By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — Before the smoke from the Independence Day fireworks has even cleared the air, Beth Moore is already looking ahead to Christmas. Or, more specifically, the Christmas Backpacks ministry, which provides backpacks filled with toys, clothing, hygiene items, food and other items to children in low-income families. It also serves as a means of outreach and evangelism for participating churches.

Vanderbilt has a ‘new’ place: BCM building remodeled By Chris Turner [email protected] NASHVILLE — Bill Choate asked James Kennon if he’d help select a paint color suitable for “freshening up” the Vanderbilt University Baptist College Ministry building. Neither of them could have imagined then that 33 years later they’d be cutting the ribbon on a complete overhaul.  “The building was built in 1963,” said Choate, Director of Baptist Collegiate Ministries

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NASHVILLE — Skyline Medical Center in Nashville is a mission field ripe for ministry opportunities, says chaplain Bill Palmiter. Palmiter, who retired as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Greenbrier in 2007 after 20 years of ministry, has been a volunteer chaplain for 23 years and has been the lead chaplain at Skyline for about a year. He, along with Julie Davis, director

By David Dawson [email protected] MARYVILLE — The children from Madison Avenue Baptist Church have been all around the world in the past few months. Yet they’ve always made it home well before bedtime.  Participating in a missions-based program called “TREKK” — which was held each Wednesday night at the church for several months — the children “visited” about a dozen countries, learning about the different cultures, languages and cuisine of

NEWPORT — Music and proclaiming God’s Word go hand in hand for Memphis church planter and pastor Courtney Franklin. And, it is evident that music is not just a hobby. Franklin recently wrote and recorded a song entitled “Send Us Peace” that spent two weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Digital Sales Chart for gospel music. In addition, Franklin, who has been singing professionally since he was 17, has

By Ashley Perham B&R writer NASHVILLE — The Kidz Camp at Crievewood Baptist Church earlier this month was an answer to many prayers. Last year, the church hosted Lifeway’s Centri-Kid day camp, but just a few months before this year’s camp was scheduled, Lifeway had to pull out. Martha Minardi, minister to preschool and children, had an idea, though. One Wednesday night, she ran up to the third floor of

Allardt First Baptist sees 18 children make profession of faith By Ashley Perham B&R writer JAMESTOWN — Through Vacation Bible School at Allardt First Baptist Church in Jamestown, 18 kids kicked off their summer break by accepting Christ as their savior. The church, which runs around 75 people normally, averaged over 50 kids a night, said pastor Daryl Rains. Rains, who runs the VBS with his wife Carolyn, said the

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NASHVILLE — Two pregnancy care center directors in Tennessee are rejoicing yet are taking precautions as the nation’s political leaders are urging the pro-life community to prepare for a possible violent reaction to the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. The White House and the Department of Homeland Security asked the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to join a call