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TBC MESSENGERS TO CONSIDER MOTION ON SEXUAL ABUSE TASK FORCE

November 15, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Messengers to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, held during the Summit at Brentwood Baptist Church, Nov. 14-17, will consider a recommendation to establish a sexual abuse task force.

Tennessee Baptist Mission Board directors approved the request of outgoing TBC President Bruce Chesser that a recommendation come through the board during their scheduled meeting at Brentwood Baptist on Nov. 15.

Chesser told the board that with the conditions in society today and things that have happened in the larger Southern Baptist Convention family, convention leadership “felt best that we need to get ahead of it.”

He stressed the task force is not “an investigation. It is a continuation of something the TBMB has been doing for 20 years.” [Read more…]

2021 SUMMIT OPENS WITH WORSHIP, PRAYER, CELEBRATION

November 15, 2021

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, leads a prayer time at the end of Sunday night’s worship service at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood. — Photo by Lonnie Wilkey.

BRENTWOOD — This year’s Summit, the annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists, opened on Sunday night with three Baptist bedrocks: Praise, preaching and prayer.

Two simultaneous worship events — one at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, and the other at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church, Nashville — served as the official “tip-off” for the 2021 Summit.

At Brentwood, several hundred people attended a Sunday night service that included praise music led by Brentwood Baptist worship leader Travis Cottrell and a message from Tennessee pastor and author Robby Gallaty. Gallaty is senior pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, where a great revival has taken place in recent months. The church has seen more than 1,500 baptisms since December of last year.

At Tusculum Hills, the annual All Nations Worship Celebration was held. The event drew an estimated crowd of 1,000, representing nearly 30 language groups. [Read more…]

C-N AMPHITHEATER HONORS O’BRIENS

November 15, 2021

Carson-Newman news office

Carson-Newman University celebrated the opening of the new Randall and Kay O’Brien Amphitheater on Oct. 30. Participating in the ceremony were current president Charles Fowler and his wife, Sandra, left, and Randall and Kay O’Brien.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University held a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 30 for the Randall and Kay O’Brien Amphitheater.

The amphitheater honors former university president Randall O’Brien and his wife, Kay.

“Having the opportunity to honor Dr. Randall and Kay O’Brien is truly special,” said C-N president Charles Fowler. “We are thankful for them and have been blessed by their leadership and love for this university. I also recognize that it is upon Dr. O’Brien’s shoulders that I stand.

“He fulfilled the desire of every effective president. He left the university stronger than he found it. I pray I do the same.” [Read more…]

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

November 15, 2021

One year after facing death from COVID-19, Zach Lloyd is back in the pulpit, doing what he loves

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

After a lengthy absence due to COVID-19, Zach Lloyd is preaching once again at East LaFollette Baptist Church.

LAFOLLETTE — To say that pastor Zach Lloyd is a walking miracle would be an understatement.

Just one year ago, Lloyd was in the early stages of a 175-day stay in the hospital and a double lung transplant due to complications from COVID-19.

There were moments that he wondered if he would ever return to his family or the pulpit because death was imminent several times while he lay helplessly in the COVID-19 ICU at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Lloyd returned to LaFollette in May after a seven-month stay at VUMC to an incredible welcome celebration as people lined the highway from the interstate through LaFollette. “That was special,” he recalled.

Lloyd returned to the pulpit at East LaFollette Baptist Church on June 27 and has only missed two Sundays since. [Read more…]

SUMMIT BRINGS TBC FAMILY TOGETHER AGAIN

November 12, 2021

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

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, The Summit – The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists, which includes the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention – was canceled due to concerns created by COVID-19.

A year later, the pandemic is still with us, but perhaps, we have learned better to function within it. Some people still wear masks, some do not. Some folks have been fully vaccinated while others have chosen not to get the shots.

So far, for the most part, we can make the decision that best meets our needs and beliefs.

When we gather at Brentwood Baptist Church, beginning on Nov. 14 for the evening service typically billed as a Tennessee Baptist Reunion, I encourage us to be accepting of each other.

Some may wear masks; others will not. Allow each person to do what is best for him or her. We don’t know what health conditions others may have or whether they are being cautious to protect someone they love. We need to give each other the freedom that we want others to give us.

With that said, the annual meeting will give many Tennessee Baptists an opportunity to visit with old friends and perhaps make new ones. [Read more…]

DAVIS ADDRESSES ISSUES FACING SBC

November 11, 2021

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Randy C. Davis

FRANKLIN — Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission, said he needed a “mulligan.”

During last week’s “Ask Randy” webinar, hosted by the TBMB, Davis was asked the question: “What is going on with the Southern Baptist Convention?” Davis answered the inquiry, but later said he felt his response was inadequate.

