By Diana Davis
Reprinted from Baptist Press

Each Sunday, we’d haul baby beds, sound equipment, and chairs to our temporary meeting place. We were church planters, and though it was hard work, the results were awesome.

Flash forward to present day. Our son-in-law and daughter serve as church planting pastor and worship leader for a new church. Every Sunday, they load a trailer to haul all kinds of equipment to their downtown Indianapolis meeting site. America is still a great missions field.

You are already involved in church planting — a portion of your tithe to your Southern Baptist church helps plant churches through the Cooperative Program, as does your annual gift for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. In Tennessee, Tennessee Baptists are involved in church planting when they give through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. [Read more…]

By Jenna Fleming
Writer, Pastor’s Wife, & Member of Union Avenue Baptist Church, Memphis

Children today (and perhaps adults in the general populace as well) are often not drawn to what they need, but to what is right in front of them. Truth, goodness, and beauty are available and can be found in nature, great literature, works of art, music, and such, but amusement and frivolity are available as well and easily accessible. Our parents’ generation had television. We have streaming services, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, along with television and its 500 channels that we don’t need. Now, before I come off anti-entertainment (maybe I already have) I want to be clear that I use many of these and enjoy them on occasion. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of it, but there is something wrong in how we use or misuse them.

As a parent, I am becoming particularly aware of how an increase of silliness in my children’s environment causes them to crave more. [Read more…]

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

To say that America desperately needs God’s life-giving breath would be an understatement. In recent weeks, many people have cast ballots in the presidential primaries across the nation. We have prayed for direction, listened to our gut, or followed our anger and frustration, but nonetheless we cast our votes. Did we cast them for God or for Egypt (government)?

Now, what does that mean? In recent days, controversy has swirled around different religious leaders speaking for or about certain political candidates. Scores of opinions have flowed from fingertips out into the blogosphere. Many things have concerned me, but only one should be consuming me. Where am I placing my trust?

In the days of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, similar conversations swirled among God’s people. Should they stay in Jerusalem, or flee to Egypt? Isaiah said, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!” [Read more…]

By Roger P. Freeman
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Nashville

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).

The missions strategy for the Southern Baptist Convention ministry through our churches is found in Acts 1:8.

“Jerusalem” represents missions through the local association.

“Judea” represents missions through our Tennessee Baptist Convention.

“Samaria” represents missions through our North America Mission Board to unchurched areas of the United States and Canada. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Have you ever been asked to “mind your own business?”

We probably all have at one time or another, especially by family and close friends who might not appreciate our opinions.

Sometimes, as family and friends, we may feel the need to “stick our nose” into someone else’s business, especially if we fear negative consequences for that person.

Most of the time, however, we probably need to stay out of other people’s affairs. [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: Though Belmont University is no longer an institution of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, it would not be here today if not for dedicated Tennessee Baptists who gave sacrificially to purchase the current Belmont campus and establish the school in 1951.

By Albert W. Wardin Jr.
Professor Emeritus of History, Belmont University, Nashville

Some months ago Belmont University published a well-edited history — FROM HERE TO ANYWHERE: A HISTORY OF BELMONT UNIVERSITY, 1890-2015, by — Joy Jordan-Lake.

The school has proclaimed its longevity by billboard, stickers, and other means.

This effort has come as a surprise to faculty and alumni who know that Belmont University (then known as Belmont College) was formed in 1951, but is now claimed to be twice as old. The Belmont Vision in 1976 included a lengthy article in its March issue, “Belmont Celebrates Silver Anniversary,” and an additional article, “Banquet To Mark 25th Anniversary” with Dr. Herbert Gabhart, president, presiding along with   four of the original trustees. A graduate of the school in the 1970s has proudly shown me his graduation ring inscribed with the year 1951. [Read more…]