Tennessee

ARABIC BAPTIST LEADER RAOUF GHATTAS DIES AT AGE 69

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MURFREESBORO — Raouf W. Ghattas, a Tennessee Baptist pastor known for his work in reaching Muslims with the gospel, died Nov. 25 of an apparent heart attack at his home in Murfreesboro. Ghattas, 69, was pastor of Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, a congregation he helped establish in 2011 along with his wife, Carol. Ghattas was born in Cairo, Egypt to an Evangelical

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GOD ‘HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU,’ SAYS EZELL

By Tim Ellsworth, Contributing Editor, B&R MILLINGTON — “In ministry, it can be very difficult,” said Kevin Ezell, president, Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga. He preached during the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting held here at First Baptist Church. Ezell speaks from experience. Of the churches he served, he only received one unanimous call to serve as pastor of a church and at one church,

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ONLY TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE — LOST & SAVED: NEWCOMB

By Connie Davis Bushey News Editor, Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON — Pastors should lead their churches to become “soul-winning churches,” said Ray Newcomb, pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church, Millington, who preached during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention last week here. He preached in the church he retired from because First, Millington, hosted the annual meeting. To lead their churches to become soul-winning churches, some pastors might have

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UNION DEDICATES AND OPENS NEW LIBRARY, THE LOGOS

By Tim Ellsworth Union University News Office JACKSON, Tenn. — Hundreds of Union University students, alumni, employees, trustees and friends gathered in front of The Logos Nov. 6 to dedicate and open the new library on the university campus. “The building of this library, The Logos, has been made possible by the many people who have used their blessings from God to bless Union University,” said Bill Latimer of Union

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DISASTER RELIEF CONCLUDES IN SC, TRAVELS TO TX

MOUNT JULIET — Just after concluding five weeks of work helping flood victims in South Carolina following Hurricane Joaquin, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers traveled to south Texas to help flood victims there. One great result was that Tennessee Baptists saw seven people make professions of faith during their week of working there, reported Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist, Tennessee Baptist Convention. All of the disaster relief workers from several

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ELLIS CHALLENGES CONVENTION TO BE UNIFIED

By Connie Davis Bushey News Editor, Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON — Michael Ellis, president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, reported that over the past year in his travels and service he observed that “we’re doing so many great things apart. We need to bring those things together.” Issuing “A Call for Unity in the Community,” Ellis preached last week during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The pastor

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ROC COLLINS ELECTED TBC PRESIDENT

Messengers celebrate heritage of partnership missions, approve new partnership By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON — Messengers to the 141st annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention elected a new slate of officers and celebrated 35 years of partnership missions during the Summit held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington. The Summit drew 953 messengers from about 322 churches (unofficial total). Last year’s Summit at Brentwood Baptist

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CONFERENCE SPEAKERS CHALLENGE TENNESSEANS

MILLINGTON — Focusing on the theme from Isaiah 64:1 of “Rend the Heavens and Come Down,” speakers at the 2015 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference at First Baptist Church in Millington addressed a number of topics related to revival. Grant Gaines, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Jackson, emphasized the need for sound doctrine in churches as the basis for revival and for the well-being of believers. Preaching from I Timothy

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KINGSPORT PASTOR ELECTED PRESIDENT OF TENNESSEE BAPTIST CONVENTION

Editor’s Note: This is the final version of the officer’s story. By Lonnie Wilkey, editor Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON – Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention unanimously elected Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, as president. Allan Lovelace, pastor of Waterville Baptist Church, Cleveland, nominated Collins for the position. He noted that during the 10 years Collins has served as pastor of Indian

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PASTORS CONFERENCE ELECTS OFFICERS

Baptist and Reflector MILLINGTON – Todd Stinnett, senior pastor of Black Oak Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, will serve as president of the 2016 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference. Stinnett served this past year as president-elect with 2015 Pastors Conference president Steve Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova.

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