But not spirit at Cumberland By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LEBANON – An early morning fire on Sept. 3 destroyed the Baptist Collegiate Ministries building at Cumberland University here, but it did not destroy the spirit of those involved with the BCM. “There are no accidents with God,” observed Dave Shelley, director of missions for Wilson County Baptist Association, which owns the BCM building. “There will be good

By Baptist and Reflector Mark Roberts, pastor, McPheeters Bend Baptist Church, Church Hill, has been called as director of missions, Holton Valley Baptist Association, based in Rogersville, effective Sept. 15. Roberts has been pastor of McPheeters Bend Baptist for 16 years. He has led his church to do missions work and has been active in the association and Tennessee Baptist Convention.

By Connie Davis Bushey News Editor, Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — Reaching out to its neighborhood has brought internationals to this south Nashville church — in a big way. Tusculum Hills Baptist Church here recently hosted the largest gathering of Arabic speakers in Nashville ever to be held. During the meeting the gospel was presented, about 150 people made spiritual commitments, and millions in dozens of nations worldwide participated via TV

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector BRENTWOOD — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention during The Summit Nov. 10-12 will vote on the recommendations of the Vision 2021 Transition Team. The report was to have been acted on at last year’s meeting in Chattanooga but was delayed for a year to give Tennessee Baptists time for additional input. “We have responded to the concerns expressed

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector JACKSON — When Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver learned that Union University here was looking for a new president he had no interest in the position. Oliver was perfectly content as the president of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. Besides, he said, “Who would be dumb enough to follow David Dockery?” More than a year later, Oliver had the answer to his own

By Connie Davis Bushey News Editor, Baptist and Reflector TOLEDO, Ohio — One day in 2012 Dan Stevenson called the metro Toledo school system office. He got through to an official who listened to his proposal. As a result, a Baptist congregation here which needed a facility was given a school building. Toledo is located in an area of Ohio which might become a part of an expanded Tennessee/Greater Cincinnati

By Chris Turner Director of Communications, TBC ALCOA — Marcario Vasquez didn’t expect to meet Jesus at an informal dinner in a trailer park. In fact, he wasn’t even looking for Jesus. Turns out, he didn’t need to. Jesus was looking for him. “I’ve never had much interest in religious things or reading the Bible or anything like that,” Vasquez said. “But it was obvious the things Esdras was saying

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector KNOXVILLE — Mention the names Dean Taylor and Jay Sanders, along with a few others, and watch the face of Shannon Washam light up. Taylor and Sanders are just two of several young men and women who have accepted Christ and have been mentored by Washam, director of Western Heights Baptist Center, a ministry of Knox County Association of Baptists, which also receives