Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CHURCHES CAN TAKE STEPS TO BECOME MORE SECURE

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

church, structure, construction, sky, building, securityMILLINGTON — Andy Willis knows something about security. As director of security for Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, he is in charge of the largest Baptist church facility in the state of Tennessee — over one million square feet sitting on 300 acres. He also oversees the safety of the about 15,000 people who gather there each Sunday morning.

Willis led the breakout session, “Security Warning: Churches a Rising Target for Attack,” during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 10-11 held in Millington.

He proposed security measures, but added that they should be conducted as part of “the ministry of security.” [Read more…]

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LEADING TENNESSEANS TO JESUS

New TBC president has passion to see churches reach the lost

Roc Collins stands with his wife, Jeralyn, following his election last month as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He is pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport.

Roc Collins stands with his wife, Jeralyn, following his election last month as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He is pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

JEFFERSON CITY — In Roc Collins’ new role as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention his learning curve will be minimal. Since becoming pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, 10 years ago, Collins has been fully involved in Tennessee Baptist life. He has served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference and this past year was chair of the TBC’s Executive Board.

Though born in North Carolina (the son of a Baptist pastor), Collins has strong ties to the Volunteer State. Both his parents were reared in Tennessee and Collins graduated from Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. While in college he accepted his first pastorate — Briar Thicket Baptist Church, Bybee. “I have a heart for the state of Tennessee and I love Tennessee Baptists,” Collins said.

[Read more…]

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LIFEWAY COMPLETES SALE OF DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE CAMPUS

By Art Toalston
Baptist Press

151201lifewayNASHVILLE (BP) — LifeWay has completed the sale of its 14.5-acre campus in downtown Nashville.

“Although this momentous event is cause for thanksgiving, it is also bittersweet,” Thom S. Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, wrote in an email to the Southern Baptist entity’s trustees and employees Nov. 24 after the sale was announced around 5 p.m.

“LifeWay has served the bride of Christ from this property for more than 100 years,” Rainer wrote. “Those of us who serve today continue an unbroken line of tens of thousands of employees who have stewarded the responsibility to produce trustworthy Christian resources for the church. And, we will continue to do so into the future, but from a new location.”

The sale was announced in a joint news release from LifeWay and Southwest Value Partners, a private real estate investment firm based in San Diego. [Read more…]

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ARABIC BAPTIST LEADER RAOUF GHATTAS DIES AT AGE 69

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

MURFREESBORO — Raouf W. Ghattas, a Tennessee Baptist pastor known for his work in reaching Muslims with the gospel, died Nov. 25 of an apparent heart attack at his home in Murfreesboro.

Raouf

Raouf W. Ghattas was noted for his love of Muslims and his desire to educate others about Islamic culture and how to share the gospel with Muslims.

Ghattas, 69, was pastor of Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, a congregation he helped establish in 2011 along with his wife, Carol.

Ghattas was born in Cairo, Egypt to an Evangelical Presbyterian family. He received a degree from Cairo University and immigrated to the United States in 1976. He worked for 12 years as a nuclear engineer. God called him to pastor the Arabic Mission of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX where he served from 1985-1990. While serving as pastor, he earned both his M.Div. and D. Min. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, completing his doctorate in Muslim Evangelism. [Read more…]

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ONLY TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE — LOST & SAVED: NEWCOMB

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Ray Newcomb preaches during the Tuesday afternoon session of the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Several members of First Baptist Church, Millington, when he was pastor, help him illustrate a point of his message.

Ray Newcomb preaches during the Tuesday afternoon session of the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Several members of First Baptist Church, Millington, when he was pastor, help him illustrate a point of his message.

MILLINGTON — Pastors should lead their churches to become “soul-winning churches,” said Ray Newcomb, pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church, Millington, who preached during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention last week here. He preached in the church he retired from because First, Millington, hosted the annual meeting.

To lead their churches to become soul-winning churches, some pastors might have to make a spiritual commitment, said Newcomb, a former TBC president.

