Tennessee

BAPTIST CHURCHES JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT RACISM

June 16, 2020

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — At least two Baptist associations in Tennessee joined forces with other churches in their communities to pray for racial injustice and reconciliation. Bledsoe Baptist Association Bledsoe Baptist Association, based in Hendersonville, recently combined on a joint statement with East Fork District Baptist Association (a National Baptist association that includes several Middle Tennessee counties) and the Gallatin United Ministerial Alliance regarding the recent death of African

UNION PROFESSOR MAKES PRAYER FOR STUDENTS A PRIORITY

June 15, 2020

By Tim Ellsworth Union University news office JACKSON — A three-ring binder sits on the corner of Steve Halla’s office desk at Union University. That binder contains prayer requests that he has collected from his students. Every morning when he arrives at the office, Halla sits at his desk and opens the binder. Whichever student is on top becomes Halla’s prayer focus for the day. “One of the great joys

SOME CHURCH PLANTS BEING UPROOTED

June 12, 2020

COVID-19 poses challenges for church plants that gather in schools By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — As Tennessee Baptist churches begin to regather all across the state, it’s not that simple for every congregation, especially for church plants that meet in local schools. “We’ve got quite a few of our church planters right now who are scrambling to find alternative spaces other than being an all

COOPERATIVE PROGRAM GIVING REMAINS STEADY

June 11, 2020

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists gave $2,600,319 through the Cooperative Program in May. For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptist Convention churches have given $19,909,664 through the Cooperative Program for missions and ministries throughout the state, the nation and the world.

A YEAR WITHOUT THE SBC MEETING

June 11, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — In a normal year, hundreds of Tennessee Baptists would be gathered in Orlando, Fla., this week for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. But thanks to COVID-19, 2020 is not a normal year. Tennessee Baptists who planned to go to Orlando this year expressed disappointment that the annual meeting was canceled due to the pandemic, but they certainly

VBS HAS NEW FORMAT, SAME FOCUS

June 10, 2020

Rather than canceling VBS, many churches change methods By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — With a mixture of determination, imagination and inspiration, many churches in Tennessee are finding ways to host Vacation Bible School this year. Despite the challenging circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, many VBS leaders have elected to move forward, even if it means changing the traditional format and veering away from their tried-and-true formulas of the

‘VIRTUAL VBS’ ALLOWS CHURCHES TO SAFELY CONNECT

June 10, 2020

By Ashley Perham Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Confetti poppers, bulldozers and science experiments are just three of the ways Tennessee Baptist churches are engaging children involved in virtual Vacation Bible Schools this summer. Rather than calling off this annual summer outreach event due to concerns about COVID-19, many Tennessee Baptist churches are hosting some form of VBS online. All eight campuses of Brentwood Baptist Church are participating in a

TBC CHURCHES GIVEN ACCESS TO NEW RESEARCH TOOL

June 8, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has partnered with a Memphis-based company to provide digital surveys geared toward helping churches stay connected with their communities. Gloo is a digital business platform that has been utilized by several Southern Baptist ministries such as the North American Mission Board and the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders. Gloo is also in conversations with LifeWay Christian Resources to determine

WE CANNOT WASTE THIS MOMENT

June 4, 2020

By Ternae Jordan, Charles Grant & Thomas Bester Tennessee Baptist Mission Board It’s a familiar story. Black man is taken into custody by a police officer and is murdered. Arrests follow, press conference held, speeches made, people march, people riot, politicians posture, reform is promised. Nothing changes. The pages of this tired script are frayed and stained with more African American blood. The sequels never end. But surely – surely

TENNESSEANS REFLECT ON END OF WORLD CHANGERS

June 3, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Though World Changers began as a program of the former Southern Baptist Convention Brotherhood Commission, it made a lasting impact on Tennesseans who both participated in the hands-on missions ministry and those who benefited from the work of countless teenagers and sponsors.

Tennessee

BAPTIST CHURCHES JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT RACISM