ethnic Archives - Baptist & Reflector

BAPTISTS RALLY AROUND HISPANIC FAMILIES

April 10, 2018

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

David Williams, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Morristown, speaks during a prayer rally for Hispanic families affected by a recent raid at a Bean Station slaughterhouse.
— Photos by William Burton for the Baptist and Reflector

BEAN STATION — Tennessee Baptists are ministering to families affected by the raid on a Bean Station slaughterhouse on April 5.

Federal agents raided Southeastern Provisions, a cattle slaughterhouse in Grainger County, as part of a probe on allegations that the company was paying undocumented immigrants cash to avoid paying $2.5 million in payroll taxes over the past three years, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Of the more than 95 employees who were detained until their immigration status was verified, approximately 54 have been held for possible deportation due to their undocumented status, according to news reports. Those who have been released still face court dates and possible deportation, sources said. [Read more…]

CHURCH GIVES PROPERTY, LAND FOR REPLANT

February 26, 2018

Baptist and Reflector

Pastor Eliab Saenz signs paperwork giving property from South Gate Baptist Church, Nashville, to Iglesia Bautista Renacer.

NASHVILLE — South Gate Baptist Church in Nashville has given its building and 11 acres, valued at $750,000, to Iglesia Bautista Renacer.

The signing of paperwork on Jan. 7 marked the celebration and culmination of months of study and prayer by members of South Gate, according to Rusty Sumrall, director of missions for Nashville Baptist Association

Sumrall said that South Gate began looking into revitalization in the spring of 2017. After studying five different options for the future, the congregation entered into a time of prayer, he recalled. [Read more…]

CHANGING CULTURE PROVIDES NEW OPPORTUNITIES

January 16, 2018

By Benjie Shaw,
BCM Director, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: America’s religious landscape has undergone large shifts in the last 20 years. In September, the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) released its latest study, titled “America’s Changing Religious Identity.” In short, the PRRI study discovered: [Read more…]

IMMIGRATION AND MY CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY

January 15, 2018

By Chris Turner
TBMB Communications Director

The plane taxied to a stop and flight attendants opened both the forward and rear doors for us to disembark. As I rose from my seat, a smell hit me like a sucker punch and triggered a gag reflex. People cleared a space. Fortunately, it turned out well for everyone.

The smell continued its assault on my senses. As we pulled away from the airport and navigated around the emaciated cow meandering down the expressway, I asked the missionary, “What’s that smell?”

“Oh, that’s just Calcutta,” he responded with a chuckle. “You get used to it after a few months.” [Read more…]

GOTM, DR RESPONSES TOP 2017 NEWS

January 9, 2018

Past year’s biggest stories include record-breaking totals for Golden Offering, tireless work by DR teams

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Record gifts through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions and disaster relief responses were among the top news stories in 2017 throughout the Tennessee Baptist Convention

Tennessee Baptists gave $1,843,511.03 through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions for 2016-17, just barely falling short of the $1.85 million goal. It’s the largest amount in the 115-year history of the GOTM, reflecting a 7.6 percent increase over the previous year. GOTM offerings have increased more than 20 percent in four years.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded to at least eight different disasters during the year, the most in recent memory. [Read more…]

ALL NATIONS CAMP IMPACTS STUDENTS

June 16, 2017

By Michael Smith
Contributing Writer, B&R

A record number 278 students recently attended All Nations Camp held at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport. The camp attracted participants from 18 ethnic churches across the state.

NEWPORT — God’s favor was evident before and during the annual All Nations Camp at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center on May 29-June 2, and the spiritual impact from the week will be seen for years to come.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board sponsored camp, in its 24th year, saw a record turnout of 278 registered students. There were 158 recorded spiritual decisions, with 104 students professing their faith in Christ — the most in the camp’s history.

Students, ages 7 to 17 years old, spent the week enjoying games, nature activities, energetic worship, and insightful group Bible studies. [Read more…]

LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH HISPANIC CHURCH

May 4, 2017

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

William Burton, church planting strategist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and volunteer church planter at Esperanza Church@ Harpeth First Baptist, speaks during a recent worship service. — Photos by Lonnie Wilkey

FRANKLIN — Missions and helping new churches have been a way of life for Earl and Violet Newcomb since the mid-1950s when they helped start the first of six churches at what is now Cross Keys Baptist Church in College Grove.

Earl Newcomb served as song leader while operating a business in Franklin and Violet served as pianist and church treasurer.

Their mantra has always been, “Lord, open the door and we will go.” [Read more…]

CHURCH GIVES FACILITY FOR HISPANIC CHURCH

May 4, 2017

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

God’s Gathering Place, Chattanooga, recently became the East Ridge Campus and Community Center of Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga. Standing in front of the former sanctuary of God’s Gathering Place, are, from left, Dennis Culbreth, director of missions, Hamilton County Baptist Association; Dwight Millsaps, former pastor, God’s Gathering Place; and Micah Fries, pastor, Brainerd Baptist.

CHATTANOOGA — God has worked through what most people would call a failure, says Dwight Millsaps, former pastor of a small church, God’s Gathering Place, in Chattanooga.

Though the church disbanded several months ago, recently God’s Gathering Place gave its facilities worth about $1 million to Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga, to meet a need of that church.

Brainerd Baptist needed more space for its Hispanic Congregation. Other positive factors are that the neighborhood has many Hispanic residents and the two churches are located only about a mile apart, though on different sides of Interstate 24.

[Read more…]

RCBA PROVIDES ELL FOR 18 YEARS

February 24, 2017

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Judy Hurst, center, who is director of the English for Language Learners ministry of Robertson County Baptist Association, stands with new students at a recent meeting. From left are Isidro Silva of Mexico, Samuel Nageeb of Egypt, Hurst, Naftali Piña of Mexico, Yaneth Morales of Mexico, and Karla Caballero of El Salvador.

SPRINGFIELD — Robertson County Baptist Association (RCBA), based here, has offered an English for Language Learners ministry for 18 years.

The ELL program of RCBA, draws about 100 people weekly from Spanish-speaking countries, Iran, Egypt, Brazil, and China to Springfield Baptist Church, said Judy Hurst, member of Springfield Baptist, who is ELL director.

Students attend Thursday evening classes which are offered simultaneously with the RCBA’s HiSET classes, or Thursday morning classes. Aspects of the program that make it popular are that childcare is provided and five levels of classes as well as a citizenship class are offered, Hurst added. [Read more…]

MINISTERING AMONG HISPANICS, ETHNICS

February 24, 2017

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Luis Lopez, right, coordinator for Hispanic work, Robertson County Baptist Association, based in Springfield, speaks to Bartolo Eduardo Perez Juarez, center, and Argenis Zarate Gutierrez at a HiSET class of RCBA held at Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD — With only two Hispanic Baptist congregations in this area and about 10,000 Hispanic residents, opportunities abound to reach Hispanics here with the gospel, said Luis Lopez of the Robertson County Baptist Association (RCBA).

Also the Hispanic population here is expected to grow 30 percent in the next five years — to 13,000, added Lopez, coordinator for Hispanic work of RCBA.

“The harvest is here. We just need to reap it,” he stated. [Read more…]

Past year’s biggest stories include record-breaking totals for Golden Offering, tireless work by DR teams

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