who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.” We need more pastors with a vulnerable heart. We need a sincere faith 2 Timothy 1:5 – "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." Timothy is the real deal. He may be a young leader. He may not be the strongest man on the block, physically or emotionally, but his faith oozes sincerity, honesty, and authenticity. All of that was first modeled for him by his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. I often think about the family God used to draw me to the gospel. Andy and Ethel were ordinary people who loved Jesus. Andy was a firefighter, and Ethel was a nurse. They were genuinely concerned for my welfare and my salvation, and I saw something in their lives, in their home, and in their family that I had never seen before. As a result, when Ethel shared the gospel with me months after we first met, I listened carefully to what she said. She had earned my trust, and I knew that her faith was the real deal. And soon I put my faith in the Lord Jesus. The faith that first dwelt in Andy and Ethel Storfield now dwells in me! We are only one generation away from losing the gospel. If we take the gospel for granted in this generation, it will be neglected, ignored or abandoned in the next. The young men and women in your community and in your church are watching you! So, pastors, let's model a sincere faith for them and for their parents and grandparents. We need church leaders of all shapes and sizes who will trust God for the impossible and take the next step to accelerate Gospel movement. We need a divine calling 1 Timothy 1:6 – "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands…." Let’s do ministry out of a sense of calling rather than a sense of duty. Judging from the surrounding context of 1 and 2 Timothy, we might say that Timothy was not a spiritual giant. He appears to be physically weak, personally timid, and relatively young (1 Tim 5:23, 2 Tim 1:7, 1 Tim 4:12). However, God delights in using the weak and ordinary to demonstrate his mighty power! He specializes in putting broken pieces back together! We all need to embrace our weakness. We don’t have what it takes. We are neither sovereign nor omniscient, nor invincible. We are not in control, and we don’t know everything. Weakness means that we desperately need God. And the plea for my own soul, and for yours, is that we embrace weakness, not despise it. God has called you by his Spirit to love him and serve him in our Send Michigan family! I’d like to remind you today to fan into flame the gift of God. Be sure of your calling by God. We need to be full of the Spirit 1 Timothy 1:7 – "…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." There is some debate about the word “spirit” and whether it should be capitalized. Does it mean that God gave us a human spirit not of fear, or does it mean that God has given us his Holy Spirit who is not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control? For several reasons I believe Paul is referring here to the Holy Spirit. God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we do not have to be afraid. We don’t have to be afraid of the fact that only a small percentage of Michigan’s population affirms the gospel of God to one degree or another. God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we do not have to cower in fear every time we have a Board meeting at the church. God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can leave a mark on our community and on the next generation. That is how we will make disciples who live and lead like Timothy and push back the darkness in the state – in the power of the Spirit of God. Spirit of God fall in this place, Lord have Your way with us. Fill us anew we pray. Let your glory fall. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. 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. #JULY23

ROSCOMMON – Is Jesus Better? Recently a personal testimony was shared with me regarding this very question. It was the testimony of a person who had been “all in” to the homosexual lifestyle and was miraculously delivered from it. The transformational turning point in his life came when he realized “Jesus was better”. Jesus was better than all the pleasure, self-indulgence and pride. Jesus was and is better! If you want to look in the mirror and take a self-examination of your spiritual life, this is a great question to ask - Is Jesus Better? Is my life the reflection of a life choosing Christ? Maybe I should ask the question this way - Am I pursuing things in my life as though they are “better than” being with Jesus? OUCH!! I would like to deny and rationalize, but the truth is yes - I am oftentimes living as though my dreams, goals, desires and stuff are “better than” Jesus. Heather Holleman, PhD and author said it this way - “Knowing and enjoying Jesus is the point of the Christian life, and when I lose this essential truth, I’m doomed to a life of forever chasing after the next dream. I will continually compare my life to that of others, imagining their happiness and their joy, while bemoaning my own situation”. As a