News

UNION’S CLASS OF 2020 PLACEMENT RATE AT 98 PERCENT DESPITE DIFFICULT YEAR

February 16, 2021

Union University news office JACKSON — Ninety-eight percent of Union University’s class of 2020 were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of receiving their degree, according to an “Undergraduate First-Destination Survey” conducted by the Vocation Center for Life Calling and Career. The placement rate for Union’s class of 2019 was also 98 percent. For the classes of 2018 and 2017, placement rates were 95 percent, and in

CHURCHES TURNING TO ‘ONLINE PASTORS’ TO FOSTER COMMUNITY DURING PANDEMIC

February 15, 2021

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press HENDERSONVILLE — Since Long Hollow Baptist Church began experiencing what pastor Robby Gallaty calls “a genuine move of God” last month, roughly 300 people have traveled to its Tennessee campus from all over the country to be baptized. One group came forward – some scheduled, others spontaneously – at the church’s first Tuesday prayer service on Jan. 19, which lasted more than two hours. Twenty-two more were

CHURCH DISPLAYS TRUE ‘GIVING SPIRIT’

February 12, 2021

Despite pandemic, Hilldale Baptist surpasses budget, mission goals By David Dawson [email protected] CLARKSVILLE — “In good times and in bad; in sickness and in health.” Those words, commonly heard at weddings, also describe the commitment displayed by the members of Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, in 2020. Amid all the devastating details of last year, including economic hardships brought on by the pandemic, Hilldale had a record setting year in

TRUSTEES: NAMB TRUSTEES SEE HEARTACHE AND HEALING FIRST-HAND IN NEW ORLEANS

February 12, 2021

By Mike Ebert Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS — Trustees with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) met Feb. 1-2 in New Orleans and visited with missionaries who are planting churches and meeting the needs of people in desperate situations. At Connect Church in Algiers, trustees heard from church planting missionary and pastor Ryan Rice who came to the church as a re-plant pastor after its membership had dwindled to just

PANDEMIC DIVISION CAUSING PASTORS TO LEAVE MINISTRY, PASTORAL MENTOR SAYS

February 12, 2021

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brian Croft jokes that masks are the new “color of the carpet argument” in churches, with similarly poor outcomes. Pastors are resigning from the stress “kind of in a way I’ve never really seen.” The founder of Practical Shepherding transitioned from fulltime pastoring to lead the shepherding outreach fulltime in January, pulled by a need for coaching and counseling that has steadily

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

February 11, 2021

Dislikes editorializing I am writing in regards to an article of page 3 of the Jan. 13, 2021, issue of the Baptist & Reflector entitled “Greear, Moore, others call for peaceable transition.” While I appreciate the work and efforts of the B&R staff and of the contributing writers, I do not agree with the editorializing by at least one of those interviewed. I am specifically speaking about the comments made

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

February 11, 2021

STARTED ON FAITH, SUSTAINED BY FAITH

February 11, 2021

Two-year-old church plant baptizes 45 people during pandemic By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] BRISTOL — Pastor Joel Kirk has a simple formula for planting a church: “It’s impossible to please God without faith.” So far, that formula has produced miracle after miracle for Realife Church in Bristol, a congregation that will not be three years old until the Sunday after Easter this year. Kirk recalled that on

TENNESCENE: FEB. 10

February 10, 2021

LEADERS Derek Westmoreland is now serving as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington. He formerly served as senior pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, from 2012-20. Westmoreland was licensed and ordained into the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church, Collierville. He is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova. He earned a doctor of ministry degree in expository preaching from Union in 2014.

IMB APPOINTS 30 MISSIONARIES

February 10, 2021

RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees unanimously approved the appointment of 30 full-time, fully funded missionary personnel during their Feb. 3-4 meeting, and trustees applauded a report that cumulative international mission offerings have nearly reached a historic $5 billion. The new missionaries will be sent to eight of IMB’s nine global affinities. A recent Sending Celebration recognized the 30 new appointees, plus two missionaries previously appointed, and one sent in

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UNION’S CLASS OF 2020 PLACEMENT RATE AT 98 PERCENT DESPITE DIFFICULT YEAR