By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

During last week’s ice storm in Tennessee I took a step and suddenly was looking straight up after falling flat on my back on an ice-packed street. I was unhurt (except for my pride) but it was a not-so-gentle reminder that life does, indeed, have its ups and downs.

The week before, the Wilkey family welcomed Parker Andrew Beasley into the world. Parker is our second grandson, joining his brother Eli.

Some of you may remember that there were major complications with Eli’s birth two years ago. Eli spent nearly a month in neonatal intensive care but God worked a miracle and Eli is a bright, active 2-year-old who now has a little brother. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

We all have memorable days and we also witness historic days. It’s a notable milestone when memorable days are historic, and Tennessee Baptists experienced a notable milestone last November when messengers from Tennessee Baptist churches overwhelmingly selected Memphis pastor Michael Ellis to be president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Michael is the first African-American to fill that role in our 140 years as a network of Tennessee churches.

The selection of one of our black brothers to lead our convention was long overdue, and when Michael was affirmed, it was one of my most satisfying moments as a pastor, denominational leader, and most importantly, as a Christian. [Read more…]

By Michael Ellis
TBC President & Pastor of Impact Baptist Church, Memphis

Choices are one of the primary reasons I simply love going to a buffet restaurant. I have the freedom to choose chicken, fish, pork chops, ribs, salad, desserts, and all of the trimmings. Even though I have this freedom to choose from all of the selections, there are usually potential consequences. The possibility of experiencing stomach aches, larger clothing, and guilt are just some of the possible consequences. As I think of those potential consequences, I am motivated to make good choices with selections that will help me avoid looking those and other negative consequences in the face. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

It is pretty easy for people associated with the Southern Baptist Convention to rattle off the names of some of our most influential pastors past and present. We’ve had W.A. Criswell, Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, and Jim Henry. There are contemporary pastors who are stalwarts of our denomination like Steve Gaines, Fred Luter, Jack Graham, and Johnnie Hunt. [Read more…]

By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBC

The reputations of churches today are just one crisis away from potentially being destroyed, and an overwhelming majority of churches are not prepared to manage even the slightest level of hostility that is becoming more prevalent in today’s American culture.

That may come across as a hard statement but it is unfortunately true. I’ve been involved in crisis communications and media relations for 13 years. When things come crashing down in a church’s world, those not prepared wind up taking huge hits to their reputations. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

One of the major stories in Baptist Press last week dealt with an Oregon judge who ruled that two Christian bakers discriminated against a lesbian couple because they would not bake their “wedding” cake.

In this issue (page 3) we have a story which deals with churches establishing policies as they relate to same-sex ceremonies and funeral services for homosexuals. [Read more…]

By Chris Kelly
Exec. VP/General Counsel, TBF

It’s a new year, and maybe you have set some of the “regular” resolutions, i.e. read the Bible more, lose weight, exercise, see the world, etc. Now that we’re deep into January, I won’t ask how many of those resolutions have been abandoned, but I will suggest you make one additional resolution this year that will greatly benefit your family and you: make an estate plan! I realize that this resolution isn’t as exciting as some others you can make (no new outfits or trips involved here; however, it doesn’t involve sweating), but it is still an essential act of stewardship for Christians that can bring so much peace to families. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Are you a mission-minded person?

What does it really mean to be mission-minded?

Most any Southern Baptist worth his or her salt would answer quickly, “Of course I am mission-minded. I’m a Southern Baptist.

Folks, there are thousands upon thousands of self-proclaimed Southern Baptists sitting in our pews who don’t know the first thing about being “mission-minded.” [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Okay. Here’s my pitch.

I’m asking … please, give 10 percent.

Now you’ve heard me encourage your churches to invest 10 percent through Cooperative Program giving for Great Commission work. Moving toward 10 percent giving by 2024 is one of the Five Objectives Tennessee Baptists affirmed at The Summit last year. However, this time the 10 percent I’m talking about is giving 10 percent of yourself…literally.

I’m talking about you joining me on a different kind of journey; the “Chubby Challenge” journey. I’d better explain. [Read more…]

By David Roach
Contributing Columnist, B&R

The claim of some pro-choice groups that Scripture does not address abortion would have surprised both Jews and Christians living in the first century. That’s because they were virtually unanimous that the Bible implicitly — though clearly — prohibited the killing of unborn children.

Abortion advocates today tend either to deny this fact or remain gladly ignorant of it. [Read more…]