Featured Archives - Baptist & Reflector

IT’S A FACT: EVERY GREAT TEAM WORKS TOGETHER

October 16, 2019

By Matt Tullos
Stewardship Development Specialist, TBMB

The Evangels were a football team with a legendary record of wins. They had a storied history of some of the best players in the country who went on to win championships and drape banners and retired jerseys all over their stadium. It was the golden age of football for the Evangels.

Everything was going great until they had an idea to recruit the best quarterbacks available — ALL OF THEM. We’ll trade our best cornerbacks, linemen, running backs and kickers. We just want the best quarterbacks period. [Read more…]

DOVER PASTOR NOT ‘PRONE TO WANDER’

October 11, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Melvin Dunaway delivers a message at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, where he served as pastor for 45 years. The church, which recently held a special service to celebrate its 100-year anniversary, called Dunaway as pastor when he was a young preacher who had only preached about a dozen sermons.

DOVER — Melvin Dunaway initially assumed he would only last about seven days at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Dover.

Turns out, his estimate was a little off — by about 16,500 days.

Dunaway recently announced his retirement after serving as Pleasant Grove’s pastor for 45 years — a tenure that spans nearly half of the church’s 100-year history.

“After I preached that first Sunday, I thought, well, they won’t want me back any more,” said Dunaway with a little laugh.

The church did indeed want him back the following Sunday … and the one after that … and ultimately, for the next half-century.

“Every member (at Pleasant Grove) has done nothing but love me,” said Dunaway. “And I loved them right back.” [Read more…]

THE ABCs OF GEN Z

October 10, 2019

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SHELBYVILLE — “Does anyone know what a slo-fie is?” asked Donna Blaydes as she glanced around the classroom filled with adults.

After a few moments of mostly blank stares and silence, Blaydes explained that the term, which is only about three weeks old, refers to slow-motion “selfies” that can be recorded with the latest version of iPhones.

The response to Blaydes’ question perfectly illustrated the point that she was making: Technology is moving so rapidly that it can be challenging for parents and grandparents to keep up. [Read more…]

GOVERNOR’S CALL TO PRAYER DRAWS BAPTIST LEADERS’ SUPPORT

October 7, 2019

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has asked the state to join him and his wife Maria in an official day of prayer and fasting Oct. 10.
-Facebook video screen capture

NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptists across Tennessee told Baptist Press they support Gov. Bill Lee’s plea for the state to fast and pray Thursday (Oct. 10).

Tennessee Baptist Mission Board President Randy Davis, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd, Tennessee pastor and former SBC President Steve Gaines and others told BP it’s beneficial for governmental officials to invite citizens to pray and fast.

“Christ followers need to join our governor’s call to set aside Oct. 10 as a day of fasting and prayer,” Davis told BP. “I call on Tennessee Baptists to lead in covering our beloved state in prayer.” [Read more…]

OUTSIDE THE BOX

October 5, 2019

By Jerry Jeter
Pastor, Pleasant View Baptist Church, Clarksville

About a year ago, our church started a chapter of F.A.I.T.H. Riders. This is a Southern Baptist ministry to motorcycle enthusiasts.

This past year, our small chapter participated in witnessing at Daytona’s Bike Week, sharing testimonies with thousands and seeing hundreds come to faith in Christ. We also participated in serving at the Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Ala., and we helped raise money for the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home. Our chapter has grown from about five or six riders to nearly a dozen. Locally, some riders have come to faith in Christ, followed in baptism and some are already serving in various ways in our church. [Read more…]

UNION UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT EXCEEDS 3,100 STUDENTS

October 3, 2019

By Sarah Goff
Union news office

JACKSON — Union University recently welcomed 400 new students to the Jackson campus. The freshmen hail from 35 states and 10 countries and have an average ACT score of 26.2 and GPA of 3.85.

“We are thrilled to welcome our bicentennial class of 2023 to campus,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “We pray that this academic year will be a transformative one for all of our students — that they would not only grow in their academic knowledge, but in their relationship with Jesus Christ.” [Read more…]

COOPERATIVE PROGRAM: A MISSIONARY’S GRATITUDE

October 2, 2019

By Paul Chitwood
International Mission Board President

EDITOR’S NOTE FROM BAPTIST PRESS: Paul Chitwood is president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. October is Cooperative Program Emphasis month in the Southern Baptist Convention. Learn more about CP here.

RICHMOND, Va. — As I near the first anniversary of being elected president of the International Mission Board, I am incredibly encouraged about so many aspects of the Great Commission work of Southern Baptists.

At the top of the list are our missionaries. Over these months, my wife Michelle and I have met with more than half of our 3,700 Southern Baptist missionaries and their 2,880 children. [Read more…]

WHEN A TOY IS NOT A TOY

September 30, 2019

The world is getting crazier by the day.

When I was a kid, toys were a luxury. You usually received them on Christmas and birthdays. Now, kids get toys year-round, mainly from grandparents who spoil their grandkids (and I confess that I am among that number). Shame on us.

But one toy my grandkids won’t be receiving is the new gender-fluid Creatable World doll from Mattel (see BP story). Barbie, Hot Wheels and countless other toys have worked well for Mattel for years. The long-time toy company certainly didn’t need to join the gender debate. [Read more…]

NEPALI FRESHMAN TRAVELS 8,000 MILES TO ATTEND UNION

September 30, 2019

By Sarah Goff
Union news office

Bishwa and Ramila Karmacharya traveled from Kathmandu, Nepal, to move their eldest son, Vishal, right, onto Union University’s campus for his freshman year as a mechanical engineering major. — Photo by Kristi Woody

JACKSON — Vishal Gaurav Karmacharya traveled farther than most freshmen to Union University: about 8,000 miles from Kathmandu, Nepal, to Jackson.

Vishal and his father, Bishwa, and mother, Ramila, arrived on campus Aug. 14 to move Vishal into his campus apartment. Bishwa and Ramila stayed in Tennessee for a few days before flying back to Kathmandu and their youngest son, leaving Vishal at Union for his freshman year as a mechanical engineering major.

So, what led an 18-year-old to travel halfway around the world for college? The answer goes back to 2010 in Spring Hill. Jay Strother and his wife, Tanya, were in the process of adopting their son from Nepal. Jay is the lead campus pastor at The Church at Station Hill, a regional campus for Brentwood Baptist Church. [Read more…]

BABY LOVE

September 27, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Hannah Watson and her baby, McKinley, visit with Valerie Millsapps at the Pregnancy Resource Center. Hannah was one of the first clients to visit the center’s mobile unit which ultimately led her to choose life.

MARYVILLE — Hannah Watson is just one of thousands of young women who have made “life decisions” at the Pregnancy Resource Center in Maryville, including 905 women who chose life rather than abortion just last year, said Valerie Millsapps, executive director of the center.

Hannah, who was facing an unplanned pregnancy, acknowledged that she felt alone and afraid and incapable of raising a child. “When I saw my baby for the first time (during an ultrasound and later at delivery) I fell in love and I did not know that I could love another human being so much,” she recalled.

“I could not be more thankful that I did choose life.” [Read more…]

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic

EDITOR’S NOTE FROM BAPTIST PRESS: Paul Chitwood is president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. October is Cooperative Program Emphasis month in the Southern Baptist Convention. Learn more about CP here.

Recent Posts

Tags

Categories