Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

DON’T BE ONE OF “THOSE BAPTISTS”

By Lonnie Wilkey

Before it Hits the PressI’ve been a Southern Baptist all my life. I have always taken great pride in being a Southern Baptist. We’re not perfect, by any means, but for the most part, true Southern Baptists believe that the Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God, that the only way to heaven is through confession of sins, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ and that Jesus died on the cross so that “whosoever” believes in Him will have everlasting life

That should be the end of the story, but, sadly, it’s not. [Read more…]

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SOUTHERN BAPTISTS AFFIRM STANCES ON SEX ABUSE, RACISM

By Baptist Press staff

By overwhelming votes, Southern Baptists strengthened their stances against sexual abuse and racism during the opening day of their June 11-12 SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. — Photo by Van Payne

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — By overwhelming votes, Southern Baptists strengthened their stances against sexual abuse and racism during the opening day of their June 11-12 SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala.

Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, told messengers after their votes, “I believe this is a very significant moment in the history of the Southern Baptist Convention. And I believe that every one of us needs to thank God for this moment.” [Read more…]

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ACTEENS: 50 YEARS OF IMPACTING GIRLS FOR CHRIST

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

Teenage girls and their leaders worship together during a recent gathering.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Acteens, the missions education group for girls in grades seven-12, turned 50 years old this year.

To kick off the celebration, Woman’s Missionary Union brought together former Acteens to reflect on the past and look to the future on June 7, just prior to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention which will be held in Birmingham (the home of WMU) June 10-12.

The gathering was specifically for all women whose lives have been impacted through Acteens in their teenage years, as well as current and former leaders of Acteens, according to Heather Keller, missions consultant for Acteens and a Tennessee Baptist who grew up in the Acteens program of First Baptist Church, Bolivar.

Vickie Anderson, executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, is a product of Acteens and she affirms its value. [Read more…]

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CARSON-NEWMAN TRUSTEES ELECT FOWLER AS PRESIDENT

Charles Fowler

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

JEFFERSON CITY — Tennessee Baptist pastor Charles A. Fowler was elected June 7 as the 23rd president of Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City.

Fowler was the unanimous choice of both the C-N presidential search committee and the board of trustees. He was introduced as president on June 10 during a news conference on the C-N campus.

“Our search was deliberate, intentional and process-oriented,” said David Ogle, chair of the search committee and member of First Baptist Church, Gatlinburg. “It went according to plan. I commend our search committee members for their hard work and faithful service as we carried out the mission to which we were assigned. [Read more…]

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RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE CHAMPIONSHIPS

University of Memphis baseball coach relies on his faith, develops close bonds with players 

By Bill Sorrell
Contributing writer, B&R

Coach Daron Schoenrock of the University of Memphis confers with his players during a visit to the mound. — Photo courtesy of the University of Memphis.

MEMPHIS — On April 3, 2012, Clayton Gant, a senior pitcher at the University of Memphis, heard that his 19-year old brother Stephen Gant, who was going to pitch at Vanderbilt with potential to be a high Major League draft pick, had taken his own life.

“I had to counsel Clayton and I literally grabbed him and hugged him on this turf room floor when he got the word of what had just happened,” said University of Memphis head baseball coach Daron Schoenrock. “The one thing that impacted me at that moment was  Clayton said, ‘Coach I am thankful you are my coach right now.’ ” [Read more…]

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OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Adamsville pastor keeps ministering while awaiting transplant 

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Chad Ball, pastor of First Baptist Church, Adamsville, finds strength from God behind the pulpit. Ball is awaiting a kidney transplant.

ADAMSVILLE — It took a while, but Chad Ball has learned to say two words that aren’t in the vocabulary of most Southern Baptist pastors, “I can’t.”

The 42-year-old pastor of First Baptist Church, Adamsville, was diagnosed in 2006 with FSGS, a leading cause of kidney failure. He further learned that his kidneys had been damaged by undiagnosed high blood pressure. [Read more…]

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COURAGEOUS ACTION, COURAGEOUS FAITH

Selmer congregation gives property, buildings to sister church after unanimous vote

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Serving the Lord’s Supper during the last service at Central Baptist Church, Selmer, are, from left, pastor Stephen Davison, deacons Bob Ray and Tommy Doyle and Joey Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Selmer.

SELMER — Though only 25 years old, Central Baptist Church in Selmer had fallen on hard times in recent years.

Attendance had dwindled to less than 10 people and the church knew two years ago that something had to change for the church to survive, said pastor Stephen Davison. The members consulted with the local association and representatives from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board about church revitalization. [Read more…]

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‘OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH’

Riverview Baptist in Savannah reaches community with ‘Loving God, Loving Others’ event

Completing one of the many service projects at this year’s ‘Loving God, Loving Others’ event were (first row, from left) Samuel Evans, Sandy Clapp, Carol Gravett, Amy Byrd; and (back row from left) Dwayne Smith, Steve Clapp, Don Brown and Gay Brown.

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SAVANNAH — Allen Guyer, pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, Savannah, believes that a church should be more than just a “holy huddle” that gathers on Sundays.

The Riverview members obviously support that notion wholeheartedly.

The church recently hosted its second annual “Loving God, Loving Others Day” — a ministry in which church members perform a series of service projects and other acts of kindness throughout the community.

The Riverview congregation fully embraced the project, with 140 people — from the church’s roughly 200 regular Sunday attendees — participating in the ministry. The event took place on the Saturday prior to Palm Sunday. [Read more…]

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COURAGEOUS ACTION, COURAGEOUS FAITH

Selmer congregation gives property, buildings to sister church after unanimous vote

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

Serving the Lord’s Supper during the last service at Central Baptist Church, Selmer, are, from left, pastor Stephen Davison, deacons Bob Ray and Tommy Doyle and Joey Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Selmer.

SELMER — Though only 25 years old, Central Baptist Church in Selmer had fallen on hard times in recent years.

Attendance had dwindled to less than 10 people and the church knew two years ago that something had to change for the church to survive, said pastor Stephen Davison. The members consulted with the local association and representatives from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board about church revitalization.

About seven months ago, as attendance dwindled to less than 20 people, it became apparent that the best solution for Central was to merge with another church by giving its property to a sister church in Shiloh Baptist Association. “We prayed for a church to partner with us,” Davison recalled.

Along came First Baptist Church, Selmer, which was already pursuing a multi-campus approach to its ministry, according to pastor Joey Johnson. [Read more…]

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HANGING IN THE BALANCE

Davis urges Baptists to keep watchful eye, prayerful heart on HR 5

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, is encouraging Baptists to stay informed — and be vigilant — regarding the Equality Act, H.R. 5.

The bill, if approved, would eliminate the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as a possible protection in cases covered by the measure and would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the classifications protected in federal civil rights law.

Eliminating the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would have potentially crushing ramifications for religious and faith-based organizations. Under its current application, RFRA requires the government to have a compelling interest and use the narrowest possible means in burdening a person’s religious exercise. [Read more…]

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