By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

JACKSON — In 1995, 13-year-old Thi Mitsamphanh was attending All Nations Camp at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center, sponsored by the Executive Board (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board) of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

During the week, he heard a sermon from the camp pastor that literally changed his life, but all he could remember later was that the children at camp called him “Uncle Estri.” [Read more…]

SPIRIT OF UNITY ON DISPLAY AS TBC MESSENGERS FOCUS ON WinTN

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

JACKSON — Tennessee Baptists gathered at West Jackson Baptist Church for the annual Summit with a focus on winning their state for Jesus Christ.

The meeting, held Nov. 11-14, drew 929 registered messengers from 409 churches, along with 160 guests. Among the business conducted, messengers elected a new set of officers by acclamation for the coming year.

“We had a strong turnout,” said Randy C. Davis president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “But it wasn’t just the numbers. There was a strong sense of unity among the messengers. I believe Tennessee Baptists are recognizing that if we are to reach Tennessee for Christ we must do it together.” [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

JACKSON — Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention elected its president and both vice presidents by acclamation during its opening business session Nov. 13 at West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson.

David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, was nominated for president by Danny Sinquefield, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett.  [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey and David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

JACKSON — In the coming days, business will be discussed and decisions will be made. But Sunday night was all about praise and worship.

Two simultaneous services — one at West Jackson Baptist Church and the other at Union University — served as the “opening bell” for this year’s Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting.   [Read more…]

Carden honors memory of father who served as ‘doughboy’ in WWI

Editor’s Note: Veterans Day will be observed on Nov. 11 as it has been since 1954. Prior to 1954, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day and celebrated on Nov. 11 to commemorate the end of World War I.

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

TULLAHOMA — William Henry “Bill” Carden Jr. will be among thousands upon thousands of Americans who will observe Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

But for Carden, a member of First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, the day holds even more significance. Nov. 11 also is the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I which was later dubbed “the war to end all wars.”

Carden’s father, William Henry Carden Sr., was a “doughboy,” a member of the 311 Machine Gun Battalion, Company B, when word was received that an armistice agreement had been signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

A doughboy was an informal term used for members of the Army or Marines during World War I.

The elder Carden’s son still has many mementos of his dad’s service in World War I, including his diary, military records and dog tag, and a New Testament he was given on his voyage from New York City to Liverpool, England, in 1918. [Read more…]

Pleasant View Baptist in Clarksville revitalized by missions involvement, baptisms, ministries

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

CLARKSVILLE — Church revitalization is one of the Five Objectives adopted by Tennessee Baptist messengers at their annual meeting at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood in 2014. [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Two Tennessee Baptist pastors have announced plans to nominate candidates for vice president and second vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention during next week’s annual meeting at Summit, set for Nov. 11-15 at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson.

David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, was announced as a nominee for TBC president during the summer. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

CLEVELAND  — In 2016 the average tenure of a Southern Baptist pastor was about six years, according to an article written by Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources in March of 2017. [Read more…]