chosen child of God seated in Christ, I must begin to believe that knowing Jesus and being with Him is better than any life I could design or even imagine for myself! In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul penned a prayer for them expressing this very truth. Paul's desire was that he and all Christ followers would come to know and love Jesus above all else. He wrote - “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” Ephesians 1:17 To know Jesus is to know He is better. Knowing Him better leads to loving Him better and Enjoying Him more than anything this world could possibly offer. Is Jesus Better? Let the question penetrate to the very core of your being. Let it unravel your grandest dreams and elaborate plans. Let it replay in your mind and keep you from serving temptation’s call. Let it reveal your true motives and empower you to rest in Him. As Christians, we cannot allow sin and selfishness to rob us of all Christ has for us. Can the world offer peace? Unending joy? Unfailing love? Unconditional acceptance? Hope? Salvation? Contentment? …and the list could go on. The resounding answer is no! JESUS IS BETTER! ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE!! 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. #JULY23

"He got toe jam football He got monkey finger / He got walrus gumboot He one spinal cracker He got feet down below his knee Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease." WARREN – These words from the verses of one of the Beatles' biggest hits: Come Together. You can probably hum the chorus in your head as you read this: Come Together...Right Now...Over Me. That catchy chorus, bolstered by Paul McCartney's chunky bass line, appears to be a rallying cry for unity in a time of great upheaval and disunity. But John Lennon himself called the song’s meaning, “gobbledygook.” The lyrics are a hodgepodge of veiled drug references from the late 60s, plus a whole lot of pure meaninglessness. Yet, on one level, I think Lennon was getting at something that all humans long for: unity, fellowship; koinonia, to use the biblical word (Acts 2:42). We all want to belong. We all desire a sense of togetherness—from the toddler who misses her mommy to the radicalized loner who joins a white supremacist hate-group. But here’s my point: it’s hard to come together over pure “gobbledygook.” But we’re living in a society that celebrates gobbledygook. Objective truth has fallen on hard times. Personal preferences and feelings rule the day. Even basic questions like, “What is a man?” or “What is a woman?” are up for debate now, and that debate is deemed as progress. In fact, one of the great hindrances to this kind of “progress” for many modern people are groups (like Christians) who believe that there are absolute truths that are absolutely binding on everyone. So, it has become trendy for influential “Christians” to publicly deconstruct their tired, old religious heritages that kept them “shackled” to an ancient book, written by a bunch of “patriarchal” men. Now that their modern eyes have been enlightened, people are finally finding the “courage” to follow their hearts and be true to themselves. Princess Elsa would be proud. But this “new” reality in which we’re living is—actually—not very new at all. In fact, a very old book in the Old Testament provides a window into what happens when we favor self-rule rather than submission to God. That book is called Judges. Spoiler alert: after pages of horrific atrocities and utter disappointments, the book ends with this: “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25). It turns out that following your heart and being true to yourself is disappointing at best and dehumanizing at worst. In a society where everything is equally valid, nothing is valid. If everything matters, then nothing matters. If the “self” determines what is true, then there’s nothing ultimately true and “anything goes.” Who's to say otherwise? Good luck finding productive unity in a society like that. You might as well try to get people to come together over “toe jam football” or “walrus gumboot,” whatever that is. This is where the radical beauty of Christianity shines brightly. As a lover of God’s Word, I’m freed from the bondage to self and secular society. I’m freed from my fickle inconsistencies. I’m able to look to an authority that’s “outside of myself” and navigate a confusing world. Judges ends with a nation in chaos without a king. An Israelite king was supposed to write a copy of God’s law, read it regularly, learn to fear God, and obey him (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). A king was supposed to get his people to “come together” --not over gobbledygook, but over God’s laws. May God’s people have the courage to cut through the gobbledygook with a steadfast call to men, women, and children to come together—right now—over God’s words. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Clayton Knight is the senior pastor at Warren Woods Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan. He is married to his best friend, Sarah, and they have a daughter named Aubrey. #JULY23