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BEHIND-THE-SCENES HEROES: SECRETARIES PLAY KEY ROLES IN THE LIFE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH

Editor’s note: April 27 is recognized as National Administrative Professionals Day. Take this opportunity to thank your church secretary or ministry assistant for the ministry they perform for your church. By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] MURFREESBORO — In some churches they are ministry or administrative assistants. In others, they are secretaries. It really doesn’t matter which title is used — ministry assistants or church secretaries —  they

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THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON

By Chris Turner Director of communications, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Easter doesn’t really have a catchy slogan like Christmas. At Christmas, we say things like “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s true, but it seems that truth often winds up being a bumper sticker.  However, Easter doesn’t lend itself easily to bumper sticker slogans. “Sin is the reason for the season” doesn’t exactly invoke Hallmark Channel holiday fuzzies. 

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GOTM ON TARGET TO EXCEED $2 MILLION, REACH GOAL FOR 2021-22 FISCAL YEAR

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Through March 31, Tennessee Baptists have given more than $1.9 million through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. With about five months to go in the offering’s 2021-22 fiscal year, gifts are $100,000 short of $2 million. Reaching the $2 million mark would be a milestone in the history of the offering. In addition, the current amount is about $200,000 short of the $2.1 million

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TBDR — THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] I never cease to be amazed at how quickly and effectively Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers mobilize to be the hands and feet of Jesus. In late March and early April, wildfires swept across portions of Sevier County. While not nearly as devastating as the Gatlinburg fire of 2016, nearly 3,000 acres were burned and many homes damaged or destroyed. Martha and

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VOLUNTEERS HELP SEVIER COUNTY RESIDENTS SEARCH FOR MEMORIES AFTER WILDFIRES BLAZE

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] SEVIERVILLE — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have begun helping residents whose homes were burned during wildfires which swept through portions of Sevier County on March 3 and lasted through early April when the fires were finally contained. The fires were primarily in two locations according to local news media — Hatcher Mountain in Wears Valley and Dupont/Milestone Gap in Seymour. WBIR-TV

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TBMB’S COLLINS SEEKS TO ‘IGNITE TENNESSEE’ TO REACH THE LOST

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, has a passion to see spiritually lost people saved. Fresh off the first statewide evangelism conference in Tennessee in 14 years, Collins is anxious to take it to the next level in order to reach the nearly four million people (about 56 percent of the population) in the

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TENNESSEE BAPTIST DR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE FOR SEVIERVILLE FIRES

From B&R, news reports SEVIERVILLE — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief units are preparing to provide further assistance for the situation in Sevierville, where wildfires have burned more than 3,300 acres during the past several days.  Last week, Tennessee Baptist DR sent a shower unit to assist the fire fighters who came off the line from fighting the fire, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

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TROUBLING TREND: A SHORTAGE OF STUDENT MINISTERS

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Richard Ross has decades of experience when it comes to student ministry. And today, he’s observing a troubling trend. “I often hear from churches searching for student pastors,” said Ross, senior professor of student ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “It would be a joy to provide them with names of potential candidates. But the vast percentage of the time, I have no

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CHURCH SUPPORTS PASTOR DURING DEPLOYMENT IN KUWAIT

Matt Ward, pastor of FBC Wartburg, returns home after 11 months in Kuwait By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] WARTBURG — When First Baptist Church, Wartburg, called Matt Ward as pastor three years ago, members knew what they were getting — a major in the United States Army who has been a chaplain in the Tennessee National Guard since 2011. The church also knew they were getting a

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CASINOS GATHERING ON TENNESSEE’S HORIZON

By Randy C. Davis President & Executive Director, TBMB Casino operators must know something about bass fishing. They’ll make the lure of a big jackpot dance and sparkle in the bright lights hovering above slot machines and roulette wheels. They mesmerize their catch with nibbles of what could be, and then before someone realizes it, WHAM! The hook is set, and the person is caught and reeled in.  In the

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THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON

By Chris Turner Director of communications, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Easter doesn’t really have a catchy slogan like Christmas. At Christmas, we say things like

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