By Tom Strode Baptist Press DETROIT — Pro-life advocates and the state expressed their disappointment with a federal court decision Oct. 14 that invalidated a Tennessee law requiring a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. Senior federal judge Bernard Friedman ruled from Detroit, Mich., the law is unconstitutional and permanently blocked the state from enforcing a waiting period. The 2015 law “substantially burdens” women who want an abortion in Tennessee

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, B&R [email protected] FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is initiating the 317 Ministry Training Institute to provide a centralized repository of ministry training resources to assist pastors and other church leaders achieve their goals of being fully equipped for effective service. “For the last 10 years, I’ve listened to hundreds of pastors and ministry leaders as they have shared a desire to have access to

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, B&R [email protected] CLEVELAND — A ministry initiated by First Baptist Church, Cleveland, prior to the beginning of a worldwide pandemic, not only continued but has met a tremendous need, agree organizers of Shepherds to Shepherds. Shepherds to Shepherds is the brainchild of Allen Lockerman, pastor emeritus of First Baptist and is an integral part of the church’s Lockerman Leadership Institute. “To Allen’s chagrin, we put his

By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — As strange as it sounds, the concept of keeping things simple can sometimes become complicated.  This can be true for leaders and organizers of “simple church”— a form of ministry that gives attendees an opprotunity to “do church” in a low-key, low-cost setting outside of a traditional church building.   The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board recently hosted a webinar for simple church leaders. The

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] FRANKLIN — As in past years, the proposed 2020-21 Tennessee Baptist Convention Cooperative Program Allocation budget is being released 30 days in advance prior of the TBC annual meeting held each year in conjunction with Summit.  This year, however, the annual Summit has been postponed until 2021. The staff of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is preparing a Virtual Summit to be aired at 9 a.m.

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] LAFAYETTE — Not every church gets the opportunity to help a church member celebrate a 100th birthday and concerns and restrictions caused by COVID-19 make it even harder, but First Baptist Church, Lafayette, found a way. On Sunday, Sept. 6, about 20 church members gathered in their cars and drove to the home of Annette Cothron, a lifelong resident of Macon County and a member of