HENDERSONVILLE — It’s not a matter of choice for leaders at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, when it comes to church planting or church revitalization. They do both.  “We fully believe in planting churches,” said Bruce Raley, executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville. “We have a church we’re planting right now in the Hell’s Kitchen community of New York City, but we also just have a burden for churches that are

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is gearing up to assist Tennessee residents in the aftermath of a string of tornadoes and severe storms that struck the state on March 31 and the early morning hours of April 1. Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said the full extent of damage across Tennessee probably won’t be known until later in the day (April 1).

SODDY-DAISY — When pastor Jeff Myers was in the hospital four years ago with sepsis, he wasn’t only concerned about his own health.  He was also focused on the financial health of his church.  For more than 20 years, Union Fork Baptist Church in Soddy-Daisy had been dealing with the burden of paying off a large bank loan. And Myers believed it was time for that to change.  “When I

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on March 30. NASHVILLE — Nathan Parker, senior pastor of Woodmont Baptist Church in Nashville, said he “could not be more proud” of his staff and church members who served as the hands and feet of Jesus in the immediate aftermath of Monday’s deadly school shooting at Covenant School.    Parker used those words in a message that was posted on the church’s Facebook

FRANKLIN — Since November, Tennessee Baptists have been asked for their opinions and dreams for the future direction of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.  And, they have responded overwhelmingly to the Acts 2:17 Initiative, said Steve Holt, church services director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.  More than 1,000 Tennessee Baptists have participated in at least one of the following: the listening session held at last year’s Summit at Bellevue Baptist

FRANKLIN — A Day of Prayer for Unity in the Tennessee Baptist Convention will be held Wednesday, April 26.  The prayer event is in conjunction with the Acts 2:17 Initiative as Tennessee Baptists are in the process of seeking God’s will for the future, said Steve Holt, church services director for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.  “Unity is the key to hearing from the Lord,” Holt noted.  As Tennessee Baptists look

WMU event maintains message, purpose at new spot  BRENTWOOD — More than 600 women from 132 churches attended this year’s Woman’s Missionary Union Missions Get-Together, held for the first time at Brentwood Baptist Church on March 23-25. The annual event traditionally has been held in Gatlinburg.  With a theme of “Overflowing Hope,” women heard from missionaries, worshiped the Lord and connected with friends old and new over the three-day conference. 

NASHVILLE — When Dani Bryson was initially asked to consider a nomination to serve on the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, she said the offer was completely unexpected. “I never aspired to be on the Executive Committee,” Bryson said. “I never considered that I would be on the Executive Committee, like it was the last thing from my mind. I’m just an ordinary church-goer in the Southern Baptist Convention.” Bryson, assistant

KNOXVILLE — Applications are now being received for grants from the Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee Medical Missions Fund. The Baptist Healthcare System of East Tennessee was started by Tennessee Baptists soon after the end of World War II.  More than $2 million was contributed by 800 churches in 32 counties of East Tennessee. The hospital began service on Nov. 30, 1949.

FRANKLIN — Every pastor knows that a growing congregation is a blessing, but it can come with challenges, too — like space. What happens when a church outgrows a building’s capacity?  The Tennessee Baptist Foundation (TBF) is helping answer that question thanks to a partnership with WatersEdge Ministry Services. Based in Oklahoma City, WatersEdge is a nonprofit, Southern Baptist financial services ministry.  The organization has worked to meet church financing