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Excerpt from “The Church and the Missionary,” The Great Commission Baptist Journal of Missions , published by the International Mission Board. The IMB has always required church endorsement for service overseas. Most missionaries were part of a healthy church where discipleship and accountability shaped their call. Churches committed to pray for their missionaries. In the last few years, the International Mission Board began initiatives to more closely involve the church and has asked it to play a pivotal role in the preparation and deployment process. Churches are asked to complete an 8-10 week assessment of missionary candidates to help determine his/her readiness for missionary service. This new initiative has helped churches to take a bigger role in supporting their missionary on the field. New IMB missionaries recognize their sending churches as important to their training, call and continued support on the field. In November 2024, Kelsey Bennett was sent from Hillcrest Baptist in Pensacola, Florida, to serve among the unreached in Poland. Here, friends and family pray over her at the missionary Sending Celebration. (IMB Photo) Greg and Joanna Hughes are a good example. Their home church helped evaluate and train them in evangelism. The church’s DNA was a nations-focused mindset for prayer, giving, short-term trips and partnerships with several personnel on the field. The Hughes were the first long-term unit sent out specifically by their church. This has led to healthy partnership as they are now serving in the Horn of Africa. “They adopted our people group and have been committed in prayer and short-term trips,” Joanna said. “My biggest encouragement is when individuals reply to our newsletters to ask a question or comment about something specific we shared, or to tell me what they’re praying about specifically, or share something God is doing in their life.” Samantha Conners’ church has supported them with prayers, care packages and money raised through VBS for special ministry projects. Recently, the church sent their first short-term team to work with the Conners on the field. Samantha hopes to provide more opportunities to partner with them in the future. Tyrell and Nida Kilkenny in Asia came to the field in 1992. Their pastor was a former IMB missionary. “Brother Miles Seaborn and his wife Jeannie of Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, prepared us by personally talking to us about life on the field, raising a family (we were not yet parents), and prayed over us often,” Nida said. They continue to support in prayer and hosting when the Kilkennys are stateside. The Kilkennys’ closest church connection is currently with Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth because they have provided a missionary house for them on stateside assignment. Travis Avenue wants to send a team to join in their ministry to an unreached people group in Asia. Travis Avenue Baptist Church has a long history of missions involvement. In 2022, they sent a team to Portugal to join IMB missionaries in ministry during the Thanksgiving season. They were featured in an IMB news story. (IMB Photo) Geoff and Jennifer Bowen were on staff at a large church before coming to the field. A high security placement overseas and a change of pastor have made it difficult to stay as connected as they hoped. The Bowens rely more on individual friends and contacts within the church to be their support rather than the church as a whole. However, the ongoing connections are a two-way street. Prioritizing these relationships has to be an intentional part of the missionary’s ministry as well as a priority of their home church. The Conners send weekly prayer requests and videos several times a year. The Bowens text in real time with their closer contacts. The Hughes talk, via Signal, to members of their church, send monthly newsletters, offer volunteer opportunities and create special resources and videos for special events. All of the families interviewed spend time in person with their home churches when they are in the states—reconnecting with their home churches to build relationships, give updates, encourage involvement and share how God is at work through their joint effort. If you or your church want to connect directly with an IMB missionary, please write info@imb.org for information.   This article was first published in the Fall 2024 edition of the Great Commission Baptist Journal of Missions . The journal is available through the IMB. Some names have been changed for security reasons. The work of the IMB is made possible through generous giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and the Cooperative Program.   The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.     ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen Pearce is an IMB missionary serving among European peoples. #FEBRUARY25

Tima Miroshnichenko photo | Pexels Few pastors hold or teach beliefs connected to the prosperity gospel. Still, these beliefs are more prevalent among churchgoers. Many churchgoers say their church connects financial blessings with personal generosity, but most pastors see those ideas as bankrupt.  A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors finds few hold or teach beliefs connected to the prosperity gospel, the theological movement that teaches God wants to make followers materially wealthy and will do so if individuals hold certain beliefs or perform specific actions. A previous Lifeway Research study , however, found these beliefs much more prevalent among churchgoers, including many who said their church teaches these ideas. “The large differences we see between pastor and churchgoer beliefs related to the prosperity gospel means pastors are often not the source of these beliefs among Protestants,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “But the gap likely also means pastors are not teaching the reasons for their own convictions on the subject.” Pastors’ positions and churchgoer confusion Fewer than 1 in 10 (8%) Protestant pastors believe individuals must do something for God in order to receive material blessings from Him. Nine in 10 (90%) disagree, including 74% who disagree strongly. Few (2%) aren’t sure. Similarly, fewer than 1 in 5 (18%) say their churches teach that if you give more money to the church and charities, God will bless the giver in return. Around 4 in 5 (79%) disagree, including 62% who disagree strongly. Just 3% aren’t sure. Pastors are more split on whether God wants people to prosper financially. Still, only 37% agree, 59% disagree, with 31% disagreeing strongly, and 5% aren’t sure. The widespread disagreement with these beliefs among U.S. Protestant pastors is not shared by those in their pews, however, according to a 2022 Lifeway Research study. Whatever pastors may believe, many of those regularly attending churches agree with these three beliefs, and that number is growing. Almost half (45%) of U.S. Protestant churchgoers say to receive material blessings from God they have to do something for God. The percentage that agrees has almost doubled from the 26% who agreed in a 2017 Lifeway Research study . More than half (52%) say their