The Rev. Steve Gaines, longtime pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis and a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, died March 20, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. He was 68. Gaines served as pastor of Bellevue for more than two decades and was known as an evangelist, revival advocate, and passionate preacher. He served as president of the Southern … [Read More...]
Tennessee
MISSION: REACHING FELLOW OFFICERS
Retired policeman in Chattanooga shares love of Jesus through ‘FCPO’ CHATTANOOGA — The death of Paul Lee’s mother changed everything. That was it. … [Read More...]
Columnists
BE BEREAN IN THE AGE OF AI NEWS
I regularly hear the voice of William D. Downs Jr. echoing in my mind. Dr. Downs was the department chair and professor of communications and journalism at … [Read More...]
SBC
IMB LOOKS TO BUILD AFRICAN AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN OVERSEAS MISSIONS
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Community missions is well known and established in African American churches. Quintell Hill is working to see that passion become just as … [Read More...]
SS Lessons
MARCH 29: FORGIVENESS
Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-35 My wife and I have three little boys (ages 10, 8, 5) and I recently took them on a hike. They each had a small backpack … [Read More...]
More Stories
THE PATH TO ENDING ABORTION
For decades, Southern Baptists have affirmed the sanctity of life through resolutions, public witness and local church ministry. We have supported the work of pregnancy centers, actively advocated for legal reform and prayed for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. … [Read More...]
SEEKING CHRIST-CENTERED ANSWERS TO ABORTION QUESTIONS
The recently penned House Bill 570, which calls for women seeking abortion procedures to potentially be charged with murder, has sparked much debate, even among Christ-followers. Although the bill failed to come to a vote due to lack of support in the … [Read More...]
TBC CP GIFTS BEHIND BUDGET
Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,478,697 through the Cooperative Program in February. For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $11,515,424. The amount is $275,046 or 2.33 percent below what was … [Read More...]