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TENNESSEE CHURCH PRESENTS CHITWOOD WITH $100,000 FOR LOTTIE OFFERING

By Timothy Cockes Baptist Press KNOXVILLE — First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tenn., presented International Mission Board president Paul Chitwood with a special check for $100,000 toward the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering during a special service on Jan. 5. Chitwood accepted the check, which brought First Baptist Concord’s total Lottie Moon giving for 2021 to more than $425,000. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering go directly to worldwide missions and

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FIRST-PERSON: STOP STEALING FROM MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

By Jeff Iorg For Baptist Press ONTARIO, Calif. – My mother-in-law is an 88-year old loyal Southern Baptist who lives on a fixed income in a modest retirement center. She loves the Lord, her church and Southern Baptists. She has been a lifelong advocate of the Cooperative Program and understands, as a contributing member of a Southern Baptist church, she is a primary funder of Gateway Seminary. She reflects that

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REVITALIZATION IS A PRODUCT OF REVIVAL

By Troy Rust Associational mission strategist, Holston Baptist Association, Johnson City Like every Baptist association, most of our churches stood in need of revitalization when I arrived a year ago.  As I began to think through the requirements of revitalization, I was reminded that revitalization is the product of revival. When God’s people return to the love they had at first for Jesus, churches will focus once again on the

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NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOCUS ON HEALTH, GOD AND MONEY

By Aaron Earls Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — After a season in which avoiding sickness was on most everyone’s mind, many Americans say their New Year’s resolutions address their health. More Americans say their past resolutions have focused on their health, their relationship with God, their finances and their relationship with a family member than other possibilities, according to a new survey of 1,005 Americans from Lifeway Research. “New Year’s

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TENNESSEE PASTOR PUBLISHES NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL BOOK

Baptist Courier GREENVILLE, S.C. — Tennessee Baptist pastor Todd Stinnett has written My Daily Word of Truth, a daily devotional book to assist believers not only in discovering the meaning of Scripture, but in making the application to their daily lives. “If you’ve been looking for a way to become a better student of Scripture, but had no idea where to begin, this is the devotional for you,” Stinnett said.

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BEECH RIVER CHURCHES MEET NEEDS IN DECATUR COUNTY

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] LEXINGTON — Portions of Henderson and Decatur Counties sustained scattered damage from tornadoes that struck the state on the weekend of Dec. 10. Residents of both counties, especially Decatur County, were not unscathed. Tornadoes took out the TVA lines that carried electricity into both counties.  Most of Henderson County had power restored within two days, but Decatur County was without power for

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AFTER SPLIT, CHURCHES REUNITE FOR MUSICAL

Green Hill Church and Victory Baptist combine for Christmas performance By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] MOUNT JULIET — For the most part, Baptist churches avoid the “s” word (split) whenever possible. But two Mount Juliet congregations — Green Hill Church and Victory Baptist — acknowledge that is what happened with their churches 21 years ago. Members from Green Hill left and formed Victory Baptist just a few

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HAYWOOD HONORED FOR 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY AT BRENTWOOD BAPTIST

By David Dawson [email protected] BRENTWOOD — Gayle Haywood received two standing ovations during a recent Sunday morning service at Brentwood Baptist Church. Still, pastor Mike Glenn made it clear that no amount of applause would be sufficient to express the church’s appreciation for Haywood, who is retiring after 40 years of service at Brentwood.  “There are not many times in our lives when we get to look at greatness,” Glenn

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A CHRISTMAS SECRET WRAPPED IN HOPE

By Randy C. Davis President and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Just yesterday, a friend showed me the gift he’d gotten his mother for Christmas. It’s unique, encouraging and it will surprise her socks off. Few people have seen the gift he’s giving and I’m so excited about it because I know she’ll love it. I wish I could share what it is, but I can’t. It’s a secret. 

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COMPASSION IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

Year-round support needed for the hurting, struggling, hungry By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — Research compiled by various organizations in recent years confirms that Americans are far more likely to support charities and non-profit groups during the holidays than at any other time during the year.  One published report, by NeonOne, showed that nearly one-third (31 percent) of all donations/giving to the non-profit sector occurs around the holidays. Another report

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