church teaches that if they give more money, God will bless them, up from 38% five years earlier. Additionally, 3 in 4 Protestant churchgoers (76%) say God wants them to prosper financially, an increase from 69% in 2017. “Nine in 10 pastors describe blessings from God based on grace rather than God owing people a reward for their actions. This is counter-intuitive for many in a culture that focuses on performance,” said McConnell. Different pulpits, different teachings While there may be confusion among many churchgoers about what their churches teach, some of the gaps between the average Protestant pastor and the average churchgoer could be traced to congregational differences. Some pastors are more likely to say their churches teach doctrines related to prosperity gospel theology. In particular, churchgoers at larger congregations may be more likely to hear such teaching. Protestant pastors of the largest churches, those with 250 or more in worship attendance, are among the least likely to reject the notion that their church teaches that if you give more money, God will bless you in return. Still, 70% disagree that their church promotes that teaching. Pastors of these large congregations are also the most likely to believe God wants people to prosper financially (52%). “Americans like orderly, explainable things they can control. It isn’t surprising pastors describing such blessings and prosperity are having broad appeal, though it sounds dangerously close to God existing for people rather than people existing at God’s pleasure,” said McConnell. African American pastors are among the most likely to agree with each of the following three statements. To receive material blessings from God, we have to do something for God (16%). Our church teaches that if you give more money to the church and charities, God will bless you in return (45%). God wants people to prosper financially (72%). Denominationally, Pentecostal pastors also more often agree we have to do something for God to receive material blessings from Him (16%), their church teaches God will bless people if they give more (35%) and that God wants people to be financially prosperous (72%). Younger pastors and those with formal education beyond college are frequently among those most likely to reject the doctrines. For more information, view the complete report . Lifeway Research studies can be used and referenced in news articles freely. This news release can also be republished in its entirety on other websites and in other publications without obtaining permission. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aaron is the senior writer at Lifeway Research. Methodology The phone survey of 1,003 Protestant pastors was conducted Aug. 8 – Sept. 3, 2024. The calling list was a stratified random sample, drawn from a list of all Protestant churches. Quotas were used for church size. Each interview was conducted with the senior pastor, minister or priest at the church. Responses were weighted by region and church size to more accurately reflect the population. The completed sample is 1,003 surveys. The sample provides 95% confidence that the sampling error does not exceed plus or minus 3.3%. This margin of error accounts for the effect of weighting. Margins of error are higher in sub-groups. Comparisons are made to a survey of 1,000 pastors conducted by Lifeway Research Aug. 22 – Sept. 16, 2016, using the same methodology. #FEBRUARY25

In his new book  Negative World , Aaron Renn chronicles the changing cultural posture toward Christianity over the last 60 years. Positive World functioned from 1964-1994, such that the church was seen as a good thing for society. Neutral World existed from 1994-2014 and was characterized by a more tolerant posture. It was one of many voices in our pluralistic society and was neither good nor bad. Negative World started in 2014 and continues into the present, ushered in during the Supreme Court’s decision about gay marriage. This saw a shift in cultural attitudes among many to see the church as a moral evil that must be opposed. How do we pastor and lead in Negative World? Let me make five suggestions: Get your church polity locked down A church statement of faith coupled with a church covenant that outlines how you will treat each other is essential in this cultural moment. Why? More and more people will engage with us who do not assume the best of us. Many of these people will look for ways to intentionally hurt the church. If you have inconsistencies in what you affirm you believe or how you, for example, discipline members, this will bite you. Go hard after young men As Negative World has been established, younger men are struggling. As a result, there’s an openness and hunger for guidance and direction among young men today more than ever, opening the door for the gospel. The church has largely been more calibrated to women in our marketing and programming over the last 20 years. Continue to love your ladies, but gear up to reach out to guys. Simple things like changing your church logo to look more masculine can help. More than that, make sure the men you hire on your staff or who lead on your elder teams are model men. Young men are looking for mentors and guides, and they will gravitate to places that have that. Prepare your leadership community for resistance If you are outspoken about the truth, at some point you may be canceled. Not only must you be ready to take hard stances, you need to prepare your leadership community for the blowback that will come. What you must not have are leaders who want you to pull back from saying something hard because of the potential blowback. Be bold, but also wisely bring your leaders along. Show them examples of what other churches have walked through in being canceled and talk through how to respond. Go all in on the Holy Spirit We have officially reached a point where just “doing church” isn’t gonna do it. In Positive World and Neutral World, so much of church growth was shuffling the deck of Christians in a town. Most of what we were doing in those days was not so much planting a church but planting a worship service and expecting people to show up. I’m not bashing it—in many ways it worked! Healthy churches came out of this model. I believe those days are over. If we are going to see churches planted and grow, we are going to have to pray like crazy, begging God to move. Your leadership community needs to be a burning center of prayer, begging the Spirit to convict, unify, and send. Call for response in worship We have a spectrum of pastors in the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, some more reformed and others more revivalistic. One of the easiest ways to tell where you fall on the spectrum is by how you end your worship service. For a number of years, I was uncomfortable with a more deliberate, intentional response time because of abuses I’d seen growing up. I’m over that. I want to help people know how to become a Christian at the end of our services. I want people to have the ability to be prayed over or counseled during worship. Why? Because I believe when the Word is preached, God is speaking and today, people need help sifting what God is doing. Positive and Neutral World people did not need as much guidance about the basics. Many of them were exposed to Christianity and just needed a nudge. We are now officially reaching people whose grandparents didn’t take them to church. They’ve got no background, and they absolutely need more deliberate, intentional opportunities to get help. A more focused response time can help. Negative World is here. Are you ready? I hope these five things help you. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Spencer Plumlee is pastor of First Baptist Mansfield, Texas, and a member of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Young Pastor Network. #FEBRUARY25

