News

PATRIOTIC DISPLAYS COMMON IN JULY 4TH CHURCH SERVICES

By Aaron Earls Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Protestant pastors say they will worship God and honor America at church services this weekend, and they’re not too worried churchgoers will confuse the two. Most pastors (56 percent) say it’s important to incorporate patriotic elements into worship services the week of July 4th to celebrate America, including 27 percent who strongly agree, according to a Lifeway Research study of 1,000

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ACADEMY, CHURCH BAPTIZE 15 NEW BELIEVERS

Baptist and Reflector COVINGTON — For their final chapel service of the year, Tipton Christian Academy had 15 students, from grades 3-8, baptized in the newly renovated lake baptistery at First Baptist Church, Covington, on a sunny, warm May afternoon where hundreds of their classmates and family members were in attendance.  Most of the students prayed to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior during school, whether it be during

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‘PAY IT FORWARD’

Youth saved at All Nations Camp returns with campers from her church By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NEWPORT — Maritza Cruz attended her first All Nations Camp in 1996 when she was 15 years old. While at camp, she made a decision that has impacted her life forever. Cruz accepted Christ that summer while attending the camp with a group from Brownsville Baptist Church in Brownsville. She

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SUPREME COURT SUPPORTS COACH’S RIGHT TO PRAY ON FIELD

By Tom Strode Baptist Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court delivered what most religious liberty advocates declared an important victory June 27 in ruling the post-game, midfield prayer of a high school football coach did not violate the First Amendment’s ban on government establishment of religion. In a 6-3 opinion, the justices decided the Bremerton (Wash.) School District actually violated the First Amendment rights of Joseph Kennedy by removing

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KEY QUOTES FROM DOBBS. V. JACKSON DECISION

By ERLC staff NASHVILLE — In a monumental case that strikes down a constitutional basis for abortion, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Dobbs v. Jackson on June 24 that the issue of abortion is returned to the states. Specifically, the court held that “Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.” The ERLC applauds today’s landmark ruling

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PRAISING THE GOD OF EVERY LANGUAGE

Eighty-eight campers make professions of faith at ANC By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NEWPORT — The nations came to English Mountain in Newport in early June. More than 300 children, teenagers and adults from across the state attended the All Nations Camp (ANC) held June 6-10 at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center. The camp was sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. It is the largest attended

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RESPONDING TO PROTESTS: ACTION STEPS TO HANDLE DEMONSTRATIONS AT YOUR CHURCH

Brotherhood Mutual / The Baptist Paper Protests occur at worship centers across the country for a number of reasons. Hate groups, social activist organizations, and others spread their message by staging events that provoke confrontation and attract media attention. If demonstrators responding to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade were to appear on your doorstep this Sunday, would you know what to do? See related stories on Friday’s

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TBC LEADERS RESPOND TO REVERSAL OF ROE V. WADE

Editor’s note: Additional information on the historic Roe v. Wade decision will be printed as it becomes available. By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist leaders have expressed their excitement over the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on June 24 to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court ruling of Roe. v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. By a 5-4 margin, the Supreme Court effectively

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PASSION FOR ‘PLANTING’ STILL BURNS WITHIN TIEBOUT

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NEWPORT — When Steve Tiebout became the founding pastor of The River Church, a new plant in Cookeville more than 20 years ago, he never envisioned the church growing to an average attendance of 1,200 to 1,400 people in three worship services. In his mind, the church would always stay between 200 and 300 people and when that was exceeded, the church

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LONG HOLLOW CHURCH STAFF MEMBER COMMITS FRAUD OF MORE THAN $100K

By Baptist Press HENDERSONVILLE — An executive staff member at Long Hollow Baptist Church has been “systematically abusing his access to church resources,” the church said in a statement released June 23. The statement is signed by senior pastor Robby Gallaty and executive pastor Collin Wood. Through an audit, Daniel Meadows, a campus operations specialist and executive assistant, was discovered to have made fraudulent and personal purchases of more than

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