By Janice Backer Contributing writer, B&R KNOXVILLE — For 6-year-old Betsy Duncan, moving to Africa seemed perfectly normal. “My parents told me we would tell people about Jesus. It made complete sense to me that we would move,” she said. Her parents, Alan and Andrea Duncan, were appointed as International Mission Board missionaries to South Africa. The elder Duncans have since returned to Tennessee and he is a staff minister

By David Dawson [email protected] COLUMBIA — In most instances, a “love offering” is a one-time gift.  At Connection Church in Columbia, however, it turned into much more than that. It was the gift that kept on giving.  Over the past several months, the church has used the combination of sacrificial giving and acts of service to make a major impact for Christ in Maury County. The movement was fueled by

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NEWPORT — Russell Vickers will never forget his first “Off the Grid” hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT). He almost quit and went home on the first night. Off the Grid is a ministry of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board that provides pastors, staff members and lay leaders an opportunity to be refreshed and enjoy a time of fellowship and outdoor adventure

By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner Baptist and Reflector   FRANKLIN — In response to a tweet by Guidepost Solutions supporting the LGBTQ+ community, Southern Baptists should “immediately break ties with Guidepost Solutions,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Guidepost Solutions posted the following statement to its Twitter account on June 6. “Guidepost is committed to strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion and

By Suzanne Rhodes Union University news office JACKSON — John Foubert, professor and dean of the College of Education at Union University, released a new book to help educate parents on the harm of pornography and to guide them in difficult conversations with children of all ages. Foubert’s second book on the harms of pornography, Protecting Your Children from Internet Pornography shows parents how pornography consumption has changed, how it’s

Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — The Tennessee chapter of FAITH Riders will sponsor a “Prayer Rumble” from the western part of the state to the east on June 17-18. “FAITH Riders of Tennessee will be praying across the state of Tennessee along with other riders and friends,” said Jerry Jeter, a member of the Tennessee chapter and pastor of Pleasant View Baptist Church, Clarksville. “If there has ever been a

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] FRANKLIN — Donna Blaydes readily admits that it is hard for her to use that two-letter word — no — especially when it comes to serving her Lord. As a result, Blaydes was excited to accept a new assignment with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board to go with her role as childhood specialist. Beginning in March, Blaydes is now the TBMB’s childhood/women’s

By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] JOHNSON CITY — A physician and nurse team from Heritage Baptist Church in Johnson City have returned after providing medical care and showing the love of Jesus to orphans in war-torn Ukraine. Johnson City physician Sabrina Miller was asked several weeks ago to consider traveling to Ukraine to treat orphans through New Horizons for Children (NHC), an agency that has partnered with