Baptist and Reflector

WHITE PINE — The GOTELL Lakeway Area Crusade, which concluded on Wednesday night, had a major impact in East Tennessee — and beyond.

The four-day event, held at the Walters State Community College Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in White Pine, resulted in more than 850 decisions, including 341 professions of faith, said Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church, Morristown. [Read more…]

Replanted church in East Nashville has new name, new pastor, new direction

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

NASHVILLE — In recent years, attendance at Eastland Baptist Church, a historic congregation in the changing community of East Nashville, had dwindled considerably.

About a year ago church leaders knew that drastic changes needed to take place after consultation with the Nashville Baptist Association, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and the North American Mission Board.

Enter Jason Rumbough, a young pastor who had “caught the mission bug” while serving at The Summit Church in Raleigh, N.C., under the leadership of J.D. Greear, current president of the Southern Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

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

Updated May 3, 2019

THOMPSON’S STATION — Directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board approved four recommendations and heard plans for a Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Task Force during their meeting April 30 at Thompson Station Church in Thompson’s Station.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB, announced plans for the task force during his report to the board of directors.

Though the issue of sexual abuse of children in Southern Baptist churches became widely known after articles were released by The Houston Chronicle in February, Davis said the TBMB has been assisting churches in taking steps to prevent sexual abuse for 20 years and will continue to do so. [Read more…]

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

BRENTWOOD — The job is not glamorous and the duties can often be tedious. But the behind-the-scenes work that is done by church administrators goes directly to the heart of the church’s functionality.

More specifically, these men and women — who dutifully balance the books and comb through the fine print — represent vital components in helping the church do exactly what it is called to do: Spread the good news of Jesus.

Jennifer Helton, church administrator at ClearView Baptist Church in Franklin, said she enjoys knowing that her role helps pave the way for others to do their part.

“I get to serve our church staff, and they serve the community,” said Helton. “I get to help everybody be their best.” [Read more…]

Staying connected is critical component of VBS decisions

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

McMINNVILLE — Tammy Trembley remembers the follow up (or rather lack of it) after her decision to accept Christ in Vacation Bible School when she was in the sixth grade.

“I was on fire,” recalled Trembley, now director of childhood ministries at First Baptist Church, McMinnville. “I wanted to learn more about Jesus, but I did not have spiritual help.” [Read more…]

By Michael Smith
Contributing writer, B&R

BARTLETT — Danny Sinquefield, senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett, since October 1994, is so thankful that his church decided to make an eternal investment when it purchased Camp Cordova, now known as The Grove at Red Oak Lake, for $2 million in 2009.

Faith Baptist made its 10th and final $150,000 annual payment to the Mid-South Baptist Association during the church’s morning worship service Feb. 3. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — As a pastor in Tennessee, Mark Proctor knew the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board operated two Baptist conference centers/camps but he did not fully comprehend the impact of those two facilities.

“I did not fully understand what the camps were about while I was a pastor. I knew the work of the TBMB but did not fully understand the breadth and scope of all that we had available to us,” he acknowledged. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

LEBANON — Baptists, Methodists, Nazarenes, Lutherans, Church of Christ and Cumberland Presbyterians may differ on doctrines, but they can agree on the cross and Jesus Christ.

For at least one week once a year, churches in Lebanon and Wilson County put aside doctrinal differences and join together during Holy Week to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. [Read more…]