Opinion Column

ARE YOU READY FOR OUR FAMILY REUNION?

By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Y’all come! Seriously, if you’re a Tennessee Baptist and you want to be a part of what I believe will be the best-ever annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists, you need to be in Sevierville next week. This is going to be a Summit meeting like you’ve never experienced and I am indebted to the pastors and laypersons serving on the Arrangements Committee. They

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TITLE IX AND THE SHAME LIST: A LOOK AT BOTH

Cardinal & Cream, Union University This summer, Union was one of 102 Christian colleges and universities included on the LGBTQ advocacy group Campus Pride’s “Shame List.” According to the organization’s website, Union was included because it received a Title IX exemption. Many schools with similar exemptions were included on the list, Carson-Newman University, another Tennessee Baptist Convention institution in Jefferson City.

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SMALL MEMPHIS CHURCH GIVES OVER AND ABOVE CP

By Benjie Shaw, BCM Director, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center My introduction to McLean Baptist Church in Midtown Memphis was unremarkable. McLean was one of the many churches across the state the Tennessee Baptist Convention wished to recognize for uninterrupted contributions through the Cooperative Program since its inception in 1926. As a TBC staffer in Memphis, I had several churches with whom I was to make contact and, if

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LEARN TO PRAY FROM THE MASTER — JESUS CHRIST

By Steve Gaines President, Southern Baptist Convention If I could encourage the Southern Baptist Convention in one area, it would be to pray. I want us to be the greatest army of prayer warriors in the world. Jesus is the only “expert” in prayer. When we read the gospels, we see how important prayer was to Him. There is only one thing recorded in the gospels that Jesus’ disciples specifically

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REMEMBER AMERICA’S HEROES — OUR VETERANS

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I recently saw a video that made my blood boil. Denasia Lawrence knelt while singing the national anthem prior to a Miami Heat preseason basketball game. Lawrence said she was protesting the number of blacks that she feels have been “unjustly killed and overly criminalized.” That’s her opinion and that’s what makes this country so great. She can express it.

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A STRATEGIC MOVE TOWARD A 50/50 DISTRIBUTION

By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director You are familiar with the story. Two mothers came before King Solomon with a baby, each claiming to be the mother. An argument ensued; accusations flew, and Solomon decided to divide the baby, thereby revealing the identity of the true mother. Somewhere along the way, the Cooperative Program became the baby many in the Southern Baptists Convention want to divide. Impatience fuels a

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EVERY CHURCH CAN EVANGELIZE

Ernest L. Easley Evangelism Professor, Union University Every church can evangelize, including yours! Sadly, it can be easier to find a reason for not evangelizing than to find a path for evangelizing. “We’re just too small,” some may say. “We don’t have enough money” or “Our members are too old.” The first church  I served as pastor years ago had renovated the worship center, painted, and laid new carpet down

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TBC STAFFER SEES JESUS AMID DEVASTATION

By Libby Eaton Information Specialist, TBC I saw Jesus today.  Literally.  He laughed, He sang, He cried, and He worked.  Hard. I was with 31 students from Belmont University and Tennessee Tech University. These students decided they would be the hands and feet of Jesus during their fall break from school. We all traveled to Baton Rouge, La., to serve as disaster relief volunteers for the victims of the devastating

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SPREADING THE GOSPEL REQUIRES MULTIPLE RESOURCES

By Billy Hoffman Stewardship Development Specialist, TBC What does it take to advance the gospel?  Luke’s record of it in the book of Acts is full of stories where the gospel advanced and how it was received by Jews and non-Jews of the first century. There is a process at work which involves resources being brought to the table for the specific goal of making Christ known, received, and worshiped

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‘AT THE END OF THE DAY … OUR HOPE IS IN GOD’

By Frank Page President, Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention On the second Tuesday of November, I plan to step up to the electronic ballot table in my voting precinct and cast my vote for president of the United States. I will do so prayerfully. I will do so carefully. I will do so gladly. I may do so sadly. But, Lord willing, I will do so. This has been my

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EVERY CHURCH CAN EVANGELIZE

Ernest L. Easley Evangelism Professor, Union University Every church can evangelize, including yours! Sadly, it can be easier to find a reason for not evangelizing

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