Women s Missions Celebration and 55th WMU Annual Meeting. April 19-20, 2013 North End Baptist Church G-7360 North Clio Road, Mt.

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1 Baptist BEACON Vision of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan: Partners in Advancing God s Kingdom! Newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan Volume 57, Number 4 Women s Missions Celebration and 55th WMU Annual Meeting Featured Guests: Serena Butler, Illinois WMU Executive Director and YOU! Cost is $25 per person for both days and includes Saturday lunch; Friday only cost is $10; Saturday only cost is $15 Worship sessions lead by the All Girl Camp Band Friday: 6:00 9:00 pm Saturday: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Activities will include training workshops, mission projects, inspirational worship, break-out sessions and more. Registration deadline is: April 12, To register go to or to eventbrite.com April 19-20, 2013 North End Baptist Church G-7360 North Clio Road, Mt. Morris, MI For more information contact cindy@bscm.org.

2 Baptist BEACON Coming soon: 2013 VBS Institutes! VBS Institutes are set for April 13 at Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City, and May 4 at Bambi Lake Conference Center. It s not too late to sign up! For more information, see Kids Ministry at pages 6-7 Newsjournal of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan Volume 57, Number 4 Associations take ownership, vote to merge By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor JACKSON For the last 18 years, Harmony Baptist Church has provided food for the needy in its community. Jackson is halfway between Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, just south of Interstate 94. God has really blessed this ministry, said Rod Walker, pastor of Harmony Jackson for the last 10 years. He has done so many good things to show us He s in the work of feeding the hungry, ministering to the hungry. About 150 people gather for Sunday morning worship at Harmony Jackson. About 30 of them volunteer each month. Some other churches pitch in, and help financially and with See Stats on page 3 Staff photo Harmony Jackson s food ministry has grown from helping six families a week, when it started in 1995 under the direction of then-pastor Chuck Turner, to more than 50 families a week at the present time, according to records maintained by the church where Rod Walker has been pastor for the last 10 years. HARMONY JACKSON a USING FOOD as GOSPEL TOOL Stats Tell a Story... Some Great News By Karen L. Willoughby Managing Editor STATEWIDE/NATIONWIDE Certainly statistics don t tell the whole story of what God is doing with and through Michigan churches, but it can be instructive or perhaps merely informative to read the numbers. According to statistics for 2011 (finalized by May 2012) that stemmed from Annual Church Profiles sent in from churches in Michigan no word on how many churches turned in an ACP or, for that matter, how many didn t the Baptist State Convention of Michigan includes 15 associations and 252 churches and church-type missions. The churches that sent in their ACP for 2011 reported 1,346 baptisms and 962 other additions, ending the year with a total membership of 32,605. That s about 24 members for each baptism, which is nearly servants, Walker said. I believe the people of Jackson have seen the light of Jesus shine through us through this ministry. I am so thankful for this ministry because it s a tool God is using to mature many people who were pew-sitters, who didn t know how to help, the pastor continued. When they started serving God, their whole spiritual life changed for the better. Harmony Jackson s food ministry has grown from helping six families a week, when it started in 1995 under the direction of then-pastor Chuck Turner, to more than 50 families a week at the present time. The church buys the food for pennies on the dollar from the Food Bank of South Central Michigan; See Food on page 2 By Staff Baptist Beacon METRO DETROIT The churches in Macomb and Oakland counties that partner with the Baptist State Convention of Michigan voted unanimously in March to come together as Motor Cities Metro Baptist Association. The new association, which was 18 months in the planning process, dissolves the Blue Water and Oakland County Baptist Associations. The new association sprawls across the northern part of Detroit. I think it s a great step forward, said Marc Bewley, a BSCM church starting strategist in Region 5, which includes all of Metro Detroit. Bewley in Blue Water and Mike Durbin in Oakland County both had been directors of associational missions until the funding for their positions was redirected by the North American Mission Board to have more of a focus on church starting. With the change in their role from associational missionary to church starting strategist, NAMB provides 90 percent of the salary for Bewley and Durbin; the state convention picks up the rest. It showed maturity in our churches and pastors to take this step, Bewley added. It s kind of like your child taking responsibility See Merger on page 2 Art Weery photo from 2012 annual meeting at Monroe Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe Michigan Baptists come together at the annual meeting each fall to celebrate the unity to be found in the diversity of its churches statewide.

3 2 Michigan Baptists Top Stories Food from page one it s 18 cents a pound now, soon to increase to 19 cents/ lb. for items with a shared maintenance fee to offset transportation costs. About 85 percent of Harmony s food comes from the Food Bank, the pastor said, supplemented by venison from deer shot at a Jackson park to control the population. The food is free to those who need it. People wanting food fill out a menu from the options on hand about 9 a.m., and items for that size family are packed and ready for pickup by 6 p.m. Harmony Jackson s food ministry operates three days a week: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. We want to see this ministry grow as far as God will allow us to grow it, Walker said. There s a tremendous THE BAPTIST BEACON Official publication of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, in association with the Southern Baptist Convention Editor: Bobby Gilstrap bgilstrap@bscm.org Managing Editor: Karen L. Willoughby beacon@bscm.org The Baptist Beacon: Telling the stories of what God is doing through His people in Michigan and Around the World, plus Helping Resource the Vision of your Church! SUBSCRIPTION: FREE to all members of Michigan Baptist churches. Send request to: beacon@bscm.org CHANGE OF ADDRESS: info from old label with new address to beacon@bscm.org Postmaster: Mail Permit #48106 Send form 3579 to The Baptist Beacon, 8420 Runyan Lake Rd, Fenton MI Phone: There is nothing on earth quite as amazing as God s love for people. Even though everyone of us was born in sin (Romans 5:12), God reached out to us through Jesus Christ so the penalty of sin (death, Romans 6:23) would be paid for, so we would have life in him (John 3:16). He loved us even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), but loves us too much to leave us in that sinful condition. Christ s death on the cross not only paid the penalty for our sins, but also freed us from the power of sin (Romans 7:24, 8:4). Christ enables us to live an abundant, full life (John 10:10), free from the stain and power of sin. You can be born again (John 3:3) and experience new life in Christ. Here s how: 1. Admit you re a sinner. Romans 3:23... for all have sinned and need right here in Jackson, and of course our ultimate goal is for them to come to know Christ. This ministry is so advantageous, the pastor continued. It s been a great tool for teaching people how to grow in their faith. It s just been a great help to so many in our church to understand what their faith is all about. More food bank ministries are needed across the state, said Dan Salerno, director of fund development for the Food Bank of South Central Michigan. He suggested non-profits interested in starting a food bank ministry start online with the Food Bank Council of Michigan org to see where the greatest needs are, and to fill out an application. The Food Bank Council Merger from page one GOD S LOVE FOR US ALL IS TRULY AMAZING! Rod Walker, pastor of Harmony Baptist Church in Jackson, checks on the amount of venison ready to distribute to those in need. Milk and bread await recipients as well. will determine if the nonprofit s neighborhood is underserved in providing food for the needy. Other requirements: there needs to be a safe, secure storage area for whatever food is requested. If, for example, there is no freezer, then the non-profit for their own actions, or moving off welfare and getting a job. They re manning up; they re not dependent on the state convention. More than 100 people participated in the meeting March 17 at St. Stephens Baptist Church in Pontiac, where the vote was taken to join forces. Herb Harbaugh, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Sterling Heights, was elected moderator of the fallen short of the glory of God... (NIV) 2. Repent of your sins. Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord... (NIV) Repentance means turning and walking in the opposite direction you are now. It s more than just being sorry. It involves a commitment to turn to God. 3. Accept His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV) 4. Receive Him as your Lord and Savior. John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of God... (NIV) For spiritual help call Jesus2013 could not receive any frozen goods. The food storage and distribution site doesn t need to have a separate exterior entrance, but it does need to have a dedicated area in the building that can be locked for safety. new association. Ed Mattox, pastor of Forest Park Baptist Church in Farmington Hills, was elected vice-moderator. The 46 congregations in Motor Cities Metro Baptist Association will together pay for their own associational missionary, who will be known as a church strengthener/mobilizer, Bewley said. This is a great step forward, Bewley said. For 50 years the [Baptist Convention for the] state of Michigan has been dependent on NAMB. I m very proud they took this step. A search is underway for Motor Cities Metro Baptist Association s church strengthener/mobilizer. He is to lead in coordinating associational training in all areas of church life deacons, VBS workers, pastor search committees, Sunday school/small group leaders, evangelism and many more. He will help churches strengthen in other ways as well, including coordinating a variety of fellowship and shared-ministries opportunities. Mike [Durbin] and I are still here, and the new guy The Food Bank Council does require the non-profit to keep records of the numbers of people served, and the general ages children, youth, adults, seniors. The non-profit establishes its own criteria for those it serves. won t have to do any church planting, Bewley said. Mike and I will focus on church starting in this area, and he [the yetto-be-hired person] will focus on church strengthening. The churches will have three men in their area, and Marc Bewley before, there were only two. Sue Hodnett, formerly with Blue Water Baptist Association, has become the ministry assistant for Motor Cities Metro Baptist Association. Her counterpart in Oakland County Baptist Association Shar Durbin has found other employment. Region 5, the metro Detroit area, has a population base of about 5.2 million people. That s about 30,452 people for each of the association s 46 congregations about 30 are predominantly Anglo; the metro area in 2010 was 70.1 percent Anglo, according to official Census Bureau statistics. African-Americans followed with 22.8 percent of the Detroit metro population; 3.3 percent were Asian. In Region 5, ten churches are either recently planted or in the process of becoming planted, Bewley said.

