Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
July 9, 2020
By Todd Brady Vice President for University Ministries, Union University Some of society’s half-baked thinking has been exposed and mocked recently by conservative pundit, Jesse Kelly. Last week, Kelly tweeted “Yale University was named for Elihu Yale. Not just a man who had slaves. An actual slave trader. I call on @Yale to change it’s […]
July 8, 2020
Baptist Press WASHINGTON — Pro-life leaders expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal 29 to uphold a Louisiana law designed to protect the lives and health of women by requiring hospital admitting privileges for doctors who perform abortions. In a 5-4 decision, the high court ruled the law — which mandated a physician […]
June 12, 2020
By Art Toalston Contributing writer, B&R Warmhearted feelings amid the pandemic can be hard to come by. Maybe you’ve been venturing out to help neighbors with limited mobility or carrying a batch of fresh cookies to their doorstep. You might be enjoying warmhearted moments of connecting with your family there at home or in video […]
June 10, 2020
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, B&R For decades, Elmer Fudd terrorized Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny with his rifle. Daffy and the “wascally wabbit” probably couldn’t care less that Elmer Fudd’s rifle has been taken away. His bullets always missed. Now, in a new “reboot” of the classic cartoons, Elmer Fudd can be seen wielding a […]
June 4, 2020
By Ternae Jordan, Charles Grant & Thomas Bester Tennessee Baptist Mission Board It’s a familiar story. Black man is taken into custody by a police officer and is murdered. Arrests follow, press conference held, speeches made, people march, people riot, politicians posture, reform is promised. Nothing changes. The pages of this tired script are frayed […]
June 1, 2020
By Baptist Press staff NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist leaders have published a statement grieving the recent death of George Floyd and calling for the end of “racial inequity in the distribution of justice in our country.” The statement, co-authored by SBC president J.D. Greear and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president Jamie Dew, was unanimously […]
May 29, 2020
By Chris Turner cturner@tnbaptist.org I had an incident with a black teenager this morning at exactly 6:53 am while on my morning walk in my overwhelmingly white suburban neighborhood located in one of the wealthiest counties in the country. He approached me dressed in a patterned white t-shirt, a pair of shorts I’d never pay […]
May 24, 2020
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector On Monday, May 25, many Americans across the nation have a paid holiday. Many will spend the day on golf courses, lakes, hiking trails, and numerous other places enjoying barbecue, burgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings. I wonder, however, how many people actually know why they have […]
May 12, 2020
Holston Baptist pastors lead revival online By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector lwilkey@tnbaptist.org JOHNSON CITY — What began as a conversation to discuss reopening churches in northeast Tennessee has turned into perhaps a month-long revival. “The revival vision was birthed out of a Zoom meeting of Holston Baptist Association pastors to discuss everyone’s thoughts […]
April 22, 2020
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector ddawson@tnbaptist.org MURFREESBORO — In keeping with social-distancing guidelines, many churches have elected to use online streaming in place of their normal worship services and other gatherings. The transition hasn’t been easy for all churches, especially those who had never before used live streaming. And that’s where New Vision Baptist […]
April 17, 2020
By Tony Rankin Special to the Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — These strange days of COVID-19 and the impact of tornados cause us to feel like we are juggling chainsaws on a tightrope. Frequently an overwhelming sense of gloominess or depression coincides with difficulties of addressing the ordinary stresses of illness or disaster.
April 14, 2020
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector lwilkey@tnbaptist.org FRANKLIN — In his weekly COVID-19 update on April 8, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, reminded Tennessee Baptists that the world is watching. “How is this generation going to remember how we, as Christians, responded to this crisis?”