Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
January 18, 2024
By Lauren C. GrimCreative Services Manager, The Baptist PaperEDITOR’S NOTE — Mason Grim has been on many people’s prayer lists since the day he was born in the fall of 2018. His mother, Lauren Grim, who designs the pages you read in The Baptist Paper, shared his birth story in the Jan. 14, 2021, issue […]
January 12, 2024
By Lonnie WilkeyEditor, Baptist & ReflectorIn a recent story in the Baptist and Reflector, Tim Ellsworth, a longtime friend and a talented journalist provided coverage of the last service of one of our Tennessee Baptist churches in Brownsville. Calvary Baptist Church closed its doors after 70 years of ministry. The church began in 1953 as […]
December 22, 2023
By Randy C. DavisPresident and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission BoardHistorically significant milestones are often years in the making, and we have one rising on our horizon. Look with me through the months ahead to November, Summit 2024. We just finished Summit 2023 so you may wonder why we’d already be looking 11 months down […]
December 19, 2023
By David DawsonCommunications specialist, TBMBFrom time to time, I will run into someone who says, “I am kind of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas. I just don’t like it all that much.” At this point, I usually start making a few assumptions about this person. For instance, I presume that they hate puppies. […]
December 15, 2023
By Kathy McBroomContributing writer, Baptist and ReflectorEditor’s Note: While this column is written by a minister’s wife, the article is applicable to anyone, man or woman, who feels stress during the Christmas season. Ministers’ wives, does the Christmas season ever privately make you think “Oh, wow” versus “Yay?” So many parties, so many “bring a […]
December 15, 2023
By Adam B. DooleyPastor, Englewood Baptist Church, JacksonAs early as 1926, Neiman Marcus Company published its first annual catalogue of unusual Christmas gifts to the delight of customers. Then, in 1959, the retailer generated even more publicity by producing a list of fantasy gifts for the person who has everything. This unique holiday tradition continues […]
December 13, 2023
By Gary ElmorePastor, Point Pleasant Baptist Church, NewportAll of us will be surprised when we enter God’s presence and He reveals events and scenes from our lives that helped shape the eternal destiny of another — even though we didn’t have a clue at the time. However, sometimes The Father pulls back the curtain and […]
December 13, 2023
By Ryan KeatonEmerging generations specialist, Tennessee Baptist Mission BoardYour church can make a difference during the holidays. Church calendars are filled with meals, plays, candlelight services, and caroling. Church members’ schedules include family gatherings, school events, and church outings. With all the events already planned with seemingly no time to spare, how can you better […]
December 7, 2023
By Lonnie WilkeyEditor, Baptist & ReflectorEditor’s note: I am in the process of publishing a book of columns I have written over the years. Here is a variation of one I wrote that was published Dec. 21, 2005. It has been updated. Have you ever struggled with what gift to buy someone you love for […]
December 6, 2023
By Randy C. DavisPresident and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission BoardThe Christmas season in our culture has become a lot of things, and a good number of them have nothing to do with Christmas. Strip away all that has attached itself to the word, “Christmas” and what rises above everything else is the actual purpose […]
November 29, 2023
By Adam B. DooleyPastor, Englewood Baptist Church, JacksonYou shall be my witnesses (Acts 1:8). Go, teach, and baptize in order to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20). These were Jesus’ final instructions before His ascension back to Heaven (Acts 1:9). Yet, sharing the gospel with others is often a thankless assignment that is at […]
November 23, 2023
By Randy C. DavisPresident and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission BoardI love Thanksgiving. Oh, let me count the ways! Family, food, football. But I love Thanksgiving because by its nature, it is a time to press pause on a busy year that seems to pick up speed as it careens toward Christmas. In fact, Thanksgiving […]