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PASTORS MORE HESITANT TO PREACH ON RACE

January 12, 2021

By Aaron Earls
Writer, LifeWay Christian Resources.

NASHVILLE — Pastors seem more reluctant to address issues of race in their congregations today than four years ago. 

According to a LifeWay Research study, 74 percent of pastors agree their congregation would welcome a sermon on racial reconciliation, with 32 percent strongly agreeing. In 2016, however, 90 percent of pastors believed their congregation would be open to a sermon on the topic, with 57 percent strongly agreeing.

Today, 17 percent of pastors say their church would not want to hear about racial reconciliation, up from 7 percent in 2016.

“While most pastors’ teaching is not limited to things their congregation wants to hear, it is helpful to know the reaction pastors anticipate from their congregation,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Instead of a majority strongly agreeing, now only a third of pastors have no hesitation that their congregation would welcome a sermon on racial reconciliation.” [Read more…]

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Filed Under: News, SBC Tagged With: pastors, Race, racial reconciliation

CARING FOR THE LORD’S SHEPHERDS

November 9, 2020

By Randy C. Davis
President & executive director, TBMB

An effective shepherd loves, leads and cares for the flock that God entrusted to him.

But who cares for the shepherd?

I love and appreciate pastors and have a genuine concern for their care. My deep appreciation for pastors is birthed out of three-and-a-half decades of walking in their shoes. I’ve been there, done that and was blessed with a lot more than a t-shirt.

But my burden for the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical concern of pastors has profoundly increased over the past three-to-four years as we’ve heard about so many pastors who have lost their ministries or taken their own lives. Seeing this, and intimately knowing the trenches in which pastors labor, is the genesis of concern we at the TBMB have for their overall health. Concern fueled action and I’m pleased to announce the launch of Shepherd Care.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: pastor care, pastors, Shepherd Care

PRAY FOR YOUR PASTORS

October 22, 2020

By Ray Van Neste
Dean and professor of Biblical studies for the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, Jackson.

One key way to be involved in the advance of the Kingdom of God is to pray for pastors. This is always the case, but it is even more significant at this time. As the last six months or so have disrupted life for all of us, they have created a host of challenges for pastors. 

How do you continue to provide worship and preaching when you cannot meet together? How do you do that with a limited budget for technology or in places where internet connection is spotty or unavailable? How do you help people stay in contact? How do you care for shut-ins or the sick when you are not allowed to visit them or fear your visit might bring them harm? Then, how and when do you restart services, Sunday School, nursery and other functions? With what restrictions, procedures or requirements?

There have been a host of articles just in the recent few months on the rise of pastoral depression and burnout. As I have interacted with pastors across Tennessee, across the country and in South Africa and other countries, the common thread has been frustration and often very deep discouragement.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: pastors, Pastors Appreciaton

MOUNTAINS & MAJESTY

September 22, 2020

Worship and friendship are the bedrock of pastors’ hiking trip on Appalachian Trail

Adam Cutshaw, pastor of Encounter Life Church, Manchester, looks out over the mountains during a recent hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail. Cutshaw was one of 11 pastors who journeyed together on a three-day trip, which represented the first in a series of outdoor adventures organized as part of a new ministry hosted by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board conference centers. Kevin Perrigan, camp manager at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center and an avid hiker, served as the leader for the recent trip. He said there are plans for four “outings” each year. Those interested in attending any of the upcoming trips can contact Perrigan at kperrigan@tnbaptist.org.

 

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — With the overwhelming stress of the past few months beginning to take a toll, pastor David Simmerman decided he would heed the advice of a friend. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: Conference Centers, pastors, retreat, sports

B&R IS DEEPLY WOVEN INTO LIVES OF MANY

August 20, 2020

By Art Toalston
Contributing Writer, B&R

Whether its been the print edition or the website, the Baptist and Reflector has been a part of Bill Oakley’s life for more than seven decades.
— Photo by Chris Turner

FRANKLIN — More than 70 years ago, William “Bill” Oakley began reading the Baptist and Reflector.

His father, W.B. Oakley, a Baptist preacher, had introduced the family to the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s paper. And the B&R had even more relevance to Bill Oakley when he surrendered to God’s call to the ministry in 1950.

“Throughout all these years the B&R has been a vital part of my life,” said Oakley, whose ministry has included pastorates in Halls and Blytheville and service on the TBC Executive Board when he chaired the committee that gave oversight to the Baptist and Reflector.

Oakley, in reflecting on the B&R’s value, tapped the paper’s name to note:

“BAPTIST: The B&R has been and still is without apology Baptist and serves the Baptist people in Tennessee as our media for news representation among our people.

