News Archives - Baptist & Reflector

ACTEENS HELP RURAL CHURCH EXCEED GOLDEN OFFERING GOAL

October 27, 2021

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

Pastor Eric Atkins of New Friendship Baptist Church, Cleveland, holds the GOTM promotion display the church used with the help of his daughter, Anna, center, and wife, Cindy.

CLEVELAND — New Friendship Baptist Church in rural Bradley County has always been a strong supporter of missions, said pastor Eric Atkins.

Not only does the church give 12.5 percent of its undesignated receipts through the Cooperative Program and 5 percent to CrossNet Baptist Association, the church sets lofty goals for the annual missions offerings — Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

“Like any other church coming out of the pandemic, we saw a greater need to support these offerings,” Atkins said.

This year, the church set a goal of $2,500 for GOTM, a challenging goal for a congregation that has averaged about 50 people weekly since the onset of the pandemic a year ago. [Read more…]

CARSON-NEWMAN FOOTBALL TEAM GAINS ‘TRUE’ VICTORIES

October 26, 2021

Eleven players baptized in Mossy Creek after recent professions of faith

Carson-Newman news office

Alan Duncan (left) and Marty Blakely baptize Carson-Newman football player Levi Myers in Mossy Creek as members of the football team watch from the creek bank. Meyers was one of 11 players who were baptized. — Photo by Charles Key

JEFFERSON CITY — Mossy Creek has held a special place in the hearts of Carson-Newman University students and alumni for generations. On Sept. 29, the creek became the scene of a life-changing event for 11 members of the Eagles football team.

Following afternoon practice, the 11 teammates walked from the University’s Burke-Tarr Stadium down the hill to the banks of the creek. They were accompanied by fellow players, coaches, administrators and staff, all gathering to witness and celebrate the athletes’ shared decision to make public professions of faith after accepting Christ. Historic Mossy Creek provided the appropriate backdrop.

Helping officiate the event were Marty Blakely, director of Lakeway’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Alan Duncan, who serves on staff at Morristown’s Manley Baptist Church. Over the last four years, the duo has baptized over 50 C-N players. Blakely noted that prior to his participation, Dr. Dean Haun, pastor of Morristown’s First Baptist Church, had helped with the team’s baptisms. [Read more…]

FEW PASTORS LEFT THE PULPIT DESPITE INCREASED PRESSURE

October 25, 2021

By Aaron Earls
Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — Pastors faced increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, as churches were frequently forced to adapt overnight. More felt their role was overwhelming at times, yet very few pastors decided to actually leave the ministry in recent years.

A new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research found close to 1 percent of evangelical and historically Black Protestant senior pastors step away from the pulpit each year—a rate statistically unchanged from a 2015 Lifeway Research study.

“COVID-19 was neither a small nor short-lived stressor for pastors,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “Many have speculated that pastors have been opting out of the pastorate as a result. That is not the case. They are remaining faithful to the calling at levels similar to those seen before the pandemic.” [Read more…]

TEXANS TO VOTE ON AMENDMENT PROHIBITING GOVERNMENT FROM LIMITING WORSHIP SERVICES

October 25, 2021

By Thomas Cockes
Baptist Press

ALLEN, Texas — Texans will vote on their election day Tuesday, Nov.2, on a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would forbid the government from limiting or prohibiting religious services.

The bill (TX HB1239, also called Proposition 3) comes in response to government limitations on religious worship services that were enacted in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. If passed, the amendment would add a clause to the state’s constitution prohibiting such government restrictions in the future.

Although the amendment has divided some religious groups in the state, it passed through both the Senate and the House of Representatives with unanimous support from Republican as well as a number of Democrats.

One of the original co-authors and supporters of the legislation is Republican representative Scott Sanford, who also serves as an executive pastor with Cottonwood Creek Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Allen, Texas. [Read more…]

FORMER EC CHAIR MIKE STONE SUES FORMER ERLC PRESIDENT RUSSELL MOORE

October 22, 2021

By Brandon Parker
Baptist Press

Mike Stone. — File photo, Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — In a lawsuit filed Monday (Oct. 18), former SBC Executive Committee chairman Mike Stone alleges he has “suffered a tremendous loss in professional cultivation and reputational standing, decreased future earning power…and serious mental and emotional injury in the form of extreme public embarrassment, stress, anxiety, and fear” due to the actions of former Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission president Russell Moore.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville, lists a trio of claims for Stone’s legal action: defamation – libel, false light invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The allegations are rooted in a pair of private letters by Moore which were released publicly by unknown sources in May 2021, just weeks before the June 2021 election for SBC president in which Stone was a candidate. [Read more…]

ONLINE SERVICES EXPANDED REACH OF CHURCHES DURING PANDEMIC

October 22, 2021

By Aaron Earls
Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources

NASHVILLE —

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, online worship services were a novel concept for many churches. In the almost two years since, however, churches have adapted and reached new people with the adoption of digital streaming.

