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DISASTER RELIEF CONTINUES TO MEET NEEDS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY

October 21, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] MOUNT JULIET — In September Wes Jones celebrated his fifth anniversary as disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. To say the former Southern Baptist missionary (along with his wife Pam) and director of missions in Iowa has been busy over those five years would be an understatement. The humorous part is that during the interview process for the position he was told that

BOY SCOUTS BANKRUPTCY COULD LEAVE CHURCHES LIABLE IN FUTURE SEX ABUSE CLAIMS

October 20, 2020

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press ORLANDO — Churches who chartered or have ever hosted a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop should seek legal counsel now in case they are named in future sex abuse claims against the BSA, a Southern Baptist legal representative told Baptist Press. The BSA filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganization in February to establish a trust to pay sex abuse claims and to limit the

UNION TRUSTEES KEEP STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE

October 16, 2020

Union University JACKSON — Union University trustees extended the university’s strategic plan during their Sept. 11 meeting on the Union campus. “Our trustees provide consistently strong leadership, and they have continued to do so in the midst of a global pandemic that has disrupted so many lives, plans and activities,” said Union president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. Originally adopted by trustees in 2015, Union’s “United in Spirit. Grounded in

JUDGE STRIKES DOWN TENNESSEE ABORTION WAITING-PERIOD LAW

October 16, 2020

By Tom Strode Baptist Press DETROIT — Pro-life advocates and the state expressed their disappointment with a federal court decision Oct. 14 that invalidated a Tennessee law requiring a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. Senior federal judge Bernard Friedman ruled from Detroit, Mich., the law is unconstitutional and permanently blocked the state from enforcing a waiting period. The 2015 law “substantially burdens” women who want an abortion in Tennessee

EVERY DAY SHOULD BE DAY OF PRAYER

October 15, 2020

By James Rogers When we first arrived the air hung limp between us without a wind to stir the humidity from the earlier rain. We stood at the Lincoln Memorial with the day neither beautiful nor comfortable. As the strains of the hymn “This is My Story” sung acapella drifted through those gathered, the morning took on a beauty only His presence could give. That was just the beginning step

REFLECTING ON THE PRAYER MARCH IN D.C.

October 14, 2020

Baptist Press WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands packed the National Mall in Washington on Sept. 26 to cry out to God and repent. The gathering stretched from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. Christians from all over the country participated in the prayer march, which was organized by evangelist Franklin Graham. Gene Harston, a member of Eastwood Baptist in Bowling Green, Ky., traveled with a group of prayer partners

TRUSTEES MAKE A GOOD CALL

October 13, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Al Mohler is probably one of the most recognizable Southern Baptist leaders in our convention today. I have known Al for more than three decades, beginning when he was editor of The Christian Index in Georgia. I can’t say I have always agreed with Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, especially when it comes to Calvinistic views. It’s no secret that

MASK OR NO MASK? IT’S NOT AN ISSUE AT OAK VALLEY BAPTIST

October 13, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, B&R [email protected] FRANKLIN — As the debate in the nation continues over wearing masks or not wearing masks, it has not been an issue for Oak Valley Baptist Church in Franklin. While many churches hold both traditional and contemporary worship services, Oak Valley decided to hold mask or no mask (optional) services, said pastor Jerry Winfield. He noted that when the church returned to live services

NEW TBMB 317 MINISTRY TRAINING INSTITUTE WILL EQUIP, ASSIST LEADERS

October 12, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, B&R [email protected] FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is initiating the 317 Ministry Training Institute to provide a centralized repository of ministry training resources to assist pastors and other church leaders achieve their goals of being fully equipped for effective service. “For the last 10 years, I’ve listened to hundreds of pastors and ministry leaders as they have shared a desire to have access to

SHEPHERDS TO SHEPHERDS BUILDS ‘BAND OF BROTHERS’

October 9, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, B&R [email protected] CLEVELAND — A ministry initiated by First Baptist Church, Cleveland, prior to the beginning of a worldwide pandemic, not only continued but has met a tremendous need, agree organizers of Shepherds to Shepherds. Shepherds to Shepherds is the brainchild of Allen Lockerman, pastor emeritus of First Baptist and is an integral part of the church’s Lockerman Leadership Institute. “To Allen’s chagrin, we put his

Featured

DISASTER RELIEF CONTINUES TO MEET NEEDS LOCALLY, NATIONALLY

BOY SCOUTS BANKRUPTCY COULD LEAVE CHURCHES LIABLE IN FUTURE SEX ABUSE CLAIMS

UNION TRUSTEES KEEP STRATEGIC PLAN IN PLACE