This Tuesday, October 15th Baptist Mid-Missions will launch its 100th anniversary year with an international prayer event broadcast on Facebook Live. From the home office in Cleveland, Ohio, this event will be hosted by BMM President Vernon Rosenau and President Emeritus Gary Anderson. You can mark yourself as interested or going to this event HERE. The online event begins at 10:00 am ET.

Baptist Mid-Missions exists to strategically advance the building of Christ’s church, with his passion and for his glory in vital partnership with Baptist churches worldwide. The “Mid” in Mid-Missions refers to the Mission’s original focus reaching interior regions and countries left with little or no access to the church. William Haas, the founder of BMM, pioneered this strategy advancing the Gospel into the heart of Africa, which is now known as Central African Republic.

It has been my privilege to serve Baptist Mid-Missions as an Elected Council member since 2012. Working on financial and administrative governance allows me to support tangibly the missionaries I pray for regularly. My brother, John Wilburn serves as a career church-planting missionary with BMM on the island of St. Vincent. Missions agencies are vital for missionaries and churches because they provide crucial services for safe, ethical, and successful global missionary work.

Join BMM for the World Day of Prayer event on Tuesday, October 15th. Get to know this historic mission agency. Let it prepare our hearts for Immanuel’s international missions conference and remind us to pray for missionaries serving the Lord and representing us on the frontline of Gospel advance.

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Blessings,
Pastor Michael Wilburn
mwilburn@ibcrichmond.org

The news media recently reported Kanye West’s conversion to Christianity. West is a 42-year old rapper “who has long melded black gospel sounds with secular hip-hop” according to the New York Times. West has won 21 Grammy Awards, sold over 140 million albums, and has 29.2 million people following his Instagram account. He is perhaps best known for a controversial incident with Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, his marriage to Kim Kardashian, and his friendship with President Donald Trump. However, none of this is catching the media’s attention today.

Last week, West hosted a series of listening parties in Detroit, Chicago, and New York. The events, held in churches, showcased West’s new album, “Jesus is King.” The profanity-free album includes songs titled “God is,” “Baptized,” “Sunday,” and “Sweet Jesus.” Unbeknown to his audience, West invited a pastor to speak. In Detroit, Rev. Adam Tyson preached a 12-minute sermon from Isaiah 6. According to Christianity Today, he said, “I’m here to tell you that while our God is the judge over the universe, he’s also a God of mercy and he’s a God of love, and he sent his Son to die on a cross because he loves you.”

Tyson is the pastor of Placerita Bible Church in Santa Clarita, California and a graduate of The Master’s Seminary. West met Tyson after attending his church, which led to a Gospel conversation a week later. Describing his relationship with West, the pastor said, “I want to be faithful to a new brother in the faith, Kanye. I want to help him be connected to the Word of God. I told him, ‘As long as you’re exalting Christ, I’m 100% behind you.” Tyson continues to accompany West at performances but cautions that concerts don’t replace the church.

How Ought Christians to Think about Kanye West’s Conversion?

Christians may form quick opinions and react to a celebrity’s conversion story either dismissively or triumphantly. But before we hit retweet or delete, we need to sober our judgment with the soul’s worth and the Gospel’s power. How ought Christians to think about Kanye West’s conversion?

Be Hopeful, But Not Naive

First, the Gospel is powerful enough to transform anyone’s life. The Apostle Paul described himself as a chief of sinners, and he felt the cold shoulder of hesitant Christians unwilling to believe his conversion (Acts 9:26). Perhaps that is your reaction to Kanye West. A wait-and-see attitude with folded arms is quite different from a hopeful relationship started with an embrace. The Great Commission requires discipling when it says, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). This means that every profession of faith should be followed by faithfulness. You will know believers by their fruit (John 15:8).

