By David Dawson [email protected] Most of you reading these words have met my dad, Mike Dawson, a retired Baptist preacher. I know this because a recent Gallop poll revealed that 81 percent of earth’s population has met my dad, and 71 percent of those surveyed said that they classify him “as a close friend.” Okay, I made that up. But the truth is, you can’t go anywhere with my dad
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board It was so good to see you all. I mentioned in a letter to our Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff shortly after Summit 2021 ended that I thought that our convention was the best national or state convention I’ve attended in 45 years of ministry. That’s a strong statement and I realize my perspective may be skewed by
By Clay Gilbreath Director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association, Covington Have you ever had a home that needed renovation? Maybe you bought a fixer-upper, or like me, perhaps you have lived in your current home long enough that it now has several updates or refreshes that need to be done. It’s just a matter of time before things need an update or repair. Full transparency here: I think the beige
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] What a difference a year makes. Last year, The Summit – The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists, which includes the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention – was canceled due to concerns created by COVID-19. A year later, the pandemic is still with us, but perhaps, we have learned better to function within it. Some people still wear masks, some do not.
By Bruce G. Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention, 2020-2021 Pastor, First Baptist Church of Hendersonville For the past two years it has been my honor to serve as the president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. As your president, I have had the opportunity to travel from Memphis to Johnson City and from Millington to Chattanooga and all points in between. I can tell you that God is blessing the work
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board I love a scoreboard. And a target. And a destiny. I want to know where I am going, how I’ll get there and when I’ll arrive. I’m wired that way. I admit I can be a bit obsessed with what’s coming next. A flaw? Maybe, and I have learned to “enjoy the moment.” However, that has not delivered
By Johnnie C. Godwin Contributing columnist, B&R We live in a world of “adversity.” The word “adversity” came into English by 1340 to mean “turned against.” A dictionary definition defines the word as “a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty — or adverse fortune.” (Merriam-Webster, Collegiate, 11th edition). My own definition would be that it is anything that bothers or hurts you or your family, church,
By Todd E. Brady Vice president for University ministries, Union University, Jackson The Deseret News and the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University recently revealed their findings from the 2021 American Family Survey. This survey seeks to shed light on Americans’ experiences in relationships, marriage and families and how those experiences relate to current events and public policy. Seven years ago, the same survey
By Randy C. Davis President & executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board The Southern Baptist Convention is facing a Nehemiah moment. Put your sandals on and let’s take a walk through the rubble known as Jerusalem. Nehemiah wasn’t a preacher, or evangelist or any other type of vocational minister. He was a godly layman who heard the distant city was in ruins and the effort to rebuild the walls and
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] I have worn glasses for more than 50 years. It’s hard to find photos of me when I was a kid when I didn’t wear glasses. It wasn’t easy when I began wearing glasses in the fourth or fifth grade. I was called “four eyes” more times than I can count. Plus, back then, there was not the assortment of frames we
By David Dawson [email protected] Most of you reading these words have met my dad, Mike Dawson, a retired Baptist preacher. I know this because a
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board It was so good to see you all. I mentioned in a letter
By Clay Gilbreath Director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association, Covington Have you ever had a home that needed renovation? Maybe you bought a fixer-upper, or
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] What a difference a year makes. Last year, The Summit – The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists, which
By Bruce G. Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention, 2020-2021 Pastor, First Baptist Church of Hendersonville For the past two years it has been my honor
By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board I love a scoreboard. And a target. And a destiny. I want to
By Johnnie C. Godwin Contributing columnist, B&R We live in a world of “adversity.” The word “adversity” came into English by 1340 to mean
By Todd E. Brady Vice president for University ministries, Union University, Jackson The Deseret News and the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy
By Randy C. Davis President & executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board The Southern Baptist Convention is facing a Nehemiah moment. Put your sandals on
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] I have worn glasses for more than 50 years. It’s hard to find photos of me when