Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — During four years of caring for his mother with Alzheimer’s, Mike Glenn would stop on the way to his office and have coffee with her most every day. He noted the visits were sometimes “funny” and other times, “painful beyond belief.”
Glenn began a Twitter series called “Coffee with Mom” “just to have a place to deal with the funny but painful, daily process of dealing with Mom and her illness.” [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Mike Glenn, lead pastor at Brentwood Baptist, poses with a stack of ‘Coffee with Mom’ — the book he wrote about his mom’s battle with Alzheimer’s.
BRENTWOOD — As a minister for more than 40 years, Mike Glenn walked through the valley of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with many families over the years.
But he admits that until you face it personally it is truly hard to understand what a family goes through. “Caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is totally consuming,” said Glenn, pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood. [Read more…]
Baptist Press
DALLAS — The legal challenge to the constitutionality of the ministerial housing allowance is over — for now.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) announced June 14 it would not appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court its March judicial loss.
The decision concluded the latest effort to gain nullification of the allowance that is part of a 65-year-old federal law. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Randy C. Davis
FRANKLIN — As the calendar rolled from April into May, TBMB leader Randy C. Davis reflected on the burden he feels for pastors and ministers who suffer from burnout.
In his monthly Radio B&R podcast (see Episode 30 here), Davis commented on the TBMB board of directors meeting held April 30 at Thompson Station Church. Actions included the formation of a special task force to study sexual abuse prevention and response and the purchase of property adjacent to the Baptist Campus Ministry facility at the University of Tennessee-Martin. See story in this issue. [Read more…]
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
Randy C. Davis
I love vacations, but I have to work at them. I have trouble “turning off” the ministry mode.
When my youngest daughter was about 11, she said, “Daddy, I bet these folks hate to hear you’re on vacation.” When I asked her why, she said, “Because they know one of them is going to die.” There were too many vacations cut short or at least interrupted because the girls’ pastor-daddy had to go home to conduct a funeral. They never turned bitter, and even now remind me of the fun we had on family vacations, but I could have handled those times better as a pastor and a father. [Read more…]
By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R
Pastors come and go in the lives of churches, but each one is critically important to the church. Pastors are God’s gift to a church and appointed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:38). Each real pastor has one essential at the heart of his calling and his role.
Yet, many churches search for a pastor with minimal requirements instead of on the essential requirements. I believe I know what is required of a pastor; because I get it from the Bible. Let me share it with you. [Read more…]
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
Too often pastors develop an “old cowboy” mentality where they feel they need to “stay in the saddle” at all costs. Unfortunately, too many church goers feel their pastors should be old cowboys. That notion of pastoral “toughness” may sound romantic, but it rarely – if ever – ends well. Set aside the obvious sin of pride involved; no one can spiritually, emotionally or physically sustain it.
Pastor, if you feel you’re riding that horse, I’ve got four short statements of unsolicited advice you need to hear if you, your family and your ministry are going to survive. Somebody’s got to tell you so it might as well be me. I’ve ridden in that rodeo before. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — When addressing church leaders on the keys to making their facilities safe and secure, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board risk management specialist Mark LeMay often uses an old TV advertisement as a reference point.
“You remember the Fram oil filters commercials where the mechanic says ‘you can pay me now or you can pay me later,’ ” said LeMay during a recent safety seminar. “Well, that applies to church safety. It’s amazing how spending some money up front can save you from spending thousands of dollars down the road.” [Read more…]
J. Travis Tyler
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton
Victor and Dot Wallace
On Sunday morning, Jan. 13, Pastor Vic Wallace preached his last sermon as pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Jonesborough. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Pastor Wallace began a ministry lasting over six decades of pastoral ministry including Flag Pond, Mosheim, Mountain City, Kingsport, and Fall Branch.
One of the longest pastorates was at First Baptist Church, Fall Branch, where I met him. His time at First Baptist which spanned 1975-1999 and 2003, 25 years in total, a rarity today. “Pastor Vic” led me to Christ at the age of 12 years old when he presented the gospel clearly to all the children at VBS in the summer of 1993. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
David Oliver and his wife, Carol, recently attended the Bivocational Ministers and Wives Retreat for the second time. Oliver became pastor of his first church slightly more than a year ago at the age of 68.
PIGEON FORGE — At an age when most pastors are stepping away from the ministry or moving into interim or supply work, David Oliver did just the opposite.
At the age of 68, Oliver became pastor of Four Mile Baptist Church in Maryville.
And, what’s more, God blessed in a mighty way. His small congregation of 28 people saw five people baptized last year, along with four other additions. The church also started a special-needs class and began a nursing home ministry. [Read more…]