Be Cautious, But Not Pessimistic 

Wisdom requires that Christians be cautious, and caution is a good virtue. Isn’t it good to be cautious when you drive through a traffic light? The answer is “yes” because caution equals safety. Salvation is an intersection of life and must be navigated with wisdom. Young believers need answers to questions, prayers for assurance, and good discipling before baptism. They need a church to love, teach, and protect them. Hostility, power, and fame are no match against the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God delights in rescuing sinners from the penalty of their sin and angels rejoice when a sinner repents.

Be Accepting, But Not Opportunistic 

As with every new Christian, fellow-believers must help, pray, and encourage their spiritual growth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 expects change, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” While all Christians can pray for Kanye West’s spiritual growth, Christians close to him should make it their aim to disciple him. A word of warning is necessary for Christians, pastors, and churches: we must never exploit fame for evangelism. Christianity never serves well as an adjective for celebrity. Christ needs no publicist. Our goal is not to make the Gospel popular, but to make it known.

Blessings,
Pastor Michael Wilburn
mwilburn@ibcrichmond.org

We look forward to our time with Thomas Smoak during Immanuel’s International Missions Conference October 18-20! Watch as Thomas gives a preview of what is to come:

God is a missionary God. He is a sender of Good News. Whoever finds him and gets to know him quickly learns that his heart beats with the question, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”

During this year’s missionary conference we will listen for that call through Isaiah’s vision of heaven’s throne in Isaiah chapter 6. We’ll also hear it through the missionary call of others whom we serve as a church. Our theme is “Seeing and Serving God the Sender.”

As a young boy, I saw him through many of you at Immanuel. Growing up as a “sent one” from among you gave me a unique perspective on the worldwide fruitfulness of your faithfulness. At age 14 I said, like Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me.” Thank you for helping me see and hear the Sender and for serving him by sending Susanna and me on God’s mission for the past 30 years.

Not everybody is a missionary. It takes, on average, a hundred senders to pray and give and train and encourage each sent one. But all true members of Christ’s body are “on mission” – called to Christ’s mission in the world. His sacrifice cleanses our hearts of selfishness and our lips from speaking lies, making us worthy to speak Good News where it most needs to be heard. Every disciple follows Jesus into a world that needs him. All of us pray that his kingdom will come and give sacrificially like he did so that others “through his poverty might become rich.” We’ll talk more about that on Sunday afternoon, October 20th.

And it’s really Good News we bring! It’s a blessing for those who send, for those who go and for those who hear and believe. On Friday night, October 18th, our young people will gather to hear and discuss my friend Dr. Robert Woodberry’s research about how missionaries made the modern world (See his lecture at: http://intersectproject.org/faith-and-economics/robert-woodberry-world-missionaries-made/). His extensive research is overwhelmingly conclusive that, though it is far from perfect, the modern missionary movement that teaches conversion to Christ by faith has blessed every place it has touched. In fact the freest places on the planet almost always reap the fruit of missionary roots.

The whole world is filled with God’s glory. We’ll spend time listening to the seraphim proclaim that truth to us right up to the present. But the whole earth is not yet filled with the knowledge of his glory as the waters fill the sea. That’s the mission. That’s the promise. That’s the blessing of the mission.

Have you seen the Lord? Has his message of love and reconciliation ignited your heart with love for God and the world he loves? If not, I pray it will. If so, I challenge you not only to receive his cleansing touch for yourself but to hear him asking from his heavenly throne, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And to answer with joy and hope, “Here I am. Send me.”

Thomas Smoak
International Director
Action International Ministries

Watch for more from Thomas as we prepare our hearts for our International Missions Conference, October 18-20.

“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
“I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings…”
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
“Do not be anxious about anything…“

The book of Philippians contains some of the most well-known and oft-quoted verses in the Christian vernacular. With its long-standing familiarity, there are several dangers and benefits to teaching and studying this short book in the local church.

