NASHVILLE — Tennessee Baptist Convention president Jay Hardwick released a video Dec. 13 expressing concern for Tennesseans affected by the tornadoes that swept through the state last weekend and thanks for those who are responding to meet needs. “Like all of you, we were just heartbroken and grieved to see the destruction and loss that so many experienced as a result of the storms,” said Hardwick, pastor of Forest Hills

FRANKLIN — Recovery efforts have begun in earnest across the state, and Tennessee Baptists are leading the charge.   Fueled by the combined efforts of local churches and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams, the clean-up and recuperation process is under way for the hundreds of Tennesseans who were left reeling after a series of tornadoes swept through West and Middle Tennessee on Dec. 9. The affected counties included Cheatham, Davidson,

MOUNT JULIET — With Christmas just around the corner, many Tennesseans are dealing with the aftermath of a series of tornadoes that swept through West and Middle Tennessee on Dec. 9. Tennessee Baptist DR teams responded immediately to the storms, and recovery efforts are under way. The Tennessee Emergency Management Association (TEMA) reported Dec. 10 that the Storm Prediction Center’s preliminary findings cited 13 tornadoes from Saturday storms. Counties affected

CHATTANOOGA — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s mobile dental clinic will soon be ready to roll across the state.  The mobile clinic, a gift to the TBMB from Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, is a fully equipped dental office on wheels, said Garry Maddox, a member of Brentwood who participated in the church’s dental ministry for many years.  “It basically houses two fully functioning dentist offices,” Maddox said. “It can be

Editor’s note: This story will be updated continually on the website at baptistandreflector.org.  MOUNT JULIET, 5:15 p.m, CST — Tornadoes were reported moving across Tennessee in the late afternoon and early evening hours on Saturday, Dec. 9. Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist, confirmed that all Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are on call to respond as needed. “We are getting a number of tornado reports from West and Middle Tennessee

NEWPORT — Though a native of Venezuela and now a pastor in Sugar Land, Texas, Ender Palencia was more than eager to accept an invitation to preach during the All Nations Worship Celebration held Nov. 12 on the opening night of The Summit in Chattanooga. In a sense, he was returning to his spiritual roots. And, it probably didn’t hurt that the service was being held at Red Bank Baptist

Editor’s note: The column below, written by clinical therapist Tony Rankin, is part of the Baptist and Reflector’s “Dealing with holiday stress” package that was published in the Dec. 6 print edition. More from Rankin is available directly below the column. Some therapists and counselors say that the holidays become difficult for certain persons and stressful for others “just because” it’s time for holidays.  Although there are some losses that make