PLATT APOLOGIZES TO SOUTHERN BAPTISTS

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector ONTARIO, Calif. – David Platt, president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board issued an apology to Southern Baptists Feb. 15 for the IMB’s involvement in an amicus brief last summer. Platt apologized during a meeting of the Association of State Baptist Publications held in Ontario, Calif. He also […]

MOSQUE CASE PROMPTS IMB POLICY TWEAK

Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Ongoing discussion of a federal court case concerning religious liberty for Muslims has prompted the resignation of an International Mission Board trustee and a revision of the IMB’s process for submitting friend of the court briefs. Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church in Morristown, resigned from the IMB trustee board […]

TENNESSEE PASTOR RESIGNS AS IMB TRUSTEE

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MORRISTOWN — A Tennessee Baptist pastor has resigned as a trustee of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board in response to an action taken by IMB leadership last summer. He had another year to serve on his present term. Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church, Morristown, […]

HELP CAN HURT

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I recently came across an article on the International Mission Board website (www.imb.org) by former president Jerry Rankin. The title immediately caught my attention: “Help that Hurts: Considering the Long-Term Cost of Missions Subsidy.” Rankin observed: “We have made many mistakes over the years of missions work around the world. […]

NAME CHANGE, FIRES TOP STORIES IN 2016

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — There was no shortage of news in the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2016. The story that garnered the most national attention occurred Nov. 28 when fires swept across Sevier County, primarily in Gatlinburg, leaving 14 people dead, injuring at least 160 others, and damaging or destroying […]

LOTTIE MOON — THE REBEL I WANT TO BE

By Lori McDaniel Church Initiative Leader, International Mission Board, Richmond, Va. Lottie Moon. I want to be like her, but I didn’t realize how much until I dove into her life story. You could draw a line in the sand, mention the name Lottie Moon, and people who revere her will move to one side […]

EVANGELISM NOT A GIFT: IT’S OBEDIENCE

 Editor’s Note: In September, the International Mission Board hosted Baptist state paper editors in London to introduce its new media network and to explore its Global Cities Initiative, a part of IMB President David Platt’s desire to introduce a “limitless” missionary force of Southern Baptists. In December, Southern Baptists are observing a Week of Prayer […]

OFFERING IS ALL ABOUT THE MISSIONARIES

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Tennessee Baptist Convention churches are observing the Week for Prayer for International Missions this week and are in the process of collecting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. If past years are any indicator, Tennessee Baptists will be generous when it comes to supporting our international missionaries who serve […]

MEMPHIS TEAM AIDS STUDENT WORK IN LONDON

Editor’s Note: In September, the International Mission Board hosted Baptist state paper editors in London to introduce  its new media network and to explore its Global Cities Initiative, a part of IMB President David Platt’s desire to introduce a “limitless” missionary force of Southern Baptists. By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LONDON — The […]

TENNESSEE BAPTIST STEPS OUT IN FAITH

Editor’s Note: In September, the International Mission Board hosted Baptist state paper editors in London to introduce its new media network and to explore its Global Cities Initiative, a part of IMB President David Platt’s desire to introduce a “limitless” missionary force of Southern Baptists. By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LONDON — As […]