News

TENNESCENE: JULY 16

EDUCATION Union reduces tuition for adult degree programs Union University news office JACKSON — Union University has lowered tuition for its adult undergraduate programs in the School of Adult and Professional Studies and the Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies, beginning in the fall 2025 semester. Tuition for Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership degrees in SOAPS and bachelor’s degrees in MCUTS

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CRITICAL AID HELPING TEXANS FIND ‘SOME SENSE OF NORMALCY’

KERRVILLE — While Baptist Disaster Relief teams are meeting immediate needs in central Texas, some clean-up efforts in areas like Kerrville may be on hold another two to four weeks before they are accessible, says a DR leader. For now, DR teams continue providing critical aid where they can in the wake of the deadly floods that killed at least 120 people statewide during Fourth of July weekend — and

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LIFEWAY CEO BEN MANDRELL VOTED 8TH PASTOR OF BELLEVUE BAPTIST

CORDOVA – The congregation of Bellevue Baptist Church officially voted to extend the call for Ben Mandrell, CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources, to be the church’s eighth senior pastor. Mandrell, 48, will fill the role left by Steve Gaines. “I cannot tell you how thankful we are for this moment,” Mandrell said. “This big hurricane of Bellevue love has just swallowed us up.”

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BELLEVUE ANNOUNCES MANDRELL AS PASTOR CANDIDATE

CORDOVA – The pastor search committee at Bellevue Baptist Church has unanimously recommended that Ben Mandrell, CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources become the church’s next senior pastor. Mandrell will preach in view of a call on July 13. The congregation will vote on the committee’s choice after a 10 a.m. service. Pastor Search Committee Chairman Chad Hall said, “The pastor search committee’s only goal during the past eight months was

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TEXAS FLOOD CLAIMS 27 LIVES AT CHRISTIAN CAMP

KERRVILLE, Texas — Amid horrific flash flooding that swept through central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, Camp Mystic — an all-girls Christian summer camp — confirmed Monday (July 7) the loss of 27 campers and counselors. Statewide, the death toll from related flooding has reportedly reached at least 81 people, with dozens still missing. Meanwhile, Southern Baptists of Texas Disaster Relief teams are on the scene ministering in

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MURPHREE SUCCEEDS CHOATE IN BCM ROLE

FRANKLIN — For the first time in nearly 27 years, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has hired a director of campus ministries. Stacy Murphree, currently the Baptist collegiate minister at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, was announced Monday as the successor to Bill Choate to lead ministers at 23 Baptist Collegiate Ministries on campuses across Tennessee. Choate has served in the role since 1998 and announced his retirement earlier

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SUPREME COURT BACKS PARENTAL RIGHTS IN CHALLENGE TO SCHOOL GENDER CURRICULUM

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major 6-3 victory June 27 in Mahmoud v. Taylor, ruling that parents have a First Amendment right to exercise their religious beliefs and should have the ability to opt their children out of public-school curriculum promoting radical gender ideology. The decision represents a significant win for religious liberty advocates and parental rights groups who challenged a Montgomery County, Maryland school policy that

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NEW WEBSITE STREAMLINES MISSION OFFERING PROMO MATERIALS

FRANKLIN – Tennessee churches now have a convenient new way to secure promotional materials for their annual mission offerings. The newly launched TNWMUOrder.org serves as a centralized hub where congregations can place standing orders for materials supporting three key mission initiatives: the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, and Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. “The user-friendly platform allows church leaders to view and update their orders at any

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TENNESCENE: JUNE 25

EVENTS The Shadow Valley Gospel Music Festival will take place on July 10–12 at Shadow Valley, 54 Warden Rd. in Fayetteville. The three-day concert series starts at 6 p.m. on July 10 and will last until 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25 day of the event; youth 18 and under are free. Please bring lawn chairs; concessions will be available. The WCBA Prayer will also be available each night.

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TENN. SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST SBC

NASHVILLE (BP) – The Tennessee Supreme Court will hear the appeal of the Southern Baptist Convention as it tries to protect its constitutional rights in a case connected to an inquiry by the SBC Credentials Committee. Preston Garner, a longtime worship pastor and school music teacher, and his wife Kellie filed suit in 2023 against the SBC, Guidepost Solutions and others. The Garners are alleging defamation/libel and slander, defamation by implication, invasion

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TENNESCENE: JULY 16

EDUCATION Union reduces tuition for adult degree programs Union University news office JACKSON — Union University has lowered tuition for its adult undergraduate programs in

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TENNESCENE: JUNE 25

EVENTS The Shadow Valley Gospel Music Festival will take place on July 10–12 at Shadow Valley, 54 Warden Rd. in Fayetteville. The three-day concert series

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