4 Michigan Baptists Top Stories 3 Attorney: Church bylaws should define marriage By Michael Foust Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) With the U.S. Supreme Court set to take up gay marriage and potentially legalize it this summer, churches that host wedding ceremonies or other events for traditional couples should examine their bylaws and shield themselves from the impact of possible litigation, says an attorney who specializes in religious liberty issues. We re in a day where every church needs to have a statement in its bylaws of its doctrinal beliefs on marriage and sexuality. ADF attorney The justices are scheduled in March to hear two cases concerning gay marriage, and by June could either uphold the traditional definition of marriage or legalize gay marriage in all 50 states. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) a religious liberty legal organization is hoping for the former but preparing churches for the latter, just in case. A number of situations could place churches in legal trouble, such as congregations who would: allow a traditional couple but not a same-sex couple to use their facility for a wedding ceremony. allow a traditional couple but not a same-sex couple to take part in a marriage class or retreat. terminate an employee involved in a same-sex wedding. Bylaw language defining marriage in the biblical sense doesn t mean a church won t face a suit or a complaint, but it does mean the church would be in a much better situation legally, said Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel for ADF. I think we re in a day where every church needs to have a statement in its bylaws of its doctrinal beliefs on marriage and sexuality, Stanley told Baptist Press. This is a With the U.S. Supreme Court set to take up gay marriage and potentially legalize it this summer, churches that host wedding ceremonies or other events for traditional couples should examine their bylaws and shield themselves from the impact of possible litigation, says an attorney who specializes in religious liberty issues. proactive approach that churches can take to head off any claims of discrimination in the future, should they occur. There s no magic language for such a bylaw statement, but it should be some form of a statement of the church s religious beliefs. What that does is it allows for a good defense of a church to any type of discrimination claim that may arise, by saying, Look, this is part of our religious beliefs. When we fight on the ground of protecting a church s religious belief, then we have a lot of ammunition in our arsenal from a constitutional perspective. Even without gay marriage legal nationwide, there have been lawsuits against churches. In 1999 a woman who had worked as a youth minister at a Colorado Episcopal church was terminated after it was learned she was a lesbian living with another woman. She sued in federal court, but the lawsuit was See Marriage on page 9 Stats from page one double the national average of 48 members for each baptism. That s great news! Together the Michigan Baptist churches reported income of $22,256,420, or said another way, nearly $22.3 million. Of that amount, $3,131, percent was given to mission causes as identified as such by the churches. This includes giving through the Cooperative Program the method through which Southern Baptist churches pool their money to support about 5,000 missionaries overseas, to help support about 5,000 missionaries across North America (most of whom receive support from several sources, such as associations, churches, family, friends, investments, retirements and the like, as well as a stipend from the Cooperative Program as allocated by the state conventions.) CP also provides income for Southern Baptists six seminaries, to help train those who plan to go into vocational ministry; to support the work of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, which provides help to churches in dealing with moral and social concerns; and 3.2 percent of it is allocated for administration of the SBC operating budget. Other missions giving from Michigan churches included in the $3.1 million given to missions in 2011 might include local ministry projects, church starts, community-based ministries the church has an interest in, direct support of missionaries, and the like. Michigan is a mission field, and Michigan Baptists are a missions force, says Bobby Gilstrap, BSCM lead state missionary/ executive director. Our strength is found in the power of the Gospel manifested through the ministry of our churches. Of the nearly 10 million people living in Michigan, according to the U.S. Census Bureau s 2012 estimates, about 2 million are Roman Catholic, according to a 2007 study by the Pew Research Center. Another 405,067 are Lutheran. Claude King, co-author of Master- Life and Experiencing God, will be in Michigan on April 25-27, 2013 to talk with pastors and lay leaders about making disciples in our churches. He will discuss ideas for developing a disciple-making process in your church and will be providing free disciple-making resources for each church represented. On Friday night, April 26, there will be a special meeting with MasterLife alumni to consider ways to build on and expand the influence of MasterLife in our churches. For more information about the Growing Diciples Tour and online registration go to contact Bob Wood, bob@bscm.org. Dates, times, locations, and local contact persons: thursday, april 25 8:30 am - 11:00 am Central Assn Pastors Breakfast (Lansing, location tba) Local contact: Dan Wilkinson, fbcdewitt@yahoo.com 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm First Baptist Church, Portage Local contact: Chad Wells, chad@fbc-portage.org Friday, april 26 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, Farmington Hills 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm MasterLife Alumni (at Springhill MBC) Hills Local contact: Nathaniel Bishop, DetBaptAssn@sbcglobal.net saturday, april 27 9:30 am - noon Grayling Baptist Church, Grayling Local contact: Jo Seidler, office@pbami.com Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, Jehovah s Witness, and other each garner about 1 percent of the population, and 17 percent claim no affiliation. By the way, the Pew study found 110,000 people who selfidentified as Jewish; and 80,515 who said they were Muslim. We must have an aggressive mind, global strategy, disciplined membership and adequate resources, Gilstrap challenged his listeners during the annual meeting last November, speaking in turn to each point. His message remains available online at org. When we become a Christian, we don t just join a church; we join a cause, the cause of Christ. His heart and that of other Michigan Baptist leaders and pastors is in meeting the spiritual needs of the people who live in Michigan and throughout the world, Gilstrap said in a recent conversation with the Baptist Beacon. People need the Lord; that s it in a nutshell, Gilstrap said. No matter what the circumstances to comfort them during the rough spots, and to help them navigate the good times without going off the deep end people need Jesus to walk with them and to be with them and to love them. That s where we come in, the lead state missionary continued. When we abide with Christ live in His presence He spills out from us and reaches out to others through us. Sometimes it s in doing, like the food ministry of Harmony Baptist Church, or the educational ministries of Victory Fellowship Community Church in Detroit; sometimes it s in being, in just listening to someone, caring about them; and sometimes it s in giving to missions through the Cooperative Program, which is distributed in Michigan and throughout the world, spreading the gospel of God s love for each individual in the world. What about the national picture? According to ACP reports finalized by the SBC s LifeWay Christian Resources in May 2012, the Southern Baptist Convention consisted of 45,764 churches, of which 4,952 were mission churches also known as new church starts or church plants with a total membership of 15,978,112. In all, 333,341 people were baptized in 2011 in churches affiliated with the SBC. In other words, it took 48 members to get one person baptized. The changes between the national 2010 and 2011 final reports of ACPs: 37 churches were added, as were 59 missions, but no statistics revealed how many churches closed or merged. Total membership was down by 157,932 people, but baptisms were up by 2,333.

