By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Talk about the best-laid plans of mice and men going awry (to paraphrase poet Robert Burns). Phyllis Bates, a 43-plus year member of the staff of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (formerly Executive Board) retired on Feb. 28. My plan was to write an extensive feature story and a column. My feature story idea disappeared quickly after a short interview with Phyllis. It
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Chalk up another victory for political correctness. A school system in Tennessee has to go to the time and expense of providing training to employees on the constitutional law concerning “the application of the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses in public schools” (see story here). All of this is happening because a Tennessee Baptist youth pastor dared to do what’s right — pray
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Fake news is a big deal today, but it is not “new.” Fake news has been around forever. Those of us who have been in Baptist journalism for decades can remember the countless news stories we have had to produce assuring Baptists that the Madalyn Murray O’Hair and Proctor & Gamble rumors from the 1980s and 1990s were just that — rumors and
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector The Boy Scouts of America announced Jan. 30 that the organization would begin accepting transgender members. In other words, what’s on the birth certificate doesn’t matter anymore. The BSA stated: “Starting today, we will accept and register youth in the Cub and Boy Scout programs based on the gender identity indicated on the application.” While sad to hear, is anyone really surprised?
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector They stood together at the pulpit of Rialto Baptist Church in Covington on Sunday, Jan. 15 — Thomas Bester, a 63-year-old African-American pastor, and Carl Funderburk, an almost 80-year-old Anglo pastor. As I watched them I could only imagine the stories they could tell from having witnessed first hand the racial strife of the civil rights movement in the 1960s-70s. On this occasion,
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. One of the errors has been trying to accelerate growth by an infusion of financial
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector As January gets into full swing, people are excited about a new year and new opportunities. No doubt Tennessee Baptists are among the millions who made “resolutions” for the new year, ranging from losing weight to reading your Bible daily to countless other things that individuals deem important. Hopefully, those who made resolutions will be able to keep them. I don’t make many
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector The 2016 Summit in Sevierville is over and by all accounts it was one of the best ever. The number of registered messengers was low by East Tennessee standards — 1,211, but attendance at some sessions neared or topped 2,000 people. The decision to add a worship service to Summit on Sunday night proved to be a “home run.” Tennessee pastor and Southern
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I recently saw a video that made my blood boil. Denasia Lawrence knelt while singing the national anthem prior to a Miami Heat preseason basketball game. Lawrence said she was protesting the number of blacks that she feels have been “unjustly killed and overly criminalized.” That’s her opinion and that’s what makes this country so great. She can express it.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Long gone are the days of “Training Union” and “Church Training.” As a child I remember those as programs in the church that were used to teach Christian doctrines and Baptist beliefs. They truly discipled new believers and reminded long-time believers of what Jesus expects of His followers once they accept Him as Lord and Savior. Now, the term “discipleship” can refer to
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Talk about the best-laid plans of mice and men going awry (to paraphrase poet Robert Burns). Phyllis Bates,
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Chalk up another victory for political correctness. A school system in Tennessee has to go to the time
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Fake news is a big deal today, but it is not “new.” Fake news has been around forever.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector The Boy Scouts of America announced Jan. 30 that the organization would begin accepting transgender members. In other
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector They stood together at the pulpit of Rialto Baptist Church in Covington on Sunday, Jan. 15 — Thomas
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
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector As January gets into full swing, people are excited about a new year and new opportunities. No doubt
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector The 2016 Summit in Sevierville is over and by all accounts it was one of the best ever.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I recently saw a video that made my blood boil. Denasia Lawrence knelt while singing the national anthem
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector Long gone are the days of “Training Union” and “Church Training.” As a child I remember those as
