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BREAKING: GOV. LEE ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A NEW FETAL HEARTBEAT BILL

January 23, 2020

Editor’s Note: This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Compiled by B&R staff

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced during a press conference Jan. 23 plans for a new fetal heartbeat bill.

The announcement apparently means that Senate Bill 1236, which would have protected life from conception, will not be considered by the Senate this year.

The new approach announced by Lee will include abortion restrictions including requiring an ultrasound to be shown to a woman seeking an abortion and a ban on abortions based on race, sex or a Down syndrome diagnosis or diagnosis of a fetal abnormality, news agencies reported. [Read more…]

CANIDA RECEIVES TBMB’S FIRST ‘LIGHT’ AWARD

January 23, 2020

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

Jean Canida, a volunteer from First Baptist Church, Mount Juliet, expresses appreciation for being the recipient of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s first Light Award given to volunteers who make an impact on missions in Tennessee and around the world. Looking on is Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB.

FRANKLIN — Jean Canida, a member of First Baptist Church, Mount Juliet, has been named the recipient of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s first “Light Award.”

Mark LeMay, facilities/risk management manager for the TBMB, said the Light Award is based on Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.”

“We want to recognize our volunteers who are making a difference for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board across the state,” LeMay observed.

Canida received the award during the TBMB’s monthly staff meeting on Jan. 9.

“As with the annual Eagle award given at the Summit to an outstanding lay leader, the monthly Light Award is a way to recognize incredible volunteers that have an impact on missions in ministry in Tennessee and around the world,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB. [Read more…]

PREGNANCY CLINIC MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT

January 21, 2020

Ministry in Fayetteville has changed lives of many since opening its doors only one year ago

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

FAYETTEVILLE — In one year, the Crossroads Pregnancy Clinic has made a huge impact in Fayetteville and surrounding towns in Lincoln County.

Crossroads opened its doors to ministry on Jan. 15 of last year and served more than 150 women and men from various walks of life. What’s more, decisions were made to support life and those who walked through the doors heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. [Read more…]

GREEAR URGES CHURCHES TO ‘FILL THE TANK’ ON EASTER

January 20, 2020

By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — J.D. Greear, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, is calling SBC churches to participate in a nationwide focus on baptism this Easter Sunday, April 12.

After the success of the first “Baptism Sunday” in September 2019, Greear and other SBC leadership hope to continue to focus on growing proclamations of faith through public baptism services.

“We have heard some of the most amazing stories coming out of our Baptism Sunday in September,” Greear said. “We heard stories of family members, friends and even taxi drivers responding in baptism — many of whom had been prayed over for years. I believe last fall was just scratching the surface of what God wants to do, and will do, when we extend the call to believe and be baptized. Many sit in our pews that simply need to be instructed and invited.” [Read more…]

SING! … EVEN IF YOU’RE TONE DEAF

January 17, 2020

By Scott Shepherd
Worship and music specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

I’ve been in worship ministry long enough to hear nearly every excuse:

• “If God wanted me to sing, He would have given me a better voice.”
• “I can’t carry a tune in a bucket!”
• “The worship leader and choir sound so good! Why mess them up?”
• “I’m tone deaf!”

I’ll be the first to admit that some have more aesthetically pleasing voices than others. Worship leaders across America can “out sing” me any day!

But that doesn’t matter. Worship is not a competition. If worship services were “American Idol” or “The Voice,” most of us would have been voted off long ago. There isn’t an imaginary dividing line separating singers from non-singers in worship. Worshipers sing. Period.

Scott Shepherd

Why? Because the option not to sing isn’t offered to us in Scripture. There are at least 50 commands in the Bible for us to sing, and singing is referenced hundreds of times. And there are never any stipulations. We won’t read, “Come, let us sing and shout,” as long as you have the most magnificent voice. Or, “sing to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,” as long as the person to whom you’re singing isn’t a better vocalist than you. Or, “Sing a new song,” as long as you aren’t “tone deaf.”

Let’s be honest. Your tone-deaf voice singing praise to Jesus is infinitely more beautiful than your silence.

One of my favorite singers at my former church (we’ll call her Suzie) was not a “good” singer. She sang the right notes only occasionally, when — quite by accident — the melody intersected her own unique vocal path. And, yet, I loved to hear Suzie sing gustily to Jesus! Her singing encouraged others to sing — even if they weren’t “the best” either.

