Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

‘O LORD LISTEN, FORGIVE, HEAR, ACT’ AMERICA PRAYS

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Nashville-area residents gathered for prayer and worship at the SBC building during the 66th annual National Day of Prayer.
Photo by Shawn Hendricks/BP

WASHINGTON (BP) — From 45,000 or more venues including public parks, courthouses, churches, community centers, government buildings and the like, concerted pleas went up to God for America on the 66th annual National Day of Prayer.

“O Lord, Listen! O Lord, Forgive! O Lord, Hear and Act!” was the organized cry drawn from Daniel 9:19 today (May 4), that birthed perhaps hundreds of thousands of individual prayers for various aspects of society, including governmental sectors and leaders, families, media, businesses and religion, according to event organizers. “For Your Great Name’s Sake,” also taken from Daniel’s prayer, is the national theme. [Read more…]

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PORN DEEMED HEALTH HAZARD IN TENNESSEE

Baptist Press      

NASHVILLE — At least five states have officially declared pornography a public health crisis or harmful to the public, and at least one other is considering a similar measure, according to bill updates filed on state legislature websites.

A resolution passed by the Tennessee Legislature declaring pornography a public health hazard was awaiting Gov. Bill Haslam’s signature April 21. Days earlier, Tennessee became the fourth state to adopt such a resolution, joining Utah, South Dakota, and Arkansas. [Read more…]

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COMMUNICATIONS TEAM EARNS AWARDS

Baptist and Reflector

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Communications Team of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board won multiple awards during the 53rd annual Wilmer C. Fields Awards Competition sponsored by the Baptist Communicators Association.

The TBMB Communications Team received 13 awards, including the M.E. Dodd Memorial Award for radio, film, and video. Team members also captured five first place awards, two second place awards, and five third place awards. [Read more…]

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AMERICANS LIKE BIBLE BUT DON’T READ IT

By Bob Smietana
Lifeway Research

NASHVILLE — Americans have a positive view of the Bible. And many say the Christian Scriptures are filled with moral lessons for today.

However, more than half of Americans have read little or none of the Bible.

Less than a quarter of those who have ever read a Bible have a systematic plan for reading the Christian Scriptures each day. And a third of Americans never pick it up on their own, according to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. [Read more…]

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DALTON LEADS HOLSTON MINISTRIES FOR 20 YEARS

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor,

Ginger Dalton

JOHNSON CITY — Ginger Dalton will never forget participating in the birthday party for an inmate. He told the Baptists holding the party that he had never had a birthday party before.

That memory is just one of many such memories she has accumulated over her 20 years as church and community director for Holston Baptist Association, based here. She will retire in June after serving 20 years.

She also will never forget the fair ministry she directed where Baptists were offering cold water from a booth inside a building. One day a clown burst through the doors to the building and yelled, “Where’s the Christians with the cold water?” [Read more…]

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LEGACY LIVES ON THROUGH HISPANIC CHURCH

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

William Burton, church planting strategist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and volunteer church planter at Esperanza Church@ Harpeth First Baptist, speaks during a recent worship service. — Photos by Lonnie Wilkey

FRANKLIN — Missions and helping new churches have been a way of life for Earl and Violet Newcomb since the mid-1950s when they helped start the first of six churches at what is now Cross Keys Baptist Church in College Grove.

Earl Newcomb served as song leader while operating a business in Franklin and Violet served as pianist and church treasurer.

Their mantra has always been, “Lord, open the door and we will go.” [Read more…]

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SBC PHOENIX: ‘PRAY! FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS’

Baptist Press

PHOENIX — As this year’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting approaches, SBC President and Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines says fellow Baptists should anticipate emphases on prayer, evangelism, and financial stewardship at the June 13-14 gathering in Phoenix, where the 2003 and 2011 annual meetings also were held.

This year’s annual meeting theme is “Pray! For such a time as this” based on Luke 18:1 and Esther 4:14. Gaines hopes that through a commitment “to fervent, frequent, faith-filled prayer,” the SBC will become “a catalyst for spiritual awakening and revival. [Read more…]

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CHURCH GIVES FACILITY FOR HISPANIC CHURCH

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

God’s Gathering Place, Chattanooga, recently became the East Ridge Campus and Community Center of Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga. Standing in front of the former sanctuary of God’s Gathering Place, are, from left, Dennis Culbreth, director of missions, Hamilton County Baptist Association; Dwight Millsaps, former pastor, God’s Gathering Place; and Micah Fries, pastor, Brainerd Baptist.

CHATTANOOGA — God has worked through what most people would call a failure, says Dwight Millsaps, former pastor of a small church, God’s Gathering Place, in Chattanooga.

Though the church disbanded several months ago, recently God’s Gathering Place gave its facilities worth about $1 million to Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga, to meet a need of that church.

Brainerd Baptist needed more space for its Hispanic Congregation. Other positive factors are that the neighborhood has many Hispanic residents and the two churches are located only about a mile apart, though on different sides of Interstate 24.

[Read more…]

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TENNESCENE MAY 3-16

LEADERS

Joe and Linda Ledford, Mission Service Corps missionaries with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board based in Chilhowee Baptist Association, Alcoa, are retiring. They have served 20 years, eight in Canada and 12 in Townsend where they lead C.H.A.R.M. (CHilhowee ARea Ministries). They will be honored on Saturday, June 3, from 2-4 p.m. at the Townsend Visitors Center pavilion. For more information, contact 865-982-0499.

Larry Overton, director of Camp Tipton, Maryville, of Chilhowee Baptist Association, based in Alcoa, was called as pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Townsend, on April 23. [Read more…]

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KNOXVILLE CHURCH BAPTIZES 105 BELIEVERS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Samantha Wilson was one of 105 new believers baptized on April 23 at Faith Promise Church in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE – Faith Promise Church here baptized 105 new believers on Sunday, April 23.

The baptisms came following 331 professions of faith between April 12 and Easter Sunday, April 16. During that time frame the church held 42 services in eight locations, said Pastor Chris Stephens. He noted 16,432 people attended the services. [Read more…]

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