Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

ARE WEDNESDAY CHURCH SERVICES STILL RELEVANT?

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

Baptist Press recently ran an article from LifeWay Research on whether or not Protestant churches still hold Wednesday night services.

And, they do. In fact, the number is a lot higher than I imagined — nine out of 10 Protestant pastors say their church has some type of service on Wednesday nights, according to the survey. Only 10 percent have no regular events on Wednesday.

Given the fact that some churches no longer have Sunday night services, I am a bit surprised (pleasantly) by the large number of churches that open their doors on Wednesday night. [Read more…]

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MANDRELL INSTALLED AS LIFEWAY’S 10TH PRESIDENT, ANTICIPATES ‘BRIGHT FUTURE’

By Aaron Wilson
LifeWay Christian Resources

Ben Mandrell is the new president of LifeWay Christian Resources.

NASHVILLE — LifeWay trustees, employees and special guests gathered at the organization’s headquarters on Monday to celebrate the inauguration of Ben Mandrell as the 10th president of LifeWay Christian Resources.

On a day marked with heavy rain and overcast skies, Mandrell forecasted a bright future for the organization—not just in fiscal growth, but in the spiritual impact LifeWay will continue to make throughout the world. [Read more…]

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BIBLE ‘TAX’ AVOIDED

Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist leaders welcomed indications from the U.S. Trade Ambassador on Aug. 13 that a so-called “Bible tax” will be avoided.

Bibles and religious literature currently are no longer subject to the upcoming 10 percent tariff hike set to be imposed on goods imported from China beginning Sept. 1. Previously, Bibles were among the items that would see a price increase as part of the growing trade war between the U.S. and China. [Read more…]

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LIFEWAY TO FREEZE PENSION PLAN FOR PENSION-ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner
Baptist and Reflector

NASHVILLE — Despite concerns and rumors, current retirees of LifeWay Christian Resources over the age of 65 are not losing their pensions or medical benefits. However, the Nashville-based, publishing division of the Southern Baptist Convention will freeze its LifeWay Pension Plan effective Jan. 1, 2020 for current pension-eligible employees.

LifeWay Christian Resources announced changes to its retiree life insurance and pre-65 retiree medical benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Most of the changes affect current employees and those who retired before age 65. LifeWay shared the changes in letters to current and future retirees on June 29. The changes were approved by LifeWay trustees at their February meeting. [Read more…]

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MANDRELL UNANIMOUSLY ELECTED AS LIFEWAY’S 10TH PRESIDENT

By Carol Pipes
LifeWay news office

Ben and Lynley Mandrell were presented Bibles from LifeWay Christian Resources trustees after Ben Mandrell’s election as president and CEO on June 28, 2019. — Photo by Greta Reynolds

ATLANTA — LifeWay Christian Resources trustees unanimously elected Ben Mandrell as the organization’s 10th president during a special-called meeting June 28 in Atlanta.  

“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead in such an important season for LifeWay,” Mandrell told trustees during the plenary session. “My first priority is to get our family to Nashville and begin loving the people at LifeWay. There is already an amazing team in place, and I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and work alongside them.” [Read more…]

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MANDRELL ANNOUNCED AS CANDIDATE FOR LIFEWAY PRESIDENT AND CEO

By Carol Pipes
LifeWay Christian Resources

Ben Mandrell, 42, will be nominated by LifeWay Christian Resources trustees’ presidential search committee as the entity’s 10th president. The vote is scheduled for a June 28, 2019 board meeting in Atlanta. —Photo courtesy of Storyline Fellowship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The presidential search committee of LifeWay Christian Resources’ trustees has unanimously recommended Ben Mandrell become the entity’s next president and CEO. LifeWay’s board of trustees will vote on the recommendation during a special-called session Friday, June 28, in Atlanta. Mandrell is a former Tennessee Baptist pastor. 

If elected, Mandrell will become the 10th president of the 128-year-old organization.

Mandrell, 42, serves as lead pastor of Storyline Fellowship in Arvada, Colo. He and his family moved to the Denver area in 2014 to plant Storyline Fellowship in partnership with the North American Mission Board and First Baptist Church Orlando. The church launched in February 2015 with 250 people and has grown to 1,600 in weekly attendance, with over 2,800 this past Easter.  [Read more…]

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CHURCHGOERS FAIL TO SERVE

LifeWay News Office

NASHVILLE — The 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found few Protestant churchgoers say they strongly agree they are personally taking actions that indicate a life of service to God and others.

Fifteen percent of Protestant churchgoers strongly agree they intentionally give up certain purchases so they can use that money for others. Including those who somewhat agree, 41 percent say they practice that type of intentional generosity.

Among 18- to 34-year-olds attending a Protestant church once a month or more, 22 percent strongly agree they give up purchases to use that money for others.

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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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