He preached from Acts 20 citing the Apostle Paul’s direction to the new church. [Read more…]

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UNION DEDICATES AND OPENS NEW LIBRARY, THE LOGOS

By Tim Ellsworth
Union University News Office

151123uu-dedicationJACKSON, Tenn. — Hundreds of Union University students, alumni, employees, trustees and friends gathered in front of The Logos Nov. 6 to dedicate and open the new library on the university campus.

“The building of this library, The Logos, has been made possible by the many people who have used their blessings from God to bless Union University,” said Bill Latimer of Union City, Tennessee, who provided the lead gift of $10 million for the building through the Bill and Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation. “We pray that God will bless not only these people, but all of those who attend Union University and all who will walk into this beautiful library.” [Read more…]

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ROC COLLINS ELECTED TBC PRESIDENT

Messengers celebrate heritage of partnership missions, approve new partnership

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Elected as new officers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention were, from left, Michael Crandall, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg, second vice president; James Noble, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, Memphis, vice president; and Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, president. — Photo by Corinne Williams

Elected as new officers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention were, from left, Michael Crandall, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg, second vice president; James Noble, pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, Memphis, vice president; and Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, president. — Photo by Corinne Williams

MILLINGTON — Messengers to the 141st annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention elected a new slate of officers and celebrated 35 years of partnership missions during the Summit held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington.

The Summit drew 953 messengers from about 322 churches (unofficial total). Last year’s Summit at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, drew 1,172 messengers. Messengers were welcomed by Mark Luttrell, mayor of Shelby County; Terry Jones, mayor of Millington; and David Leavell, host pastor.

The attendance in Millington exceeded the 926 messengers registered at Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett, three years ago, the last time the annual meeting was held in West Tennessee. “The attendance is a tremendous indicator of the health of where we (the convention) are,” observed Randy C. Davis, executive director/treasurer of the TBC. [Read more…]

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IN PARIS, ‘DEATH, PAIN & TERROR’ MET BY PRAYER, HOPE

by Charles Braddix
Baptist Press

France, Map, French, Paris, Dark, black color, Europe, redPARIS (BP) — Friday the 13th became a day of infamy in Paris after a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris left at least 129 people dead and 350 wounded.

“This has been the worst attack in Paris since World War II,” said Tara Chaney*, an International Mission Board worker in France. “People are in a state of shock and mourning; however, there is also a sense of resolve. Parisians are slowly going about their lives. They want to prove to the terrorists that they have not won.”

IMB officials reported all of their personnel in Paris are safe, although four were at the national stadium that was one of six locations targeted by terrorists. [Read more…]

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STUDY: THANKFULNESS STILL PRIORITY AT THANKSGIVING

Baptist Press

151113Thanksgiving-survey1NASHVILLE (BP) — For Americans, Thanksgiving is about faith and family, and not much else, a new study shows.

More than half (56 percent) tell LifeWay Research the most important part of the annual holiday is “being thankful to God for my blessings.” Nearly 4 in 10 (39 percent) say “time with family and friends” tops their Thanksgiving priorities.

Times of prayer and thanking God for the harvest stretch back to the Protestant Reformation in Europe and continued as Pilgrims and Puritans settled in America. While Abraham Lincoln tried to establish a settled day for the holiday, Thanksgiving was not set as the fourth Thursday of November until 1941. [Read more…]

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KINGSPORT PASTOR ELECTED PRESIDENT OF TENNESSEE BAPTIST CONVENTION

Editor’s Note: This is the final version of the officer’s story.

By Lonnie Wilkey, editor
Baptist and Reflector

ROC COLLINS

ROC COLLINS

MILLINGTON – Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention unanimously elected Roc Collins, pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, as president.

Allan Lovelace, pastor of Waterville Baptist Church, Cleveland, nominated Collins for the position.

He noted that during the 10 years Collins has served as pastor of Indian Springs the church has doubled in almost every statistical category. The church gives 10 percent of its undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program. Last year the church baptized 82 people, Lovelace reported.

Collins has served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference, vice president of the TBC, and served as chair of the TBC Executive Board this past year. [Read more…]

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