By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director On Sept. 15, 1887, a diminutive woman named Lottie Moon sat down at a table in China and penned a letter that would transform the Southern Baptist Convention forever. Lottie called for prayer and financial resources to ensure the gospel would be effectively preached. She linked both to the example found in Christmas. She wrote: “Need it be said, why the week before

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Like many Americans I watched news reports on the verdict handed down on Nov. 24 by the grand jury involving the white Ferguson, Mo., police officer who killed an 18-year-old African-American in August. When the grand jury announced they would not indict the police officer, I knew there would be trouble. Sadly, it came to pass and violence erupted. Regardless of the verdict,

By Johnnie Godwin Contributing Columnist, B&R Christmas is coming! But it first came long ago when the divine Christ also became a human being. I prefer to think of “Christmas” as the whole Christ Event: the birth, life, atoning death, resurrection, and promised return of Jesus Christ to earth. Christ is eternal. Jesus entered history at a point in time to pay for the sin of the world for all

By Larry Robertson Sr. Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville Three frogs were sitting on a log. One decided to jump off, so how many are left? Three, because deciding to jump is not the same as actually jumping. That old joke is a reminder to us that good intentions mean little until they become action. Incidentally, Evangelist Sam P. Jones (a southern contemporary to Dwight L. Moody) is credited with

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Another Summit has come and gone. Tennessee Baptists gathered at Brentwood Baptist Church last week to hear some outstanding preaching, conduct convention business, and to fellowship and rejoice over what God has been doing in and through the Tennessee Baptist Convention this past year. Sadly, after a great attendance last year in Chattanooga, our registered messengers dipped below 1,000 this year, one of

By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director It was near the end of their lives when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson exchanged reflections on the monumental events in which they’d been involved. The two giants were at the epicenter of birthing a new nation then guiding it through the tenuous early days between survival and extinction. “My friend,” Adams wrote, “You and I have lived in serious times.” My friends,

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector On Wednesday of last week I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had written an editorial which normally doesn’t happen until the end of the week prior to publication on Monday. But then I received an e-mail which contained a Facebook posting from Susie Edwards, a long-time staff member of the Baptist and Reflector, and, more importantly, a longtime friend. The editorial