Be like Suzie. Sing — even if you’re “tone deaf.” B&R — Shepherd is music and worship specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

SUNDAY SCHOOL — A TOOL FOR MAKING DISCIPLES

January 17, 2020

By Bruce Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

We hear much these days, rightly so, about discipleship. It is our commission that the Lord gave to us. We are to go into all the world and “make disciples.” But let me remind you that discipleship is not just for adults. It is a mistake to view it that way. As a matter of fact, the process of discipleship begins very early. It should encompass preschool, children, and students as well as adults.

I personally believe that one of the greatest tools that we must use in order to begin the process of making disciples is through our Sunday School/Connect Group/Life Groups (whatever you happen to call them in your church). For the purpose of this article, I will just use the name “Sunday School” since I think most of us understand what I am talking about. [Read more…]

NEW TENNESSEE LAW WOULD PROTECT CHRISTIAN ADOPTION AGENCIES

January 15, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

NASHVILLE — Tennessee state senators approved legislation on Jan. 14 that would prohibit the state from forcing Christian adoption agencies or other religious-based adoption agencies to place children in homes that would “violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies.”

Senate Bill 1304 passed the Senate by a margin of 20-6. Sen. Steve Dickerson of Nashville was the only Republican voting against the bill, joining the chamber’s five Democrats, according to an article in The Tennessean.

The bill will now go to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature, having passed the house last year by a 67-32 margin. [Read more…]

SOMETIMES, ‘GOOD’ IS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH

January 15, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

As December wound to a close, I received word that my great uncle, Blake Wilkey, had died at the age of 98. He was my grandfather’s (Pop) last remaining brother. I remembered “Uncle Blake,” having visited him many times as a child, but I had not really kept in touch with him other than updates from my Uncle Bill (Pop’s son) and Aunt Lynn, who maintained a close relationship over the years.

Still, I felt like I should attend his funeral, so on New Year’s Day, my wife Joyce and I made the approximately four-hour trip to Robbinsville, N.C., located in Graham County, which borders Monroe County in southeast Tennessee near Tellico Plains.

Upon arriving to the funeral home, I visited with his wife and two children but didn’t really know very many others who were in attendance. The standing joke with the Wilkey family is that you can tell a Wilkey man “by his ears” so I saw several folks whom I assumed were distant cousins. In fact, I later discovered that the two pastors who conducted the funeral were relatives. [Read more…]

FOSTER FAMILY PLAYS CRITICAL ROLE IN YOUTH MINISTER’S JOURNEY TO CHRIST

January 14, 2020

BP EDITOR’S NOTE: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is Jan. 19 in the Southern Baptist Convention.

By Tobin Perry
Baptist Press

Shaq Hardy preaches during a youth gathering at Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tenn. Abandoned by his mother not long after birth, Hardy often leans on his experience in foster care to minister to hurting kids. — Photo courtesy of Shaq Hardy

CHATTANOOGA — Much of Shaq Hardy’s childhood is a blur. For the first 10 years of his life, he moved from foster home to foster home, never able to put down roots.

Hardy longed for a sense of home, a place where he belonged.

But what Hardy does remember during that frantic decade in foster care is where he learned John 3:16 and how much Jesus loved him. Although he wouldn’t come to faith in Christ until five years after he left his last foster home, this last family introduced him to Jesus. For the last several years he was in foster care, the family took him to church just about every week and even involved him in Awana. That’s where he learned John 3:16.

“It was them having me in church that made me realize that the only thing that would last is Jesus,” Hardy said. “I didn’t know what that meant, but I knew I needed to find Jesus.” [Read more…]

FORMER TBC PASTOR TO LEAD MISSISSIPPI BAPTISTS

January 9, 2020

By William H. Perkins Jr.
Editor, The Baptist Record

Former Tennessee Baptist Shawn Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbus, addresses members of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) on Dec. 19 at Garaywa Camp and Conference Center in Clinton. The Board voted to call Parker as the next MBCB executive director-treasurer to succeed Jim Futral, who is retiring. — Photo by William H. Perkins Jr.

JACKSON, Miss. — Shawn Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbus, was unanimously called on Dec. 19 by the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) to succeed longtime Executive Director-Treasurer Jim Futral, who will formally retire at the end of February after more than 21 years of service.

“We believe he is the Lord’s man. We believe he is a relational leader who knows how to cast a vision,” said Bobby Kirk, chairman of the search committee and member of Roundaway Baptist Church, Doddsville, in his presentation to the MBCB Executive Committee earlier in the day. [Read more…]

Ministry in Fayetteville has changed lives of many since opening its doors only one year ago

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