Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

EXERCISE ROUTINE BECOMES MINISTRY TOOL

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Pastor Justin Randolph of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville, leads a devotion prior to a workout at The Fit Factory in Sevierville. Randolph and his wife, Stephanie, joined the fitness center more than a year ago and it has opened doors of ministry for them both.

SEVIERVILLE — When Justin Randolph signed up more than a year ago for a month’s membership at a fitness club, he thought he was doing it in order to spend time with his wife and get some exercise.

Little did he know that the membership would not only accomplish that goal, but it also would lead to an opportunity for Christian ministry and witness.

Randolph, pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville, actually bought the membership as a Christmas gift for his wife Stephanie. “We were looking for something to do as a couple while wanting to get in shape and lose a few pounds,” he recalled. [Read more…]

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IMB’S DAVID PLATT TO RETURN TO PASTORATE

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

David Platt

GALVESTON, Texas — As the search begins for a new International Mission Board president, outgoing president David Platt said he believes the IMB is “financially healthy, physically strong, and practically ready.”

Two days after announcing he was stepping down as IMB president, Platt spoke to a group of editors on Feb. 14 at the annual Association of State Baptist Publications meeting in Galveston. Platt told the ASBP conference attendees that he made the decision to leave the IMB office “because I believe that is what God is leading me to do.” [Read more…]

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CHURCHES WEEP, MINISTER AFTER FLA. SCHOOL SHOOTING

by Nicole Kalil
Florida Baptist Convention

A cross-denominational prayer vigil was hosted by Parkridge Church after the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., in which 17 were killed and 14 injured. — Photo by Keila Diaz

PARKLAND, Fla. — Florida Baptists are reeling along with all of Florida and the nation after a gunman opened fire at a Parkland high school yesterday (Feb. 14), leaving 17 dead and 14 injured. [Read more…]

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GAINES REFLECTS ON IMB SEARCH, SBC PRESIDENCY

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, B&R

SBC president Steve Gaines talks to editors at the annual Association of State Baptist Publications meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Photo by David Dawson.

GALVESTON, Texas — The next president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board needs to be someone who is in love and in tune with Jesus and “has a love for the world,” said Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

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PLATT TO STEP DOWN AS IMB PRESIDENT

By Julie McGowan
IMB public relations

RICHMOND — International Mission Board President David Platt has asked the mission agency’s trustees to begin searching for his successor. Platt announced his decision to IMB field personnel and staff on Monday, Feb. 12, in person and via email to those not in Richmond. [Read more…]

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ISRAEL TRIP STRENGTHENS BONDS WITH STATE DOMs

By Nathan Handley

Tennessee Baptist directors of missions gather at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem during a recent trip to Israel sponsored by Union University and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

JACKSON  —  Union University and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board partnered to send 25 directors of missions to Israel for the first time in January.

Union University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver led the trip alongside Nathan Finn, dean of Union’s School of Theology and Missions, and Ernest Easley, professor of evangelism at Union. Easley said he decided he wanted to send these directors of missions to Israel after realizing at their annual meeting in April that almost none of them had visited the country before. He said he was blessed to be able to work with Union to provide that opportunity. Willie McLaurin represented the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board on the trip. [Read more…]

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BUILT ON FAITHFULNESS, MIRACLES

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

Thriving now, Rolling Hills Community Church started as small church plant

Before moving to its new building, Rolling Hills Community Church met at the Marriott in Cool Springs — and pastor Jeff Simmons baptized new believers in the indoor swimming pool.

FRANKLIN — Jeff Simmons wasn’t so sure he wanted to start a church. He wasn’t convinced that people would come, and he wasn’t certain the church would ever get off the ground.

Then God brought something to his heart that completely changed his perspective.

“God reminded me that he hasn’t called us to be successful,” said Simmons. “He has called us to be faithful.” [Read more…]

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BEAR CREEK BAPTIST SUFFERS ‘TOTAL LOSS’

Fire destroys building; congregation stays strong

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

Bear Creek Baptist Church caught fire on the night of Jan. 31.
— Photo submitted by Adam Wood.

PARSONS — On the night of Jan. 21, Adam Wood, the pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church in Parsons, was making his normal drive home after a normal Sunday night service and business meeting.

Then things took a very abnormal turn.

Around the midway mark of his roughly 20-minute commute home, Wood received a phone call from one of the members, who told him that the church was on fire. The member had heard the call go out while listening to the police scanner. [Read more…]

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SENIOR ADULT CONVERSIONS ON THE RISE?

By David Roach
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — When evangelist Phil Waldrep agreed to preach a revival at a nursing home, he didn’t expect a huge response. After all, he reasoned, aren’t most older people already Christians?

But of the 40-60 nursing home residents who attended the services, 21 made a profession of faith in Christ as their Lord and Savior, and about 10 were later baptized at a local church. [Read more…]

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AFTER ’08 TORNADO, UNION WAS ‘UNITED AS NEVER BEFORE’

Nathan Handley & Tim Ellsworth
Baptist Press

Union students join in worship during a Feb. 2 chapel service — part of a day-long celebration of the university’s recovery from a 2008 tornado. Photo by Kristi Woody/Union University

JACKSON, Tenn. — At the 10-year point since a tornado devastated the campus, Union University marked the anniversary with a day of activities Feb. 2 featuring former administrators, students and others closely involved with the event.

Former Union President David S. Dockery, in a Founders’ Day chapel address, spoke on providence, hope and unity the university experienced from the Feb. 5, 2008, tornado. [Read more…]

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