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TENNESSEE WMU’S FIRST STATE CWJC COORDINATOR DIES

BRENTWOOD — Creely Wilson, Tennessee WMU’s first state coordinator for Christian Women’s Job Corps (CWJC), died July 18. She was 92. CWJC began in Tennessee in 1997. Soon after National WMU launched CWJC, Wilson came to the office and told the staff that Tennessee WMU needed to start this ministry, recalled Vickie Anderson, now executive director of Tennessee WMU. “Her passion for women and meeting the needs of women through

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WHY WOULD GOD BLESS AMERICA?

We ask God to bless America. But in all seriousness, why would He? We’ve chosen happiness over holiness, pleasure over purity, politics over prayer, and earth over heaven. Why would God bless America? We’ve forsaken the Golden Rule and replaced it with the rule of gold. We’ve sought power more than served people. We decry idolatry and, yet, we’ve become idolaters.

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NEW PODCAST PROVIDES STORIES, TOOLS FOR CHURCHES

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Staff members of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board have recently developed and produced Tennessee Golden Hour (TGH), a new podcast designed to inform Tennessee Baptists on a variety of topics. “The Tennessee Golden Hour’s purpose is to provide a weekly treasure trove of stories, ideas and tools for Tennessee Baptists,” said Matt Tullos, stewardship specialist for the TBMB and co-host of the podcast. “Our goal

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MINISTRY INCLUDES LONELINESS, ISOLATION

Loneliness and isolation are endemic to the ministry. Ministry isolation and loneliness is partly self-imposed and is partly imposed by the ministry itself. Let’s examine the life of the Prophet Elijah (see I Kings 19:10). In his life and ministry we see the anatomy of loneliness and its remedies. The remedies are not secular, but biblical, spiritual, and practical. Elijah was a nineth century prophet (870-845 B.C.). God called him

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IVF RESOLUTION IS SBC’S ‘FIRST STEP’ IN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSION

INDIANAPOLIS — SBC messengers spoke to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the first time on June 12, adopting a resolution on the topic after a sometimes-emotional floor discussion that featured messengers sharing their personal experiences with reproductive technologies. A resolution “On the ethical realities of reproductive technologies and the dignity of the human embryo” called on Southern Baptists “to reaffirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human

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JETT’S IMPACT FELT LOCALLY AND ABROAD

FRANKLIN — By any measure, the late Phil Jett, who served as pastor and later on the staff of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson for 40 years, had a highly successful ministry. Under his leadership Englewood saw continued growth over the decades while emphasizing missions and evangelism. While pastor of Englewood, he served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2005-06.  He also served as a trustee and later

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TBDR TEAMS RESPOND TO TEXAS, IOWA

SPENCER, Iowa — For many people, summertime means operating at a somewhat slower pace. However, the opposite is true for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers.  In the wake of multiple disasters — including a recent hurricane in Texas and flooding in Iowa — the TBDR teams are experiencing a hectic stretch, with volunteers responding to both states during the back half of July.  Stanley Roach, DR director for Knox County

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CHURCHES ASKED TO OBSERVE B&R DAY ON AUG. 18

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches are encouraged to participate in Baptist and Reflector Day on Sunday, Aug. 18. Since 1835, Tennessee Baptists have had a newspaper, observed B&R editor Lonnie Wilkey. “We had a newspaper even before we had a convention. That’s how important some of the early Baptists in Tennessee felt about having a source for news,” he said. A state paper is more than a source of

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LEATHERWOOD TO REMAIN ERLC PRESIDENT

NASHVILLE — Brent Leatherwood remains president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. ERLC executive board members say board Chairman Kevin Smith acted alone in an announcement of Leatherwood’s removal on July 22 and violated the entity’s bylaws. A early morning release from the ERLC executive committee says: “As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, we formally retract the press release which was sent yesterday. “There was not an authorized meeting,

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FIRE ENGULFS HISTORIC SANCTUARY AT FBC DALLAS

DALLAS — The historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church Dallas burned Friday evening, July 19. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. The Victorian-style, red brick sanctuary building was erected 1890 and is a recognized Texas Historic Landmark. According to media reports, Dallas Fire and Rescue received a call at 6:05 p.m., Friday evening regarding a building on fire in Downtown Dallas. Firefighters responded and within 15 minutes

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