Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

TENNSCENE: OCT. 9

Damjana Mraovic-O’Hare

Carson-Newman University’s Damjana Mraovic-O’Hare has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar. For C-N’s associate professor of English and director of the Writing Center, the news opened the door to an exciting opportunity to study and teach in Belgrade, Serbia this fall. Being a Fulbright Scholar is considered by many as one of the most prestigious fellowships a U.S. scholar can be awarded, with only 20 percent who apply earning the honor. Mraovic-O’Hare, who is in her seventh year at Carson-Newman, earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Belgrade.

Calvary Baptist Church, Lenoir City, called Jonathan Tharpe as pastor on Sept. 15.

Tennessee native Carol B. Ghattas has written When Serving Gets Tough: A Thirty-Day Devotional for Missionaries. The book offers encouragement and wisdom for anyone struggling with the demands of cross-cultural service. A veteran missionary and author, Ghattas shares her experiences, providing practical guidance and hope through Scripture. Each daily entry is designed to help missionaries reconnect with their faith, find strength in God’s promises and press on in their calling despite difficulties. The book is available at missionbooks.org or other book distributors. [Read more…]

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GOD WORKS IN MUDDY POOLS

By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Specialist, TBMB

We sing these words, “I love to tell the story of unseen things above.” That’s why the Gospels are so powerful. We see people like us encounter the Son of God. Glory happens. The amazing thing about the gospel is that Jesus was constantly pressing believers to work together to do miraculous wonders. Think of the paralytic who would have never gotten healed, if four friends hadn’t grabbed the corners of his mat to climb on the roof and lower him with ropes to the feet of Jesus. That’s teamwork!

Phil Young, TBMB specialist has plenty of stories to share. Along with his efforts to lead our state to revitalize churches, he recently began working with Carson-Newman University to bring seminary classes into the prison system. [Read more…]

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TENNESSEE DR ON ALERT FOR HELENE RESPONSE

Baptist and Reflector

Hurricane Helene is seen in a NOAA satellite image captured at approximately 6 a.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (NOAA)

MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been placed on alert for possible response to Hurricane Helene.

As of 2 p.m. EST on Sept. 26, Helene is currently a Category 2 hurricane with wind speeds of 110 mph. It is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Big Bend this evening as at least a Category 3 hurricane, bringing the risk of devastating damage, according to an NBC News report. Some news outlets have reported that it could reach Category 4 status. [Read more…]

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TAKE TIME TO THANK YOUR PASTOR

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

The second Sunday in October is generally recognized across the nation as Pastor Appreciation Week and October as Pastor Appreciation Month.

I have said it several times over the past 26 years I have served as editor of the Baptist and Reflector and I will say it again. Let your pastor and other staff ministers (or the entire staff for that matter) know that you appreciate their ministry to your congregation.

Too many congregations take their staff for granted, particularly the pastor. Church members tend to think that their pastors are just like them — they only have to work 40 hours a week and the rest of the time is their own. [Read more…]

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STAFF CONTINUITY WORKS WELL FOR CROSSVILLE CHURCH

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Four ministers at Central Baptist Church have served on staff for a total of 115 years. From left are Terry May, marriage and family pastor, 17 years; Billy Kemp, legacy pastor, 32 years; Roland Smith, senior pastor, 39 years; and Scott White, executive pastor, 27 years.

CROSSVILLE — Search across the Southern Baptist Convention and you will find churches with pastors who have long tenures and even other ministers who have been at the same church for a number of years.

In a society, however, where the average stay of a minister at a church is normally less than six or seven years, it would be hard pressed to find a church that matches Central Baptist Church in Crossville. The church has four ministers with a combined 115 years of service with the congregation.

Roland Smith, senior pastor, will celebrate his 40th anniversary with the congregation next spring. What makes that even more unusual is that three of the church’s six other ministers have been with him 17 years or more — Billy Kemp, legacy pastor, 32 years; Scott White, executive pastor, 27 years; and Terry May, marriage and family pastor, 17 years.

In addition, many of the office’s staff have long tenure as well, including Rhonda Andrews who has served as Central’s office manager for 27 years. [Read more…]

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THE WHY BEHIND PROPOSED CP ALLOCATIONS

By Randy Davis
President and executive director, TBMB

Randy C. Davis

When something happens that people don’t understand, the first thing they ask is, “Why?”

I am there with them. By definition, “why” means “a question seeking the cause, reason, or purpose for which something has happened.” I’m not one for arbitrary decisions, so when an action is taken, I want to understand the why. I believe that goes for Tennessee Baptists as well.

The Board of Directors of your Tennessee Baptist Mission Board two weeks ago overwhelmingly adopted for recommendation in November to the convention messengers a Cooperative Program allocation of 40 percent to SBC entities, 5 percent to the International Mission Board, and 55 percent to Tennessee Baptist Convention ministries. The proposal expresses an urgency in reaching the nations with the gospel and is forward-thinking in its allocations. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: SEP. 25

CHURCHES

Williams Chapel Baptist Church, Springfield, will celebrate its 138th homecoming day on Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. with guest speaker Jon Fuqua. A special offering for the cemetery fund will be collected.

LEADERS

Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, Paris, recently called Mike Burney as pastor. [Read more…]

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TBDR TEAM IS ‘SWEATING IT OUT’ IN LA.

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

Tennessee Baptist disaster relief volunteers Guy Patterson and Dick Rollins speak with homeower Earline Gaskin about a tarping job that the DR team was about to do for her.

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist disaster relief volunteers are accustomed to hard work and sweat.

This week, there’s been plenty of both for a team from Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville.

Traveling to Morgan City, La., to assist victims who are recovering from Hurricane Francine, the DR team is dealing with oppressive humidity while completing various tasks for homeowners in the area.

Steve Brock, who is leading the team, said the volunteers have needed to constantly change shirts because they are “sweating out” their clothes each day.

Through Sept. 19, the team had completed 14 jobs, including tarping several rooftops and performing a number of chain shaw jobs. The team has also had many opportunities to share their faith, Brock said. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: SEP. 11

CHURCHES

Parkburg Baptist Church, Pinson, will have revival services Oct. 27-30 with evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.

Colonial Baptist Church in Memphis will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 27. Former pastor Gerald Hallmark will lead the joint Sunday School class at 9 a.m. Clay Hallmark, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lexington, and former president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, will bring the message in the 10:30 a.m. worship service. A potluck luncheon will follow.

First Baptist Church, Dover, was established Aug. 17, 1924, as the first Baptist church in Stewart County. Members of the church marked the anniversary with a “Centennial Celebration” on Aug. 25 with guest speaker Randy C. Davis (president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board), former staff members and a churchwide fellowship meal. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: AUG. 28

LEADERS

Ken Clayton

In his third book with Courier Publishing, retired pastor Ken Clayton offers a diligent study of the book of Romans in Justified by Faith, similar to his early works on the Gospel of John and the book of Daniel. “In Romans, Paul does not share as much discussion about practical problems as he does in his other letters,” Clayton observes. “Paul used this letter to explain the Christian gospel, God’s plan of salvation and its impact on their daily living. A graduate of Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., Clayton has served churches in Tennessee and Kentucky and was a missionary in Spain. He and his wife, Joy, are members of Shiloh Baptist Church, Mount Juliet.

Jimmy Webb, pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church, Maryville, has resigned. His last day will be Sept. 15. [Read more…]

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