Lonnie Wilkey, editor of the Baptist and Reflector for the past 26 years who retired December 2024, has published a collection of columns he wrote while serving on the staff of the state Baptist paper of Tennessee.
Faith, Family and Life’s Lessons: Reflections of a Christian Journalist includes more than 70 columns written over three decades under Wilkey’s “An Occasional Word and “Reflections” headings. “A few are related to events in the nation and denomination, but the majority are columns which relate to lessons I have learned as I journeyed through life,” Wilkey writes in his preface.
The columns are devotional in nature, drawing from his own experiences, including glimpses into his family life. “I tried to keep them real, drawing from lessons I was learning ‘on the job’ in life as a husband, parent, layman in my local church and in my career as a writer,” Wilkey writes. “I hope you enjoy these reflections from across time.”
Wilkey is “God-called to be a journalist,” writes Chris Turner, director of communications for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, in the book’s introduction. “Without question, Lonnie telling the story of Tennessee Baptists is nothing less than a calling of ‘humble service to his neighbor’ as much as a pastor’s is to shepherding the flock God has given him to oversee. Lonnie has faithfully served God in the life purpose to which God called him while faithfully loving and serving his family.”
Wilkey, who retired to Upstate South Carolina in December 2024, served as associate editor at the Baptist and Reflector for 10 years before becoming editor in 1998. A native of Marietta, he graduated from Travelers Rest High School and from North Greenville College (now University), before earning a bachelor of arts in journalism degree from the University of South Carolina. He also worked for both North Greenville and the Baptist College at Charleston (now Charleston Southern University).
Faith, Family and Life’s Lessons is available from major online booksellers.
