By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

MEMPHIS — Tim Cox initially thought his connection to Brinkley Heights Baptist Church was simply going to be delivering a one-and-done sermon.

Nearly three decades later, he’s still at the church.

Cox’s ministry in Memphis, in fact, has become his life’s work. It also has become his missions  field — and his battlefield.

Buoyed by the tireless support of prayer-warrior church members, Cox has helped Brinkley Heights Baptist make an impact in numerous ways, including the creation and development of the Brinkley Heights Urban Academy — a school that helps meet the educational, emotional, and spiritual needs of the inner-city’s highest at-risk children. [Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
Baptist and Reflector

CROSSVILLE — Hundreds of people stayed after the third Sunday morning service of Revolution Church here recently. About a hundred more joined them who had attended the Saturday night service or an earlier Sunday service. They also came despite the stormy weather which had washed out some roads.

Everyone enjoyed lunch provided by the church. Then people moved outside the building located in the outlet mall to stand around three animal drinking troughs filled with water.

Lead pastor/church planter Josh Cardwell spoke for just a few moments, inviting folks to become Christians and be baptized right then in the troughs, and people lined up to talk to a pastor or elder of the church.  [Read more…]

By Michael Smith
Contributing Writer, B&R

NEWPORT — God’s favor was evident before and during the annual All Nations Camp at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center on May 29-June 2, and the spiritual impact from the week will be seen for years to come.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board sponsored camp, in its 24th year, saw a record turnout of 278 registered students. There were 158 recorded spiritual decisions, with 104 students professing their faith in Christ — the most in the camp’s history.

Students, ages 7 to 17 years old, spent the week enjoying games, nature activities, energetic worship, and insightful group Bible studies. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

PHOENIX (BP) — Every Christian is a minister, Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said in his message to the SBC annual meeting in Phoenix.

Gaines told messengers at the 160th session of the SBC June 13 that he was not just giving a convention address. “I’m going to preach the Gospel,” said the pastor of the Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church.

Taking his message from Acts 13:1-12, Gaines emphasized that “every person in this room that knows the Lord Jesus Christ is a minister — a servant of the Gospel.” [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — A vision cast more than a decade ago became reality on June 3 as Tennessee Baptists cut the ribbon and dedicated their new Church Support Center (CSC).

The CSC will house the offices of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, the Tennessee Baptist Foundation, and Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes. For the past three years the TBMB rented office space in Brentwood after selling its facility on Maryland Way in Brentwood in 2013 for approximately $8.75 million.

The new 32,533-square-foot facility on its 2.3 acre site, is the first corporate office building located in the Berry Farms mixed use development adjacent to I-65 in Franklin. [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists have set a record for giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions with $1,731,741 as of June 9.

With nearly three months remaining in the 2016-17 GOTM fiscal year (Sept.1, 2016-Aug. 31, 2017), Tennessee Baptists are within reach ($118,258 or 6.39 percent) of the goal of $1.85 million. GOTM gifts are $95,283 or 5.82 percent above what was given through the same time frame last year. [Read more…]