According to a new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, 45 percent of Americans say they have watched a Christian church service online during the COVID-19 pandemic, including some who say they don’t normally physically attend. Around half (52 percent) say they have not watched a church service during the pandemic, most of whom say they don’t normally attend church in person either.

“The distance to one’s nearest church has changed almost overnight,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “A form of communication that was not even used by most churches before the pandemic has now reached almost half of Americans.” [Read more…]

C-N DAY OF SERVICE ENABLES STUDENTS TO MINISTER IN JEFFERSON CITY AREA

October 22, 2021

Baptist Press

More than 500 members of the Carson-Newman University community banded together to take part in outreach projects across Jefferson, Hamblen, Blount, Grainger and Knox counties as part of the Operation Inasmuch day of service.

JEFFERSON CITY — More than 500 Carson-Newman University students, faculty and staff showed love and support for their community by participating in outreach projects across five counties during the annual Operation Inasmuch day of service.

Forty-three teams were sent to service sites Sept. 29 across Jefferson, Hamblen, Blount, Grainger and Knox counties. The projects included cleaning and organizing donation warehouses, collecting food donations, packing shelf-stable meals for food pantries, teaching lessons to elementary-aged students and cleaning homeless shelters among others.

More than 50 C-N student leaders from programs and organizations led teams and worked during the event.

In 2006, Carson-Newman was the first college or university to implement OI. Founded by former East Tennessee Baptist pastor David Crocker, OI has since been adopted by organizations across the country. [Read more…]

UNION STUDENTS HELP WAVERLY FLOOD VICTIMS

October 22, 2021

By Suzanne Rhodes
Union University news office

Katherine Anne Thierfelder, sophomore at Union University, helps remove ruined flooring in disaster relief efforts. — Photo by Kristi Woody

JACKSON — Since the deadly floods that hit Waverly in late August, Union University has sent multiple groups of volunteers to assist Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief with flood relief efforts.

One of these students is Kathryn Anne Thierfelder, a sophomore communications and creative writing double major. As she helped remove the ruined flooring from a local resident’s house, Thierfelder observed there is much hurt and need right now. She felt called to help Waverly flood victims because as a native of nearby Jackson, it was important for her to help “those in my own backyard.” [Read more…]

LIFEWAY CAMPS PREPARED BCM LEADER FOR MINISTRY

October 20, 2021

Baptist Press

Tiffany Hudson is the BCM campus minister at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. — Photo provided by Lifeway Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — This summer, more than 87,000 kids and students attended Lifeway camps with more than 475 summer staffers providing fun and inspiring experiences at FUGE Camps, CentriKid Camps, Student Life Camps and Student Life Kids Camps. Summer camps are spiritually edifying not just for campers; they also provide the training, experience and passion for camp staff that develop the next generation of ministry leaders.

Tiffany Hudson served five summers with FUGE Camps from 2005 through 2009 and felt called into full-time ministry through her camp experience. Today, Hudson serves as the Baptist Collegiate Ministry campus minister at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

“The ministry experience I gained with FUGE Camps is immeasurable,” she said. “I began as a timid 20-year-old, afraid to have a conversation with my own camp director and graduated to a seasoned ministry leader because of the opportunities presented to me through FUGE to teach and lead others.”

Hudson credits the pre-camp training as pivotal in giving her practical skills to work with others, be a team player and build community. [Read more…]

EVANS: GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS DON’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT

October 19, 2021

By Timothy Cockes
Baptist Press

SPRINGFIELD — Many Christians spend time thinking about ways to start gospel conversations, but pastor David Evans says evangelism starts “way before” the actual in-person conversation.

Evans, senior pastor at Springfield Baptist Church in Springfield, said talk around evangelism often deals with what should be said during a conversation but neglects the preparation necessary long before the scenario arises.

“In all reality, evangelism conversations start way before that,” Evans said. “Are you preparing your mind, your psychology, your posture and your perspective so when that time comes it’s less about the particular words I use to open the door and more about ‘Am I willing and intentional in that moment.’ ” [Read more…]

Eleven players baptized in Mossy Creek after recent professions of faith

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