News

TENNESSEANS RESPOND TO SBC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECISION

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] NASHVILLE — Judging from reactions on social media and other outlets, some Southern Baptists are unhappy with the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Though the Executive Committee agreed to fund up to $1.6 million for an independent investigation into allegations of the mishandling of sexual abuse claims, it stopped short of waiving attorney-client privilege, according to a Baptist Press report. Members of the EC

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GENEROUS MISSIONS GIVING, BIBLICAL AUTHORITY SPOTLIGHT ENTITY REPORTS

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Record-level financial giving to Southern Baptist Convention missions offerings, confession-based seminaries grounded in biblical authority, fulfilling the Great Commission and appreciation for the Cooperative Program highlighted entity reports at the SBC Executive Committee meeting Sept. 20-21 in Nashville. Ethics and Religious Commission ERLC Acting President Brent Leatherwood presented the entity as a group “joyful warriors” presenting a Kingdom voice in an increasingly hostile

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AXIS CHURCH MOVES FORWARD AFTER FIRE

By David Dawson [email protected]  NASHVILLE — Despite some difficult circumstances, The Axis Church is still spinning.  Members of the church, located in downtown Nashville, gathered for an on-campus worship service on Sunday, Sept. 19 — just six days after an arsonist set fire to the building and caused extensive damage. The arsonist threw a Molotov cocktail through a church window on the night of Sept. 13. Pastor Jeremy Rose said the

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FORMER SBC PRESIDENTS REFLECT ON RESPONSIBILITIES

The Baptist Paper BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Of the 61 men who have served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention since its founding in 1845, 41 were senior pastors. That includes current SBC president Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala. (formerly First Baptist Church, North Mobile). The role comes with a travel and incidentals budget of $46,000 and some basic administrative help from the SBC Executive Committee

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HENDERSON POLICE OFFICER NOW ADDS CHAPLAIN TO HER LONG LIST OF TITLES

By Ashley Perham Baptist and Reflector ENVILLE — From police officer to church trumpet player to volunteer fire department chaplain to mother of six children, Danielle Cook, a member of Enville Baptist Church, does it all. Cook, who is originally from Iowa, moved to Tennessee with her family in 2011. She worked in childcare until her youngest child began school.  Then, she began working at the prison in Clifton, but

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TBMB DIRECTORS APPROVE BUDGET, PARTNERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NASHVILLE — The directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board approved a $35 million Cooperative Program budget for 2021-22 and a partnership with the Hawaii/Pacific Baptist Convention during its Sept. 15 meeting at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. The directors also voted to extend the City Reach partnership for another year so that volunteer mission work can be emphasized in the

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TENNESSEE BAPTIST DR TEAMS ARE ON THE MOVE

By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — While numerous Tennessee Baptist disaster relief volunteers are continuing to assist the flood recovery efforts in their home state, other DR teams are being dispatched to Louisiana to serve those impacted by Hurricane Ida.  In both places, people are hurting. And in both places, Tennessee Baptist DR teams are meeting needs — physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Over the past few weeks, a large number

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TENNESCENE: SEP. 15

LEADERS Marshall Key began serving Aug. 1 as associational missions strategist for Beulah Baptist Association, based in Union City. Key, who grew up in Union City, returns home from Danville, Va., where he served as a worship and discipleship pastor since 2017. Along with responsibilities at the church, he was a church planting coach and trainer with the Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia and the North American Mission Board. Prior

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HELEN JEAN PARKS, WIFE OF FORMER IMB PRESIDENT, DIES

By Mary Jane Welch Writer, International Mission Board Helen Jean Parks, former missionary and wife of R. Keith Parks, former president of the Foreign (now International) Mission Board, died Sept. 13. She was 93. The former Helen Jean Bond, born in Abilene, Texas, and her husband were appointed Southern Baptist missionaries to Indonesia in 1954 and served there until 1968. Her commitment to international missions shaped her service as the

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SBC ENTITY HEADS RESPOND TO BIDEN VACCINE MANDATE

By Brandon Parker Baptist Press NASHVILLE — A number of Southern Baptist leaders are taking a cautious approach to President Joe Biden’s announcement that businesses with 100 or more employees will soon be required to have all employees be vaccinated or tested weekly. Biden said he is aiming at getting 100 million more people vaccinated, believing the strategy will stop the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the U.S.

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TENNESCENE: SEP. 15

LEADERS Marshall Key began serving Aug. 1 as associational missions strategist for Beulah Baptist Association, based in Union City. Key, who grew up in Union

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