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CHURCH, DISASTER RELIEF VOLUNTEERS BRING HELP AND HOPE TO ‘FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY’

January 23, 2025

By Lonnie Wilkey
Contributing writer, Baptist and Reflector

Deborah Powers, a resident of Poga, distributed supplies to people in her community from a trailer set up on her property from Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton.

POGA — In an age driven by communication and technology, a small northeast Tennessee community near Beech Mountain, N.C., faces neglect and isolation.

Poga (pronounced Po-Gie) endured severe devastation in Carter County when Hurricane Helene struck on Sept. 27, according to pastor Travis Tyler of Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton. Located in one of the county’s poorest areas, Poga struggles to recover from the disaster, he said.

Hurricane Helene destroyed cell phone towers, cutting off all communication for Poga residents. Three months later, most homes in the community lack cell service, internet and television.

Residents must travel to the former site of the community fire department just to make phone calls. The flooding destroyed the fire department and all its equipment. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, Tennessee

FTBE EXPANDS SERVICES FOR 2025

January 22, 2025

By Zoë Watkins
Communications Specialist

FRANKLIN — The Fellowship of Tennessee Baptist Evangelists (FTBE) has announced expanded services for Tennessee churches in 2025, offering support beyond traditional revival meetings to include special emphasis Sundays, conferences, and pulpit supply assistance.

This widening scope of ministry reflects the collaborative vision of the organization’s dedicated members.

Comprised of 13 mostly full-time vocational evangelists, the fellowship meets annually in hopes of supporting each other.

“We really don’t operate as a group; it’s more of a fellowship. In other words, the guys have their own goals and their own projects,” said Phil Glisson, president of the FTBE.

“The fellowship keeps us in contact of one another, to encourage one another and pray for each other and know who each other are,” Glisson added.

Glisson

Through each of the members’ goals and projects, the organization, which works in partnership with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), aims to support local churches and pastors across the state. Their services can be accessed through the TBMB’s online directory, which provides comprehensive information about available evangelists and their specialties.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, Tennessee

ARISE & BUILD MAKING IMPACT IN EAST TENN.

January 21, 2025

By Chris Turner
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

This is one of the first houses being constructed as part of the Arise and Build Initiative. The TBMB has partnered with the Appalachian Service Project to rebuild at least 40 homes damaged by Hurricane Helene.

GREENEVILLE — Members of the Arise and Build Task Force reported “significant progress” Friday during a meeting to evaluate relief efforts for those affected by the historic flood caused by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee.

The flood, which tore through a large geographic area on Sept. 27, 2024, destroyed homes, churches, and businesses, leaving countless people displaced. Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) and other organizations responded immediately to provide aid. Once the initial response tapered off, the Arise and Build Task Force was formed to develop a long-term strategy to help rebuild East Tennessee.

To date, TBDR has completed more than 550 cleanup jobs and restored 62 homes. Additionally, TBDR has secured commitments from 26 Tennessee Baptist churches to rebuild houses.

The Nolachucky Baptist Association, in collaboration with God’s Warehouse, has rebuilt 17 private bridges across rivers or streams, reconnecting driveways to state or county roads. They also have another 40 bridges scheduled for installation. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, Tennessee

‘BIVO’ CONFERENCE PROMISES TO BE A TIME OF WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP

January 20, 2025

By David Dawson
Managing editor, Baptist and Reflector

GATLINBURG — The role of bivocational pastor can sometimes feel like a lonely position. 

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has taken steps to combat this problem by hosting an annual weekend retreat in Gatlinburg for bivocational pastors and their wives. 

This event, which aims to help bivocational pastors make connections, is being held this year  at Music Road Hotel and Convention Center on Jan. 23-25 — with a record number of attendees expected. 

“We are very excited about the retreat and we are really looking forward to these special days,” said Roger Britton, bivocational ministry specialist for the TBMB. “All of the sessions are wonderful for the pastors and their wives. It’s always a great time.” [Read more…]

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BLEDSOE TO GIVE W.D. POWELL MISSIONS LECTURE JAN. 30

January 20, 2025

Bledsoe

JACKSON, Tenn. — Jimmy Bledsoe of the International Mission Board will deliver the W.D. Powell Missions Lecture, entitled “Missions: The Good Warfare,” at Union University Jan. 30.

Bledsoe, along with his wife Diana, has served with the IMB in East Africa for 13 years. He remains a member of the Kenya Theological Education Team as a theological education specialist. He is currently serving on a special assignment as seminary liaison at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Boyce College [Read more…]

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ULTRASOUND DEDICATION

January 16, 2025

By Zoë Watkins
Communications Specialist

Local faith and healthcare leaders gathered Tuesday for a momentous occasion at CrossRoads Pregnancy Clinic in Fayetteville, celebrating the dedication of a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine. The ceremony marked the first of three such dedications planned this week, all made possible through the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s Compassion Ministry and Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

Dr. David Watts, a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, had the honor of cutting the ribbon on the new equipment—a machine he helped bring to the clinic through his generous contribution to the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. The dedication represents a significant expansion of medical services available to local women and families.

