Bible read aloud from start to finish on campus lawn

Two Union University students find a comfortable place on the “Great Lawn” to listen to the Bible being read aloud during a six-day Scripture reading marathon. — Photos by Lauren Steed / Union University student

JACKSON — Anyone walking past Union University’s Great Lawn in recent days could hear Scripture being read aloud, played through speakers outside of a small white tent beneath Miller Tower.

As part of the 2025 Spring Bible Conference hosted by Union’s Ryan Center for Biblical Studies on March 21-22, Union held a Scripture-reading marathon in which hundreds of faculty, staff, students and community volunteers read for more than 400 slots of 10 minutes each. Over the course of six days — March 11-13 and 18-20 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — the entire Bible was read, from Genesis to Revelation.

Ray Van Neste, dean for Union’s School of Theology and Missions, said the sounds of the public reading Scripture have already become familiar background noise to some Union students. [Read more…]

Nimmo

For nearly 40 years, Mary Nimmo has been the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s secret weapon.

Operating mostly behind the scenes — which is exactly where she prefers to be — Mary has quietly and effectively been the “glue” of the Baptist and Reflector. From handling advertising to organizing subscriptions to proof reading, Mary has worn many hats. And she’s worn all of them with excellence.

Although she would never say this, she has been our team captain in many ways. She has been our ambassador, our encourager, our catalyst … and above all else, our friend.

Next month, Mary will be leaving us for the greener (or at least more relaxing) pastures of retirement. She will take with her a legacy of service and graciousness. [Read more…]

Brentwood Baptist volunteers rebuild home

ERWIN — The rain had been relentless for days as Hurricane Helene swept through in late September last year.

Bryan Nicholas and his girlfriend watched as water levels rose, transforming their familiar yard into a treacherous landscape.

By 10:30 the next morning, the Nolichucky River had swollen to waist depth.

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“It was starting to go over the driveway in the fields,” Bryan recalled. “The neighbors had already lost their camper, and everything was beginning to float away.”

Inside Nicholas’ house, water was already a foot high and rising quickly. They barely escaped, being some of the last people to cross the bridge on Highway 107 before it was washed out. [Read more…]

Scott Rae

Editor’s note: Baptist and Reflector editor Chris Turner sat down with Scott Rae, professor of Philosophy and Christian Ethics at Biola University in La Miranda, Calif., last month. They discussed Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how Christians can ethically approach this fast-changing technology.

Baptist and Reflector: As a Christian educator seasoned in apologetics and ethics, how do you see AI aligning with and/or challenging Biblical worldviews and values?

Rae: I’d put it in this kind of framework theologically that any technology in a fallen world is likely to be a mix of beneficial and harmful effects, which should keep us from summarily dismissing it or uncritically accepting it. Television, movies, the internet, and then social media — there’s the capacity for using it for building up community and informing. As we unfortunately have seen a lot with social media, the capacity use it to fragment and separate. The difference is, I think particularly with AI, it’s pretty clear that they’re dulling our critical thinking skills and making our brains slow down. The more extreme claims for what’s called strong AI, which is that AI basically is going to have things like consciousness, and you can have a real relationship with an AI bot. But if you’re reducing a human person to ones and zeros, the problem’s even more acute.

[Read more…]

Photo by Lyla Dietz

JACKSON–John Oswalt, visiting distinguished professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary, spoke at Union University about God’s covenant with the Israelites and how it helped them learn about God’s character.

“If you remember nothing else from these four hours, remember this: obedience to the covenant is not the way to God, but it defines the walk with God,” Oswalt said.

Oswalt was the plenary speaker at Union’s 13th annual Bible Conference presented by the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies, which took place March 21-22. The theme of Oswalt’s teachings was “The Bible and Holiness: How Scripture Works Transformation in Our Lives.” He spoke in four sessions expounding on this idea with the second session exploring “How the Israelites Learned about God’s Character.” [Read more…]