Opinion Column

HELP AND HOPE IN TIMES OF DESPAIR

Compiled by staff of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Moses did it. So did Samuel. And David. Elijah really did it, along with Jeremiah, Jonah, John the Baptist and even the Apostle Paul. Each of these “heroes of the faith” hit a brick wall in their life and ministry. Moses, Elijah and Jonah despaired of life itself and asked the Lord to just take them home to glory. Samuel felt rejected

Read More...

THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWER — JUST READ IT

Our world is so mixed up. We live in a day and age where things that once were so cut and dried are now hot topics of debate. One case in point is the definition of a woman (female). In today’s culture people are trying to define what shouldn’t need to be defined.  The Bible defined it quite clearly in Genesis 2:4-25. God made man and woman. He did not

Read More...

LOOK FORWARD: THE BEST IS YET TO BE

By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Sometimes you must look back to gain a vision for the future.  That’s biblical. The word, “remember” is ubiquitous throughout the Old Testament. There are scores of instances where God reminds His people to “remember the Lord your God.” Many of those instances call the people to recount God’s faithfulness to encourage them to move forward in faith,

Read More...
church, structure, construction, sky, building, security

‘A PRODUCT OF EVERYTHING BAPTIST’

July 13 likely will be a day that Bill Highsmith will never forget. Nearly 200 people gathered in the fellowship hall of Tusculum Hills Baptist Church in Nashville to help him celebrate his 80th birthday, along with his retirement (see story on page 8 of the print edition). While many people may not know who Bill Highsmith is, his legacy will live on for years to come, at least in

Read More...

THE KINGDOM IMPACT OF RECORD GIVING

Thank you, Tennessee Baptists, for giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. Because you gave … So much follows that statement. Because you gave, people across our state are hearing and responding to the gospel, being discipled, planting new churches or are part of a revitalization process at their current church.

Read More...

WHEN CULTURE AND COMMITMENT CLASH

By Chris Turner Director of communications, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board The Commissioners for the Presbyterian Church in America recently voted to leave the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which the PCA had been connected to since the denomination’s founding in 1973.  The reasons for leaving were many, but at the heart of the split was disagreement over the direction the NAE has moved related to several social issues.  The NAE

Read More...

PRO-LIFERS, IT’S TIME TO FOLLOW THROUGH

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] When the Supreme Court passed its landmark decision in 1973 legalizing abortion nationwide, it was just a blip on my radar.  After all, I was 15 years old and was more concerned about sports, getting my driver’s license and then a job to buy my first car. Girls were not even high on my list in those early teen years. Now, at

Read More...

THE SBC, M.E. DODD AND WILLIE MCLAURIN

By Todd E. Brady Vice president For university ministries, Union University, Jackson If M.E. Dodd were living and were to come to the Southern Baptist Convention in Anaheim, I think Willie McLaurin would hug Dodd’s neck and take him to a long, long lunch so he could pick his brain.   As the oldest institution related to the SBC, Union University is grateful for men like Dodd and  McLaurin. Dodd

Read More...

ONLY GOD CAN BRING CALM TO THE CHAOS

By Clay Hallmark President, Tennessee Baptist Convention The WMU decided to go out to the nursing home and visit some of their former WMU members. One particular lady was 95 years old. When one of the WMU ladies entered her room, she inquired as to how she was doing. “Oh,” said the lady, “I am just worried to death!”  Her visitor asked, “You look rather well and healthy today. Are

Read More...

IF JESUS IS THE CENTER, WHY CAN’T WE BE NICE?

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] “Jesus: The Center of It All” served as the theme of the 2022 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. It was and continues to be a great theme. After all, if Jesus is not the center of it all, then why do we do what we do? Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Of all

Read More...