News

SEVERAL FAITH-BASED SCHOOLS PART OF ‘MARCH MADNESS’

Twelve Protestant and Catholic schools — three of which have historic Baptist ties — are among the 68 represented in the 2024 NCAA Basketball Tournament (see list below). Ready for “March Madness” — the frenzy of championship postseason games taking place all over the country starting this week and leading into the championship game on April 8 — fans anxiously tuned into the selection announcement show last night on March

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TENN. BAPTIST DR TRANSPORTING HAY TO TEXAS

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are helping transport hay to Texas to aid the recovery efforts after recent wildfires in North Texas. Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was contacted last weekend by Kentucky DR state director Ron Crow.  Crow informed Jones that they had been asked to send hay to Texas in response to the fires. The Kentucky DR teams had collected

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FBC HENDERSONVILLE PREPARES FOR THE UNPREPARED, SEES 93 BAPTIZED

HENDERSONVILLE — Out of the crowds attending morning worship services at First Baptist Church last Sunday, 93 didn’t realize they were about to step forward with a life-changing public proclamation. It was a day planned for months by church leadership to address something they had noticed with newcomers to the area. “We had been praying about this,” said Bruce Raley, senior associate pastor. “We’ve had a lot of people who

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PENNINGTON TO HEADLINE RYAN CENTER BIBLE CONFERENCE AT UNION

JACKSON — Jonathan Pennington, professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, will be the plenary speaker at Union University’s 2024 Ryan Center Bible Conference March 22-23. The conference will examine the Sermon on the Mount and will be held in Union’s Carl Grant Events Center. In addition to his faculty position at SBTS, Pennington is one of the teaching pastors at Sojourn East in Louisville, Ky., and

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CARSON-NEWMAN STUDENTS PREPARE TO SHARE GOSPEL

Members of the Carson-Newman University community were recently recognized during a special chapel service on campus. The service allowed for a time of prayer over the group representing three teams traveling on spring break mission trips to Los Angeles, Cali; Washington, D.C.; and Honolulu, Hawaii. Over 30 volunteers will take part in service projects while sharing the gospel of Christ. 

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99-YEAR-OLD CELEBRATES 75TH YEAR OF TEACHING SUNDAY SCHOOL

SHARON — First Baptist Church, Sharon, celebrated its Harvest Day in late November in a unique way.  At the age of 99, Aileen Edwards taught a combined Sunday School class in the main sanctuary on Nov. 19, marking 75 years of Sunday School teaching ministry.  In the presence of current and former church members impacted by her ministry, she told the class that she considered it a “joy and a

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ASSOCIATION’S GENEROSITY HELPS MAINTAIN GOSPEL PRESENCE IN KNOXVILLE AREA

KNOXVILLE — An association’s gift to a young church in the Lonsdale community of Knoxville will ensure a gospel presence is alive and well in the area.  Last year, Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in north Knoxville closed its doors after attendance had dwindled to about 10 elderly members, said Jerry Vittatoe, director of missions for both Midland Baptist Association and Northern Baptist Association.  Though not affiliated with Midland Association, the

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FERGUSON TO CHAIR COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS THROUGH NEW PROCESS

NASHVILLE —SBC president Bart Barber has named Kristen Ferguson, associate dean of educational effectiveness and director of online education at Gateway Seminary, to serve as chair of the 2024 Committee on Resolutions. It will be Ferguson’s third year to serve on the committee, having been vice chair at the New Orleans Annual meeting. “The resolutions process empowers the messengers to speak with one voice on current and enduring topics that

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CRIMINAL CONSIDERATIONS ASIDE, SOUTHERN BAPTISTS WANT ABUSE REFORM, ARITF SAYS

NASHVILLE — Southern Baptist sexual abuse reform leaders say work must persist even as investigations into allegations of the SBC’s mishandling of sexual abuse continue. The SBC Executive Committee released a statement on March 6 saying it had been informed there would be no further action taken in the investigation that was launched in 2022. In August 2022, a statement from SBC entity leaders and SBC President Bart Barber said multiple SBC entities were

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EAST MARYVILLE BAPTIST OPENS DOORS FOR OFFICERS AFTER SHOOTING

MARYVILLE — Blount County residents are still reeling from the tragic death of Blount County Sheriff’s Department deputy Greg McCowan who was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Feb. 8.  McCowan was killed when 42-year-old Kenneth Dehart opened fire on him and his partner, Shelby Eggers, according to WATE News. Eggers is recovering from her wounds. She is the daughter of Tennessee Baptist pastor Travis Eggers of West

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