In a recent story in the Baptist and Reflector, Tim Ellsworth, a longtime friend and a talented journalist provided coverage of the last service of one of our Tennessee Baptist churches in Brownsville. Calvary Baptist Church closed its doors after 70 years of ministry. The church began in 1953 as a church plant from Brownsville Baptist Church. At its peak, the church had nearly 200 people in attendance. But, as
FRANKLIN — Historic and horrific. Pleasing and perplexing. Elation and agony. The year 2023 played out like a roller-coaster, taking Tennesseans through almost every emotion imaginable. And, as has been the case since 1835, the Baptist and Reflector helped tell the stories that shaped the year. The content below recaps some of the most-read stories from 2023 based on the number of views each story received on the Baptist and
FRANKLIN — During 2023 Tennessee Baptists began laying the groundwork for future ministry in the Tennessee Baptist Convention while meeting needs and ministering to people across the state and around the world. The following is a synopsis of the top stories in 2023: Acts 2:17 Initiative: The Acts 2:17 Initiative was launched at the annual meeting in 2022, but the bulk of the work took place throughout 2023. An Acts
BROWNSVILLE — The final notes of “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” fluttered through the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church on Dec. 31. After 49 years as church pianist, Jan Prine closed her hymnal and turned off the light on the piano. She had played her last song for the congregation she has been a part of since age 14. Church members on this Sunday had sung their final song as
PHILADELPHIA — Online church attendees read the Bible more than onsite worshipers. Nonbelievers outpace Christians in valuing several pro-social Bible-based behaviors. And Black Americans are more spiritually vibrant than whites and Hispanics. The American Bible Society ranks those tidbits among the top findings from its 2023 State of the Bible, the 13th installment of the ABS’s intensive survey of Americans’ relationship with Scripture. “The need for meaningful, life-changing interaction with
HARTSELLE, Ala. — Junior Hill, a beloved Alabama evangelist whose ministry spanned seven decades, died Jan. 3. He was 87. A native of Hartselle, Hill began his ministry at age 19. He served as a pastor for 11 years in Alabama and Mississippi before becoming a full-time evangelist in 1967. Over the course of his ministry, he led more than 1,700 revivals and numerous crusades overseas. He frequently spoke at
JAPAN — A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit western Japan on Jan. 1 — several aftershocks have since followed. It is reportedly the most serious and deadliest earthquake since those that hit the country in 2015 and 2016. As many as 55 are confirmed dead while rescue efforts are ongoing; many still remain without cell phone service, water, electric and other utilities. Coy Webb, crisis response director of Southern Baptist’s Send
KNOXVILLE — Katherine Fortner, a member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville, has volunteered at Western Heights Baptist Center for at least 35 years. At the age of 91, Fortner still serves as ministry assistant to Western Heights director Shannon Washam. “You can’t be around this place long without seeing a need,” she observed. Two years ago, one of her grandsons who knew of her involvement at Western Heights asked
KNOXVILLE — In the late 1980s through the 1990s, Ben and Annabelle Hall, then members of Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church in Knoxville, were fixtures at Western Heights Baptist Center, a ministry of the Knox County Association of Baptists. “They came as volunteers to the Baptist Center every Tuesday and Thursday for about 20 years,” said Jackie Young, who recently completed his 42nd year as a staff member of the Baptist
The staff of the Baptist and Reflector wishes our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are grateful for our loyal readers and hope that each of you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season!
In a recent story in the Baptist and Reflector, Tim Ellsworth, a longtime friend and a talented journalist provided coverage of the last service of
FRANKLIN — Historic and horrific. Pleasing and perplexing. Elation and agony. The year 2023 played out like a roller-coaster, taking Tennesseans through almost every emotion
FRANKLIN — During 2023 Tennessee Baptists began laying the groundwork for future ministry in the Tennessee Baptist Convention while meeting needs and ministering to people
BROWNSVILLE — The final notes of “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” fluttered through the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church on Dec. 31. After 49 years
PHILADELPHIA — Online church attendees read the Bible more than onsite worshipers. Nonbelievers outpace Christians in valuing several pro-social Bible-based behaviors. And Black Americans are
HARTSELLE, Ala. — Junior Hill, a beloved Alabama evangelist whose ministry spanned seven decades, died Jan. 3. He was 87. A native of Hartselle, Hill
JAPAN — A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit western Japan on Jan. 1 — several aftershocks have since followed. It is reportedly the most serious and
KNOXVILLE — Katherine Fortner, a member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville, has volunteered at Western Heights Baptist Center for at least 35 years. At
KNOXVILLE — In the late 1980s through the 1990s, Ben and Annabelle Hall, then members of Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church in Knoxville, were fixtures at
The staff of the Baptist and Reflector wishes our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are grateful for our loyal