Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

TBMB’S LEMAY MINISTERED BEHIND THE SCENES

Baptist and Reflector

Mark LeMay, left, seen here with Ken Alexandrow, is retiring after 20 years with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. LeMay served as the facilities/risk management manager.

FRANKLIN — As the son of Tennessee Baptist pastor Hiram LeMay, Mark LeMay grew up watching his dad take care of the churches he served across the state.

LeMay later attended Belmont University and became a minister himself, serving in ministerial roles including Antioch First Baptist Church; Valley View Baptist Church, Nashville; Parkway Baptist Church, Goodlettsville; and First Baptist Church, Tullahoma.

For the past 20 years, LeMay has cared for the staff of those who serve Baptist churches across the state as the facilities/risk management manager for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS MESSAGE COMES ACROSS

Movement that started in Smith County spreads throughout Tennessee and beyond  

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

The Underwood family — from left, Lake, Robin, Clete, Jett and Grant — stand beside the lighted cross in their yard. The Underwoods started the “aCross Tennessee” ministry that has now spread to other states.

CARTHAGE — It started with one house. It then caught on with many of the neighbors. Soon, it was spreading throughout the community.

Now, just three years after the movement began, it has expanded to multiple counties in Tennessee — and well beyond. 

Sparked by Robin and Clete Underwood of Smith County, the ministry encourages participants to display a lighted cross in their yard as a means of signifying the true cause of celebration at Christmas — not only the birth of Christ, but also His ultimate sacrifice.

The ministry was originally called “aCross Sykes,” (the community where the Underwoods live). After the movement began to spread, the name was changed to “aCross Smith County.” Now, it is “aCross Tennessee.”

Tim Frank, pastor of First Baptist Church, Carthage, said his church, along with several other churches of various denominations in the area, have embraced the movement. Frank noted that he has a lighted cross in the yard at his home, and there is also a lighted cross in a prominent spot on the lawn at FBC Carthage.  [Read more…]

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CHURCH PLANTS TREES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO ENJOY

Brentwood Baptist Church

-Photo: Brentwood Baptist Church

NASHVILLE — The Church at Lockeland Springs (a regional campus of Brentwood Baptist Church) planted a Community Grove in East Nashville on Nov. 21.

Due to this year’s tornado, many trees around the church’s campus were damaged or removed. The Community Grove will replace the lost trees and exist to be a place of rest and solace for the surrounding community. [Read more…]

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‘BIGGEST MOVEMENT OF GOD I’VE SEEN’ AFTER SCORES OF UNSCHEDULED BAPTISMS AT TENNESSEE CHURCH

By Scott Barkley
National correspondent, Baptist Press

Andrei Iacob was baptized by Pastor Robby Gallaty on Dec. 20, just days after Iacob’s wife and son were murdered.

HENDERSONVILLE — Noah Iacob lived for only a week two years ago. But his story is one interwoven with others’ as part of a revival taking place at Long Hollow Baptist Church.

Noah’s underdeveloped lungs became too much for his body to overcome. But after his death, his mother Jessie realized she needed the healing power of Christ in her life and, after becoming a Christian, was baptized at Long Hollow. Jessie, her son Zeke and husband Andrei began attending the church.

But Jessie’s earthly life ended Dec. 11 when she and her son were murdered by an intruder when Andrei wasn’t home. The suspect, identified as a former employee of the excavating business the couple founded, took his own life Dec. 13 after police had determined his location.

It is believed the suspect wanted Jessie Iacob, who operated the company’s finances, to transfer money into his account. After she complied, he shot her and her son anyway. [Read more…]

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GOVERNOR ENCOURAGES CHURCHES TO CONSIDER ONLINE SERVICES

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

Tennessee Gov. Lee, seen here at his desk, issued an executive order on Dec. 20 concerning the increase in COVID cases.
— Screen capture from Facebook

NASHVILLE — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise dramatically in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order Dec. 20 declaring “a continuing state of emergency and major disaster in order to facilitate the response to COVID-19.”

According to latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control, Tennessee now ranks as the worst state for new COVID-19 cases in the United States.

