IN THE MARGINS: How lucky I am

By Tony Martin
Editor

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — Winnie the Pooh

I never expected Winnie the Pooh to show up in my retirement article … but here we are.

Because that quote nails what I’m feeling as I write this. Saying goodbye is hard. Not because I’m sad about what’s ahead (I’m grateful and excited about the next chapter), but because I’m leaving something that has meant a lot to me — people I love, work I’ve believed in, and a role that has shaped my life for a long time.

After 25 years of working at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and the The Baptist Record, first as Associate Editor and the last few years as Editor, I’m stepping into retirement. And I want to take a moment to say thank you. Not the quick, polite kind of thank you. The real kind. The kind that means, “You helped carry me, and you helped carry this work.”

To my coworkers

To the staff I’ve served with over the years — thank you for your faithfulness, your grit, your humor, and your patience. Not only our team at The Record, but everyone in the Baptist Building. 

Some of you have worked beside me for years. Some joined the team more recently. All of you brought something important to the table. You helped us keep showing up, keep learning, and keep telling stories that mattered.

There were weeks when breaking news landed like a surprise thunderstorm. There were days when we were stretched thin. There were seasons when it felt like we were building the airplane while flying it. And yet, we kept putting out the paper — then the website — then fresh content day after day.

I’ve always said, “I can’t help getting old, but I can keep from becoming a dinosaur.” You helped me live that out. We made changes. We embraced new tools. We took risks. We moved from print to digital in a way none of us would’ve chosen… but we did it. And we did it together.

If I’ve ever been steady, it’s because you helped steady me.

To our readers

To the people who read The Baptist Record — thank you for letting us into your world.

Some of you read us because you wanted to stay informed. Some read because you wanted to stay connected. Some read because you wanted to see familiar names and churches and ministries. And some read because, honestly, you just wanted good news for a change.

That was always my hope: that you’d feel better after reading The Record than you did before you clicked.

Not because we ignored hard things. But because even when things are hard, God is still good. And even when the world is loud, the Kingdom is still moving forward. The church is still serving. The gospel is still saving. And there are still faithful people doing faithful work all over Mississippi.

If our reporting ever encouraged you, helped you pray, helped you understand, helped you celebrate, or helped you stay connected — then I’m grateful beyond words.

To the pastors, churches, and ministry leaders

Thank you for doing the work and for letting us tell the story.

You didn’t have to return the calls. You didn’t have to answer the emails. You didn’t have to pause your day to explain, clarify, or give context. But you did.

You trusted us. You opened doors. You gave us access. And you let the broader family of Mississippi Baptists see what God was doing in your corner of the world.

I’ve always believed stories matter — because they remind us we’re not alone, and they remind us God is at work in ways we might miss if we aren’t paying attention.

To those who supported me personally

Some of you supported the work. Some of you supported me. Often it was both.

Thank you for encouragement when the days were heavy. Thank you for grace when I made mistakes. Thank you for prayers — especially those prayers I didn’t know you were praying until later.

I’ve learned over the years that ministry isn’t just done from pulpits. Ministry happens in phone calls, notes, conversations, teamwork, quiet faithfulness, and behind-the-scenes support that never gets applause. If you were one of those people for me, please know: I noticed. I’m grateful. And I won’t forget it.

What made it all worth it

Here’s the honest truth: there were plenty of tasks in this job. Deadlines. Meetings. Edits. Headlines. Fixing mistakes. Starting over. Learning new systems. Trying to keep up with technology that changes every time you blink.

But the reason it was worth it was people.

The people I worked with.

The people we served.

The people whose stories we told.

The people who loved the church enough to invest their lives in it, even when it was complicated.

That’s what makes goodbye hard.

That’s what makes Winnie the Pooh sound like he knows what he’s talking about.

So what now?

I’m walking into retirement grateful. And yes, a little emotional.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve. Grateful for friendships. Grateful for memories. Grateful for lessons learned the hard way. Grateful for the privilege of telling stories about churches and people who love Jesus and want Mississippi to know Him.

I’m also confident about the future of The Baptist Record. There are capable hands and good hearts carrying it forward. I hope you’ll keep reading, keep sharing, and keep supporting the mission of communicating what God is doing among Mississippi Baptists.

As for me, I’m going to enjoy my family, especially those grandkids who keep life loud and fun. I’m going to enjoy living in Laurel. I’m going to rest. I’m going to laugh. I’m going to invest heavily in my other aspirational work, especially in my role as a Christian life coach. I’m going to strive mightily to help broken Christians feel better. And I’m going to thank God for the gift of doing something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

Because that’s the kind of “hard” that comes from being blessed.