By Derek Allen MOBILE, Ala. — In March, April and May, our church staff braced for a wave of COVID-19 cases to sweep through our church family. It never happened. In fact, for the first three months of the COVID-19 outbreak, our church family of about 1500 only experienced a handful of coronavirus cases. As far as we know, none of those cases was spread at one of our events.
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention Senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville All of us find ourselves now in the unique situation of needing to rebuild what we had going prior to the pandemic. As most of us began the process of regathering in person, we found some things are missing. Most of us have begun with worship gatherings and we will add the Connect Group/Bible Study/Sunday School piece
By Caroline Anderson IMB writer On June 9, the International Mission Board commissioned 61 missionaries in a virtual Sending Celebration. The missionaries represent churches in 15 states and will be serving in all nine of the IMB’s affinities. Sending Celebrations provide a forum for Southern Baptists to commission new missionaries and hear their call to missions. IMB trustees voted on and approved 59 of the missionaries this spring in a
Rather than canceling VBS, many churches change methods By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — With a mixture of determination, imagination and inspiration, many churches in Tennessee are finding ways to host Vacation Bible School this year. Despite the challenging circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, many VBS leaders have elected to move forward, even if it means changing the traditional format and veering away from their tried-and-true formulas of the
By Ashley Perham Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Confetti poppers, bulldozers and science experiments are just three of the ways Tennessee Baptist churches are engaging children involved in virtual Vacation Bible Schools this summer. Rather than calling off this annual summer outreach event due to concerns about COVID-19, many Tennessee Baptist churches are hosting some form of VBS online. All eight campuses of Brentwood Baptist Church are participating in a
By Larry Robertson Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville One of our sources of conflict these days is personal liberties versus public good. And opinions are rarely vague. Masks or no masks? Social distancing or up in each other’s faces? Stay at home or live and let live (or die, whatever). Some are writing, “Give me liberty or give me death!” on their protest posters. Seriously? Can we all say mel·o·dra·mat·ic?
By Shawn Hendricks Contributing writer, B&R BRENTWOOD — When it comes to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic while houseparenting four elementary kids and their 15-year-old daughter, Nathan and Laura Mankin have become firm believers in a daily routine. Or, what they have humorously referred to as the “apocalypse schedule.” “We’ve had to adjust it like six times,” Nathan said with a laugh in a phone interview with the Baptist and
Union University news office JACKSON — Classes for the fall semester at Union University will meet on campus and in-person, with the university taking necessary safety precautions to protect students, faculty and staff from COVID-19. “We’re excited to welcome new and returning students back to campus in the fall,” Union president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “Our students thrive in the Christ-centered community they find at Union, and we’re looking
By Tobin Perry Southern Baptist TEXAN HOUSTON — Listening to the discussion surrounding the reopening of churches, Steve Bezner could see much of it revolved around a dichotomy of faith versus fear. As Bezner, pastor of Houston Northwest Church, and other church leaders studied the issue from a variety of angles, they began to see it differently. “The more that we studied them, we began to see masks as love
By Tess Schoonhoven Baptist Press ATLANTA — As the state of Georgia continues on a path to reopening, Christ Covenant Church is cautiously planning to resume in-person gatherings. But decisions about when and how to return are complicated by where. Christ Covenant has called Sutton Middle School its Sunday home for 2 1/2 years. The church, which averaged about 500 in attendance before the COVID-19 pandemic, will be ready to
By Derek Allen MOBILE, Ala. — In March, April and May, our church staff braced for a wave of COVID-19 cases to sweep through our
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention Senior pastor, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville All of us find ourselves now in the unique situation of needing
By Caroline Anderson IMB writer On June 9, the International Mission Board commissioned 61 missionaries in a virtual Sending Celebration. The missionaries represent churches in
Rather than canceling VBS, many churches change methods By David Dawson [email protected] FRANKLIN — With a mixture of determination, imagination and inspiration, many churches in
By Ashley Perham Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Confetti poppers, bulldozers and science experiments are just three of the ways Tennessee Baptist churches are engaging
By Larry Robertson Pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville One of our sources of conflict these days is personal liberties versus public good. And opinions are
By Shawn Hendricks Contributing writer, B&R BRENTWOOD — When it comes to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic while houseparenting four elementary kids and their 15-year-old daughter,
Union University news office JACKSON — Classes for the fall semester at Union University will meet on campus and in-person, with the university taking necessary
By Tobin Perry Southern Baptist TEXAN HOUSTON — Listening to the discussion surrounding the reopening of churches, Steve Bezner could see much of it revolved
By Tess Schoonhoven Baptist Press ATLANTA — As the state of Georgia continues on a path to reopening, Christ Covenant Church is cautiously planning to
