Tennessee

SUMMIT APP AVAILABLE FOR MESSENGERS

CHATTANOOGA — Messengers at the 2023 Summit in Chattanooga will have more information at their fingertips than ever before, thanks to the unveiling of a new Summit app that can be downloaded to smart phones and other devices. The app will contain a digital version of the Summit Guide and will include: a map of the conference center, the full Summit schedule, a list of local restaurants, information about the

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TBC GIFTS EXCEED 2022-23 BUDGET GOALS

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave nearly $35 million through the 2022-23 Cooperative Program budget, falling just short of the CP goal. In November, Tennessee Baptists gave $2,721,756.  Total Cooperative Program income for the year was $34,473,102. This is .92 percent behind last year and 1.51 percent behind budget. These funds were allocated $800,000 for CP promotion and administration, 47.5 percent to the SBC and 52.5 percent to the

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MCCLUSKEYS SET STANDARD FOR LONGEVITY

KNOXVILLE — When Jay McCluskey celebrated his 37th anniversary as pastor of North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland, in September, it was a major achievement for him personally. Though he acknowledged that crossing the “37th year milestone does not merit the notoriety of other major anniversaries” it did have special meaning for him. Jay McCluskey finally caught up with his dad — longtime pastor and former Tennessee Baptist Convention president Jim

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SIMPLE GOTM GOAL: GIVE AS GOD GAVE

ANDERSONVILLE — First Baptist Church, Andersonville, has a simple goal for every Southern Baptist or Tennessee Baptist offering. “We ask our members to give as God gave,” said Steve Lakin, who has served as pastor of the Clinton Baptist Association-affiliated congregation for 18 years. “We remind people that God gave His best — His Son. Our people respond every time,” Lakin said. “Our people have a heart to give and

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DONATIONS CONTINUE FOR ISRAEL RELIEF EFFORTS

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is continuing to collect donations to aid the relief efforts in war-torn Israel following last month’s attack by the terrorist group Hamas. Tennessee Baptist DR is working with Harvest of Israel, a ministry of First Baptist Church, Morristown, and God’s Warehouse, a ministry of Nolachucky Baptist Association, on this project.

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BASEBALL STAR WITH TENNESSEE BAPTIST TIES IS UNASHAMED OF FAITH

ELIZABETHTON — Jason Holly, the youth minister at First Baptist Church in Elizabethton, remembers when Texas Rangers rookie outfielder Evan Carter was a boy playing in the local Grasscutter football league for 6-8-year-olds. Holly had a tiny Superman logo printed specifically for Carter. “I stuck it on the back of his helmet, and only his,” Holly said. “And I said, ‘You’re Superman.’ He was just that good.” Rangers fans are starting

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NO TRICKS, ONLY TREATS

GOODLETTSVILLE — Giving their members and guests a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, many Tennessee Baptist churches host Fall Festivals in October. The events — which serve as vital outreach for churches all across the state — often include “Trunk or Treating,” along with many other family-friendly activities. First Baptist Church, Goodlettsville held their Fall Festival on the church grounds on Oct. 22. In the photo to the right, Anna

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JACKSON CHURCH SHARES GOSPEL, PROVIDES HEALTH CARE

JACKSON — Madison Baptist Church, a rural Southern Baptist congregation near Jackson, saw a need in the community and decided to make a difference.  The church opened a free health clinic in 2015 and serves a mixed community of Hispanics, African-American and Caucasians, said pastor Greg Gilbreath. After Gilbreath received a letter on how churches could start a free health clinic as a mission, he passed the information on to

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HOME FROM ISRAEL: TEAM FROM FBC DYER HAS EVENTFUL JOURNEY

DYER — For Doug Duncan, there was peace in the Middle East.  It was the peace that surpasses all understanding — even in the face of powerfully frightening circumstances. Duncan, a retired pharmacist and a lay leader at First Baptist Church, Dyer, was in Israel when Hamas militants attacked the country on Oct. 7. Duncan was traveling with nine other members from the church. The group, which had arrived in

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STUDENT BAPTISM SUNDAY CARRIES SPECIAL MEANING FOR BARBIER FAMILY

BP editor’s note: Student Baptist Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention is Oct. 29. NASHVILLE — It’s a familiar scene for Jay Barbier. He’s a youth minister, driving down the road to a speaking engagement where he will preach to a room full of students. His teenage son Caleb is with him, and Jay uses Caleb as a sounding board for his sermon. “I would practice my sermons on him

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NO TRICKS, ONLY TREATS

GOODLETTSVILLE — Giving their members and guests a safer alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, many Tennessee Baptist churches host Fall Festivals in October. The events —

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