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‘LIGHT AT END OF TUNNEL’

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist & Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Recent statistics reveal that less than half of the United States population has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. According to Becker’s Hospital Review (visit site for full list of statistics), a total of 135,867,425 Americans have been fully vaccinated. That represents 40.9 percent of the country’s population as of June 1, according to data from the Center for Disease Control.

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ELEVATE CHURCH BOOSTED BY FELLOW CHURCH PLANT

By David Dawson [email protected] MILAN — Being uprooted is a common occurrence for church plants. Rarely, however, does it happen in the manner in which Elevate Church experienced it.   The budding church in Milan — which is less than two years old — recently changed locations after a series of miraculous events. Last fall, Dale Denning, pastor of Elevate, was invited to meet with the leadership team from Connect

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TENNESSEE PASTOR LEADS CHARGE FOR INDEPENDENT TASK FORCE TO OVERSEE INVESTIGATION

By Erin Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting overwhelmingly approved a motion calling for a task force to oversee a third-party investigation into allegations of mishandling abuse claims at the SBC Executive Committee. The motion, offered by Grant Gaines, pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was among 32 motions made by messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting June 15 in

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SBC MESSENGERS ELECT LITTON AS PRESIDENT AFTER RUN-OFF

By David Dawson and Lonnie Wilkey Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE —  After a tight race that required a run-off, Ed Litton was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday evening at the SBC’s annual meeting in Nashville. Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., defeated Mike Stone, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Blackshear, Ga., in the run-off by earning 52.04 percent (6,834) of the votes among

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CROSSOVER NASHVILLE EXTENDS BEYOND FRONT PORCHES

By David Dawson [email protected]  NASHVILLE — Fitting for an event held in Music City, this year’s installment of Crossover had less knocking, but more rocking. Instead of focusing exclusively on door-to-door outreach, Crossover Nashville featured a wide variety of large-group gatherings, with churches in Middle Tennessee hosting block parties, concerts, outdoor worship services, ice cream socials, family movie nights and other events.     “We are excited about what took

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SEND CONFERENCE LAUNCHES WITH THOUSANDS CALLED TO BE ‘TOGETHER ON MISSION’

By Natalie Sarrett Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Worship led by Michael W. Smith and CeCe Winans, a rousing sermon from Tony Evans and a concert by Crowder kicked off the Send Conference 2021 Sunday night (June 13) at Music City Center. Actually, the event started a little earlier, with a powerful prayer session led by Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in nearby Hendersonville, Tenn. Although the Send

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CHESSER: WELCOME TO MUSIC CITY!

Welcome to Nashville and the great state of Tennessee. Tennessee is a great place to live, work and worship and we are so happy that you are here for the 2021 meeting of Southern Baptists.  The Tennessee Baptist Convention is filled with churches that are, in turn, filled with wonderful people. As I have traveled to visit with churches, associations and convention entities for the past 20 months, I have

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BEST GIFT FOR DAD? YOUR PRESENCE

By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Writer, B&R When I was a small child, my father often called me to help him with a task. Sometimes it was holding a board he was sawing with a hand saw. Another time, he needed me to help plant corn in the family garden. And I recall the numerous times I was called to sit on the  ice cream freezer, holding it down, while my

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FAMILY UNITY REQUIRES EFFORT FROM ALL

By Scott Shepherd Worship And Music Specialist, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board “What’s Critical Race Theory?” “Why did Russell Moore resign?” “Can women be pastors?” “Who are you going to vote for as SBC president?” “Why did Beth Moore leave the Southern Baptist Convention?” No, these aren’t hallway conversation predictions for the Southern Baptist Convention. Rather, they’re the types of questions I’m asked at home every day — at the dinner

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TBMB, ERLC TO PROVIDE ULTRASOUND MACHINES

Compiled by B&R staff NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s governor and legislature have approved a grant that will enable the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission to place seven ultrasound machines at pregnancy resource centers in the state. Gov. Bill Lee signed into law May 17 a $42.6 billion budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that includes $182,900 for the Psalm 139 Project, the ERLC’s ministry to help provide ultrasound technology

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