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CONGRESS REMAINS LARGELY CHRISTIAN DESPITE SOCIETAL TRENDS

January 5, 2023

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

WASHINGTON — Congress remains a largely Christian institution, bucking two societal trends of declining Christianity and waning religious affiliation, Pew Research said Jan. 3. More than a fifth of Congressional Protestants are Baptists.

At least 88 percent of Congress – 469 of the 534 members – identified as Christian in the poll of the current 118th legislative body that is predominantly Protestant, Pew said in its analysis of poll results gathered by Congressional Quarterly’s Roll Call, with only one member identifying as religiously unaffiliated.

The percentages contrast with a U.S. population, which has dwindled from 78 percent Christian to 63 percent Christian since 2007, Pew said, and is 30 percent religiously unaffiliated. [Read more…]

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BAPTIST PRESS: 10 MOST READ BAPTIST PRESS STORIES OF 2022

January 3, 2023

By BP staff

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker holds a copy of “The ABC’s of Scripture for Athletes,” which is based on the method for learning Scripture that his parents used when he, his sister and younger brother, also a college quarterback, were children. — Photo from Twitter @CFBHeather

NASHVILLE — This year’s most read stories are all over the map – one quite literally. From one scholar’s attempt to trace human DNA around the world and back to Noah to an SEC quarterback’s biblical children’s book to the Southern Baptist Convention’s ongoing reckoning with sexual abuse, Baptist Press covered a little bit of everything this year.

Here are the stories people read the most. [Read more…]

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RETIRED MISSIONARY BOBBYE RANKIN DIES AT 78

January 3, 2023

By The Baptist Paper

Bobbye Rankin — photo, The Baptist Paper

Bobbye Rankin — who spent 23 years along with her husband, Jerry, serving as a Southern Baptist missionary in Asia — died on Monday, Jan. 2, at 78.

The Rankins shifted from the missions field in 1993 to International Mission Board staff housed in Richmond, Virginia, when Jerry was named president of the then Foreign Mission Board. The name changed to IMB shortly after Jerry became president.

They retired in 2010 and moved to Clinton, Mississippi. Bobbye’s funeral service will be in Clinton this coming weekend, according to their son Russell via Facebook. [Read more…]

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ROE REVERSAL, ELECTION OF LEADER HIGHLIGHT ERLC’S YEAR

January 1, 2023

By Tom Strode
Baptist Press

File photo / BP, Kevin McCutcheon

NASHVILLE — The long-sought-for reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion and the election of its new president highlighted 2022 for the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

The commission celebrated the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and continued to promote protections for preborn children and their mothers as a vital part of its work this year. The ERLC’s pro-life ministry included the most successful year yet of ultrasound machine placements at pregnancy resource centers through the Psalm 139 Project.

In other features of 2022, the Supreme Court issued multiple opinions requested by the ERLC in support of religious liberty, and the commission advocated for human dignity and freedom in the United States and overseas in countries such as China and Ukraine. [Read more…]

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GIVE GENEROUSLY TOWARD THE SOLUTION

December 27, 2022

By Paul Chitwood
President of the International Mission Board

Paul Chitwood

“Will you make the first and most expensive Christmas gift this year a gift to our Global Missions Offering?” Sitting in the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, N.C., on the first Sunday of December, I heard pastor Will Toburen ask that question of his congregation. 

Why does generous giving to support missionaries matter? Reality for every human being is this: No matter where they are, who they are, where they have been or where they are going, who they know, what they do, whether or not they have an education, whether they can or cannot see, can or cannot hear, can or cannot walk, live in plenty or poverty, enjoy peace or endure war, whether they are free or imprisoned, sober or addicted, short or tall, eastern or western, tribal or urban, Asian, European, African or Middle Eastern, it is appointed unto every human being, once to die, but after this the judgment. 

The author of Hebrews states this clearly: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (9:27). John’s vision, recorded in Revelation 20, reveals the consequences of that judgment: “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (v. 15). Because all have sinned, no one who is apart from Christ is able to escape God’s judgment, nor the eternal consequences of their sin. 

This is the world’s greatest problem. [Read more…]

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A NEW YEAR — A NEW PERSPECTIVE!

December 26, 2022

By Clay Hallmark
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

Obstacles are real! Have you ever noticed that everywhere you go, you are always facing obstacles? Some of these obstacles are relatively small, but at other times we face obstacles that look insurmountable from our point of view. 

As we enter into 2023, the outlook seems to be filled with many obstacles. For some, the obstacle is a financial one either in your own life or at the church. Recession is a reality that affects all of us on many levels. For others, the obstacle may be related to your family or your fitness. Still, for others the obstacle is one of faith. 

