Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

WHITE CHRISTIAN AMERICA DECLINING, BUT STILL PACKS PUNCH

By Jeff Brumley
Baptist News Global

bible-american-flagConservative evangelicals have lost their cultural and political clout as their numbers and vitality wane, author Robert Jones argues in his book The End of White Christian America.

The book was published in the summer of 2016 — just a few months before Donald Trump rode the support of fearful Caucasian Christians all the way to the White House.

As a result, Jones said he received a slew of post-election social media messages, many of them tongue-in-cheek suggestions that he re-title his book. [Read more…]

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DR LEADERS MARK 50 YEARS OF MINISTRY, EYE FUTURE

Baptist Press

170202dr-anniv

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders celebrated the ministry’s 50th anniversary during their annual conference, Jan. 23-27. -Photo by Jane Rodgers/Southern Baptist TEXAN

DENTON, Texas (BP) — Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders throughout North America met for their annual “Round Table” meeting and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of SBDR.

Representatives from nearly all the state Baptist conventions participated in the Jan. 23-27 event at Camp Copass in Denton, Texas. Portions of the week focused on celebrating five decades of ministry efforts, looking at the present state of the ministry and preparing for the future.

“Fifty years represents a significant event for us,” said Mickey Caison, the executive director of SBDR at the North American Mission Board. [Read more…]

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FAKE NEWS HARD TO AVOID, EVEN HARDER TO ERADICATE

By Jeff Brumley
Baptist News Global

crumpled-newspapersFake news is big news these days, and many want to know how not to be duped by it.

On one level, the solutions are a matter of common sense.

“First, you look for verification,” said James Black, assistant director of the Center for Collaborative Journalism and professor of writing in the media at Mercer University.

Christianity Today published more tips, including not posting items whose authenticity is disproven or that cannot be verified. [Read more…]

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SBC CHILD CARE, CHILDREN, YOUTH REG. OPENS FEB. 1

Baptist Press

-Screen shot from www.thegiantcow.com

-Screen shot from www.thegiantcow.com

PHOENIX (BP) — Registration opens Feb. 1 for preschool child care, Giant Cow Children’s Ministries and Youth on Mission in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s 2017 annual meeting June 13-14 in Phoenix.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) child care volunteers will care for preschoolers; while Giant Cow Children’s Ministries will lead the 5- to 12-year-olds, and Woman’s Missionary Union will guide the Youth on Mission curricula and activities.

All activities for children and youth will be housed at the Phoenix Convention Center, the annual meeting site. Youth who have completed grades 7-12 will begin their days at the convention center with worship before going into the community for hands-on mission projects. [Read more…]

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NOT HALF THE MAN HE USED TO BE

Pastor leads church members to lose 1,200 lbs. in 2016

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

These members of Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church, Ripley, lost at least 30 lbs. and kept it off during 2016. They were challenged to do so by their pastor, Ryan Culpepper, who lost about 222 lbs. in two years, nearly half of his original weight. Culpepper was motivated to begin a health program by the “Chubby Challenge” of Randy C. Davis, president and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. A total of about 100 people participated in the church’s 2016 health challenge. The church draws about 150 to Sunday morning activities. — Photo by Mackenzie O’Kelley

These members of Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church, Ripley, lost at least 30 lbs. and kept it off during 2016. They were challenged to do so by their pastor, Ryan Culpepper, who lost about 222 lbs. in two years, nearly half of his original weight. Culpepper was motivated to begin a health program by the “Chubby Challenge” of Randy C. Davis, president and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. A total of about 100 people participated in the church’s 2016 health challenge. The church draws about 150 to Sunday morning activities. — Photo by Mackenzie O’Kelley

RIPLEY — “I’m not half the man I used to be,” sang the Beatles, in the song, “Yesterday.”

Pastor Ryan Culpepper can claim the statement literally and with joy. Culpepper lost nearly half of his body weight, or 222 lbs., in two years!

In addition, about half way through his odyssey he challenged members of his church, Mary’s Chapel Baptist Church, Ripley, to become fit and lose 1,000 lbs. in 2016. Members lost about 1,200 lbs., he proudly reported.

