By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

KNOXVILLE — Once a strong, vibrant congregation, Cumberland Baptist Church here had fallen into hard times over recent years as attendance had dwindled from nearly 400 in its heyday to between 70-100  people.

Two issues were readily seen — the church had few young families and those who attended no longer reflected the neighborhood.

Bob Brown, church revitalization specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, began working with the congregation about two years ago. Brown was very familiar with the church, having grown up in the congregation. [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD – Kylan Mann, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Martin, will be nominated as vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention during next week’s Summit (scheduled for Nov. 13-17 at the Sevierville Convention Center in Sevierville).

Mann will be nominated by Danny Sinquefield, pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett.

“Kylan is an exceptional young leader and he is actively involved in his association (Weakley County Baptist Association),” Sinquefield observed.

He noted that Mann also “has led Central during a strong season of growth in attendance and reaching people for Christ.” [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — This year’s annual Summit, scheduled for Nov. 13-17 at the Sevierville Convention Center, will mark the second anniversary of the adoption of the Five Objectives that were approved by messengers at the 2014 Summit at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood.

The Five Objectives are long-range goals for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. They are: [Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BARTLETT — The “negatives of autism” which include trying to help that child who “lives in a different world” can be overwhelming, explained Mary D. Wasson.

Even though her son is only mildly autistic, Ethan, 14, and the family endure many difficult days, said Wasson. Thankfully Ethan can talk and express himself and does pretty well at a public middle school, she noted.

One day on the way home from school, Ethan told her that “puberty and autism are really hard.” As they talked about the situation, he told her he didn’t have any friends.

Wasson could only think of one reply, she wrote in her blog, mom2mykidsblog.com. Finally, through tears, she told Ethan that she would always be his friend. He looked at her with a completely changed demeanor and said, “Really, you will?” [Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

MILLINGTON — For years Millington First Baptist Church has been holding a rally on the evening following See You At the Pole. See You At the Pole draws students in schools across the United States to their school’s flag poles to pray before school starts.

The church holds the See You At the Pole Rally — which is called The Rally — to capitalize on the momentum accompanying the well-known event, explained Jay Barbier, high school minister.

This year’s attendance and especially spiritual decisions increased dramatically. [Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

DONELSON — “The United States of America needs to use its moral leadership to end modern slavery around the world,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Corker at First Baptist Church here. His statement elicited applause from the about 300 in attendance.

Twenty-seven million people around the world are living in slavery because of human trafficking, “more than at any time in our world’s history,” reported Corker. He was one of several speakers for “Night of Hope Nashville” on ending human trafficking. First Baptist hosted the Oct. 13 conference.

To address human trafficking in the United States, a law was passed within the past year and a half to help law enforcement identify traffickers who are using the Internet, said Corker.  [Read more…]