By Norman Ridenhour Baptist Layman & Retired Journalist Who hijacked Christmas? I went to the store recently and was greeted by aisles of Christmas trees, toys, decorations, lighting and yard displays. In one small section there were a few mangers with baby Jesus along with Joseph and Mary and some sheep. Another with the wise men offering gifts to the messiah. As I left the store, I wondered how the
By Shane Pruitt Next Gen Evangelism Director, NAMB According to a recent Barna study, half of 18-year-olds in the U.S. report anxiety and fear of failure, and about 40 percent say they often feel sad or depressed. Thirty-four percent of young people say they feel lonely and isolated from others. The church in America is undoubtedly doing a better job of addressing the ever-growing anxiety of younger generations, but we
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Last year a friend gave me a copy of Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christmas. The book is not new, having been written in 1998. I had heard of the book but this was the first time I actually held it in in my hand and began to read through it. What makes the book significant for me is that Strobel
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director On Sept. 15, 1887, a diminutive woman named Charlotte Digges Moon, known to Southern Baptists as “Lottie,” sat at a rough hewn table in a modest hut in China and penned a letter that would forever transform the Southern Baptist Convention. In that letter, Lottie called for prayer and financial resources that would ensure the advancement of the gospel. At the
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] All of us have heard the term “Christian gentleman.” But if you look up the definition of what a Christian gentleman is, I doubt you will find one. You would have to look up the definitions of “Christian” and “gentleman” and come up with your own. For me, the definition is easy. I can define “Christian gentleman” in two words — Bill
By Todd E. Brady Vice president for university ministries, Union University, Jackson Internationally, it’s embarrassing. Socially, it’s telling. Spiritually, it’s ungodly. Sociologically, it’s immature. Mentally, it’s crazy. Some Americans participated in the election process not by affixing the “I voted” sticker on their sweater and then going home to watch the returns in their pajamas. Instead, they sought to protect their assets. In what was a sad display of the
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] The year 2020 has been one of the most difficult years in the lives of many Americans. It has been a year filled with anxiety and fear due to COVID-19, racial tensions and riots across the country, and one of the most bitter and contested presidential elections in modern history, if not all time. Even after a winner has been declared, many
By Norman Ridenhour Baptist layman and retired journalist Scriptures tell us that all of mankind have been given a gift from God. The question is, “Do you know what gift or gifts God has bestowed on you. If not, is there a way to find your gift and then use it?” A previous minister of mine, Daniel Moore, told our congregation “You exist for one reason — to learn how
By Matt Tullos Special assistant to the executive director Have you ever had that dream where all of a sudden someone from school calls and says that you missed that one class and you have to go back to school? It’s a serial nightmare for me — usually after a Sunday of preaching. Still, if you feel called to pastor the average church (if there is such a thing), be advised that you really did miss
By Randy C. Davis President & executive director, TBMB An effective shepherd loves, leads and cares for the flock that God entrusted to him. But who cares for the shepherd? I love and appreciate pastors and have a genuine concern for their care. My deep appreciation for pastors is birthed out of three-and-a-half decades of walking in their shoes. I’ve been there, done that and was blessed with a lot more than
By Norman Ridenhour Baptist Layman & Retired Journalist Who hijacked Christmas? I went to the store recently and was greeted by aisles of Christmas trees,
By Shane Pruitt Next Gen Evangelism Director, NAMB According to a recent Barna study, half of 18-year-olds in the U.S. report anxiety and fear of
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Last year a friend gave me a copy of Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Christmas. The
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director On Sept. 15, 1887, a diminutive woman named Charlotte Digges Moon, known to Southern Baptists as
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] All of us have heard the term “Christian gentleman.” But if you look up the definition of
By Todd E. Brady Vice president for university ministries, Union University, Jackson Internationally, it’s embarrassing. Socially, it’s telling. Spiritually, it’s ungodly. Sociologically, it’s immature. Mentally,
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] The year 2020 has been one of the most difficult years in the lives of many Americans.
By Norman Ridenhour Baptist layman and retired journalist Scriptures tell us that all of mankind have been given a gift from God. The question is,
By Matt Tullos Special assistant to the executive director Have you ever had that dream where all of a sudden someone from school calls and
By Randy C. Davis President & executive director, TBMB An effective shepherd loves, leads and cares for the flock that God entrusted to him. But