I NOW KNOW HOW YOU FEEL
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Sometimes people make well-meaning statements when they are trying to comfort others about things which they have no personal experience. Fortunately, and somehow, as a young pastor I knew not to say, “I know how you feel” unless I had been through what the other person was going […]
MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH GOTM
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director I love Tennessee. It is my adopted home and home to all of my immediate family. I believe our state is the most beautiful and unique of the 50 states. From the Smoky Mountains to the majestic and mighty Mississippi River, I stand in awe that the providential […]
TENNESSEE’S MINISTRY TRAINING GROUND
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Here’s a quiz. Ready? What does a country girl from McMinnville, an agnostic from Mt. Juliet, a Division I basketball player from Memphis, and a Jewish young man from Georgia have in common? Hint: The same thing as several Muslims from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Yemen, and quite […]
A DETERMINED RESPONSE
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Last week’s national nightmare seemed unending. The unrelated shooting deaths of two African-American men and the heinous sniper attack killing five Dallas police officers left me crying out to God in desperation over the hate, division, and spiritual darkness consuming our country. Habakkuk’s words ring loudly with contemporary […]
TRYING TO EMPTY MOSQUES, NOT BUILD THEM
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Tennessee Baptists are about emptying mosques, not building them. There are a few pseudo-news websites authored by bloggers who produce satirical “news” stories, and some of their recent stories state that the Southern Baptist Convention is building mosques. Those stories have gained traction through social media and people […]
WORK THE FIELDS — REMEMBER THE HARVEST
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director I still own my grandfather’s large push plow. And it may sound strange, but I loved pushing it through rows of Pinkeye Purple Hull peas, okra, Silver King corn, Big Boy tomatoes (I’ve got to stop, I’m making myself hungry). Why would I love pushing that plow through […]
FIRST SHOW UP, THEN PARTICIPATE
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director/Treasurer There is an old expression that states that about 80 percent of life is just showing up. That may be true, but it begs the question: So what do you do once you get there? That’s easy. Participate. That would be my advice to any minister or messenger wondering […]
REACHING GENERATION Z IMPERATIVE: DAVIS
By Connie Davis Bushey News Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — The projected photo in the meeting room was of 10 children though only one was spotlighted. The caption read — “If the trend continues, nine of 10 children born after 9/11 will reach adulthood without knowing Christ.” “It takes something monumental to reverse a […]
THE IMB: HOW DID WE GET HERE?
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director It was a dark day two weeks ago when International Mission Board President David Platt stepped to the microphone to inform Southern Baptists that 983 missionaries and 149 IMB staffers were stepping away from their involvement in taking the gospel to the nations. Dr. Platt described it best […]
WILL YOU FIGHT FOR TODAY’S 72?
By Randy C. Davis TBC Executive Director Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. The day’s minutes pass and vaporize, unaffected by any change or resistance we hope to exert. And with the passage of every hour, three spiritually lost Tennesseans slip into eternity. That’s 72 eternally lost neighbors, friends, and family members every day, 26,000-plus every year. I […]