pastors

EVERY CHURCH NEEDS A GOOD PASTOR (SEE JOHN 10)

December 11, 2018

By Johnnie Godwin Contributing Columnist, Baptist and Reflector The word “pastor” appears only in Ephesians 4:11 in all the KJV New Testament. And It appears just eight times in the OT — all in Jeremiah (2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16; 22:22; 23:1, 2). Both in the OT and the NT, the word “pastor” translates the word for “shepherd.” Of course, the word “shepherd” appears numerous times throughout the Bible. Further,

HOPEFUL ABOUT NEXT GENERATION OF PREACHERS

December 10, 2018

By Todd E. Brady Vice president for University Ministries, Union University, Jackson They say that it’s all too easy for one generation to speak ill of another generation. A tendency is to be disgruntled with the generation that preceded us or with the one that is following after us. However, followers of Jesus understand the essential nature of an intergenerational church, and they refuse to speak unkindly of others. On

REMEMBER THE SIMPLE BLESSINGS THIS THANKSGIVING

November 21, 2018

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector With Thanksgiving drawing near on Nov. 22, I want to share a neat story that took place nearly two weeks ago. In the Oct. 24 issue of the Baptist and Reflector, we ran a feature story on Ivan Raley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Byrdstown. Raley is an 80-year-old longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor and former Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home administrator. Fourteen months ago,

SPEAKERS OFFER HOPE, ENCOURAGEMENT

November 20, 2018

By Nathan Handley Contributing Writer, B&R JACKSON — Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, said no matter what happens in the world, Christians have hope in the fact that Jesus is in control. “Every day I wake up I know one thing that will never change,” Gaines said. “Jesus is Lord.” Gaines was one of six speakers at the 2018 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference Nov. 12 at

RELAX, REFOCUS & REFRESH

October 23, 2018

Sabbaticals can help combat burnout, depression for pastors, ministry workers By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — For Pete Tackett, the importance of taking a day off is as clear as the stubble on his face. Tackett, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Johnson City, admits that he often finds himself caught up in the treadmill-style work patterns that so many pastors and staff members encounter. But he

NEW SPECIALISTS JOIN TBMB STAFF

October 9, 2018

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has announced the addition of three new specialists to its staff. Cole Campbell has been promoted to manager of the Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center. Campbell began working part-time at the conference center in 2008 and began serving full time with the facility in 2014. In his new role, Campbell will manage all facilities, activities, employees and functions of Linden

BEWARE THE IMAGINARY SERMON

September 27, 2018

Larry Robertson Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville Recently I had all our kiddos with me leaving the 11 a.m. service. One of the boys asked, “Are there any snakes out here?” to which I replied, pointing to the driver’s side of the car, “There are no snakes on this side of the vehicle.” Immediately, two boys started tip-toeing and watching the ground on their side very closely. When we got

MINISTERS DESERVE GOD’S GRACE TOO

September 26, 2018

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Recently I received an e-mail that broke my heart. I held on to it for several weeks, contemplating how to use it. Now seems like a good time to print a portion of it. Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, wrote an excellent column in the Sept 12 issue about depression and how it affects

EVEN PASTORS CAN STRUGGLE WITH WHAT TO SAY TO GRIEVING FAMILIES

August 28, 2018

By Grace Thornton Baptist Press GREENVILLE, S.C. — In 37 years as a pastor, Rudy Gray sat at the bedside of many terminally ill church members. He stood at gravesides with many grieving families. He sought to speak comforting words — at least he hopes they were comforting. But one thing he is sure of — he wasn’t fully ready to deal with bereavement in his early years of ministry.

pastors

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EVERY CHURCH NEEDS A GOOD PASTOR (SEE JOHN 10)

HOPEFUL ABOUT NEXT GENERATION OF PREACHERS