By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Nearly one year ago Bob Brown was contemplating leaving the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Dandridge, to join the staff of the Tennessee Baptist Convention as church revitalization specialist. Church revitalization is one of the 5 Objectives adopted by messengers at The Summit held last November at Brentwood Baptist Church.
By Chris Turner Director of Communications, TBC Is newspaper dead? It is a legitimate question. It’s no secret, the newspaper industry in general — and Baptists state newspapers specifically — have fallen on hard times, and both are in a nosedive that at times looks to have reached terminal velocity. But are newspapers really dead? More importantly for you as a reader of this publication, is the Baptist and Reflector
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Baptists love baptisms. Baptisms are part of our DNA. We know people are coming to Jesus when the baptismal waters are stirred, and that stokes our engines. We love the stories about large numbers of people coming to Christ during revivals, whether overseas or here in the states. Being present on the Day of Pentecost would have been a Baptist’s dream day. Two
By Johnnie Godwin Contributing Columnist, B&R Three persons gave me three quotes that summarize how I believe God wants us to live all life: (1) From my birth, Mother taught, “Don’t wish your life away!” (2) In my 40s and in his 80s, Elton Trueblood counseled, “Johnnie, when you retire, don’t retire from everything at once but from one thing at a time as you have to or want to.”
By Joseph Caldwell Youth Pastor in Philadelphia Confederate flag. Same sex unions. Abortions. How many more things are plastered all over the news and our Facebook news feeds right now? I do not write a message to millennials as some older sage dispersing my wisdom onto a younger, more naive generation. I am a millennial myself who is terrified by what I see. And, I’m not talking about the things
By Kenny Cooper president, TBAH When asked about my feelings regarding life-ending measures for those with terminal illnesses, my off-hand and truthful answer was that I struggle with both how I feel and what should be done. Over a career of 20 years as a pastor and now 20 years in residential and health services for senior adults, I have witnessed many terminally ill persons — and their families —
By Jim Collier Pastor in Memphis My initial response when contemplating this article was anger. To consider that the most heinous of crimes, the murder of the unborn innocent, is being supported by our culture enraged me. To compound that evil, their bodies are being desecrated and dismembered for profit. My only response could be anger. But, because I belong to Jesus, I’m not permitted to be angry in my
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector This article was supposed to be about one of my spiritual heroes — Jack Lewis. I suppose it still is, but not the way it originally was intended. Jack came to Tulip Grove Baptist Church as minister of education in a part-time role in 1995 and joined the staff full time a year later. He “retired” a couple of years ago and became
By Randy C. Davis TBC executive director The scenario plays itself out thousands of times a day. A family member or friend is racked with a terminal illness, suffering unbearably, and the question comes up: Should they have the right to physician assisted suicide? That question gained prominence 20-plus years ago with Dr. Jack Kevorkian being brought to trial for helping approximately 130 people end their lives. Right to die
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I continue to mourn the decision made by five Supreme Court justices on June 26. Those five judges redefined marriage as society has known it since creation. God made it clear in Genesis that marriage is between one man and one woman. That’s the definition I have known for 57 years and I don’t plan on changing it now, no matter what the
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Nearly one year ago Bob Brown was contemplating leaving the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Dandridge,
By Chris Turner Director of Communications, TBC Is newspaper dead? It is a legitimate question. It’s no secret, the newspaper industry in general — and
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Baptists love baptisms. Baptisms are part of our DNA. We know people are coming to Jesus when the
By Johnnie Godwin Contributing Columnist, B&R Three persons gave me three quotes that summarize how I believe God wants us to live all life: (1)
By Joseph Caldwell Youth Pastor in Philadelphia Confederate flag. Same sex unions. Abortions. How many more things are plastered all over the news and our
By Kenny Cooper president, TBAH When asked about my feelings regarding life-ending measures for those with terminal illnesses, my off-hand and truthful answer was that
By Jim Collier Pastor in Memphis My initial response when contemplating this article was anger. To consider that the most heinous of crimes, the murder
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector This article was supposed to be about one of my spiritual heroes — Jack Lewis. I suppose it
By Randy C. Davis TBC executive director The scenario plays itself out thousands of times a day. A family member or friend is racked with
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I continue to mourn the decision made by five Supreme Court justices on June 26. Those five judges