Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

WMU Dedicates Missionary House

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.

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…]

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Tennessee WMU Elects Exec

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Vickie Anderson

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…]

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West Tennessee Pastor, Wife Killed in Automobile Accident

Baptist and Reflector

LARRY BYASSEE

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…]

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Tennesseans Face ‘Monumental’ Vote, Says Davis

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.

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…]

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Making the Right Choice

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

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…]

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Academy Given $250,000

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…]

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TBCH Elects McCoy President

By Charlie Wetherington
TBCH Coordinator of Communications

Greg McCoy, right, pastor, First Baptist Church, Portland, has been elected president/treasurer of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. He stands with Bryant Millsaps, retiring president/ treasurer.

Greg McCoy, right, pastor, First Baptist Church, Portland, has been elected president/treasurer of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. He stands with Bryant Millsaps, retiring president/treasurer.

BRENTWOOD — Greg McCoy, pastor of First Baptist Church, Portland, has been elected to be the seventh president/treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes in its 124-year history.

McCoy, 51, was the unanimous recommendation of the TBCH’s presidential search advisory committee. The committee’s recommendation was presented to a called meeting of the full board of trustees on Sept. 16 which unanimously approved the selection.

McCoy will begin his 14-month tenure as president/treasurer elect on Nov. 1 of this year. Millsaps will continue to serve as president/treasurer of TBCH through Dec. 31, 2015, at which time he will retire and McCoy will assume the full responsibilities of leading the ministry to children and families in crisis. [Read more…]

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TBC CP Giving Rebounds from Slow Start

Baptist and Reflector

cplogoBRENTWOOD — In January, Cooperative Program giving from Tennessee Baptist Convention churches was nearly 16 percent below what was given in 2013 at the same time.

After September receipts were counted, however, giving has rebounded.

Tennessee churches gave $2,934,212 through the Cooperative Program in September. [Read more…]

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Feeding Bodies, Souls in State

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

One of the oldest feeding ministries of Tennessee Baptists is offered by the Briceville Friendship Center of Clinton Baptist Association, based in Clinton. Leading the center, which has been operating for 39 years, are, from left, June Strunk, retired director who remains a volunteer; Tom Byrge, director of missions of the association; Marcia Ellis, current director; and Becky Burris, volunteer.

One of the oldest feeding ministries of Tennessee Baptists is offered by the Briceville Friendship Center of Clinton Baptist Association, based in Clinton. Leading the center, which has been operating for 39 years, are, from left, June
Strunk, retired director who remains a volunteer; Tom Byrge, director of missions of the association; Marcia Ellis, current director; and Becky Burris, volunteer.

BRENTWOOD — Randy Harness started helping around the Briceville Friendship Center in Briceville after June Strunk, then director, met him one day as he walked past. They visited and she learned he was unemployed.

Strunk invited Harness to come back to obtain food and, if he wanted, to help her in the food pantry. He began working in the pantry and as they worked they “had the opportunity to talk,” said Strunk. She learned he had been in prison.

Harness was a Jehovah’s Witness but that didn’t keep Strunk from sharing her faith with him and trying her best to answer his questions. Years went by and other Baptists also got to know Harness at the Friendship Center. [Read more…]

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Reaching the World Could Begin with Chili

By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBC

Lindy May, a senior at the University of Memphis and a member of the BCM, befriended international students there which led her to international missions service.

Lindy May, a senior at the University of Memphis and a member of the BCM, befriended international students there which led her to international missions service.

MEMPHIS — Lindy May stood on a busy street in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and felt utterly alone.

Horns blared as thousands of people shuttled by on bicycles and motor scooters and others hurried by on sidewalks and past storefronts. The rhythmic chaos resembled the movements within an ant colony.

Yet May felt alone, overwhelmed because she knew the semi-ornate storefront just across the street was nothing more than a facade around a doorway to a living hell. The banner hanging outside promoted Pepsi-Cola, but the real commodity inside was women — many of them still girls — enslaved and tangled in the snare of sex trafficking. Their bondage wasn’t just physical, it was spiritual, and May could sense it. [Read more…]

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