Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist and Reflector Staff
Tennessee Baptists will have an opportunity to participate in the first-ever online statewide prayer service in the history of the Tennessee Baptist Convention tonight through a Facebook Live event hosted by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]
By Julie McGowan
AVP of communication, marketing and PR for the IMB
International Mission Board senior leaders have directed IMB missionary personnel around the world to postpone hosting any ministry volunteer groups through June 30, leaders announced Wednesday, March 25. Consideration of missionaries hosting volunteer teams beyond June 30 will be reviewed on May 1, leaders reported.
“We’re instructing our personnel to postpone all volunteer efforts at this time due to the uncertainty of health and travel for those traveling internationally, and also to comply with the State Department’s guidance,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood. “We strongly recommend that Southern Baptist volunteer teams postpone any travel during this time, particularly overseas travel.”
Chitwood said setting a parameter about volunteer teams is a complex issue because of the global nature of the virus, including with the United States being greatly impacted and movement becoming more restricted. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
Chad Ball
ADAMSVILLE — March is “National Kidney Month” and will feature many awareness campaigns and benefits across the nation to promote and encourage kidney donors.
For Chad Ball, every day is a promotion for the cause. And a celebration of it.
Ball, the pastor of First Baptist Church, Adamsville, underwent a kidney transplant last August. Six months later, he is feeling on top of the world. [Read more…]
By Baptist Press
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated since its original publication.
NASHVILLE (BP) — In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time in 75 years.
Citing authority provided by the SBC Constitution “in the case of grave emergency,” the decision was made Tuesday (March 24) in a unanimous vote of a body composed of SBC officers, the SBC Executive Committee and leaders of the SBC’s boards and institutions. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
TBHS outgoing president Willie Beaty passes the gavel to newly-elected president Carolyn Gregory during the organization’s annual meeting.
NASHVILLE — This time, the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society made a little history of its own.
Carolyn Bridges Gregory was named as the TBHS’s first female president during the organization’s annual meeting on March 10 at the Southern Baptist Convention Building. It was the 23rd official gathering.
TBHS outgoing president Willie Beaty officially passed the baton — or, in this case, gavel — to Gregory during the business meeting portion of the annual event. [Read more…]
By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — At 92, Kenny Knox’s social circle revolves almost exclusively around activities at church.
“Other than attending (church), I don’t have a lot of contact with others,” he said.
But like many others, Knox’s church (West End Baptist Church in Columbia, Tenn.) has suspended its meetings to comply with government recommendations on social-distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. West End’s worship services have temporarily moved to an online streaming format.
For Knox and some other senior adults, though, that’s not a solution. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — Participating in the national census is not a high priority for many Americans. But several leaders from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board are encouraging church members across the state to approach the census as both a privilege and a duty.
“It is very important that all citizens of Tennessee participate in this year’s census,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “The census is as important to our republic as paying taxes, only the census is a lot less painless than paying taxes.” [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated from the original post.
Compiled by B&R staff
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Anxiety in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis continues to mount, but Southern Baptists across the United States are determined to respond and meet needs.
On March 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reached out to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) leadership to discuss engaging Southern Baptist volunteers in response efforts on a nationwide scale. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
John Davis displays a copy of his book on bivocational ministry that he worked on from the computer in his home in Baxter.
BAXTER — As a pastor for more than 65 years, John Davis, now 82 years old, served both full time and bivocational churches.
When he had a choice, Davis took the bivocational route. Now retired, Davis shares why in a recently released book, From Glory to Glory to Glory to Glory to Glory (based on II Corinthians 3:18).
Davis observed that he never accepted a pastorate without following the leadership of the Holy Spirit through prayer. “Each move was made with God’s clear leadership and accompanied with His evident blessing,” Davis affirmed. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — As more and more churches begin livestreaming their services due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative that they do it properly and legally, according to Scott Shepherd of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“The issue is not whether churches will be caught or prosecuted,” observed Shepherd, TBMB worship and music specialist and a former minister of worship at First Baptist Church, Paris.
“The issue is being a good citizen by obeying our nation’s laws. Plus, as followers of Jesus Christ, we ought to ensure that the artists and publishers of the songs used in our worship gatherings are compensated fairly.” [Read more…]