Dangers:

1. ARROGANCE: “I’ve heard this before!”
   First, we could easily arrive at a familiar Scripture with a prideful attitude, thinking, “I’ve heard this before,” and becoming callous to the truth. We could approach the passage with preconceived ideas of what the main ideas are, or what we should take away, and fail to look for something new, recognizing that any and all understanding is a work of the Holy Spirit.
2. APATHY:“I’ve seen this before!”
   Second, we could come to a commonly-referenced passage with a degree of laziness, believing, “I’ve seen this before,” and not caring to apply ourselves to the careful study of the Word or forgetting that Scripture is always profitable, no matter how many times we’ve read it.
3. ABUSE: “I’ve used this before!”
   Third, we could take a recognized verse and pervert the meaning, suctioning it out of context without regard for the author’s original audience or intent. We can state, “I’ve used this before,” as an excuse for isolating statements and mishandling them for personal gain.
4. APPROPRIATION: “I’ve made this say something it’s never said before!”
   Fourth, we could try so hard to find a new meaning for a well-known verse, maintaining, “I’ve made this say something it’s never said before,” that we forget a text cannot mean something to us that it did not mean to the original author or reader.  In attempting to make a verse say something different, we appropriate implications and risk misinterpreting the point.
5. AMBIVALENCE: “I’ve applied this before!”
   Fifth, we could hesitate to study a widely-recognized passage, saying, “I’ve applied this before,” ignoring the fact that knowledge should result in obedience. Our uncertainty in revisiting familiar verses begs us to consider whether we are consistently and completely living out the applications found therein.

Benefits:

1. HUMILTY: “I don’t know!”
   First, we can never grasp the fullness of God’s Word. We are frail and feeble and must regularly beg the Holy Spirit to be our Guide and Teacher. When we read a verse like, “I want to know Christ…,” we must approach it with submission and meekness, recognizing that we, as finite beings, can never wholly know Christ in all His glory; but, we can strive to know Him better every day.
2. HUNGER: “I want more!”
   Second, different seasons of life make different passages resonate in different ways. Having a solid foundation means there is something upon which to build. Studying a familiar passage in teenage years is going to look different than it does in retirement. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” takes on new, timeless significance when we have seen the good work unfolding in our life, and it should awaken in us a desire to see that good work continue until it is complete.
3. HARMONY: “I see now!”
   Third, there is something to be said about studying an oft-quoted verse within the broader narrative of Scripture. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength,” conveys a much deeper meaning when we understand that Paul is talking about contentment amid abundant prosperity or abject poverty, not dangling a good luck charm that gives unfiltered access to anything we desire. When we study context, we see the consistency of God’s words and correct false doctrine or bad teaching.
4. HONESTY: “I’ve been there!”
   Fourth, there is relational value in transparently sharing the way a passage has ministered to our spirit with fellow brothers and sisters. Flippantly quoting, “Do not be anxious about anything,” may or may not be helpful or encouraging when a friend is facing difficulty, but sharing personal insight and perspective rooted in experience with these beloved verses, especially with people who may not have considered them in that light before, could be extremely uplifting.
5. HEART: “I love Him!”
   Fifth, familiarity often produces affection. There is a reason, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” is cited regularly at the gravesides of saints who have gone to be with Jesus. There is comfort in clinging to memorable truths. Like old friends, verses that we know and love can continually refresh our spirits and make us long to know and love Jesus more.

Ladies of Immanuel, we invite you to join us this fall as we study Philippians together. May God grant us the grace to look at these familiar passages with fresh eyes, avoiding the dangers and embracing the benefits. May we prayerfully request the humility, hunger, harmony, honesty, and heart we need to grow in our love of the Living Word through our study of the written Word.

