Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R
Editor’s note: Part one of a two-part series.
I got saved when I was 7 years old. It was on the sixth stanza of “Just As I Am”— which just has five stanzas. On a Sunday night, our pastor extended the invitation until I finally quit waiting and said yes to God and confessed Christ as Lord and Savior. I was saved and baptized. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
For nearly three weeks, the world’s attention has been focused on Thailand where 12 soccer players and their coach were trapped in a cave for 18 days. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Cooperation. Churches talk about it all the time. Churches actually practice cooperation when they participate through the Cooperative Program. But how often do churches truly practice cooperation by “cooperating” with each other? My guess is — not often enough.
The standard definition of cooperation is “the process of working together to the same end.”
In this week’s issue (see photos and story here) is an example of area churches working together to show the love of Jesus in their community. [Read more…]
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
Davis Walker, 4-year-old grandson of Randy C. and Jeanne Davis, enjoys the beach for the first time in Florida.
I always love going home. The beauty astounds me.
I grew up on the Alabama Gulf Coast and love it. But it’s a little more than just loving it, it’s in my blood. The majority of my earliest memories are of water skiing up and down the canal, fishing off the coast of Orange Beach, shrimping in Perdido Bay, and sitting at the end of our pier drinking coffee and watching beautiful sunsets with my family.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had a beach fix in years. Like many of you, our family loves the surf and sand, so we’ve been anticipating a vacation to Blue Mountain Beach, Fla. [Read more…]
By Terry L. Kirby
Pastor and author from Jefferson City
“We the People” are some of the most inspiring words found in America’s founding documents. It should paint images of responsibility, unity, and opportunity in the collective minds of all Americans. As we approach Independence Day, all Americans must evaluate and rededicate their energy to be a part of “We the People” to keep America healthy and strong. [Read more…]
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
Transitions and changes are not the same. That’s important to keep in mind when considering the Southern Baptist Convention.
The 2018 SBC was a watershed convention for Southern Baptists. Most of the national news related to Southern Baptists was not good prior to the convention. It would be easy to gravitate toward the negatives, but I choose to focus on the positives.
And that’s where transition and change come in. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Messengers raise their ballots at the 2018 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas. Photo by Van Payne
The recent Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas offered something for everyone. [Read more…]
By Carolyn Tomlin
Contributing Writer, B&R
The third Sunday in June is the day set aside to honor our fathers — a day that pays tribute to our earthly father. For many people, the man who comes to mind is a grandfather, foster parent, adopted dad, a teacher or Sunday School leader.
On this day, as all other days, it is important to recognize the contribution our dads made to our families, our communities, and our churches. By observing this day, children have an opportunity to show love and respect to their fathers. Honoring our dads strengthens the bond between the child and father which supports the emotional growth of the child. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday, June 17. It’s a time set aside for children to honor or pay tribute to their dads.
I firmly believe that having the opportunity to be a father is one of the greatest privileges that God has ever given me. It’s also one of the hardest jobs I have ever had because of the responsibility that comes with the role.
Over the past few years authors have made a lot of money writing books “for dummies” — Football for Dummies, PCs for Dummies, etc.
Fortunately, God wrote the original book for “dummies” — the Bible, His Holy Word. God knew before He created the world that mankind could not make it on our own. We would need a lot of help and He has given that to us through His Word. [Read more…]
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
Steve Gaines
-Photo by Morris Abernathy
Messengers to the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention stand at the threshold of two watershed days in our denomination’s history this week as the annual meeting convenes in Dallas. More importantly, these representatives from our network of churches play a central role in the outcomes that lie ahead. [Read more…]
