By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBC

NASHVILLE — We are on a trajectory in the South that will see a current generation spiritually lost unless something drastic changes in the near future, said the Tennessee Baptists Convention’s top leader, and he said statistics bear that out.

“We are at the cusp in the South of [spiritually] losing our children and our grandchildren,” said Randy C. Davis, executive director-treasurer of the TBC’s Executive Board. “This generation of precious children will die and go to hell unless God breaks our hearts [for the lost].” [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

A denomination went on life support last week. Sadly, I don’t think some of its leaders even realize they signed their own death notice.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) became one of the largest Christian denominations in the country to endorse gay marriage last week when its General Assembly voted to allow pastors to conduct same-sex weddings and approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between “two people” rather than “a man and a woman.” [Read more…]

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

Two things bear on my mind at this moment: our positive God and our negative society. To say God is positive is totally true. To categorically judge our society to be negative is only partially true — but way too much.

I start each morning with a strong cup of hot, black coffee and the Bible. For me, that’s about as positive a way to start the day as I know. This morning I read Paul’s direction to Timothy: namely, to pray for everyone, give thanks, and live godly lives. Paul especially bore down on praying for “kings and all those who are in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Along with my coffee, Bible, and God, I pray, meditate, and think. Then I move to the Internet and Facebook. That’s when things tend to get negative on the world scene and the U.S. leadership in particular. The inconsistency for Christians is to honor God but malign leaders. [Read more…]

Bobby Welch
Assoc. Executive-Director, TBC

The Pastors Task Force on Southern Baptist Convention Evangelistic Impact & Declining Baptisms recently reported their findings. This diverse group of 15 summarized their work into five recommendations:

• Pray for spiritual awakening.
• Model personal evangelism and provide pathways.
• Create a disciple-making culture.
• Serve the next generation.
• Celebrate the next generation.

[Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Every year at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention we hear the same pleas for increased giving through the Cooperative Program.

In fact, the Cooperative Program was a hot topic of conversation throughout the annual meeting, and it should have been. We do need to increase Cooperative Program giving. It’s the lifeline of missions in Tennessee, around our nation, and throughout the world. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

The Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting did not have my full attention when I arrived in Baltimore last week. In fact, I’d say my enthusiasm for it was pretty low. My mind and my heart were on that which needed my attention here in Tennessee.

However, by the time Jeanne and I left Baltimore Thursday morning, I was encouraged and glad that we attended the annual meeting. The fellowship with friends from Tennessee and across the country refreshed us. There were also several highlights that proved to be special moments for me. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

We Baptists are a unique group.

Most of the time, we don’t have the faith to move a mountain (which Scripture says is possible), but we have the uncanny ability of making a mountain out of a mole hill at any given time.

We do it in our individual lives as well as corporately. Many a congregation has argued over what color a carpet or pew pad should be and seen members leave because the “wrong” color was chosen. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

Royalty isn’t necessarily defined by birth family or wealth. In fact, in many cultures it is still determined by age.

I love the stories of veteran Tennessee missions volunteers Don and Ann Davis walking into small Ugandan villages a few years ago with a group of younger missions volunteers. Younger is relative because the Davises were in their 70s and both topped by flowing silver hair. They easily stood out from their group as the senior members. Repeatedly, villagers honored the Davises and gave them an esteemed seat and listened intently as they shared the gospel, accepting it as wisdom passed down through the ages. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention next week (June 10-11) will elect a new convention president.

Unlike 2012 when Fred Luter was unanimously elected as the convention’s first African American president, messengers will have a choice.

As of Monday, June 2, there were three announced candidates for the SBC presidency — Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas with campuses in Springfield, Rogers, and Fayetteville; Jared Moore, pastor of New Salem Baptist Church in Hustonville, Ky.; and Dennis Manpoong Kim, pastor of Global Mission Church of Greater Washington in Silver Spring, Md.

All three candidates are distinctly different. [Read more…]

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

Beloved Courtney Wilson became my first Tennessee pastor 44 years ago. He died last week. Courtney never did preach long; but toward the last, his messages were even briefer in the “Memory Care” unit where he held forth. With his vast memory and recall greatly reduced, Courtney was still able to hold up a figure of an angel that would say, “I love you.” Then he would say, “I’m going to quote my favorite Bible verse: John 3:16. “For God so loved the world … .” After that, he would offer a few devotional thoughts.

One of Courtney’s daughters shared this with me. She was at one of those devotions when a woman with “repetitive” dementia was listening. When Courtney finished quoting John 3:16, that woman started quoting it over and over and over again. Finally, gentle Courtney said, “Ma’am, you need to be quiet! I’m having devotions.” Even the world’s greatest truth repeated to annoyance in repetition calls for a period and moving on with its meaning. [Read more…]