Joe Sorah

FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is launching a new health and wellness program aimed at helping pastors develop consistent exercise habits and improve their physical fitness in 2026.

The 545 Wellness Community, an online accountability program, will offer two five-month sessions next year designed to address what organizers say is a significant fitness gap among Tennessee Baptist Convention ministers.

According to a February 2025 TBC minister survey, 61% of pastors exercise once or twice a week or less, with 30% exercising twice monthly or less — well below the American Heart Association’s recommendation of at least 150 minutes of weekly exercise to maintain health. [Read more…]

Volunteers unload supplies for the Apison Baptist food ministry. Since 2020, the food pantry has operated as a drive-through service. – Screengrabs 

APISON — The community food pantry at Apison Baptist Church saw an uptick in demand this past November when the government shutdown disrupted SNAP benefits, forcing families to seek emergency food assistance.

On one Friday in November, 61 new family units sought help after SNAP payments were held up, emptying the church’s dozen or so commercial refrigerators and freezers down to a few packets of hot dogs.

Some families arrived as early as 8 a.m., wrapped in blankets, waiting two hours in line to ensure they could get food for their households. [Read more…]

The Keeling Baptist Church food ministry — called the “Keeling Cares Food Pantry” — provides bags of food for in-need families in the Stanton area.

STANTON — It’s amazing what a small church with a big heart can do.

Keeling Baptist Church, for instance, doesn’t have a megachurch membership, but does have a mega-passion for reaching others for Christ.

Located near BlueOval City in Stanton, the church started a new ministry last year called the Keeling Cares Food Pantry. The ministry provides bags of food for families in need.  [Read more…]

First Baptist Church Madisonville baptized 28 people over the past three months. – Submitted photos

MADISONVILLE — A mission trip to South Asia was a wake-up call for an East Tennessee pastor who led his congregation to refocus on the Great Commission.

The result was 28 baptisms and significant growth in the church over six months.

Chris Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church Madisonville, said the turning point came in May 2024 during a trip with the International Mission Board. [Read more…]

Lee Brand, pastor of Faith Baptist, Bartlett, preaches from Psalm 34 during the Summit’s Pastors Conference and urges pastors to, above all, praise the Lord and his majesty, saying worship comes with trusting God’s eternal, unshakable lordship. — Photos by Jim Veneman

JACKSON — Christ-followers will never convince people of the great glory of our God while parading around our own wisdom, explained Mac Brunson at the 2025 Tennessee Baptist Convention Pastors Conference at West Jackson Baptist Church on Nov. 10.

Understanding the tremendous burden pastors carry and the struggle it is for them to rely on God’s wisdom, Matt Brown, pastor of Germantown Baptist Church, and president of this year’s conference, chose the theme, “I Will Boast,” based on Jeremiah 9:23-24. The theme was designed to exhort pastors to labor well in serving God’s kingdom and claim no glory for themselves or their ministries.

“The theme of this year’s conference aims to encourage the weary pastor … to boast in his weaknesses so that Christ is exalted,” Brown said. “To redirect the passions of the ambitious pastor so that his boast is only in the cross of the Lord Jesus, and … to shape the preaching and the daily ministry of the busy pastor so that his boast is in the Lord and not in himself.” [Read more…]

Carson-Newman University president Charles Fowler, left, greets 2025 Eagle Award recipient Harry Smith, a longtime member of Union University’s Board of Trustees. Fowler was provost of Union and Smith board chairman in 2008 when an EF-4 tornado struck the university, significantly damaging dormitories and injuring students. — Photos by Jim Veneman

JACKSON — While Summit 2025 was anchored around the recognition of three major milestones — the centennial anniversaries of the Cooperative Program, Baptist Collegiate Ministry and the Baptist Faith and Message — the event also included another significant milemarker: The 10th presentation of the Eagle Award.

The award is given annually to a Tennessee Baptist layperson who has made significant contributions in serving Tennessee Baptists. This year’s honoree was Harry Smith, a respected business leader in West Tennessee known for his strong work ethic and strategic leadership.

Smith said he was “thankful” and “humbled” to receive the award, which was presented to him during Sunday night’s worship service that opened this year’s Summit at West Jackson Baptist Church.

TBMB president and executive director Randy C. Davis presents the Eagle Award to Smith.