All of these accomplishments can be traced back to the “Chubby Challenge” issued by Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, in January of 2015. Davis challenged people to become fit by losing at least 10 percent of their body weight so “we’ll be living healthier lives and be better witnesses for Christ.” [Read more…]

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CHURCH DISPLAYS KINGDOM VISION

Forerunner Baptist to open Covington campus at Rialto Baptist

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Participating in a joint worship service of Rialto Baptist Church, Covington, and Forerunner Baptist Church, Ripley, were, from left, Thomas Bester, pastor, Forerunner Baptist; Carl Funderburk, pastor, Rialto Baptist; and Clay Gilbreath, director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association.

Participating in a joint worship service of Rialto Baptist Church, Covington, and Forerunner Baptist Church, Ripley, were, from left, Thomas Bester, pastor, Forerunner Baptist; Carl Funderburk, pastor, Rialto Baptist; and Clay Gilbreath, director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association.

COVINGTON — The handwriting has been on the wall for years at Rialto Baptist Church in Covington.

The almost 100-year-old church once was a vibrant congregation with more than 200 members. But as the community transitioned, many members moved away. Many of those who stayed have since died.

As of Jan. 15, Rialto Baptist had about five members plus pastor Carl Funderburk and his wife Jane. Funderburk, 79, has been pastor of Rialto for 14 years. In 2005 Funderburk led his then congregation of 13 members to make plans should the church eventually have to close its doors. [Read more…]

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MOST CHURCHES HOLD SUNDAY SERVICES, SUPER BOWL OR NOT

Baptist Press

170126football1NASHVILLE, Tenn.— For churches that have Sunday night activities, most pastors say it’s still “game on” despite the big game next weekend.

According to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research, 68 percent of Protestant pastors say their church typically has some activity on Sunday night. And among those pastors, almost 6 in 10 (59 percent) say they will continue as normal on the night of the Super Bowl.

“It is easy to think everyone is watching the game,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research, “but even during the Super Bowl, millions of Americans are doing other things that are important to them. For many, that includes attending church.” [Read more…]

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PORN ‘HEALTH HAZARD’ RESOLUTIONS CONSIDERED IN TENN., VA.

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Searching PornoNASHVILLE (BP) — Tennessee and Virginia would become the latest states in the U.S. to declare pornography a public health hazard under resolutions introduced in the states’ legislatures.

Tennessee Senate Joint Resolution 35, which was filed in the state Senate Tuesday (Jan. 24), urges the state to “recognize pornography as a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms.” The resolution acknowledges the need for “education, prevention, research, and policy change at the community and societal level in order to address the epidemic” harming the state and nation.

Republican Sen. Mae Beavers from Mt. Juliet reintroduced the bill after it passed the Senate in April 2016, but was not voted on in the House. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE JAN. 25-FEB. 7

LEADERS

Roger Smith has been called as youth pastor, Ninth Street Baptist Church, Erwin.

Jamie Carver and Troy Whitson have been licensed to preach by Grace Baptist Church, Johnson City.

Charles Anderson, retired pastor who lives in Stone Baptist Association, based in Cookeville, will return on a missions trip to Brazil again this year. He has been traveling there for 18 years. For more information, contact the association at stoneassoc@citlink.net or 931-526-4655.

Ralph Carter has been called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Ridgetop. [Read more…]

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BOARDS, COMMITTEES SOUGHT

Baptist & Reflector

170124boardrecBRENTWOOD — Below is a replica of the recommendation form which the Committee on Boards and Committee on Committees have jointly developed for Tennessee Baptists to use in recommending individuals for service on Tennessee Baptist Convention boards or committees.

Tennessee Baptists are strongly encouraged to go online at www.tnbaptist.org/boardrec and make recommendations of fellow Tennessee Baptists to serve on the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, one of the seven institutional boards of trust, or one of the eight convention committees, all of which carry on the work of the convention between sessions of the convention. Recommendation form instructions, bylaw requirements, and committee preferences have been added to the paper form and are also included on the website. [Read more…]

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