NEWPORT — For approximately 30 years, churches in East Tennessee Baptist Association have been ministering to migrant workers in Cocke County in one form or another. Mike Hensley, former pastor of Swannsylvania Baptist Church, Dandridge, was one of several individuals and pastors in the association who played an instrumental role in developing the ministry. Hensley is still active in it today as director of missions for the association. Though the

FRANKLIN — Directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board are proposing a Cooperative Program budget of $35 million for 2023-24. If approved by messengers during the annual meeting at The Summit in Chattanooga in November, it will be the fourth consecutive year the budget has stayed at $35 million. The budget allocation will remain the same: 52.5 percent for Tennessee Baptist Convention ministries and 47.5 percent for the Southern Baptist

HARRIMAN — When James Griffith became pastor of South Harriman Baptist Church nearly two years ago, he knew he was coming to a church that believed in and supported missions.  One thing he observed, however, was the church’s support of the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions was not near the level of support for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  The church has traditionally had

GERMANTOWN — Matt Brown, senior pastor of Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, will be nominated as president-elect of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference during its meeting Nov. 14 in Chattanooga. Ben Cowell, pastor of Brownsville Baptist Church, Brownsville, announced his plans to nominate Brown on Sept. 7. “Matt is a dear brother with many years of faithful service in pastoral ministry,” Cowell said. 

CALHOUN — While some churches have gone from traditional Sunday Schools to small groups at nontraditional times and locations, Sunday School is still part of the strategy to fulfill the Great Commission at Calhoun First Baptist Church.  “This would not be possible without the dedicated teachers who study and prepare each week to lead their class/small group through a study of God’s Word,” affirmed pastor Toby Brogden. One such teacher,

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City and Mount Juliet Christian Academy in Mount Juliet have announced a new initiative that paves the way for the university to offer educational opportunities for those in the Nashville area this fall. The announcement was made Sept. 5 during a special celebration held on the campus of First Baptist Church, Mount Juliet, where the academy is located. “We are excited to be

JACKSON — Union University welcomed a delegation from Bowen University in Nigeria earlier this summer, marking the initiation of a potential partnership aimed at fostering collaboration between the two Baptist institutions.  The contingent from Bowen University included Joshua Ogunwole, the vice chancellor (equivalent to president); Joan Ayo, the pro chancellor (similar to chair of the board of trustees); and Israel Akanji, the president of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. Union University