News

YEAR IN REVIEW: GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, SICKNESS AND HEALTH

Past year was mixed bag of challenges, opportunities By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Following 2020, a year that will forever be remembered for COVID-19, 2021 offered numerous headline opportunities for a nation still reeling from a worldwide pandemic. Likewise, there was no shortage of news stories in the Tennessee Baptist Convention as leaders and churches dealt with a variety of challenges and opportunities during 2021. 

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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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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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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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TBAH HOSTS GROUNDBREAKING FOR FIRST MINISTRY IN WEST TENNESSEE

Baptist and Reflector HUMBOLDT — Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes broke ground Nov. 30 for its first ministry in West Tennessee — Baptist Village-Humboldt. Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes was founded by the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 1974 to develop a residential ministry for senior adults. In 1989, TBAH was given the additional assignment of providing residential care for adults with exceptional needs. Today, TBAH has two group homes for adults with

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