News

SBC EC CALLS MAY 1 SPECIAL MEETING TO CONSIDER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

NASHVILLE — The search for a new president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee (EC) may be nearing a completion. The EC will hold a special-called meeting on May 1 in Dallas to consider a recommendation from the search team. “Over the last 14 months, the search team has diligently prayed, discussed, and worked to identify the person to best lead the SBC Executive Committee through its present challenges

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TENNESCENE: APRIL 12

LEADERS Meadow View Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, called David Miller as interim pastor, effective March 1. Pastor Rodney Duckett, along with his wife, Michelle, celebrated their 10th anniversary on April 8 at Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Mount Juliet. This year also marks Duckett’s 20th anniversary in the ministry. During his tenure, the church has undergone many renovations and programs which have led to continual growth and outreach in the Wilson

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PASTOR PIPELINE DWINDLING IN TENNESSEE

FRANKLIN — On any given Sunday there may be as many as 350 churches in Tennessee without a pastor, according to Roger “Sing” Oldham, pastor engagement specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “The number changes weekly as churches are constantly working to fill those vacant pulpits,” Oldham said.  “Many of these churches are served by interims who preach and provide needed pastoral care while the church seeks its next

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HENRY COUNTY ‘BIVO’ PASTOR MEETS NEEDS AT TWO CHURCHES

SPRINGVILLE — Any way you slice it, Brian Parsons is a bivocational pastor. The bivocational pastor of Springville Baptist Church also is the bivocational pastor of McDavid Grove Baptist Church, both located in Henry County. Parsons is believed to be the only bivocational pastor of two Tennessee Baptist churches at the same time, said Roger Britton, bivocational ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. The unique arrangement has gone

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TBC CP GIFTS ABOVE BUDGET THROUGH MARCH

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $2,848,614 through the Cooperative Program in March. For the first five months of the 2022-23 budget year, Tennessee Baptists have given $15,051,061. The amount is $59,331 or 0.4 percent below what was given at the same time last year, but is $467,728 or 3.21 percent above budget needs. “We are grateful for the commitment of Tennessee Baptist churches to meet

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2023 YEC: THREE VENUES, ONE SAVIOR

FRANKLIN — Even if the travel distance was short, the spiritual sustenance will surely go a long way for the students who took part in the 2023 Youth Evangelism Conference.  Hosted at three regional sites across the state — thereby cutting down on the mileage for many youth groups — the annual event drew a total of nearly 3,000 attendees and celebrated 80 professions of faith. There were also 15

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ARITF PIVOTS, MOVES AWAY FROM GUIDEPOST SOLUTIONS

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Abuse Reform and Implementation Task Force chair Marshall Blalock announced Tuesday (April 4) the task force will no longer recommend Guidepost Solutions to establish and maintain a database for those credibly accused of sexual abuse. Messengers approved the creation of a “ministry check” website at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif. The move comes after continued concerns were expressed by Southern Baptists to the ARITF in

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OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR SBC’S MINISTRY CHECK WEBSITE REVISED; NO LONGER FOCUSED ON ONE FIRM

Leaders of the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force announced a strategic turn in their efforts on April 4 related to the plan to establish and maintain a Ministry Check website. They are no longer focused on partnering with one firm to do all the work. “In the spirit of unity and cooperation, the ARITF met in Atlanta on Monday, March 27, and voted to consider alternative pathways (dividing the work

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TENNESSEE BAPTIST DR BEGINS WORK IN COVINGTON

COVINGTON —  Multiple teams from Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief have converged in Covington to help aid the recovery process after a tornado ripped through the area on Friday night. The violent storm, which classified as a EF-3 tornado, was responsible for one death and 28 injuries, according the news reports, and left a trail of destruction and devastation in the Covington communities.  Many DR volunteers arrived in Covington over the

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TENNESSEE COUPLE RECEIVES DR SERVICE AWARD

MOUNT JULIET — Brock and Kathy Henry of Talbott Baptist Church, Talbott, recently were named recipients of the Distinguished Service Award by the North American Mission Board through disaster relief.  The Henrys serve on the Nolachucky Baptist Association DR team.  NAMB presents up to six Distinguished Services Awards each year to individuals who have provided distinguished service to the kingdom of God through Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, demonstrated “Christ in

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TENNESCENE: APRIL 12

LEADERS Meadow View Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, called David Miller as interim pastor, effective March 1. Pastor Rodney Duckett, along with his wife, Michelle, celebrated their

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