By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector OLD HICKORY — Though it occurred more than 30 years ago, Gerald Bontrager vividly remembers the first suicide he encountered as a church planter in Mentor, Ohio. A 15-year-old boy in the church took his own life. “It was baptism by fire,” Bontrager recalled, noting that he was 28 years old and in his first pastorate. “It was really difficult but God gave

by David Dawson Baptist and Reflector WAVERLY — Scott Brown, the pastor of First Baptist Church, Waverly, doesn’t think Christians should hide from Halloween. The members of his congregation obviously agree. Rather than avoiding the night that is traditionally linked to ghosts and goblins, First Baptist embraces it by hosting one of the largest fall festivals in the state. 

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — It’s been more than two decades since Blake Cothran participated in a production of Judgement House. But he still vividly recalls the looks on the faces of those in the crowd.

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MOUNTAIN CITY — Approximately 100 California Baptists, most of whom had never been to the Volunteer State, worshiped at First Baptist Church, Mountain City, on Sunday, Oct. 15. The Californians, members of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, have no direct ties to Tennessee, but they feel connected to the state through one of their pastors.

by David Dawson Baptist & Reflector WHITESBURG — The remains of Tennessee pastoral pioneer Tidence Lane have been moved to the grounds of his first church. The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board joined with First Baptist Church, Whitesburg, for the reinterment of Lane’s remains, along with the remains of several family members, during a ceremony on Oct. 21. 

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN – A mix of ethnically diverse Tennessee Baptists gathered in a display of unity at the Church Support Center in Franklin Oct. 25 to publicly denounce the white supremacist movement and racism during a press conference called by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “We don’t call press conferences very often but we believe it is impossible to stand silently by while the