Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

Summit 2014: Understanding Our Moment

Randy C. Davis

Randy C. Davis

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

It was near the end of their lives when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson exchanged reflections on the monumental events in which they’d been involved. The two giants were at the epicenter of birthing a new nation then guiding it through the tenuous early days between survival and extinction.

“My friend,” Adams wrote, “You and I have lived in serious times.”

My friends, as I reflect on the events of our 140th annual gathering of Tennessee Baptist churches, it is obvious to me that you and I live in serious times.” [Read more…]

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Prayer Works: Just Ask Susie

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

Lonnie Wilkey

On Wednesday of last week I was feeling pretty good about myself. I had written an editorial which normally doesn’t happen until the end of the week prior to publication on Monday.

But then I received an e-mail which contained a Facebook posting from Susie Edwards, a long-time staff member of the Baptist and Reflector, and, more importantly, a longtime friend. The editorial I had written was no longer relevant and I tossed it aside. [Read more…]

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When We All Get Together

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Randy C. Davis

Randy C. Davis

There are those people who touch your life and have an impact that shapes who you become. Charlie was one of those for me.

I’ll never forget Charlie. Charlie died in his mid-90s. He served as treasurer of Little Escambia Baptist Church for well over 40 years. Every year on the Sunday closest to the birthday of this faithful Baptist layman, more than 100 of his family and friends gathered for worship and then headed to Charlie and Essie’s house on Upper Creek Road to enjoy the world’s biggest “dinner-on-the-grounds” under the trees for the annual grand celebration gathering. [Read more…]

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Let’s Come Together As a Family

By Larry Robertson
TBC President, & Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville

Larry Robertson

Larry Robertson

In a few days Tennessee Baptists will gather in Brentwood for this year’s Summit. I ask that you make every effort to pray for and participate in this 140th annual session.

Our theme this year is “Whatever It Takes,” representing the mindset and missional conviction necessary to breach the lostness of our state and beyond. I am expecting this year’s gathering to be a catalyst for deeper Great Commission passion, participation, and penetration.

I was in a meeting of Southern Baptist leaders from across the country recently where a pastor from another state said matter-of-factly that state conventions are now irrelevant and not worthy of our support. To be honest, I’ve heard that kind of talk before but I still cringe when I hear it.

Having served on state convention staffs in Alabama and Tennessee, perhaps some would say I have a biased opinion about the value of state conventions. I like to think I have an informed opinion. [Read more…]

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Rising to a ‘Golden’ Opportunity

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Randy C. Davis

Randy C. Davis

I can imagine W.C. and Mildred Golden sitting at a candlelit table over 114 years ago working tirelessly to write letter after letter to Tennessee Baptists. The flicker of light probably danced across the materials spread out before them waiting to be slid into an envelope and sent out with the following day’s mail.

The Goldens wrote hundreds of letters and mailed hundreds of packages containing promotional materials calling Tennessee Baptists to pray for Great Commission work across our state. Can you imagine being so passionate about accomplishing a God-sized vision that you’d be willing to do whatever it took to see the task through? There were no typewriters, no computers, no Facebook accounts or Twitter feeds; just a desire to mobilize Tennessee Baptists to see God’s Kingdom come to Tennessee. [Read more…]

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Look Who’s Calling Us Hypocrites

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

Lonnie Wilkey

We have all heard the accusation. Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites. They preach one thing, but live the exact opposite.

Sadly, there are Christians who do just that. But there are also Christians who try the best they can to match their words with their actions.

Christians, however, do not have the market on hypocrisy.

For those who read the Baptist and Reflector regularly, you are well aware that the paper and the Tennessee Baptist Convention, led by our executive director, Randy C. Davis, has taken up the banner for Yes on 1 (see stories on page 1 of this issue). [Read more…]

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Hunger Is a Reality in Today’s World

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

Lonnie Wilkey

Hunger. For most of us, we have no idea of what true hunger is. We all perhaps have gone a day or so without food, but we seldom can say we are really hungry.

I recently had a colonoscopy which means I went without eating solid food for more than 24 hours.

And though I was “hungry” I knew I would have something to eat after my procedure.

Many people today don’t have the luxury of knowing when they will get their next meal.

According to Feeding America, a hunger organization, 49 million Americans struggle with hunger, including 17 million children. That means that one in six people do not get enough food to be healthy, according to Feeding America. [Read more…]

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I Love to Tell the Stories

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Randy C. Davis

Randy C. Davis

There’s a homeless man who lives in Chattanooga tucked under a towering overpass. He abused crack cocaine and alcohol. Physically, his life was a wreck and heading for death. Spiritually, he was heading for hell. But about a year ago, someone navigated quarry stones, briar bushes and the threat of personal harm to share the gospel with him.

Today, “Tree Man” Smith is clean and sober, and is a missionary because he is taking the gospel to others ranked among society’s outcasts.

There’s a Mexican man living just south of Knoxville who never read a Bible and never heard the story of Jesus. Actually the only time he really ever heard Jesus’ name was when it was taken in vain. He lived just outside the Bronx, in New York, for more than 20 years, but he heard the gospel on a visit to Knoxville during a neighborhood dinner in a trailer park. Conviction hit hard and grace descended quickly. He was baptized on a rainy July Sunday afternoon in a lake near Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

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Cooperative Program & Popcorn

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

Lonnie Wilkey

I love good popcorn, but not necessarily the microwave variety.

In my household, I usually am the one designated to make popcorn. I use a deep pot with a lid on the stove top. I place oil and butter in the pot and let the butter melt into the oil. Then I place the popcorn kernels into the mixture.

At first, not much happens. The kernels float in the oil and butter as it gets hotter and hotter. Then, one by one, the kernels begin to pop.

Slowly but surely the once dormant kernels turn into fluffy popcorn. As all the kernels are popped, they gradually rise to the top of the pot. Before you know it, the popcorn has lifted the lid off the pot (you better have bowl in hand).

A single kernel could never lift that heavy lid but numerous kernels working together can accomplish that feat. [Read more…]

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Pastor’s Insurance May Be Taxable Income

By Richard Skidmore
Financial Support Specialist, TBC

Richard Skidmore

Richard Skidmore

It is quite possible that beginning this past January your pastor or other church staff member began being taxed on their health insurance premium.

It will be the church’s responsibility to report the amount of the premium as taxable income as part of the salary paid to this person.

How can the Affordable Care Act that had as its centerpiece making health insurance more accessible and more affordable have this result? That is a question that seems hard to fathom but it’s a reality churches and ministers must face. [Read more…]

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