Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
We ask God to bless America. But in all seriousness, why would He?
We’ve chosen happiness over holiness, pleasure over purity, politics over prayer, and earth over heaven.
Why would God bless America?
We’ve forsaken the Golden Rule and replaced it with the rule of gold. We’ve sought power more than served people. We decry idolatry and, yet, we’ve become idolaters. [Read more…]
Loneliness and isolation are endemic to the ministry. Ministry isolation and loneliness is partly self-imposed and is partly imposed by the ministry itself. Let’s examine the life of the Prophet Elijah (see I Kings 19:10). In his life and ministry we see the anatomy of loneliness and its remedies. The remedies are not secular, but biblical, spiritual, and practical.
Elijah was a nineth century prophet (870-845 B.C.). God called him to speak prophetic truth to God’s wayward people and to unjust powers. The pinnacle of Elijah’s confrontation with the kingdoms of this world can be found in 1 Kings 18 as he faced down and destroyed the false prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, which led to the humiliation of the spineless King Ahab and his ruthless wife, Queen Jezebel. [Read more…]
Editor’s note: In order to protect the privacy of this family, the names have been withheld. I personally know this wonderful family and the writer is a pastor of a Tennessee Baptist church. Due to the negative publicity this resolution generated in June, I wanted to give Tennessee Baptists a perspective from a family who has experienced the heartbreak of infertility. See pasge 8 for more information on the resolution.
In the aftermath of this year’s SBC annual meeting, many headlines were written claiming that the SBC came out in opposition of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) after passing of a resolution “On the ethical realities of reproductive technologies and the dignity of the human embryo.”
Many emotions were triggered by those headlines from people whose families have been touched by the struggles of infertility. As someone who was in the room when that resolution was passed and has personally experienced the utter heartbreak of infertility, I wanted to speak to why I voted in favor of the resolution. [Read more…]
Teeter
Is your pastor making a living wage? Our pastors willingly carry many burdens on their congregation’s behalf, but financial hardship should not be one of them. When they answered the call to ministry, they didn’t go in with the expectation of building wealth but they did hope to earn a solid income to provide for themselves and their families and to finish well financially.
Unfortunately, the pastor’s pay is losing ground. The latest SBC church compensation study revealed that pastors’ compensation has remained flat over the previous four years, while inflation increased by 17 percent during that same time.
We appreciate our pastors and want to ensure they are provided for financially as the Lord leads them in ministry. Proper compensation for our pastors is not only a matter of fairness but also essential for maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our churches. On the other hand, financial insecurity can hinder a pastor’s ability to minister effectively and strain the relationship between him and his congregation. That’s why the careful evaluation of pastoral compensation packages is essential. [Read more…]
The last two weeks seem like a blur with all that has happened in our nation.
On July 13, a 20-year-old Pennsylvanian attempted to assassinate former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump while he was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania.
An assassination attempt on a president or candidate has not occurred since 1981 when at attempt was made on then president Ronald Reagan.
The bullet missed killing Trump by a millimeter, according to most estimates. Many people are saying that God miraculously spared his life. I believe He did. By all accounts of “experts,” Trump should be dead today.
I don’t agree with the contention that God spared Trump’s life to anoint him as the next president. That remains to be seen. I do believe that God spared his life to avoid our nation plunging into choas. [Read more…]
Dooley
In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, Americans are left wanting answers surrounding the tragedy.
One brave father present at the rally, Corey Comperatore, died protecting his family from a stray bullet. Two other attendees, James Copenhaver and David Dutch, suffered critical injuries but are now recovering in stable condition.
The near miss on President Trump was nothing less than breathtaking. Had the Republican nominee not turned his head at precisely the correct moment, the sniper’s murderous intent would have been realized. Had the position of the bullet been just one inch to the right, the course of American history would have changed forever in a Pennsylvania field. One cannot come closer to death and emerge unscathed. [Read more…]
Revitalization of our churches is one of the core goals of our association.
I was recently speaking on revitalization and there was a lady in the group who I could tell was not on board with what I was saying.
She raised her hand and in a very standoffish way asked, “Without all the mumbo jumbo, what does revitalization mean?” I replied, “It means our churches need revival.” She instantly smiled and agreed.
Once the connection was made between revitalization and revival, she went from opposing it to advocating for it. [Read more…]
Thomas
The days and weeks immediately following Vacation Bible School are the most crucial for outreach. But so often this critical element seems to fall through the cracks. We all have good intentions for connecting with children and families again after VBS, but then the aftermath of VBS kicks in.
The excitement of VBS is over. People are tired. Life returns to normal. It’s time to go on vacation. There are tons of excuses — and most are valid. Here are five tips on how to follow-up on your VBS.
1. Enlist a follow-up director just like you would a VBS director. Make this your point person for coming up with a strategy for follow-up that’s effective and easy for everyone to participate in. The follow-up director should enlist a follow-up team to work with VBS teachers to make sure every child is remembered after the week of VBS is over. This is especially important for children who are not already a part of the church family! [Read more…]
As the walls of our beloved church, which have stood proudly since January 1936, are being dismantled to pave the way for a new chapter, it’s crucial to reminisce about the rich history that has shaped our community. Each brick, each pew and each glass window hold within it a story of faith, resilience and devotion.
The story of Celina First Baptist Church is rooted in the vision and dedication of its founding members, Mary Belle Spear and E.W. Fox. In the midst of economic hardship during the Great Depression, their unwavering faith and determination laid the foundation for our church’s establishment.
With fervent prayers and determination, they embarked on a journey to bring their dream to fruition; however, their vision alone was not enough, and through the financial assistance and support of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, that their dream became a reality. Without this crucial support, our community may have never gained a Baptist church to call its own. [Read more…]
You know it well if you are a Vacation Bible School alumnus.
“I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy Word. I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.”
I remember like it was yesterday the day I was chosen to lead the Vacation Bible School processional into Shiloh Baptist Church. I carried the Bible and would present it with great attention when it was time for that pledge. [Read more…]
