Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

WELCOME CENTER DEDICATED AT LINDEN VALLEY

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

William Maxwell, left, and Tim Bearden cut the ribbon officially dedicating the Janet Bearden Welcome Center at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center. Looking on is Cole Campbell, far right, current conference center manager at Linden Valley and grandchildren of the Beardens.

LINDEN — Tennessee Baptists from across the state braved the heat and humidity on Saturday, July 25, to help dedicate the Janet Bearden Welcome Center at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center.

The welcome center will house the conference center offices and serve as the focal point as people drive onto the property. “It will be the crown jewel of Linden Valley,” observed Mark Proctor, associate administrator  and supervisor of the conference centers.

Current conference center manager Cole Campbell said the welcome center “has been a long needed addition to Linden Valley. We are thankful that the hard work and dedication of loyal Tennessee Baptist volunteers has produced a facility that is poised to welcome guests as they enter camp. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

CHRISTMAS BACKPACKS NEED BOOST IN TENNESSEE

By Joe Sorah
Compassion Ministries Specialist, TBMB

How can we reach children in Tennessee with the gospel? One answer has been Christmas Backpacks for some children.

The ministry began several years ago.  Baptists in Georgia, North Carolina, and other states began bringing backpacks filled with toys, clothing articles, hygiene items and food to give to children in Tennessee as Christmas gifts. Children received more than backpacks filled with needed supplies.

Many children and adults gave their lives to Christ as churches and ministry centers had Christmas events where the gospel was shared. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

AUG. 2: STAYING SOBER

By Travis Biller
Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: Proverbs 23:17-21, 29-35 

In his letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (I Corinthians 15:32b). He was writing to the church to help them understand the importance of the resurrection of Christ.

Without the resurrection of the dead, there is no forgiveness of sins and there is no motivation to suffer in service to God. Why suffer if this is the only life we know? The whole verse says, “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’ ” Paul was not encouraging sinful living, only helping the church see the consequences of their faulty doctrine. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

AUG. 2: WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

By Randy Keene
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Minor Hill

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21

In chapter three Paul takes an opportunity to emphasize how important it is for the church to draw strength from prayer. Never in my lifetime has the need been greater for the church to be a praying church.

Our country is in chaos, divided over political parties like never before, divided racially like we haven’t seen in 50 years or longer. The only unity I see, thanks be to God, is in my church. Prayer, in my humble but accurate opinion, is going to be the only way we come back to some sort of normalcy.

Paul says for this reason he kneels before his Father. Ephesus was a lot like us, divided. Paul encouraged his readers with the fact that God was on the throne and He was not only worthy and wealthy, He was willing. What a thought. All of us are related by the same Creator and can be strengthened by the Spirit according to His riches. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

TBC CHURCHES STILL GIVING DESPITE COVID

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, Tennessee Baptist Convention churches are practicing good stewardship as they continue to give generously through the Cooperative Program, the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions and other mission offerings.

That’s the observation of Matt Tullos, special assistant to the executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and stewardship specialist.

“This is a difficult, difficult time, but I think God is using it in some powerful ways to help us get our focus back on what is really important,” Tullos said during a podcast on Radio B&R (see Episode 46). [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

FEELING ‘SNAKIFIED’

By Kathy McBroom

-Photo: KathyMcBroom.com

As I walked out towards the pool, there he was, looking all regal, and “snakified.” I didn’t even see him until I was almost on him, and then I jumped back several feet. He never moved.

I hate snakes.

I took his picture. My husband informed me that he was a good snake if there is such a thing.  I thought, maybe we can cohabitate. That would be new. He could do his job and I could do mine. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

PUT THE GOSPEL ABOVE ALL

There are many issues facing pastors like myself these days. I have talked to several friends in ministry who are struggling with fulfilling their calling in a rapidly changing environment. The coronavirus has laid bare many spiritual realities in our congregations and has reshaped the way in which we “do church,” perhaps permanently.

The pandemic has also deepened some of the divisions that have come between us as a family of faith, particularly along political lines. I was already dreading this election season before the virus hit, knowing that our enemy would love to drive as large a wedge between Christians as possible. One of his greatest tactics in his war against the Church is “divide and conquer.”  [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

LEADERS URGE CAUTION, COMMITMENT TO MISSIONS

By Leslie Peacock Caldwell
IMB News Office

Through Send Relief, Southern Baptists have helped more than 900,000 people worldwide affected by the coronavirus.

RICHMOND — International Mission Board senior leaders are urging Southern Baptists to use extreme caution if they are considering overseas missions travel for the remainder of 2020.

As many countries continue to require quarantines or have not yet opened their borders, travelers could face unexpected circumstances, including quarantines upon re-entering the U.S. The future threat and spread of COVID-19 also remains an unknown factor.

The IMB decision also impacts volunteer missions through the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

WORSHIP – THE BEST INDICATOR OF CHURCH HEALTH

By Travis L. Biller
Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton

God created people for worship. Worship was built into our DNA. When we are saved by Christ that purpose is restored. In the heart of every saved person should be an intense desire to want to worship. As such, the church is first and foremost a worshiping community.

Every church should have a vibrant worship that defines who it is. That vibrancy is a result of individual believers whose heart’s desire is to come together as a body to lift up the name of Christ. The health of any church begins with its worship. Everything else the church does flows from that point. It’s the epicenter of the church’s life and it is the best indicator of church health. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

BELLEVUE FACES CIVIL LAWSUIT

Baptist Press

Bellevue Baptist Church
-Bellevue.org

CORDOVA — Parents of a teenage girl who was sexually abused by a former part-time employee of Bellevue Baptist Church are suing the church. The suit alleges negligence in allowing James Hook “complete discretion and freedom to have personal and private encounters with volunteers and minors.”

Hook, who was employed on Sunday mornings as the church’s preschool wing coordinator from January 2017-March 2019, pleaded guilty in January to sexual assault by an authority figure. He had been arrested in May 2019 after police found him and the girl, 16, underneath a blanket in the back of his car in a local park. He was sentenced to six months in jail and four-and-a-half years probation. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Address

4017 Rural Plains Circle
Franklin, TN 37064

Contact Information

Mail: Baptist & Reflector, P.O. Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068
Physical Address: 4017 Rural Plains Circle, Franklin, TN 37064
Email: bandr@tnbaptist.org
Phone: 615-371-2003

2025 © The Baptist and Reflector. All Right Reserved.