Opinion Column Archives - Baptist & Reflector

MISSIONARIES SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN DURING PANDEMIC

April 2, 2020

By Kim Cruise

Missions discipleship specialist, Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union

While COVID-19 spreads sickness and death across many countries, responses vary, but the most common response is fear. Fear of a loved one contracting the virus and suffering alone because no visitors are allowed. Fear of doctors and nurses being spread too thinly to meet the needs. Fear of retirement savings being reduced to a pittance. Fear of not being able to pay this month’s bills or provide food for the family. Virtually no one is untouched by this pandemic.

Missionaries who are serving far from home are in a unique situation. Missionaries, with few exceptions, are helpers and givers. That’s why they have left everything to give the gospel and serve through meeting human needs in a myriad of ways. Being told to stay at home while surrounded by so many dire needs, many struggle with the tough decision: “Do I follow government and WHO advice, or do I take the risk and go help anyways? When I chose to follow Christ, wasn’t there an inherent risk involved?” During our years of service in the Philippines, we were often called upon to be the “ambulance” since most families do not own a vehicle. What does a missionary do when asked to drive a seriously ill person to the hospital but doing so may risk their own family’s lives? This is the same basic issue facing frontline doctors and nurses right now.

Many missionaries serve in countries where the income and standard of living is far, far below that of America. They often use portions of their own support to help the poor around them with medical expenses, food, etc. With many businesses closing down, those who live “hand to mouth” have no savings and will suffer the most. Missionaries often feel overwhelmed with the needs around them and that is going to be multiplied exponentially right now. Ask if they need extra funds right now to help out and take up a special offering to help them help others. [Read more…]

KEEPING YOUR SANITY IN ‘THE TWILIGHT ZONE’

April 2, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

For decades upon decades, Americans have always raced to the next big task or achievement.

In the late 1880s to early 1900s, the United States entered the machine age where invention after invention improved society and our ability to move about. Automobiles and airplanes became primary modes of travel, far surpassing the horse and buggy and even trains. [Read more…]

FIRST-PERSON: HEALTHY HABITS FOR PASTORS DURING COVID-19 CULTURE

March 31, 2020

By Willie McLaurin

EDITOR’S NOTE: Willie McLaurin is vice president for Great Commission Relations and Mobilization with the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

NASHVILLE — COVID-19 will forever change the way we do life and ministry. Change is around us in every area of life. God often uses crisis to bring about changes that were overdue in our lives. Author Tony Robbins reminds us: Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.

The coronavirus did not catch God by surprise. We must not waste this season, but we must embrace it and allow God to shape our lives for His glory. Many pastors and church leaders are past due for a RESET in their regular routine. I am convinced that we must take advantage of this season to reinvent ourselves physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Physically

Let me first acknowledge that more and more pastors are taking advantage of the benefits of regular physical activity. Health professionals continue to emphasize the benefits of regular physical activity. If you are in need of a physical tune-up, then this season is perfect for you. I would encourage you to carve out time in your calendar each day to engage in physical activities. [Read more…]

PASTORAL LEADERSHIP IN THE COVID-19 STORM

March 31, 2020

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

I loved being a pastor. It was my joy and honor to spend 34 years as a pastor in a local church, so obviously I have a special place in my heart for the men who faithfully labor behind the pulpit serving God and His people.

I never saw myself in any other vocational capacity this side of heaven other than in a pastorate serving churches. God had other plans and serving churches has taken a different look. For almost 10 years, it’s been my privilege to lead the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board to serve the 3,200 churches that are part of the network of churches that comprise the Tennessee Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM — ARE WE ALL-IN?

March 20, 2020

By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Development Specialist, TBMB

We’ve seen this scene played out in countless westerns. The weather-beaten cowboy in the dusty western saloon looks across the table and pushes all his chips to the center. For better or for worse, he’s all-in.

John the Baptist was all-in, too. He couldn’t be categorized as anything other than completely, radically, undeniably committed. His calling and mission propelled him into the vortex of the Jesus story. What do you call a man who wears camel’s skin? How do you explain a consistent diet of wild honey and extra-crispy locust? [Read more…]

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR EASTER SERVICE

March 19, 2020

By Bruce Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

Easter is just around the corner and if you are like most churches it will be one of our greatest opportunities to impact our communities in the entire year.

More people will attend church on Easter than any other day of the year. But the reality is that you must plan to make it special. It will not just happen.

