POGA — In an age driven by communication and technology, a small northeast Tennessee community near Beech Mountain, N.C., faces neglect and isolation. Poga (pronounced Po-Gie) endured severe devastation in Carter County when Hurricane Helene struck on Sept. 27, according to pastor Travis Tyler of Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton. Located in one of the county’s poorest areas, Poga struggles to recover from the disaster, he said. Hurricane Helene destroyed cell

FRANKLIN — The Fellowship of Tennessee Baptist Evangelists (FTBE) has announced expanded services for Tennessee churches in 2025, offering support beyond traditional revival meetings to include special emphasis Sundays, conferences, and pulpit supply assistance. This widening scope of ministry reflects the collaborative vision of the organization’s dedicated members. Comprised of 13 mostly full-time vocational evangelists, the fellowship meets annually in hopes of supporting each other. “We really don’t operate as

GREENEVILLE — Members of the Arise and Build Task Force reported “significant progress” Friday during a meeting to evaluate relief efforts for those affected by the historic flood caused by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee. The flood, which tore through a large geographic area on Sept. 27, 2024, destroyed homes, churches, and businesses, leaving countless people displaced. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) and other organizations responded immediately to provide aid.

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jimmy Bledsoe of the International Mission Board will deliver the W.D. Powell Missions Lecture, entitled “Missions: The Good Warfare,” at Union University Jan. 30. Bledsoe, along with his wife Diana, has served with the IMB in East Africa for 13 years. He remains a member of the Kenya Theological Education Team as a theological education specialist. He is currently serving on a special assignment as seminary liaison