By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Easter comes early on the calendar in 2016. Christians around the world will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 27. Normally, but not always, Easter usually falls during the month of April. In today’s world we are used to established dates for most holidays — Christmas is always Dec. 25; Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday of November;
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Tennessee legislators have an incredible opportunity next week to prove that common sense is alive and well in the Volunteer State. Whether they have the courage to make such a decision remains to be seen. Legislators are considering HB2414 which is sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Old Hickory, and Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville. The bill is referred to as the “Bathroom Bill.” See story
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector In the Jan. 27 issue I wrote a column expressing concern about the lack of information coming out of the International Mission Board. The IMB had made some major decisions about needing to cut between 600 and 800 missionary/staff positions due to overspending by $210 million over the past five years or so. In addition, the IMB announced it was eliminating its Communications
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Everyone who has been a Baptist all of his or her life knows the Christmas story and probably has participated in a Christmas play in which the mean innkeeper tells Mary and Joseph, “There is no room in the inn.” Whether it actually happened that way or not, only eternity will tell. We do know our Savior was born in a manger. In
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Here is a B&R article on the 2016 presidential election that examines which candidates Protestant pastors would vote for if the election were held today. Keep in mind this survey was conducted only of ministers, not the general population, but it’s still revealing. Pastors were able to provide answers depending on whether they are Republicans or Democrats. For Republicans, the overwhelming winner was
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LifeWay Research released a new poll on Feb. 3 asking the question, “Does God care who wins the Super Bowl? Surprisingly, one in 10 actually thinks God cares whether this year’s Super Bowl will be won by the Denver Broncos or the Carolina Panthers. One in 20 say they don’t know.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector The Fellowship of Tennessee Baptist Evangelists met last week at First Baptist Church in Joelton. Sad to say, very few people attended though the meeting was publicized. That is no reflection on the organization. It is made up of some of God’s choice servants – men and women who have dedicated themselves to the biblical call to be an evangelist. The attendance can
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Earlier this year when the Southern Baptist International Mission Board announced that it needed to eliminate 600-800 positions, Southern Baptists were saddened and shocked. IMB leaders have allowed the idea to propagate among Southern Baptists that there is a financial shortfall. The cutbacks did not occur because Southern Baptists didn’t give. Cooperative Program giving on the national level has increased in small increments
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector As a person who has spent the better part of his career and adult life in the production of newspapers, it is sad whenever I hear that a print publication has “bit the dust.” Such was the case last week as I held the last print copy of the The Christian Index in my hand. The Christian Index has been in existence for
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector In 1981 I had been out of college for one year and was employed in the development office of Baptist College at Charleston (now Charleston Southern University) in South Carolina. I mostly edited their alumni publication but assisted with pamphlets and brochures and the dreaded “other duties as assigned.” One of those duties included being asked to assist the former Southern Baptist Education
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Easter comes early on the calendar in 2016. Christians around the world will celebrate the resurrection of our
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Tennessee legislators have an incredible opportunity next week to prove that common sense is alive and well in
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector In the Jan. 27 issue I wrote a column expressing concern about the lack of information coming out
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Everyone who has been a Baptist all of his or her life knows the Christmas story and probably
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Here is a B&R article on the 2016 presidential election that examines which candidates Protestant pastors would vote
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LifeWay Research released a new poll on Feb. 3 asking the question, “Does God care who wins the
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector The Fellowship of Tennessee Baptist Evangelists met last week at First Baptist Church in Joelton. Sad to say,
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Earlier this year when the Southern Baptist International Mission Board announced that it needed to eliminate 600-800 positions,
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector As a person who has spent the better part of his career and adult life in the production
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector In 1981 I had been out of college for one year and was employed in the development office
