Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

REASONS FOR OPTIMISM ABOUT THE SBC’S FUTURE

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

President George W. Bush once stood in front of a group of people trying to make sense of the world that seemed to be coming undone around them. “One thing is for certain,” he said. “We did not ask for these challenges, but we will meet them. I say that with certainty because this nation has strong foundations and won’t be shaken. In this hour of our country’s history we stand in the need of prayer.”

That comment was made at the first post-9/11 National Prayer Breakfast and prior to the beginning of the longest war, the war on terrorism, in our nation’s history. I was at that prayer breakfast. I saw the resolute courage in our president’s eyes; I heard it in the tone of his voice. [Read more…]

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CHANGE HAPPENS BUT THE MISSION REMAINS

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

LifeWay Building

The March 20 headline splashed across Christianity Today, The Tennessean and National Public Radio was one few in Southern Baptist life thought they’d ever read. There were variations, but in effect they all communicated the same thing: “LifeWay Christian Resources, the largest Christian retail chain in America, plans to close all 170 stores this year and shift its offerings entirely online.”

It was a sad day that revealed the lifelong emotional attachment many Southern Baptists have had with the bookstore. Frankly, generations of us have never known a world without a Baptist Book Store or a Lifeway Christian Store. Many expressed their anger with statements about how the bookstore was more than just books. It was the people who worked there — who ministered there — who made the stores what they were. [Read more…]

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10 WAYS MINISTERS CAN MAXIMIZE VACATIONS

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…]

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SOMEBODY TELL THE PASTOR HE’S NO COWBOY

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…]

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WINNING THE STATE OF TENNESSEE BY ALL MEANS

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Everyone likes to win. Even the most non-competitive people prefer winning to losing. Losing is a momentum killer. It’s a drain. It puts people on edge. Winning, however, builds momentum and breeds more winning. We don’t have to look any further than the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team to see the effects of winning.

Through the years, the Vols have had spotty success, but when they weren’t winning, there was criticism of underachieving. Fans, coaches, administrators — everyone — would get tense which was usually followed by a blame-game and a coaching change. [Read more…]

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A BUSY MARCH — DAVIS REFLECTS ON YEC, DR, BCMs

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

FRANKLIN — Evangelism and missions were once again at the forefront of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in March.

In his podcast reflecting on the month before, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board President and Executive Director Randy C. Davis observed that 780 decisions for Christ during the annual Youth Evangelism Conference was one of the highlights in March. In addition, more than 60 people surrendered to vocational ministry, he said.

“We’re just thrilled at what God did at YEC this year.”

Davis said the impact of YEC continues to grow even after its 51st year. [Read more…]

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SEXUAL ABUSE AND ABORTION BILLS TOP FEBRUARY HEADLINES

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Sexual abuse instances, as reported by The Houston Chronicle in February, “needed a bright light to be shined on it,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

In his monthly podcast reflecting on what happened in convention life the previous month (Episode 25 of Radio B&R), Davis said the silver lining of the horrible news is that it has made churches more aware of the issue and that it needs to be addressed.

“I think the fact that any child is abused anywhere, under any circumstances, should grieve us all to the very core,” Davis said. “I think it is hellish. I think it is demonic. I think that the predator who does this kind of deed is going to attempt to go wherever there are children, including churches,” he noted.

[Read more…]

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THE HEAVY HAND OF GOD’S JUDGMENT

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

It is a heavy blow when God determines to bring to light that which is hidden in the shadows. Sometimes the Body of Christ must bear the weight of His judgment when He does.

Such a blow was delivered yesterday morning in an article that appeared in the Houston Chronicle. The headline was, “Abuse of Faith.” The extremely thorough story reported 20 years of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches that affected at least 700 victims. Far and away the majority of the victims were children or youth; and far and away the perpetrators were ministers. Just in the past decade, at least 250 people who worked for or volunteered in a Southern Baptist church have been charged with sex crimes. [Read more…]

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SERVING THE GROWING NUMBER OF BIVO HEROES

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Here’s a riddle for you.

What do a banker, a contractor, an elementary teacher, a chemist, an engineering professor and a farmer all have in common?

Answer: They are all faithful pastors.

Unbelievably, approximately 60 percent of the pastors in Tennessee are bivocational. Let that sink in a moment. The majority of the churches connected to the Tennessee Baptist Convention have pastors who have a vocation apart from their ministries as a church’s pastor. And, if you include churches that have fulltime pastors but whose wives have secular jobs in order to make ends meet, the number jumps to probably 75 percent.  [Read more…]

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DAVIS KICKS OFF FIRST MONTHLY UPDATE ON RADIO B&R

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

FRANKLIN — In an effort to keep Tennessee Baptists better informed, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, will do a monthly podcast on Radio B&R.

It will be a monthly “retrospective” of what is happening not only in the TBMB but with churches across Tennessee, said Chris Turner, director of communications for the TBMB and host of Radio B&R. [Read more…]

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