By Joe Sorah
Compassion Ministries Specialist, TBMB

If you were to ask a longtime church member about his church, he would probably say his church is friendly, welcoming to guests, and an easy place in which to find your way.

I would have told you that about the church where I served as pastor for almost 23 years. Occasionally someone would say they visited our church and no one said anything to them. I would rationalize, “You must have come in late and left as soon as the final ‘Amen’ was said.” [Read more…]

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, Baptist and Reflector

Beneath Godwin’s Mountain, I own a cave that the state of Tennessee refers to as a significant cave. When I was a church’s interim pastor, listeners heard me tell about the cave’s darkness, depths, and dangers — along with its magnificence. A deacon and a high school boy persisted in wanting me to take them on a cave expedition. Finally, I happily agreed to do that with strong caveats: namely, two powerful lights each, water, snacks, proper clothing, etc.

An expedition lacking in light. On a Saturday morning, the three of us drove to the cave. Before we entered the first room of the cave, I checked equipment. To my dismay, I found the deacon had only his grandson’s toy flashlight with no backup. The senior high boy had a flashlight with weak batteries and a backup birthday candle. I knew the cave well and had two powerful sources of light with fresh batteries so I decided to lead them an hour or so.  [Read more…]

By Steve Gaines
SBC President & Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova

Today (Jan. 20)  Donald J. Trump became the 45th President of the United States. As you know, Mr. Trump won a highly volatile election last November. Some see him as a candidate of much-needed change, readily resonating with his Reaganish slogan, “Make America Great Again!” Others see Mr. Trump as a less than desirable candidate for the highest office in the land.

What are Southern Baptists to do?

Trump won the election. In doing so, he earned the right to serve for the next four years as President of the United States. Consequently, it is incumbent upon every Bible-believing Christian to pray that the Lord will bless and guide him and his family in the coming days and years. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

I walked into the offices of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (formerly the Executive Board) on Jan. 3 after nearly two weeks of rest and relaxation (if spending a week of it with two boys ages 4 and almost 2 can be relaxing). But it was definitely fun and exciting.

As fellow staff members arrived in the office we exchanged greetings and talked about the holidays. I then realized that one staff member with whom I had worked for 25 years would not be coming into the office that day.

Gary Rickman retired from the TBMB staff on Dec. 31 after serving the convention in numerous roles over the years, most recently as director of strategic relations. That was definitely an appropriate title for Gary. [Read more…]