On Thursday, Davis issued a “follow-up” response, in which he addressed the question again.

“If you remember — and I remember it — last (week) when I attempted to answer that question, I really pivoted very quickly to everything going on in the Southern Baptist Convention that is good. And I did not spend enough time going into the things that are troubling us the most about our larger family, the Southern Baptist Convention. So, I want to come back and just address that and that alone today,” he said in the new video.

Davis said one of the reasons for the current conflicts in the SBC revolves around the personalities who were recently in SBC leadership positions, specifically Russell Moore, former president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Mike Stone, former chairman of the Executive Committee; and Ronnie Floyd, former president and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. All three men have recently left their respective positions. [Read more…]

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE

November 11, 2021

Pastors break away for ‘Off-the-Grid’ trip on Appalachian Trail

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Tennessee pastors, from left, Jeff Vanlandingham, Joel Tilson, Adam Cutshaw, Rocky Sickel, Sherman Boyd, Marty Shadoan and Timothy Fair recently spent three days hiking the Appalachian Trail as part of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s “Off the Grid” ministry for pastors.

NEWPORT — Several days of hiking on the Appalachian Trail would leave many individuals feeling exhausted.

Marty Shadoan said it had the opposite effect for him and the other pastors who recently hiked part of the trail while participating in the “Off the Grid” ministry sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s conference centers.

“Off the Grid is a unique opportunity for pastors to rejuvenate, both body and soul,” said Shadoan, pastor of First Baptist Church, Rockwood. “There is nothing like spending three days on the trail with one’s fellow pastors. We hike with one another, share with one another, learn from one another and encourage one another.”

The “Off the Grid” ministry — which officially launched in 2020 — was developed by Kevin Perrigan, camp manager at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center. Perrigan said he wanted to have a ministry that would enable pastors to find an outlet to get away from the pressures of ministry while also forming new friendships with other pastors from around the state. [Read more…]

PREPARING FOR THE HARVEST

November 10, 2021

TBMB restructures state’s ‘mission fields’

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

FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has revamped its harvest field structure.

Several years ago, the TBMB developed strategy geared toward reaching various sections of the state (harvest fields). The goal was to have a team leader assigned to it. That individual would then become the primary “face” of the TBMB to the churches and associations in the respective harvest field, according to Steve Holt, church services director for the TBMB.

The team leader would live in the harvest field and regularly connect with the HF’s churches and associations in order to gain a knowledge of their needs and guide other TBMB staff in developing customized responses to those needs, Holt noted.

The original harvest field team leaders were TBMB staff who had other ministry assignments, Holt observed. [Read more…]

TBMB BOARD OF DIRECTORS ASKED TO PRESENT RECOMMENDATION FOR SEXUAL ABUSE TASK FORCE

November 8, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention President Bruce Chesser said Nov. 8 that he will ask the directors of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board to recommend that messengers to the annual meeting this month consider a recommendation that would create a Sexual Abuse Task Force.

TBMB directors are scheduled to meet Monday, Nov. 15, prior to the annual meeting that is scheduled Nov. 16-17 at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood.

“In light of the recent developments within our larger Baptist family and with a desire for transparency and the confidence of all Tennessee Baptists, I am announcing that I intend to ask TBMB directors to adopt a recommendation for consideration by the TBC messengers to create a Sexual Abuse Task Force to evaluate how as Tennessee Baptists we are addressing sexual abuse in our churches and ministries,” he said in a statement given to the Baptist and Reflector. [Read more…]

LIVING IN OUR WORLD OF ADVERSITY

November 5, 2021

By Johnnie C. Godwin
Contributing columnist, B&R

We live in a world of “adversity.” The word “adversity” came into English by 1340 to mean “turned against.” A dictionary definition defines the word as “a state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty — or adverse fortune.” (Merriam-Webster, Collegiate, 11th edition).

My own definition would be that it is anything that bothers or hurts you or your family, church, or society. I don’t need to give examples of adversity; rather, it’s enough just to mention COVID-19. So I’ll share with you some actual vignettes of adversity. And in all instances of this condition, I would point you to Christ. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (see John 16:33, KJV).

Sources of adversity? When I was a young pastor in Texas, one of our older deacons looked like he was mad at me during every sermon I preached. But when he and I were alone, he was friendly and even gave us a pot roast one time. During one business meeting, I learned the deacon wasn’t mad at me. [Read more…]

One year after facing death from COVID-19, Zach Lloyd is back in the pulpit, doing what he loves

Pastors break away for ‘Off-the-Grid’ trip on Appalachian Trail

TBMB restructures state’s ‘mission fields’

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