By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention Easter is just around the corner and if you are like most churches it will be one of our greatest opportunities to impact our communities in the entire year. More people will attend church on Easter than any other day of the year. But the reality is that you must plan to make it special. It will not just happen. Let’s start with
By Matt Tullos Special assistant to the executive director, TBMB We don’t know how long this new reality will last. It’s difficult for us to navigate local ministry in the midst of a national emergency. Here are 19 things we challenge church leaders to do during the Coronavirus also known as C-19 (1) Set aside time for personal prayer. There are so many hurdles to jump through in communicating during
Baptist Press OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) — I have been pastoring and preaching for 28 years, and I’ve spent more than 20 years as a preaching professor. Until very recently, I’ve never really given any thought about how to preach to an empty room. My goal has always been that the church would be as full as we can get it when it comes time to preach! But in light of
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] In the early morning hours of March 3, Tennesseans were awakened by tornado sirens across Middle Tennessee. In just a few minutes (though it probably was an eternity to those directly impacted), the storms moved on to another portion of the state. The tornadoes left behind at least 24 fatalities, massive destruction and lives turned upside down. According to AccuWeather the total
By Ronnie Floyd EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. NASHVILLE — The future before us is highly uncertain. What appeared just days ago to be a possible banner year for your church financially, may now be seen through your eyes as the pastor, as being threatened in every way. As the pastor of a local church, you need God’s wisdom in
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director It was 1939. War gathered in the distance as German military might rumbled like a deadly thunderstorm rolling across the open plains. Brits looked toward the horizon and saw dread tumbling their direction. It was inevitable. It was widely accepted that German bombers would darken the sky and rain fury on England’s prominent cities once war began. Tension rose; fear increased.
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention I have been talking to you for several months about the importance of Sunday School and the difference that it can make in your church. It is vital. Think about it. Sunday School is the only ministry of most of our churches that is for everyone of all ages. We offer it in prime time. And it is connected to the most important
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] For a number of years the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention has come and gone without a lot of fanfare, a far cry from the late 1970s to the early 2000s when annual meetings were national news during the years of the “Conservative Resurgence.” Attendance has dwindled dramatically at annual meetings but there could be a major uptick in numbers
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director There is a growing reality that causes me great concern. I’m scanning the horizon looking for the billowing dust of reinforcements charging toward the spiritual battle, but all I see are wisps from the few. Where are the supply of recruits enlisted for world conquest? Where are the pastors and ministers to shepherd Christ’s bride during these most desperate of days?
By Chris Kelly Executive vice president, Tennessee Baptist Foundation On Dec. 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement Act) into law with many of its provisions going into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. SECURE arguably makes some of the most sweeping changes in years to the retirement account (IRAs, 401ks, etc.) landscape. While many of these changes have a significant impact
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention Easter is just around the corner and if you are like most churches it will be one of
By Matt Tullos Special assistant to the executive director, TBMB We don’t know how long this new reality will last. It’s difficult for us to
Baptist Press OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) — I have been pastoring and preaching for 28 years, and I’ve spent more than 20 years as a preaching
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] In the early morning hours of March 3, Tennesseans were awakened by tornado sirens across Middle Tennessee.
By Ronnie Floyd EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. NASHVILLE — The future before us is
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director It was 1939. War gathered in the distance as German military might rumbled like a deadly
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention I have been talking to you for several months about the importance of Sunday School and the difference
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] For a number of years the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention has come and gone
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director There is a growing reality that causes me great concern. I’m scanning the horizon looking for
By Chris Kelly Executive vice president, Tennessee Baptist Foundation On Dec. 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up For