Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
September 30, 2022
By Randy C. DavisPresident and executive director, TBMB It’s been said that complacency is the enemy of progress. Interestingly, complacency is often a byproduct of success. That sounds counterintuitive, but think about it. When things are cruising along and we experience win after win, we can slip into cruise control. If we don’t stay alert […]
September 28, 2022
By Lonnie WilkeyEditor, Baptist and ReflectorPew Research recently released a report that predicts Christians will comprise less than 50 percent of the population of the United States by 2050 (see full story at baptistandreflector.org under the SBC tab). That projection may be optimistic. If you add the number of Christians who sometimes forget who they […]
September 23, 2022
By Todd E. BradyVice president for University Ministries, Union University, JacksonRecently, President Joe Biden announced that he would erase student debt up to $10,000 for every person making less than $125,000 in income. For those who receive a Pell Grant, their debt elimination would rise to $20,000. The decision by the president to unilaterally spend […]
September 22, 2022
By Clay HallmarkPresident, Tennessee Baptist ConventionIn the summer, the state forced a smaller school system to consolidate with a much larger school system nearby. The high school of the smaller school system no longer had a football team but was forced to become a part of the larger school’s football team. This was disturbing to […]
September 19, 2022
By Darlene Bell Ministry assistant for Jefferson County Baptist AssociationWhat does the Baptist Association do? The roll of the association is to train and educate our church leaders so that they are better prepared to minister to their members and communities. That is the short answer, but we do so much more. Twenty-three years ago, […]
September 16, 2022
By Randy C. DavisPresident and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission BoardI was recently on a swing through southeast Tennessee visiting with pastors and churches when I met a young man named Daniel as I walked out of a Hampton Inn in Athens. One of the first things I noticed about Daniel was the logo on […]
September 14, 2022
By Lonnie WilkeyEditor, Baptist and ReflectorThe United States House of Representatives passed a bill in July which garnered bipartisan support entitled the “Respect of Marriage Act.” The U.S. Senate is trying to pass the bill but has not yet garnered enough Republican support. The bill’s title sounds great, right? After all, isn’t it time that […]
September 12, 2022
By Johnnie C. GodwinContributing columnist, B&RBilly Graham began his message to my seminary chapel with a disclaimer. He said that he had been so pressed for time and travel that he hadn’t had time to prepare his message. He added that he had asked the Holy Spirit to just fill him. He was fully aware […]
September 9, 2022
By Sean EvansProfessor of political science and chair of the department of political science, Union University, JacksonIn June, the Supreme Court ruled in Carson v. Makin that the government must treat religious people the same as everyone else when distributing governmental benefits. The case involved a Maine law that provided tuition assistance for students in […]
September 5, 2022
By Matt TullosSpecial assistant to the executive directorThe Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. What’s the point? Allow me to answer these questions with another question: What would Tennessee be like without the Golden Offering? 1. Compassion ministries would go away. We would not have the resources to feed people who are at the poverty line. […]
September 1, 2022
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and ReflectorBaptist Press posted a disturbing story on Aug. 22 about the Bible being temporarily removed from school libraries in Keller, Texas. See story at baptistandreflector.org. The Keller school district was quick to respond to an inquiry from Baptist Press. “Books that have been challenged by community members as being […]
September 1, 2022
By Vickie AndersonExecutive director, Tennessee Woman’s Missionary UnionIn 1902 W.C. and Mildred Golden cast a vision for Tennessee Baptists to pray for our Tennessee mission field and give to the first state missions offering; a total of $800 was given. In 1943, Tennessee WMU named the state missions offering after the Goldens. Today, churches are […]