News

UPDATED: GREEAR RE-ELECTED; WILL LEAD DIVERSE SLATE OF OFFICERS

Baptist and Reflector BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — J.D. Greear was elected without opposition for a second term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the convention’s afternoon session on June 11. He will lead a diverse slate of officers, including: Marshal Ausberry, senior pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax, Va., first vice president; Noe Garcia, senior pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, second vice president; John Yeats executive director

Read More...

BAPTISTS SHOWER BIRMINGHAM WITH GOSPEL VIA CROSSOVER

By Tobin Perry Baptist Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — An expected 400 teams of Southern Baptists took to the streets to pray with families and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ prior to the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. Despite intermittent rain and threats of even worse weather on Saturday (June 8), Southern Baptists set out to knock on the doors of 20,000 homes in greater Birmingham in

Read More...

SEXUAL ABUSE, RACISM VOTES MOVE TO SBC MESSENGERS

By Art Toalston Baptist Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sexual abuse and racism would draw heightened action within the Southern Baptist Convention under recommendations to be considered during the June 11-12 SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. A key recommendation, approved by the SBC Executive Committee in its June 10 meeting, calls for repurposing the SBC Credentials Committee to field claims against churches in regard to sexual abuse and discrimination based

Read More...

COVERAGE OF THE SBC ANNUAL MEETING

The 2019 Southern Baptist Convention will take place on June 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala., — and the Baptist and Reflector staff will be providing coverage in multiple ways. Breaking news from the convention can found throughout the two days at baptistandreflector.org. Also, the next print edition of the Baptist and Reflector (dated June 26) will include stories and photos from the event. This year’s annual meeting, being held at the

Read More...

CARSON-NEWMAN TRUSTEES ELECT FOWLER AS PRESIDENT

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] JEFFERSON CITY — Tennessee Baptist pastor Charles A. Fowler was elected June 7 as the 23rd president of Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. Fowler was the unanimous choice of both the C-N presidential search committee and the board of trustees. He was introduced as president on June 10 during a news conference on the C-N campus. “Our search was deliberate, intentional and process-oriented,” said David Ogle,

Read More...

RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE CHAMPIONSHIPS

University of Memphis baseball coach relies on his faith, develops close bonds with players  By Bill Sorrell Contributing writer, B&R MEMPHIS — On April 3, 2012, Clayton Gant, a senior pitcher at the University of Memphis, heard that his 19-year old brother Stephen Gant, who was going to pitch at Vanderbilt with potential to be a high Major League draft pick, had taken his own life. “I had to counsel

Read More...

VA. BEACH TRAGEDY: BAPT. CHURCH MOURNS LOSS

By Grace Thornton Baptist Press VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Baptist church is mourning the loss of one of its own in the wake of a mass shooting that left 12 dead in a Virginia Beach office building on Friday (May 31). The tragedy also opened the door for Virginia pastor David Platt to share the Gospel as he prayed over President Donald Trump during an unexpected visit from

Read More...

IMB SEX ABUSE PREVENTION UNDERWAY AMID NEW REPORT

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press RICHMOND, Va. — A new media report on sex abuse allegations, admissions and convictions involving former International Mission Board workers comes as the IMB is implementing extensive sex abuse prevention reforms. The IMB is hiring a full-time senior staff member to oversee prevention response efforts, will involve outside legal counsel when reports of child abuse and sexual harassment are received, and will go beyond legal

Read More...

TENNESSEE DR TEAMS REQUESTED

Baptist and Reflector MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief flood recovery teams are needed, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Arkansas Baptists have requested teams to assist with flood recovery. “They are having historic flooding in the state,” Jones reported.

Read More...

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Adamsville pastor keeps ministering while awaiting transplant  By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] ADAMSVILLE — It took a while, but Chad Ball has learned to say two words that aren’t in the vocabulary of most Southern Baptist pastors, “I can’t.” The 42-year-old pastor of First Baptist Church, Adamsville, was diagnosed in 2006 with FSGS, a leading cause of kidney failure. He further learned that his kidneys had been damaged by undiagnosed high

Read More...

TENNESSEE DR TEAMS REQUESTED

Baptist and Reflector MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief flood recovery teams are needed, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee

Read More »