Every church has a unique story of how God birthed and blessed them over the years. The congregation I lead, Englewood Baptist in Jackson, was the fruit of heartfelt prayer and a compelling vision. In 1944, a woman named Emma Weaver lost her husband at the tender age of 44, forcing her to move closer to her eldest son in the northern part of our county. As a devout Christian,

I just wanted to know when dinosaurs lived. That’s it. That was the most profound biblical mystery swirling in my head when I began seminary. I landed in the survey class of a professor considered one of the Southern Baptist Convention’s foremost Old Testament scholars at the time. Surely, he’d know about dinosaurs. About 15 minutes into the first session, he paused and, with a condescending, exasperated tone, said, “And

Three men. Three vocations. One shared calling. Nathan is an emergency room nurse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His nursing job provides for his family. His calling is to plant a new church in the area, hopefully with some he connects with at the hospital. Bob spends his summers as a long-haul trucker transporting explosives to northern Alaska. The trips provide his family’s annual income because Bob, a 60-year-old Master of

One of my heroes in the faith is George Müller. He lived in the 1800s and cared for 10,024 orphans in his lifetime by means of the “faith principle,” which meant he would pray to God and never directly ask another person for money. Nor did he ever borrow money for anything. He was renowned for great faith in our Lord and peaceful trust in God’s provision, even when a

The 2025 Vacation Bible School season is over for most churches but this year’s VBS will remain in my memories because it is the year I returned to my roots. For the first time in six decades, I volunteered to work in VBS, serving at Enoree Baptist Church in Travelers Rest, S.C., where my wife and I joined after our retirement. It’s not that I have been away from VBS

We loved our church family. Jeanne and I were in our second year of marriage and my second year as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Leakesville, Mississippi. It was my first pastorate. Our parsonage had a large living room, and we invited the church’s 35 regular attenders for Thanksgiving. That night, Jeanne and I experienced what it meant to be loved as the church’s pastor and first lady.

As the dawn of a new school year stretches before you, pause — breathe deeply, gather your children close, and look back before getting caught up in shopping for school supplies, new clothes, learning new schedules, and meeting new teachers. Slow down long enough to savor a few moments reflecting on the previous school year. Sit with your children and together recall the treasured moments of the previous grade. Focus

Sometimes it takes a shark to focus on catching the right fish. The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board hosts a variety of Off the Grid experiences designed to help pastors and ministry leaders unplug and recharge mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is part of the effort to strengthen gospel leaders, and healthy ministers lead to healthy churches. One of our Off the Grid opportunities is a deep-sea fishing expedition. Recently a