C-N football team sees 18 new believers baptized in Mossy Creek JEFFERSON CITY — Members of the Carson-Newman University campus community gathered on the banks of Mossy Creek after 18 Eagles football players made decisions to be baptized in the historic waters. Officiating the Aug. 20 event was Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ (FCA) area director Marty Blakely and FCA’s Lakeway Ambassador Alan Duncan, as well as Drew Eudy, congregation pastor

KINGSPORT — Baptist churches across Upper East Tennessee will gather on Sept. 14 for a special rally aimed at reigniting passion for evangelism and prayer. The “Who’s Your One?” Rally, scheduled for 6 p.m. at Sullivan Baptist Church in Kingsport, incorporates elements from Project 2026, a national prayer and evangelism initiative. John Butler, pastor of East Rogersville Baptist Church and one of the event organizers, said the rally emerged from

Foster & Adoption event at Broadway Baptist includes stories of families overcoming seemingly impossible circumstances MARYVILLE — Laura West can never be accused of failing to practice what she preaches. West, the founder of Blind Faith Ministries, is a relentless advocate for foster care and adoption, having championed the cause all across the country. She has also lived out her mission in her daily life, fostering more than 100 children

Annual event, hosted by New Salem Baptist Association, has new site each night CARTHAGE — For five years the New Salem Baptist Association has been fostering something increasingly rare in today’s world: genuine, face-to-face fellowship among churches. The annual Fellowship Revival held Aug. 3-6 across the Carthage area, brought together multiple congregations for what director of missions Marty Dodge described as both spiritual renewal and community building. “The one reason

FRANKLIN — Dan Spencer, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, will be nominated for the presidency of the Tennessee Baptist Convention when the annual meeting convenes at West Jackson Baptist Church on Nov. 10-11. Chris Kendall, senior pastor of Oak City Baptist Church, Seymour, informed the Baptist and Reflector on Aug. 14 of his intention to nominate Spencer, who has been the pastor at First Baptist since 2011. “Dan

FAYETTEVILLE — God gave Corey Buckner a battle cry in 2013 when he was fighting cancer: always endure. Little did Buckner know that diagnosis would spark a mission that has grown into a multifaceted nonprofit helping children and families overcome barriers to adoption, medical care, and foster care. “Everything we do comes from our story,” said Buckner. “The support we received during my cancer journey made a huge difference, and

DICKSON — Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church has stood the test of time through nearly 150 years of American history. Founded in 1875 in the Sylvia area outside Charlotte (Tenn.), the church took root during Ulysses S. Grant’s presidency, the same year the Civil Rights Act was signed and Alexander Graham Bell made breakthroughs in sound transmission. It was also the year that produced beloved hymns like Fanny Crosby’s “To