5 4 Michigan Opinions Go Tigers! Spring training is over and the season has begun. Excitement is in the air as baseball fans across Michigan are excited to see the Detroit Tigers make another run for the World Series. World-class baseball teams don t just happen. They take many years of investment in developing players who can literally step up to the plate when they are needed on Bobby Gilstrap Lead State Missionary Baptist State Convention of Michigan the ball field. Baseball is well known for its player farm system: a system of ball clubs, where players of Bobby s Bits varying levels of talent, are developed into professional caliber competitors. When needed, players are called up from the minor leagues to play at the major-league level. Without the minor league ball clubs, and the farm system, it would be impossible for baseball to keep such a high level of talent. Through our Cooperative Program, Michigan Baptists help fund a farm system for missionaries, ministers, and ministries throughout Michigan and around the world. We oftentimes get very excited about supporting our missionaries in other countries, as we should. How- Our Ministry Farm System ever, our missionaries didn t just appear on the mission field. They grew up in our churches and participated in camps, retreats, training events, and more that were supported through Michigan Cooperative Program ministries. As important as it is to support the work of international missions (IMB) and North American missions (NAMB), we must never forget the importance of supporting cooperative ministry here in Michigan. Many of those ministries supported through your Cooperative Program gifts are the ministry farm system that develops leaders who will impact Kingdom work. Michigan Baptists can be proud of those now serving who have come through our ministry farm system. For instance, Mike Durbin is now one of Michigan s church starter strategists. He was saved in a Michigan Baptist church, has since been trained and equipped to serve as a church planter, pastor, international and associational missionary, and now a church starter strategist. Much of his preparation for ministry occurred right here in Michigan. There are many others ministering around the world because of God using the farm system which you support as a Michigan Baptist. Michigan Baptists help fund a farm system for missionaries, ministers, and ministries Let me highlight only a few that have Michigan roots. Larry and Sally Pepper now serve in Kigoma, Tanzania, and Van and Jackie Ingram serve in Essex, Germany, each appointed as IMB missionaries. AS serves in a high security area for IMB. AS grew up in one of our Michigan Baptists churches. Each one partially trained and equipped right here through Michigan Baptists ministries. Each month, as your church gives through the Cooperative Program, some of what you give supports our ministry and missions farm system in Michigan. You are developing leaders for missions and ministry that will Advance God s Kingdom in Michigan and all over the globe. Thank you Michigan Baptists for stepping up to the plate by supporting our ministry farm system through the Cooperative Program. You are the reason future leaders are being developed for Kingdom service. bobby_gilstrap BobbyGilstrap TALKING Stop confusing your lack of faith with God s lack of power. Jeff If a marriage relationship is seen as a place of GETTING and not GIVING it is Our resolve in serving Christ is only as great as our belief that serving Christ is worth more than anything this world has to offer. : By the cross we, too, are crucified with Christ; but alive in Christ. We are no more rebels, but servants; no more servants, but sons! The Need to Focus On the Things of God Could Not be Greater! In a perplexing, ever- the gospel), that means we demanding, and 24-hour are to truly focus on God and news cycle world, it doesn t His will for our lives and take much for one to lose focus and become con- words of the psalmist service to Him. Reading the fused about one s from Psalm 119:36- destiny and purpose 37, he made it upon this earth. This known that his desire shouldn t be the was to stay focused case for Christians, only on the things but it appears many of God and not lose believers, who have focus: Turn my heart come to know and toward your statutes and not trust Christ Jesus toward as their Savior and Lord, are losing focus on the things of God. Looking into God s precious Word, we have been given explicit instructions when it comes to our service as a Christian. In our service to God, we re to always keep our sights on keeping the main thing (Jesus) the main thing (preaching the gospel). And if we are to truly keep the main thing (Jesus) the main thing (preaching Nathaniel Bishop Associational Church Strengthener/ Mobilizer of Greater Detroit Baptist Association selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. NIV. His desire was to stay focused and not to be distracted or allow selfish ambitions to take his eyes off his service to God. Whether we have come to acknowledge it or not, we re in a spiritual warfare, and the enemy has launched an allout assault by doubling down on the believers of God, with around-the-clock barrage of tactics that include distractions, deceit, distortion, and an unending river of lies. In these last days, it seems that the enemy has unleashed a tsunami of mass confusion all around us. In the midst of this great confusion, we have taken our eyes off Jesus, just as Peter did as he walked on the water and soon became distracted (Matthew 14:22-33). Although we may be experiencing extreme chaos and darkness in our homes, on our job, in our communities and seeing it creeping into many of our church congregations, we must remain steadfast, unmovable, and ever focused on God, who is the Omnipotent and the all- Sovereign God. No doubt, we can all agree, we re in some of the most challenging times of our lives, and we are facing serious and complex matters like never before. Let us bear in mind that God is in the heavens on high and He s still in control. This is our opportunity to be still and know that God is God, and He will do what He needs to do in carrying out His will. We are to remain focused as His servants. So, let us with true determination and a heart desire, to honor God, resolve in our spirit to keep our eyes focused on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. See Bishop on page 5

6 Michigan Insights 5 Michigan s Transitional Pastors Dec. 30, 2012 was my last day at the church, but that was a good thing. Did you know that about 10 percent of SBC churches are without a pastor? After serving in many ministry positions throughout my life including deacon, interpreter for the deaf, assistant pastor and pastor, and having been raised in a Southern Baptist church, I felt led to become involved with Transitional Pastor Ministry. (TPM) Recently I had the privilege of serving as the transitional pastor at Lighthouse Chapel of the Deaf in Flint. I was there for about 10 months. Leaving was a good thing; it meant they had called a new pastor and that Every Thursday morning, I enjoy leading a men s small group at my church in studying Overcoming Emotions That Destroy, by Dr. Chip Ingram. The focus verse is Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:26-27 We began our study by Recognizing the Monster That Lives Within and then moved on to the Three Faces of Anger which included the mask of the Spewer, the mask of the Stuffer or the mask of the Leaker. We then learned that Anger Is A Secondary Emotion. Oftentimes our unmet needs, unmet expectations, insecurities, etc. are really at the heart of what is being expressed as anger. We focused on how to communicate needs, how to communicate frustration, and to ask ourselves Why am I feeling threatened? To Make Anger Work for Us we were introduced to The ABCD s of Anger. Rick Bowen Michigan Transitional Pastor George Fountain BSCM Consultant Bivocational Ministries after a time of encouragement and planning, my time of ministry had come to a healthy and planned conclusion. What a transitional pastor does is more then become an interim pastor for the church while they seek a new pastor. A transitional pastor helps the Church Take the time to: Access strengths and weakness, Mend fences, Renew vision and set some growth goals, Pray. The TPM assists with the passing of leadership from one pastor to another. It Assists congregation to use time effectively by Being positive and constructive, A acknowledge (admit and accept the anger); B back track to the primary emotion; C consider the cause; and D determine how best to deal with it. Success or failure hinged on this simple approach to resolving our anger. Then, we studied God s Anger Management Plan. God has a 3-step process to tame the wild stallion of anger. Step #1 Be quick to hear. Step #2 Be slow to speak Step #3 Be slow to anger. James 1: Then ask, Am I hurt? Tool: I feel messages; Am I frustrated? Tool: I desire vs I demand expectations; and finally; Am I feeling threatened? Tool: Who s firing the darts? Is there something to learn? Whose approval do I need? Next we focused on Eliminating Stress Before It Starts. We were introduced to the Anger Quotient = (Environment + Perspective) TENTMAKERS TODAY Providing a time of gaining momentum and productivity, Helping lead and guide with decisions, Functioning as the pastor, Giving stability, continuity, Allowing the church to take time to decide wisely, Helping the people redream the dream, and Refocusing on what is important. The TPM will covenant with the church to lead them through some stages of transition. The TPM leads the church to: look at its history, discover and affirm biblical principles for church growth, focus on kingdom results, establish effective church