By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — As he nears his retirement after spending much of his adult life serving God in Africa, John McPherson has an interesting take on his career as a missionary. “I don’t think what I have done should be seen as a sacrifice,” said McPherson. “Doing what you love to do is not a sacrifice. The sacrifice was really made by my parents. It’s
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MADISONVILLE — Frank Hicks says it feels like yesterday that he began his pastorship at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Madisonville. In actuality, it was more than 12,500 yesterdays ago. Displaying loyalty and longevity, Hicks has served as the senior pastor at Bethlehem Baptist for three and half decades. Last month, the church held a celebration — which included a surprise video during the worship
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — Larry Fields, pastor emeritus at the Central Baptist Church, Bearden, in Knoxville, has served as interim pastor at Smithwood Baptist Church in Knoxville since January. When the pastor search committee at Smithwood recently recommended that Jeff Lane, associate pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., be called as their new pastor, both Fields and Lane realized they had had an
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector HENDERSONVILLE — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s partnership with the Guatemala Baptist Convention is off to a strong start. And Garry Eudy, the ministry’s field coordinator, believes it will only get stronger in the years ahead. “We can’t see this partnership ending in the foreseeable future because of the way it is growing,” Eudy said while taking a short break from the booth he was
By Michael Smith, Contributing Writer, B&R NASHVILLE — Josh and Katie Butler’s story of heartbreak and hope was featured on a recent episode of the “American Ninja Warrior” (ANW) television show. According to their pastor, the Butlers are “a typical young millennial family who has faced an atypical life situation over the past two years.” The couple’s first child, Josh Dewey Butler IV, was born in May 2015 with a
By Pam Horne Southern Exposure Magazine FRANKLIN — The simplicity of a single homemade cookie. Could it be a source of sustenance for those mourning the death of a loved one? Six and a half years and more than 50,000 cookies later, the answer is most definitely yes. When Evelyn Pearson first asked herself that question she was a longtime member of Oak Valley Baptist Church, Franklin. She had experienced
Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,852,274 through the Cooperative Program in November. After one month of the 2017-18 fiscal year, Cooperative Program gifts are $71,989 or 2.5 percent below what was given after one month in the last fiscal year. Gifts also are $22,726 or 0.79 percent below budget needs.
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Although two months have passed since the Caribbean island of Dominica was besieged by Hurricane Maria, the after effects are still visible and prevalent. It is estimated that 90 percent of Dominica’s structures were damaged or destroyed in September by the Category 5 hurricane, which claimed at least 28 lives and caused billions of dollars in damage. The storm produced winds of
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON — As David Leavell begins his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, his goal is as simple as a sermon with one point — just share the gospel. He basically sees himself following the same message of the previous two convention presidents (Roc Collins and Steve Freeman) who strongly emphasized evangelism as Tennessee Baptists have a goal (the first of
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector GATLINBURG — For pastor Kim McCroskey and his congregation, the odyssey is nearly over. After spending almost exactly one year in temporary venues, the members of Roaring Fork Baptist Church in Gatlinburg will soon be returning to their original location.
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — As he nears his retirement after spending much of his adult life serving God in Africa, John
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector MADISONVILLE — Frank Hicks says it feels like yesterday that he began his pastorship at Bethlehem Baptist Church in
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — Larry Fields, pastor emeritus at the Central Baptist Church, Bearden, in Knoxville, has served as interim
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector HENDERSONVILLE — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s partnership with the Guatemala Baptist Convention is off to a strong start. And
By Michael Smith, Contributing Writer, B&R NASHVILLE — Josh and Katie Butler’s story of heartbreak and hope was featured on a recent episode of the
By Pam Horne Southern Exposure Magazine FRANKLIN — The simplicity of a single homemade cookie. Could it be a source of sustenance for those mourning
Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,852,274 through the Cooperative Program in November. After one month of the 2017-18 fiscal year,
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Although two months have passed since the Caribbean island of Dominica was besieged by Hurricane Maria, the
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON — As David Leavell begins his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, his goal is
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector GATLINBURG — For pastor Kim McCroskey and his congregation, the odyssey is nearly over. After spending almost exactly one