WSMV-TV in Nashville reported Dec. 21 that Tennessee’s daily cases per 100k over the last seven days sits at 128.1, just ahead of Texas which follows at 125.6. “Tennessee is now ground zero for a surge in sickness,” Lee observed.

During a statewide address on Dec. 20, Lee exhorted Tennesseans to “make some hard decisions.” He noted 10,000 Tennesseans are getting sick every day and 100 people are dying daily from COVID. “We are in a war. With the arrival of the first vaccine, we have launched an offensive that will end this war, but the next few weeks will be critical,” Lee stressed.  

He encouraged Tennesseans to not gather with people outside their households. In his executive order, he limited indoor public gatherings to no more than 10 people. [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS CHOIRS ADAPTING FOR COVID-19

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

Marcie Gray, a soloist with First Baptist Church, Dandridge, sings live at the church while being backed up by a virtual choir.

FRANKLIN — Christmas music presentations won’t be the same in most Tennessee Baptist churches this year or may not occur at all, thanks to COVID-19.

Most Tennessee Baptist choirs begin in October or early November to prepare their Christmas music. For many of these churches, it involves the traditional choir plus senior adult, children’s and youth choirs and, oftentimes, orchestra and handbell ringers.

“This will be a Christmas like no other for worship and music ministries across Tennessee,” observed Scott Shepherd, worship and music specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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TKA SEEKING NEW PRESIDENT

The King’s Academy

SEYMOUR — The board of trustees of Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy, doing business as The King’s Academy since 1993, invites resumes and recommendations for candidates to serve as president and headmaster of the boarding and day school located in Seymour.

The 140-year-old academy has been affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention since 1932.

Bryan Delius, a Sevierville attorney and vice chair of the board of trustees will chair the 13-member search committee which includes trustees, administrators, faculty, alumni and parents. Delius encourages submissions to be e-mailed by Jan. 15, 2021, to TKAPresidentialSearch@gmail.com. [Read more…]

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IMB MISSIONARIES AND STAFF GIVE MORE THAN $800,000 TO LMCO

By Ann Lovell
IMB internal communications director 

IMB missionaries and staff pledged $802,700 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering through an internal campaign that began Sept. 23 and ended Nov. 30. The campaign, which allowed missionaries and U.S.-based staff to make their pledges confidentially, indicates their high level of commitment to the Revelation 7:9 vision and sets an example for Southern Baptists, said IMB President Paul Chitwood.

“Our IMB missionaries around the world and our stateside support staff wanted to lead by example as we asked Southern Baptists to give more generously than ever before to get the gospel to the nations. And I’m proud to say that is happening!” Chitwood said.  [Read more…]

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REVITALIZED AND STARTING A NEW CAMPUS

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

Derek Smith, lead pastor of Living Hope Baptist Church in Clarksville, delivers a message. The recently revitalized church has had a name change and has focused on connecting with the community.

CLARKSVILLE — Sometimes it is what happens before a new pastor arrives on the field that determines if a church can be revitalized.

Living Hope Baptist Church in Clarksville is proof positive of that, affirmed pastor Derek Smith.

When Smith became pastor of Living Hope in December of 2009, a major step in revitalization had already occurred in August. Led by transitional interim pastor Jim Harvey and a group  of deacons who knew it needed to be done, they convinced the church members to change its name from Little Hope Baptist Church to Living Hope. [Read more…]

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UNION TRUSTEES APPROVE NEW DEGREE IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP, WELCOME NEWCOMER

Union University News Office

Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver (left) visits with new trustee Chuck Baker prior to the Union Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 4.
-Photo: Kristi Woody

JACKSON — Union University trustees approved a new bachelor’s degree in Christian leadership, received an annual audit report and welcomed a new trustee during their Dec. 4 meeting on the university campus.

The meeting was the first for new trustee Chuck Baker, of Hixson. Baker recently retired as vice president of advancement at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee. He previously served as vice president of Unum Corp., a Chattanooga-based insurance company, and as president of Bethel Bible Village in Hixson. [Read more…]

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