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IMB POSTPONES VOLUNTEER TRIPS THROUGH JUNE 30, PERSONNEL ‘SHELTER IN PLACE’

By Julie McGowan AVP of communication, marketing and PR for the IMB International Mission Board senior leaders have directed IMB missionary personnel around the world to postpone hosting any ministry volunteer groups through June 30, leaders announced Wednesday, March 25. Consideration of missionaries hosting volunteer teams beyond June 30 will be reviewed on May 1, leaders reported. “We’re instructing our personnel to postpone all volunteer efforts at this time due

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PASTOR ‘INVIGORATED’ AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] ADAMSVILLE — March is “National Kidney Month” and will feature many awareness campaigns and benefits across the nation to promote and encourage kidney donors. For Chad Ball, every day is a promotion for the cause. And a celebration of it. Ball, the pastor of First Baptist Church, Adamsville, underwent a kidney transplant last August. Six months later, he is feeling on top of

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2020 SBC ANNUAL MEETING CANCELED

By Baptist Press EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated since its original publication. NASHVILLE (BP) — In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time in 75 years. Citing authority provided by the SBC Constitution “in the case of grave emergency,” the decision was made Tuesday (March 24) in a unanimous vote of a body composed of SBC officers,

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TBHS CONTINUES LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NASHVILLE — This time, the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society made a little history of its own. Carolyn Bridges Gregory was named as the TBHS’s first female president during the organization’s annual meeting on March 10 at the Southern Baptist Convention Building. It was the 23rd official gathering. TBHS outgoing president Willie Beaty officially passed the baton — or, in this case, gavel —

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COVID-19 BRINGS ISOLATION TO MANY SENIOR ADULTS

By Tess Schoonhoven Baptist Press NASHVILLE — At 92, Kenny Knox’s social circle revolves almost exclusively around activities at church. “Other than attending (church), I don’t have a lot of contact with others,” he said. But like many others, Knox’s church (West End Baptist Church in Columbia, Tenn.) has suspended its meetings to comply with government recommendations on social-distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. West End’s worship services have temporarily moved

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CHURCHES URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Participating in the national census is not a high priority for many Americans. But several leaders from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board are encouraging church members across the state to approach the census as both a privilege and a duty. “It is very important that all citizens of Tennessee participate in this year’s census,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive

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TENNESSEE BAPTISTS READY TO ASSIST CDC AMID CRISIS

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated from the original post. Compiled by B&R staff ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Anxiety in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis continues to mount, but Southern Baptists across the United States are determined to respond and meet needs. On March 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reached out to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) leadership to discuss engaging Southern Baptist volunteers in

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RETIRED PASTOR INTENTIONALLY CHOSE TO BE BIVOCATIONAL

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] BAXTER — As a pastor for more than 65 years, John Davis, now 82  years old, served both full time and bivocational churches. When he had a choice, Davis took the bivocational route. Now retired, Davis shares why in a recently released book, From Glory to Glory to Glory to Glory to Glory (based on II Corinthians 3:18). Davis observed that he

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LIVESTREAMING SERVICES REQUIRES PROPER LICENSES

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] FRANKLIN — As  more and more churches begin livestreaming their services due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative that they do it properly and legally, according to Scott Shepherd of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “The issue is not whether churches will be caught or prosecuted,” observed Shepherd, TBMB worship and music specialist and a former minister of worship at First Baptist Church, Paris.  

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COVID-19 COMMUNICATION STRATEGY & TIPS FOR CHURCHES

By Hannah Conway Special to Baptist and Reflector Business and churches alike are scrambling to create an effective communication strategy in the midst of a global crisis. Many churches feel like they have been thrown into the deep end of the virtual/online pool. It’s a lot to take in all at once. So many questions. What to communicate, when, how, on what platforms? And then there’s a possible learning curve

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