NEWPORT — When Roy and Dirce Cooper step down in March of 2025 after serving for 35 years as missionaries with the Southern Baptist international Mission Board, they will call Tennessee “home” for the first time in their life.  Cooper was reared in South Carolina, while his wife, Dirce, who is Japanese, was born in Brazil.  The Coopers are currently on stateside assignment, acclimating themselves to their future home. They

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches have reached a monumental milestone during the convention’s 150th anniversary year. When Cooperative Program gifts were counted at Tennessee Baptist Mission Board offices on Dec. 6, the final tally pushed the total Cooperative Program gifts since the CP was established in 1925 in Memphis to more than $1.5 billion. “Our state crossed the $1 billion mark in the summer of 2010 after 85 years

MURFREESBORO — For more than a year, Danny Sinquefield has been beating the drum for the BlueOval City Initiative.  At the 2024 Summit, Sinquefield was joined by some other “percussionists.”  Taking the stage for a panel discussion during the Tuesday afternoon session of this year’s annual meeting, Sinquefield, the coordinator of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s BlueOval Initiative, was accompanied by two Tennessee pastors — Jay Stephenson and Nick Glenn

ATOKA — The officials of Atoka and the congregation of Gateway Baptist Church have a message for pregnant women who find themselves in desperate situations: We care about you.  Atoka mayor Barry Akin and the board of aldermen recently partnered with Gateway Baptist Church to place a Safe Haven Baby Box at the town’s fire station. The box, which became operational after a ribbon-cutting in early November provides a safe

GREENEVILLE — Six families in Greene County whose homes were heavily damaged and their lives were disrupted by Hurricane Helene were back in their homes on Thanksgiving Day or shortly thereafter.  First Baptist Church, Greeneville, in conjunction with Aidnet of Greene County, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, coordinated the effort that began on Friday, Nov. 22, and concluded on Monday, Nov. 25, said FBC pastor David

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in United States v. Skrmetti Wednesday, Dec. 4. The case, which pits the Biden administration’s Justice Department against the State of Tennessee and its attorney general, Jonathan Skrmetti, will determine whether states are allowed to outlaw so-called gender transition treatments for minors. In March 2023, the Tennessee legislature passed a law prohibiting health care providers from prescribing medications or performing

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches provided a record 7,540 Christmas Backpacks this year, surpassing the ministry’s goal of 7,000 backpacks. With a lot of people still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene in northeast Tennessee, the extra backpacks are needed, affirmed Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Going into our collection week this year, I really had no idea what to expect. I

The staff at the Baptist and Reflector would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you a very happy Thanksgiving! Our hope is that all of you will take a few moments today to spend some time giving thanks to the Lord for the blessings in your life. Family, friends and food will likely be at the top of the list, naturally, but our list of blessings actually