News Archives - Baptist & Reflector

NEW REPORT SHOWS ABORTIONS CONTINUE TO DECLINE

December 5, 2019

By Tom Strode
Baptist Press

WASHINGTON — The latest statistics demonstrate once again reported abortions in the United States have continued to decline.

The number of abortions fell in one year by more than 13,000 to 623,471 in 2016, the latest year for which data is available, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a Nov. 29 report. That 2 percent drop matched a 2 percent decrease in the abortion rate to 11.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years, according to the CDC. The abortion ratio — the number of abortions per 1,000 live births — decreased by 1 percent to 188 in the same time period. [Read more…]

PASTOR HELPS CHURCH CREATE NEW IMAGE

December 5, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
Baptist and Reflector

HARRIMAN — When Taylor Phelps came to the pastorate of Caney Ford Baptist Church in the Midtown community of Roane County in 2014, the church had about 22 members, he recalled.

Phelps said it did not take long for him to discover that Caney Ford was known in the Midtown community as the “family chapel or family church.”

And, for some people in the community that reputation was negative because they felt they could never be a part of the church because they had not grown up in it. [Read more…]

CHINESE GOVERNMENT DESIGNATES LOTTIE MOON’S CHURCH AS HISTORICAL SITE

December 3, 2019

By Catherine Finch
Baptist Press

The Chinese government has designated Lottie Moon’s home church, Wulin Shenghui Church, a nationally protected historical and cultural site. — China Christian Daily photo

PENGLAI, China — The name, “Lottie Moon,” is known by Southern Baptists far and wide. From the Woman’s Missionary Union’s Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to movies, books and documentaries detailing her life of service, Lottie Moon is often hailed as a “missionary hero.”

Lottie Moon’s legacy will now be preserved beyond the Southern Baptist realm. Wulin Shenghui Church of Penglai in Shandong province, where Lottie Moon was a member during her time in Dengzhou, China, has been designated as a nationally protected historical and cultural site by The State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the China Christian daily reported Nov.14.

The announcement came just before Southern Baptists observe the Week of Prayer for the annual Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. This year’s offering goal is $165 million. The Week of Prayer is Dec. 1-8. [Read more…]

CHICK-FIL-A ANNOUNCES NEW APPROACH TO CHARITABLE GIVING

December 3, 2019

By Josh Wester
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — The popular U.S. fast food chain, Chick-fil-A, Inc., recently announced a new policy concerning its charitable giving. According to an online statement, the policy, which will take effect in 2020, will focus the company’s charitable donations on the areas of hunger, homelessness and education.

In 2019, the Chick-fil-A Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, donated to upwards of 300 charitable organizations. Under the new policy, the foundation will distribute $9 million dollars in pledged donations next year and will limit its partnerships to only one charity for each of its three initiatives. [Read more…]

GREEN’S CHALLENGE: EVANGELIZE, ENCOURAGE, EXTEND

December 2, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, and president of the TBC during the 2018-19 term, delivered the president’s sermon on Nov. 19. Green served the traditional one-year term as TBC president after being elected last November. Bruce Chesser, pastor of First Baptist, Hendersonville, was elected president for the 2019-2020 term.
— Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — As his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention came to a close, David Green offered some words of excitement. He also issued a challenge.

Delivering the president’s message at the 145th annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists, Green reminded those in attendance that they have the ultimate reason to rejoice: Salvation. Green also challenged attendees to “evangelize the lost, encourage the saved and extend our borders.”

Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, delivered his year-ending president’s message during the Tuesday evening session of this year’s Summit, held at First Baptist Concord.

Green preached from Isaiah 54, and reminded attendees that they should “rejoice in the promises of God, respond to the plan of God, rely on the power of God and and remember our relationship with God.”

He also encouraged Christians to rejoice always, celebrating all that God has done for us. “The Lord inhabits our praise,” said Green. “So, if we want Him around, then why don’t we sing more than we cry? … We need to stop acting like God is dead. We need to stop acting like God didn’t promise us anything. We need to stop acting like Jesus didn’t die on the cross for our sins. We need to live our lives like free people.” [Read more…]

PASTORS ENCOURAGED TO PERSEVERE DESPITE STRUGGLES

November 29, 2019

By Tim Ellsworth
Contributing writer, B&R

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, preached the final message of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference on Nov. 18. He encouraged pastors to gather at the altar for prayer for each other and their churches. – Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — Speakers at the 2019 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference held Nov. 18 at First Baptist Concord addressed the theme “Run with Endurance” as they encouraged pastors to persevere in their ministries, even in times of difficulty and struggle.

The theme came from Hebrews 12:1-2. Scott Parkinson, lead pastor of Stevens Street Baptist Church in Cookeville and president of this year’s conference, said he hoped pastors would have a fresh encounter with God through the event and be empowered to serve Him with increasing fruitfulness.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said one of the issues that repeatedly surfaces in his conversations with Tennessee pastors is the challenge of holding onto convictions while still being compassionate in a culture that is increasingly anti-Christ. [Read more…]

THANKFUL FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving will be observed today in home all across Tennessee and our nation.

