By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MONTREAL — Although the ground is hard and the labor is challenging, substantial progress is being made in the harvest fields in Montreal, Canada. The enormous city, with a population of almost six million in the metro area, is the most unchurched area in North America. But there is a gradual groundswell taking place, with a number of new churches gaining momentum across the
Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — A team of 20 disaster relief volunteers from East Tennessee left on Oct. 9 for Puerto Rico to assist in recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria. The team will be there for two weeks, according to Wes Jones of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. In San Juan, 70 percent of the city is without cell service, and outside the city, cell service is even more scarce.
LEADERS First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, has called Kevin Ivy as pastor. He previously served at Providence Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss. He also is the founder of a non-profit ministry called Mission Surge and has been personally involved in missions work in 11 countries and across the United States. Wayne Stowers is the new minister of students at First Baptist Church, Decherd. Johnny Mayes has been called as pastor of
Baptist Press MADISON, Wisc. (BP) — For the second time, a federal judge has ruled the U.S. tax code’s ministerial housing allowance is unconstitutional. Mississippi College law professor Matt Steffey told Baptist Press the ruling, unlike U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb’s previous attempt to strike down the housing allowance, could be upheld on appeal to the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Mississippi College is affiliated with the
By Sarah Knapp The Pacer (UT-Martin Student Paper) MARTIN — A record-breaking attendance of 101 freshmen at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry’s (BCM) “Survival 2017 sets high expectations for freshmen involvement on campus this year. Survival is a four-day event held by the BCM that helps freshmen and transfer students adjust to college and allows them to interact with other Christians before the fall semester begins.
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — In light of the church shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch a few weeks ago, churches need to take a look at their security plan or, sadly in many cases, lack of plan. “Hope is not a strategy anymore,” says Ken Alexandrow, founder of Agape Tactical in Franklin, a business that focuses on helping churches and businesses avoid
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector JACKSON — Jordan Easley, the senior pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, has a simple philosophy when it comes to missions: Teamwork makes the dream work. Guided by that belief, Easley is leading his church into a new era in regard to its commitment to giving through the Cooperative Program. He plans to exponentially increase the church’s yearly Cooperative Program giving over the
Union University news office GERMANTOWN — Union University trustees celebrated the 20th anniversary of Union’s Germantown campus during their Sept. 7-8 meeting, with President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver sharing a number of success stories of Germantown graduates over the past two decades. Oliver also reported to trustees on the school’s fall enrollment, and the board adopted a new tuition rate for 2017-2018.
Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Intercessory prayer and special disaster recovery funding topped the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee agenda during its Sept. 18–19 meeting, which marked the group’s centennial. The Executive Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling Southern Baptists and other Christians to prevailing prayer in the midst of “racial unrest, cataclysmic storms, raging wildfires, political strife, daily shootings in cities across the land, and rampant disregard for the commands
By Ralph Vaughn Contributing Writer, Baptist and Reflector MURFREESBORO — F. Murray Mathis of Murfreesboro, like most in ministry, has seen and experienced mountaintops and valleys in his nearly 60 years of preaching the gospel. His eyes well up with tears when describing how a country boy from Fayetteville has made friends throughout America and in foreign countries. Recently, Mathis and his wife of 54 years, Loretta, were involved in
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MONTREAL — Although the ground is hard and the labor is challenging, substantial progress is being made in the
Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — A team of 20 disaster relief volunteers from East Tennessee left on Oct. 9 for Puerto Rico to assist in
LEADERS First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, has called Kevin Ivy as pastor. He previously served at Providence Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss. He also is the
Baptist Press MADISON, Wisc. (BP) — For the second time, a federal judge has ruled the U.S. tax code’s ministerial housing allowance is unconstitutional. Mississippi
By Sarah Knapp The Pacer (UT-Martin Student Paper) MARTIN — A record-breaking attendance of 101 freshmen at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry’s (BCM) “Survival 2017 sets
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — In light of the church shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch a few
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector JACKSON — Jordan Easley, the senior pastor at Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, has a simple philosophy when it
Union University news office GERMANTOWN — Union University trustees celebrated the 20th anniversary of Union’s Germantown campus during their Sept. 7-8 meeting, with President Samuel
Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Intercessory prayer and special disaster recovery funding topped the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee agenda during its Sept. 18–19 meeting, which
By Ralph Vaughn Contributing Writer, Baptist and Reflector MURFREESBORO — F. Murray Mathis of Murfreesboro, like most in ministry, has seen and experienced mountaintops and