By Chris Turner Director of Communications, TBC The reputations of churches today are just one crisis away from potentially being destroyed, and an overwhelming majority of churches are not prepared to manage even the slightest level of hostility that is becoming more prevalent in today’s American culture. That may come across as a hard statement but it is unfortunately true. I’ve been involved in crisis communications and media relations for

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector One of the major stories in Baptist Press last week dealt with an Oregon judge who ruled that two Christian bakers discriminated against a lesbian couple because they would not bake their “wedding” cake. In this issue (page 3) we have a story which deals with churches establishing policies as they relate to same-sex ceremonies and funeral services for homosexuals.

By Chris Kelly Exec. VP/General Counsel, TBF It’s a new year, and maybe you have set some of the “regular” resolutions, i.e. read the Bible more, lose weight, exercise, see the world, etc. Now that we’re deep into January, I won’t ask how many of those resolutions have been abandoned, but I will suggest you make one additional resolution this year that will greatly benefit your family and you: make

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Are you a mission-minded person? What does it really mean to be mission-minded? Most any Southern Baptist worth his or her salt would answer quickly, “Of course I am mission-minded. I’m a Southern Baptist. Folks, there are thousands upon thousands of self-proclaimed Southern Baptists sitting in our pews who don’t know the first thing about being “mission-minded.”

By Chris Turner Director of Communications, TBC Tennesseans are a pioneering people, and a hearty people. It took resolve to come over the Appalachian Mountains and settle a wild and rugged territory. It took a greater resolve, bolstered by a deep commitment to Jesus Christ, for Tennessee Baptists to root the gospel in the hearts of people and stay at Great Commission work in the face of daunting challenges.

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Everyone knows the analogy of the frog in the kettle. Put a frog in a kettle of water and it is happy as can be. Slowly but surely turn the temperature up and before the frog knows it the kettle is boiling and the frog is cooked. Christians, the kettle is not only boiling, it has boiled over. If you don’t believe it,

By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director You’ve just gotten off a flight. It was delayed leaving, cramped while flying, and late landing. You trudge to the luggage carousel fully expecting to file a lost luggage claim. After a long wait, there it is, riding the conveyor a bit tattered or dirty from where it was dropped on the ground. “Well, at least my luggage made it,” you mumble to