KNOXVILLE — Knoxville native and professional music educator Jill Hobby has a heart to see souls saved along with a deep love for children and music. Twenty-five years ago, while serving as a choral director in Knoxville, she had a desire to see an international citywide choir in the city, but she “was hesitant to take the leap.” God rekindled that desire 12 years ago, and she crafted specific plans

MURFREESBORO — Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, was re-elected without opposition for a second term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention during the afternoon session of Summit on Nov. 12. Hardwick was nominated by Cliff Marion, pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, who described Hardwick as a family man, a faithful preacher and a true friend. “He has shown that he is a great,

MURFREESBORO — The 150th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention convened Nov. 11 with 836 registered messengers from 468 churches. “We are excited to be back in the town where it all started,” said TBC president Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville. The convention exists because of the “faithfulness” of the group that gathered in 1874 and “decided they could do more together than they

MURFREESBORO — An International Mission Board Sending Celebration is a time to support those who are going on the field to share the gospel with a lost world. Such an event allows participants the chance to commemorate those who mentored and discipled them. For many, their mentors are current or former IMB missionaries who have encouraged them to ask how God might use them through the IMB. New Vision Baptist

MOUNTAIN CITY — Looking for a walker or hospital bed or some other medical equipment and don’t know where to go? Roan Creek Baptist Church would be a good place to start. While a medical equipment ministry may not be typical for most Baptist churches, it definitely fulfills a need in northeast Tennessee, said Roan Creek pastor David Hankal. There is a lot of poverty in the area, Hankal said.

MURFREESBORO — Summit 2024 opened with celebration, ceremony and send-offs. Gathering at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro for a time of worship and praise on Sunday night, an overflow crowd cheered for, and prayed over, a group of roughly 50 missionaries who were commissioned by the International Mission Board.  The Sunday night service marked the kick-off of this year’s Summit — the annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists — and

MURFREESBORO — Two days before the Tennessee Baptist Convention officially celebrates its 150th anniversary, Tennessee Baptists returned to their roots to share the gospel in Rutherford County. The TBC was established in 1874 at First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board decided to commemorate the milestone by partnering with Concord Baptist Association on Nov. 9 to minister and have gospel conversations in two locations within the county.

NEWPORT — Randy Runions, senior pastor of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, has always been a supporter of both the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention and a strong believer in cooperative giving. But after going through the devastation left behind in Newport and throughout Cocke County, cooperation “is way greater than I thought,” Runions affirmed. Cooperation is not people in Nashville cutting checks, he said. “Cooperation is seeing

NEWPORT — Presenting a fall festival for residents of Sevier County has become a tradition at First Baptist Church in Sevierville.  The event usually draws between 12,000-13,000 people over four nights, said Craig Mintz, Grow and Go pastor at First Baptist. “We do it up big,” he said. The festival typical includes a lot of food, hayrides, a corn maze, games, and a biblical drama with a gospel presentation.  Following

BRENTWOOD — Greg McCoy’s use of the word “historic” isn’t hyperbole. It’s factual.  When Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes recently received a three-million dollar donation from Bill Yeaman as part of the Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation, it marked the largest living-donor gift in the 133-year history of the organization.  “We were just amazed by this act of generosity,” said McCoy, president and treasurer of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. “It’s a serious,