Hardwick
Southern Baptists found themselves in a rapidly changing world 100 years ago. The 1920s roared with supposed progress that left many questioning long-trusted truth. Rising modernism challenged Scriptural beliefs, morality, creation and threatened the foundations of our missional efforts.
Amid the uncertainty, Southern Baptists, and specifically Tennessee Baptists, chose to stand firm on God’s Word and in shared commitment to His mission.
The defining year was 1925, and it still defines us a century later. Southern Baptists adopted the Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) and launched the Cooperative Program (CP) that year in Memphis.
Tennessee Baptists went a step further in 1925 by establishing what became Tennessee Baptist Collegiate Ministries.
Each milestone powerfully speaks to Tennessee Baptists as people of clarity in what we believe, how we cooperate in our missional efforts, and in our purposeful calling to reach and send the next generation.
Our confession is still clear
The BF&M defined the theological essentials that united Southern Baptists, then and now. As in 1925, doctrinal clarity matters more now than ever in shaping everything we do. Doctrine isn’t just theory; it fuels our devotion and mission, and drives our convictions. Without a robust statement of faith, we have no mission worth pursuing.
A clearly stated doctrinal confession allows us to advance together in unity because we remain firmly grounded in the unchanging truth of God’s Word even 100 years later.
Our cooperation is still vital
The CP was a bold idea that changed the way we approach missions. Instead of each church pursuing the Great Commission on its own, they determined to give sacrificially and collectively to work together. They trusted God to do more through their combined efforts than could be accomplished alone. We are still better together!
Through CP, Southern Baptists fund missionaries, seminaries, disaster relief, church planting, compassion ministries, and more.
I wish those founding fathers of CP could see us now and marvel at the collective global impact Southern Baptists have because of what they started. Praise God for their vision. I am grateful we still advance together as we pray, give and go.
Our campuses are still our future
Colleges in 1925 were nearly as robust and populated as they are now, but Tennessee Baptists understood then, and understand now, that campuses are mission fields, equipping centers, and launch pads for the next generation of kingdom leaders.
Surely it was an act of faith when our predecessors established Tennessee BCM with the hope that countless thousands of students would be impacted through campus ministry. Mission accomplished, with more to accomplish in the next 100 years.
Students have been led to faith in Christ through BCMs, grown as disciples, and mobilized for ministry and mission. So many pastors, missionaries, and church leaders trace their roots back to their BCM involvement, including me!
The work of BCMs is more vital today than ever as a beacon of truth shining through the cultural storm of relativity.
Advancing the mission — together
We are still at it a century later. Our confession is still clear, our cooperation is still vital, and our campus ministries are still pertinent to future generations.
We owe much to our Tennessee Baptist forebears, but the best way to express gratitude is to faithfully continue the work they began.
We will celebrate these milestones next month at Summit, and renew our commitment to advancing together in doctrinal clarity, missional cooperation, and reaching Tennessee’s university campuses for Christ.
As we celebrate the legacy of the past 100 years, may those who come behind us celebrate the work done over the next 100 years.
See you in Jackson! B&R