practices, allocate its leadership x Obedience to Ephesians 4:26. We can eliminate hurry, downsize expectations, learn to say no kindly, admit mistakes and imperfections, laugh more: don t take life so seriously, take care of ourselves, and know what triggers our anger. We must maximize our relationship with God. We must get right with God, experience God s unconditional love and acceptance; accept who God made us to be; trust God and His sovereignty let Him be in control; be merciful; and finally, pray about everything. Lastly we learned How To Be Good and Mad! God expects us to express our anger appropriately. Sound interesting? It is! We have learned, Anger is neither good nor bad; it is a charged, morally neutral, emotional response of protective preservation. Dr. Ingram goes on to state: It can be a healthy emotion that motivates us to correct attitudes, behaviors, or injustices that we perceive to be wrong. OR It can be an unhealthy and destructive emotional response to protect us from (real or perceived) hurt, Learning to Overcome Destructive Emotions frustration, or personal attack. As ministers, I believe we are more apt to stuff our anger than to spew our anger. Fact is, you can only stuff so much for so long. It s the people close to us, people we love, people we serve, people we are trying to reach, people who deserve better, who may become victims of our stuffed anger. Our ministries can be severely damaged. This doesn t need to happen; we can use these simple tools to avoid a destructive emotional response. We can equip others as well. I m writing to encourage you to read the book Overcoming Emotions That Destroy and/or secure the resource DVD/workbook of the same title, and enjoy the life-giving, liberating, experience of being equipped for ministry. Gratefully His and Sincerely Yours, (Portions taken from the Study Guide by Dr. Chip Ingram) tentmaker 1320 Tentmaker 1320 and financial resources appropriately, assist the search committee, and help the new pastor get a good start. A good source of information is a video posted at Rab13053@Gmail.com Bishop from page four In the teaching of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-33, we are allowed to see where our primary attention is to be. Therefore, let us not become distracted in losing sight of the cross and our Savior. May we always have single-mindedness in seeking the Kingdom of God in fulfilling His will for our lives! The need has never been greater for God s people to stay focused on their relationship, calling, service, and personal growth and development, so that the darkness is pushed back and lost souls are transformed and added to the kingdom of God. Key note: Once we re saved, we are eternally secure in the arms of Jesus. The enemy cannot cause us to lose our salvation, but he can cause us to lose our concentration, if we allow him. Our mission is to be focused, focused, focused on being the agents of change, bringing hope and light in our homes, in our communities, on our jobs, and to all people regardless of their culture. We are here for such a time as this. Nathaniel Bishop Sr. is an associate pastor at Middlebelt Baptist Church in Inkster as well as church strengthener/mobilizer for the Greater Detroit Baptist Association.

7 6 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL VBS a bridge to Gospel for spiritual orphans By Polly House LifeWay Communications Shane Garrison of Campbellsville, Ky., shares a personal testimony how Vacation Bible School changed his life as a spiritual orphan, a child whose parents are unbelievers and don t provide any spiritual leadership to their child. His message was titled A Bridge Called VBS. Vacation Bible School: What is its value? By John Miller Special to Michigan Baptist Beacon In ministry, churches have questions to answer: Is this a ministry that our church can accomplish? Will it reach people beyond our regular attenders? Is it biblical? How many people in our congregation will this ministry touch? Does this ministry accomplish a part of the Great Commission? Can our church reasonably expect to be stronger as a result of this ministry? A full and complete answer to these questions is beyond the scope of this article. However, one that convinces church leaders of the value of Vacation Bible School is possible, and really quite easy. Can our church do VBS? A church that has people who love and care for others can do VBS. It takes a commitment to prepare lessons for preschoolers, children and possibly youth and adults. It takes a commitment to spend time with children by preparing snacks, crafts, recreation, music, and mission stories. The question a church needs to ask, Are we willing to do things that are fun to kids, to gain a hearing for the gospel? See Value on page 7 NASHVILLE (BP) When Shane Garrison was a little boy, the chasm between his non-christian home and the local Baptist church was just too wide to cross. But, one summer, Vacation Bible School became his bridge. I grew up in a home where no one had any association with God or Jesus or a church, Garrison said. It was just never talked about at all. I knew there was a church in town, but I didn t think it was someplace I could go. It was for other people. But one summer, VBS became a bridge... a way for me to get from my house to the church. Garrison, assistant professor of educational ministries at Campbellsville University, was the keynote speaker at LifeWay s 2013 VBS Preview events this winter. LifeWay hosted more than 3,500 VBS leaders at events in Fort Worth, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; Kissimmee, Fla.; and at LifeWay s Ridgecrest (N.C.) Conference Center. VBS leaders attending the preview events will return to their states and associations to train thousands of local church leaders. Every year more than 25,000 churches host VBS, enrolling nearly 3 million children and adults, resulting in an average of more than 80,000 professions of faith in Christ. Leaders learned about the Colossal Coaster World-themed VBS taken from 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. The curriculum will challenge kids to face their fears and trust God on the roller coaster of life. Breakout sessions at the preview events emphasized decorations, music, crafts, age-group teaching, outreach and follow-up. Participants were encouraged to make VBS an evangelistic event to reach unchurched children in their communities. Garrison told attendees there are three categories of kids in their towns: 1. Children of believing parents. These kids are growing up in a home where both parents know about Christ, have accepted Him as their Savior and are interested in the children learning about Him. The parents attend church at least semi-regularly, he said, and they probably say a blessing before meals. They teach their children about faith and expose them to the Gospel kids. These kids grow up in a home where one parent is a Believer, but the other isn t. They probably attend church or church events occasionally, Garrison said, and they likely have been exposed to the Gospel in some way. 3. Spiritual orphans. These kids have no spiritual influence in their homes. Neither parent is a Believer. Their home life may be stable or Donna Whitworth (left) and Kerri Gordon (right) refer to themselves as the Vacation Bible School crafters, and are in charge of crafts for their VBS at Clement Baptist Church in Athens, Ala. Here they make Ferris Wheel puzzles, based on 2 Timothy 1:7. completely dysfunctional. There is no Gospel presence for them, and they don t attend church. They don t know anything about the Bible or what it means to be a Christian. Garrison said he was a spiritual orphan. His grandmother decided he needed to go to VBS one summer, so she made sure he was up and ready each day. I don t know that she was so intent on me learning what VBS offered as much as she was just determined that I wasn t going to stay in bed all morning every day that summer, he said. So I went. He reminded VBS leaders these spiritual orphans don t know the church rules. To me, VBS looked a lot like Members of Monument Baptist Church, Deer Park, Texas, sport colorful wigs and wave for the camera while visiting LifeWay s VBS exhibit hall and creative zone. Front row (L-R) is Dawn Soileau and Jackie Frasure. In the back (L- R) are Karen Gilmore and Gaylynn Lassetter. school, Garrison said. The morning celebration, he said, was like a school assembly; snacks were like lunch; the preacher was like the principal; recreation was like recess and craft time was like art, he explained. The similarities ended on Wednesday of that week, though, when he heard the preacher explain the Gospel. I d never heard that Jesus loved me, Garrison said. I didn t know my life could be any different. I didn t know I was supposed to close my eyes and bow my head when we prayed, he said. So I was watching him pray and listening to every word. As I thought about what he was saying, God reached down and spoke to me directly to me and I couldn t believe it! When the pastor asked if anyone had prayed that prayer with him and wanted to talk, Garrison said he didn t know any better than to yell out, Me, me! You may be unwittingly erecting a barrier to the spiritual orphans if you are planning your VBS around your own church kids, he said. Garrison, who serves as transitional pastor of Living Grace Church in Campbellsville, Ky., said he understood that church parents want their kids to have a great time at VBS, but he implored leaders not to forget about using it as an evangelistic bridge. VBS might be the only time during the entire year you have the opportunity to reach these spiritual orphans, Garrison said. It may be the only time they get to come to your church. He urged leaders to turn their hearts away from the priority of decorations, the music, the crafts and snacks. This year, make the spiritual orphans your priority, he said. VBS leaders can find more planning tips and tools on LifeWay s VBS blog at

