News

TBMB PROVIDES PRAYER HOTLINE

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is providing a Prayer Hotline that will be answered 24 hours a day for the foreseeable future by trained Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief chaplains. The phone number is 844-600-8262 (844-600-TBMB). The prayer hotline, which launches at 11 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, April 15, is for anyone looking for prayer or conversation with an experienced chaplain, said Bill Choate, director of

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DR VOLUNTEERS SERVING IN BRADLEY, HAMILTON COUNTIES

Editor’s note: This story was updated on April 23.  By Lonnie Wilkey Baptist and Reflector [email protected] CHATTANOOGA — Baptist disaster relief volunteers are providing help to those affected by EF-3 tornado and severe storms that struck southeast Tennessee and particularly Hamilton, Bradley and Marion counties. According to local news reports, at least three people were killed and several others were injured and hospitalized. Authorities estimate damage could be up $300 million

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DAVIS: BE KNOWN BY YOUR FAITH

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In his weekly COVID-19 update on April 8, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, reminded Tennessee Baptists that the world is watching. “How is this generation going to remember how we, as Christians, responded to this crisis?”

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TENN. BAPTIST DR TEAMS FAN OUT

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Wes Jones is accustomed to dealing with the unpredictable. It’s his job. He’s been involved with flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, power outages and all in between. But even Jones, the Disaster Relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, admits that the current confluence of instability, uneasiness and confusion — created by the COVID-19 pandemic — has been a major challenge.

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TBMB KIDS SPECIALISTS: ROUTINE IMPORTANT

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — With children staying home from school and activities, keeping them in a routine is critical, agree Tennessee Baptist Mission Board childhood specialists Donna Blaydes and Vicki Hulsey. Blaydes suggested that families establish and stick to a routine. “Routine is an important part of a child’s daily life,” she observed. “During this time when a child’s life has been temporarily disrupted, it is important to establish

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PARENTS CAN TEACH BIBLICAL TRUTHS TO CHILDREN DURING EXTENDED TIME AT HOME

Note: Many resources are available online for families. See list beneath this story for a few options.  By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — The coronavirus pandemic is providing many parents more opportunities to share biblical truths as children are now confined to their homes rather than schools or daycare facilities. The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s childhood specialists, Vicki Hulsey and Donna Blaydes, are encouraging parents to

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PAYCHECK PROTECTION PLAN DRAWS FEEDBACK FROM PASTORS, ETHICISTS

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press SEATTLE — As pastor of Epic Life Church in Seattle with only five employees, Keith Carpenter sees the Paycheck Protection Plan loan as a godsend during a devastating economic downturn prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. So does pastor A.B. Vines, whose multisite New Seasons Church in Spring Valley, Calif., employs about 50. But some pastors have theological and ethical concerns with the loan, which is

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GOVERNOR ISSUES GUIDANCE ON SUNDAY CHURCH GATHERINGS

Baptist and Reflector Tennessee Baptist Mission Board leaders participated Tuesday, April 7, 2020, with other faith leaders from across the state in a telephone forum with Governor Bill Lee. His Office of Faith-Based Initiatives offered the guidance/clarity below concerning churches gathering on Sundays. To serve our churches well, TBMB provides these recommended prudent measures to assist pastors and church leaders in their effort to make wise decisions in the weeks

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PASTOR’S FIRST SERMON AT NEW CHURCH COMES VIA VIDEO

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] MEDON — Damon Olson’s first sermon as pastor of COVI didn’t go exactly the way he envisioned. No one showed up. But, technically, neither did he. Olson’s first Sunday at Maple Springs came as churches all across the nation decided not to meet due to the coronavirus pandemic that has taken  the nation and the world by storm. Instead, the congregation listened to their new pastor’s

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TECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR THE DRIVE-IN CHURCH

Baptist and Reflector JOHNSON CITY — Scott Thompson, associate/executive pastor of University Parkway Baptist Church, Johnson City, helped the church establish a “drive-in church” five years ago. Here is how they did it in his words. “We ordered a small, low power, FM transmitter kit and antenna. This type of transmitter is used for schools, churches, farmers, etc. In our area we are not required to have an FCC license

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