Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Jon Foster recently was ordained as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Tellico Plains.
Ralston Baptist Church, Martin, will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 6. The celebration will include a 9:45 a.m. worship service, a 10:45 a.m. music celebration with the group Living Truth, a 12 p.m. luncheon (food and beverages provided by the church) and a time of celebration and testimonies from special guests afterwards. [Read more…]
CHURCHES
Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, will hold revival services Aug. 18-21 at 7 p.m. each night with guest evangelist Joe Shannon.
Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Maryville, will celebrate its 75th anniversary with five special events in September and October. The services and speakers are: Sept. 8 at 10:30 a.m.: Greg Howard; Sept. 15 at 10:30 a.m.: Josh Glandon; Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m.: Mark Grubb; Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.: Glen Cummings and dinner on the grounds; Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m.: Randy Davis. [Read more…]
Van Richmond
Van Richmond, a pastor and church planter for 12 years, has recently written When Scripture Meets the Streets: What the Bible Says About Everyday Events. The book features everyday stories from everyday people that are paired with God’s wisdom and counsel to show His loving concern for your life. An Air Force veteran of 30 years, Richmond said his “hope and prayer is these stories from life and the related Scriptures will serve as both inspiration and guidance.” The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. His wife, Lynn, serves as convention manager for the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.
John Rogers recently retired as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Mohawk. He and his wife Tina served the church for 21 years. [Read more…]
Photo: Salvation Army
MOUNT JULIET — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been asked to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Texas and to extreme flooding which occurred in Iowa in late June.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda around 4:30 a.m. July 8, about 95 miles southwest of Houston, according to multiple news reports.
The storm pummeled coastal areas like Galveston as well as the outskirts of Houston, America’s fourth-largest metro area. Nearly three million people were left without electricity. [Read more…]
Kevin Crossno was ordained June 30 at Beech Springs Baptist Church in Gleason. He has been called as pastor of Mack’s Grove Baptist Church in Dresden.
First Baptist Church, Middleton, called Matthew C. Jones as pastor. He began his ministry with the church on Sunday, June 2.
Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, recently called James “Obee” O’Bryant as administrative minister of outreach and Curtis Honts as administrative minister of discipleship with a special emphasis on senior adults. [Read more…]
Photo: Screenshot from WVLT8 web site.
DANDRIDGE — Members of the Tennessee Baptist and Nolachucky Baptist Association Disaster Relief Swiftwater Rescue Team were instrumental in the recovery of the body of a 7-year-old drowning victim on July 4 in Douglas Lake in Dandridge.
WVLT 8 in Knoxville reported that Serenity Kinsey was reported missing after her family realized she has left her home during the night. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation immediately issued an AMBER Alert for Kinsey, the news station reported.
The search led volunteers to a boat dock on Douglas Lake, WVLT reported. [Read more…]
I don’t believe the column that follows is what Baptist and Reflector Editor Lonnie Wilkey had in mind when he asked me to write something about Independence Day.
“Since you’re a veteran,” Lonnie began in an email, “Would you write a column about the importance of Independence Day and what it means to you, both as a Christian and one who has served his country?”
I reluctantly agreed.
I’m conflicted between my deep appreciation for being a U.S. citizen and for what we are becoming as a nation. It seems disingenuous for us to collectively be rah-rah-rah-rah-sis-boom-bah on July 4th then return to a fragmented, mean-spirited society drifting along an undercurrent of hostility the other 364 days of the year. Does anyone else find it ironic that we are called the United – joined together for a common purpose or by common feelings – States when we seemingly become less united by the day? [Read more…]
LEADERS
First Baptist Church, Gordonsville, has called Brandon Patton as pastor. He and his wife, Gina, have two daughters.
Doe River Baptist Church, Elizabethton, called Wayne Lyons as pastor on May 5.
CHURCHES
Barton’s Creek Baptist Church, Lebanon, celebrated its 175th anniversary on June 2. [Read more…]
Bob Bickford
The board of directors of Nashville Baptist Association has recommended Bob Bickford as the next executive director. The association will have a special called meeting on June 2 at Grace Baptist Church, Nashville, to vote on Bickford. He has served as the chairman of the church revitalization team of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. He led in the development of the Resound Network, a collaborative network of associations in the state of Missouri, and he served as the associate director of replant for the North American Mission Board. Bickford has authored several resources including, Am I a Replanter?, Pathways to Partnership and the Associational Replanting Guide. For nine years he pastored The Groves Church in suburban St. Louis, which was a replant of Sherwood Baptist Church. [Read more…]
Dean Haun
Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church, Morristown, will lead an Encounter Israel Pastors Solidarity Tour Sept. 16-25. The trip is under the auspices of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and will include tour host John Vedder. The trip is designed to help pastors and ministry leaders deepen their understanding of Israel’s prophetic restoration in the context of 4,000 years of biblical history. Tour participants will engage with local leaders in Israel and hear about current events in the region. For more information, including costs, visit www.icejusa.org/PT924. [Read more…]
