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

Lonnie Wilkey

Three staff members of the communications team (which includes the Baptist and Reflector) of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board recently learned that we had been recognized by the Baptist Communicators Association in the 2022 BCA Awards Competition (see story HERE).

BCA is a professional development association for Baptist communicators and has a membership of about 250 communicators nationwide.

To be recognized in an awards competition with your peers is both exciting and humbling. There are members in BCA organizations who could write for any news outlet in the country or compete in any other area as well. BCA is not just for writers and editors. There are communications personnel in all areas including photography, audio-visuals, graphic design and more. The competition is stout in every category. Entering the competition gives us an opportunity to see how we compare to others in our profession. [Read more…]

By Carolyn Tomlin
Contributing Writer, B&R

Mother’s Day is a time when we honor all mothers — those biological women who have given birth and those who have raised and loved other women’s children. 

On the economic scale, Mother’s Day is a big event. According to a National Retail Federation survey, consumers are expected to spend a record amount with 84 percent of American adults planning to celebrate this year. Gifts for moms include clothing, chocolates, dining out, spa treatments, and more. 

These gifts are nice, but they’re only temporary. There are many ways to honor mothers, and one way is to remember the wisdom she gave us. To remember the wisdom—and pass it on to the next generation is far more important. For me personally, my mother always said “Be able to take care of yourself and any minor children you might have.” This meant getting an education or developing a skill so you could be successful and independent if needed. And, most important…depend on God.” [Read more…]

By Todd E. Brady
Vice president for university ministries, Union University, Jackson

Recently, I had the privilege of baptizing Trent. His mom and dad were standing up by the baptistry filming, and his big sister was sitting in the congregation. Barely able to see over the baptistry ledge, Trent saw a church that rejoiced with him, loved him, prayed for him and that day, celebrated with him.

Trent’s journey to belief in Christ started with a cracker and some juice that he couldn’t have. Several weeks ago, Trent watched his parents and big sister celebrate the Lord’s Supper at church, but he couldn’t take the elements.

Each month, our church celebrates the memorial supper, proclaiming together “the Lord’s death until he comes” I Corinthians 11:26. This is a time when we remember Christ’s sacrifice for us. He gave His body for us. He shed His blood for us.  [Read more…]

By Clay Hallmark
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

As the Tennessee Baptist Convention president, I have been traveling around the state and asking people these questions: “What is your greatest need? What is the greatest need in your family, ministry, marriage, finances, community or church? Where do you go to have your greatest need met?” 

After coming out of bondage in Egypt, the people of God ran out of their food. Immediately, they began to complain and seek worldly solutions to meet their greatest need, which for them, was food. None of the world’s solutions could meet their greatest need. 

Then we read in Exodus 16:4, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread (manna) from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions’ ” (CSB).  [Read more…]

By Chris Turner
Director of communications, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

Easter doesn’t really have a catchy slogan like Christmas. At Christmas, we say things like “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s true, but it seems that truth often winds up being a bumper sticker. 

However, Easter doesn’t lend itself easily to bumper sticker slogans. “Sin is the reason for the season” doesn’t exactly invoke Hallmark Channel holiday fuzzies. 

But sin is the reason for the season. Our sin. My sin; your sin. Individually. All eight billion of us globally. There was no other reason for God the Son to set aside His heavenly position to take the form of a man and die on a cross. Reconciliation to God, as the Apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians, isn’t necessary if our sin didn’t separate us from God. Jesus is the only option for sinful people to experience that reconciliation.

Unfortunately, Christianity in America seems to be migrating farther away from the biblical definition of sin. It is increasingly viewed as any act that causes us to feel poorly about ourselves, or anything that keeps us from reaching our full potential.  [Read more…]

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

Volunteers from Knox County Baptist Association and First Baptist Church, Sevierville,  sort through the debris of the former home of Martha and Carl Cupp which was destroyed by fire on March 30.

I never cease to be amazed at how quickly and effectively Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers mobilize to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

In late March and early April, wildfires swept across portions of Sevier County. While not nearly as devastating as the Gatlinburg fire of 2016, nearly 3,000 acres were burned and many homes damaged or destroyed.

Martha and Carl Cupp live in the Shagbark Community, a gated community of cabins, in Sevier County. Their home was one of about 38 that was destroyed or severely damaged in that complex. The couple has lived there for four years since retiring, but had owned and worked on their “dream home” for nearly 16 years. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
President & Executive Director, TBMB

Casino operators must know something about bass fishing. They’ll make the lure of a big jackpot dance and sparkle in the bright lights hovering above slot machines and roulette wheels. They mesmerize their catch with nibbles of what could be, and then before someone realizes it, WHAM! The hook is set, and the person is caught and reeled in. 

In the long run, the House wins every time. 

Before we go any further, let’s establish an indisputable fact. Casinos make big money for the people who own and build casinos, not for the people who gamble in them.

Unfortunately, there has been serious stirrings this legislative session to move Tennessee toward becoming a casino state. Some of our state lawmakers have entertained a way to bypass our state Constitution and legalize casinos without Tennesseans having the opportunity to vote on this issue. 

Currently, Tennessee law states that “Gambling is contrary to the public policy of this state and means risking anything of value for a profit whose return is to any degree contingent on chance, or any games of chance associated with casinos, including, but not limited to, slot machines, roulette wheels and the like.” [Read more…]