By Baptist and Reflector

The Committee on Boards and Committee on Committees are receiving recommendations from Tennessee Baptists of individuals to serve on Tennessee Baptist Convention boards or committees.

Tennessee Baptists are strongly encouraged to make recommendations of fellow Tennessee Baptists to serve on the Executive 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. [Read more…]

Holding a replica check representing a $1 million multi-year gift to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes are, from left, Greg McCoy, president-elect; Randy C. Davis, executive director, Tennessee Baptist Convention; benefactors Denise and George Shinn; and Bryant Millsaps, TBCH president.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD – The Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes has received a gift of $1 million for its foster care program.

Former NBA franchise owner George Shinn and his wife, Denise, who now live in Franklin, presented the first installment of the gift to TBCH officials Jan. 15 during a special ceremony on the TBCH campus. The gift will be given over several years. [Read more…]

By Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — After a slow start in November, the first month of the 2014-15 fiscal year, Cooperative Program giving rebounded in December.

Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave a total of $3,325,814 through the Cooperative Program in December.

[Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

MILTON — Nathan Hale, pastor of Milton Baptist Church here, preached Sunday, Jan. 4, though he and his family lost their house in Murfreesboro and most of their belongings to fire just two days before.

He preached wearing clothes given to him and using a New Testament he had at the church.

“It didn’t occur to me not to,” said Hale, who has served as a pastor for 50 years. [Read more…]

John Acuff, right, a deacon at First Baptist Church, Madisonville, makes a presentation to Pastor Lon Shoopman. The church celebrated Shoopman’s 40th anniversary.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

First Baptist Church, Madisonville, honors Lon Shoopman on 40th anniversary

MADISONVILLE — When Lon Shoopman became pastor of First Baptist Church here on the second Sunday of January in 1975 he had no expectations of how long he would remain.

But he knew how he would approach his second pastorate as he transitioned from First Baptist Church, in Sebree, Ky., where he served for four years following graduation from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. [Read more…]

Lisa and Bruce Hendrich will soon be leaving Oak Street Baptist Church in Elizabethton where he has served as pastor since 1996 to become church planters in Hendrich’s native state of Colorado.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

ELIZABETHTON — Members of Oak Street Baptist Church here are excited to see their pastor and his wife leave — sort of.

Members are sad they are leaving but excited about why they are heading west to Colorado. [Read more…]

Mike Mayo has served as pastor of Union Hill Baptist Church, a 150-year-old plus congregation in the northwestern portion of Davidson County, for 10 years. He recently voluntarily took a $6,000 pay cut in order that the church did not have to eliminate its gifts through the Cooperative Program and Nashville Baptist Association.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

GOODLETTSVILLE — During the budgeting process for the new year, members of Union Hill Baptist Church here faced a dilemma.

Because of a slight decline in membership and giving in recent months, the budget and finance committee had to reduce the church’s budget by 8.5 percent. [Read more…]

By Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — More messengers attended The Summit Nov. 10-12 at Brentwood Baptist Church here than previously thought.

Following Summit, the Baptist and Reflector reported 958 registered messengers. [Read more…]

Michael Ellis

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — The year 2014 proved to be historic for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

For the first time in its 140-year history, messengers to The Summit in November elected an African-American as president.

Michael Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist Church in Memphis, was elected president without any opposition. [Read more…]