Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
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?”
December 24, 2019
Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention leaders Randy C. Davis and Bruce Chesser have followed up on a resolution passed by Tennessee Baptists at their annual meeting in November at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville with a letter to Tennessee’s state senators. Tennessee Baptists approved without opposition a resolution in support of life […]
December 11, 2019
By Aaron Earls LifeWay News Office NASHVILLE — As retail stores hope the holiday shopping season gives their bottom line a lift, American Protestant pastors are less sure the economy is helping their congregations this year. Around two in five pastors of Protestant churches in the United States (41 percent) say the economy is having […]
December 3, 2019
By Josh Wester Baptist Press NASHVILLE — The popular U.S. fast food chain, Chick-fil-A, Inc., recently announced a new policy concerning its charitable giving. According to an online statement, the policy, which will take effect in 2020, will focus the company’s charitable donations on the areas of hunger, homelessness and education. In 2019, the Chick-fil-A […]
November 14, 2019
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector lwilkey@tnbaptist.org In 2015, Tennessee legislators passed a state law that authorized local school boards across the state to put policies in place allowing students to be excused during the school day to attend a class in “religious moral instruction.” The freedom to have release time for biblical or […]
November 13, 2019
Tennessee church planters, volunteers shine light in Denver By Lonnie Wilkey & Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector DENVER — If you love hiking and skiing and other outdoor activities, Denver is the place to live. If you love Jesus, you might get lonely. People are flocking to Denver and its surrounding communities. In 2018, it […]
October 10, 2019
TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector ddawson@tnbaptist.org SHELBYVILLE — “Does anyone know what a slo-fie is?” asked Donna Blaydes as she glanced around the classroom filled with adults. After a few moments of mostly blank stares and silence, Blaydes explained that the term, which is […]
October 9, 2019
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector ddawson@tnbaptist.org SHELBYVILLE — While leading a breakout session called “Parenting and Grandparenting Gen Z Kids” at the TBMB’s conference, Debbie Doane revealed 10 common characteristics among Gen Z-ers. Doane then discussed ways in which these characteristics shape relationships with this demographic. By learning more about their world, it becomes […]