The staff at the Baptist and Reflector wishes all of our readers a happy Easter as we join you in worshiping our risen Savior during these special days!

The Aug. 2, 1900 issue of the B&R spotlighted the East Tennessee college. After initial discussions in the early 1840s, the East Tennessee Baptist Educational Society applied in 1850 for a charter to establish an institution of higher learning.   Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary offered its first classes in August 1851 under President William Rogers.  As noted in their founding documents, the founders possessed a twofold intent: “to promote

JACKSON — Union University has named Ray Van Neste, dean of its School of Theology and Missions, as vice president for university ministries. Van Neste will continue to serve as dean in addition to his new role, where he will oversee Union’s chapel program, church relations and pastoral care responsibilities for the university community. “Ray Van Neste has a combination of theological depth, personal integrity, commitment to Union’s mission and

STANTON — For Mike Young, the excitement surrounding BlueOval City can be divided into three parts: Past, present and future. Young, senior pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Brownsville, has already seen some incredible evangelistic stories emerge during his involvement with BlueOval City — the massive Ford auto plant in Stanton — and said he can’t wait to see what God has in store for the days ahead.  “God has

SEYMOUR — It took more than two years, a change in committees and a lot of ups and downs, but the search for a new president/chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee appears to be over. The Executive Committee will meet in a special called meeting March 21 to approve the nomination of Jeff Iorg. When the vote is tallied and should Iorg be approved, Tennessee pastor Corey

FRANKLIN — Three Tennessee Baptist pastors are among the 11 speakers announced to address the 2024 Pastors’ Conference in Indianapolis June 9-10 preceding the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Stephen Rummage, senior pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and conference president, announced last August that the theme would be “Faithful: Pursuing Your Mission” and based on Revelation 17:14. Erik D. Cummings, lead pastor of New Life Church

FRANKLIN — Churches should consider “putting all their eggs into one basket” and making Easter Sunday morning worship “the main event of the year,” according to Wayne Causey. “Since we believe Easter Sunday morning is the pinnacle event of the church year, our churches should make the day as special as possible,” said Causey, retired associate pastor of music and worship at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville and contract

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams are helping transport hay to Texas to aid the recovery efforts after recent wildfires in North Texas. Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was contacted last weekend by Kentucky DR state director Ron Crow.  Crow informed Jones that they had been asked to send hay to Texas in response to the fires. The Kentucky DR teams had collected