Sarah Feiler

We all know that change is inevitable. Whether we initiate it ourselves or someone else forces us to change, the ancient philosopher Heraclitus’ words certainly ring true: There is nothing more constant than change. So, think about a change that you enjoyed, and now think about one you didn’t. What was different about them? Why did you like the first and resist the other? Let me offer four potential reasons:

1. You lacked a common goal.

This could have happened because (1) the change wasn’t communicated or (2) everyone didn’t agree on the goal. Everyone sets goals for themselves, and churches are no different. Whether it is being more involved in the community or having vibrant ministries, we are all working towards something. If a change is not clearly communicated, it makes it difficult for people to support changes when they do not understand “the why” (even if a deep-rooted passion to support the change exists). God provides a proper example in Genesis 12. He clearly articulates to Abraham his plan for him and for Israel. In addition, people need to agree on the goal. Of course, you’ll never get everyone to agree, but it is important to genuinely consider opposing opinions and compromise where possible. People appreciate feeling like they have been heard and a conversation that thoroughly discusses their concerns goes a long way in arriving at a shared goal.

2. You lacked a good plan to achieve your goal.

We have all been there. A plan is communicated, but important items were not considered. More often than not, those leading the change either assumed you cared about something you didn’t or didn’t realize you cared about something you did. In my prior career, my role was to help organizations understand how to change effectively. This required not only understanding what was being changed, but the people who were being impacted. The plan was only as good as the level of collaboration. Jesus is a prime example of this. While he could have accomplished his missional purpose without our assistance, he instead commissioned his disciples to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. Likewise, we would be wise to work with others to identify their needs before making unilateral decisions that affect someone else.

3. You lacked the resources to enact your plan.

For example (and this is just an example), let’s say Immanuel desired more vibrant worship in their members, and the plan was to change the style of music. The next questions would be: Is there anyone in the church who could lead that genre of music? Do they have the proper instrumentation for it?  How will we transition from our current style to our new style?  It’s important to consider all these details, otherwise the change will fail. But, even more important than these details are the people involved. You need people who have a heart and a passion for what the goal of the change is setting out to achieve. After all, preparing people’s hearts is just as important as preparing their minds. New behaviors begin to take root when the gospel truth catches fire within our hearts. The hearts of the people are a viable resource to tap into, so it is important to understand what matters to them and educate them on how reasons for a particular change are guided by the Gospel.

4. You weren’t prepared for the change to occur.

Change is a process, but that does not mean effective change must happen slowly. For example, moving out of your parents’ house can seem daunting unless they took the time to prepare you to be successful by equipping you with tools like budgeting, critical-thinking, and sound decision-making skills. It is the same for any change. What matters most is not the speed at which the change occurs but that the time was taken to prepare and equip people for the future. Going back to our example about Jesus missional purpose, he spent three years teaching his disciples and preparing them for a time when he wouldn’t be physically with them anymore. Not that they were alone for the Holy Spirit was provided as a guide. Similarly, we should remain involved even after the change occurs.

So, think back to your examples of a change you enjoyed and a change you didn’t. Do these reasons resonate?  What can you do to overcome these barriers? What can you do to reduce the negative impact of change? How can you, with Christ as your example, prepare those in your life for changes that may come? Understanding why people oppose change shows us what not to do and will ultimately help people in being able to make the switch.

Jonathan White, Pastoral Intern
Immanuel Baptist Richmond
jwhite@ibcrichmond.org

I praise God for the perfect weather and great opportunity to connect with families in our community at our very first Family Fun Fest at TJ High School this past Saturday. I thank the Lord for the good participation and incredible spirit of many in our church who helped to make this happen. From those who worked directly with me throughout the process, to those who came out to canvass the neighborhoods, to those who were involved in giving, praying, and preparing, and to those who participated in setup, cleanup, and working the event, thank you and may the Lord bless you as you did it all for the gospel’s sake and his glory!

Because of this event, there are many in our immediate community who have now had a personal encounter with Immanuel Baptist Church, and we trust that God will use this in his purpose to seek and to save those who are lost. My favorite part was watching our church family enthusiastically interact with each of the families who attended. We will be following up with several of these families so please pray for the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts.

