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SOUTHERN BAPTISTS SEE HISTORIC DROP IN MEMBERSHIP

June 24, 2020

By Aaron Earls LifeWay Christian Resources NASHVILLE — A growing number of Southern Baptist churches are home to a shrinking number of Southern Baptists. Total membership in the Southern Baptist Convention fell almost 2 percent to 14,525,579 from 2018 to 2019, according to the Annual Church Profile compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. The decline of 287,655 members is the largest single year drop in

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TENNESCENE: JUN. 24

June 23, 2020

DEATHS Longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor and director of missions Charles D. Earl Sr., 89, died June 7. He served as pastor of six Southern Baptist churches and was director of missions for Holston Valley Baptist Association, based in Rogersville. After his retirement, he served as an associate pastor at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Knoxville. He formerly served on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist

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STORMY DAYS, STRONG FAITH

June 23, 2020

God at work in Hamilton County amid tough times By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] CHATTANOOGA — The residents of Hamilton County have experienced a trilogy of turmoil in the past few months. It began when the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold, throwing daily routines into a state of flux. Then came a deadly tornado that created another wave of emotional and physical challenges. And in recent days, Hamilton

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TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS PASS PRO-LIFE BILL IN SESSION’S FINAL HOURS

June 20, 2020

By Chris Turner [email protected] NASHVILLE — On the last day of the Tennessee General Assembly legislative session, a sweeping pro-life bill went from near extinction to becoming law.  House Bill 2263 was passed late Thursday morning June 18 and the companion Senate Bill 2196 was passed just after midnight Friday morning. The votes in both chambers were by landslide margins and Governor Bill Lee has promised to sign it once it arrives

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BAPTIST CHURCHES JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT RACISM

June 16, 2020

Baptist and Reflector  FRANKLIN — At least two Baptist associations in Tennessee joined forces with other churches in their communities to  pray for racial injustice and  reconciliation. Bledsoe Baptist Association Bledsoe Baptist Association, based in Hendersonville, recently combined on a joint statement with East Fork District Baptist Association (a National Baptist association that includes several Middle Tennessee counties) and the Gallatin United Ministerial Alliance regarding the recent death of African

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SUPREME COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF GAY, TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

June 16, 2020

By Tom Strode Baptist Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court issued a watershed decision on gay and transgender rights today (June 15) by finding longstanding, non-discrimination protections in federal workplace law cover “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” The justices ruled in a 6-3 opinion the category “sex” in Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act applies to homosexual and transgender employees. Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice

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UNION PROFESSOR MAKES PRAYER FOR STUDENTS A PRIORITY

June 15, 2020

By Tim Ellsworth Union University news office JACKSON — A three-ring binder sits on the corner of Steve Halla’s office desk at Union University.  That binder contains prayer requests that he has collected from his students. Every morning when he arrives at the office, Halla sits at his desk and opens the binder. Whichever student is on top becomes Halla’s prayer focus for the day. “One of the great joys

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SOME CHURCH PLANTS BEING UPROOTED

June 12, 2020

COVID-19 poses challenges for church plants that gather in schools By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — As Tennessee Baptist churches begin to regather all across the state, it’s not that simple for every congregation, especially for church plants that meet in local schools. “We’ve got quite a few of our church planters right now who are scrambling to find alternative spaces other than being an all

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COOPERATIVE PROGRAM GIVING REMAINS STEADY

June 11, 2020

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists gave $2,600,319 through the Cooperative Program in May. For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptist Convention churches have given $19,909,664 through the Cooperative Program for missions and ministries throughout the state, the nation and the world.

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A YEAR WITHOUT THE SBC MEETING

June 11, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In a normal year, hundreds of Tennessee Baptists would be gathered in Orlando, Fla., this week for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. But thanks to COVID-19, 2020 is not a normal year. Tennessee Baptists who planned to go to Orlando this year expressed disappointment that the annual meeting was canceled due to the pandemic, but they certainly

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TENNESCENE: JUN. 24

June 23, 2020

DEATHS Longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor and director of missions Charles D. Earl Sr., 89, died June 7. He served as pastor of six Southern Baptist

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