Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

TENNESCENE: JUL. 25-AUG. 7

PEOPLE

Steve Roper

Steve Roper, Baptist collegiate ministry specialist at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, was recognized recently for 30 years of ministry with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Roper was licensed to preach in 1985. He and his wife Rhonda have twin sons.

Tim Bray has been called as associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Morristown. He served the church as student pastor from 2008-10. Since then he has completed his master’s degree from New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary, served as senior pastor of a church in Louisiana and served on a multi-staff church in Texas. He and his wife Emily have two children.

David Harrison, president of Let My People Hear, Inc., and a member of Oakwood Baptist Church, Chattanooga, has written Bill of Rights for the Hard of Hearing. The book was written to recognize the unique communication needs for the hearing impaired in church and to challenge churches to make changes to accommodate those who are hard of hearing. [Read more…]

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A TRUE BAPTIST STATESMAN

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Thirteen years after the death of the man for whom it was named, the 11-story Sullivan Tower was imploded on Saturday (July 21) in Nashville. Screen capture from video by Wayne Mann.

As most people probably are aware, the 11-story Sullivan Tower, which sat on the property formerly owned by LifeWay Christian Resources, was imploded on Saturday, July 21.  The former LifeWay property was sold a few years ago and is being developed into a hotel, office buildings, restaurants and retail and entertainment venues. [Read more…]

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TANKER EXPLOSION STILL REMEMBERED

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

Waverly Mayor Buddy Frazier, a member of First Baptist Church, Waverly, looks over the names of the 16 people killed in a tanker explosion in 1978. Frazier was a 25-year-old police officer at the time and had just left the site minutes before the explosion.

WAVERLY —   In the 40 years Tennessee Baptists have responded to disasters in the state and around the globe, countless volunteers have trekked to be the hands and feet of Jesus when people needed a friend and a helping hand.

But the state convention’s first “official” disaster relief response was done with little fanfare and no volunteers or equipment. In fact, the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board didn’t acquire a DR vehicle until after the first response.

On Feb. 24, 1978, a derailed L&N railroad car carrying liquid propane gas exploded, killing 16 people and injuring more than 200 others. Many of the survivors still carry scars from the burns they received. [Read more…]

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DR CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY

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

Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, participated in the 40th anniversary of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief along with former state DR directors David Acres, left, and Tim Bearden, right.

MOUNT JULIET  — Nearly 300 volunteers from every area of the state flocked to the Missions Mobilization Center in Mount Juliet July 14 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.

“We’re here today because for 40 years Tennessee Baptists have been responding in a united, cooperative manner to disaster,” observed Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“From earthquakes to tsunamis, from floods to fires, from tornados to ice storms and terrorist attacks, the men and women of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief have shown up to assist,” he continued. [Read more…]

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IMB DATA BREACH PROMPTS ‘COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE’

Baptist Press

BP file photo

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — A data breach occurred at the International Mission Board that may have exposed personal information of current and former employees, volunteers and applicants.

The Southern Baptist entity began a “comprehensive response” immediately upon discovering the cyber security incident and promptly notified law enforcement officials, according to a statement released to Baptist Press today (July 16), parallel to one released to North Carolina Baptists’ newsjournal, the Biblical Recorder, on July 12.

The full text of the IMB statement follows this story. [Read more…]

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CARSON-NEWMAN’S O’BRIEN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Randall O’Brien

JEFFERSON CITY — Randall O’Brien, president of Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City since 2008, has announced his plans to retire, effective Dec. 31, 2018.

O’Brien celebrated his 10th anniversary as Carson-Newman’s 22nd president on July 8.

O’Brien was elected by the university’s trustees in July of 2008 and began transitioning to the position in August of that year. He didn’t officially join the college until Jan. 1, 2009. A native of McComb, Miss., O’Brien was executive vice president and provost at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, at the time of his election. [Read more…]

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FAITH SUSTAINS MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT PICK

By Bill Sorrell
Contributing writer, B&R

Jonathan Bowlan fires a pitch while playing for the University of Memphis. Bowlan, a member of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in this year’s Major League baseball draft. — Photo courtesy of University of Memphis Athletics

MEMPHIS —  When pro scouts began showing up at University of Memphis baseball games this spring, Jonathan Bowlan’s teammates started calling him “draft guy.” He would answer, “We’ll see.” [Read more…]

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