I talked to a lot of our Tennessee Baptist Convention family at the 2022 Summit and discovered that many are struggling with their faith. It is not that they are uncertain of their salvation, but they are struggling to trust their all to God because of the many obstacles, anxieties and distractions they are facing in both their lives and in ministry. 

I am reminded of the story of Joshua and the people of God approaching the walls of Jericho in Joshua 5. The obstacle of Jericho’s walls is an obstacle that many of us can identify with as God’s people. [Read more…]

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WHEN, EXACTLY, IS CHRISTMAS TIME?

December 23, 2022

By David Dawson
Communications specialist, TBMB

Over the past few weeks, while I’ve been gorging on Christmas music, there have been a couple of songs that have sent me down a rabbit hole of deep thought. 

Neither of the songs is new — not by a long shot — but I think this is the first year that I’ve ever really stopped to think about their meaning.

Both of the songs have essentially the same lyrical concept. One of the songs is “Christmas Time” (made popular by 1980s rock star Bryan Adams) and the other is “I wish it could be Christmas every day” (which has been sung by numerous popular artists through the years). 

The general message of both songs is, “Hey, wouldn’t it be great if we all kept the Christmas vibe going for 365 days each year?”  [Read more…]

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PASTOR’S EVERYDAY PRAYERS TOUCH THOUSANDS

December 22, 2022

By Ann Lovell
Baptist and Reflector correspondent

Following a recent Sunday service at Porter’s Creek Baptist Church, Adrian Knipper prays with a friend from the church office. — Photo by Diane Goodman

JACKSON — Adrian Knipper loves the Lord, and he loves people. As a pastor for almost 30 years, Knipper has visited, counseled and prayed with many people. 

In 2017, Knipper retired as pastor of Porter’s Creek Baptist Church in Middleton after an extended illness left him homebound and confined to a wheelchair. At the time, he had no idea that his prayer ministry was about to multiply exponentially.  

“(The prayer ministry) started slow,” Knipper said. “I was in and out of the hospital for about a year in 2015 and 2016. When I was in the hospital, a lot of folks came and prayed for me. … I got to thinking about it and decided when someone asked me for prayer, I would say ‘Let’s pray now.’ ” 

But Knipper’s extended illness took a toll. Confined to a wheelchair, he realized he no longer had the strength to pastor his church. His recovery took time, but his commitment to pray for others didn’t waver.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee

JEFFERSON CO. DR PROVIDES FIREWOOD MINISTRY

December 21, 2022

By Mark Brown
Staff writer, The Standard Banner

Members of the Jefferson County Baptist Association Disaster Relief team, from left, Danny Newman, Raymond Joseph Pierre Clement and Lloyd Phillips, work to get the team’s log splitter ready to process firewood. The DR team is helping local residents stay warm this winter. — Photo courtesy of The Standard Banner in Jefferson City

WHITE PINE — A spike in fuel costs has created a response of biblical proportions. 

Danny Newman, Bill Etter and fellow servants involved in Jefferson County Baptist Association Disaster Relief are volunteering scores of hours weekly to provide firewood to those in need. Working from a White Pine staging area, the trained emergency responders collect, cut and split wood.

The ministry has several purposes. According to the group’s landing page on the Jefferson County Baptist Association’s webpage, the primary call is to be able “to present Jesus by helping others when needs arise.” 

Another is to provide training and skills preparation so that tree and timber crews will be up to date on necessary certifications when called into service when catastrophe strikes. A third builds camaraderie among participants so team members are connected when called into action. [Read more…]

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FOR MANY, CHRISTMAS ISN’T TIME OF CHEER

December 20, 2022

By David Dawson
Communications specialist, TBMB

FRANKLIN — For most people, the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas are firmly linked to merriment and joy. It’s a time of celebration, singing, gift-giving and time-honored family traditions. 

But what about those who are not experiencing comfort and joy? 

Research reveals that vast amounts of individuals deal with grief, loneliness, anxiety and/or depression during the holidays. 

The World Health Organization  and National Alliance on Mental Illness report that individuals with clinical depression — which affects approximately 280 million people globally — are 64 percent more likely to experience worsening symptoms from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. 

Even those without a clinical diagnosis may deal with some form of holiday anxiety: A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 38 percent of people felt their stress levels increased during the holiday season, with many individuals experiencing “Seasonal Affective Disorder” (SAD) during this time.   

Christian counselor Stephanie Evans said the reason for the rise in cases around the holidays is not necessarily easy to pinpoint. The causes of depression can range from the loss of family members and friends to general loneliness and feelings of hopelessness. 

“There are multiple factors that interplay around the holidays which can exacerbate areas in which individuals were already struggling,” said Evans, a Licensed Professional Counselor- Mental Health Service Provider and the wife of Springfield Baptist Church senior pastor David Evans. 

In many cases, the  conditions are compounded by feelings of guilt. Those who are struggling with depression know they are “supposed” to feel happy at Christmas — which only makes them feel worse. 

