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IMB CELEBRATES WORK OF DEAF PATHWAY GLOBAL

July 23, 2021

By Ann Lovell
Baptist Press

IMB President Paul Chitwood celebrates the work of Deaf Pathway Global with Mark and Vesta Sauter, who lead IMB’s work among the Deaf. — IMB photo

BRENTWOOD — In 2020, Deaf people numbered nearly 70 million people around the world. Of those, 1,444 Deaf people die every day without Christ, according to IMB’s 2020 Annual Statistical Report. Most Deaf people around the world have none of the Bible in their heart sign language.

Those numbers should concern any Great Commission Christian, IMB President Paul Chitwood told those at a June 15 gathering held in conjunction with the SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville. Chitwood and Mike Glenn, senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee, celebrated the Bible translation work of Deaf Pathway Global, a non-profit venture of Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church that offers sign language translations of Bible stories by Deaf translators.

“Knowing that many Deaf around the world die lost every day, we know there is not a moment to spare,” Chitwood said. “We must press forward as quickly as we can, and to be able to do so in a project like this is unprecedented.” [Read more…]

FIVE WAYS I WITNESSED GOD AT WORK AT CAMP

July 22, 2021

By Aaron Wilson
Writer for Lifeway Christian Resources

Aaron Wilson and his son gather at “the spot” at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center with other CentriKid attendees before breaking into smaller groups for activities and Bible study. — Photo by Aaron Wilson

Last week I spent five days serving as a chaperone with my church at Lifeway’s CentriKid camp (held at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden). It was my 10-year-old twins’ first experience at camp and one of my first times back since I proposed to my wife at a Lifeway camp around 16 years ago.

Leading up to this year’s camp, I was praying for God to move in the lives of our kids. But I must admit, I was also hesitant about the trip. Spending 100+ straight hours with a bunch of loud, smelly, energetic boys is a bit much for my introvert-driven personality, and upon stepping foot in our cabin, I found myself initially counting down the hours until it was time to depart.

But by the end of the week, it was a different story. By that point, my nose had become so acclimatized to cabin life that I hardly noticed the mingled smells of sunscreen, bug repellant, and dirty laundry. What I did notice, however, was the way God had been moving in the lives of everyone on campus. It left me incredibly appreciative for the kingdom work Lifeway accomplishes through its camps ministry. [Read more…]

MIRROR IMAGE STUDIES: DEVELOPING DEDICATED DISCIPLES

July 21, 2021

By Ken Carver
Contributing writer, B&R

Amy Dobson displays copies of her Mirror Image Bible studies.

COLLIERVILLE — When Amy Dobson got serious — really serious — about her fellowship with Jesus, when she fervently pursued a much deeper walk with Him, little did she know that her spiritual path would lead to her writing the Mirror Image ladies’ Bible study series. Dobson wrote the first study in 2016. It was on Malachi. A two-part study on Galatians followed a year later.

Fast forward to 2021, and you find this wife, mother of two school-age girls and former nurse leading a writing team of four other ladies at First Baptist Church, Collierville. Dobson, Dedee Berry, Jennifer Goodwin, Barbee Halford and Lynn Meany have written and published Mirror Image studies on Hosea and Philippians. Their current project, a study of Esther, will debut in August. Each study digs deeply into the featured Bible book.

God’s hand on Amy Dobson’s life is further illustrated by His leading her to become the director of women’s ministries at CFBC. She had long volunteered in many ministry areas there, but her heart was always most passionate about women’s ministry.

“For years, my ‘yes’ has been on the altar of God’s will,” she said. So when the door was opened for her to resign from her lucrative nursing career and transition into the church’s first full-time women’s ministry director, she simply said, “Yes, Lord!” She quickly added that her husband, Joe, and their girls have supported her at every step. [Read more…]

NASHVILLE NATIVE SERVES REFUGEES, NEAR AND FAR, IN VARIETY OF WAYS

July 20, 2021

Editor’s note: The name of the Nashville resident who works with Middle Eastern refugees overseas has been changed for her protection.

IMB news office

The sign in front of Tusculum Hills Baptist Church welcomes attendees.

NASHVILLE — Meeting a refugee at a community center in Nashville helped set the trajectory where Evie Tucker finds herself today, working among Middle Eastern refugees in a community center overseas.

Nashville, Tucker’s hometown, is home to the largest population of refugees from one Middle Eastern people group. Many of the refugees live in one section of town that has become a refugee resettlement location.

Tusculum Hills Baptist Church is located in this part of town, and before moving overseas, Tucker taught at an English as a second language center located in the church.

Tucker, a missionary with the International Mission Board, said there are 91 different people groups in Middle Tennessee and there are between 30 to 40 unreached people groups represented in a one-mile radius of the church. She recalls hearing how Tusculum Hills began praying for the Lord’s direction and how they could be involved in reaching their neighbors.

The Lord answered by directing them to open their facilities for ESL classes. Tucker’s home church, Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville and Nashville First Baptist Church partner with Tusculum Hills to minister to refugees.

At the ESL center, Tucker met a woman who shared her story of fleeing her country, living in a refugee camp for five years, losing her husband in the camp and her difficult journey to the U.S. [Read more…]

VIRTUAL SERVICES CAN’T MEET ALL NEEDS

July 19, 2021

By Mike Farmer
Director of missions, McMinn-Meigs Association of Baptists

What a blessing to see so many “normal” church activities arriving on the schedule now. It has been a long, difficult year. I pray we have a greater appreciation for these normal activities.

My question now is this, “What have we learned from the past year?”

We should have learned the truth that God did not make us to be isolated individuals. We were created for fellowship with God and one another. If you understand the first few chapters of Genesis, you know God created mankind in His image. Communion with our Creator is an important part of who we are. While God gave us responsibility in caring for His creation, our ultimate purpose revolves around a relationship with Him.