Smith encouraged attendees at the service to be involved in their local church, especially the children’s ministries.

He said that during his childhood, “the church was my family” and said the same can be true for children today. “Be a dad (or a mom) to those who need one,” he said.

The presentation of the Eagle Award dates back to 2016, when the late Ken Sparks, former football coach at Carson-Newman University, was selected as the inaugural honoree.

The Eagle Award: Through the years

The 2025 Summit marked the 10th presentation of the Eagle Award, an honor given annually to a Tennessee Baptist layperson who has made significant contributions in serving Tennessee Baptists. Listed below a year-by-year look at all the honorees:

2025 — Harry Smith. A respected business leader in West Tennessee, Smith is known for a career that was defined by strong work ethic and strategic leadership. Deeply connected to the Memphis community, he served on the boards of more than 30 non-profit organizations and was heavily involved at Union University.

2024 — Don and Ann Davis. The couple, who received the award posthumously, was dedicated to sharing the gospel across the globe, having served on more than 90 mission trips, while also working with disaster relief teams and the Rescue Mission during their years of ministry. They also donated property to the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board that is now home to the Missions Mobilization Center. Their daughter, Kathy Fields, accepted the award on their behalf.

2023 — DR volunteers. Six couples with longtime Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer backgrounds were honored with the Eagle Award in 2023 for their tireless efforts in bringing healing and hope to those impacted by disasters. The six recipients of the award were Don and Nonnie Owen, First Baptist Church, Morristown; John and Kay Thomas, First Baptist Church, Sevierville; Murray and Marjorie Johnson, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville; Chuck and Gerri Thacker, First Baptist Church, Gallatin; Butch and Faye Porch, Woodland Baptist Church, Brownsville.

2022 — Doug Duncan. Duncan, of Dyersburg was recognized for this evangelism efforts and dedication to being the hands and feet of Jesus for his community and beyond.

2021 — James P. Guenther. Having served as general counsel for the TBMB and the Southern Baptist Convention for more than 50 years, Guenther was choosen for the award in 2021. Guenther is a member of First Baptist Church, Nashville.

2020 — Jason Little. A layman from Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown and president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health Care in Memphis, Little was the 2020 recipient for “getting beyond the walls of the church and making a Great Commission impact.”

2019 — John D. Wallace. Known for his generosity, with both his time and money, Wallace was honored for the kingdom impact he made during his lifetime.

2018 — Betty Wiseman. A member of Brentwood Baptist Church, Wiseman is a former basketball coach at Belmont. Earning the nickname “Belmont Betty” because of her passion for the school and athletics, Wiseman is a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

2017 — Col. James Hardin. A member of First Baptist Church, Huntingdon, Hardin, USAF, retired, was honored for his dedication to sharing the gospel and influencing others to be like Jesus.

2016 — Ken Sparks. A Hall of Fame football coach, Sparks is known as “the Billy Graham of coaches.” Sparks led the Carson-Newman football team to five national championships and a 338-99-2 record, retiring fifth in all-time NCAA wins. He was an active member of Manley Baptist Church in Morristown. B&R

Sinquefield – Photo by Jim Veneman

JACKSON — Danny Sinquefield, Harvest Field One team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said the logo for the 2025 Summit is more than just a train thundering down the tracks.

It is a picture of the Christian faith.

Sinquefield, preaching the final sermon of the annual meeting at West Jackson Baptist Church on Nov. 11, said the image of the train is a reminder of the power of evangelism. [Read more…]

Messengers voting during the 2025 Summit. – Photos by Jim Veneman

JACKSON — Summit 2025 was heavy on celebration, collaboration and cooperation.

Messengers at the annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists displayed unity while unanimously electing Dan Spencer as president, unanimously approving a $35 million budget and collectively celebrating the centennial anniversaries of three Baptist cornerstones: the Cooperative Program, Baptist Collegiate Ministry and the Baptist Faith and Message.

The event at West Jackson Baptist Church — which had the theme “All Aboard: Advancing Together” — was well attended, drawing 944 registered messengers, representing 449 churches, and 179 guests.

The event opened with a Sunday night worship service, continued with the Pastors Conference on Monday, followed by a four-part “main session” that began on Monday night and ran through Tuesday night. [Read more…]