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SBC PHOENIX: REGISTRATION TOTAL FINALIZED, COSTS DOWN

August 3, 2017

By David Roach Baptist Press PHOENIX (BP) — Data compiled following the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix indicates more messengers than 2011, the last time the convention was held in Phoenix, and a net annual meeting cost reduction of some $800,000 since that time. Nominees elected to boards and committees were notable for their ethnic diversity, Cooperative Program support and representation of churches with 250 members or fewer.

LINDEN VALLEY HAD LIFELONG IMPACT ON 5-YEAR-OLD

July 28, 2017

By Courtney Shaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — Most campers do not have the opportunity to attend Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center at the age of 5. Melissa Russell did and it has had an impact on her life ever since. When Russell was 5 years old, her mother taught Mission Friends at Northside Baptist Church in Columbia. One night the lesson focused on missions in China and her

FAITH CONTINUES TO SUSTAIN RUTH MARTIN

July 27, 2017

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector GATLINBURG — Ruth Martin is not likely to ever forget Nov. 28, 2016. That’s the day she became homeless. The 91-year-old widow of a Tennessee Baptist pastor left her home of 40-plus years that night with just the clothes she wore. As fire surrounded her home atop a mountain road overlooking the city of Gatlinburg, she and her son and daughter (who also

KNOXVILLE IMPACTED THROUGH CITY REACH

July 25, 2017

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — Last November messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention overwhelmingly adopted City Reach, an effort to reach the five largest metropolitan areas in the state — Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, Clarksville, and Chattanooga. Because Summit was in East Tennessee last year, Knoxville was chosen as the first city. Tennessee Baptists are responding well, according to leaders in the city

TRANSFORMED LIFE BEGAN WITH INVITATION

July 17, 2017

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector COLUMBIA — Stroking his long, gray beard and pausing occasionally to collect his emotions, Jay Binkley shares his story about how he came to know Jesus. It’s a modern-day Road-to-Damascus narrative, complete with the persecution of Christians — at least those who dared to come onto Binkley’s property. “I wasn’t a good man,” said Binkley. “I had an attitude toward people: I didn’t like

CHURCHES TACKLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING

July 14, 2017

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — With an urgent desire to fulfill the biblical principle of bringing light to dark places, a large collection of churches in the mid-state area has become actively involved in the battle against one of the country’s most horrific problems: human trafficking. In addition to raising awareness of the issue, the churches are immersing themselves in each area of the problem, including the

VOLUNTEERS REBUILD ROARING FORK BAPTIST

July 12, 2017

Editor’s Note: You can listen to Kim McCroskey discuss the fire that destroyed Roaring Fork Baptist Church last November and the current rebuilding process during Episode 10 of Radio B&R, the official news podcast of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector GATLINBURG — Fire may have destroyed the buildings at Roaring Fork Baptist Church here last November, but it did not derail the spirit

5 ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR SHORT-TERM SUMMER MISSION TEAMS

July 11, 2017

Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — Summers provide great opportunities for short-term mission teams to serve the cause of Christ around the globe. At the same time, missionaries in cross-cultural settings are anticipating the arrival of those teams — a process that can bring joy and excitement, but sometimes fear. Short-term summer mission teams can provide much needed help for missionaries, but for both the missionary team and the volunteer

MRM REACHES UNDERSERVED PEOPLE GROUP IN STATE

June 30, 2017

By Chad Freeman Baptist and Reflector TRENTON — During the height of the Jesus Movement in 1972, 15-year-old Randy Pool, witnessed an explosion of students coming to faith in Christ. Students from all over the country flocked to Dallas, Texas’ Cotton Bowl stadium. Many students Pool personally knew from his hometown in Millington also attended the “Explo ’72” event. The Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) event, drew more than

CHURCH’S ACADEMY REACHES HIGH RISK KIDS

June 29, 2017

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MEMPHIS — Tim Cox initially thought his connection to Brinkley Heights Baptist Church was simply going to be delivering a one-and-done sermon. Nearly three decades later, he’s still at the church. Cox’s ministry in Memphis, in fact, has become his life’s work. It also has become his missions field — and his battlefield. Buoyed by the tireless support of prayer-warrior church members, Cox has

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SBC PHOENIX: REGISTRATION TOTAL FINALIZED, COSTS DOWN