Tennessee

ARE YOU PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF YOUR VIRTUAL MEETINGS?

By Chris Turner [email protected] The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has forced a significant amount of life change and possibly no part of our lives have changed more than the way we “do business.” Globally, organizations have shifted in-person meetings to virtual meetings. Churches are certainly included with worship services, staff meetings and small group meetings all adapting to some form of “video conferencing.” The use of technology has been a useful

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STILL A FUTURE FOR VOCATIONAL EVANGELISTS

Tennessee Baptist evangelists optimistic despite COVID-19 challenges By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] FRANKLIN — COVID-19 has affected every vocation imaginable, but one group that has flown under the radar is vocational evangelists. For most vocational evangelists, spring through fall is the busiest times for conducting revivals and other evangelistic events. “Certainly this virus has put a stop to all revivals and other events (special Sundays, conferences, etc.) that involve evangelists,” observed

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CHURCH SENDS TEAM ON VIRTUAL MISSION TRIP

By Shawn Hendricks Contributing Writer, Baptist and Reflector HENDERSONVILLE — For members of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, the news that their church led 30 people on a mission trip last week to New York City in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis could have seemed a little shocking. “That’s right. They traveled right into the hotbed of the COVID-19 virus,” Bruce Raley, executive pastor of the Nashville area church,

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OLIVER SENDS PERSONALIZED VIDEO TO ALL 595 UNION GRADUATES

Union University news office JACKSON — Spring graduates from Union University received a special message on Saturday on what was supposed to be their graduation day – a personalized video greeting from Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver. Oliver recorded videos, typically between one and two minutes in length, for each of Union’s 595 graduates. The videos were sent to each student by email and text message May 16, the

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CARSON-NEWMAN LIGHTS CAMPUS IN HONOR OF 2020 GRADUATING CLASS

Carson-Newman News Office JEFFERSON CITY — Had the spring semester progressed normally, Carson-Newman University’s senior class would have walked the graduation stage on May 1. Instead, the University offered a commemorative lighting of the campus’ central building, Henderson Humanities Building, in seniors’ honor. A video showcasing the building’s lighting and highlights from the Class of 2020’s junior and senior years featured words of reassurance from Psalm 119:105: “Thy Word is

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BCM SEEKS TO CONNECT FROM A DISTANCE

COVID-19 creates challenges, leads to new campaign to reach students By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — Connecting with incoming freshmen is always a high priority for Baptist Campus Ministry leaders. Attempting to make those connections this fall, however, is going to look much different than it has in the past.  The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancelation of many of the traditional functions that are held in the weeks before

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UNION UNIVERSITY SPRING COMMENCEMENT SET FOR JUNE 20

Union University news office JACKSON — Union University’s spring commencement ceremonies, originally scheduled for May 16, will be held June 20 on the university’s Great Lawn.  To comply with social distancing guidelines, the university will hold three separate ceremonies that day – at 10 a.m. for students receiving graduate degrees, at 2 p.m. for non-traditional undergraduate students and at 6 p.m. for traditional undergraduate students. Union University President Samuel W.

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PRESSNELL SELECTED TO LEAD TBMB BIVOCATIONAL MINISTRY

Baptist and Reflector  FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist pastor Randy Pressnell has been chosen as the bivocational ministries specialist and Harvest Field 7 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Pressnell, retired recently as pastor of First Baptist Church, Oneida. He succeeds John Parrott, who retired May 7 after five years of service with the TBMB.

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PREPARING AND CARING FOR ‘GUESTS’

Practical tips By Mark Proctor Associate Administrator, TBMB As churches began looking towards regathering for worship and events, there is much to be considered for those who are in charge of making sure that attendees feel safe and welcome on the church campus. The following is a list of some guidelines that will help church leaders: 

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