Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CHANGE HAPPENS BUT THE MISSION REMAINS

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

LifeWay Building

The March 20 headline splashed across Christianity Today, The Tennessean and National Public Radio was one few in Southern Baptist life thought they’d ever read. There were variations, but in effect they all communicated the same thing: “LifeWay Christian Resources, the largest Christian retail chain in America, plans to close all 170 stores this year and shift its offerings entirely online.”

It was a sad day that revealed the lifelong emotional attachment many Southern Baptists have had with the bookstore. Frankly, generations of us have never known a world without a Baptist Book Store or a Lifeway Christian Store. Many expressed their anger with statements about how the bookstore was more than just books. It was the people who worked there — who ministered there — who made the stores what they were. [Read more…]

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BRICK AND MORTAR VS. ONLINE: BOTH ARE NEEDED

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

LifeWay Christian Resources’ decision to close their “brick and mortar” stores by year end has caused some angst among Tennessee Baptists.

And, I admit, I’m one of them.

I understand their reasoning. According to their news release, LifeWay Christian Stores has experienced a decline in customer traffic and sales. Business is business, but in LifeWay’s case, it also is a ministry to the thousands upon thousands of Southern Baptist churches across our convention. [Read more…]

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MOST PASTORS SEE SPORTS GAMBLING AS IMMORAL, OPPOSE ITS LEGALIZATION

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Americans are expected to wager more than $8 billion on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but don’t bet on many pastors joining in.

A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found most pastors believe it is morally wrong to bet on sports, while few agree it should be legalized nationwide. [Read more…]

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BREAKING NEWS: LIFEWAY’S WAGGONER NAMED ACTING PRESIDENT AND CEO

By Carol Pipes
Lifeway director of corporate communications

Brad Waggoner

NASHVILLE — LifeWay Christian Resources board chairman Jimmy Scroggins announced today that trustees have asked Executive Vice President Brad Waggoner to serve as acting president and CEO of LifeWay until a new president is named.

Waggoner will serve in the role previously held by Thom S. Rainer who announced his retirement in August 2018. [Read more…]

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PASTORS: OFFERINGS SEE BOOST IN 2018

By Aaron Earls

LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — The economic recovery has reached the offering plate, according to a study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.

Today, eight in 10 Protestant pastors (79 percent) say the total offerings at their church this year are at or above last year’s levels, including 42 percent who say this year is ahead of last year. Few pastors (15 percent) say giving is not keeping pace with last year.

Those positive giving numbers have followed the economic upturn, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

“The increases in offerings so many churches are experiencing coincide with what most economists refer to as ‘full employment,’ as well as increased wage growth in 2018,” McConnell said. [Read more…]

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AMERICANS DIFFER ON HISTORIC CHRISTIAN VIEWS

By Carol Pipes
LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — Six in 10 Americans say religious belief is a matter of personal opinion. For 7 in 10 Americans, such religious beliefs include one true God existing in three persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But an increasing majority of Americans deny Jesus has always existed and many say the Holy Spirit is a force rather than a personal being.

Those are among the findings of a new study of American views on Christian theology from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.

“When the majority of Americans believe religious belief is more personal opinion than objective truth, then we expect to see contradictory beliefs as well as beliefs that change over time,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

The survey of 3,000 Americans was sponsored by Orlando-based Ligonier Ministries. Titled the “2018 State of Theology Study,” it is the third in a series of surveys examining Americans’ theological beliefs. Previous surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2014. [Read more…]

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SURVEY REVEALS MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF SBC MINISTERS DON’T HAVE A WILL

Tennessee Baptist Foundation will assist ministers, laity with estate plans

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — The results of a recent survey about estate planning, contracted by the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Foundation, are disappointing but not surprising, said Bill Gruenewald, president of the Tennessee Baptist Foundation.

The survey, conducted by LifeWay Research, revealed that more than half of Southern Baptist pastors do not have a will, trust, living will, electronic will, legacy story or durable power of attorney with health care directives.

The survey also indicated that pastors age 18-44 are least likely to have a will (31 percent) or a durable power of attorney with health care directives (14 percent). Even among pastors closest to retirement (ages 55-64 and 65-plus), the portion of those who have a will is just barely a majority (54 percent), according to the survey. [Read more…]

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LIFEWAY WORKERS ‘FINE’ AFTER BULLET DESTROYS WINDOW

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

No employees were injured when a bullet of unknown origin shattered a large fifth-floor window Sept. 20 at LifeWay Christian Resources new downtown Nashville complex. LifeWay photo

NASHVILLE — “Employees are fine” a day after a bullet destroyed a fifth-floor window at LifeWay Christian Resources’ downtown Nashville complex, company spokesperson Carol Pipes told Baptist Press. [Read more…]

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A USEFUL TOOL

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

For most Tennessee Baptist churches, the beginning of September means it’s time to plan next year’s budget.

Having served on a church personnel committee in the past I know the challenges of trying to determine salaries and benefits for church staff. It’s not an easy task. Church staff members are under the same pressure to support their families as is someone who works in any other profession. Yet, it is imperative to work within the resources of the church. [Read more…]

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