As physical beings, we need food, water and shelter in order to survive. Beyond the physical existence, we are spiritual beings. And some of the needs for the spiritual nature are fellowship with our God and relationships with other people. [Read more…]

YEC CAMP TEACHES TEENS THE BAPTIST BASICS

July 16, 2021

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

Students sing a praise song during a worship service at YEC Camp at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center.

FRANKLIN — Prior to 2020, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board provided events such as Super Summer and Impact for Baptist youth.

Following a year’s absence due to COVID-19, camps for teenagers have returned but with a new name and purpose — YEC Camp. Nearly 400 Baptist youth from across the state gathered at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport and Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden in late June and early July.

“YEC (Youth Evangelism Conference) has been such an impactful event for Tennessee Baptists and has a huge following,” said Jay Barbier, youth specialist for the TBMB. “I wanted to take the evangelism element of YEC and add it to the camp experience.”

Barbier said the goal of YEC Camp is to share Jesus with those who come and help equip them to return to their communities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with their friends.

His desire is to have the annual YEC in the spring and camp in the summer with regional YEC rallies in the fall. The rallies are still in the planning stage, he noted.

The camps are done in partnership with the churches who bring their youth to the events, Barbier said. “We want to benefit our local churches in Tennessee. We provide the programming but we want our churches to take ownership,” he added. [Read more…]

VOLUNTEERS STEP UP AFTER COVID-19 TO HELP CAMPS

July 15, 2021

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

Baptist volunteer Greg Merrell stands beneath a cross he built for the lobby at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport.

NEWPORT — One year after COVID-19 basically shut down Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport and Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden, the ministry is going once again.

In recent weeks, the two conference centers have been abuzz with the sounds of children and youth enjoying the amenities offered at each conference center, the sharing of the gospel during worship and Bible studies, music and more.

But there is a major difference at the conference centers as compared to years past. The conference centers normally are staffed by seasonal workers who earn extra income while serving at the camps during the summer months.

This year, however, it has not been easy to secure workers, said Kevin Perrigan, manager at Carson Springs.

Like many businesses, the conference centers are not immune from a seemingly lack of people seeking employment. Perrigan said Carson Springs tried to recruit staff but had only one applicant. [Read more…]

TEACHING KIDS — WHEREVER IT LEADS

July 14, 2021

Jefferson County Baptists use local cemetery to provide BKC/VBS

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

Sharon Sartain of East Ridge Baptist Church, Dandridge, shares a Bible story with Nevaeh Kerr.

JEFFERSON CITY — John Pinkston served as interim associational missionary for Jefferson County Baptist Association for more than a year before he agreed to accept the position full time.

In doing so, he left the pastorate of Buffalo Grove Baptist Church where he had served for nearly 30 years. Why? Pinkston had a sincere desire to help smaller churches in the association realize the potential they have in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ across the county. “My purpose is to help smaller churches grow and the association has embraced that,” he said.

This summer, the association’s mission team decided that instead of going on a trip outside Tennessee or overseas, they would take the gospel throughout Jefferson City.

While most of the association’s churches have helped in one way or another, two of Jefferson County’s smallest churches have taken hold of the project to conduct four Backyard Kids Clubs or Vacation Bible Schools in areas of the county that needed a gospel presence, Pinkston said. [Read more…]

VBS — IN PERSON AGAIN!

July 13, 2021

Tennessee Baptist churches report salvations

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

Children and leaders engage in a praise song during Vacation Bible School at The Church at Station Hill.

FRANKLIN — After being limited to virtual meetings and scaled-down gatherings last year because of the pandemic, Vacation Bible School and Backyard Kids Club are back with a bang.

Churches across Tennessee are reporting incredible results from Vacation Bible School, said Vicki Hulsey, childhood specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“I have never seen as much excitement surrounding VBS as in 2021,” she observed. “The TN Baptist VBS Facebook Group has been full of posts for several weeks from churches excited to once again be in person for VBS.

“By day three of the very first week, the Facebook Group began to be flooded with praise reports of numerous salvation decisions! As each week goes by, God continues to do more than we can ever ask or imagine,” Hulsey said. [Read more…]

125 BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS KIDNAPPED IN NIGERIA

July 8, 2021

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

KADUNA, Nigeria — About 125 students kidnapped from a Baptist church school in northern Nigeria are especially in danger because of their Christianity and the unwillingness of local authorities to pay a ransom, a leading persecution watchdog group told Baptist Press.

“There have been many kidnappings of school children over the past few years,” said Nathan Johnson, International Christian Concern’s (ICC) regional manager for Africa. “In this case it is a Baptist school, so most of those children, the vast majority of those children will be Christian.

“Our concern right now is those Christian students will not be returned as easily, especially because (Nasir Ahmad) el-Rufai, the current governor of Kaduna State said he won’t pay for ransom for kidnappings.”

Muslim Fulani terrorists or loosely organized bandits are suspected in the attack by an estimated 70 gunmen on the Bethel Baptist Church school in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state early Monday (July 5), according to many news reports. No ransom had been requested as of today (July 7).

Whether the kidnapping was conducted by Fulani, bandits or terrorists, Christian Association of Nigeria President Samson Olasupo Ayokunle told Christianity Today, “Christians in Kaduna State have suffered too much from the hands of their attackers.”

As many as 179 children are estimated to have been kidnapped, but Johnson said his best sources indicate 153 were abducted, 28 escaped or were quickly recovered and 125 remain in bondage. [Read more…]

Jefferson County Baptists use local cemetery to provide BKC/VBS

Tennessee Baptist churches report salvations

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