This is perhaps especially true for Christ-followers, who realize that celebrating the birth of Jesus should be a joyful time.

Christian counselor Lindsey Reeves, owner of Becoming Brave Counseling in Old Hickory, said she works with her clients to help them let go of that mentality.

“I try to dispel the belief that Christians shouldn’t struggle with things like grief,” said Reeves, who counsels Tennessee Baptists in the mid-state area. “Just because we are believers, it doesn’t mean we are exempt from grief. In actuality, this can often be a ‘both-and’ scenario — meaning that it’s okay if the holidays are both hard and happy. 

“There is no ‘right way’ to do the holidays when you are grieving and unfortunately there is no timeline on grief,” Reeves said.  “It is a process, not a destination.”   

Finding solutions to depression and anxiety is not easy, of course, but there are ways to combat these issues, said Beth Kitzmiller, a a Licensed Professional Counselor- Mental Health Service Provider.

Kitzmiller, the owner and founder of Seed of Hope Counseling in Kingsport, said that, for those who are dealing with grief stemming from the loss of loved ones, the healing process often begins with seeking help, which is not always an easy step to take. 

“Some people are hesitant to seek counseling about their grief and loss because they think ‘everyone goes through this, so I should just deal with it,’ ” said Kitzmiller. 

“Grief counseling encompasses a therapist walking alongside the person in their grief and offering some ways to cope when it is overwhelming and helping the person find the path to move forward with hope for the future in the absence of the loved one.”

Evans said a key component to navigating grief is to utilize “healthy coping mechanisms.” These might include: talking with family and/or friends, continuing traditions which honor/remember those they have lost and connecting with support groups composed of individuals who have experienced a similar loss. 

Evans also said “attending and plugging into a church body” can be one of the most important coping mechanisms. “God did not intend for us to do this journey alone,” said Evans. “Talking with your pastor, youth leader or Bible study leader may also be helpful.” 

Evans, Reeves and Kitzmiller each said that one of the most important things that the common person can do for their friends who are hurting is to simply “be there” for them. (See related story HERE) 

Whether it’s just being a listening ear or perhaps going somewhere special, the key is to be available and patient, the doctors said. 

“The best thing you can offer a friend dealing with loss is to allow them to talk about the loved one if they need to and just be present in their life,” said Kitzmiller. 

“Remember the loss and check on the friend months after,” Kitzmiller added.  “Typically, when a death occurs in our culture, we are great at circling around the family immediately after the death. The immediate sadness and loss is recognized and comfort offered but the ongoing adjustment and range of emotions one feels over the next year —  as all the firsts without the loved one occur —  can be extremely difficult. 

“It is important to check in and see how the friend is doing and if there is anything you can do during that first year,” she said.

Reeves agreed, noting, “We are often afraid to ask people what they need (because) it requires a certain level of vulnerability and follow through on our part,” she said. “The question we should all be asking is, ‘How can I support you?’ or ‘What do you need?’ ”

“A proactive response to grief is best,” she added. “If the person asks you for space, give it, but don’t assume that they want it. Some people need you to just sit in their grief, not fix it.”

Evans, Reeves and Kitzmiller each said the holidays can be tricky for those who are dealing with emotional and mental heaviness. 

“I define trauma as anything that changes one’s view of the world in a negative way,” said Reeves. “So, even though the holidays can look bright and shiny, somebody who is grieving has been through something traumatic, and that alters their view of everything, including the holidays.” 

Although holiday stress is not a new development, the amount of anxiety has seemingly increased in recent years due to a wide range of variables, including the COVID-19 pandemic or maybe even angst brought on by social media.

“We live in a nation that has been through several years of significant trauma,” said Reeves. “COVID, along with political and financial unrest, has impacted everyone. Even the way we grieve has been impacted by it. Secondary trauma and burnout has impacted my field and providers are scrambling to meet the needs of so many people. This time of year, especially, is particularly busy.” 

Kitzmiller has several recommendations in regard to helping grief-stricken  individuals navigate their way through the holidays.

“First, recognize that grief is hard, especially during the holidays,” she said. “Remember and honor your loved one in some form that is meaningful to you during the season. Do not try to stuff or ignore your feelings — give yourself permission to feel the emotions as they come. 

“Part of the grief process is learning how to move forward in life in the absence of the loved one,” she said. “This does not happen on a set timetable  or script, wherever you are on the journey is okay.” 

For those who are battling depression, Evans said, “Please know that help is available, hope is real, and you are not alone. There are professional counselors who can help you through this time.” B&R Note: If you, or someone you know, is experiencing thoughts of suicide please call/text 988 which is available 24/7 and is a free service. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can help prevent suicide as well as those experiencing other mental health emergencies. For more information on 988 please visit https://988lifeline.org. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available in Spanish and for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee

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