Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Union University news office
GERMANTOWN — Union University trustees celebrated the 20th anniversary of Union’s Germantown campus during their Sept. 7-8 meeting, with President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver sharing a number of success stories of Germantown graduates over the past two decades.
Oliver also reported to trustees on the school’s fall enrollment, and the board adopted a new tuition rate for 2017-2018. [Read more…]
By Ralph Vaughn
Contributing Writer, Baptist and Reflector
MURFREESBORO — F. Murray Mathis of Murfreesboro, like most in ministry, has seen and experienced mountaintops and valleys in his nearly 60 years of preaching the gospel.
His eyes well up with tears when describing how a country boy from Fayetteville has made friends throughout America and in foreign countries.
Recently, Mathis and his wife of 54 years, Loretta, were involved in what could have been a fatal traffic accident in Atlanta. The couple was broadsided at an intersection on a busy thoroughfare on May 18. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
NASHVILLE — With hopes of harvesting the mission field that exists in their own backyard, the congregations from First Baptist Church, Joelton, and New Season Church recently joined together to host a community-wide gathering in which the two churches provided a free meal for those who live in the underprivileged neighborhood in north Nashville.
The event — called “Time for a change” — was held on Aug. 27 on an open lawn on Buchanan Street.
“It was a very effective outreach,” said David Royalty, the pastor of First Baptist. “We gave away clothes, shoes, and the meal. Anyone on Buchanan was invited to come and eat.” [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
JOHNSON CITY — Cole Rogers needed a job and a place to stay. Jonathan Chapman had an open position and an empty room.
It was a perfect fit. Symmetrical and symbiotic.
“I had been praying about it and praying for the right person to come along,” said Chapman, the BCM director at ETSU. “So, it was great when God really lined everything up for us. Cole was searching for something, and I was searching for something.” [Read more…]
By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director
The Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch was the scene of a shooting on Sunday, Sept. 24. One person was killed and seven others were injured. — Metro Nashville Police Department photo
Within a 24-hour period I was resoundingly reminded over the weekend of Sept. 23 and 24 of the spiritual battle raging around us.
I was reminded Saturday of the beauty of Christ lived out in the life of those who put their hope in Him. Carolyn Boyd, wife of Forest Hills Baptist Church (Nashville) Pastor Sam Boyd, succumbed to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after a nearly four-year battle. Barring the miraculous intervention of God, no one with an understanding of “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” as it is also called, expected a different ending. [Read more…]
From B&R, wire reports
MOUNT JULIET – Even as the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams continue their efforts in Texas to provide aid for those effected by Hurricane Harvey, additional teams are standing ready to provide assistance in Florida following Hurricane Irma.
Wes Jones, the disaster relief specialist for the TBMB, said on Thursday, Sept. 14, that officials in Florida are “in the process of setting up locations for response and deciding where those will be.” [Read more…]
Compiled from IMB website
RIDGECREST, N.C. – Trustees of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board have given approval for President David Platt to serve as teaching pastor of McLean Bible Church in McLean, Va., in addition to his duties with the IMB.
Approval was given during the IMB board of trustee meeting held Sept. 11-13 at Ridgecrest (N.C) Baptist Conference Center.
By Ben W. Curtis
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tracy City
Focal Passage: Exodus 7:1-13
As parents, we tell our kids not to play in the street. There are laws of the road we must follow, such as speed limits and seat belt laws. Construction workers have safety protocol they must heed. Refusing to heed instructions in any of these situations could lead to serious injury or even death. While hearing and obeying are important in all aspects of life, they’re essential when it comes to God’s Word. [Read more…]
By Nathan Washburn
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Greenbrier
Focal Passage: Mark 9:17-29
Demons believe in God. They are not atheists (who claim there is no God), and they are not agnostics (who claim that we can’t know whether there’s a God). No, demons are monotheists — they know and believe there is one God — and they even fear him. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe — and shudder!” (James 2:19). However, while they believe in Him and fear Him, they also hate Him. They can’t stand Him, and they are against everything He’s for. [Read more…]
From staff reports
Baptist and Reflector
As the updates and images continue to emerge from the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey, many Baptists in Tennessee are looking for ways to help aid the relief effort.
Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, wrote a letter to Tennessee Baptist Churches that outlines ways in which churches can get involved. The letter, which can be viewed below, was sent to pastors and church secretaries across the state. [Read more…]
