By Larry Robertson
President, TBC, & Clarksville Pastor

We need to reclaim an apostolic urgency to our mission.

A recent report by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Task Force on Evangelistic Impact and Declining Baptisms reminded us of what we already know, that we are floundering when it comes to reaching our communities and culture for Christ. And while the task force made honest observations and excellent recommendations, I want to add to their thoughts by suggesting that your participation in The Summit in November is part of the solution here in Tennessee. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

A few weeks ago (in the April 30 issue), I wrote about changes that are underway for the Baptist and Reflector.

Honestly, those changes are occurring quicker than I imagined, but once the pain of change is over, I think it will prove to be a great move for everyone involved with the Baptist and Reflector — from me and our staff to our most importance resource, our readers.

With what I wrote on April 30 combined with the well-written news story on page 1 of this issue by Linda Lawson Still, I think the reasons for the changes, which officially begin with our June 4 issue, are obvious. We will continue to provide Tennessee Baptists a quality newspaper. As long as I am editor, we will not shift from our commitment of “Telling the story of Tennessee Baptists.” [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Tennessee Baptists want to read about other Tennessee Baptists and our churches.  

And let’s be honest about the newspaper industry in general. Secular news agencies have struggled for years with the financial burden of producing a hard copy version in an increasingly digital age. Many of them have slashed staff and eventually gone out of business.

Fortunately, we are not near that point. Lonnie has a renewed vision for integrating the Internet and adjusting the print version to better serve Tennessee Baptists. Switching to a biweekly production schedule allows him space to pursue that vision with abandon. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

On Dec. 8, 1995 I had the opportunity and privilege to report on the election of David S. Dockery as president of Union University in Jackson.

He was elected unanimously by trustees that day to become the university’s 15th president.

Despite his busy schedule, Dr. Dockery found time for an interview with me and the Baptist and Reflector.

We talked about the varied background he had and how he felt it prepared him to lead a Baptist university. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

At the end of the day on May 20, the members of the team working at what has been called the Baptist Center will leave the building for the last time and watch the doors close on 45 years of ministry.

We’re moving, ending one chapter in Tennessee Baptist history and beginning a new one. Our building in Brentwood has been the hub of the ministry of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and it has served us well.

Interesting thing about this building and its location in the middle of one of America’s best cities; there wasn’t much around here when it was built. A generation of insightful Baptist leaders decided to purchase a piece of property at the edge of a horse farm and construct what was then widely recognized for its architectural design. It would have been impossible for them to predict the importance of this location, but they catapulted our cooperative work as Tennessee Baptists to a new level of influence and effectiveness. [Read more…]

By Carolyn Tomlin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

I watched as a pair of mockingbirds built a nest near a window of our home. When time came for the female to lay eggs and stay on the nest, the male brought her tasty insects. But other than food, he sang to her. Long into the night, he serenaded her with a wide repertoire of melodies. Later when the three fledglings hatched, the parents provided small tidbits of worms. And during a heavy rain the mother covered the babies with her wings.

Watching, I was reminded of how mothers — and parents — care for their young. As the child grows and develops, needs change. However, some basic requirements remain the same until the child grows into an adult. Are you using this Scripture in Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way he should go …” as a model for your home? [Read more…]

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

“Your daddy is soooo slow!” said my mother from my growing-up days till the close of their retirement days. More recently, one of my sons said about the hurried nature of life today, “Jesus was slow!” I didn’t take exception to Mother’s statement because Dad was slow unless he got in a hurry. But I put a caveat on and a sermonette to my son’s statement about Jesus being slow.

If you don’t know what I’m about to tell you about timely living, then you really need this bit of visiting we’ll do. The nutshell of this piece is that God in Christ was never slow or hurried; and he designed us for timely living. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

All my life I have heard the phrase, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Well, we can add change to that list.

Change is going to occur. If you don’t believe it, look in the mirror. Then, go find a picture of yourself five, 10, or 20 years ago. Every person is proof positive that change occurs.

Change is necessary to be relevant in today’s world. Churches face that constantly. How do you change to reach an ever-changing world without compromising the gospel? [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

The words of Jesus pierce my heart as I read the facts about the state of children in our country. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

• There are more than 640,000 children in our country who spent time in out-of-home care (in foster care) during 2012 — nearly 400,000 of them on any given day.
• Children in foster care remain there on average two years and change locations nearly four times.
• The average age of these children bouncing from one house to the next is just 9 years old.
• Nearly 10 percent of children exiting foster care “age out,” meaning they’ve not been adopted, are no longer eligible for foster care and are turned out with little or no way to support them.

[Read more…]

By Jenna Fleming
Writer/Member, Union Avenue Baptist Church

It was a year ago that I miscarried our third child. A strong heartbeat one week became faint and irregular a couple weeks later. The ultrasound room was darker than normal on that day. I have two healthy girls, and I know how a “normal” pregnancy is supposed to go, so when the ultrasound tech struggled to find my baby’s heartbeat only to call my doctor in, it was new and shocking for me. A positive pregnancy test should result in a live baby. Right?!

Fast forward to late summer. I got another positive pregnancy test, but I was prepared this time. Guarded. My former naïve optimism was now a cautious longing for a good outcome, i.e. healthy, live baby. This time, though, I didn’t even make it to my first OB appointment. I miscarried at home and relived the grief I had earlier that spring.

I wanted answers. A solution. [Read more…]