Former wrestler known as the ‘Wild Samoan’ now a church planter in East Tenn. Baptist & Reflector FRANKLIN — For 30 years Elias Nech wrestled under the name of “The Wild Samoan.” Today, however, he no longer body slams those he comes into contact with. Instead, he is more likely to tell people about the love of Jesus Christ. And, instead of the Wild Samoan, he’s simply Pastor Elias. Nech
By Caroline Anderson Writer, International Mission Board The International Mission Board celebrated the appointment of 79 new missionaries on Nov. 18 in a virtual Sending Celebration streamed on Facebook and through the IMB: Advance the Kingdom app. The missionaries were previously approved by IMB trustees. The missionaries come from 21 states and will serve in eight of IMB’s nine affinities. The Sending Celebration was scheduled to be held in Alabama
‘Barbershop conversation’ focuses on steps needed for racial equality By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] MURFREESBORO — Among the many powerful moments of the 2020 Virtual Summit was the “barbershop conversation” with Grant Gaines and Ternae Jordan. The two pastors got together to discuss the topic of racial justice, and how the Bible promotes and defines it. Gaines, pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, and Jordan, pastor of
By Brandon Elrod Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Hurricane Iota has sights set on Central America, making it the second major hurricane to hit the region following Hurricane Eta’s Nov. 3 landfall. Iota is the 13th hurricane and record-breaking 30th named storm during an historic 2020 hurricane season. Eta took the lives of dozens of people after generating landslides and flooding, and Iota arrived in northern Nicaragua Monday night (Nov.
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In the world of music, timing is everything. If just one person is out of sync, it can be enough to ruin the whole song. Now, think about this for a moment: how much more difficult would it be for everyone — the choir and the musicians — to be on the same page if they weren’t in the same room?
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Even during a worldwide pandemic, God has done and “will continue to do wonders among us,” affirmed Bruce Chesser, pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, and president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Due to the cancelation of the in-person Summit originally scheduled for Brentwood Baptist Church, Chesser gave an abbreviated message during the Virtual Summit. “I had expected to share
By Aaron Earls LifeWay News Office NASHVILLE — After a few years of economic optimism, pastors say the 2020 economy is hurting their congregation. According to a new survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research, almost half of U.S. Protestant pastors (48 percent) say the current economy is negatively impacting their church, including 5 percent who say the impact is very negative. Around 1 in 6 (15 percent) believe the economy has
LEADERS Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, has called Matt Crawford as senior pastor, following the retirement of Richard Hipps who retired last year after 17 years. Crawford has served three churches in Florida, most recently as the East Campus pastor for City Church In Tallahassee. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and holds his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] FRANKLIN — The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board met via Zoom on Nov. 11 to adopt a $35 million Cooperative Program allocation budget for 2020-21. The cancelation of Summit 2020 due to COVID-19 forced the directors to act as Convention ad interim, in accordance of the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s Constitution and Bylaws. Constitution Bylaw VI.A determines that “TBMB is responsible for conducting
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s first Virtual Summit was not the original choice of convention leadership but it proved to be the most viable alternative during a worldwide pandemic. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tennessee, the decision made in late August to cancel the in-person meeting set for Nov. 8-11 at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, proved to be
Former wrestler known as the ‘Wild Samoan’ now a church planter in East Tenn. Baptist & Reflector FRANKLIN — For 30 years Elias Nech wrestled
By Caroline Anderson Writer, International Mission Board The International Mission Board celebrated the appointment of 79 new missionaries on Nov. 18 in a virtual Sending
‘Barbershop conversation’ focuses on steps needed for racial equality By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] MURFREESBORO — Among the many powerful moments of the
By Brandon Elrod Baptist Press ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Hurricane Iota has sights set on Central America, making it the second major hurricane to hit the
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In the world of music, timing is everything. If just one person is out of sync,
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Even during a worldwide pandemic, God has done and “will continue to do wonders among
By Aaron Earls LifeWay News Office NASHVILLE — After a few years of economic optimism, pastors say the 2020 economy is hurting their congregation. According
LEADERS Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, has called Matt Crawford as senior pastor, following the retirement of Richard Hipps who retired last year after 17 years.
By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] FRANKLIN — The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board met via Zoom on Nov. 11 to adopt a
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s first Virtual Summit was not the original choice of convention leadership