FLUSHING – As we enter 2025, it’s easy to let it arrive before we’ve truly prepared for what’s ahead. At the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM), we’re not only looking forward to the opportunities God has in store, but are also committed to moving forward to see His plans fulfilled. If we want to experience everything God has for us, we must do more than look ahead—we must take active steps of faith to move ahead into His purpose. Looking Forward The Bible reminds us in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has incredible plans for us, plans that we may not even fully understand yet. As we look forward, we need to seek His direction for our churches and ministries. Together, we have the opportunity to advance the Gospel in ways that transform lives, communities, and even nations. At the BSCM, we are committed to helping churches take their next step to accelerate Gospel movement. But this cannot happen without seeking God first. I invite you to join me in prayer, asking God to reveal His plans and to give us the wisdom and courage to follow His leading. What role is God calling your church to play in this greater movement? How can we, together, embrace His vision to make disciples and spread the Gospel to every corner of Michigan and beyond? Moving Forward Looking forward is vital, but it is not enough. We must also be willing to take intentional steps toward what God is calling us to do. James 1:22 challenges us: “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” The time for action is now. In 2025 we want to provide opportunities for churches to: Build Kingdom Bridges: Collaborate with other churches and partners to strengthen Gospel unity and advance God’s mission together. Pursue Focus: Embrace who God is uniquely calling your church to be, rather than trying to replicate another church’s strategy or vision. Normalize Sentness: Actively participate in sharing the Gospel boldly near and far around the world and planting churches everywhere for everyone in a world in desperate need of the hope of the Gospel. God’s call on our lives and our churches is not passive—it demands that we act. This means embracing both the opportunities and the challenges ahead, trusting that He is working through us as we step out in faith. What Is Your Next Move? What is God calling you and your church to do in the days ahead? Are you willing to do more than just see the vision? Will you take the steps to make it a reality? Together, we can accomplish far more than we could ever achieve alone. By building strong relationships grounded in the Gospel, we can partner effectively to see God’s Kingdom advance. The Gospel unites us in mission, reminding us that we are one body with one purpose: to proclaim Christ to a lost and dying world. As we move into 2025, let’s commit to seeking God’s vision, taking bold action, and partnering together to accomplish His work. The future is bright because it is held by the One who is faithful. Let’s move forward with confidence, trusting that He will guide us every step of the way. Are you ready to look forward and move forward? Let’s take this journey together—advancing Gospel movement, planting churches, and sharing the hope of Christ in every community. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ed Emmerling is the Executive Director of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). Ed was privileged to be the pastor of Westside Church Flushing since 2002. Ed and his wife Reneé have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. #JANUARY25

WESTLAND – I can remember as a young child listening to the lyrics of the song “It is well with my Soul” by Horatio Spafford, being sung by my grandmother in worship service and trying to understand exactly what the words meant. Now that I am an adult this is one of my all-time favorite hymns to listen to when I just need some reassurance from the Lord. Around this time of the year the holidays are hard for some people dealing with grief, loss, and loneliness. With God we will never be alone in this world. God is with us through all our life’s journey. Psalm 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas, though its waters roar and foams and the mountains quake with its turmoil.” This scripture gives us reassurance that no matter what we are going through, we must go to the Lord with it. Trying to handle our problems on our own won’t get us anywhere, but further and further in a hole. When we feel sad from the loss of a loved one the Lord will ease all your pain. I am not saying that the pain will go away over night, but he will be there for your every need. Before we can hear the sweet words from the Lord we must start with prayer. You can start like this… Lord, help me to be more intentional when it comes to being in your word! Lord, help me to build a closer relationship with you! Romans 8:28 says “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” CSB Some of us may be dealing with loneliness at this time of the year. Not all of us have large families, or families that we have close relationships with that we could be around for the holidays. As Christians we should be those open arms for people that you know who would benefit from being around you and your family for the holiday. If the holiday is over it's okay to open your home to invite someone over for a meal or for coffee from time to time. The Lord blesses us with things so that we can share them with others, not to hold everything to ourselves. Sometimes even if you offer a phone call just to chat with someone who lives alone, it may be just as good as an invite to your home. When I wake up in the morning, I ask the Lord how can I be used today? That is a great way for us all to start our day. Everyday my hope is to be more and more like Jesus so that when the storms come, I can say, “It is well with my Soul.” The writer wrote this song because he lost his whole family in a short period of time. He couldn’t see the big picture at the current moment, but he knew that it would be okay because of his trust in God. What do you do in trying circumstances? Can we say “it is well with my soul”l when everything is going badly? I know that God has a purpose for all our lives, and we must trust him in everything that we do. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jessica Wimberly is the 1st Lady of One Mission Church in Westland Michigan. Jessica and Pastor Antonio have 4 children, Savanah 18, Antonio ll 11, Alexandria 1, and Anthony 7 months. Jessica is the Director of the Children’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, and assists with the Media Ministry at One Mission Church. A nurse by profession, loves art and spending lots of time with her family. Outside of family time, she enjoys arts and crafts, writing, fellowship with her church family, and helping seniors in the community. #JANUARY25

