By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board I crossed an item off my bucket list. I’ve always heard about the General Sherman tree in Sequoia National Park, and last week I laid eyes on it. It is spectacular; way more spectacular in person than in any picture I’ve ever seen. To stand beneath its 285-foot height and wonder at its 35-foot width is inspiring. General
By Ray Van Neste Dean and professor of Biblical studies, Union University, Jackson This spring my pastoral ministry class at Union University was (as always) a joy to teach because of my students, diligent young men who sense God’s call to ministry. Following the syllabus, they read several books from previous eras. These older books expand their horizons and introduce them to issues we often miss today. Over the years,
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Writer, B&R As a child, I observed my father returning home each afternoon from a day of hard physical labor. Regardless of how tired he was, he never complained. That’s because he loved his family and for him, work had value. Today, we call this a strong “work ethic.” Thinking back to my youth, my father encouraged me to choose a career that I would look
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Southern Baptists have had nearly two weeks to read and digest the report of the Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF) that was authorized by messengers to the 2021 annual meeting in Nashville. My reactions were heartbreak, appall, grief and sadness at what has happened over the past 20 years, but sexual abuse in the SBC goes back even further than that. I
Editor’s note: Due to the sensitive information shared in this column, the name of the writer is being withheld at the discretion of the editor. The Southern Baptist Sexual Abuse Task Force (SATF) report was released two weeks ago. There’s been a lot of reaction to its findings and opinions are widely varied. To some degree the survivors are still lost in the sea of rhetoric. Every one of them
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board A pastor recently asked me to give him one reason why he should stay connected to the Southern Baptist Convention. Without hesitation, I told him there are 3,600 reasons found in each one of our International Mission Board missionaries serving globally. Add to their number their 2,400 children and that’s a formidable missionary force. Together we – Southern Baptists
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] The nations have come to English Mountain in Newport. More than 300 children, teenagers and adults are at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center for the All Nations Camp, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. It is the largest attended camp since 2019, said William Burton, new churches team leader and ethnic specialist for the TBMB. The camp was canceled in 2020
By Paul Chitwood President, International Mission Board Jesus prioritizes children and their care. We see this in verses like Matthew 19:14, where Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven,” and Matthew 18:6, where Jesus says, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to
By Chris Turner Director of communications, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board It was chilly and so quiet that the only sound present when I took my early morning walk was my labored breathing. The nearly 6,000-foot elevation in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Yosemite National Park quickly reminded me I’m a sea-level kind of guy. The immensity of everything surrounding me — mountains, trees, open spaces — command attention and inspire
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Bootsie Coggins died on Mother’s Day. Very few people in Tennessee know who Edward “Bootsie” Coggins is. But in heaven and northern Greenville County in South Carolina, Bootsie Coggins is a spiritual giant, even though he was about five feet, four inches tall and 130 pounds or so soaking wet. Other than my mother, grandparents and my Aunt Lynn and Uncle Bill,
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board I crossed an item off my bucket list. I’ve always heard about the
By Ray Van Neste Dean and professor of Biblical studies, Union University, Jackson This spring my pastoral ministry class at Union University was (as always)
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Writer, B&R As a child, I observed my father returning home each afternoon from a day of hard physical labor. Regardless
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Southern Baptists have had nearly two weeks to read and digest the report of the Sexual Abuse
Editor’s note: Due to the sensitive information shared in this column, the name of the writer is being withheld at the discretion of the editor.
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board A pastor recently asked me to give him one reason why he should
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] The nations have come to English Mountain in Newport. More than 300 children, teenagers and adults are
By Paul Chitwood President, International Mission Board Jesus prioritizes children and their care. We see this in verses like Matthew 19:14, where Jesus says, “Let
By Chris Turner Director of communications, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board It was chilly and so quiet that the only sound present when I took my
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Bootsie Coggins died on Mother’s Day. Very few people in Tennessee know who Edward “Bootsie” Coggins is.