Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $3,204,689 through the Cooperative Program in October.
The strong showing enabled the TBC to finish the 2013-14 fiscal year with $34,032,296 in CP receipts.
The amount fell just short ($256,650 or 0.7 percent) of matching last year’s total giving of $34,288,947. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Prayer rallies, such as this one held earlier this year at the Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton, were held in all 95 counties in Tennessee in 2014. The rallies included the “Salvation Bell” and prayers for those in Tennessee who do not know Christ as Savior were led by Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
BRENTWOOD — At the beginning of this year, Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, had an ambitious goal.
His desire was to ring the “salvation bell” and to lead prayer rallies in every county of the state. And though the weather was not always cooperative (three rallies had to be rescheduled), Davis accomplished the goal on Nov. 3 with the three remaining rallies in Davidson, Williamson, and Rutherford counties. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — The Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists kicks off next week on Monday, Nov. 10, at Brentwood Baptist Church.
The first day of Summit features the Tennessee Baptist Convention Pastors Conference with sessions beginning at 1 and 5:45 p.m. Other meetings on Monday include Hispanic pastors gathering, the Good Cup (a meeting for ministers’ wives), the Black Church Pastors luncheon, Tennessee Baptist Religious Educators Association, and a host of TBC committee meetings. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD – Despite an aggressive push by those opposing Amendment 1, Tennessee voters adopted the amendment, which will allow for regulation of abortions in the state, by a margin of 728,751 (53 percent) to 656,427 (47 percent).
The number of “yes” votes cast far exceeded the number required (approximately 675,000) for passage. For an amendment to the State Constitution to pass, it needs a simple majority plus 1 in the number of ballots cast in the governor’s race. [Read more…]
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Leaders of the dedication program stand in front of the house. They included, from left, Gary Rickman, director of strategic relationships, Tennessee Baptist Convention; Tammy Saffel, former Tennessee WMU president of Ruston, La.; Candy Phillips, Tennessee WMU executive director; and Bobby Turner, Tennessee WMU president of Knoxville.
MOUNT JULIET — Despite “the rough spots” a dream became a reality for Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union on Nov. 1.
It was because of those rough spots that “we knew that God was in this,” said Bobby Turner, Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union president, at the dedication of the missionary house built by Tennessee WMU.
She quoted Hebrews 3:4 — “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”
“This was a God-sized task,” said Turner of Knoxville. [Read more…]
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Vickie Anderson
MOUNT JULIET — Vickie Lynn Anderson was unanimously elected executive director/treasurer of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union Nov. 1.
Anderson currently is associate director/ministry specialist for missions growth and leadership development for Tennessee WMU. She has been on the staff for 20 years.
She was elected to the role by the Executive Board of Tennessee WMU from about 50 candidates. Candy Phillips, current executive director, will retire Dec. 31 after serving for 12 years. Formerly Phillips was president for four years. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
LARRY BYASSEE
RIDGELY – Tennessee Baptist pastor Larry Byassee and his wife, Shirley, were killed Oct. 26 in an automobile accident on State Highway 78 near Ridgely, according to news reports.
Byassee, 71, was pastor of Wynnburg Baptist Church in Lake County. He had just preached his last sermon at the church. He and his wife were in the process of moving to Hermitage to be near their daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Jeremy Lyell.
According to news accounts, Lyell was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox when an oncoming car moved into their lane, striking them head on. The Byassees were passengers in the car. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
Jayme Hull, center, women’s ministry director at Judson Baptist Church, Nashville, speaks at a press conference in support of Amendment 1 held Oct. 14 at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. Middle Tennessee ministers gathered in support of Amendment 1, including Frank Lewis, far right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Nashville. Lewis spoke briefly at the press conference in support of Yes on 1.
BRENTWOOD — Tennesseans are facing “the most monumental vote” in the state’s 218-year-old history, says Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
Referring to Amendment 1 which is on the state ballot, Davis said, “It will be an indictment on Christians if Amendment 1 does not pass.”
Davis made his observations in a column posted at www.tnbaptist.org on Oct. 17. It also has been published in daily newspapers across the state. [Read more…]
Daughter, Mom support Amendment 1 after making wrong decision
Editor’s Note: Because of the importance of Amendment 1 to the State Constitution on Nov. 4, churches are encouraged to make copies of this story and provide to members who do not receive the Baptist and Reflector. It is important to remember that while Amendment 1 does not eliminate abortion in Tennessee or take away the woman’s right to choose, it can provide a means to reestablish some common sense restrictions on abortion such as informed consent, a waiting period, and inspection of abortion facilities.
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Tiffany Loxley, right, and her mother Karen Brown candidly share their experiences after Loxley had an abortion 14 years ago. They are now advocates of voting yes for Amendment 1 which, if passed on Nov. 4, could restore some common sense restrictions on abortions in Tennessee.
— Photo by Kaitlin Redmond
HERMITAGE — A few weeks ago Tiffany Loxley and her mother Karen Brown did not know much about Amendment 1 which is on the state ballot.
But after listening to sermons and reading about Amendment 1, they are now strong advocates of the amendment, which if passed on Nov. 4, can restore some common sense restrictions on abortion that already are in place in states surrounding Tennessee.
Loxley and Brown support the amendment because they have experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of choosing to have an abortion. Fourteen years ago, at the age of 20 and in college, Tiffany Loxley learned she was pregnant. [Read more…]
By Academy communications
SEYMOUR — The King’s Academy President and Headmaster Walter Grubb announced Tuesday the largest contribution to date to the academy’s Celebrating Our Past — TOGETHER — Building Our Future capital campaign. Tom Shen, a 1973 academy graduate who resides in California, made the gift of stocks that sold for $251,028.95. The King’s Academy is a part of Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy which is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
The alumnus requested the funds be used in the construction of new science classrooms and laboratories in memory of his father, Jin-Tai Shen. Grubb said that Jin-Tai Shen’s name will appear in both English and Chinese on the building. [Read more…]