News

DRIVE-IN SERVICES

Church in the parking lot includes safety, gospel By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] JOHNSON CITY— Five years before COVID-19 took the world by storm, University Parkway Baptist Church had recognized the need for a service for people with health issues and other concerns that prevented them from going to church. “Our drive-in church is designed to offer a worship service to people in our region that might

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DEALING WITH THE DISAPPOINTMENTS

Youth leaders providing encouragement for youth amid cancelations of prom, graduation By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — While the practice of social distancing continues to move to the forefront in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, teenagers are feeling the sting of disappointment in a very real way. High school seniors, in particular, are dealing with the heartache of knowing that some of their most highly-anticipated events —

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TBMB TO PROVIDE WEBINAR FOR PLANNING EASTER SERVICES

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is offering a “Practical Easter Webinar” for medium to smaller attendance Tennessee Baptist churches on Monday, April 6, at 6:30 central time/7:30 eastern time. “None of us anticipated a day when a worldwide pandemic would prevent our people from gathering on Easter,” observed Bill Choate, director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries for the TBMB.  The webinar will give participants an opportunity

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STAY AT HOME: IMPACT ON TENNESSEE CHURCHES

Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order April 2 requiring all Tennesseans to remain at home unless engaging in an essential activity or service as defined by the order. The executive order addresses what churches can or cannot do under the executive order with religious ceremonies such as weddings and funerals and providing essential ministries such as food delivery. “I am confident that with

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MOST CHURCHES HAVE STOPPED GATHERING, FEW PLAN TO MEET ON EASTER

By Aaron Earls LifeWay Christian Resources NASHVILLE — The coronavirus outbreak has had ripple effects across the country, including in U.S. churches, according to a new study of pastors.  Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked Protestant pastors how the pandemic has impacted their congregations and what their plans are for the near future. While nearly all pastors say their church held in-person worship services at the beginning of March, the situation had

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CHURCHES DEEMED ‘ESSENTIAL SERVICES’ IN TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT PROTOCOLS

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press AUSTIN, Texas — Church worship and ministry are considered essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas under the latest protocols issued by Gov. Greg Abbott, but several pastors said Abbott’s directive likely won’t change their church safety protocols. First Baptist Church of Vidor pastor Terry Wright said he switched to online-only services March 15 after a few church families were concerned that they might

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GUIDESTONE TO OFFER ONE-TIME OPTION TO CHANGE HEALTH COVERAGE DURING 2020

By Roy Hayhurst Baptist Press DALLAS — With many churches reporting strained budgets due to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, GuideStone is offering a one-time opportunity for both Group Plans and Personal Plans to step down to a lower-cost health care plan for the remainder of 2020. Generally the option to change plans is available only during re-enrollment. “We understand that we live in a very different economic reality

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HOW TO WORSHIP ONLINE: SUGGESTIONS FOR CHURCH MEMBERS

By Scott Shepherd Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Worship and Music Specialist How are church members supposed to worship online?  Worship is something we do. It’s active. We participate.  Watching movies and tv shows online is different. It’s passive. We just sit and watch. We don’t really do anything. For online worship to have its greatest impact, we should find ways to participate. 

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NEW WAYS TO WORSHIP

Tips, strategies to help churches stream online, remain connected 10 keys to online church Many churches across Tennessee are streaming services for the first time. What have they learned in their first two weeks of streaming? Here are the top 10 lessons they shared. Give eye-contact and close-ups. You’re speaking to your congregation through the camera. “Just as you’d make eye contact with your congregation during a sermon,” Josh Simmons

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UNION DONATES SUPPLIES TO ASSIST IN COVID-19 EFFORTS

Union University news office JACKSON, Tenn. — Union University is doing its part to assist health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic by donating N95 face masks and medical supplies and by 3D printing components of face shields that help reduce risk of exposure. Kelly Harden, dean of Union’s College of Nursing, said the university had donated more than 800 N95 masks and that all three campuses – Jackson, Germantown

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NEW WAYS TO WORSHIP

Tips, strategies to help churches stream online, remain connected 10 keys to online church Many churches across Tennessee are streaming services for the first time.

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