FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist disaster relief volunteers are accustomed to hard work and sweat. This week, there’s been plenty of both for a team from Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville. Traveling to Morgan City, La., to assist victims who are recovering from Hurricane Francine, the DR team is dealing with oppressive humidity while completing various tasks for homeowners in the area. Steve Brock, who is leading the team, said

FRANKLIN — Lonnie Wilkey’s tenure as editor of the Baptist and Reflector is coming to an end, but his columns will continue to be read for years to come.  Wilkey, who has been with the B&R since 1988 and has served as editor since 1998, has put together a collection of his columns in a book titled Faith, Family and Life’s Lessons: Reflections of a Christian Journalist.  Wilkey’s columns have

CORDOVA — Steve Gaines, senior pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova and a former SBC president, announced to the congregation on Sunday that he will be transitioning out of his role of senior pastor and into the role of “itinerate preacher.” Gaines, who has been at Bellevue for 19 years, was joined on stage by his wife, Donna, when he made the announcement.  “Many years ago, the Lord spoke

JEFFERSON CITY — In a tradition that reflects the mission of Carson-Newman University, 31 members of the University’s Eagles football team were baptized in the waters of Mossy Creek on campus.  They were joined by other team members, coaches, University leadership and campus community who lined the banks of the creek to witness the event. The public professions of faith were officiated by Marty Blakely, director of Lakeway’s Fellowship of

DAVIS, Okla. — Days before the start of a new school year, more than 1,730 college students and leaders gathered at Falls Creek Conference Center in Davis, Okla., to learn how to live on mission and become passionate followers of Jesus.  Groups from across North America — including Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada — gathered with International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) personnel for the five-day August

MOUNT JULIET — A disaster relief team from Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville, led by Steve Brock, will leave Sunday, Sept. 15, for Morgan City, La., and work next week to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. The hurricane hit the Louisiana coast in Terrebonne Parish, with Morgan City facing particularly bad damage on Sept. 11. Baptist Press reported that thousands were without power in Louisiana on Sept.

SHELBYVILLE — As pastor of a cowboy church, Byron Ash has a strict rule: No poaching allowed.  That’s not in reference to cattle or horses, but to church members. “If someone in our church has a friend who is already a member of another church, I tell them NOT to invite them to our place,” said Ash, pastor of Cowpunchers Cowboy Church in Shelbyville. “In fact, I get mad if

FRANKLIN — More than 250 individuals accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior during summer camps held at Tennessee Baptists’ two conference centers at Carson Springs Baptist in Newport and Linden Valley in Linden. The summer of 2024 has been the largest in attendance in Carson Springs history, affirmed Kevin Perrigan, manager of Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center. Carson Springs reported 2,971 guests from more than 60 different churches with