Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

TENNESCENE DEC. 6-19

DEATHS

Wilkey M. Jones Sr., a Baptist minister for 57 years and member of First Baptist Church, Decaturville, died Oct. 11 at the age of 84. He served on the staff of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes in Brentwood for eight years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Katie Sue McKee Jones. He is survived by his wife, Margie Jones, four children, two step-children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Vernon Woodard, minister of music at Center Point Baptist Church, Springfield, died Nov. 16.

LEADERS

David Ward

David Ward, pastor of Allensville Baptist Church, in Mount Pleasant is the new moderator of Maury Baptist Association, which is comprised of more than 20 Southern Baptist churches.

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Rossville, in Fayette Baptist Association, called Mike Hollaway as pastor on Nov. 3. Hollaway’s late father, Raymond Hollaway, was a former director of missions in the association. [Read more…]

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

APPRECIATES ARTICLE

I would like to thank Lonnie Wilkey for the excellent article entitled, “Pastor: Prayer Key To Rise In Baptisms,” which was published recently in the B&R.

Pastor Joshua Franks of First Baptist Church, Bruceton, was the featured pastor and humbly takes no credit for the growth of the church.  I thank the B&R for the article on Pastor Joshua and FBC, Bruceton, during a time in which churches are easily enamored with the latest gimmick that promises “church growth success.”  [Read more…]

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WELCH’S ART HONORS HOMETOWN HERITAGE

By Jennifer Rash Davis
The Alabama Baptist

Decorated Vietnam War veteran Bobby Welch, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, created “Winning Warriors” that showcases his Purple Heart in honor “of all those brave souls” pushing through their own wars.
— Photo by Jennifer Davis Rash/courtesy of The Alabama Baptist

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Some call it Dye Branch, others Dye Ditch, but no matter the reference used, natives of Fort Payne, Ala., who grew up in the area in the 1950s and 60s seem to know all the adventurous tales.

One of those natives, Bobby Welch — former president of the Southern Baptist Convention and retired longtime pastor of First Baptist Church, Daytona Beach, Fla. — has decided to take the stories to a new level with an official visual representation of those days.

“This is a heritage tribute, a tribute to the ordinary,” Welch said during the Oct. 29 annual meeting of Landmarks Historic Association of DeKalb County. “It is for the heroes of the environment — those who stayed and have been here through the thick and thin. They are producing, innovating, booming and doing what needs to be done.” [Read more…]

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LEAVELL’S DESIRE: JUST SHARE THE GOSPEL

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

David and Vicki Leavell

MILLINGTON — As David Leavell begins his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, his goal is as simple as a sermon with one point — just share the gospel.

He basically sees himself following the same message of the previous two convention presidents (Roc Collins and Steve Freeman) who strongly emphasized evangelism as Tennessee Baptists have a goal (the first of five objectives) in seeing 50,000 people annually saved, baptized, and set on the road to discipleship by 2024. [Read more…]

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THE GATLINBURG FIRES — ONE YEAR LATER

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

One year after fire destroyed the sanctuary and fellowship hall of Roaring Fork Baptist Church in Gatlinburg, the new sanctuary is nearing completion. — Photo by Joe Sorah

GATLINBURG — For pastor Kim McCroskey and his congregation, the odyssey is nearly over.

After spending almost exactly one year in temporary venues, the members of Roaring Fork Baptist Church in Gatlinburg will soon be returning to their original location. [Read more…]

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ANDERSON TO DIRECT UNION UNIVERSITY’S CENTER FOR RACIAL RECONCILIATION

From Union University

JACKSON, Tenn. – Frank Anderson, who occupies the Stephen Olford Chair of Expository Preaching at Union University, has been appointed as the director of Union’s Center for Racial Reconciliation.

In this position, Anderson will plan and host events related to a Christ-centered understanding of racial reconciliation and will work with university schools, departments, offices and centers to promote racial reconciliation. He will also teach courses related to urban ministry and African-American religious history. [Read more…]

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LIFEWAY DEDICATES NEW HEADQUARTERS IN NASHVILLE

By Lisa Cannon Green
Baptist Press

LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer (center) is joined by Carlton Capps, manager of the Nashville LifeWay Store (left), Eric Geiger, LifeWay senior vice president and CBO (right) and members of the executive leadership team in cutting the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of the SBC entity’s new corporate headquarters and LifeWay Store in downtown Nashville.
Photo by Katie Shull / LifeWay

NASHVILLE — LifeWay Christian Resources dedicated its new corporate headquarters Monday (Nov. 27) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a prayer of thanksgiving and a pledge to remain faithful to God’s Word.

President and CEO Thom S. Rainer recounted the changes taking place at LifeWay, from new physical spaces to new digital technologies. [Read more…]

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STUDENTS AT SUMMIT BODE WELL FOR FUTURE

By Todd Brady
Vice President for University Ministries, Union University

Union University faculty and students attending Summit were, from left, Todd Brady, vice president for university ministries; Alex Williams; J.P Barden; Joe Ball, director of discipleship and ministry; Josh Leamon; Joel Holland; Grant Allen; Andy Mayfield; and Michael Horton.

JACKSON — Driving back to Jackson from this year’s Summit, the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention which took place in Hendersonville, I found myself more encouraged than ever about the future of the state denomination.  Although it was a good meeting with good people who were about good work, I was most encouraged by the group of students from Union that accompanied us to the Convention.

This was their first time to attend such an event.  While I had spent time with them on our campus in classrooms, hallways and the cafeteria, it was good to share about 24 hours together at the annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists. [Read more…]

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COLLINS: RESCUING THE PERISHING REQUIRES URGENCY

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

HENDERSONVILLE — The act of rescuing a person from a fire is done with urgency and, in most cases, with great force.

Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives  for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, says that is the approach Christians need to take when dealing with individuals who don’t know Jesus.  [Read more…]

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‘UNLOCK THE DOOR’ AND SHARE THE GOSPEL

By Tim Ellsworth
Union University News Office

Officers for the Tennnessee Baptist Pastors Conference for the coming year are, from left, Scott Parkison, Stevens Street Baptist Church, Cookeville, president-elect; Tim McGehee, Grace Baptist Church, Tullahoma, president; and Daryl Crouch, Green Hill Church, Mount Juliet, secretary-treasurer.

HENDERSONVILLE — A sick church in today’s culture is likely the result of ineffective and ailing leaders and ministers, David Platt said Nov. 13 at the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference.

Platt, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, was the final speaker for the conference at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. He said the Old Testament prophets were addressing not just the sickness of the nation of Israel but their own shortcomings as well.

“It’s time for our hearts to be right before the Lord,” Platt said. [Read more…]

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