By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRUCETON — In a year’s time First Baptist Church, Bruceton, has seen baptisms increase from 17 in 2016 to 31 with several weeks left in the current church year. This year’s total number of baptisms is the largest since 1976 and the third largest in church history, said Joshua Franks, who celebrated his first anniversary at the church in early August. Franks refuses
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — It’s not every day that a gathering in the church sanctuary begins with a rendition of Rocky Top ringing out from an orchestra. But that’s how the evening started on July 27 at Red Bank Baptist Church in Chattanooga, where an energetic crowd — including a large number of football players and coaches from the local area — came together for “A
By David Roach Baptist Press REYKJAVIK, Iceland (BP) — Southern Baptists involved with special needs ministry are lamenting a report that virtually 100 percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome in Iceland are aborted. Individuals with special needs, the ministry leaders say, are made in God’s image and bring unique giftedness to churches and society. Iceland’s abortion rate for Down syndrome babies is “a tragedy,” said Tracy McElhattan, a Kansas
By Bob Smietana Lifeway Research NASHVILLE, Tenn. — America is full of sinners—and most of them want to mend their ways. Two-thirds of Americans (67 percent) say they are sinners, according to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. Most people aren’t too happy about it—only 5 percent say they’re fine with being sinners. As America becomes more secular, the idea of sin still rings true, said Scott McConnell, executive
Baptist and Reflector LEBANON — One church’s baptismal service recently impacted a sister Baptist church in a neighboring county. Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon held a lake baptism service on July 2 at the Laguardo Recreation Center off Highway 109. The church had eight candidates for baptism that day, said Lawrence Cole, minister of adults at Immanuel.
By Courtney Swaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — As Bryan Bratcher was attending his first IMPACT camp three years ago, he wondered, “What if there was a church in our community that was committed to biblical truth that had this kind of culture?” In 2014 Bratcher attended IMPACT camp (his first ever youth camp) at Linden Valley as the youth pastor of Stones River Baptist Church, Smyrna. He was
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LAFAYETTE — When Johnny Beaver moved to Tennessee several years ago, he thought he would never serve as pastor of a church again. God had other plans. Beaver readily acknowledges that he and his wife moved to Tennessee from Pascagoula, Miss., to rebuild their life and marriage. He was pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Pascagoula when Hurricane Katrina struck. He lost his
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector LAFAYETTE — The smell of chicken nuggets wafted through the fellowship hall at Calvary Baptist Church on this sticky Tuesday morning in late July. It was 8:30 a.m., and a group of about a dozen volunteers was happily humming along like an assembly line. In the kitchen, several ladies were watching the oven and putting the finishing touches on the baked goods. Things were
By David Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) — When the sun goes dark Aug. 21 during a total solar eclipse, churches from Oregon to South Carolina will use the event as an opportunity to illumine their communities with the Gospel. The first total eclipse visible from the U.S. since 1979, this month’s cosmic event will occur when the moon passes between the sun and the earth and blocks the sun,
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.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRUCETON — In a year’s time First Baptist Church, Bruceton, has seen baptisms increase from 17 in 2016
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — It’s not every day that a gathering in the church sanctuary begins with a rendition of Rocky
By David Roach Baptist Press REYKJAVIK, Iceland (BP) — Southern Baptists involved with special needs ministry are lamenting a report that virtually 100 percent of
By Bob Smietana Lifeway Research NASHVILLE, Tenn. — America is full of sinners—and most of them want to mend their ways. Two-thirds of Americans (67
Baptist and Reflector LEBANON — One church’s baptismal service recently impacted a sister Baptist church in a neighboring county. Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon held
By Courtney Swaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — As Bryan Bratcher was attending his first IMPACT camp three years ago, he wondered, “What if
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LAFAYETTE — When Johnny Beaver moved to Tennessee several years ago, he thought he would never serve as
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector LAFAYETTE — The smell of chicken nuggets wafted through the fellowship hall at Calvary Baptist Church on this sticky
By David Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) — When the sun goes dark Aug. 21 during a total solar eclipse, churches from Oregon to South
By David Roach Baptist Press PHOENIX (BP) — Data compiled following the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix indicates more messengers than 2011, the