Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Randy C. Davis
God is good, all the time. All the time…
You know the rest.
It is providentially fitting in this year of celebrating 150 years of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and on our way to next year celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program, that God would slip in the number 1.5.
As in $1.5 billion. [Read more…]
Wilkey
I became a Tennessee Baptist in 1983 when my wife and I joined Tulip Grove Baptist Church, then a small congregation in Old Hickory. Five years later I became the associate editor of the Baptist and Reflector.
I have seen and reported on Tennessee Baptist history — both good and bad — over the past 36 years. I can honestly say that I have never been more proud to be a Tennessee Baptist that I am today.
When I announced my retirement in May, I never dreamed my last three months would involve covering one of the largest news events in the history of Tennessee — Hurricane Helene. [Read more…]
Lonnie Wilkey
When I was 22 years old and fresh out of college, I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life. At the University of South Carolina I developed a love for writing. When I began my last semester I needed to do an internship. I wanted to focus on sports writing so I applied for and was accepted as an intern in USC’s sports information department. Because I ultimately wanted to be a Gamecocks or Atlanta Braves “beat writer” for the Greenville (S.C.) News, I knew that was where I should be.
God had other plans.
As it turned out, I had to give up the job with the sports information department because my part-time job (which helped pay for my education) conflicted with the assignment they had for me.
Instead, I worked as an intern with the USC news office under a former newspaper editor who never gave up that role. He would give me assignments and hand the story back to me. He used a red pen and it looked like my story had bled to death. But his editing made me a better writer. I had several articles published during that semester. [Read more…]
Wainscott
Over the last several years during the Advent and Christmas seasons, I have noticed that churches increasingly seem to be singing traditional Christmas carols less and less. I’m not sure what all the reasons may be, and I’m certainly not attempting to impugn the motives of those who choose the songs. But I do believe it’s unfortunate for us if we hear familiar carols more in the shopping mall than we do in the local church.
Therefore, I want to issue a plea for us to prioritize the singing of familiar Christmas carols in our churches. I’m not suggesting that no other songs should be sung during these seasons, but I am suggesting that the overwhelming majority of what we sing during these few weeks of the year should come from that select canon of familiar English carols. Regardless of church size or preferred style of worship, such a practice should not be controversial, and I aim to share why below. [Read more…]
Dooley
The week of Thanksgiving affords us the opportunity to unplug, evaluate, and offer thanks for the numerous blessings in our lives in a way that the pace of our normal routines doesn’t always allow. I have a lot to be thankful for this year, and every year.
My relationship with Jesus is growing. I find myself in a place that I deeply love, surrounded by people who enrich my life, leaving my family happier than we have ever been. A wonderful wife and five healthy children fill each of my days with joy despite the typical trials that come and go. In addition to these personal blessings, I pastor a healthy, growing congregation that has me enthusiastic about my calling in a way that resembles my earliest years of ministry.
Simply put, life is good. [Read more…]
Lonnie Wilkey
Other than the great news of Jesus Christ, have you ever been told something so wonderful that you would want to tell everyone you know and shout it?
Well, I finally can. I have known for the past two weeks that Chris Turner, the TBMB’s director of communications, will succeed me as editor of the Baptist and Reflector. No one is happier than me, and for several reasons.
First, it means the B&R will continue in print form after I retire and for the foreseeable future. Some may think that was inevitable. Not so. There are fewer than a handful of Baptist state papers still printing at least every other week.
Fortunately, Tennessee Baptists are blessed to have an executive director in Randy C. Davis who believes in the value of a print publication. [Read more…]
Randy C. Davis
It is a joy to be with you on this journey.
That’s how I end every Clarity column, and it truly is a joy to be with Tennessee Baptists on this journey as we cooperate and collaborate in the work God gives us to do. But to gain perspective on where we’re going, we’ve got to occasionally look back to see from where we’ve come.
A little more than two years ago, I articulated six “big rocks” that would be the TBMB’s immediate focus: [Read more…]
Street
Thursday, Sept. 26 was a relatively calm day on the mountain. There was a steady rain throughout the day. By that evening, the Doe River which runs on the other side of the back yard at the parsonage had filled its banks, but it was still contained and I went to bed with optimism that things might not get as bad as had been forecasted.
Even with the spirit of optimism I knew I would need to keep a check on the river through the early morning hours. As the rain got heavier and the river got higher, I felt a renewed sense of what it is to remain alert and watchful and “to be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1). [Read more…]
Over the last two years, I have been privileged to be part of the Acts 217 visioning process. I have witnessed the Lord’s hand at work throughout the entire journey.
As we gathered in listening sessions, submitted surveys, gave feedback, compiled and interpreted data, discussed challenges and then pieced together a plan for moving forward, our steps were ordered by our Heavenly Father. It has been humbling and gratifying to watch.
However, as I think about the hours of meetings, the thousands of conversations and the mountain of documentation, I believe the Acts 217 vision can be summarized in one four-letter word: more. [Read more…]
Lonnie Wilkey has told me for years that I need to carry cash when I travel.
“Cash is old school,” I tell him. “In this age of digital enlightenment, you can swipe or tap and transact.”
Unfortunately, Lonnie was right.
I arrived first at the diner where we were meeting and saw the “Cash Only” sign on the door. “C’mon,” I said with no small amount of frustration. “It’s the 21st century, people!” My frustration initiated a dilemma: Do I call Lonnie and lie, tell him the diner is closed; or do I ask him the dreaded question: “Do you have any cash with you?” [Read more…]
