MOUNTAIN CITY — Long before disaster relief volunteers could even get into Mountain City, pastor David Hankal and members of Roan Creek Baptist Church were out in the community checking on neighbors and fellow church members.  “We took meals provided by the Salvation Army to people who could not get out and did welfare checks, among a variety of things” said Roan Creek pastor David Hankal.  “Our church people are

GREENEVILLE — Approximately 50 pastors, directors of missions and other church leaders gathered with community and business leaders Oct. 18 for the initial meeting of Operation Arise and Build, based on Nehemiah 2:18. The meeting was sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and hosted by First Baptist Church, Greeneville. Attendees also included Monty Burks and Suzanna Hendricks of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Division and Carol

MOUNTAIN CITY — As Roan Creek began to flood in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, 15 Mexican men who were living alongside the creek had to vacate their homes and find higher ground. They gathered underneath a tree in front of the house of a member of a nearby Roan Creek Baptist Church who saw them and wanted to help. The member called her pastor, David Hankal, and asked if

NEWPORT — Tennessee Baptist Convention president Jay Hardwick witnessed the devastation Hurricane Helene caused throughout East Tennessee, first through news and social media channels, and then up close and personal. “The videos and pictures don’t do it justice,” he said. “Helene ripped through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and here in East Tennessee, leaving a path of destruction we have never seen in our lifetimes, but Tennessee Baptists are on the

NEWPORT — Johnny and Sharon Hill heard neighbors shouting and looked outside to see what the commotion was about. It was water rising — and quickly — from the Pigeon River overflowing its banks more than 200 yards away and charging toward the Hills’ neighborhood. “We’ve lived here 29 years and I’ve never seen it like that,” Johnny said. “Nowhere close. By the time we grabbed a few things, the

JEFFERSON CITY — Phil Young’s morning routine in preparing for class looks a bit different than most college professors. He arrives on site around 7:45 in the morning.  “We go through all the normal screening that all the staff goes through to make sure we’re not bringing anything in we shouldn’t,” says Young. “We get to the classroom between 7:45 and 8 a.m. Prepare the room for the day. Students

MURFREESBORO — Tennessee Baptists will have an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ in the city where the Tennessee Baptist Convention was established in 1874.  Two outreach events, sponsored by Concord Baptist Association and Tennessee Baptist Mission Board will be held in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County Nov. 9, the day before The Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists begins at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro and

JONESBOROUGH — Enon Baptist Church weathered the storm, even though their building did not.  Less than one week after Hurricane Helene ravaged Enon’s facilities, the church members gathered for their Wednesday night activities as normal, albeit in a different location. They met at a nearby Methodist church, where the pastor had graciously invited the Enon members to hold their services.  Enon pastor Keith Malone said he felt it was vital