BELLS — Cross Roads Baptist Church dedicated a new playground March 24. The playground was a long-time desire of pastor Josh Simmons’ late wife, Cynthia. She began dreaming of a playground long before the church had many children to play on the playground. The playground comes at a strategic time for the church. Cross Roads Baptist has seen tremendous growth in the last five to six years and continues to

MURFREESBORO — When it comes to sharing the gospel, there is no time like the present. This simple, but crucial, message was the focal point of this year’s State Evangelism Conference, held April 7-8 at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.  The event, organized by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s evangelism team, included five keynote speakers, along with breakout sessions, informational videos and other activities — all based around the

GATLINBURG — “If you have a boyfriend that wants to have sex (but are) scared to say no and just break up, what do you do?” The teen’s question, submitted anonymously via an app, was read to 100-plus of her peers and their parents. “You need to be focused on God’s plan for your sexuality,” her pastor, Nick Moore, replied. The boyfriend “doesn’t sound like the kind of person who

SUNBRIGHT — Pastor Mike Hammonds of First Baptist Church, Sunbright, was on his way to Big Emory Baptist Association in Harriman on April 2 to teach a course when he received a call from his wife informing him a tornado had just hit the small town in Morgan County. Hammonds immediately turned around and returned home. The church and parsonage received minor damage but the funeral home (Schubert’s Funeral Home)

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — Free shuttle rides? Free pancakes? How can God use these simple acts of service to change a life?  Last month, more than 350 Tennessee Baptist Collegiate Ministry students and leaders utilized these simple acts of kindness to share the gospel with thousands of spring breakers in Panama City Beach, Fla.  Over a three-week period, BCM groups from Austin Peay, Belmont, MTSU, University of Memphis, Walters

FRANKLIN — The three regional Youth Evangelism Conferences sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board throughout March drew  approximately 2,555 students and leaders from 204 churches across the state. “It’s been a joy to see our regional YECs grow over the last couple of years since going to this format,” said Jay Barbier, youth specialist for the TBMB.  “Our heart in this is to make it easier for the local

Police are investigating a trailer filled with Bibles that was intentionally set on fire near a church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on Easter Sunday (March 31), according to local media reports. The burning trailer was parked at the intersection of Old Lebanon Dirt Road and Chandler Road in front of Global Vision Bible Church. Local authorities responded to the fire at 6 a.m. that morning, according to WKRN News 2.

The staff at the Baptist and Reflector wishes all of our readers a happy Easter as we join you in worshiping our risen Savior during these special days!