By David Dawson

ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — The Baptist and Reflector’s website had a record-breaking year in 2024, setting new high-water marks in “reader engagement” and other categories. 

Listed below is a recap of some of the website’s most popular stories over the past 12 months: 

Title: Confessions of a Concerned Baptist
Writer: Randy C. Davis
Date Posted: May 1, 2024

Randy C. Davis

Summary: Roughly one month before the SBC annual meeting, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, wrote a column in which he explained why he was not in favor of the “Law Amendment.”  Davis wrote, “I believe the Law Amendment draws a line that points us in a direction away from our denomination’s historical polity.” Davis went on to write that he did not feel the amendment was imperative and that it could be unintentionally damaging. The following month, at the annual meeting, the amendment failed to gain the necessary two-thirds majority. [Read more…]

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist experienced a most historic 2024 marked by unique milestones and events that ranged from the celebratory to the tragic. 

Hurricane Helene: Hurricane Helene devastated East Tennessee in September, triggering the largest disaster relief response in state Baptist history. 

The storm, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph sustained winds, weakened to a tropical storm before dumping up to 30 inches of rain across East Tennessee and Western North Carolina on Sept. 27.  [Read more…]

FRANKLIN — Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, announced on Friday, Jan. 3, that teams are needed as soon as possible to complete remodeling jobs in East Tennessee.

Jones noted that the homes need remodeling after being gutted in the flood recovery process. 

Jones said that team leaders and individuals who are available to work  should contact Kaye Thomas at 615-969-0410. The housing location is Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethton. [Read more…]

Thanks to the generosity of Corryton Church and the work of Tennessee Baptist DR, a single mom in Newport now has a remodeled home after her home was destroyed by flooding.

CORRYTON — Over the past 22 years, Corryton Church has given away nearly $1 million dollars of gifts and goods to families in East Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. 

And the church apparently has no plans of stopping. 

This year, the church focused much of its attention on flood victims in Chuckey, including hosting a party at the South Central Elementary School on Dec. 7. 

The school chose the “invitiees” (who think they’re coming for a meal and a gift). Each family left with a pickup truck (or more) of gifts, and every child received an age-appropriate bicycle.  [Read more…]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

— From the staff of the Baptist and Reflector and the entire TBMB team.

Kerri Kite, left, spearheaded the Christmas backpack ministry of Central Baptist Church, Erwin, with the assistance of Donna Street.

ERWIN — For the past four years, Central Baptist Church in Erwin has participated in the Christmas Backpacks Ministry of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. 

This year was to be no different, according to Kerri Kite, who spearheads the ministry at Central Baptist. The church held a Christmas in August event and had collected enough to provide 52 backpacks, she said. 

Then, along came Hurricane Helene. 

Erwin and Unicoi County were among the hardest hit areas in the state. Several of the Helene-related deaths happened in Unicoi County.  [Read more…]

Jonathan Chapman, far left, and BCM students at East Tennessee State University display bags of pecans that the students deliver to church and campus leaders to express appreciation for their support during the year. BCM students, from left, are Jacob Brown, Ava Whitt, Kate Grandstaff, Matthew Kinsler, Samuel Christensen and Chris Dockery.

JOHNSON CITY — As the end of the fall semester draws to a close many campus organizations cut down on activities so students can finish projects and report and begin studying for final exams. 

At East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, the first full week in December is known as “dead week,” said Jonathan Chapman, collegiate ministries specialist at ETSU, adding that the school cancels all classes during the last day of dead week. 

While the BCM recognizes the importance of finishing papers and preparing for exams, students still need a break, he noted. So, while some organizations slow down, ETSU’s BCM schedules an activity every night during dead week. 

“We had so much going on,” Chapman said.  [Read more…]