Steve Gaines, center, former pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, and past SBC president, is congratulated by Jonathan Akin, C-N’s vice president for church relations and campus ministries, left, and University president Charles A. Fowler upon receiving the 2024 Ken Sparks Award.

MURFREESBORO — Carson-Newman University presented the 2024 Ken Sparks Award to Steve Gaines. The Nov. 12 presentation came during C-N’s Alumni and Friends Dinner held at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Murfreesboro. 

Named for long-time Carson-Newman football coach Ken Sparks, the award recognizes pastors or lay people within the church who exemplify the traits of the legendary coach.

“Steve Gaines has been an inspiring leader as pastor, preacher, and evangelist. He exudes a deep love for Jesus that motivates his ministry,” said Carson-Newman president Charles Fowler. “There could not be a more deserving recipient of the Ken Sparks Award. Carson-Newman is so blessed to have the privilege to recognize Dr. Gaines in this way and celebrate the fruitfulness of his life and ministry.” [Read more…]

Randy C. Davis

FRANKLIN — Urgency was the theme Thursday when the Arise and Build Task Group met via Zoom to discuss the rebuilding phase of the Hurricane Helene recovery effort across East Tennessee.

“Winter is upon us,” Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, told the group of about 20 on the call. “We’ve got to not only rush in to build the houses but also rush in to present the gospel and make sure that we are not just putting roofs over people’s heads but putting the hope of the gospel in their hearts.”

The Arise and Build Task Group (ABTG) was formed shortly after floodwaters from Hurricane Helene receded, ensuring a collaborative response to what has become a humanitarian crisis. 

More than 1,200 homes and 11 Tennessee Baptist churches have been destroyed or significantly damaged. The initial mud-out phase is complete, and the ABTG met last week to receive updates on rebuilding efforts.  [Read more…]

Bartholomew Orr, senior pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, Miss., uses a boxing glove to illustrate a point during the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference.

MURFREESBORO — Marking the founding of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Murfreesboro 150 years ago, preachers at this year’s Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference at the Embassy Suites hotel addressed the theme “Better Together.”

Grant Gaines, pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro and president of this year’s conference, chose Philippians 1:3 and 5 as the theme verses: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you … because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

“I love that language, because from the first day 150 years ago until now, we too, as Tennessee Baptists, have had a partnership in the gospel,” Gaines said. “In a day when the tendency of many in the culture and in the church is toward separation and isolation, my hope is that after 150 years we can recommit to partnership and cooperation.” [Read more…]

MURFREESBORO — Tennessee Baptist Convention president Jay Hardwick challenged Tennessee Baptists to “advance together” in the closing sermon of Tennessee Baptists’ annual Summit on Nov. 12 at the Murfreesboro Convention Center.

Like the sessions before it during the two-day meeting, the closing session focused on celebration and unity as messengers and guests looked back over 150 years of God’s work among Tennessee Baptists and looked forward into a future full of promise and opportunity. 

The choir from Forest Hills Baptist Church led the congregation in worship focused on the glory of God and the hope found in Jesus. [Read more…]

Chris Turner

FRANKLIN — Chris Turner, director of communications for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board since 2014, has been named editor of the Baptist and Reflector.

Turner, who will continue in his communications role, succeeds Lonnie Wilkey, who will retire Dec. 31 after spending 36 years on the B&R staff, including the last 26 as editor.

In a related move, David Dawson was named managing editor, a newly created position. He has served as TBMB communications specialist since 2017. [Read more…]

Editor’s note: The following is a synopsis of the major actions at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Murfreesboro. See more detailed articles on the budget, the Acts 2:17 Initiative, the 150th anniversary celebration, messages and other elements of Summit at the B&R website and in the print edition.

Messengers at this year’s Summit approved the budget, the Acts 2:17 Report and a variety of other items during the business sessions of the event, held Nov. 11-12 in Murfreesboro. — Photo by Samantha Bligh

MURFREESBORO — Tennessee Baptists re-elected Jay Hardwick without opposition for a second term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, passed an amended $35 million budget which calls for a new distribution of funds between the TBC and the Southern Baptist Convention, adopted the Acts 2:17 Initiative report as the foundational blueprint for convention ministry for the foreseeable future and celebrated the 150th anniversary of the convention Nov. 10-12 at Embassy Suites and Conference Center in Murfreesboro.

The annual meeting, held as part of The Summit, drew 1,015 registered messengers from 501 churches and 162 guests. Last year’s annual meeting in Chattanooga drew 991 registered messengers from 500 churches and 251 guests. [Read more…]

Pastor Lincoln Shelton, right, of Roan Park Baptist Church and deacon Jerry hold pieces of what used to be their parking lot which the church paved just two weeks before Hurricane Helene hit, causing the nearby Doe River to flood, destroying the parking lot and damaging all three of its structures.

ROAN MOUNTAIN  — Two weeks after Roan Park Baptist Church, a congregation of about 15 members, reached into their savings account and spent approximately $20,000 to pave its parking lot, flood waters caused by Hurricane Helene washed it away.

In addition, the church’s sanctuary, Sunday School building (former sanctuary) and fellowship hall all had at least a foot of standing water inside.

“Losing our parking lot was a setback but it did not destroy our spirit,” affirmed pastor Lincoln Shelton.

“It was discouraging for sure but we all know God has a plan and purpose. We have to remain faithful,” he added. [Read more…]

Vincent Zhou, a seventh grade Chinese American student, plays the piano for the S.O.U.L.S. youth choir during a recent practice at Callahan Road Baptist Church in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE — Knoxville native and professional music educator Jill Hobby has a heart to see souls saved along with a deep love for children and music.

Twenty-five years ago, while serving as a choral director in Knoxville, she had a desire to see an international citywide choir in the city, but she “was hesitant to take the leap.”

God rekindled that desire 12 years ago, and she crafted specific plans for the international choir and applied for various grants to get it off the ground, but to no avail.

Finally, last year she made progress with one of the grant organizations, by making it to the second round, and was told she needed to establish a 501(c)(3) organization. Hobby did so, creating S.O.U.L.S (Sounds of Unity Lifting Spirits).

The organization became a reality in May when 33 students from six countries began rehearsing and have since held three concerts in the Knoxville area. The choir is free and open not only for Baptist students but also to students of different churches and cultures, Hobby said. [Read more…]

Messengers show their ballots at the 2024 Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Murfreesboro.

MURFREESBORO — Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, was re-elected without opposition for a second term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention during the afternoon session of Summit on Nov. 12.

Hardwick was nominated by Cliff Marion, pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, who described Hardwick as a family man, a faithful preacher and a true friend. “He has shown that he is a great, unifying leader in Tennessee,” Marion said.

Joining him as officers are Justin Hiens, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Union City, vice president, and Mike Hensley, director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association, second vice president. Both men were unopposed for office.  [Read more…]