Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

‘OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH’

Riverview Baptist in Savannah reaches community with ‘Loving God, Loving Others’ event

Completing one of the many service projects at this year’s ‘Loving God, Loving Others’ event were (first row, from left) Samuel Evans, Sandy Clapp, Carol Gravett, Amy Byrd; and (back row from left) Dwayne Smith, Steve Clapp, Don Brown and Gay Brown.

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SAVANNAH — Allen Guyer, pastor of Riverview Baptist Church, Savannah, believes that a church should be more than just a “holy huddle” that gathers on Sundays.

The Riverview members obviously support that notion wholeheartedly.

The church recently hosted its second annual “Loving God, Loving Others Day” — a ministry in which church members perform a series of service projects and other acts of kindness throughout the community.

The Riverview congregation fully embraced the project, with 140 people — from the church’s roughly 200 regular Sunday attendees — participating in the ministry. The event took place on the Saturday prior to Palm Sunday. [Read more…]

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COURAGEOUS ACTION, COURAGEOUS FAITH

Selmer congregation gives property, buildings to sister church after unanimous vote

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

Serving the Lord’s Supper during the last service at Central Baptist Church, Selmer, are, from left, pastor Stephen Davison, deacons Bob Ray and Tommy Doyle and Joey Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Selmer.

SELMER — Though only 25 years old, Central Baptist Church in Selmer had fallen on hard times in recent years.

Attendance had dwindled to less than 10 people and the church knew two years ago that something had to change for the church to survive, said pastor Stephen Davison. The members consulted with the local association and representatives from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board about church revitalization.

About seven months ago, as attendance dwindled to less than 20 people, it became apparent that the best solution for Central was to merge with another church by giving its property to a sister church in Shiloh Baptist Association. “We prayed for a church to partner with us,” Davison recalled.

Along came First Baptist Church, Selmer, which was already pursuing a multi-campus approach to its ministry, according to pastor Joey Johnson. [Read more…]

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HANGING IN THE BALANCE

Davis urges Baptists to keep watchful eye, prayerful heart on HR 5

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, is encouraging Baptists to stay informed — and be vigilant — regarding the Equality Act, H.R. 5.

The bill, if approved, would eliminate the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as a possible protection in cases covered by the measure and would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the classifications protected in federal civil rights law.

Eliminating the use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act would have potentially crushing ramifications for religious and faith-based organizations. Under its current application, RFRA requires the government to have a compelling interest and use the narrowest possible means in burdening a person’s religious exercise. [Read more…]

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IMB TRUSTEES APPROVE 26 MISSIONARIES, LOOK TO FUTURE GROWTH

By Julie McGowan
IMB public relations office

Dr. Rick Dunbar (right) receives gestures of appreciation from IMB President Paul Chitwood, and a standing ovation from his fellow trustees, as he concludes his service as an IMB trustee and as board chairman. A member of First Baptist Church Madison, Miss., Dunbar also is an emergency medicine physician who frequently utilizes his medical expertise to volunteer on the international mission field. — IMB Photo by Chris Carter

International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 26 new missionaries to take the gospel to the nations during their May 22-23 meeting in Richmond. Trustees also considered pivotal changes in ministry advancement and prayer strategies; welcomed a report from Adam Greenway; heard an update from external examiners; and elected 2019-2020 officers.

The new missionaries will be commissioned for service at a Sending Celebration June 11 at 4:20 p.m. during the afternoon session of the SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Alabama. The service will be live-streamed on sbc.net.   [Read more…]

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UNION TRUSTEE TO BE NOMINATED FOR SBC OFFICE

By Art Toalston
Baptist Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Union University trustee Noe Garcia, senior pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, will be nominated as second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention during the SBC’s June 11-12 annual meeting, Tennessee pastor Micah Fries has announced.

Fries, senior pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, said Garcia can be “a tremendous asset to the SBC” at a time “when Southern Baptists are struggling with questions like how we can see more people trust Christ, how to reach our increasingly diverse communities, and how we can continue to see our influence spread far beyond the Southeastern United States.” [Read more…]

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TBMB LEADER DISCUSSES PASTORAL BURNOUT

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Randy C. Davis

FRANKLIN — As the calendar rolled from April into May, TBMB leader Randy C. Davis reflected on the burden he feels for pastors and ministers who suffer from burnout.

In his monthly Radio B&R podcast (see Episode 30 here), Davis commented on the TBMB board of directors meeting held April 30 at Thompson Station Church. Actions included the formation of a special task force to study sexual abuse prevention and response and the purchase of property adjacent to the Baptist Campus Ministry facility at the University of Tennessee-Martin. See story in this issue. [Read more…]

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SHOW OF SOLIDARITY AT UNION

By Nathan Hendley
Union University news office

Art students at Union University in Jackson construct a cathedral sculpture to show solidarity with Christians who have lost their churches across the United States and world via acts of violence. — Photo by Kristi Woody

JACKSON — Union University’s art department is building a sculpture to show solidarity with those whose churches have been destroyed in recent months.

Lee Benson, university professor of art and department chair, said the new sculpture was initially envisioned to stand in solidarity with the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after a fire broke out there in April. He said it was expanded to honor six African-American churches that were burned in Louisiana in April and March and the churches destroyed in Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. [Read more…]

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‘GAMING’ LEADS TO GOSPEL

Pastor uses online video games for evangelism

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SPRING HILL — Relationship experts often say that the ability to “speak someone’s language” is a crucial component in making a connection.

Jason Davis, pastor at Grace Park Baptist Church, Spring Hill, is using that philosophy in a unique way. He is forming relations and building bonds — and even evangelizing — through his knowledge of, and interest in, video games. [Read more…]

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SBC ENTITIES ENCOURAGE PROTECTION OF MINORS

By Baptist and Reflector staff

FRANKLIN — Two Southern Baptist entities have cooperated to create a joint statement regarding the prevention of sexual abuse and the protection of minors. 

The document titled, “Encouragements to Associations, State Conventions, and Churches Regarding Abuse of Minors,” is authored by The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) and the Officers of the SBC Fellowship of State Executives. The organizations state in the document that the intention is to support associations, state conventions and churches in the prevention of sexual abuse and to encourage the protection of minors. The statement is not intended as a mandate, leaders from both organizations said.  [Read more…]

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POWERFUL MOVEMENT

Lakeway Crusade sees more than 340 professions

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Evangelist Rick Gage leads a prayer at the Go Tell crusade at the Walters State Community College Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in White Pine.
— Photos by Brooks Gray

WHITE PINE — During his years of ministry, Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church, Morristown, has experienced both ends of the “success spectrum” in regard to certain events and projects. He has seen some that fall flat and some that surpass all expectations.

So, when he was asked to serve as chairman of the Go Tell America Lakeway Area Crusade, Haun prepared himself — and his team — for what might lie ahead. [Read more…]

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