Jon Dillon, Discipleship Pastor
Immanuel Baptist Richmond
jdillon@ibcrichmond.org

Russell Moore earned Christianity Today’s 2019 book of the year with The Storm-Tossed Family: How the Cross Reshapes the Home. Dr. Moore serves as the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. The book’s goal is to shape the family in light of the cross, a reference to the Gospel that Jesus died for sinners in order to adopt sons and daughters into God’s family. Moore writes, “These families of ours can be filled with joy, but will always make us vulnerable to pain. And the joy and the pain are pointing us to the same place: the cross.” (p. 3)

Moore is vulnerable about his own family, candid about Christian families, and at times blunt about the brokenness of many families. I encourage you to read Moore’s book, not only for family fixes but for the hope that God can redeem what is broken. On Sunday, August, 18th, I will give away three free copies of The Storm-Tossed Family in the 5:00 pm service gathering.

Explicit in each chapter is the Christian Gospel, that a cross-shaped life moors a family to the Lord Jesus Christ preserving them through the storms of life. Moore talks the reader through each phase of family life—from childhood to adulthood to death. His examples of broken family life leave the reader thinking, “Lord, I hope that never happens” then confessing “Lord, your grace is sufficient if it does.” Moore reassures, “The only safe harbor for a storm-tossed family is a nail-scarred home.” (p. 5)

Here are quotables from the book for each family stage:

To Husbands and Wives

“A cross-shaped masculinity walks not with Esau’s swagger but with Jacob’s limp. A cross-shaped femininity comes not with the glamour of Potiphar’s wife but with the Bible-teaching prowess of Eunice and Lois.” (p. 82)

• “The cross-shaped marriage is one in which a wife cultivates a voluntary attitude of recognition toward godly leadership.” (p. 88)
• “Headship will look, in many cases, like weakness. So does the cross.” (p. 89)
• “The wise path would be to choose a mate that one can imagine not only lying in bed on a honeymoon, but kneeling by a bedside at hospice.” (p. 112)

To Mothers and Fathers

• “Children bring with them the sense of our responsibilities, and with that the tremor of terror that we won’t be able to live up to those responsibilities.” (p. 190)
• “The love of a parent is seldom seen any clearer than when a parent exerts the effort to affirm the gifts and callings of a child, especially when those gifts are different than those of the parent.” (p. 228)
• “If laughter and joy are not part of our families, something is wrong.” (p. 235)
• “If ‘good’ children were merely the result of technique, then we could boast of our own righteousness through the lives of our children. It is not.” (p. 252)

To Grandparents

• “When we see godly older people pouring their lives into younger generations and churches doing the same, there is almost always one common denominator: the older generation is remarkably free of bitterness and jealousy.” (p. 204)
• “When I was a younger father, I assumed that much of this relaxed grand-parenting mode came from the exhaustion of age or of being out of touch with the day-to-day needs of childrearing. I suppose that is true in some cases and in some ways, but it is probably more true that age and experience teach one how to better differentiate between immaturity and disobedience.” (p. 273)
• “If, though, we judge the value of our own lives by our ‘usefulness’ and our ‘independence,’ we will despise the revelation in those who once seemed strong and independent that things are quite otherwise….Dependence is not weakness. Weakness is not failure. Failure is not fatal.” (p. 286)

To the Church

• “A church that focuses on the family is in line with the Bible, but a church that puts families first is not….a Christianity that puts family first will soon find itself uncomfortable with Jesus.” (p. 51)
• “The church is not a collection of families. The church is a family. We are not ‘family friendly’; we are family. We learn the skills within the church to be godly sons or daughters.” (p. 60)
• “We tend to remember the storms that threatened our lives more than the rains that saved them.” (p. 291)

Michael Wilburn, Senior Pastor
Immanuel Baptist Church
mwilburn@ibcrichmond.org