By Jay Hardwick President, Tennessee Baptist Convention Hardwick I remember hearing the late Michael Catt, long-time pastor of Sherwood Baptist in Albany, Ga., say many times, “Whoever wants the next generation the most will get them.” That quote has resonated with me for years and especially now. Who comes to mind when you hear or think, “next generation?” Maybe it’s one of the named generations — Gen X, Y, Z, Alpha, and so on. Maybe you think about the kids and students in your own church and community. Maybe you think about your own children and grandchildren. With those faces and stori ..read more

By Tim Ellsworth Union University news office Jeff Perkins, right, chairman of Union University’s board of trustees, presents a model swing to Dub and Susie Oliver during an April 4 dinner. Trustees will place 10 swings across the Union campus by the end of the summer in honor of the Olivers and their 10 years of service to Union. — Photo by Karley Hathcock JACKSON — Union University trustees during their April 5 meeting celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Union president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, granted tenure and promotions to several professors, approved a $94.8 million budget for the ..read more

CHURCHES Meridian Baptist Church on 6513 Chapman Highway in Knoxville will be celebrating its 150th anniversary on Sunday, April 28, with a special service. Former pastors will be recognized and leading special events starting at 9:30 a.m. with worship at 10:45 a.m., followed by a pot luck lunch afterward. A special history room has been created in the library and pictures decorate our hallways of times gone by. The theme of the celebration is “Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future.” Meridian Baptist started with 27 charter members on April 12, 1874 in a one-room log cabin school house. T ..read more

By Rich Lloyd Pastor, First Baptist Church, Newport Focal Passage: Genesis 37:5-8; 18-28  Giving gifts for the most part is just such fun and important. So important, that gift giving is actually one of the Love Languages.  During our early years of marriage, I loved to buy my wife clothes. I knew her sizes. I would walk from one end of the mall to the other looking for just the right things. It was fun and joyful. The real joy was watching her receive those gifts. Most of the time, it would be something she would never have picked out and maybe not even liked. But she would wear t ..read more

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist & Reflector Pressnell TAZEWELL — Tazewell and Claiborne County native Randy Pressnell will retire as Harvest Field 6 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board on May 2. Pressnell has served in the harvest field role for the past four years. When he joined the TBMB staff he also served as bivocational ministries specialist for eight months before assuming the harvest field assignment full time. Pressnell surrendered to the ministry in 1975 and has served as a pastor in the state for most of that time. His vocational pastorates include Haynes Fl ..read more

By Darrell Nimmo Retired Tennessee pastor Focal Passage: Colossians 1:9-14; 21-29  There are a lot of discussion these days on how to go about fulfilling the Great Commission. If we break it down, we find it has two parts. One, we are to make disciples. In other words, we are to help others find salvation through Jesus Christ. Secondly, after making disciples, we are to teach them everything Jesus commands us to do.   The first part we are vigorous to engage in. Not surprising, that’s the part that determines our eternal destiny.  But the second part is equally important. No ..read more

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist & Reflector SHELBYVILLE — Beginning this year, First Baptist Church, Shelbyville, is launching an effort to start five ethnic churches in Bedford County over the next 15 years. For a number of years, First Baptist has owned a building adjacent to the church that they rented to a Hispanic grocery store, said pastor Jeff Rasnick. Rasnick, who has been on staff at the church for 14 years, including the last 10 as senior pastor, said he became “unsettled” in June of 2022 about being a “rent taker” of the Lord’s resources. “When you begin to seek the Lord, He ..read more

By Morgan Owen BCM Campus Minister, University of Tennessee-Martin A group of BCM students from East Tennessee State University stands in front of a decorated van — one of several vehicles used for the “free shuttle rides ministry” — during Beach Reach 2024. In recent years, campus ministers at Baptist Campus Ministries across Tennessee have placed greater emphasis on participating in Beach Reach over the spring break holiday. Beach Reach is a unique ministry in Panama City Beach, Fla., that utilizes simple acts of kindness to share the gospel with thousands of spring breakers.  As As ..read more

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist & Reflector Editor’s note: Administrative Professionals Day is being observed on April 24. Take time to thank your church secretary/ministry assistant in a tangible way on this day. Their contributions are invaluable to our churches. Officers of the Tennessee Baptist Secretaries Association for 2024-26 are, from left, and Janet Robinson, West Tennessee representative; Tammy Hammitt, East Tennessee representative, Amanda Anderson, vice president; and Julia Binford, president. Not pictured is Pat Poindexter, Middle Tennessee representative. SEVIERVILLE ..read more

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist & Reflector I remember “the good ole days” when a goat was simply that — an animal, one of God’s creations. I can recall the first time I heard a human referred to as a goat. It occurred during a sports talk show on the radio. I actually thought that the person who called someone a goat was going to get in serious trouble for disrespecting another human being. I finally realized they were referring to the acronym “G.O.A.T.” for “Greatest Of All Time.” That is how naïve I was. The recently concluded women’s NCAA basketball season and tournament has brought ..read more