“REFLECTOR: The paper is vastly important to Tennessee Baptists and the work within the TBC because of the following reasons:

  • “It has and does faithfully REFLECT truth without bias or prejudice, and does that cushioned in love.
  • “It REFLECTS the news of the work and ministries of Tennessee Baptists through our state convention organization and other entities, thereby keeping us well informed and challenged.
  • “And most of all, it REFLECTS the Lordship of Jesus Christ in both our TBC network and also in the “grassroots” Baptist people across our state.”

THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

Amid the nation’s COVID-19 crisis, the Baptist and Reflector’s use of technology has given added reach to its ministry.

The B&R’s enhanced website, which will mark its fifth anniversary in October, recorded 167,300 visitors, in online metrics, during the first six and a half months of 2020, compared to 83,100 during the same period in 2019.

Year-to-date page views stood at 343,900 compared to 209,600 in 2019.

Additionally, visitors using mobile devices accounted for 63 percent of the B&R’s cyber reach so far this year, compared to 53 percent last year.

Lonnie Wilkey, the paper’s editor since 1998, noted, “Five years ago, we realized that print publications may cease to exist, but there would still be a need for distributing news and feature stories. That has proven true as several Baptist papers have ceased print publications including The Christian Index in Georgia and The Baptist Record in Mississippi among others. Our desire is to continue printing a publication for as long as possible but we knew we had to plan for the future.

“We put an increased emphasis on our website, both with design and content,” Wilkey recounted, noting that the number of page views and site visitors have grown steadily each year.

“I believe we are reaching as many people now with both web content and the print publication as we did with only print about 10 to 15 years ago. Our desire is to be relevant and accessible to Tennessee Baptists both now and in the future,” Wilkey said.

“Regardless of whether our readers view it in print or online, it is imperative that we continue to tell the story of Tennessee Baptists because we have an amazing story to tell — a story of how God is working through the churches of Tennessee to see His work accomplished in our state and around the world,” Wilkey said.

Chris Turner, director of communications for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board who grew up in Millington, said the B&R is “as relevant today as it was when it first started connecting Tennessee Baptists 185 years ago.

“The mission has not wavered in providing news that keeps Tennessee Baptists informed about important issues. We’ve definitely seen that mission fulfilled this year with issues like the COVID-19 pandemic … serving pastors and churches through delivering timely news that helps them make sound decisions during this challenging time.”

THE FRONT LINES

Randy C. Davis, president/executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, describes the B&R as “our communications lifeline. It keeps us connected with grassroots Tennessee Baptists.

“Our online presence has met a great need and has seen enormous growth, but the print edition continues to meet a great need and maintain a large audience,” Davis added. Both channels were important, for example, “during events like the destructive tornado outbreaks in Middle and Southeast Tennessee back in the spring and during the current pandemic.”

“Faithful readers of the B&R are well informed about what is happening around the state,” he said. “While these readers appreciate national SBC news, they have a healthy appetite for wanting local stories about what God is doing in Tennessee.”

Three words reflect Davis’ outlook toward each edition of the Baptist and Reflector: “Inspiration. Information. Instruction.” In his regular column, he has written about such topics as “Pastoral Leadership in the Coronavirus Storm” in May; “Beyond Anti-Abortion to Comprehensively Pro-Life” in July 2019 launching the I Stand for Life petition drive for legislative action at the statehouse; “Depression: It’s time to talk about it” in 2018, providing his cell phone number for any pastor needing help; and “A Plea for Unity and Cooperation” in 2017 voicing concern over divisiveness in the SBC.

The B&R covers a large geographic swath, and Tennessee Baptists are “a diverse bunch,” Larry Robertson, senior pastor of Hilldale Baptist Church in Clarksville, noted. “We need to be reminded that God is not confined to any particular locale or church size, and neither are we.

“Honestly, I need the balance that the B&R brings,” Robertson, a former TBC president, said. “The story of Southern Baptists, as a whole, reminds us that the global task is not finished and there’s still much work to do. But the story of Tennessee Baptists, in particular, reminds us that lost people go to hell from Tennessee, too. C.T. Studd said, ‘The light that shines farthest shines brightest nearest home.’ I believe that. We need to think both globally and locally; and the B&R helps us do that.”

Robertson added that the B&R provides “the opportunity to dialogue about matters that matter to us as Tennessee Baptists. Guest columns, for instance, invite perspectives from the front lines where the daily labor of ministry happens. We need those views, and we need those voices.”

