From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt MARBC State Representative

Thanks For The Memories!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8
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Where has this year gone! It seems like only yesterday we announced that this would be our last year of ministry with the MARBC. It has truly been a good and busy year as we have had the opportunity to speak in 51 churches including a 27 hour Masters Module at the Regular Baptist Seminary in Curitiba, Brazil. Other areas of ministry included serving as chairman of the Continental Baptist Missions Search Committee, attendance at the regular meetings as a board member and council member of CBM, BMM, and Bible Tracts, Inc. Of course, there has been the daily office load of caring for correspondence, editing the Baptist Testimony, counseling, meetings, planning retreats and conferences and simply assisting with requests and needs of our some 200 MARBC churches. Though our health has managed quite well, early on in the year Ann did struggle with a very serious hand surgery and recover) – which proved a challenge in the office. Also, we are glad to report that my brother, wayward from the Lord for many years, after 3 months in hospitals, is doing much better and has recently joined Pastor Coon’s church at Northeastern Baptist in Kalamazoo. Thank you so much for praying. Ann and I want you to know-that we are very pleased with the Council of Fifteen’s decision in selecting Ken and Sharon Floyd to replace us in this ministry. They are a lovely couple with a great heart for ministry’ and our Fellowship of churches. We pray God’s richest blessings upon them.

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

Introducing the New MARBC State Representative Elect
by Pastor Tom Townsend
MARBC Search Committee Chairman
First Baptist Church, Rochester
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After months of searching, hours of prayer and interviews, it is my privilege to introduce to you our new State Representative for our MARBC. Before I do that, I want to thank the members of the Search Committee: Mark Cizauskas, Doug Compton, Doug Crawford, Will Davis, and Bob McNeil for their wisdom and insight as we fulfilled this assignment. I also want to thank our MARBC Fellowship for their encouragement and input as many shared ideas and potential candidate names, always looking to God for His mind and His direction in this important matter. As a Search Committee, we coveted your prayers and encouragement. Thank you for your investment in this important matter.

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

The Power of A Midnight Song!

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25
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No doubt by now, in my writings, you are well aware that I enjoy reading the sermons of George Morrison (1866-1928), a Presbyterian pastor and preacher born in Scotland. The pastor of Wellington Church, Glasgow, the last twenty-six years of his life, his ministry primarily consisted of personal visits, postcards and letters for all those in his care who were sick or in sorrow or in trouble. He chose not to serve on committees, preferring to spend his time in what he considered the most important responsibilities to his church – mornings in study and afternoons in visiting his congregation. Many of his sermons and devotional thoughts have been put in print. In his volume entitled, Wind on the Heath, he has a sermon entitled, “Unconscious Ministries,” wherein he states that all of us exercise unconscious ministries and opportunities of making others aware of the goodness and grace of God in our lives. He references Paul and Silas, who sang at midnight while under adverse circumstances, not particularly paying attention that the prisoners were listening to them.

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative
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THE NATIONAL GARBC CONFERENCE was held this year, June 27-30, in the capitol of our State, Lansing, MI. Hundreds of Regular Baptists gathered to hear good sound Bible teaching and preaching centered around the theme, “Reflecting God Among the Nations.” Joining us for this year’s conference were our brothers and sisters from the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association (FBFA). Speakersand leaders from both Fellowships participated in the general sessions and workshops. On Tuesday prior to the beginning of the conference more than 100 were in attendance for the Pre-conference Ministry Symposium on “Reshaping Global Missions in the 21st“. Seven new churches were added to the GARBC Fellowship including the Cloverdale Baptist Church, Pastor Joshua and Leillani Rager, Fruitport, MI, which came into the MARBC last fall. Two resolutions were approved by the messengers on “Biblical Preaching and Teaching“, and “The Integrity of the Biblical Canon.” You will find these printed in the September issue of the Baptist Bulletin along with conference highlights, business matters and election of new members to the Council of Eighteen. You may also visit the GARBC website (www.garbc.org) for details and messages delivered during the week. One challenging sermon was by one of our own, Pastor Mike Eleveld, Berean Baptist Church in Portage, who preached on “Good Ambassadors“, from II Corinthians 5:16-21.

