By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Some things just can’t be sugarcoated — especially disaster relief work in sub-freezing temperatures. “There’s no glamour in working outside in the cold with snow over your ankles,” acknowledged Mike Overcash, interim Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief director. Cold weather poses an entirely different set of issues to deal with as compared to traditional disaster responses that take place from the spring

By Chris Turner Director of Communications, TBC Supporters, detractors opine on Bible as the official book of Tennessee NASHVILLE — The State of Tennessee has 20 categories of state symbols, including official insects, birds, fossils, horses, rocks, songs, and even tartan. Two Tennessee lawmakers would like to add books as a category, and make the Bible Tennessee’s official book. Representative Jerry Sexton, of Bean Station, and Senator Steve Southerland, of

By Connie Davis Bushey News Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — The Tennessee Baptist Convention is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, says TBC staff members. But more importantly, about half of the residents of the state — including non-Anglos — need the Lord, said Willie McLaurin and William Burton of the TBC staff. “Especially with our emphasis on reaching people with the gospel, we should have a focus on

By Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are responding to damage caused last week by ice storms across the state. Most of the response work took place in East Tennessee and has occurred at the local level, said Mike Overcash, interim Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief director. Teams from First Baptist Church, Concord, in Knoxville; Knox County Baptist Association; Nolachucky Baptist Association; Jefferson County Baptist Association; and

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Whereas there may have been a stigma attached to being a bivocational pastor in the past, that’s no longer the case, says Ray Gilder. Gilder has led bivocational ministries for the Tennessee Baptist Convention since 1995 and also serves as the national coordinator for the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network.

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — If actions truly speak louder than words, then Tennessee Baptists are beginning to catch a vision of the importance of the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions to ministry efforts in the state. But there’s still a long way to go. In 2013-14, Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $1,532,060 through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions, an increase of 5.41 percent over