Editor’s note: This story was updated at 4:15 p.m. on Sept. 28. NEWPORT — Eastern Tennessee experienced significant and widespread damage Friday afternoon due to torrential rains and high winds from Hurricane Helene. Helene made landfall in the Florida Panhandle late Thursday and forcefully progressed through Eastern Georgia into Tennessee along the Appalachian Mountains, causing severe flooding and wind damage in numerous East Tennessee counties. Newport, Irwin, Hampton and

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been placed on alert for possible response to Hurricane Helene. As of 2 p.m. EST on Sept. 26, Helene is currently a Category 2 hurricane with wind speeds of 110 mph. It is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Big Bend this evening as at least a Category 3 hurricane, bringing the risk of devastating damage, according to an NBC News

CROSSVILLE — Search across the Southern Baptist Convention and you will find churches with pastors who have long tenures and even other ministers who have been at the same church for a number of years. In a society, however, where the average stay of a minister at a church is normally less than six or seven years, it would be hard pressed to find a church that matches Central Baptist

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist disaster relief volunteers are accustomed to hard work and sweat. This week, there’s been plenty of both for a team from Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. Traveling to Morgan City, La., to assist victims who are recovering from Hurricane Francine, the DR team is dealing with oppressive humidity while completing various tasks for homeowners in the area. Steve Brock, who is leading the team, said

FRANKLIN — Lonnie Wilkey’s tenure as editor of the Baptist and Reflector is coming to an end, but his columns will continue to be read for years to come.  Wilkey, who has been with the B&R since 1988 and has served as editor since 1998, has put together a collection of his columns in a book titled Faith, Family and Life’s Lessons: Reflections of a Christian Journalist.  Wilkey’s columns have

CORDOVA — Steve Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova and a former SBC president, announced to the congregation on Sunday that he will be transitioning out of his role of senior pastor and into the role of “itinerate preacher.” Gaines, who has been at Bellevue for 19 years, was joined on stage by his wife, Donna, when he made the announcement.  “Many years ago, the Lord spoke