DALLAS (BP) — The road to building better habits doesn’t start tomorrow, and it doesn’t start alone, GuideStone Financial Resources director of Pastoral Wellness Mark Dance says in an upcoming episode of SBC This Week. Speaking with Executive Committee vice president for Convention Communications Brandon Porter, Dance relayed when a year ago he realized the time he spent traveling for work was excessive. “It was not sustainable,” he said. “So I had to apologize to [my wife] and ask for her help. Before I said ‘yes’ to another event this year, I ran it by her so that she could help look at my calendar and see if this was something that was too much.” Speaking as someone in finance would, Dance encouraged an audit of one’s physical, financial and mental health. Create small, short-term goals where the wins can be celebrated early and often and results can be felt at home and in leadership roles. “I want to manage my life as well as the Bible tells us to do. As in 1 Timothy, 3, all the leaders of the church are to manage our lives, lead our lives before we can lead our family in ministry,” he said. “It’s just a practical way of doing that.” Dance covered these topics in his book “Start to Finish: The Pastor’s Guide to Leading a Resilient Life and Ministry.” Areas of health are assessed in light of the Great Commandment with a 30-day challenge assessing spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health goals. Readers are encouraged to use whatever word or phrase they wish – resolution, spending plan, budget, etc. – to establish something sustainable and shareable with someone for accountability. Discipline with a measure of flexibility help us take small steps toward goals. “One-year [goals] work for some people. But for most of us, we need some early wins,” said Dance. “It might even help … for someone to do a one-week or one-month goal instead of 30 days, or 30 days instead of a quarter, or a quarter instead of a year. “Break down a short-term goal and share that to celebrate along the way. Don’t freak out when you fall short, but get back on it because it’s really more about the kind of person you want to become than it is about the goal that you want to achieve.” Just as the “why” is crucial for any steps toward self-improvement, he pointed out, so is the simple act of moving forward. “In James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’ he said when preparation becomes a form of procrastination, you need to change something. You don’t want to merely be planning; you want to be practicing. You want to master a habit. “The key is to start with repetition, not perfection.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press. #JANUARY25

Editor’s note: Former President Jimmy Carter died on Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100 after spending more than a year in hospice care. Rosalynn, his wife of 77 years, preceded him in death at the age of 96 on Nov. 19, 2023. Jimmy Carter put a new face on Southern Baptists, one that Southern Baptists weren’t always comfortable with. Elected in 1976, he came into office as the Evangelical wave was rising. Billy Graham was the defining father of the movement. Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Jim and Tammy Bakker were beginning their ascent, and the Moral Majority hadn’t yet been named. For America, Carter bore the promise of peace after Vietnam and trust after Watergate. He was down to earth, literally, a Georgia peanut farmer who downplayed his education as a nuclear engineer. He was an outsider to a Washington that had lowland character long before the Potomac basin was called a swamp. Most important, he was a man of faith. With Jimmy Carter, America would have opportunity to see how a born-again Christian would be governed in his leadership by his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Carter, the 39th president, wasn’t the first Southern Baptist in the Oval Office. Harry Truman identified as Baptist, although he had connections to two other denominations. In his later years, he supported First Baptist Church of Grandview, Missouri, attending their building dedication in 1960. Truman lamented that he couldn’t attend worship more often, but felt he was a bit of a spectacle and a distraction when he showed up in the congregation. And, of course, Bill Clinton identified as Southern Baptist. He attended a couple of the large National Baptist churches in D.C. on occasion, and he went with his wife to Foundry United Methodist sometimes. But some of his political positions and moral choices put him at odds with many Southern Baptists. So Carter, in my mind, stands as the Southern Baptist President. Until he wasn’t. After President Carter took the oath, he danced with his wife, Rosalynn, at the inaugural balls. There was much talk about a dancing Baptist at the time. Then he said he would allow wine to be served at state dinners, but to his credit, no hard liquor. Teetotaling Baptists were glad to hear that about whiskey, even if wine seemed a compromise. And some of the Carter family was comical. His brother, Billy, if not a black sheep, was a speckled one, with a beer brand named for him. His mother, Miz Lillian, was the opinionated, hard-edged deep South grandmother many of us knew. There was a sitcom called Carter Country  about a small-town sheriff in rural Georgia that played the Carter brand of Southernism for laughs. Even Lucille Ball returned for a TV special as Lucy Carter, who learned she was related to the president. But Jimmy Carter was serious. He was genial, affable, and pleasant, often seen smiling, but he was serious about peace in the Middle East and the implications of his faith on his work. He also wrestled unsuccessfully with the economy. And when he was unable to free the U.S. hostages in Iran, America wanted a new direction. Southern Baptists, in the main, were with them. The former president teaching Sunday school. It is Carter’s work after his presidency that is best remembered and celebrated at the time of his passing. Carter cast the model for former presidents, advocating for peace and combatting homelessness. How many videos have we seen across 40 years of Jimmy and Rosalynn on worksites for Habitat for Humanity, encouraging others to help build houses and opportunity for poor people? Carter put feet to his faith. And hands and nails. After returning to Plains, he taught Sunday School every weekend he was in town, often filling the sanctuary at Maranatha Baptist Church with tourists. It should be noted that Maranatha, built in 1978, supports both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. And the church declares its adherence to 1963 version of the Baptist Faith and Message , rather than BF&M (2000). And as Carter has moved in one direction while the Convention moved in another, some have asked how Southern Baptist this president was. But today, how much does that matter? Our Baptist brother and president led by faith, in and out of office, and set a high standard for us all. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eric Reed is the editor of the Illinois Baptist Media This article first appeared in the Illinois Baptist . Used with permission. #JANUARY25

