News

2021 GOTM GIFTS EXCEED $1.7 MILLION

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists gave $1,721,190 through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions in 2020-21. Though the total was the lowest total since 2014-15, it was still “an amazing amount given by Tennessee Baptists during a pandemic year when many churches weren’t meeting in the fall of 2020, the time of year most churches give to the offering,” said Vickie Anderson, executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary

Read More...

LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD: 2021 SUMMIT PREVIEW

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — “Forward Together with One Heart” is the theme of the 2021 Summit to be held Nov. 14-17 at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood. “I believe our theme for Summit reminds us of the great unity to be found in the Lord’s Great Commission calling” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “Our theme

Read More...

COVID-19 CAUSES CHURCH TO CHANGE ITS NAME

By Aaron Earls Baptist Press ROCK HILL, S.C. — The pandemic forced churches across the country to make significant changes, but none were quite like the one at Stony Fork Community Church, formerly known as Outbreak Church. After enduring the impact of COVID-19 like most every other congregation, pastor Scott Carroll, along with the elders and staff of Outbreak Church, began to think about how they would emerge on the

Read More...

GUIDEPOST SOLUTIONS SELECTED TO CONDUCT INDEPENDENT REVIEW, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ‘WELCOMES’ ANNOUNCEMENT

By Brandon Porter and Jonathan Howe Baptist Press ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A task force appointed by Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton has selected Guidepost Solutions to oversee a third-party review of the SBC Executive Committee’s past handling of sexual abuse issues. According to a statement released by the task force, Guidepost Solutions was selected in part due to its “extensive background in abuse, trauma, and abusive dynamics, with considerable

Read More...

SBC DIGEST: NOBTS CAMPUS REOPENS AFTER HURRICANE IDA

By Gary D. Myers NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College president Jamie Dew announced the reopening of the schools’ campus Sept. 7 following Hurricane Ida. The campus has been closed to residents since the Aug. 29 storm knocked out electricity throughout the region. Campus power was fully restored late in the day on Sept. 6, and seminary facilities crews checked every campus residence to assure

Read More...

IMB UPDATES VACCINATION POLICY TO MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO UNREACHED PEOPLES

By Julie McGowan IMB associate vice president of communications and public relations RICHMOND, Va.—Desiring to help its team members maintain access to unreached peoples and places and remain healthy as they seek to take the gospel to all nations, the International Mission Board announced a policy Sept. 8 for field personnel and staff members related to COVID-19 vaccinations. This policy addresses the challenges of overseas life and travel requirements for

Read More...

LEWIS DONATES MOST OF PASTORAL LIBRARY TO UNION

By Grace White Union University JACKSON — Pastor Frank Lewis of First Baptist Church, Nashville, has donated approximately 2,000 books from his personal library to Union University to be used by students and faculty.  Lewis’ collection is expansive, including various Bible commentaries and devotionals as well as books that he inherited from the two pastors who served before him at FBC Nashville.  As part of Union’s library, Lewis’ collection will

Read More...

MOST AMERICANS KNOW AND TRUST THEIR NEIGHBORS

By Aaron Earls Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Despite quarantines and social distancing keeping people in their homes during the pandemic, Americans still say they know their neighbors. Almost 7 in 10 U.S. adults (68 percent) say they trust the people who live in their local community, according to a study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. Close to a quarter of Americans (23 percent) disagree, and 10 percent say they

Read More...

FOOD PANTRY HELPS CHURCH REACH COMMUNITY, SHARE GOSPEL

By Ashley Perham Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — Mike Parker had never pastored before coming to Riverview Baptist Church, Knoxville, in January 2020 to help with church revitalization. “You hired a missionary, and so we’re going to do missions,” he told the congregation of around 20. “That’s how we’re going to get this thing going.” Six weeks later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Parker knew the church needed to start doing

Read More...

CHURCHES PARTNER TO PROVIDE VBS/SPORTS CAMP

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FAIRFIELD GLADE — In what could only be described as a divine appointment, two ministers were brought together by God and a partnership was formed that was a blessing to both churches. Bruce Raley, senior associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, and Doug Elders, pastor of First Baptist Church, Fairfield Glade, were the arrangements committee for the annual meeting of the

Read More...