News

CHRISTMAS IN SILVER POINT MEETS NEEDS

Church provides food, shoes to underprivileged in community By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector SILVER POINT — What began as a youth Sunday School class project 17 years ago has developed into an annual tradition at Silver Point Baptist Church, a rural congregation of about 75 people in Putnam County. Christmas in Silver Point is now looked forward to every year by both the congregation and residents of the

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RETIRED WMU LEADER DIES

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Candy Phillips, retired executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, died Dec. 22 after a battle with cancer and liver disease. She was 70. Phillips retired Dec. 31, 2014 after serving as executive director for 11 years. Prior to her election as executive director, Phillips served as president of Tennessee WMU for four years.

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HOLSTON’S ANGEL TREE PROVIDES FOR KIDS

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector JOHNSON CITY — Even after serving the residents of Tyler Apartments and the surrounding area in Johnson City for more than 40 years, the Johnson City Baptist Center is still finding new ways to meet needs. For the first time the Baptist Center, sponsored by the churches of Holston Baptist Association, created an “Angel Tree” designed to supply Christmas presents to the local

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CHRISTMAS CAROLS: OKAY TO SKIP VERSES?

By David Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE — As worship pastor Andrew Lucius selects songs for Christmas worship, he is considering specific needs in the Georgia congregation he serves. Among his conclusions: singing only the first verse of familiar carols could leave worshipers spiritually malnourished. The widow “who’s going through the Christmas season the first time this year without her husband … needs more than the first verse of ‘Joy to

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TENNESCENE DEC. 20-JAN. 9

LEADERS The African American Fellowship of the Tennessee Baptist Convention recently held a time of celebration at Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Chattanooga. During the celebration, three men who have contributed to the success of the Fellowship were honored: Willie McLaurin, the fellowship’s first president; Thomas Bester, the association’s second president; and Larry Jones, who has served as executive treasurer of the association since its inception. First Baptist Church, Morristown,

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SYNONYMOUS: NBA TOY STORE AND DEMONBREUN

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — When you mention the Nashville Baptist Association Toy Store, it’s hard not to think about Carolyn Demonbreun. The NBA Toy Store has existed for 66 years and Carolyn Demonbreun has been there for 58 of those years, serving the community and sharing the love of Christ. Demonbreun served as director of the Toy Store from 1973-97. She has been a volunteer

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THORPE STEPS DOWN FROM ROLE WITH TBMB

By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — While coordinating and implementing stewardship campaigns for the past three decades, Archer Thorpe has continuously shared a simple, but biblical, principle with the countless churches that he’s worked with through the years. “I’ve tried to emphasize that God has given us everything we have; all of it has come to us as a gift from God,” said Thorpe. “And because it all

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GRATITUDE FELT BY MULTIPLE GENERATIONS

‘Christmas checks’ a testament of WMU’s lifetime missions commitment By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN  — The big, yellow folder that Tennessee WMU executive director Vickie Anderson keeps in her drawer is just about to burst. The folder is filled with thank you cards and letters that Anderson has received from retired IMB missionaries and their children. 

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PRAY4TN TO BE LAUNCHED IN JANUARY

Initiative calls for Tennessee Baptists to pray for neighbors each day by name By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Although they don’t appear on Google maps or GPS devices, prayer outposts are popping up all across Tennessee. The influx has been created by the Pray4TN campaign — an initiative designed and developed by Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff members Roc Collins, David Evans, and Steve Pearson.  

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PEW: CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS, BELIEFS LESS RELIGIOUS

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) — Most Americans believe society is increasingly abandoning the religious aspects of Christmas, according to new Pew Research Center findings, but most Americans are not troubled by the trend. Only 32 percent of Americans find the trend troubling, Pew found in the study released Dec. 12. While 56 percent of U.S. adults identified such a trend, a quarter of that group said the

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RETIRED WMU LEADER DIES

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Candy Phillips, retired executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, died Dec. 22 after a battle with cancer and liver

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TENNESCENE DEC. 20-JAN. 9

LEADERS The African American Fellowship of the Tennessee Baptist Convention recently held a time of celebration at Mount Canaan Baptist Church in Chattanooga. During the

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