Barbier reflects on impact, importance of youth ministry By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Jay Barbier has a new title with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and it’s a perfect fit with his love and passion for youth ministry. Barbier recently was named youth ministry specialist for the TBMB following the retirement of Bruce Edwards in January. He has served with the TBMB for the past
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — “Zombie land” is how a survivor described the landscape after tornadoes killed at least 24 and devastated communities in middle Tennessee, disaster relief strategist Wes Jones told Baptist Press on March 4. It’s “just bewilderment,” Jones, who handles disaster relief for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), told BP as he surveyed damage in Putnam County, where 18 were killed and 20 were
By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] COOKEVILLE — Before the day was over on March 4 nearly 3,000 volunteers gathered in Putnam County to clear debris and help local residents begin their long road to recovery in the aftermath of a deadly tornado which swept through Middle Tennessee in the early morning hours of March 3. Similar numbers were out among those affected in other counties in Tennessee, primarily Davidson and Wilson
By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — The first known case of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has been discovered in Tennessee. Gov. Bill Lee held a called president conference on March 9 at the Tennessee Department of Health in Nashville, announcing the first confirmed case of the coronavirus. The patient is described as a 44-year-old man in Williamson County. He currently is quarantined in
Minister and family escape death after tornado collapses house By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] COOKEVILLE — For the first in his life, Darrin Crockett is glad God did not answer his prayer. On Monday night, March 2, Crockett and his family went to bed as always. Their dog, “Doc,” however barked incessantly throughout the night. Crockett remembers asking God “to make that dog quit barking.” God apparently
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 6, 2020. By David Dawson [email protected] MOUNT JULIET — Tuesday was a hard day. And there are many more still to come for those in the Mount Juliet and Lebanon communities as they deal with the aftermath of the violent storms and tornadoes that ripped through Middle Tennessee in the early morning hours. But those who’ve been effected by the storms won’t
EDITOR’S NOTE: Baptist Press updated this story at 3 p.m. Tuesday. By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Pastors shared hope and faith in the midst of death and destruction early March 3 just after a series of tornadoes tore through middle Tennessee, killing at least 22 and heavily damaging businesses, homes and at least two Southern Baptist churches. An elderly couple who were longtime members of First Baptist Church
LEADERS Shop Springs Baptist Church, Lebanon, has called Cissy Turner as children’s ministry director, effective March 1. A longtime member of Shop Springs, Turner has been serving as church treasurer and as a leader in the children’s ministry. Todd Brady, vice president of university ministries at Union University, Jackson, has been called as interim pastor of Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Milan. Forrest Creekmore, 84, has retired after 63 years in
Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — Nashville Baptists were quick to respond in the aftermath of a tornado which struck the offices of the Nashville Baptist Association in the early morning hours of March 3. The shingled roof was destroyed, leaving a thin sheet of metal covering. Vents, however, were pulled out of the structure, causing extensive water damage, according to Jeff Mims, pastor of Judson Baptist Church, who was at
By Baptist and Reflector Staff Editor’s note: This story was updated March 6. Additional tornado stories will be added to the website under Tennessee news as they become available. (Updated 11:50 am) Even as damage is being assessed, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) teams are responding in the wake of a devastating EF-3 tornado that ripped through Nashville and traveled across Middle Tennessee as far as Cookeville today in the
Barbier reflects on impact, importance of youth ministry By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Jay Barbier has a new title with
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — “Zombie land” is how a survivor described the landscape after tornadoes killed at least 24 and devastated communities
By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] COOKEVILLE — Before the day was over on March 4 nearly 3,000 volunteers gathered in Putnam County to clear debris and
By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — The first known case of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has been discovered
Minister and family escape death after tornado collapses house By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] COOKEVILLE — For the first in his life,
Editor’s note: This story was updated March 6, 2020. By David Dawson [email protected] MOUNT JULIET — Tuesday was a hard day. And there are many
EDITOR’S NOTE: Baptist Press updated this story at 3 p.m. Tuesday. By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Pastors shared hope and faith in the
LEADERS Shop Springs Baptist Church, Lebanon, has called Cissy Turner as children’s ministry director, effective March 1. A longtime member of Shop Springs, Turner has
Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — Nashville Baptists were quick to respond in the aftermath of a tornado which struck the offices of the Nashville Baptist
By Baptist and Reflector Staff Editor’s note: This story was updated March 6. Additional tornado stories will be added to the website under Tennessee news