Lonnie Wilkey Archives - Baptist & Reflector

WE ALL NEED A BREAK FROM INFORMATION OVERLOAD

July 8, 2020

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

Though we are nearing the four-month mark of the pandemic and some churches have begun to meet again, we’re still not back to where we were (before COVID-19).

And what’s more, it may be a while before we get there.

Add to it over the past few months, tornadoes and other storms, racial tension and protests in our nation, a presidential election in November, a Supreme Court decision giving non-discrimination protection to sexual orientation and gender identity and who knows what else, our nation is dealing with a “brain overload.”

That’s why the June 24 issue of the paper advocated that churches give their ministers a break and allow them to regroup before the new church year begins in a few months and possibly a second round of COVID-19. But a break from the insanity of today’s world is good for everyone. [Read more…]

AN EXCUSE BAPTISTS CAN NEVER USE AGAIN

May 13, 2020

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

“We’ve never done it that way before.”

If Southern Baptists had a national motto, it would be that simple sentence.

I have attended a Baptist church all of my life — and that now spans 62 years. I have heard that Baptist motto all of my life, and sadly, I have used it myself more than once. And, my guess is that most Baptists, if honest with themselves, will admit they also have said, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Oh, I almost forgot. The second part of that motto is, “And, we’re not going to start now.” [Read more…]

COVID-19: IT’S NOT A MATTER OF BLACK AND WHITE

April 29, 2020

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

Maryville Baptist Church in Hillview, Ky., made national news recently when the church chose to hold in-person worship services on Easter Sunday, defying the Kentucky governor’s stay at home order.

What’s more, Kentucky State Police officers patrolled the church parking lot, handing out citations. The church sued the state but a judge tossed it out of court.

On one side, people are screaming that the government is violating the freedom of religion clause in the United States Constitution. [Read more…]

WILL COVID-19 MAKE YOU REEVALUATE PRIORITIES?

April 15, 2020

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

COVID-19 has turned lives upside down all over the world. Thousands of people have died and thousands have gotten the disease. Thankfully, many have survived and have recovered from the virus.

Millions of people, however, have not gotten the disease but their lives also have changed. Whoever heard of “social distancing” a month ago? [Read more…]

KEEPING YOUR SANITY IN ‘THE TWILIGHT ZONE’

April 2, 2020

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

For decades upon decades, Americans have always raced to the next big task or achievement.

In the late 1880s to early 1900s, the United States entered the machine age where invention after invention improved society and our ability to move about. Automobiles and airplanes became primary modes of travel, far surpassing the horse and buggy and even trains. [Read more…]

VOLUNTEER SPIRIT SHOWN IN AMAZING WAYS

March 18, 2020

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

This church sign at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Donelson, which was destroyed by the March 3 tornado, is a timely reminder of God’s love, grace and mercy.

In the early morning hours of March 3, Tennesseans were awakened by tornado sirens across Middle Tennessee. In just a few minutes (though it probably was an eternity to those directly impacted), the storms moved on to another portion of the state.

The tornadoes left behind at least 24 fatalities, massive destruction and lives turned upside down. According to AccuWeather the total damage and economic loss caused by the March 3 tornadoes is estimated between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. That’s billion with a “B.”

And, after checking out sites throughout Benton, Davidson, Wilson and Putnam Counties, that is not as farfetched as it sounds. Hundreds of houses in the affected counties were just piles of rubble after the storms moved through. [Read more…]

EASTER OFFERING FUELS MISSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA

February 26, 2020

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

The Week of Prayer for North American Missions is fast approaching — March 1-8.

Thousands of Baptist churches will be focusing on missions all across North America on these dates, praying for specific missionaries, including Rob and Annabeth Wilton in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Wiltons have Tennessee ties. See story.

Then, on Easter Sunday, or even before, Southern Baptists across the nation will collect the annual Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The national goal for 2020 is $70 million. Every dollar of the AAEO goes to train, resource and deploy thousands of missionaries who serve as church planters or in compassion ministries.

Through the combined gifts, Southern Baptists are making a difference in North America by meeting needs, planting churches and discipling new believers. According to the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, “transformation is taking place one life at a time.”

The theme for this year’s week of prayer is “It’s All About the Gospel” and is based on I Corinthians 15:3-4 (CSB): “For I passed on to you as most important what I first received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. …” [Read more…]

REMEMBER YOUR BLESSINGS AS A NEW YEAR NEARS

December 24, 2019

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

Eli Beasley stands beside the sign at his school, Mountain View Elementary, on his birthday.

Due to the way the calendar fell this year, the Baptist and Reflector this week is actually dated Dec. 25. As a result, most of our readers will not read this issue until after Christmas.

The staff of the B&R hopes all of you had a very Merry Christmas and that you had a great day celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I also trust that we all took time to count the blessings that God has given each of us. [Read more…]

SMALL OR LARGE — EVERY CHURCH IS IMPORTANT

October 22, 2019

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

Lonnie Wilkey

In September, I had the privilege of “preaching” at my home church (Lima Baptist) in Travelers Rest, S.C. I grew up in that church and was saved and baptized at Lima Baptist. That’s where my spiritual roots are.

Lima is similar to many churches in Tennessee. It’s small in size. Right now, the church is in a downward trend — maybe 30-40 people on a good week. But, in years past the church has had as many as 70-80, maybe more. It’s in a small community with many churches nearby.

The church is around 150 years old and among its pastors over the years was a college student named R.G. Lee. Lee would move on to become one of the most recognized pastors in Southern Baptist Convention life. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE BAPTIST LIGHT SHINES AMID DARKNESS

August 21, 2019

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

Evil is real. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not.

How do we really know? “For the Bible tells me so.”

Do a “Google” search on the internet and you will find a multitude of verses that proclaim evil is real. I John 5:19 leaves no doubt: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one” (CSB). That’s about as plain as it gets. [Read more…]

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