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

“Divine Interventions – Living with the Living God”
The book of Daniel brought to life at our annual Men's Retreats!
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Some 450 men enjoyed our two annual MARBC Men's Retreats May 4-6 & 11-13 at beautiful Lake Ann Baptist Camp near Traverse City. Though the sunshine was scarce and the showers were soggy, spirits were not dampened and many fishermen and golfers still attacked their sports with great fervor and fanaticy (?). This year's speaker, Rev. Doug Crawford, Pastor/Teacher, West Cannon Baptist Church, Belmont, brought four messages from the book of Daniel on the theme, “Divine Interventions – Living with the Living God.” Each of the messages presented a portrait of God's divine intervention in the lives of Daniel, the three Hebrew children and Nebuchadnezzar.

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

Don’t Forget Our Mothers!
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Some time ago I noticed Ann sitting on the edge of the bed, with moistened eyes and a forlorn look. When I asked what was the matter, she quivered, “Today is my Mom’s birthday and I miss her.” With a gentle hug I shared that I missed her too. Several years earlier she had had a massive stroke and entered into the presence of the Lord at 76 years of age and I had the privilege of officiating her celebration service. My Mother passed away on Christmas Day, 1978, at the young age of 58. We both expressed how we missed our mothers and think of them often, for some reason, more so as we get older.

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

Things!
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“Morrison of Wellington,” George H. Morrison (1866-1928), during his era was no doubt the most popular preacher in Scotland. A Presbyterian pastor, for twenty-six years he faithfully shepherded the flock at Wellington Church, Glasgow. Surrendered totally to ministry, he chose not to serve on committees, preferring rather to spend his time on what he considered were his greatest responsibilities to the church – mornings in study and afternoons in visiting his congregation, making an average of one thousand calls a year! Primarily an expository preacher, his Sunday evening sermons targeted the specific needs of his sheep and standing room only crowds gathered to hear him. Many of these sermons are in print and worthy of your reading. I like what Warren Wiersbe said of Morrison in his volume, “Living with the Giants,” a statement which pastors should take to heart: “Morrison's preaching strength lay in his knowledge of the Bible, his knowledge of his people and their needs, and his ability to put both together in an imaginative way that reached the heart.”

​From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

There's No Testimony Without The Test!
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I had never seen it before. It was a piece of wood about 36 inches long, 4 inches high and one half inch thick. It was sitting on a shelf in a Christian Book Store on the eastern side of our state where we had gone for a brief get-away after the Christmas holidays. Ann and I enjoy visiting unique shops and this one contained several quaint items, most of which we had seen before. But there sat this one piece of wood, really not so unique in itself, but the saying inscribed on it was what caught my attention – “There Can Be No Testimony Without The Test!”

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

Matthew Henry’s New Year!
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Matthew Henry was born in 1662 at Broad Oak, Flintshire, Wales. Son of the evangelical Church of England minister, Philip Henry, he was educated privately in the home by his father, and later at an academy at Islington. A studious boy, he learned well Latin, Greek, Hebrew and French. Matthew Henry dated his conversion to Christ at about ten years of age. After his formal education, he went to London to attend a Nonconformist academy and then read law at Gray’s Inn. His father had been ejected from his living as a preacher as a result of the Act of Uniformity, thus becoming a very distinguished Nonconformist minister during his day. At first, Matthew considered becoming an Episcopalian minister and bend to the law of the land, but later decided to be a nonconformist, like his father, and was ordained as a Presbyterian. His first pastorate was in Chester where he stayed for twenty-five years (1687-1712). His final two years of pastoral ministry were in Hackney, near London. In 1714, while on a preaching mission at Chester he died, at only age 52, and was buried there. Married twice, and the father of nine daughters and one son, Matthew was a faithful minister of the gospel and student of the Word, and without question, had a pastor’s heart. It was his habit to begin his work by four or five a.m. each morning, aiming to use his time to the fullest extent. In 1704 he began his work on his famous Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, now known as the Matthew Henry’s Commentary, which both pastors and lay people have owned and used over the years. He finished through the Book of Acts and the remaining N.T. books were completed after his death by several Nonconformist ministerial friends using his notes and writings. Even Charles Spurgeon acknowledged his debt to Henry. The value of his commentary, no doubt due to his pastor’s heart, lies not in its critical, but rather in its practical and devotional emphasis. Matthew Henry once wrote a three-part sermon outline on Genesis 26:34! Why not look up that text and see what you might make out of it!

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

63rd Annual MARBC
Conference Highlights
“The Courage to Stand!”
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Berean Baptist Church, Portage, Pastor Mike Eleveld, staff and people were our very gracious hosts for this year’s 63rd Annual MARBC Conference. October 24-25 were the dates and Berean more than put out the red carpet making us feel right at home and meeting all of our needs with happy smiles on their faces. Thank you for being such a blessing.