Henry Garcia graduated this December with a Master's degree in Theological Studies from SWBTS. His wife Evie stands with him. HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (BP) – Henry Garcia had no desire to leave his native Colombia. The college-educated and seminary-trained Christian leader was responsible over 20 years for more than 30 church plants in Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru, and for the development of most of the pastors serving the ever-multiplying plants. But then, “God put the United States in my heart,” Garcia said. “I asked God, ‘I want to go to the United States to plant churches and learn English.’ Two weeks later I received a message from the U.S.: ‘Do you want to come to West Virginia to plant churches in Spanish and have an opportunity to learn English?’ Hay Esperanza’s Huntington, Ashland and Crosslanes church plants gather for a combined service. “God answered my prayer! I stopped praying and said yes,” Garcia told Baptist Press in fluent if somewhat accented English. “God connects everything.” That was in February 2014. Five pastors in the tri-state area of West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky who wanted to begin a Spanish-speaking ministry had heard of Garcia’s church planting success. They saw the need but none of them knew how to reach Hispanic people hiding almost in plain sight of the dominant English-speaking culture.  “They told me, ‘We don’t how to plant Hispanic churches; that’s the reason we brought you here, but we want to help you,’” Garcia said. “This was a new experience for me, this context and the help it requires. This is why we pray to God for team members, for support and for help.” The tri-state area located in the Appalachian Plateau is mostly small towns down mountain roads. The Hispanic church planter was lent a Jeep Cherokee and several other vehicles to use for the ministry before being given a Toyota Edge.  “I follow Jesus’ example, looking for people, listening for people who speak Spanish,” Garcia said. “This state – West Virginia – and the tri-state area is very different contextually from other places in the U.S. with Spanish-speakers. Not so many people here, but from more varied countries.” Henry and Evie Garcia recently bought this property to be utilized as a pro-life and residency training center and home for incoming missionaries and church planters. Soon after he arrived in Huntington, W.Va ., which turned out to be a strategic location for ministry among Hispanics throughout the tri-state area, Garcia met Evelyn “Evie” Davis, now a cardiovascular medicine department administrator and then a member of the missions committee, worship arts team and choir at River Cities Community Church.  A single missionary set for departure to a former Soviet Union nation, she nonetheless agreed to sing for a Christmas program Garcia led because she had learned to sing in Spanish when serving a Spanish-speaking church as a pianist while living in Annapolis, Md.  Both quickly realized God had brought them together. They entered a traditional – family to family – courtship that grew into marriage in February 2016, canceling her plans for Kazakhstan though in the future their ministry might include missions outreach as God allows, Evie Garcia told Baptist Press.   “Pastor Henry learned the people and their cultures,” she said. “He might have a dozen people at a Bible study, with two from Venezuela, two from Mexico, four from Colombia, three from Honduras and one from Ecuador, for example.” Garcia said he realized he needed to change from his typical methods of starting churches because the Spanish-speakers he met included people from professional backgrounds – physicians, attorneys, business leaders, people usually with stable families – as well as the more transient restaurant workers, landscapers and others in service industries, both documented and undocumented. “I prayed, ‘Lord, I need you God to give me instructions and wisdom for what is the best strategy,” Garcia said. The word “pie” (pronounced “pee-eh”) – which means “foot” in Spanish – came to his mind: “‘Planting Iglesias [churches] Extraordinaria,’” [PIE] as in, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news (Isaiah 52.7). Garcia held the first service of Iglesia Hay Esperanza – There is Hope Church – in Huntington in October 2014. Since then, he has started Spanish-speaking churches in Ashland, Ky., in 2022; Cross Lanes, WVa., in 2023; Beckley, WVa., in September 2024; and in 2025 plans to start work in Lewisburg, WVa. The concentration in West Virginia is because the Spanish-speaking population in West Virginia has increased by 167 percent since 2020 and is expected to double within three years, West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists Executive Director Eric Ramsey told messengers at the state convention’s early November annual meeting. There were no Spanish-speaking churches in West Virginia before Garcia’s arrival. The reason for the Hispanic influx, Garcia believes, is the relative low cost of living and the rise of companies moving into the area who need employees. The church planter’s strategy is to build relationships, such as by playing soccer or volleyball after 10 p.m. Sunday evenings, which is the only time restaurant workers are not working; meeting up for lunch with a college professor; or just walking the streets and past stores, listening for the sound of Spanish-speaking voices. Another way is to provide a meal after services. This might put a landscaper at the same table with a businessman, where they talk as equals. The mealtimes (which routinely last longer than the 90-minute worship services) often attract people who do not attend services, people eager for conversation in their heart language. “We pray for God to give us wisdom to integrate the different cultures in our churches,” Garcia said. “We need to pray these people out of hiding. Documented and undocumented, they all need Jesus.” The church planter spoke of a man from Mexico resistant for months to his invitations to church services. “There was a moment when I think I am wasting my time with him, but one day he was in the church and continued coming every Sunday,” Garcia said. “Every Sunday he would have a question about the Bible. “He was discovering many things from the Bible when he was alone in his life and one day told me he was going back to Mexico to get his documentation to be able to stay in the United States,” Garcia said. “Now he is a pastor in Mexico.” Garcia made friends with another man who in time left the area for Wisconsin, where he died. The only thing in his wallet was Garcia’s business card. ‘Finally the fruit is coming’ After the COVID pandemic, Garcia started a twice-monthly free medical clinic still in operation for Spanish-speakers, staffed by Christian physicians who are bilingual. Project Eliana is planned to start in 2025 as a pro-life center for Spanish-speakers. There also is a need for a classroom setting for the residency training of pastors and church planters, as well as a home for church planters and missionaries who move to the area to help reach Hispanics. The Garcias recently purchased a building on a large corner property where they plan to house all three endeavors: Project Eliana, training center and missionary home. There is a need for renovations and expansion of the three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence on the expansive property.  “This was a faith act,” Garcia said. “We are asking God to provide the team members, the financial and prayer support, and the help to do the work He has called us to do.” Garcia remains committed also to the work in Colombia, where his workers minister each week to about 60 youngsters from the poorest neighborhoods in Medellin, by providing food and Bible instruction. Mission teams, both Spanish- and English-speaking, from the tri-state area assist at least once a year. “We have people in different stages of the [training] process,” Garcia said. “Many years ago I am training people, and now have people ready to serve, and also new people at the same time. I ask God to provide for workers.” A couple is coming in March from Costa Rica to start in a residency program with Garcia. “Pastor Henry needed to shift his strategies many times because of what was going on and what we were learning, and now, just now, finally the fruit is coming,” Evie Garcia said. “It’s a beautiful thing the Lord is doing.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press. #JANUARY25

PLYMOUTH – Kick-offs, turf-stained jerseys, injury reports, and stadiums filled with tens of thousands of screaming sports fanatics help us make it through the cold winter in Michigan. If you have not put these important dates on your calendar, let me help you with three upcoming events:   College Championship   First, the College Football Playoff National Championship will be held on Monday, January 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. ESPN will broadcast the game.   Super Bowl   Second, the 59th (LIX) Super Bowl will occur Sunday night, February 9, at 5:30 pm at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. FOX will televise the AFC-NFC match.   Language/Ethnic – Send Network Michigan   Third, in 2025, along with key leaders, I will roll out a platform providing a robust gathering, online and in person, where Send Network Michigan and Michigan Baptists can rally together with a vision to “join in God’s activity to see His Kingdom expand in Michigan by at least 1% over the next decade” among the language/ethnic peoples who live between our shorelines, state borders, and the international border.   “Language/Ethnic—Send Network Michigan” is part of the Send Network’s “family of churches planting churches everywhere for everyone.” That mission will be on display every day in 2025, and five values will guide our work together.   Seek First the Kingdom – God is at work locally and globally. Deepen Devotion – Without prayer and the Word, we are powerless. Stick Together – We are a family united by a mission. Think Multiplication – God’s global mission demands disciples and churches that multiply. Engage Your City – The gospel changes lives, families, and communities.   Frequently Asked Questions?   Question:  Who is welcome to join Language/Ethnic – Send Network Michigan? Answer:  Everyone is welcome to join! From English speakers to every other language/ethnic group in Michigan, we want everyone to participate. This effort is about a family of churches planting churches everywhere for everyone. We are inviting pastors, lay people, men and women.   Question:  What will we do? Answer:  We will pray during Scripture-fed, Spirit-led gatherings, share best practices in open discussions, discuss current trends and innovative solutions, and invite you to participate in ministries within the state and take international mission trips.   Question:  Where will all of this take place? Answer:  We will invite you to gather online and in person. We know you are busy and have many demands on your time, so we will schedule our gatherings in various ways and at multiple times to allow everyone to participate without making you travel long distances.   Question:  When will we gather? Answer:  We will invite you to various gatherings until we discover a specific meeting rhythm that meets the needs of those serious about taking the Gospel and church planting from our neighborhoods to the nations.    Question:  Why create this special focus group? Answer:  We are creating this unique group because language/ethnic groups face challenges, unlike English speakers. For example, how do you continue a church ministry with new generations growing up in the United States while respecting a spiritual heritage from the past?   Question:  How will Language/Ethnic – Send Network Michigan work? Answer:  I will invite many into the conversations, collaborations, and the creation of strategies to help us fulfill our vision and mission. Through prayer, preparation, practice, partnership, and persistence, we will see the Lord do Ephesians 3:20 things that will exceed our requests and imaginations.   Coming First Quarter of 2025   Seek First the Kingdom – Hear from a two-year, fully-funded female missionary with the International Mission Board who lived in Europe while sharing the Gospel and discipling university students and young adults from other nations.   Stick Together – Meet a couple who are precious friends leading an English as a Second Language ministry in Dearborn, Michigan, which has the largest Arab-language population outside the Middle East. Annually, the Gospel is shared with hundreds of Muslims, and some follow through with salvation experiences or requests to learn more about the Gospel.   Engaging the Community – Listen to a Christian career woman who knows how to use resources from other readily available sources to assist incoming refugees and immigrants coming to Michigan to strengthen local church ministries.   Think Multiplication – Hear from a local pastor who created a new English church for the second and third generations whose parents and grandparents came from other countries in the Middle East. Hear how that need and vision spread throughout other language/ethnic groups.   Updates   Throughout 2025, I will share news of Language/Ethnic—Send Network Michigan on my social media sites, Facebook, X, and in emails sent out by the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Monthly articles in the Baptist Beacon, like this one, will be helpful if you share them on your social media pages and with others in your social network. Let’s start passing on the news of this kick-off during 2025.   Final Thought   The National Championship and the Super Bowl will be over in less than six weeks, but we will continue to strive to plant churches and accelerate the Gospel movement every day. Would you please join the Language/Ethnic—Send Network Michigan movement in 2025? You may be the answer to the next big challenge or the ideal person for the next initiative.   ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the Send Network Director for Michigan and the Language/Ethnic Church Planting Catalyst. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as a lead pastor in Michigan churches and as an international missionary, along with his wife Jamie, in the Niger Republic, France, and Canada. #JANUARY25