“With the deluge of information at our fingertips — some true and some not true, some helpful and some not helpful — it can be hard to know how to think Christianly about certain current issues. I’ve treasured the work of our state paper to help us as pastors, for instance, articulate a biblically consistent, gospel-centered message in these turbulent times,” Robertson said.

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: history, pastors

STRONG LEADERS MAKE KINGDOM STRONGER

August 4, 2020

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

One of the greatest and constant needs of the church since its birth at Pentecost is God-called, Spirit-filled, well-equipped leaders. One of the greatest joys in ministry is when those leaders unite in spirit, mind and effort to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Fortunately, we have a rich history of that in Tennessee. Since the first gathering of Tennessee Baptists to form a church network called the Tennessee Baptist Convention, pastor training has been a priority. The second order of business conducted by the TBC at its first meeting was the affiliation with, and support of, what is today Union University.

The affiliation with what is now Carson-Newman University soon followed. From the outset, a primary emphasis of each of these institutions has been to equip preachers through Christian education in order to strengthen local church ministry. In fact, CNU was originally known as Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary. Tennessee Baptists have always had a desire to prepare the called for their calling. We still do.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: leadership, pastors, Randy C. Davis

GOD’S GRACE AND A DRIVE-IN MOVIE

July 22, 2020

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

“When things aren’t right in the parsonage, they won’t be right in the pulpit” (anonymous).

On a Saturday night 65 years ago at a drive-in movie, I got my first glimpse of Phyllis. She was in the car next to mine on a first date with a guy I barely knew. Besides my saying howdy to the guy, I did notice Phyllis. “Noticed?” For the whole movie, I was unaware of the two pals with me, everything on the movie screen and most everything else.

I alternated in trying to think about time frames to prepare for preaching and pastoring and also that I knew nothing at all about Phyllis. How old was she? What was her name? Where did she come from? Was she going steady with the guy who took her to that movie? Nevertheless, I tried to take my eyes off Phyllis and focus on the need to prepare for preaching and pastoring and the year that lay ahead of me. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: family, pastors

‘GOD NEVER WASTES A HURT’

July 21, 2020

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

COLLIERVILLE — As the world stands divided over where facemasks should be worn to help prevent the coronavirus, it’s not an issue for Mark LaGrone.

It’s not even up to debate for the 60-year-old LaGrone, who serves as the discipleship/assimilation pastor at First Baptist Church, Collierville.

LaGrone’s resolve for the need to wear a face covering while the world is still dealing with the coronavirus is based on that he knows firsthand what it is like to live with the disease. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: coronavirus, pastors

F.A.I.T.H. RIDERS PRAY FOR TENNESSEE BAPTIST CHURCHES, PASTORS, LEOs

July 14, 2020

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

Tennessee F.A.I.T.H. Riders have gathered recently to ride in various areas of the state, praying for churches, pastors and law enforcement officers.

CLARKSVILLE — That distant rumble that is being heard in some areas of the state is not always thunder followed by lightning. It just might be a group of Tennessee Baptist F.A.I.T.H. Riders (FR), followed by prayer.

F.A.I.T.H. Riders is a national motorcycle ministry that is passionate about sharing Christ with the world, according to its website. The organization, which is rooted in Southern Baptist churches, has more than 350 chapters nationwide, including 38 in Tennessee. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: evangelism, law enforcement, motorcycle, pastors, prayer

PASTORS DEALING WITH FATIGUE, STRESS

June 29, 2020

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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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: Conference Centers, pastors, stress

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Recent Posts

  • RANDY ADAMS ANNOUNCED AS NOMINEE FOR SBC PRESIDENT
  • MRM’S ‘RADAR O’REILLY’ RETIRES AFTER 20 YEARS
  • ARE YOU READY TO RECONCILE IN 2021?
  • COVID-19 RELIEF BILL INCLUDES CHURCHES
  • LITTON TO BE NOMINATED FOR SBC PRESIDENT
  • GEORGIA PASTOR, FORMER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN STONE TO BE NOMINATED FOR SBC PRESIDENT

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abortion baptisms Baptist Collegiate Ministries Bible: Acts Bible: Luke Bible: Matthew Bible: Psalms Carson-Newman University childhood Christmas church revitalization Cooperative Program coronavirus COVID-19 Disaster Relief education ERLC evangelism family Five Objectives Golden Offering homosexuality IMB international LifeWay Lonnie Wilkey Lottie Moon missions money NAMB pastors prayer racial reconciliation Radio B&R Randy C. Davis SBC SBC annual meeting sports Summit TenneScene Union University volunteers WMU Woman's Missionary Union youth

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