8 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 7 Follow Up: Making a good VBS a great one By Fred MacDonald Special to Michigan Baptist Beacon Have you ever come to the end of a Vacation Bible School and said, That was one of our best VBS s we ve ever had!? Then, eight months later when you re trying to get everyone excited about the next one someone says, Is this really worth it? I just don t see anything different in our church. It is frustrating when great effort, time, and expense is made on something, but there is no noticeable or lasting change. It s not only VBS. For years I ve heard people say things like, revivals don t work, VBS doesn t work, Sunday School doesn t... Well, you get the idea. Is it possible that what doesn t work is doing all the work before an event or emphasis, but not doing any work on the backside of it? Follow-up is one of the most overlooked aspects of VBS (and just about everything else we do to reach out with the gospel). Here are some of the suggestions for follow-up from Lifeway s 2013 VBS director s administrative guide along with some personal commentary (Lifeway s suggestions are in bold): 1) Create a follow-up strategy or process that includes goals and begins during preparation during VBS. In other words, follow-up starts long before VBS begins, not the day after it ends. Be intentional and plan for follow-up. Don t expect it to just happen. 2) Make the congregation aware of the significance of follow-up and seek their support. Enlist every VBS Value from page six Will VBS reach people beyond our regular attenders? The strength of VBS is its appeal to others. It is rare to find people who do not have a positive response to an invitation to attend VBS. How much will VBS cost? VBS is designed to be accomplished by any one in a church. Professional training is not required to do VBS. Most churches have learned how to share materials and minimize the cost. Instructions and teaching material comes in a package that most churches can afford. Most associations and the DBC care enough to see that any church that wants to do VBS and needs assistance will have it. Will VBS build trust in a local community? I have seen many new churches start using VBS. I have seen many churches revived using VBS. I have seen many people come to know Jesus using VBS. I have seen many new Sunday School teachers recruited out of VBS. The list could go on. One thing is rare: a story of VBS bombing out and ineffective. People in our communities have come to trust that we will treat their children with and Sunday School worker to participate in the follow-up process. Followup is a team effort and is an opportunity to bring people who could not help during the VBS week into the excitement. Also, make sure VBS workers know that VBS is not just a one-week event. It is an ongoing commitment to Christ to reach children and families with the gospel. 3) Begin working the strategy when the first child registers and no later than the first day of VBS. Start follow-up from the first contact with the child. Cards, phone calls, and other efforts to connect children to Sunday School and worship don t have to wait until after VBS is over. And don t miss the implication of this tip: good follow-up requires good records. Be sure to get names and contact info on children and parents involved in the VBS. Few things would be more frustrating then to have over 100 children in the church building for a week, only to discover the following Monday you don t have any of their names or addresses. 4) Train leaders for follow-up. Make training in evangelism and follow-up an integral part of VBS training. Be sure all workers know how to share the gospel with children and how to follow-up with kids who make decisions during the week (and not just salvation decisions; recommitments, surrender to missions or ministry, etc.). 5) Continue the strategy until a contact has been made with every home and every parent has been met. I would take it a step further. Continue until you know every home and every parent has been reached for Christ or until they themselves shut love and that we will teach the Bible. Is VBS biblical? The middle name of Vacation Bible School answers this question. However, teachers and church leaders determine how the materials are used. There is a biblical theme for each day. Memory verses are suggested for pupils to learn. Even snacks, crafts, and recreation can be used to teach the Bible. I suggest that more people are studying the Bible through VBS than any other week in church life. Bible stories are presented to each age group in a format that makes the Bible understandable to those in the class. Will VBS touch the lives of people in a church? If VBS is done correctly, it becomes a flagship event that uses every person in the church. People who have lots of experience teaching and leading others are needed. People who have very little experience but are willing to be helpers fit right in. Youth share their enthusiasm. Senior adults can become helpers with snacks, crafts, and crowd control. A good VBS involves everyone unless they refuse to help. How to move from mission team Vaction Bible School to do-it-yourself By Karen Holmes Special to the Beacon Mission teams are a great resource in the Dakotas. But, while mission teams are useful, they were never meant to be a permanent part of our church s lives. You can move from using mission teams to lead VBS, to using your congregation, if you also use the team as a training tool. If your church has never done its own Vacation Bible School, invite a mission team to help you. Make good use of the team. Work with them before they come and let them know that you will be asking your members to be part of the team the week they are here. Ask your church members, the first year to watch and learn. That first year let the team lead. the door. Don t be obnoxious, but be persistent! 6) Report and celebrate followup efforts with the congregation. Wouldn t it be great to be able to share in December that someone who first heard about Jesus in June had just now come to Christ because a teacher didn t stop doing tip #5 after one postcard! 7) Include follow-up results on the VBS report form that is sent to your local association, state convention, and LifeWay. The annual report your church makes after VBS is an Does VBS accomplish a part of the Great Commission? VBS can accomplish every part of the Great Commission: worship, evangelism, fellowship, ministry, discipleship (Bible study). God is pleased when we accomplished what He assigned us to do. Jesus gave the Great Commission as our marching orders. Can our church reasonably expect to be stronger as a result of VBS? VBS should produce better and new teachers, prospects for Sunday School, an opportunity for children to make public decision for Christ. It is very common to hear the words, we are exhausted but happy after a week of VBS. It remains the No. 1 ministry producing professions of faith and baptism. It habitually gives the most prospects for Sunday School, especially if a congregation engages the families of those children. It often gives the church volunteers to teach in Sunday School. VBS, like an open umbrella, covers every part of church life. I ask the question: Can a church afford not to do VBS? Then, the second year, work together. Share the responsibilities between the team and your people. The third year invite the team back to help your church as your church leads the VBS. The mission team would step into a back-up role. Many of our churches have the people and resources to do a wonderful Vacation Bible School. We just need the confidence to step out and do it! God has placed our churches in our communities. We are the ones that see the families every day. We are the ones that minister to them. It is hard to love and minister to people when you are only here for a week. You can t build the relationships that are needed. Our church members have a great opportunity to be missionaries in our towns, just by doing Vacation Bible School. encouragement to other believers and a help to those that help churches prepare for VBS (like your association, the DBC, and LifeWay). It can also provide additional resources for sharing the gospel here in the Dakotas. How? LifeWay provides ministry funds to state conventions based on statistical information provided by churches. VBS is one of the information categories they use to determine how to help state conventions, so fill out your VBS report and ACP! 8) Maintain registration and follow-up records for use in promoting VBS next year. The records you keep will be a good addition to your prospect file and give you a head start next year as you begin preparing for your next VBS. Let me add one more that is not listed specifically in the admin guide but is implied and, no doubt, covered in additional VBS resources. 9) Don t let VBS be a Lone Ranger event in the life of the church. In other words, VBS for the sake of VBS will not have a lasting impact on the church. Connect the children and parents you meet and reach through VBS to other ministries of the church: Sunday School, youth and children s ministries, care and outreach programs, and so on. Followup is not just helping those that make decisions during the week; it is helping all that come be connected in ongoing relationships with Christ and His people. A little intention, attention, preparation, and training can help turn a good VBS (or revival, or special event, or...) into a great one. And months and years down the road the work you do to follow up on this year s VBS will reap blessings for VBS s to come.