Photo by Radhika Studio / Pexels.com WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Brown Beaver, Riki Tiki Tavi, Ricardo Montalban, Ricky, Richard, even Richard Harris Thomas. He answers to all these names. But not Kenneth James Jones.* He knows it once was his. It's on his social security card, his passport, his citizenship papers. Once in a while he and his parents say the words out loud, “Kenneth … James … Jones!"  They smile at each other like co-conspirators in a game of Monopoly or Clue. That name belongs in a story, a special kind of love story. Richard is adopted. As a Jones this little boy suffered rejection, beatings, and scorn. He was not loved. But now that he's a Thomas, that's all changed! He is nine years old, strong and healthy. He swims on a team, plays soccer and baseball, and does well in school. All the hours he can spare he spends hunting and fishing with his dad. Sometimes you would find it hard to reconcile this Richard with the Kenneth James Jones of seven years ago. He's a different boy. Last month, as we moved toward Christmas and the celebrations that go with it, God whispered the word “adoption” in my quiet time on several occasions. I began reading more about it and pondering the marvel of being adopted into the family of God. “Do parents love their adopted children as much as their own? How natural can an adopted child feel? How real is adoption? What ideas cross-over into the conversation about spiritual adoption?” For Richard and his parents, adoption is very real. It is for every genuine believer in Jesus, too, in a profound theological sense. Richard did absolutely nothing to earn the love and kindness of his new parents, but they lavished their love on him from the first day they saw him. Similarly, there is nothing that we can do to earn God's love. He loves us because. Because he wants to. Because it will bring him more glory. Because of his mercy and grace. Titus said, "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy" (Tit. 3:5 NIV). “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…” (Eph. 2:8 NIV). He sees us for what we really are. But he loves us anyway. He gently leads us to salvation by his Spirit, pouring out grace on every step along the way, making us part of His family. In other words, he adopts  us. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,  Father” (Rom. 8:15 NIV). Adoption means a parent takes a child who isn't a natural son or daughter and makes the child the same as one who is naturally born. Parents give the adopted child all the privileges and love of a natural child, and it’s very real. When God adopts us, he does that, and more. He blesses us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He gives us eternal life. We become brothers and sisters to Jesus Christ (Mk. 3:34-35), heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). We are really part of the family! Our adoption into God's forever family involves a change in our identity, our purpose, and our destiny. All of that was planned from eternity. “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” (Eph. 1:4b-5 NIV). We move from slavery to sonship. From darkness to light. From curse to blessing. And once we are adopted, all the family rights become ours. One day a teacher asked Richard when his birthday was. “January 1, 1979,” Richard replied. “When is your brother's birthday?" asked the teacher. “April 3, 1979,” he said. "How can that be? It's the same year as yours!” said the teacher carefully. The boy answered, "My Dad said it's ok, because one of us is adopted.”  The teacher looked at Richard and cautiously asked, " Which one?” The answer came with a big smile: “I can't remember anymore!" Friends, when the Father adopts us, he makes us feel like we have always belonged. He gives us the Spirit of sonship, and by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). The Spirit of God testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Our adoption by God is real. It’s a very special kind of love story, too. God so loved the world and gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him could receive eternal life and be adopted into his forever family. For that we give thanks daily and, by the grace of God, seek to live a life that will bring even more fame to the Name of Jesus. * Note: Kenneth James Jones is not his real name   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. #JANUARY25

Pastor R.D. Fowler of Bethel Baptist Church in Lincoln, Neb. baptizes former inmate Lawandell Hernandez. (Photo from R.D. Fowler) LINCOLN, Neb. (BP) — It happens every weekend. On Saturday the men have breakfast and join for a Bible study at Bethel Baptist Church, then do some work on the grounds. The next day they return for Sunday School and worship. Lunch follows in the fellowship hall. Then it’s back to the Community Corrections Center of the Nebraska Penitentiary System. For 10 years now this church that routinely runs 50-70 in attendance has welcome the men on work-release and within at least a year of fulfilling their sentence. George Darlington brought the program from the previous church he attended. Inmates and members of Bethel Baptist church line up for Sunday lunch. Bethel BC/Facebook “The ministry gives these men sound Bible teaching and the feeling of acceptance,” said Darlington. “Some come to faith in Christ; some don’t.” Any first-time visitor to a church wonders how they may fit in. Now imagine doing that and people knowing you are currently incarcerated. Suffice it to say, acceptance is big to the men, even if just for four hours.   Drug-related offenses dominate as to why they are there. No guards come with them from the prison, though Pastor R.D. Fowler’s wife, Deborah, is a former corrections officer. The men receive transportation from a van rented by the church. “It’s a ministry of love,” said Fowler. “You love on the guys, who are going to hear the Gospel every week. Some have said they never felt accepted before like when they came to church. You have victories and you have setbacks. But you hear how it has changed their lives.” Bible leaders from throughout the area lead the Saturday studies. Many inmates in the ministry’s decade of existence have gone on to join the church alongside their families. About a dozen come Saturday, with up to around 16 on Sundays. Fowler has performed three weddings for them. Seven men were baptized this year. They have also become part of the church’s ministry. Two former prisoners play guitar for the church’s worship band. Churches have a tendency to fall into routines where things can become homogenous. Sometimes the ways the men participate and “salty” language that slips out has a healthy, Herdmans-type of influence on how others see the Gospel and the need we all continually have for it. Darlington knows well the need for giving second chances. As a defensive coach on Tom Osborne’s Nebraska teams for 30 years, he observed gifted young men who made mistakes. Some took advantage of grace extended to them; some