Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

PASTORS DEALING WITH FATIGUE, STRESS

Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers offer outlet for renewal

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

FRANKLIN — Since COVID-19 struck in March, most Baptist pastors have had nothing to do since they haven’t been able to preach in person or make hospital visits, right? Wrong!

Instead, the last three to four months have created more work and stress than before, say Tennessee Baptist leaders across the state.

“Everything a pastor does has been turned upside down the last few months,” observed Russ Wilkins, director of missions for Shiloh Baptist Association, based in Adamsville. [Read more…]

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PASTORS ARE NOT IMMUNE

to stress, fatigue and fear brought on by pandemic

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Providing counseling and guidance to individuals who are dealing with depression is a common assignment for pastors and church leaders.

But what happens when the pastors and church leaders themselves are struggling with mental health challenges? [Read more…]

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NO FACES, NO PROBLEM FOR MCNAIRY COUNTY PASTOR

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

When pastor Ben Martin preaches his streaming sermon each week, he can’t see faces but he is reminded where members sit when they can attend.

MICHIE — Like many pastors across Tennessee the past six to eight weeks, Ben Martin has gone to the sanctuary at his church and preached a sermon that was livestreamed to his congregation on Sunday mornings.

But Martin, who has been pastor of First Baptist Church, Michie, for six years, missed seeing his congregation. [Read more…]

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‘HOW DID IT HAPPEN?’

Pastor shares experience with COVID-19

Baptist and Reflector

Editor’s Note: A Nashville pastor recently contracted COVID-19. The B&R normally does not withhold names, but we are making this exception at the request of the pastor. His story needs to be heard so we are sharing it in the following Question and Answer format.

 

B&R: Many people think things can never happen to them. What was your first thought when you discovered you had COVID-19? [Read more…]

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DO YOU HEAR GOD WITH YOUR GOOD EAR?

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

One of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board ‘s very best servant-leaders has some hearing loss in one ear. If he and I are conversing, he will position himself so he can hear me with his good ear. You might say he “inclines his ear to hear.”

In John 10:27 Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” I sense that the God of this universe is speaking to the inhabitants of Planet Earth through the current COVID-19 pandemic. What is He saying to you? Are you listening? Have you positioned yourself so you can hear God with your good ear? [Read more…]

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PASTORS AND DEPRESSION (Part 1)

Editor’s note: This article is the first of a two-part series about pastors and depression. Reprinted with permission of SBC Life. Part II of the series can be found HERE. 

By Tony Rose

Depression is an invisible sickness. It cannot be seen. A broken leg is obvious. But a broken soul—is there such a thing?

Many seem to think that our depressed friends just need to get up, quit feeling sorry for themselves, and get going. Right? This attitude reflects a misunderstanding of what depression is, what causes it, and how to deal with it.

[Read more…]

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PASTORS AND DEPRESSION (Part 2)

Editor’s note: This article is the second of a two-part series about pastors and depression.  (SEE PT. 1 HERE.) Reprinted with permission of SBC Life.

By Tony Rose

Christopher Love wrote, “Melancholy (depression) in a man darkens the understanding and troubles the fancy (imagination). It disturbs the reason, saddens the soul, and clothes it in mourning weeds. And when these meet together, it must cast the man down and suspend the sense of God’s favor from him. Melancholy is the mother of discomfort and discontent; it is the nurse of doubts.” 1 He penned these words in the seventeenth century. Obviously the malady of depression has been with us for a while.

[Read more…]

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PANDEMIC HAVING DRASTIC IMPACT ON FUNERALS

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

FRANKLIN — A side effect of the worldwide COVID-19 has been the way funerals are now conducted.

No longer can large crowds congregate to say goodbye to loved ones or console family members. ‘The pandemic has created an unprecedented time in our society,” said Roc Collins, strategic objectives director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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CHESSER: PASTORS FINDING NEW WAYS TO MINISTER

‘Shepherding the flock’ looks, feels different with social distancing

Baptist and Reflector

Bruce Chesser is president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville.

FRANKLIN — The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted churches, not just in terms of altering worship services, but well beyond that.

Funerals, weddings, small group gatherings, hospital visitation — all of these things, and more, have had to be changed in accordance with social distance restrictions and other guidelines. [Read more…]

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PASTORAL LEADERSHIP IN THE COVID-19 STORM

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

I loved being a pastor. It was my joy and honor to spend 34 years as a pastor in a local church, so obviously I have a special place in my heart for the men who faithfully labor behind the pulpit serving God and His people.

I never saw myself in any other vocational capacity this side of heaven other than in a pastorate serving churches. God had other plans and serving churches has taken a different look. For almost 10 years, it’s been my privilege to lead the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board to serve the 3,200 churches that are part of the network of churches that comprise the Tennessee Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

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