News

LONGTIME BAPTIST COMMUNICATOR FLOYD CRAIG DIES

FRANKLIN — Longtime Baptist communicator Floyd Craig died Aug. 30 at the age of 91. A native of Oklahoma, Craig and his wife, Anne, formed Craig Communications in 1981. Clients included a number of Southern Baptist organizations. Prior to establishing their firm, Craig served as director of communications with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and as director of communications for the Southern Baptist Christian Life Communications (now Ethics and

Read More...

TENN. DEAF CHURCH REACHES STATE — AND BEYOND

BRENTWOOD — All are welcome to attend Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church. Be warned, though. You’re going to be able to hear the worship well before you enter the sanctuary. “Everything we do is voice-interpreted, which is for who we call the ‘signing-impaired,’” Pastor Aric Randolph told Baptist Press. He’s referring to guests or others who hear but may not know American Sign Language (ASL). “If you visit us, everything is

Read More...

STATE EXECS: MORE PASTORS, CHURCH LEADERS NEEDED

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College faculty heard from a group of state convention executive directors during their fall workshop on Aug. 2.   The executive directors shared about ministry needs they see throughout their particular convention, and how NOBTS can help partner with them to meet these needs.   The group included Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board; Thomas Hammond,

Read More...

MOUNTAIN-TOP EXPERIENCE

The Off the Grid ministry, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers, gives pastors and church leaders a chance to disconnect, be refreshed and build relationships with others who have a common purpose. In the photo, participants in a recent Off the Grid event in Colorado included, from left, Kevin Perrigan, Rocky Sickel, Adam Cutshaw,  Josh Moran, Tod Lanier, Bryan Higginbotham, Matthew Nance, Russell Vickers, Doug Elders, Darren Andrus, Shawn

Read More...

SISTERS HAVE BEEN ‘PLAYING FOR THE LORD’ FOR 41 YEARS

MILTON — Sisters Juanita Scott and Kathy Ward have shared their love for each other and their love for the Lord through their fingers making music via the organ and piano at Ward’s Grove Baptist Church in Milton, near Murfreesboro, for 41 years. Ward, the younger of the two, gave her heart to the Lord in 1963 at Calvary Baptist Church. She explains, “My mother said I could not be

Read More...

C-N LAUNCHES PUBLIC PHASE OF ‘LEGACY’ INITIATIVE

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University announced Aug. 19 the launch of the public phase of the largest comprehensive campaign in its history. Entitled “Legacy,” the $73 million phase of this initiative includes new academic programs, campus buildings and student recreation.  The announcement was made before faculty, staff, university leadership, members of the board of trustees and greater Carson-Newman community who gathered for the event. The university has already seen $38,848,815

Read More...

BCM STUDENT LEARNS VALUABLE LESSON ABOUT WITNESSING

JOHNSON CITY — College senior Mia Crawford learned a very valuable lesson about evangelism after spending a week in Paris sharing Christ during the 2024 Summer Olympics. “It taught me how to evangelize in a different culture,” said Crawford, a student at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City and an officer (secretary) in Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) on campus. Crawford has participated in Beach Reach for each of the

Read More...

SHORT-TERM TRIPS MEET LONG-TERM STRATEGIES

FRANKLIN — “We can’t control the results, but we can measure our faithfulness,” said Jason Harris, team leader for the International Mission Board’s Paris team, explaining their strategy for gospel outreach during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Part of that strategy includes facilitating and mobilizing more than 300 short-term volunteers to hit the streets of Paris sharing the gospel.  The team Harris leads in Paris is young and growing. No

Read More...

OLYMPICS WERE A ‘BONUS’ FOR MORRISTOWN VOLUNTEER

MORRISTOWN — One week as a missions volunteer during the 2024 Summer Olympics has provided Traci Jefferson with a lifetime of memories. Jefferson, a member of First Baptist Church, Morristown, served July 22-29 as a volunteer with the International Mission Board in Paris. Though she had been to France many times, this was her first mission trip to the country. Jefferson, who is an assistant principal at East High School

Read More...

LIFEWAY’S MANDRELL OUTLINES PLANS FOR SERVING CHURCH LEADERS

BRENTWOOD — Highlighting Lifeway’s vision statement, President and CEO Ben Mandrell provided trustees with practical steps the organization is taking to serve 300,000 church leaders by 2030. “While we want to serve as many Christians across the globe as possible, we know our central goal is to listen to the key ministry leaders in the local churches and to build impactful resources to make their jobs easier,” he said. “Ministry

Read More...

MOUNTAIN-TOP EXPERIENCE

The Off the Grid ministry, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers, gives pastors and church leaders a chance to disconnect, be refreshed and build

Read More »