Tennessee

PANDEMIC ALTERED U.S. CHURCHGOERS’ DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICES

By Aaron Earls LifeWay news office NASHVILLE — Fewer churchgoers filled pews and Bible studies during the pandemic, but many still continued personal discipleship habits throughout 2020. A study by Nashville-based Lifeway Research found U.S. churchgoers were less likely to be involved in small groups during the pandemic, but many added some digital and individual activities to their discipleship routines. “Some have defined discipleship as a journey of following Christ

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NEARLY 50 BAPTIZED IN GIBSON COUNTY LAKE

Baptist and Reflector Gibson County recreational lake  was the site of 48 baptisms, including a large number of inmates from the Gibson County correctional facility, on the night of April 19.     Roughly two weeks earlier, the correctional facility had hosted a “one-night revival” — organized by Sheriff Paul Thomas — that featured 11 separate services held simultaneously in the living pods on the campus. 

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POSSIBLE SBC DECISION TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON TENNESSEE BCMS

By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) in Tennessee will not be impacted by a possible Southern Baptist Convention vote to transfer the collegiate ministry assignment from LifeWay Christian Resources to the North American Mission Board. “It is important to remember that Tennessee Baptists have provided Baptist Collegiate Ministry on Tennessee campuses for approximately 100 years,” said Bill Choate, collegiate ministry director

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COLLINS SAYS PREACHING SHOULD BE S.I.M.P.L.E.

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Roc Collins has preached thousands of sermons all over the world and is a sought after speaker for evangelistic events. Collins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, perhaps is best known in Tennessee for a phrase he said — “It’s later than you think, but it’s not too late” — during his President’s Address delivered to

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CARNIVAL WORKERS — AN UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUP

Western District volunteers show God’s love during ‘World’s Largest Fish Fry’ By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] PARIS — Check the list of unreached people groups from any missions-sending organization, including the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, and you probably won’t find “carnival workers” on the list. But as far as Jim Twilbeck and the churches of Western District Baptist Association, where he serves as director of missions,

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TENNESSEE BAPTISTS PROVIDE ULTRASOUND MACHINE TO CLINIC

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] TRENTON — Thanks to gifts through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions, Tennessee Baptists have given their first ultrasound machine to a crisis pregnancy center in the state. “I am so proud of how a few years ago, Tennessee Baptists stood up for life against abortion, but being pro-life is a lot more than being anti-abortion,” observed Randy C. Davis, president and

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‘HOW CAN YOU EVER PAY THAT BACK?’

Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — As Zach Lloyd looks back on his seven month journey with COVID-19, he realizes he and his family have been extremely blessed. “God has moved in ways I could never imagine,” said Lloyd, pastor of East LaFollette Baptist Church, LaFollette. “So many people and churches have reached out with monetary donations and other acts of kindness in addition to countless prayers lifted up on his

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SEVEN-MONTH JOURNEY

After surviving COVID-19 and a double lung transplant, LaFollette pastor Zach Lloyd is eager to return home By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NASHVILLE — When a local television station in Nashville aired footage of pastor Zach Lloyd recently leaving Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, probably few people realized they were witnessing another one of God’s infinite miracles. But that really is the only explanation for how Lloyd, pastor

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MCCOY: TBCH PROUD OF ITS PAST, EXCITED FOR FUTURE

By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — Greg McCoy, president and treasurer of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, has dealt with some difficult days during the past 15 months, and he knows there are likely more hardships still to come.  But McCoy has not let circumstances and situations — even those as daunting as a pandemic — deflate his enthusiasm or affect his outlook about the day-to-day ministry of Tennessee Baptist Children’s

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CARSON-NEWMAN LEADERS APPROVE FIVE-YEAR PLAN

Carson-Newman news office JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s board of trustees approved a five-year strategic plan on April 23 that calls for new academic programs, expanded athletic offerings, new and renovated facilities, enrollment growth and greater missional alignment. The university’s executive leadership team led the development of the plan, entitled “Acorns to Oaks: Pursuing God’s Preferred Future,” following the board of trustees’ approval of the planning process in April 2020. 

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