News

BAPTIST BROADCASTER DEFINED BY FAITH, NOT CAREER

GREENVILLE, S.C. — With March Madness now in full swing, Furman University broadcaster Dan Scott can’t help but remember that magical moment two years ago when Furman pulled a major upset in the first round of the NCAA men’s tournament. Scott, who has been director of broadcasting for Furman since 2012, was providing the radio play-by-play of Furman’s first NCAA tournament game in 43 years when the 13th seeded Paladins

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UKRAINE WAR ZONE ENLISTS CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AS SPIRITUAL FIRST RESPONDERS

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (BP) – The city of Zaporizhzhia is vulnerable to Russian attack, adjacent to cities in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and a treasured nuclear power plant Russia captured since renewing its assault on Ukraine in February 2022. As recently as Jan. 8, a Russian air strike killed at least 13 and injured another 113 in the industrial city of 700,000. Mayor Rehina Vladyslavivna Kharchenko has formally recognized the strength of

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SEXUAL ABUSE INVESTIGATION-RELATED COSTS APPROACH $13M SINCE 2021

NASHVILLE (BP) – At last month’s SBC Executive Committee meeting, EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg reported that as of Dec. 24, some $13 million had been spent on investigations related to sexual abuse and related legal costs. He further reported that the EC is pursuing a $3 million loan to cover legal costs in the current fiscal year. Additionally, EC members approved a 2025-26 budget that includes a $3 million

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TENNESCENE: MAR. 19

EVENTS Big Hatchie Baptist Association will be hosting a Senior Adult Banquet on April 14 at 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Ripley. Kenny Evans will be the special guest. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team developed a one-day seminar called Sharing Hope in Crisis to prepare people to share the love and hope of Jesus when others are facing hard times. The next seminar will be on March

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COMPASSION IN NUMBERS

ELIZABETHTON — The only antidote to a flood’s devastation is an overwhelming tide of generosity. Don Owen, leader of God’s Warehouse Ministries at the Nolachucky Baptist Association, reports that their warehouse has received an astounding 34.6 million products for disaster relief efforts since Hurricane Helene struck in September 2024. “They’ve not come from the government, but from people, churches, associations as far away as Arkansas, Wyoming, Illinois, Texas, Florida, and

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Q-AND-A WITH SBC’S JEFF IORG

Editor’s note: Baptist and Reflector editor Chris Turner had the opportunity on March 10 to interview Jeff Iorg, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president and CEO for a B&R exclusive. Many of the questions to which Iorg responded were gathered from among Tennessee Baptist pastors. Baptist & Reflector: Dr. Iorg, would you please explain why Cooperative Program (CP) dollars are being used to pay legal fees associated with the sexual

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Screengrab of Maria Lee

TENNESSEE’S FIRST LADY SERVES WITH TBDR

NEWPORT — Working alongside non-profits serving those affected by Hurricane Helene is a priority of Tennessee Serves, an initiative headed by Tennessee’s First Lady Maria Lee. Lee and a team of volunteers worked alongside a Knox County Association of Baptists Disaster Relief team to help restore a house damaged by flooding when the French Broad River overflowed its banks and covered more than 600 feet of floodplain last September. article

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PROPOSED BILL WOULD ALLOW MINISTERS TO OPT BACK IN TO SOCIAL SECURITY

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) — A bipartisan bill may give ministers who decided long ago to opt out of Social Security benefits the chance to change their minds. The Clergy Act, submitted by Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), would allow for a period in which clergy may revoke their exemption from Social Security coverage. Another version of the bill has been reintroduced by Reps. Vince Fong (R-CA) and Mike Thompson

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GOD’S WAREHOUSE MOBILIZES RAPID RESPONSE TO AID FLOOD VICTIMS

MORRISTOWN — In the wake of the floods that struck Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, God’s Warehouse Ministries has mobilized a rapid response effort to deliver critical supplies to affected communities.  The multi-state flood hit on the weekend of Feb. 15, leaving at least 14 dead.  This disaster not only comes after the region’s recent recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene but also amid severe winter weather conditions including snow and

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CONFERENCE CENTER MINISTRIES SURVEY

Your voice is vital as we continue our shared commitment to being faithful stewards of the blessings entrusted to us. Through this brief survey, we hope to evaluate the effectiveness of Linden Valley and Carson Springs Baptist Conference Centers in advancing our mission and serving your churches. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts with us by completing the brief survey. It should take approximately five minutes. All

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TENNESCENE: MAR. 19

EVENTS Big Hatchie Baptist Association will be hosting a Senior Adult Banquet on April 14 at 5 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Ripley. Kenny

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COMPASSION IN NUMBERS

ELIZABETHTON — The only antidote to a flood’s devastation is an overwhelming tide of generosity. Don Owen, leader of God’s Warehouse Ministries at the Nolachucky

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Q-AND-A WITH SBC’S JEFF IORG

Editor’s note: Baptist and Reflector editor Chris Turner had the opportunity on March 10 to interview Jeff Iorg, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee president and

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