Tews pen last Bible column for Baptist after 20 years

Twenty years of service came to an end in August when a Bible column written by two members of the same family published its last installment.
   
For almost 15 years, the Life and Work Sunday School commentary by Earl Tew was a regular feature in The Alabama Baptist. In 1995, Tew passed the column to his son, David. Earl Tew, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hoover, was formerly director of missions for the Birmingham Baptist Association. David Tew is pastor of First Baptist Church, Madison.
   
The column’s last installment was published in the Aug. 24 edition of The Alabama Baptist. The Life and Work curriculum will be absorbed into the Family Bible Series, leaving the paper with two commentaries.
   
David said he will miss the weekly discipline of studying a variety of different Scriptures. Noting the pressure of weekly deadlines was challenging at times, the younger pastor said he never tired of the work.
   
“It was meaningful to know I was part of the preparation to teach God’s Word across our state,” he said.
   
The senior Tew began writing the commentary after being approached by former Alabama Baptist editor Hudson Baggett. Tew left the column in his son’s hands while he visited missions sites in the Orient provided by Birmingham Baptist Association in 1995. David’s approach was so well received that Earl and Alabama Baptist associate editor Johnie Sentell, then serving as interim editor, asked David to take over the column permanently.
   
Earl said he never doubted his son could follow in his footsteps. “He is a good writer and has a deep commitment to God’s Word,” Earl said.
   
To that end, David said he was comfortable following his father in writing the column. “It was a privilege, but I didn’t feel pressure to do it in any particular way,” he said.
   
David said he usually wrote the commentary each Wednesday night, following prayer meeting. As a result, the added responsibility made for many long nights.
   
“I’m sure I will enjoy going home on Wednesday evenings,” David said.
   
While they hope the commentary helped others, both pastors said they also grew as ministers by the research they did.
   
“I think the discipline and routine of studying passages each week that I might not study was good for me,” said Earl. He said writing the column also gave him statewide recognition. “I would meet people that I might not have ordinarily met,” he said.
   
But while the Tews said researching and writing the column helped them grow, they viewed it as an extension of their ministries.
   
“One of the most important things that happens at a Baptist church on any given Sunday is when a Sunday School teacher begins to teach,” David said. “Through the commentaries, I wanted to provide some means of enhancing that experience.”
   
David added writing the column also helped him be more in touch with what was being taught at his church.
   
“It helped me better coordinate  the Sunday School, worship and my message,” David said. “It made me draw on areas of Scripture that I usually don’t touch on.”
   
Earl said he usually spent no more than four hours each week preparing the commentary. Despite the added responsibility, he said the assignment was worthwhile.
   
“Just knowing you are helping teachers … there was a great fulfillment in knowing you were contributing to their lesson preparation,” he said.
   
Earl added the support he received from his congregation also made writing the column easier.
   
“I think our members were pleased that I was writing the lesson,” he said. “They were pleased to know that I had a vital role in our denominational life.”
   
David also expressed a similar sentiment in describing his church’s support. “It was something the church enjoyed that I did,” he said.
   
Bob Terry, editor of The Alabama Baptist, described the discipline of writing a weekly Sunday School commentary as demanding. “The usual reaction of pastors after writing lessons for a quarter is one of relief,” he said. “They are glad to have it completed. Writing is harder than most people think.
   
For Earl to have written for 15 consecutive years and for David to have written for five years without ever missing a deadline is a great accomplishment,” Terry added.
   
He also praised the father and son team for commentaries which were sensitive to the needs of people and appropriate to the life of a church. “Very few complaints or corrections were ever received about the Life and Work lessons,” Terry recalled. He said that was because readers understood and identified with the points made by the Tews.
   
“Earl and David Tew have made a valuable contribution to Alabama Baptist life through their regular writings,” Terry said. (Sarah E. Pavlik contributed to this story.)