News

2024: A RECORD-BREAKING, HISTORY-MAKING YEAR

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist experienced a most historic 2024 marked by unique milestones and events that ranged from the celebratory to the tragic.  Hurricane Helene: Hurricane Helene devastated East Tennessee in September, triggering the largest disaster relief response in state Baptist history.  The storm, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph sustained winds, weakened to a tropical storm before dumping up to 30 inches

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TENN. BAPTIST DR: TEAMS NEEDED ASAP FOR REMODEL IN EAST TENN.

FRANKLIN — Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, announced on Friday, Jan. 3, that teams are needed as soon as possible to complete remodeling jobs in East Tennessee. Jones noted that the homes need remodeling after being gutted in the flood recovery process.  Jones said that team leaders and individuals who are available to work  should contact Kaye Thomas at 615-969-0410. The housing location is

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MCDONOUGH LEAVES LEGACY OF EVANGELISM

Renowned Baptist leader and church-planting specialist Reginald “Reggie” McDonough passed away on Dec. 24 at the age of 88. McDonough became one of the top Southern Baptist leaders while traveling the globe, teaching Christian church planters the importance of strategic planning in building and maintaining congregations for the Glory of the Lord. 

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JIMMY CARTER REMEMBERED FOR SPEAKING OPENLY ABOUT HIS FAITH

PLAINS, Ga. — Former United States President Jimmy Carter, who spoke of his faith more openly than other modern leaders, taught a Baptist Sunday School class for decades and became the nation’s longest-lived president, died Sunday, Dec. 29, at age 100. A member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., Carter was a third generation Southern Baptist and the first U.S. president to call himself a “born again” Christian. Despite

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A CHURCH THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

CORRYTON — Over the past 22 years, Corryton Church has given away nearly $1 million dollars of gifts and goods to families in East Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.  And the church apparently has no plans of stopping.  This year, the church focused much of its attention on flood victims in Chuckey, including hosting a party at the South Central Elementary School on Dec. 7.  The school chose the “invitiees” (who

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TBC CP YEAR STARTS STRONG

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches got the 2024-25 budget year off to a strong start with gifts of $2,913,890 through the Cooperative Program in November.  The gifts are $148,386 or 5.4 percent more than what was given during the first month of the last fiscal year. Gifts are just $2,777 or 0.10 percent below budget needs.  “We are grateful for the continuing commitment of Tennessee Baptists to fund Great

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ERWIN CHURCH CHANGES PLANS TO PROVIDE FOR KIDS

ERWIN — For the past four years, Central Baptist Church in Erwin has participated in the Christmas Backpacks Ministry of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.  This year was to be no different, according to Kerri Kite, who spearheads the ministry at Central Baptist. The church held a Christmas in August event and had collected enough to provide 52 backpacks, she said.  Then, along came Hurricane Helene.  Erwin and Unicoi County were

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THE LIVING CHRIST CELEBRATED DURING ETSU’S ‘DEAD WEEK’

JOHNSON CITY — As the end of the fall semester draws to a close many campus organizations cut down on activities so students can finish projects and report and begin studying for final exams.  At East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, the first full week in December is known as “dead week,” said Jonathan Chapman, collegiate ministries specialist at ETSU, adding that the school cancels all classes during the

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INTRODUCING ‘LONNIE’S CORNER’ AT CARSON SPRINGS

NEWPORT — For the past two-plus years, Lonnie Wilkey, editor of the Baptist and Reflector, has been renting an apartment at Carson Springs Conference Center.  Now, he officially has a permanent place at CSCC — even though he will no longer be living there.  Kevin Perrigan, manager of Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center, along with the rest of the staff, has officially designated a section of the CSCC lobby as

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TBC CP YEAR STARTS STRONG

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches got the 2024-25 budget year off to a strong start with gifts of $2,913,890 through the Cooperative Program in

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