The Fayetteville dedication kicks off a week of similar celebrations, with centers in Hartsville and McKenzie slated for their own ceremonies. Full coverage of all three events, including photos, will be featured in the Feb. 5 edition of the Baptist & Reflector.

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee

DOOLEY NOTED: WHY DID JESUS TELL US TO MOURN?

January 15, 2025

By Adam Dooley
Pastor • Englewood Baptist Church • Jackson

Dooley

Though making an annual trip to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., admittedly causes a certain amount of anxiety, there is no greater feeling than hearing that my son remains cancer free after a decade since being treated for leukemia. We praise the Lord each year after learning that his scans are clear, just as we did all those years ago when we first heard the word remission.

​This trip felt different though, because of our visit with a beautiful little girl from our city who is just beginning the same journey we traveled back then. Her parents were strong and optimistic, but their tired eyes told on them. When we walked into that little hospital room, I immediately felt the same fears and anxieties that plagued me on the day cancer rocked our world for the first time.

I still remember the musky smell of the room. Cartoon characters decorated wood paneled walls and bundles of children’s books were on both sides of our chairs as we braced for the worst. When the doctor walked in, her facial expression communicated great concern. Bracing for the worst, I knew deep down that whatever came next would not be good. “I wish I had better news,” said the doctor, “but I believe your son has leukemia.” [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, Opinion Column

10 SPIRITUAL GUIDELINES FOR 2025

January 13, 2025

By Carolyn Tomlin
B&R contributing writer

January is the month for setting new goals and creating change in our life. However, a recent study shows that 80% (abc.columbia.com) of people who start, disregard those good intentions by February.

Excuses pile up and you’re back where you started. Reasons for abandoning these new goals may be “you’re too busy,” “you don’t have time to add one other item to your ‘to-do’ list,” “the weather is too hot or too cold,” or “I’ll start tomorrow.”

Members in our congregations will agree: keeping them is the problem. And I’ve heard this statement several times. “The only promise I ever make– is to ‘not’ make promises or vows!”

Several years ago on a cold January day, I visited my paternal grandmother who was at least 97 years at the time. Her hair was rolled up in those plastic pink curlers that were popular at the time. I could tell she had plans for the evening. So, I asked, “Grandmother, are you going out for the evening?”

Immediately, she gave me a sly grin and said, “Yes, there is a service at my church tonight and I’m going! Someone is picking me up.” [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, Opinion Column

A LAMENT FOR LOS ANGELES

January 11, 2025

By Chris Turner
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Vittorio Ristorante & Pizzeria was a quaint, family-owned neighborhood eatery tucked just off Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades. When my wife and I visit Los Angeles to see our daughter, our trip wasn’t complete without a visit to Vittorio’s. The garlic rolls were divine, the pizzas a culinary masterpiece—and I can taste the chicken parmesan just thinking about it.

I said it was a quaint place, and indeed it was. Vittorio, Park Lane Cleaner, Knoll’s Pharmacy, Ronny’s Market, and Palisades Animal Clinic are all gone now, connecting businesses burned to rubble when fire destroyed 85% of the city’s residential and business community.

We found Vittorio’s when we took our daughter to college in fall 2021. We had five days to explore LA before freshman orientation began and visited the shops of Rodeo Drive, the Farmers Market, the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Walk of Fame, the iconic Mann’s Chinese Theatre, the Getty Villa, Santa Monica Pier, Malibu, and more.

Vittorio’s was never convenient but always worth the effort. Unfortunately, the community in which it was nestled now resembles a bombed-out wasteland. Watching the news, seeing raging fires consuming places we’d come to love, feels surreal. The destruction feels deeply personal. All I can offer the people of Los Angeles from 2,000 miles away are my prayers, and my lament. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, Opinion Column

OCC HONORS ALDRIDGE’S LOYALTY

January 10, 2025

Baptist and Reflector

Joe Wright, pastor at Two Rivers Fellowship, Waverly, stands with Lee Aldridge, husband of the late Jean Aldridge, and Penny Chastain, former member at TRF and now at Maple Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Dickson, where her husband Parks is the pastor.

WAVERLY — Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Franklin Graham’s Samaritans Purse, recently honored the leadership and contributions of Tennessee Baptist Jean Aldridge.

Aldridge, who passed away in early October, was a charter member of Three Rivers Fellowship in Waverly. For 13 years, she led members to fill shoeboxes for children in need as part of OCC.

Aldridge was first introduced to Operation Christmas Child at FBC, Waverly, where she was deeply involved in teaching missions to children.

After helping start Three Rivers Fellowship, Aldridge continued to support missions endeavors such as Mission Dignity, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and more. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee

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