By Carol Pipes & Lonnie Wilkey LifeWay, B&R writers NASHVILLE — When Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s season record for home runs in 1961, an “asterisk” was placed by his name because he played more games. A similar rationale can be applied to the 2020 Annual Church Profile. In the early weeks and months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Southern Baptist churches, including those in Tennessee, joined the wave of
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing writer, B&R BROWNSVILLE — Woodland Baptist Church, located in eastern Haywood County, has completed a restoration of the 100-year-old auditorium. After 13 months, the congregation moved back into the renovated auditorium in February of 2021. Due to tithes, donations and other gifts, the renovation of Woodland Baptist is debt free. After 10 decades, the auditorium was in need of repair. The plaster was cracking and the
By Randy C. Davis President & Executive Director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Sometimes all people need to press forward is a sliver of hope. Last week we got it. Dr. Rochelle Walensky delivered that hope when the director of the Center for Disease Control stepped to the microphone during a press conference and said, “Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without
By Aaron Earls LifeWay news office NASHVILLE — Fewer churchgoers filled pews and Bible studies during the pandemic, but many still continued personal discipleship habits throughout 2020. A study by Nashville-based Lifeway Research found U.S. churchgoers were less likely to be involved in small groups during the pandemic, but many added some digital and individual activities to their discipleship routines. “Some have defined discipleship as a journey of following Christ
Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — As Zach Lloyd looks back on his seven month journey with COVID-19, he realizes he and his family have been extremely blessed. “God has moved in ways I could never imagine,” said Lloyd, pastor of East LaFollette Baptist Church, LaFollette. “So many people and churches have reached out with monetary donations and other acts of kindness in addition to countless prayers lifted up on his
After surviving COVID-19 and a double lung transplant, LaFollette pastor Zach Lloyd is eager to return home By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] NASHVILLE — When a local television station in Nashville aired footage of pastor Zach Lloyd recently leaving Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital, probably few people realized they were witnessing another one of God’s infinite miracles. But that really is the only explanation for how Lloyd, pastor
By Aaron Earls LifeWay Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, churches responded to serve churchgoers in a variety of ways, and churchgoers are overwhelmingly proud of how their church handled the crisis. According to Nashville-based LifeWay Research, almost nine in 10 Protestant churchgoers (86 percent) say they are proud of how their church has responded during the coronavirus pandemic, with 58 percent strongly agreeing. Few (9 percent) disagree.
Baptist and Reflector MEMPHIS — It was not the typical request for help, but Tennessee Disaster Relief volunteers have responded to a request to assist with COVID-19 vaccinations in Memphis. “It is one of our most unusual responses,” acknowledged Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He noted it is unusual for government agencies to request help from volunteer organizations, but it was necessary to help
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] MADISON — Like most every church in Tennessee, Madison Heights Baptist Church in Madison had to learn to adjust to the unique challenges of COVID-19. After deciding to cancel in-person Vacation Bible School last summer, three ladies in the church (Cathy Searcy, Atley Spain and Stacey Spain) felt compelled to find ways to minister to children and families who live in an
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Over the past several months I have been repeatedly asked, “Are you guys (the church) meeting in person? And, how are you guys doing?” My answer is always the same. Yes, we are meeting for in-person worship. And yes, by God’s grace, we are doing remarkably well. These questions caused me to rethink our story as we approach the one-year anniversary of
By Carol Pipes & Lonnie Wilkey LifeWay, B&R writers NASHVILLE — When Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s season record for home runs in 1961, an
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing writer, B&R BROWNSVILLE — Woodland Baptist Church, located in eastern Haywood County, has completed a restoration of the 100-year-old auditorium. After
By Randy C. Davis President & Executive Director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Sometimes all people need to press forward is a sliver of hope. Last
By Aaron Earls LifeWay news office NASHVILLE — Fewer churchgoers filled pews and Bible studies during the pandemic, but many still continued personal discipleship habits
Baptist and Reflector NASHVILLE — As Zach Lloyd looks back on his seven month journey with COVID-19, he realizes he and his family have been
After surviving COVID-19 and a double lung transplant, LaFollette pastor Zach Lloyd is eager to return home By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected]
By Aaron Earls LifeWay Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, churches responded to serve churchgoers in a variety of ways, and churchgoers are
Baptist and Reflector MEMPHIS — It was not the typical request for help, but Tennessee Disaster Relief volunteers have responded to a request to assist
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] MADISON — Like most every church in Tennessee, Madison Heights Baptist Church in Madison had to learn
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Over the past several months I have been repeatedly asked, “Are you guys (the church) meeting in
