Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
March 9, 2026
Baptist and ReflectorEditor’s note: Below is the second installment of a new feature in the B&R that is aimed to help pastors and church leaders get answers to hard questions. Dear Leader Board, I’ve been at my church long enough to have history. I’ve buried saints, baptized their grandchildren, and fought battles that still echo […]
March 6, 2026
By Chris TurnerEditor, Baptist and ReflectorSouthern Baptists have lingered at a critical intersection for the past several years, and the ultimate choice of which road we take will shape our identity. Essentially, who will we most resemble — Saul or Paul? Both have a bearing on how effectively we fulfill our Great Commission responsibility. We […]
March 5, 2026
By Lewis McMullenChurch planting lead, TBMBThere is a time and a season for everything, Ecclesiastes reminds us, and I’ve learned through the years that applies to churches as it does to individuals. There are seasons to plant new churches, but there are also seasons when replanting or restoring an existing congregation becomes necessary. Every struggling […]
March 4, 2026
By Randy C. DavisPresident & executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission BoardI played high school football for the Satsuma Gators in the sweltering heat and humidity of August two-a-day practices. Gatorade hadn’t been invented yet and staying hydrated was considered a sign of weakness. That was ignorance, but it was the norm back then. On that […]
February 23, 2026
Baptist and ReflectorEditor’s note: Below is the first installment of a new feature in the B&R that is aimed to help pastors and church leaders get answers to hard questions. Dear Leader Board, I’ve been a pastor long enough to know that not everyone agrees with every decision. But lately, it feels different. It’s not […]
February 20, 2026
By Ben CowellPastor • Brownsville Baptist ChurchMy father passed away on Oct. 17, 2025, after suffering a massive stroke. His mind was clouded during his final days in the hospital, but he could still recall Scripture verses and hymn lyrics. Two pastor friends came to visit, and dad didn’t let them leave without telling them, […]
February 19, 2026
By Chris TurnerEditor, Baptist and ReflectorLet’s just get the bad news out of the way first. The Baptist and Reflector will increase its subscription rates beginning April 1, 2026. Unfortunately, that is not an April Fool’s joke. No one likes price increases, especially me. I mean, does anyone else begin to hyperventilate these days at […]
February 18, 2026
By Dan SpencerTBC presidentI once heard Morris Chapman make an astounding claim when he was president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, a position he held for 18 years. “I have been involved in a lot of gospel work in the last week,” he said to the group. “On Monday, […]
February 11, 2026
By Jon PopePastor • Springhill Baptist • ParisLet me first address the elephant in the room. I am a young pastor serving an older, established church, encouraging other established churches to consider calling younger pastors. “Of course he would,” some might say. I readily acknowledge that I have some skin in the game. Still, consider […]
February 10, 2026
By Jon PopePastor • Springhill Baptist • ParisWe love new things. New clothes, new cars, new shoes. In this new era of college football, schools seem to love finding new coaches, too. For many young pastors, planting new churches is the preferred avenue to ministry — and for good reason. Church planting offers meaningful benefits: […]
February 9, 2026
By Zoë WatkinsCommunications specialistTikTok is a breeding ground for rage-baiting. One mother posts videos of her two-year-old daughter regularly eating large portions of donuts, hamburgers, and marshmallows for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Maybe a few blueberries appear on the plate, which the child ignores. Viewers are horrified. They comment. They share. They rage. So much […]
February 5, 2026
By Chris TurnerEditor, Baptist and ReflectorBrother Ray was always sticking his nose into my business. He stuck his nose into the business of all my friends, too. Ray Newcomb was the longtime pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington. He was active in Tennessee Baptist Convention life, served as TBC president, worked on boards and committees, […]