9 Michigan On Mission 8 Missions Camps Can Have a Profound Impact on Lives By Cindy Bradley Missions Ministry Leader I was at Lake Sallateeska, the Baptist state camp in Southern Illinois, several weeks ago when I was visiting my family at Christmas it was beautiful! Snow covered the ground and parts of the lake were frozen. It was quiet, serene and peaceful. No one else was around, although there were tracks in the snow perhaps a deer. I know there may be more beautiful places in the world, but this place ranks up there in my top ten! As I reflected on the natural beauty that God had created there I realized that it is the beauty that God created in my heart as a result of being a GA camper there many years ago that truly gives Lake Sallateeska such an endearing and meaningful place in my life. God opened the heart of a 10-year-old, homesick camper many years ago and drew me close during a dedication service. I gave my heart to Him that year. Little did I know then that I would give my life to Him in missions service during another dedication service as a teenager a few years later. Such is the impact of participating in a missions camping experience. My encounters with God at Lake Sallateeska as a camper and later as a staffer truly changed and impacted the future direction of my life. I am ever grateful to those who made those experiences possible and to Illinois Baptists for providing the facility and monies to make missions camps possible. I know the same is true for our Baptist state camp: Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center. Michigan Baptists have provided a place, like Lake Sallateeska, that has impacted many lives for the Kingdom these past 50-plus years. I am so grateful to our churches and individuals who have made this possible. Right now, with winter s wind blowing at my window, it is hard to imagine that in just a few months girls, with their leaders in tow, will be running all over Bambi swimming, hiking, boating and learning about God s great mission all around the world. The theme for the 2013 Girls and Teen Girls Missions Camps is Fearless. Girls and teen girls attending the Missions Camp will discover they can follow God s plan with courage, wherever He leads. Bible studies will encourage girls to be fearless as they step forth in sharing their faith in Christ and meeting the needs of others. In addition to Bible studies girls will visit with missionaries, participate in worship sessions, games and recreation, crafts and mission projects. These Bible study and missions experiences will show girls how they can serve with fearless faith. Go to bscm.org/#/missions/ mission-education to download to download a promotional flyer and registration sheet. Contact cindy@ bscm.org for more information. Dearborn College Ministries reach out to the unconvinced By Rob & Kelly Parsons hold out hope for him as something (or Someone) was really causing him MSC Missionaries to search out the claims of the Bible and to ask the tough questions and not DEARBORN We have been on accept simple pat answers. the campus of Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn for only 1 Please join us in praying for Joe and praying that we are able to sit ½ semesters and while we have seen down with him again after Spring slow growth in numbers, the students break and continue where we left attending are really eager to make off. God is good and His Word never Christ known on that campus. returns empty. For that and so much Every Wednesday afternoon we more we praise Him. meet in the cafeteria and put up a In our last update we mentioned Bible Study sign in the center of our that Evan and Lauren Parker were getting ready to go to the Czech Repub- table just in case someone passing by wants to join us. On one particular lic. They have now been there for 1 Wednesday we were sitting at the 1/2 months and will be there till June. table with our Bible study sign out They are reaching out to people that but students were still catching up on don t want to talk about Christ and are homework while waiting for the last of very hard to make close relationships our regular students to arrive. A new with. Pray for them as they continue to guy named Joe came by and noticed reach out to the people around them. it didn t look much like a Bible study Since our last update we have started an outreach at 8 p.m. every third and inquired about what we were doing. Thursday of the month. It is called Rob explained and then asked 3rd Thursday Praise and we do it at if Joe wanted to join the study. Joe Merriman Road Baptist Church. The replied that he was surprised that we goal of this is to reach out to unsaved were allowed to have a Bible study on friends from campus and other college a campus with so much religious diversity. Joe then stated that he was an students who may attend churches within the association who don t have atheist/agnostic and wasn t interested a college group. We don t want to take in joining the study and didn t think it college students from their church but was a good idea to have a Bible study to give them a group of people that on a campus where it could bring such they can connect with other than on strong division to the student body. Sunday. After a little more dialogue, Joe The night consists of fellowship, eventually pulled up a chair and praise music by the 3rd Edition band, started asking questions about our Bible Study and prayer time. It is not faith and why we believe the Bible the same every month but it has all is true and really from God and how these aspects in some form. we could possibly see the God of This forum has given us the opportunity to let some of the guys practice the Bible as good when He allowed slavery and even ordered the killing of giving Bible lessons and organizing those inhabiting the Promised Land. the evening the way that they feel God He had obviously done some homework and was even able to quote some is leading them. We see it as an opportunity to mentor students and get them things from the Bible that supported moving toward leadership. his own views. We have had great feedback from Needless to say this wasn t going this and we have had students coming to be a quick conversation. We continued our conversation with Joe over the that haven t been involved in church in a long time. We are praying that next hour or so before he admitted he more associational churches and college campus students will get involved was late for class but wanted to meet again. In the course of our conversation we were able to clearly share the so that we can see this grow and see college students develop their leadership and ministry abilities. gospel with Joe and could tell that he was really struggling with the whole origin of evil and how sin is passed Rob and Kelley Parsons are MSC Missionaries at Schoolcraft, Henry Ford Com- down through all people and what its affects are in the world. munity College and Wayne State University. While it appears there is a long Contant them at ; Facebook: journey ahead for Joe if he ever does Kelley Parsons or parsonsministry@ come to Christ for salvation we do yahoo.com.

