Featured

PILOT HELPS PREPARE MISSIONARIES FOR TAKE OFF

By Art Toalston Contributing writer, B&R NASHVILLE — From Hangar No. 7 at the Nashville International Airport, Baptist layman Chris Erlanson aspires to help change the world. At Nashville Flight Training, less than 200 yards from two of BNA’s four runways, Erlanson oversees the airport’s only flight school. “I was really happy in the music business, doing well, but I had the opportunity to buy a flight school,” said Erlanson,

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BIG BOOST FOR BIG EMORY

Location change has led to new ministry opportunities Editor’s Note: Baptist associations are the emphasis on the Southern Baptist Convention calendar Oct. 20-26. Tennessee Baptists have 65 associations across the state. Here is a look at Big Emory Baptist Association based in Harriman. By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] HARRIMAN — Three years ago, Big Emory Baptist Association moved from the site it had occupied since 1969 to

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STILL JAMMING: GA EVENT TURNS 30

By Ashley Perham Baptist & Reflector NASHVILLE — JAM, a one-day mission event for children, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. JAM, which stands for Journey into Adventures in Missions, was started by the Tennessee WMU in 1989. Originally, the event was only for 1st through 6th grade girls in the WMU Girls in Action (GA) program. In 2001, the event became open to all children in 1st-6th grade.

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TOMLIN SHARES STORIES, SONGS AT UNION SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET

Union news office JACKSON, Tenn. — Chris Tomlin was 18 years old and had just finished leading worship at a weeklong youth rally. He’d never done anything like that. He hadn’t written any songs and admits that he had done a poor job. At the end of the week, the speaker for the week’s rally – a man named James – approached him and told him two things. First, James

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IT’S A FACT: EVERY GREAT TEAM WORKS TOGETHER

By Matt Tullos Stewardship Development Specialist, TBMB The Evangels were a football team with a legendary record of wins. They had a storied history of some of the best players in the country who went on to win championships and drape banners and retired jerseys all over their stadium. It was the golden age of football for the Evangels. Everything was going great until they had an idea to recruit

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DOVER PASTOR NOT ‘PRONE TO WANDER’

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] DOVER — Melvin Dunaway initially assumed he would only last about seven days at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Dover. Turns out, his estimate was a little off — by about 16,500 days. Dunaway recently announced his retirement after serving as Pleasant Grove’s pastor for 45 years — a tenure that spans nearly half of the church’s 100-year history. “After I preached that

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THE ABCs OF GEN Z

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] SHELBYVILLE — “Does anyone know what a slo-fie is?” asked Donna Blaydes as she glanced around the classroom filled with adults. After a few moments of mostly blank stares and silence, Blaydes explained that the term, which is only about three weeks old, refers to slow-motion “selfies” that can be recorded with the

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GOVERNOR’S CALL TO PRAYER DRAWS BAPTIST LEADERS’ SUPPORT

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptists across Tennessee told Baptist Press they support Gov. Bill Lee’s plea for the state to fast and pray Thursday (Oct. 10). Tennessee Baptist Mission Board President Randy Davis, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd, Tennessee pastor and former SBC President Steve Gaines and others told BP it’s beneficial for governmental officials to invite citizens to pray and fast.

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OUTSIDE THE BOX

By Jerry Jeter Pastor, Pleasant View Baptist Church, Clarksville About a year ago, our church started a chapter of F.A.I.T.H. Riders. This is a Southern Baptist ministry to motorcycle enthusiasts.  This past year, our small chapter participated in witnessing at Daytona’s Bike Week, sharing testimonies with thousands and seeing hundreds come to faith in Christ. We also participated in serving at the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Ala., and we

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UNION UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT EXCEEDS 3,100 STUDENTS

By Sarah Goff Union news office JACKSON — Union University recently welcomed 400 new students to the Jackson campus. The freshmen hail from 35 states and 10 countries and have an average ACT score of 26.2 and GPA of 3.85. “We are thrilled to welcome our bicentennial class of 2023 to campus,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “We pray that this academic year will be a transformative one for

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BIG BOOST FOR BIG EMORY

Location change has led to new ministry opportunities Editor’s Note: Baptist associations are the emphasis on the Southern Baptist Convention calendar Oct. 20-26. Tennessee Baptists

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OUTSIDE THE BOX

By Jerry Jeter Pastor, Pleasant View Baptist Church, Clarksville About a year ago, our church started a chapter of F.A.I.T.H. Riders. This is a Southern

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