News Archives - Baptist & Reflector

GOD’S PROVISION AND FUTURE DECISIONS FRAME LIFEWAY TRUSTEE MEETING

January 26, 2022

By Aaron Earls
Lifeway Christian Resources

Ben Mandrell, Lifeway president and CEO, reads a note from a church planter’s wife in Paris, France. In it, she thanks Mandrell and his wife, Lynley, for their podcast, The Glass House, and Lifeway for the encouragement she and her husband have received in their marriage and ministry. The new Lifeway podcast highlights the struggles pastors and their spouses face and offers encouragement and support. — Photo by Aaron Earls

NASHVILLE — As trustees gathered via Zoom, Lifeway Christian Resources President and CEO Ben Mandrell shared significant ways in which God has continued to bless the organization and highlighted decisions guiding the future. In their semiannual meeting January 25, Lifeway’s trustees also heard details of strong first-quarter ministry results and elected new board officers.

Mandrell began his presidential report by recognizing the gains of 2021 and a strong start to the new year. Mandrell reminded trustees that it’s good for our souls to praise God for the gifts He provides. “We want to praise God for the way He continues to bless us,” he said. [Read more…]

TENNESCENE: JAN. 26

January 26, 2022

LEADERS

Roc Collins

Roc Colllins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, celebrated his fifth anniversary with the TBMB in January. He is a past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and formerly served as pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church in Kingsport.

Robert Nichols retired Dec. 31 after more than 13 years as director of missions for Sevier County Baptist Association. He and his wife, Deborah, served as missionaries in Uruguay for several years before he joined the association as DOM. The couple plans to remain in Sevierville during retirement. He is available for supply preaching. Justin Johnson is serving as acting director of missions for the association. [Read more…]

DOCUMENTARY SHOWS ETERNAL IMPACT OF FORMER C-N COACH

January 26, 2022

By Scott Barkley
Baptist Press

Ken Sparks, who coached the Carson-Newman football team for 37 years and led the Eagles to five national championships, is the focus of a new documentary. Sparks, who compiled 338 career wins, died in 2017.

JEFFERSON CITY — For 40 years, Ken Sparks coached and led thousands of young men on football fields in East Tennessee. Over that time his impact led to wins and championships, but also innumerable lives changed for the gospel through the man referred to as “the Billy Graham of coaches.”

“Sparks — The Ken Sparks Story” continues in theaters a week after its debut, telling of the longtime Carson-Newman University coach who died in 2017. For 37 years, Sparks led the Eagles to five national championships and a 338-99-2 record, retiring fifth in all-time NCAA wins. In that time, he was also highly involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and an active member of Manley Baptist Church in Morristown.

Carson-Newman is a private Baptist university in Jefferson City and affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE DR RECEIVES DONATION OF WATER HEATERS

January 26, 2022

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

John Thomas, who along with his wife, Kaye, serve as volunteer coordinators for relief efforts in Waverly, loads a donated water heater in a pod for storage until it can be delivered to a local resident.

WAVERLY — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has been given 200 water heaters to assist homeowners in Waverly who are still trying to recover from major flooding in August.

The hot water heaters, with an estimated value of $100,000, were donated by the A. O. Smith Company, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“I am extremely grateful to the A. O. Smith Company for the donation of 200 water heaters to the rebuilding efforts in Waverly,” Jones said.

“Their gift will help 200 families get back into their homes after the flood. God has truly blessed with gifts like this one plus the generosity of individuals, churches, associations and corporations that are enabling us to assist so many families to recover,” he added. [Read more…]

EXCITEMENT BUILDING FOR EVANGELISM CONFERENCE

January 25, 2022

Baptist and Reflector

MURFREESBORO — Returning after a long absence, the upcoming state evangelism conference is going to feature plenty of excitement and energy, said Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives for the TBMB and state evangelism director.

The two-day event, officially called the Win Tennessee State Evangelism Conference, will take place on Jan. 30-31 at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. [Read more…]

TBC PRESIDENT APPOINTS SEXUAL ABUSE TASK FORCE

January 25, 2022

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

LEXINGTON — Tennessee Baptist Convention President Clay Hallmark has announced the appointment of a seven-member Sexual Abuse Task Force.

Messengers during the 2021 annual meeting in November at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood overwhelmingly approved a recommendation from the directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board that the new president of the convention appoint the task force. [Read more…]

BCM STUDENTS LEARN BY DOING

January 21, 2022

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Mary Rachel Gean and Luke Love led BCM students from the University of Tennessee-Martin in early January to assist with clean up efforts in Waverly last summer.

WAVERLY — Luke Love and Mary Rachel Gean are serving this semester as campus missionaries with the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at the University of Tennessee-Martin. Both have a desire to continue in BCM work in the future.

Through the campus missionary program at UT-Martin, the two recent graduates are gaining valuable experience. The two campus missionaries led a team of BCM students from the school to help residents of Waverly continue clean up efforts following a massive flood last summer.

“Leading this mission trip was important to Luke and Mary Rachel,” observed Morgan Owen, BCM director. “It was also vital to me in their development as staff ministry leaders at the UTM BCM,” he added. [Read more…]

2021-22 CP YEAR OFF TO GOOD START

January 20, 2022

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,923,245 through the Cooperative Program in December.

After two months of the 2021-22 fiscal year, Tennessee Baptists have given $5,877,372 through the Cooperative Program giving channel which funds missions and ministries throughout the state, the nation and around the world.

The amount given thus far is $354,337 or 6.4 percent over the amount given after the first two months of the previous fiscal year. The amount also is $44,039 or 0.75 percent above budgeted needs. [Read more…]

WEEK OF PRAYER: PANAMANIAN CHRISTIANS SEE 42 NEW BELIEVERS

January 19, 2022

By Caroline Anderson
IMB writer

Sean and Shelley Blacksten (middle and second from left), IMB missionaries to Panama, talk to Icilda de Henry (left), president of La Unión Femenil Bautista Misionera Helen Stuart (Panama’s WMU) and group member Lorna Murdok about the impact of the women’s financial giving to the IMB. De Henry and Murdok share with the Blackstens that they are active in many Baptist churches and meet regularly. In 2020 and 2021, their meetings have been virtual due to COVID-19. — IMB Photo

The pandemic provided an opportunity for Panamanian believers to truly love their neighbors and show Christ’s love through their actions.

Tim Louderback, who serves in Panama with the International Mission Board, said Christians picked up medicine and bought groceries for their non-Christian neighbors who were fearful or unable to leave their homes. Their acts of service led to many inroads to share the gospel.

Southern Baptist work in Panama through IMB missionaries Tim and Tina Louderback and Sean and Shelley Blacksten was highlighted during the 2021 Week of Prayer for International Missions. The two couples shared how U.S. churches were partnering in valuable ways on the ground, in addition to their prayer and financial support. [Read more…]

TBMB STAFFER THOMAS BESTER DIES

January 17, 2022

Baptist and Reflector

Thomas Bester

RIPLEY — Thomas Bester, founding pastor and church planter of Forerunner Baptist Church in Ripley, died Jan. 15 at the age of 68.

Bester joined the staff of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in 2017 as part-time new church catalyst. At the time of his death, he served as African American church relations specialist.

“Pastor Thomas Bester was a sweet spirited Christian gentleman who was a friend to all he met,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB.

“He was such a blessing to Tennessee Baptists for decades and a valued member of our TBMB team. This dear brother will be missed by so many,” Davis added. [Read more…]

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