By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Phil Lovelace, pastor of Allen Baptist Church, Brownsville, reads the names of churches and associations that sent bags of soil for the groundbreaking of the Church Support Center, held April 23 in Franklin. – Photo by Chris Turner

FRANKLIN – Approximately 275 Tennessee Baptists from every geographical area of the state gathered April 23 to break ground for the new Church Support Center.

The event featured soil from churches and associations statewide, including Sinking Creek Baptist Church, the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s oldest church.

The soil from more than 170 locations “is a single reminder that we serve a great state and a host of wonderful churches,” said Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

The Church Support Center will house the offices of the TBC’s Executive Board that have been located in rented office space since 2014. The former building, located at 5001 Maryland Way in Brentwood, was sold in late 2013.

The new location is just off I-65, south of Franklin on a former farm owned by the Berry family of Franklin for about 100 years. Davis noted that the site is located about 35 miles from the geographical center of Tennessee. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Groundbreaking for the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board’s Church Support Center will be held Saturday, April 23, on the new site in Berry Farms, south of Franklin at 2 p.m.

“The Church Support Center groundbreaking/worship ceremony will be both exciting and historic,” said Randy C. Davis, TBC executive director/treasurer.

Davis observed that two elements of the event “will speak symbolically to our mission.” Children are encouraged to attend the event with their parents and will be involved. “We must passionately focus on reaching the youngest generation with the gospel,” Davis said. [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: At press time on Monday, no date or time had been established for legislators to override the Governor’s veto of the Bible bill.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

NASHVILLE — Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam vetoed a bill April 14 that would have made the Bible the official state book of Tennessee.

The bill was approved earlier this month by both the state Senate and House of Representatives.

According to The Tennessean, Gov. Haslam cited an opinion issued in 2015 by Attorney General Herbert Slatery that the bill could violate the state and federal constitutions.

“In addition to the constitutional issue with the bill, my personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible, which I believe is a sacred text,” Haslam wrote in a letter to House Speaker Beth Harwell, The Tennessean reported. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Promotional photo.

BRENTWOOD – A movie filmed in Williamson County clearly presents the gospel and a correct biblical message, says veteran filmmaker Dave Christiano.

Though there has been an influx of faith-related movies in recent years, Christiano is concerned “about the deception in Christian films and the way Hollywood has invaded our space. I’m also concerned about the prosperity gospel and how it dominates films which do the best at the box office, calling themselves ‘Christian’ or ‘faith-based.’ They are very deceptive,” he cautioned.

He noted that the prosperity gospel dominates the Christian movie scene. “Films are made where marriages are restored, God answers all of your prayers, and everything always works out with God coming through for you. These movies make you feel good and they are doing big business at the box office.”

As he reads the New Testament, Christiano sees people who do face trials and tribulation. He noted that the movies he produces, along with his twin brother Rich, are not intended to “manipulate anyone to Jesus or even try to make God look good or attractive. We are simply trying to present solid biblical truth and let the Spirit of God take it from there.” [Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Jeff Lovingood, senior associate pastor, First Baptist Church, Cleveland, baptizes Savanna Wheaton on March 13 at the church.

CLEVELAND — The March 13 evening service of First Baptist Church here was unique. No one at the church had been in a service where 100 people were baptized.

Amazingly, in many ways, the event wasn’t planned. For instance, 97 new Christians were signed up to be baptized but three more people came to bring the total to 100 people baptized.

No special occasion or event was held at the church which resulted in the many people making the commitments. The people baptized had made professions of faith mostly during the past six months or so.

In fact, baptisms are the norm at First Baptist. The church baptized 253 new Christians last year. First Baptist draws about 3,300 people to its five Sunday morning services. All of the services are held on site at the main campus. [Read more…]