By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Desiring to meet spiritual needs, as well as physical needs at Skyline Medical Center in Nashville are, from left, Bill Palmiter, retired Tennessee Baptist pastor who now serves as lead chaplain; Julie Davis, director of volunteer and chaplain services; and Skyline CEO Dustin Greene, a member of Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood.

NASHVILLE — Skyline Medical Center in Nashville is a mission field ripe for ministry opportunities, says chaplain Bill Palmiter.

Palmiter, who retired as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Greenbrier in 2007 after 20 years of ministry, has been a volunteer chaplain for 23 years and has been the lead chaplain at Skyline for about a year.

He, along with Julie Davis, director of volunteer and chaplain services at Skyline, are leading an effort to recruit chaplains and other volunteers for a number of other areas such as registration and waiting service areas. 

The needs are great at Skyline which is known for its neuroscience program for stroke victims and its burn victims, he said. [Read more…]

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

MARYVILLE — The children from Madison Avenue Baptist Church have been all around the world in the past few months. Yet they’ve always made it home well before bedtime. 

Participating in a missions-based program called “TREKK” — which was held each Wednesday night at the church for several months — the children “visited” about a dozen countries, learning about the different cultures, languages and cuisine of each new place. In the process, they also learned songs and Scriptures that allowed them to gain a better understanding of God’s love. 

The purpose of the program was to combine missions education with a passion for missions, said Brad Paradis, children’s pastor at Madison Avenue.  [Read more…]

NEWPORT — Music and proclaiming God’s Word go hand in hand for Memphis church planter and pastor Courtney Franklin.

And, it is evident that music is not just a hobby. Franklin recently wrote and recorded a song entitled “Send Us Peace” that spent two weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Digital Sales Chart for gospel music.

In addition, Franklin, who has been singing professionally since he was 17, has sung on the steps of The Vatican in Rome with the likes of Pavarotti, Billy Preston and Lauryn Hill and has had his music played all over the world.

But the Memphis native is adamant that music is secondary to his role as a shepherd. “I’m a pastor who sings, not a singer who pastors.” [Read more…]

By Ashley Perham
B&R writer

Competing in a water balloon tossing contest was among the many activities during “The Kidz Camp” hosted by Crievewood Baptist Church, Nashville. Several college students volunteered their time to help oversee the camp.

NASHVILLE — The Kidz Camp at Crievewood Baptist Church earlier this month was an answer to many prayers.

Last year, the church hosted Lifeway’s Centri-Kid day camp, but just a few months before this year’s camp was scheduled, Lifeway had to pull out.

Martha Minardi, minister to preschool and children, had an idea, though.

One Wednesday night, she ran up to the third floor of the church where the youth intern, Casey Cox from Belmont University, was getting ready for Wednesday night. [Read more…]

Allardt First Baptist sees 18 children make profession of faith

By Ashley Perham
B&R writer

Children sing during VBS at Allardt FBC.

JAMESTOWN — Through Vacation Bible School at Allardt First Baptist Church in Jamestown, 18 kids kicked off their summer break by accepting Christ as their savior.

The church, which runs around 75 people normally, averaged over 50 kids a night, said pastor Daryl Rains.

Rains, who runs the VBS with his wife Carolyn, said the church typically has that many kids for VBS. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

NASHVILLE — Two pregnancy care center directors in Tennessee are rejoicing yet are taking precautions as the nation’s political leaders are urging the pro-life community to prepare for a possible violent reaction to the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

The White House and the Department of Homeland Security asked the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to join a call Thursday warning them about an increased threat level based on the potential decision, according to Kentucky Today.

“Political violence of any kind is unacceptable, regardless of the context. That is not how we resolve our differences in this nation,” Leatherwood told Baptist Press in a written statement. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Tennessee governor Bill Lee was one of the guests on a Baptist Press livestream June 24. Discussing the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, Lee said: “All of my life … we have hoped for and prayed for this opportunity for that to be overturned.” — Screenshot from BP livestream

NASHVILLE — The United States Supreme Court’s decision on June 24 to reverse the 1973 Roe v. Wade court ruling that legalized abortion represents “a hopeful day” for America, said Tennessee governor Bill Lee.

Lee was one of the guests on a Baptist Press livestream June 24 with Brent Leatherwood, acting president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Lee said the high court’s ruling “is an opportunity for our country really to move into a new season that is redemptive and that is healing. We’re very hopeful about what the future holds.” [Read more…]

Sunday, Aug. 21, is Baptist and Reflector Day in the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Order free copies of the Aug. 17 issue to distribute to your church by visiting baptistandreflector.org or calling 615-371-2003. 

In the photo seen here, Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, recently informed DR volunteers from West Tennessee about the importance of the Baptist and Reflector to help keep the state informed about disaster relief and other ministries provided by the TBMB.