Lonnie Wilkey Archives - Baptist & Reflector

BRICK AND MORTAR VS. ONLINE: BOTH ARE NEEDED

April 17, 2019

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…]

‘HATE’ SHOULD BE USED ONLY FOR SIN

April 5, 2019

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

“Hate” is one of the most powerful words in the English language.

Most dictionaries define the verb “hate” as to “feel intense or passionate dislike for (someone).”

“Hate,” when used as a noun means “intense or passionate dislike.”

How we use the word “hate” is important. In and of itself, “hate” is not a bad word. There are some things we need to “hate” — violence, poverty, abortion, liver and onions, Clemson, etc. But there are some people who use the word to stir up bitterness and anger. That needs to stop. The word “hate” is polarizing our nation as never before, especially when it is used to describe Christians. [Read more…]

ANNIE ARMSTRONG — STILL MAKING A DIFFERENCE

March 5, 2019

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

Annie Armstrong has been in heaven with the Lord she loved for 81 years, but her legacy lives on and she is still making a difference for God on this earth.

Annie Armstrong was born in Baltimore in 1850 in a culture where women were not necessarily considered leaders. But she ultimately became a leader and challenged churches to raise money and support for missionaries. [Read more…]

A FRESH ROLL OF PAPER — HOW WILL WE USE IT?

January 10, 2019

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

The printed issue of the Baptist and Reflector goes to press every two weeks during the year.

The B&R staff prepares the copy, proofs it carefully (we have the two best proofers any publication could have in Mary Nimmo and Susan Dalton). David Dawson (TBMB communications specialist who writes for and designs the paper) and I also read it carefully prior to sending it to the printer.

Invariably, the paper is printed and we occasionally find something that we probably should have caught the day before. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen nearly as much as it used to and I attribute it to the dedication and diligence of our staff. [Read more…]

GETTING RID OF THE CLUTTER AT CHRISTMAS

December 18, 2018

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Clutter. We’ve all seen it. We know it when we see it.

In my case, I’m probably the king of clutter. People walk by my office, look at my desk and just shake their head and move on. I like to refer to my “mess” as “organized clutter.”

But no matter what “spin” I give it, I’m still guilty of cluttering my desk/office space with stuff. One dictionary definition defines clutter as a “disorderly heap of assemblage.” Another defines it as “to fill or litter with things in a disorderly matter” while yet another definition calls it “a state or condition of confusion.” [Read more…]

AN ICON IN BAPTIST JOURNALISM STEPS DOWN

December 5, 2018

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

Bob Terry, who retires Dec. 31 as editor of The Alabama Baptist, is joined by the state paper’s staff prior to a celebration of his 50 years with Baptist newspapers.
-Photo: The Alabama Baptist

Long before I joined the staff of the Baptist and Reflector in 1988 I worked on the staff of the former Education Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, an entity that was disbanded in the mid-1990s as part of the restructuring of the convention.

While serving as director of communications for the Education Commission I had the privilege and opportunity to write for Baptist Press on occasion and work in the newsroom during the annual meeting. [Read more…]

REMEMBER THE SIMPLE BLESSINGS THIS THANKSGIVING

November 21, 2018

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

With Thanksgiving drawing near on Nov. 22, I want to share a neat story that took place nearly two weeks ago.

In the Oct. 24 issue of the Baptist and Reflector, we ran a feature story on Ivan Raley, pastor of First Baptist Church, Byrdstown. Raley is an 80-year-old longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor and former Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home administrator. Fourteen months ago, Raley was diagnosed with stage four non-alcoholic related cirrhosis of the liver, a terminal condition with no cure. [Read more…]

REMEMBER THIS: NOT VOTING IS NOT AN OPTION

October 23, 2018

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

We no longer live in a simple Democrat or Republican world. It’s no longer about whose policies are best for the greater good of the country. We have transitioned into a government where it is liberal versus conservative. It’s morality versus amorality.

Americans will go to the polls on Nov. 6. This is the last print issue before the election.

As editor of a religious publication I have no right or authority to tell anyone to vote for any individual and certainly not any political party. But I do have a moral responsibility to encourage our readers and members of our Baptist churches to vote. [Read more…]

‘YELLOW CAPS’ STILL MAKING A DIFFERENCE

October 9, 2018

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

I spent part of last week in and around the coast of North Carolina with William Maxwell, administrative director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, meeting some of the most dedicated servants of Christ anywhere — disaster relief volunteers.

Volunteers from all across Tennessee were helping North Carolinians recover from the devastation to their homes caused by Hurricane Florence earlier in September.

Though the high winds and heavy rains have been gone for nearly a month, flooding has continued and, as a result, many homeowners are just now getting their homes cleaned out by volunteers. [Read more…]

A USEFUL TOOL

September 13, 2018

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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