For some, the main emphasis will be food and football, mixed with a little bit of family.

Christians, however, should always keep God at the forefront of all we do, including our holiday celebrations. This is especially true on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

For Christians, every day should be “Thanksgiving.”

God has given us so many blessings; more than any of us could possibly count. Each day, we can look around and see limitless things for which we are grateful.

So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, be especially mindful to give God all the thanks and glory He deserves. Remember these words from Jesus in John 15:5: “… because you can do nothing without Me.”

Even when our circumstances in life seem unbearable, we can still give thanks because of Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving! B&R — Lonnie Wilkey

MILLER: WINNING TENNESSEE IS TALL ORDER BUT CAN BE ACHIEVED

November 27, 2019

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Hollie Miller, retired pastor and former TBC president, leads a prayer prior to preaching the convention sermon on Nov. 20 at First Baptist Concord. — Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — Considering the negative numbers and troubling trends that are prevalent in today’s church culture, the challenge of “winning Tennessee for Christ” seems incredibly daunting, perhaps even impossible.

Hollie Miller sees it differently.

Preaching the convention sermon at the 145th annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists, Miller, a retired pastor and former TBC president, said he is confident that Tennessee Baptists can reach their No. 1 objective of seeing at least 50,000 Tennesseans annually saved, baptized and set on the road to discipleship by 2024. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE BAPTISTS OPPOSE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, INTERSECTIONALITY

November 27, 2019

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee Baptists overwhelmingly adopted a resolution denouncing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and intersectionality during their 145th annual meeting Nov. 19-20 in Knoxville.

Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention acted on the resolution during the final session on Nov. 20. The resolution defined CRT as “a secular worldview used by some in social sciences to analyze marginalized populations by categorizing differences among peoples, especially race and gender.” The resolution noted that intersectionality “arises from dialogue regarding CRT and focuses on the overlapping categorizations within CRT.”

The resolution presented to TBC messengers was originally written and presented by Shawn Allred, pastor of First Baptist Church, Kenton. The TBC Resolutions Committee rewrote the resolution that was presented for a vote by messengers. [Read more…]

TENNESCENE: WEEKS OF NOV. 27-DEC . 10

November 26, 2019

More than 500 of Carson-Newman University’s students, faculty and staff give a “talons up” on Saturday morning, Nov. 9, just prior to traveling to more than 35 sites in five counties for the annual Operation Inasmuch day of service. President and First Lady Charles A. and Sandra Fowler are at center front. Projects included installing a sensory walk path at an elementary school, building an accessibility ramp, assisting poverty-reduction programs, cleaning fire engines, landscaping at a shelter, preparing medical supplies for a Haitian hospital and more.
The Fellowship Class of Bellevue Baptist Church, Nashville, recently honored three World War II veterans from their class. From left are Jack Grizzard, 93; Herschel Lannom, 94; and Paul Webb, 95. The veterans received a letter from Tennessee senators Lamar Alexander and Marcia Blackburn and flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, among other items.
Riverside Baptist Association recently celebrated its 132nd annual meeting at West Fentress Baptist Church. From left, back row, are Elizabeth Ridgell, clerk; Earl Sweat, moderator; David Harris, vice moderator; Bill Richardson, chairman of budget and finance committee; Chrisie Ward, retiring RBA ministry assistant, Chris Ward, retiring director of missions; front row, Beverly Smith, worship pianist and Gary Mullins, worship music leader. Not pictured is Jeff Monday, treasurer.
New Salem Baptist Association recently held an open house and building dedication for its new office location in Carthage. Marty Dodge, director of missions led the dedication and prayer service. Pastors at the dedication included, from left, Tim Frank, First Baptist Church, Carthage; Russ Stephens, interim pastor, Hickman Baptist Church, Hickman; Ray Gilder, First Baptist Church, Gordonsville; Dodge; Donny Payne, Carthage Road Baptist Church; B.J. Thomason, New Middleton Baptist Church; Wayne Malone, Rome Baptist Church; and Guy Buckner, Lancaster Baptist Church.
Giles County Baptist Association recently sponsored breakfast for military veterans in Pulaski.
Big Hatchie Baptist Association recently installed new officers at their annual meeting. From left are Mike Reynolds, vice moderator; Matt Hawkins, moderator; Carol Moore, clerk; and Clay Gilbreath, director of missions. Not pictured is Jimmy Hicks, treasurer.
New officers of Beech River Baptist Association are, from left, Vickie Alexander, treasurer; Angie Larson, clerk; Adam Wood, vice moderator; and Marty Comer, moderator.
Officers elected at the annual meeting of Gibson Baptist Association included, from left, Joel Pigg, assistant treasurer; Jim Acree, treasurer; Steve Littleton, moderator; Leann Cherry, clerk, and Roger Stacy, director of missions. Not pictured is Shawn Allred, assistant moderator.

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