10 Michigan On Mission 9 ADVERTISING The Clothes Closet Faith Baptist Church of Durand 520 Kent Street Open Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We have clothing from infant to adult sizes and are available to all those who have a need in Durand and surrounding areas. For further information, call the church office at from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Bill Bramlet, pastor John Maxwell Leadership Conference May Greater Detroit Baptist Associational office Joy Road, Redford 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days registration cost to be determined Sponsored by GDBA Inter-Church Projects Team GDBA office: Disaster Relief Training GREATER DETROIT BAPTIST ASSOCIATION: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at the Associational Office: Joy Road in Redford. Win Williams, BSCM Disaster Relief Director, is leading the training. Cost: $15/person. Refreshments will be provided. For more information or if you plan to attend, Nathaniel Bishop: detbaptassn@sbcglobal.net or call the associational office: Art of Marriage Conference 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 12 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13 First Spanish Baptist Church COST: $35/COUPLE The video series will be in English and Spanish. Pastor: Eli Garza Help Wanted Camp Director Sivells Baptist Camp, Cloudcroft, N.M. The camp is one of New Mexico s two state camps and is designed to operate at about 300 campers per week throughout the summer and also operates throughout the winter doing snow retreats and the like. The replacement should be an individual who has good overall knowledge of camping, administrative skills, the ability to navigate and manage a team and all the other aspects that would be involved in managing a camp of 1,000 plus acres Send resumes to Joe Bunce, Executive Director, the Baptist Convention of New Mexico: jbunce@bcnm.com Church Information Packets are mailed to every staff member once per month and posted online. These contain promotional posters, sign-up sheets, informational articles and more. See: Did You Know? You Can Submit your items for publication to the Baptist Beacon by ing beacon@bscm.org by the 5th of each month for publication in the next issue Marrigage from page three dismissed, with the court ruling her suit was barred by the First Amendment. (The case was Bryce v. Episcopal Church in Diocese of Colorado.) Some churches have affirmed the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and calls homosexuality sinful. Asked whether the BF&M would be sufficient, Stanley replied, That would be just fine for churches to adopt the BF&M 2000 in their bylaws on this issue. But the BF&M 2000 does not necessarily address the issue of human sexuality in depth, especially the issue of homosexual behavior. Churches may want to consider adopting a fuller statement regarding their biblical beliefs on human sexuality. ADF has listed on its website suggested bylaw language for churches. What we tell churches is that the clearer and the more explicit you can make your religious beliefs about those issues, the better off you are going to be in defending yourself against a claim of discrimination, Stanley said. Because then it becomes: You re SECOND ANNUAL BAMBI BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT Do you have a green thumb? Do you love to get outside and play in the dirt planting flowers? Have you made plans for Memorial weekend yet? The staff here at Bambi Lake are starting to get spring fever so, we are planning our second annual Memorial weekend gardening work team! REGISTRATION: Friday, May 24 Followed by family games and activities for the kids in the game room. JB s Place will also be open so you can get your milkshake fix! We will begin bright and early Friday morning; weeding, planting, raking and cleaning up flower beds all around the camp. not discriminating against an individual based upon their sexual orientation or marital status. You re making a decision to abide by your religious beliefs. And that s protected by the Constitution. The more that we can move this from the ground of a claim of discrimination based on sexual orientation or marital status to the ground of We are simply abiding by our deeply and sincerely held religious beliefs, the better off a legal defense is going to be. The legalization of gay marriage, Stanley said, will impact religious freedoms. Bambi Lake needs summer volunteers ROSCOMMON What could be better than serving the Lord at Bambi Lake? For the whole summer? If this sound like your idea of fun, than we want you! Bambi Lake summer missionaries serve in a variety of ways around the camp as well as having various opportunities to help in local communities in and around Roscommon. They are a essential part of our summer staff. Summer missionaries will serve in the kitchen, help with housekeeping, at the waterfront, out on the grounds, in JB s Place and at the front desk. It s not all about work though, Summer missionaries will also be taken out into the communities to assist with Vacation Bible School, block parties, worship services and other outreach opportunities. Some have had chances to counsel teens who have made decisions here at the camp. Whether it is working behind the scenes or leading some one to the Lord, summer missionaries have a major impact on the ministry here at Bambi Lake. They have a tremendous opportunity for growth, not just as young adults getting ready to enter the workforce, but more importantly as Christians getting ready to impact their world. Lifeguards are also needed. Lifeguards must be at least 18 years of age, and exhibited great leadership and responsibility. Experience is preferred, but training may be available for the right individual. There is a great need for lifeguards, after all what is summer camp without swimming? So, live at Bambi Lake, serve the Lord and have fun doing it by becoming a summer missionary! If you are 16-21, have a desire to serve the Lord this summer and want to do it in an awesome place, get your application in today! Go to bambi-lake.org/ resources/summer_missionary_application.htm to get an application that you can print and mail in. Or you can copy it into an and send it to dan@ bscm.org. If you would like to know more about our summer missionary program or if you would like to have an application mailed to you contact camp manager Dan Kucharczyk at or dan@bscm.org. We must have received the application by May 24. Applicants will be selected and notified by June 1. We are accepting donations of seeds, gardening tools, flower pots, flower baskets, lawn ornaments and live plants. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR RESERVATIONS Contact Angela at Bambi Lake or bambilake@gmail.com

11 10 Cooperative Program Missions Giving BAY ASSOCIATION CP Designated YTD CP January January 2013 BETHANY BAPTIST CHURCH BIRCH RUN BAPTIST CHURCH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH CROSSWAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , , HARMONY BAPTIST CHURCH LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH LIFEGATE BAPTIST CHURCH NEW HOPE CHURCH RIVERBEND BAPTIST CHURCH RIVERWALK BAPTIST CHURCH SAGINAW VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH SANFORD FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SUNRISE BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 4, , , BLUE WATER ASSOCIATION ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH BEACONSFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP BIBLE CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - NEW BALTIMORE 3, , , FIRST HMONG BAPTIST CHURCH GOLGOTHA ROMANIAN BAPTIST CHURCH GRACE BIBLE CHURCH GRACEMONT BAPTIST CHURCH HARRISON METRO CHURCH HARVEST BAPTIST - SHELBY TOWNSHIP , HMONG AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH LAKEPOINTE BAPTIST CHURCH LAKESIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH 1, , LAPEER COMMUNITY CHURCH LIFE OF PURPOSE CHRISTIAN CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH 3, , , NEW LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH REDEMPTION CHURCH THE CHURCH CONNECTION WARREN WOODS BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 12, , , CENTRAL ASSOCIATION CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH CAMPUS CORNERSTONE CAMPUS TOWN CHURCH LANSING CEDAR STREET CHURCH 6, , , CHARLOTTE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH DISCOVER LIFE CHURCH FAITH FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - DEWITT FIRST SPANISH AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH GETSEMANI BAPTIST CHURCH GOOD SHEPHERD BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , GRACE CHURCH 3, , , HARMONY BAPTIST CHURCH - JACKSON , IGLESIA BAUTISTA GETSEMANI IGLESIA BAUTISTA HISPANIC de ST. JOHNS KALEO CHURCH OF LANSING KINGDOM LIFE CHURCH 2, , NEW COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH NEW LIFE CHAPEL PAGE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 16, , , GENESEE ASSOCIATION AINSWORTH BAPTIST CHURCH , BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH BRAY ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH CHRIST COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH CORUNNA ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH DAVISON MEADOWS BAPTIST CHURCH EAGLE S NEST BAPTIST CHURCH EASTGATE BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH - DURAND FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - CLIO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - FLUSHING , FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SWARTZ CREEK 