Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

DAVIS CHALLENGES LEGISLATORS TO STAND FOR LIFE

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

TBMB President and Executive Director Randy C. Davis testifies during the Senate Study Committee, advocating senators advance SB 1236, a strongly pro-life bill that acknowledges life begins at conception. To support his position before the senators, Davis referenced the binder that has the names of more than 16,000 Tennessee Baptists and nearly 1,000 Tennessee Baptist pastors who signed the “I Stand for Life” petition over the past three weeks.
Photo: Screen shot from TN General Assembly web video.

NASHVILLE — When New York governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law one of the nation’s most comprehensive abortion laws earlier this year, he “woke a sleeping giant,” declared Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Davis was one of five pro-life proponents who appealed to a nine-member Tennessee Senate Judiciary Summer Study Committee Aug. 12 to join thousands of Tennessee Baptists and other evangelical Christians in standing for life in the Volunteer State. Longtime observers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention believe it may be the first time that a representative of the convention has addressed Tennessee senators on a major legislative issue. (Read the full text of Randy Davis’ statement to the Senate Study Committee and the audio podcast of his testimony can be found here.)

[Read more…]

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DAVIS SET TO ADDRESS SENATE TODAY

Baptist and Reflector

Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis speaks at a press conference.

NASHVILLE — Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, is scheduled to address the Tennessee Senate this afternoon (Monday, Aug. 12). The senate committee hearings start at 1 p.m., and live streaming can be found HERE.  [Read more…]

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GOING BIG

Weakley County Association doesn’t use size as excuse while making impact in Music City

By Ashley Perham
Baptist & Reflector intern

City Reach volunteers Pete Staples, Liberty Baptist Church; Gaberial Courtney, Daniel Dean, Alex Eddlemon, Adams Chapel Baptist Church; Phil Mitchell, DOM Weakley County Association work on the Nashville Baptist Association building.

NASHVILLE — Weakley County in northwest Tennessee has a little over 33,000 residents. Yet the Holy Spirit used the rural Weakley County Baptist Association to partner with City Reach Nashville this year to help Nashville churches reach the almost two million people in the region.

The association was involved in three projects in July, including putting a shower in the Nashville Baptist Association building, repairing drywall at Madison First Baptist Church and doing some repairs on a Nashville Baptist Association Disaster Relief building. [Read more…]

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‘NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN’

Ministry provides beds to needy children in East Tennessee

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Children in East Tennessee enjoy their new beds, courtesy of volunteers with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, many of whom are members of First Baptist Church, Jacksboro.

JACKSBORO — If national projections hold true, thousands of children in Tennessee will go to bed tonight on something other than a bed – whether it be an air mattress on the floor, blankets or something else.

If national estimates are accurate, about two to four percent of the children in the United States do not have a bed of their own. But, cautioned Pastor Bill Arbo of First Baptist Church, Jacksboro, the number of children without a bed is probably even higher in the Appalachian areas of Tennessee, north of Knoxville.

A group of Christians in the Jacksboro area, many of them members at First Baptist Church, are doing their part to make sure that “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” [Read more…]

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TAKING STEPS TOGETHER

Group from Maury County finds ways to promote, produce racial harmony

By David Dawson and Ashley Perham
Baptist and Reflector writers

The members of Stand Together Fellowship gather on the steps of the state capitol building in Montgomery during the group’s recent trip to Alabama. — Photo by Bridget Stuart. (For information about the ‘Justice Journey Tour’ book of photos by Bridget Stuart, contact her at 931-398-4056)

COLUMBIA — With reflective expressions and hopeful hearts, the members of Stand Together Fellowship walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on the afternoon of July 10.   

They moved along in mixed pairs — one white and one black — as they strode across the historic bridge that served as the starting point for the March to Montgomery in 1965. By the time they reached the other side, many in the group had wet faces, the combined result of sweat and tears on this steamy summer afternoon.    [Read more…]

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DAVIS URGES TENNESSEE BAPTISTS TO JOIN THE FIGHT

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — In the days leading up to his appearance on the floor of the Tennessee Senate, Randy C. Davis continues to encourage Tennessee Baptists to be active participants in the “I Stand for Life” campaign.

Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, is scheduled to address the Tennessee Senate on Monday, Aug. 12. When he does so, he plans to present the “I Stand for Life” petition to state officials.  [Read more…]

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NEW RECORD SET FOR GOTM

Baptist and Reflector staff reports

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists officially set a new record on Friday. In the coming days, they’re likely to shatter it.

The yearly total for giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions reached $1,849,366.84 on Friday, setting a new one-year mark for Tennessee Baptists and surpassing the previous high of $1,843,511.03 that was given in 2017. 

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said the accomplishment was a testament to the evangelistic mindset of Baptists across the state.

“I believe Tennessee Baptists clearly see that any way you slice it, our state is a mission field,” said Davis. “They continue to give generously because I believe they want to see people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I am truly grateful for the partnership we have in ministry and am proud of the way our churches continue to rise to the occasion.”

Tennessee Baptists now have four weeks to continue to add to the record-setting total.

 “With 29 days left to go this month before the offering year closes, we will get to celebrate a new record every day,” said Tennessee WMU executive director-treasurer Vickie Anderson. B&R

 

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LIFEWAY TO FREEZE PENSION PLAN FOR PENSION-ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner
Baptist and Reflector

NASHVILLE — Despite concerns and rumors, current retirees of LifeWay Christian Resources over the age of 65 are not losing their pensions or medical benefits. However, the Nashville-based, publishing division of the Southern Baptist Convention will freeze its LifeWay Pension Plan effective Jan. 1, 2020 for current pension-eligible employees.

LifeWay Christian Resources announced changes to its retiree life insurance and pre-65 retiree medical benefits beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Most of the changes affect current employees and those who retired before age 65. LifeWay shared the changes in letters to current and future retirees on June 29. The changes were approved by LifeWay trustees at their February meeting. [Read more…]

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AMERICANS MOST LIKELY TO FIND IDENTITY IN FAMILY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — In “Overcomer,” a new film from Alex and Stephen Kendrick opening August 23, a young girl struggles to understand where her identity is grounded. Most Americans say they find their identity in relationships and achievements, according to a new study.

Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked 1,010 Americans about their sense of identity and what matters most about themselves. These are important questions to ask, said Alex Kendrick, director of “Overcomer.” [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS BACKPACK MINISTRY GOING STRONG

By Lonnie Wilkey

lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Last year Tennessee Baptist Convention churches embraced the Christmas Backpack Ministry in a huge way, observed Joe Sorah, compassion ministries specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Tennessee Baptists provided more than 3,500 backpacks in 2018 for the ministry which serves children and families in the Appalachian area of Tennessee.  [Read more…]

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