Let’s start with the basics. Pray. Call your people to pray. Have prayer gatherings. Have people designated throughout the times of your services to pray for God to move. Never forget that He is the One who must work in the hearts and lives and people. [Read more…]

19 RULES FOR PASTORS AND LEADERS DURING COVID-19

March 18, 2020

By Matt Tullos
Special assistant to the executive director, TBMB

We don’t know how long this new reality will last. It’s difficult for us to navigate local ministry in the midst of a national emergency. Here are 19 things we challenge church leaders to do during the Coronavirus also known as C-19

(1) Set aside time for personal prayer. There are so many hurdles to jump through in communicating during this uncertain time but the most important communication you can do is to intercede. Here is a short, guided prayer activity:

• Pray for God to use the Coronavirus Crisis to bring a national revival. This is the heart-cry of the Church. Could God use something as difficult and all-encompassing as a virus to bring people back to God? Absolutely. [Read more…]

HOW TO PREACH TO AN EMPTY ROOM

March 18, 2020

Baptist Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) — I have been pastoring and preaching for 28 years, and I’ve spent more than 20 years as a preaching professor. Until very recently, I’ve never really given any thought about how to preach to an empty room. My goal has always been that the church would be as full as we can get it when it comes time to preach! But in light of the coronavirus and the reality of providing online Sunday services, I’ve been asked by a few leaders, “What are some tips for preaching to an empty room?”

Here are some thoughts that I’m keeping in mind as I preach for video. I hope they’ll be of help to other preachers: [Read more…]

VOLUNTEER SPIRIT SHOWN IN AMAZING WAYS

March 18, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

This church sign at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Donelson, which was destroyed by the March 3 tornado, is a timely reminder of God’s love, grace and mercy.

In the early morning hours of March 3, Tennesseans were awakened by tornado sirens across Middle Tennessee. In just a few minutes (though it probably was an eternity to those directly impacted), the storms moved on to another portion of the state.

The tornadoes left behind at least 24 fatalities, massive destruction and lives turned upside down. According to AccuWeather the total damage and economic loss caused by the March 3 tornadoes is estimated between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. That’s billion with a “B.”

And, after checking out sites throughout Benton, Davidson, Wilson and Putnam Counties, that is not as farfetched as it sounds. Hundreds of houses in the affected counties were just piles of rubble after the storms moved through. [Read more…]

FIRST-PERSON: PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS TO HELP FINANCE YOUR CHURCH’S BUDGET IN THESE UNCERTAIN TIMES

March 18, 2020

By Ronnie Floyd

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

Ronnie Floyd

NASHVILLE — The future before us is highly uncertain. What appeared just days ago to be a possible banner year for your church financially, may now be seen through your eyes as the pastor, as being threatened in every way.

As the pastor of a local church, you need God’s wisdom in each decision you make relating to your church’s finances. Facing the possibility of being unable to meet in person in corporate worship services even makes these challenges greater. Therefore, how can you see the church’s budget financed and supported in these uncertain times?

Consider these nine practical suggestions:

1. Focus your church on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and making disciples of all the nations is mission critical. Maximizing the Great Commission to your people will move their hearts towards generosity.

2. Dollars usually follow vision. The more your vision is Great Commission–driven, and it is clear for your people to see, the more your people will be moved to support it financially.

3. Teach, preach, and call your people to follow principles of biblical stewardship. Economic uncertainty does not lessen the need for them to honor God with at least the first 10 percent of all God has entrusted to them. In fact, the most secure practice they can take for their future financially is to honor God in this way. Conversely, ignoring and disobeying what God says in His Word about biblical stewardship will jeopardize that future. Going forward with God and His ways is always better and more secure.

4. The more your giving is online, the fewer challenges you will face in these times. Therefore, move as many people as possible to online giving in the wisest manner — through recurring giving which is transferred weekly from your personal bank account into the financial account of your church. This avoids any fees of any kind.

5. Never assume all of your people are operating in an online world, especially relating to financial matters. Do not hesitate to send mail to members, asking them to be faithful in giving and even supplying an envelope for them to easily give an offering. Additionally, ask them to mail offerings weekly when in-person worship services are not being held or when they do not attend. Encourage people to practice biblical stewardship.

6. Gather your leadership in person or on a conference call to share the church’s financial needs. Ask for their input for how best to maintain necessary funding for the church’s budget, and how church members can best be made aware of the needs. People do not want their church to fail. If the work of the church is important — and it is most critical in times like these — then you do not need to apologize about it, but involve the people with you in order to move toward the future in the most positive and powerful way for the Gospel.

7. Lead your church with a positive outlook toward the future. God is at work. If matters have to change anywhere in your church due to these times, then use it to sharpen your focus even more toward the Great Commission. Do away with matters that are unnecessary and embrace the future in the most positive way.

8. When your people are together in worship gatherings, even if only online for a short period of time, always connect the offering with the vision and tell the story of what God is doing or may want to do in and through your church. Biblical stewardship is not just something you need to teach in a series annually, but something to model weekly in the way you make the offering appeal. Do not miss this weekly opportunity. Always forward your Great Commission vision.

9. Pray personally about church’s finances. Pray about them with your church leadership and with your entire church. If you cannot talk to God about the needs, who can you talk to? Pray for your people and their personal financial situations that God would provide for them in every way. Prayer matters. Never hesitate to talk to God about the financial present and future of the church.

Consider these things as you work through your financial future as a church in these uncertain times.

Now is the time to lead. B&R

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