By Cody Glen Barnhart Director of music and media, First Baptist Church, Alcoa  Recently, Seacoast Church announced that former Southern Baptist pastor Darrin Patrick passed away from what “appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” The news sent shockwaves through social media. Patrick’s passing is a devastating blow. We seem to have lost another one of our brothers to the crisis of mental health. Patrick’s death serves as a somber

By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention  Most of us are trying to determine the best course of action in reengaging in on campus worship. Notice I did not say “reopening.” We haven’t been closed.  Almost all of us have continued to lead our people in Sunday worship, Wednesday night Bible studies, and we have engaged many of our small groups in some new thing called Zoom. Zoom, zoom, zoom. 

By Scott C. Shepherd Tennessee Baptist Mission Board music and worship specialist In the coming weeks and months, churches across Tennessee will make the decision to gather again for worship. These services — though COVID-19 restrictions have been reduced — will not be a return to “worship as usual.”  Here are 15 worship related helps for churches to consider as they prepare to regather. Maintain social distancing in worship. Restrictions