2, , , GALILEAN BAPTIST CHURCH HANMAUM INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH HARMONY BAPTIST CHURCH HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , , LaFAMILIA MULTI-CULTURAL COMMUNITY CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE CHAPEL OF THE DEAF LINCOLN PARK BAPTIST CHURCH MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH NEW HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH NEW HAVEN FIELD HOUSE NORTH END BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , , OPEN DOOR BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH OUTREACH BAPTIST CHURCH SHAWN BAPTIST CHURCH , THE POTTER S WHEEL THIRD AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH WESTSIDE CHURCH Total: 12, , , GREATER DETROIT ASSOCIATION ANN ARBOR CHINESE CHRISTIAN BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH BREAHAA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH CANTON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CASS PARK BAPTIST CHURCH COMPASSION BAPTIST CHURCH CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN CHURCH DEARBORN HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH DETROIT BAPTIST TEMPLE EASTSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH EBER MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - RIVERVIEW FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - TRENTON 1, , FIRST SPANISH BAPTIST CHURCH FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH , INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP JEFFRIES BAPTIST CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH LIVONIA BAPTIST CHURCH MERRIMAN ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH 16, , , MIDDLEBELT BAPTIST CHURCH MT. VERNON BAPTIST CHURCH , OAK PARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH OPEN DOOR GOSPEL TABERNACLE PALMER ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH PEOPLE S MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH PHILIPPINE INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH PHILIPPINE INT`L BAPTIST CHURCH PHILLIPPINE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH PRAISE BAPTIST CHURCH , SECOND LAOTIAN BAPTIST CHAPEL SOUTHFIELD ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH , STRAIGHT STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TEMPLE OF FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH TRENTON MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TRINITY CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH VICTORY FELLOWSHIP COMMUNNITY CHURCH WOODHAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 21, , , HURON ASSOCIATION CAMPUS TOWN CHURCH ANN ARBOR CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY CHURCH CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH

12 Cooperative Program Missions Giving 11 FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH , CROSSROADS COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH OF SALINE 1, , , FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - GREEN OAK TWP FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - SOUTH LYON 3, , GRACEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH LIVING WATER COMMUNITY CHURCH NORTH PROSPECT BAPTIST CHURCH OAKWOOD CHURCH PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH VISION COMMUNITY CHURCH YPSILANTI MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 8, , , LENDALE ASSOCIATION BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH - ADRIAN CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH - ADRIAN CLINTON BAPTIST CHURCH , FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH FRONTIER BAPTIST CHURCH HILLSDALE BAPTIST CHURCH 3, , , TECUMSEH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH THORNHILL BAPTIST CHURCH TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH - ADRIAN Total: 4, , , NORTHWEST ASSOCIATION AGAPE BAPTIST CHURCH ANTRIM COMMUNITY CHURCH CRYSTAL LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH EVERGREEN BAPTIST CHURCH GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH - PELLSTON LAKE CITY BAPTIST CHURCH LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH NORTHSHORE COMMUNITY CHURCH OUR FATHERS HOUSE COMMUNITY CHURCH, SBC REDISCOVER FELLOWSHIP SAFE HARBOR SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH THE ORCHARD CHURCH Total: 1, , OAKLAND COUNTY ASSOCIATION COLUMBIA AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH , CROSSINGS CHURCH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH, SBC FIRST ROMANIAN BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST SPANISH-AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCH FOREST PARK BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , , HARVEST BAPTIST CHURCH , HIGHLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH 1, , HILTON OAKS BAPTIST CHURCH HMONG PONTIAC BAPTIST MISSION KOREAN FIRST BAPTIST KOREAN IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH KOREAN NEW LIFE CHURCH MADISON HEIGHTS FELLOWSHIP MT. ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH NEW BEGINNINGS BAPTIST CHURCH NEW COVENANT CHURCH NEW DAY HOUSE OF PRAISE - SBC NEW LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH NORTHFIELD HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH OAKLAND WOODS BAPTIST CHURCH 2, , , ORCHARD HILLS BAPTIST CHURCH PATHWAY BAPTIST CHURCH SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH SPRINGVIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH 6, , ST. STEPHEN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH THE HILL CHURCH A Robin enjoys a beautiful spring day in Michigan. THE MASTERS BIBLE CHAPEL THE SHEPHERD S FOLD TROY JAPANESE FELLOWSHIP Total: 15, , , PINES ASSOCIATION ALPINE VILLAGE BAPTIST CHURCH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - ATLANTA GOODAR BIBLE CHURCH GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH GRAYLING BAPTIST CHURCH HUBBARD LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH HURON BAPTIST CHURCH LAKE ST. HELEN BAPTIST CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST MISSION OF WEST BRANCH NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH ONAWAY BAPTIST CHURCH PATHWAY SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH PIGEON RIVER BAPTIST CHURCH ROSCOMMON BAPTIST CHURCH , THE CONNECTION SBC Total: 1, , , SOUTH CENTRAL ASSOCIATION AMAZING GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH CANAAN CHURCH COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH OF HASTINGS , EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN CHURCH FAITH BAPTIST - BATTLE CREEK FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - PORTAGE HARPER CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH , HIGHER GROUND MINISTRIES OF TEMPLE BAPTIST LAKESIDE BAPTIST CHURCH LEVEL PARK BAPTIST CHURCH PRAISE BAPTIST CHURCH TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 3, , , SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION AMAZING GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH DUNDEE BAPTIST CHURCH EVERGREEN ACRES MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH FRENCHTOWN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH GRAPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH KENTUCKY PARK MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH LAKESIDE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH LIBERTY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH MONROE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 14, , PETERSBURG MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH RAISINVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH 2, , ROCKWOOD MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH TRUE GOSPEL MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH UNION STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 19, , , SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION BANGOR BAPTIST CHURCH BEACON BAPTIST CHURCH BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH - NILES 1, , FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - BERRIEN SPRINGS GLENDALE BAPTIST CHURCH NILES AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH ONTWA BAPTIST CHURCH THE SANCTUARY CHURCH Total: 1, , UPPER PENINSULA ASSOCIATION ABUNDANT LIFE CHURCH - HOUGHTON ABUNDANT LIFE CHURCH - MENOMINEE BAY AREA COMMUNITY CHURCH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP SBC FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH - DAFTER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - GWINN GRACE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP HOUGHTON BAPTIST CHURCH 1, , NORTHPOINT BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP Total: 3, , , WOODLAND ASSOCIATION ALL NATIONS BAPTIST CHURCH - HOLLAND ANCHOR BAPTIST CHARITY BAPTIST CHURCH COMPASS POINT CHURCH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH - LUDINGTON FIRST KOREAN CHURCH GRACE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH HOLLAND SOUTHERN BAPTIST IGLESIA BAUTISTA HISPANA IGLESIA BAUTISTA HISPANA DE ALLENDALE IGLESIA BAUTISTA RECONCILIACION - GRAND RAPIDS LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH RIVERTOWN COMMUNITY CHURCH SONRISE BAPTIST CHURCH TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH Total: 1, , NON-ASSOCIATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FAITH BAPTIST CHAPEL FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH - LINDEN HARVEY BAPTIST CHURCH HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH - MONROE 3, , NORTHBROOK CHURCH Total: 3, ,479.00

13 /MichiganBaptists (for all Michigan Baptists) /MichiganMinisters (for Michigan Ministers ONLY) Volume 57, Number 4 Michigan s Baptist Beacon