A group of primarily women from New Union Baptist Church in Dayton have committed to pray across the state in 2023. The group has already prayed in 20 county seats in Tennessee and hope to finish all 95 counties by the end of the year. From left are Karen Knight, Sue Eidson, Kelly Metts, Amy Sosin, Mildred Arnold, Richard Knight, Bill Arnold and Miles Campbell. — Submitted photo

DAYTON — Kelly Metts and a group of women, primarily from New Union Baptist Church in Dayton, are serious about prayer.

Metts recalled the effort has been in the making for six years since she first felt God leading her to walk across Tennessee to pray.

A number of factors put her plans on hold for a few years before she looked at it again. When she did, she did not see how she could walk across the state, so it was put on the “back burner” once again. “The burden to do it never left,” she affirmed.

After discussing her desire with friends from her church, they came up with a plan to walk in every county seat in the state, Metts said.

Since March 18, the women have prayed in 20 county seats across the state — Rhea, McMinn, Meigs, Hamilton, Bradley, Polk, Roane, Loudon, Sequachie, Grundy, Marion, Monroe, Blount, Sevier, Bledsoe, Cumberland, Knox, Jefferson, Hamblen and Cocke. [Read more…]

FRANKLIN — For many believers, the biggest pothole on the road to evangelistic success is the fear that they won’t know the right words to say.

Preston Condra is trying to help them avoid those hazards. 

Condra, a renowned author and founder of Sufficient Word ministries, has been serving as the featured speaker at the Gospel Conversation Workshops being held at various places around the state. 

The workshops, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, are an ongoing series of seminars that started in March and continue in September. 

Condra said the workshops have been successful in helping attendees recognize some of their biggest hindrances in regard to witnessing.

“The participants respond strongly to the fact that our approach solves their three main fears in evangelism — what to say, answering objections, and avoiding causing offense,” Condra said. “They immediately identify with these barriers in sharing the gospel, and report feeling relieved to have the solutions that our materials offer.” [Read more…]

Participating in the dedication service for the ultrasound machine at Hope Haven Pregnancy Center were, from left, Howard Kitter, pastor of Summertown Baptist Church, Summertown and board member; Nicole Miller, member of Summertown and board member), Randy C. Davis, president and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board; Tiffany Huskey, director of  Hope Haven; Tracey Abernathy, volunteer; Savannah Cothran, volunteer; and Steven Flippo, director of missions, Lawrence County Baptist Association.

LAWRENCEBURG  — Hope Haven Pregnancy Center in Lawrenceburg is appropriately named.

As the pregnancy center approaches its first anniversary on Aug. 1, Hope Haven is living up to its mission of removing the need for abortion by “providing hope, help and healing” by meeting “the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of families facing an unplanned pregnancy crisis” in Lawrence County and surrounding communities.

Tiffany Huskey, director of Hope Haven and member of New Prospect Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, knows what it is like to have an unplanned pregnancy, having become pregnant at the age of 15.

She had what many young women facing similar situations do not have  — a loving and supportive family. “I have often thought about that throughout my life of how my situation could have been a lot different if I had not had the family and support that I had,” she said. [Read more…]

Ben Cowell, senior pastor at Brownsville Baptist Church, prayers over the tables prior to a recent luncheon that fed more 1,000 construction workers at BlueOval City in Stanton. Brownsville Baptist was one of more than a dozen Tennessee Baptist churches that sent volunteers to the event, which was sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief. —Photo by Jim Veneman

BROWNSVILLE — Rather than simply praying for the pastors in the Stanton area, Ben Cowell felt called to become one. 

In the spring of 2022, Cowell read a story in the Baptist and Reflector about the potential impact that BlueOval City — the massive Ford Motor plant being built in West Tennessee — could have on the city of Stanton and the surrounding communities. The article not only piqued Cowell’s interest, but also tugged at his heart.

Cowell said he soon found himself thinking about the enormous challenges — and enormous opportunities — for the pastors in that area. He wondered who would help them. And he began asking this question: “Why not me?”  [Read more…]

Carson-Newman University recently broke ground on a new student residence complex. From left are: Ondes Webster, C-N; Megan Chafin, BarberMcMurry Architects; Robert Key, C-N; Kristi Paczkowski, C-N trustee; Charles A. Fowler, C-N president; Patsy Wallace, C-N trustee; Hong Tjoa, chair of trustees; Chair; Derek Driskill, SGA president; Marshal White, C-N trustee; Jim Schmidt, University Housing Solutions; Gloria Walker, C-N; and David Haynes, Bank of Tennessee.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University broke ground April 20 on its largest construction project in the university’s history. 

Members of the campus community were joined by local representatives and friends of Carson-Newman who gathered for a special ceremony marking the event. West Campus Commons, a new residence life complex, is slated to welcome students in Fall 2024. 

 “What a tremendous day for Carson-Newman,” said C-N President Charles A. Fowler. “We are grateful to our campus family, community leaders and friends for joining us today in celebration of a new chapter in residence life for our students. 

“I especially would like to thank the board of trustees whose decisions regarding our strategic plan and 20-year master plan paved the way to consider this new residence life facility. We look forward to seeing this exciting project take form over the coming months and benefiting Carson-Newman students for years.” [Read more…]