didn’t. Every time someone completes his time, a party comes with a celebration. Bethel BC/Facebook For the church’s part, Darlington has observed the impact just from where you sit during a meal. “There is no expectation that the men sit somewhere else. People see them as human beings who happened to have gotten in trouble for something. In some cases, [church members] can relate if they have had trouble with their own children,” he said. Every prisoner’s release is celebrated by the church. “We have a party for them,” Fowler said. “The men talk about how the impact this has made. Some have shared with me that it was the first time someone had baked a cake for them.” Sometimes the men remain in the area while others return to their hometowns. Unfortunately, the latter tends to lead to falling in with old crowds and bad habits. Some have found themselves back in prison and, eventually, back at Bethel with promises that this time changes are going to stick. The ministry is geared toward helping those find solid footing in their faith. Becoming a consistent, contributing member of a local church is crucial, and a role Bethel continuously serves. “We talk about reacclimating often for after they are released,” Darlington said. “If they return to us, it means a lot.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR Scott Barkley is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press. #JANUARY25

Seven-year-old Shawn will tell you all about it If you give seven-year-old Shawn a little of your attention, he’ll tell you a lot about his life in Korea. He’ll also tell you about Jesus and the work his family is doing. He can describe it in English or in Korean.  One day, he came home and needed to tell his mom something. His friend at school didn’t want to hear about Jesus anymore, and he wasn’t sure how to share the gospel. Rather than stay disappointed, Shawn came up with a new plan.   The next day he happily reported. “I drew my friend a picture of Jesus and wrote stuff about Jesus. I told him if he didn’t want to hear me talk about Jesus, then he could look at this picture and read what I wrote!”   Matt holds Corbin while the family explores a palace in Seoul. Matt and Evelyn Podge, and their children Shawn and Corbin, are supported by the generosity of Southern Baptists. (IMB Photo) Growing up in Seoul, Korea, Shawn is learning a lot about sharing the good news of Jesus from his parents, IMB missionaries Matt and Evelyn Podge. Both Shawn and his two-year-old sister, Corbin, are learning what it’s like to live among the lost for the sake of the gospel. For the Podges, advancing the gospel in Korea means living among other families and building relationships.   “We’ve made our home a very open space,” Evelyn said. Referencing a group of mothers she hosts each week, Evelyn explained that people in their community don’t host people in their homes or gather to talk about what’s bothering them or challenges they face.  The Podges have intentionally organized their apartment to be a gathering place. Matt and Evelyn took the smallest room in the house, leaving the master suite available as a space for guests to relax on the sofa or even spend the night, if they need to. They lifted Shawn’s bunk bed high so the floor was open as a larger play and learning space for children. On Mondays, when the moms gather, Matt leads the children in Bible lessons.  God blessed their efforts, and a Korean-language church plant now meets each Sunday afternoon in their apartment for worship and Bible study. Parents are learning the Bible, but they are also seeing that kids are capable of learning biblical principles and following them in obedience.   “Shawn has shown them that he has a grasp of what the Bible teaches!” Matt said. “When they doubted that kids could learn, Shawn showed them that he understood to the point he could verbalize biblical lessons in Korean.”  Shawn follows his dad and a volunteer from the U.S. as they prepare for a riverside ministry event in Seoul, South Korea. (IMB Photo) Evelyn said when they saw Shawn has grasped the gospel, things changed with their Korean friends.   “Suddenly, they were taking notes about everything and paying attention,” Evelyn said. “It was like they knew then that the Bible could change things for them.”  With the moms’ group, Evelyn invites them to anonymously put parenting questions or family struggles into a hat. Then they choose a situation to discuss, and Evelyn points them to guidance from the Bible.   On a recent evangelistic outing before Seoul’s International Fireworks Festival in October, Matt and Evelyn were greeted warmly by many people who recognized them from the community. Some stopped to talk, others happily took a gift of snacks and evangelistic material.   Matt explained that heavy outreach by cults in Seoul has made efforts like this difficult.   “People assume we’re from cults, and they often don’t want anything to do with us,” he said. “But it helps that we live here and have developed trust with a lot of people.”  Evelyn is quick to add how helpful the kids are to these outings. “People love the kids. Who can say ‘no’ to adorable kids giving you free snacks?”  Two-year-old Corbin stretches from her mom’s arms to offer a gift bag to a couple preparing to watch fireworks along the river in Seoul, South Korea. (IMB Photo) And the kids happily involve themselves in the ministry. Though Corbin is too young to fully understand the reasons behind the events, she happily reached for small gift bags to give to strangers; she wanted one in each hand. And as soon as she gave—or sometimes tossed—them to strangers, she reached for more.   Shawn said confidently in Korean, “Here’s a gift for you!” He was an active helper during the event, before finding a spot along the river to enjoy the fireworks with his family.  Shawn packs a bag with treats and evangelistic materials in preparation for an outreach event in his community. Shawn can speak in Korean to friends and neighbors about the love of Jesus, making him an important part of the family’s ministry. (IMB Photo) Most of the Podges’ ministry in Seoul is focused on their neighbors and families they connect with through Shawn’s school. But beyond that, they host volunteer teams, encourage Korean Baptists in their sending efforts, and join with other believers to reach the mega-city for Christ.   Their work with refugees coming to Korea makes it necessary to use publicity names and keep their faces out of photographs. They must be careful to protect this ministry and the vulnerable people who have fled their home countries.    No matter what each day holds, the Podges are sure of God’s leading and His work among Korean families. They are grateful for the ways Southern Baptists provide them the opportunity to live and serve among those with little-to-no understanding of the gospel.  The Podges were sent and supported through generous giving through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Cooperative Program. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is a registered trademark of Woman’s Missionary Union.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leslie Peacock Caldwell is managing editor of IMB corporate communications. #JANUARY25