Editor’s note: This column is a counterpoint to the articles that ran in the March 5 issue of the Baptist and Reflector regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI). Does a church managed by AI improve the soil for the growth of souls? This is the pressing question with which we pastors must wrestle. In the previous Baptist and Reflector, the general perception encouraged churches to move forward utilizing AI. Often the counter
I love a good Cooperative Program (CP) story because Cooperative Program stories are ultimately about people. That’s one reason I love pastor James Suggs. He embodies everything that is great about CP. Pastor James has faithfully manned pulpits in churches across Cocke County for 57 years, and is still going strong, leading Cave Hill Baptist Church in Newport for 36 years. I love him because of his commitment to the
You know the jingle: “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.” Folgers built its brand by depicting its coffee, or at least its aroma, as essential to any memorable morning routine. To this day, there are both Folgers drinkers and coffee drinkers in general who couldn’t imagine a morning routine without coffee. What’s your morning routine? How do you start your day? I was taken aback
As the Strengthening Evangelistic Disciples Team Leader, I have the privilege of guiding a movement dedicated to deepening biblical discipleship across the Tennessee Baptist Convention network. This role isn’t just about leadership — it’s about catalyzing a statewide culture of disciple-making that will transform individuals, churches, and communities for the glory of God. There are several ways we plan to implement this: Building a Network that Transforms Lives Our vision
What would happen if every disciple in Tennessee embarked on the amazing journey of reaching the spiritually lost? I believe it would turn the world upside down. More than 50 years ago Roland Q. Leavell wrote,“The genuine objective of the Great Commission is discipleship. Jesus sought to develop quality in His followers, but He also sought quantity. Therefore, Evangelism that produces disciples of quality will multiply as each disciple becomes
Confronting mental health; hearing the words spoken together was jarring, and I tried every way I could to advocate for a softer tone. After all, some in Baptist life these days seemingly believe confrontation is a spiritual gift. In the end, I did not get my way. Now I’m glad I didn’t. Data collected from Tennessee Baptists during 2023 highlighted widespread concern about an intensifying mental health crisis in our
Jeff Iorg is the man for the job. He might have been the only man for the job. He is certainly the right man at the right time, and he arrived on the scene just in the nick of time. Iorg, of course, is the president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive Committee (EC). He was hired one year ago and has been a stabilizing
A recent sermon series through the Beatitudes struck a personal chord with me that I hope echoes throughout our congregation for months into the future. Speaking about life in the family of God, Jesus offers eight specific blessings for His followers that are admittedly counterintuitive. Perhaps the strangest of them all was His final promise, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is
“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” according to leadership guru John Maxwell. From personal experience and observation, I would agree that the health of a minister directly impacts the health of the church he leads. When a pastor is healthy, the church has the potential for health. When a pastor is struggling in vital areas of his life, the church will feel the effects and may struggle to find health.
Jerusalem lay in ruins. The walls, once strong, were broken. Stones toppled, gates burned. The people were defenseless. Enemies laughed. The city of God was a joke. The men had returned from exile, but they had no leader, no plan. Fear settled in. The task was too big, too much. Then Nehemiah came. He saw the wreckage and felt the weight. He didn’t talk much. Instead, he prayed, he planned,
Editor’s note: This column is a counterpoint to the articles that ran in the March 5 issue of the Baptist and Reflector regarding Artificial Intelligence
I love a good Cooperative Program (CP) story because Cooperative Program stories are ultimately about people. That’s one reason I love pastor James Suggs. He
You know the jingle: “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup.” Folgers built its brand by depicting its coffee, or at
As the Strengthening Evangelistic Disciples Team Leader, I have the privilege of guiding a movement dedicated to deepening biblical discipleship across the Tennessee Baptist Convention
What would happen if every disciple in Tennessee embarked on the amazing journey of reaching the spiritually lost? I believe it would turn the world
Confronting mental health; hearing the words spoken together was jarring, and I tried every way I could to advocate for a softer tone. After all,
Jeff Iorg is the man for the job. He might have been the only man for the job. He is certainly the right man at
A recent sermon series through the Beatitudes struck a personal chord with me that I hope echoes throughout our congregation for months into the future.
“Everything rises and falls on leadership,” according to leadership guru John Maxwell. From personal experience and observation, I would agree that the health of a
Jerusalem lay in ruins. The walls, once strong, were broken. Stones toppled, gates burned. The people were defenseless. Enemies laughed. The city of God was
