MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are needed for response efforts in New England, Florida and a local project in Pikeville, Tenn., according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

In Florida, chainsaw and tarping teams are needed through the end of October as volunteers continue to help those affected from the recent hurricane, Jones said.

“There are still many trees on houses and then when the tree is removed, the roof will need to be tarped. If you have a team that can respond to this need, contact the DR office with the dates you would like to respond,” he said.

Teams interested in going to Florida should contact Jones at wjones@tnbaptist.org; Garry Maddox at gmaddox@tnbaptist.org and Elizabeth Holmes at eholmes@tnbaptist.org. [Read more…]

Mike Young, senior pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Brownsville, shares the gospel with attendees at the “Blue Oval City Workers Appreciation Block Party.”

STANTON — Although First Baptist Church, Pulaski, is located roughly three hours from Stanton, the members of FBC aren’t allowing the 150-mile separation to keep them from doing what they feel called to do.

Having gone “all in” on their mission to make an impact for Christ at Blue Oval City — the massive Ford auto plant being built in Stanton — the members of FBC are seizing their opportunities.

The church sent volunteers  to serve at Blue Oval City outreach events on two occasions during a three-week stretch in late August and early September, and they are planning to make many more trips in the months ahead. [Read more…]

Pastor Terry England of Gap Creek Baptist Church, Harrogate, right, visits with Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff members Lewis McMullen, left, and Randy Pressnell, right, during a recent missions fair sponsored by Cumberland Gap Baptist Association. It is believed to be the first such event sponsored by the association. See page 4 for coverage.

HARROGATE — Bob Finch served for six years as a director of missions in Kentucky before accepting the same position with Cumberland Gap Baptist Association, headquartered in Harrogate, two years ago.

“The Lord put me there to get me ready for here,” affirmed Finch who is from Rochester, N.Y. and is retired from the Air Force. He has ties to Tennessee through his wife, Sharon, who grew up in nearby LaFollette.

After serving in the association for a while, the association’s Executive Board realized that there were “all kinds of mission opportunities” available for members of the association’s 45 churches that they were not aware of. [Read more…]

Iglesia Bautista Rios de Agua Viva (Rivers of Living Water Baptist Church), coordinates a worship service every Monday night for the migrant ministry of East Tennessee Baptist Association. Director of missions Mike Hensley visited with church members during the Sept. 18 meal and worship service. From left are Patricia Ramirez, Pastor Julio Hernandez, Yaid Hernandez, Hensley, Estrella Velazquez, Cesar Siu, Jesus Velazquez, Karina Siu, Yeni Gomez, Antonio Gomez and Osiel Gomez (small boy).

NEWPORT — For approximately 30 years, churches in East Tennessee Baptist Association have been ministering to migrant workers in Cocke County in one form or another.

Mike Hensley, former pastor of Swannsylvania Baptist Church, Dandridge, was one of several individuals and pastors in the association who played an instrumental role in developing the ministry. Hensley is still active in it today as director of missions for the association.

Though the ownership of the farm has transitioned from local owners to a national corporation (Pacific Tomato Company) and other churches and associations have been involved at various times, the churches in ETBA have remained committed to the ministry, Hensley affirmed.  [Read more…]

FRANKLIN — Directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board are proposing a Cooperative Program budget of $35 million for 2023-24.

If approved by messengers during the annual meeting at The Summit in Chattanooga in November, it will be the fourth consecutive year the budget has stayed at $35 million.

The budget allocation will remain the same: 52.5 percent for Tennessee Baptist Convention ministries and 47.5 percent for the Southern Baptist Convention. [Read more…]