Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

2016 ELECTION: IS NOT VOTING AN OPTION?

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

dont-vote-buttons-symbolBRENTWOOD — Former Tennessee Baptist pastor Kenyn Cureton has heard numerous concerns expressed about not having a viable option to vote for in the upcoming presidential election on Nov. 8.

In his current role as vice president for church ministries with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., Cureton has been asked his opinion of the upcoming presidential election multiple times. Often, he is asked if Christians should consider not voting in the 2016 election because of a dissatisfaction with the two primary candidates — Hillary Clinton (Democrat) and Donald Trump (Republican). [Read more…]

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DENVER’S BEAUTY, SPIRITUAL NEED SEEN BY NAMB TRUSTEES

Mike Ebert
Executive Dir. of Public Relations, NAMB

"What could God do with the North American Mission Board? What could God do with the Southern Baptist Convention if we would realize that the primary thing we are to do before we do anything else is pray?" SBC President Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., challenged North American Mission Board trustees as they met in Denver Oct. 4-5. Photo by Hayley Catt/NAMB

“What could God do with the North American Mission Board? What could God do with the Southern Baptist Convention if we would realize that the primary thing we are to do before we do anything else is pray?” SBC President Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., challenged North American Mission Board trustees as they met in Denver Oct. 4-5. Photo by Hayley Catt/NAMB

DENVER (BP) — Set against a backdrop of freshly snow-capped mountains on the front range of Colorado’s Rockies, North American Mission Board trustees saw firsthand how Southern Baptist church planters are countering spiritual darkness in the midst of a recreational paradise.

On the Monday before their Oct. 4-5 meeting, trustees loaded onto buses to visit church planters at their places of ministry. One, Kevin Hasenack, is planting Calvary Church Denver in one of the most diverse communities in the area. [Read more…]

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PLANS CHANGE; DR TEAMS HEADED TO SAVANNAH, GA.

Baptist and Reflector

dr-disaster-relief-logoBRENTWOOD — There is a reason Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief emphasizes fluidity in an “Introduction to Disaster Relief” course, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

On Friday, Oct. 7, DR leaders in the state were told they would be needed in Florida. A day later, however, Jones received a call that Florida did not receive as much damage as originally expected. The Tennessee teams were asked to go to Savannah, Ga., instead.

Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on Oct. 4, causing massive destruction before hitting Cuba later that night. The damage in Cuba was not as extensive as first expected but some areas were hard hit. [Read more…]

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‘I AM BIBLE’ HIGHLIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS OF GOD

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

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Terry Kirby, pastor of Alpha Baptist Church, Morristown, holds a copy of his new ‘I Am Bible’ which became available in LifeWay Christian Stores and from other Christian booksellers on Oct. 1.

MORRISTOWN — “Put My words in a different color.”

Though it’s been about five years since he heard those words, he cannot forget them because the words came from the same voice Terry Kirby heard when God called him to preach.

Kirby, pastor of Alpha Baptist Church, Morristown, listened to God when he answered His call and he did so once again.

The result of hearing that voice the second time? A new Bible — the “I Am Bible,” which highlights the spoken words of God and Jesus throughout the Bible. [Read more…]

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EC MEDIA POLICY INCLUDES SOCIAL MEDIA

Baptist Press

social-media-balloons-handsNASHVILLE — The Executive Committee has voted to update its media policy, prompted by the proliferation and ease of use of social media.

In addition to news media, the policy now encompasses any individuals in attendance at EC meetings, including Executive Committee members themselves.

The new policy received a unanimous vote Sept. 20 during the EC’s two-day meeting in Nashville. [Read more…]

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REACHING THE 94 PERCENT IN NYC

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Members of Belmont Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, and Swerve Church in NYC pause this summer during their missions work painting over graffiti on a building. Tennesseans include, from left, first row, Karen Foy and Breanna Foy; and Abigail Lethgo, second from right; and Barry Lethgo, right; back row, Mike Foy, second from left; and Andy Minton, third from left.

Members of Belmont Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, and Swerve Church in NYC pause this summer during their missions work painting over graffiti on a building. Tennesseans include, from left, first row, Karen Foy and Breanna Foy; and Abigail Lethgo, second from right; and Barry Lethgo, right; back row, Mike Foy, second from left; and Andy Minton, third from left.

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. -— “If you reach somebody in New York City you have the potential of reaching the world,” said Kevin Cabe, former Knoxvillian who is now a Baptist missionary in New York City.

“People move here for fame, fortune, film, finance, food, and everything in between. Many Tennesseans are moving here too as we speak. … Then people often move on,” he explained, adding that though 22 million people live within 75 miles of Times Square, the population is transient. Eight and a half million people live in the city. Many are originally from other countries. [Read more…]

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DR TEAM SENT TO FLORIDA; OTHERS WILL BE NEEDED IN HURRICANE’S AFTERMATH

Baptist and Reflector

Photo: NOAA.gov

Photo: NOAA.gov

BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptists have been asked to respond in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on Oct. 4, causing massive destruction before hitting Cuba later that night. The damage in Cuba was not as extensive as first expected but some areas were hard hit.

In Haiti, at least 478 deaths have been attributed to the massive storm and the number is expected to rise. [Read more…]

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INTERNET CHANGE POSES RELIGIOUS LIBERTY THREAT

Baptist Press

http, www, web, site, computer, screen, InternetNASHVILLE — When the U.S. government relinquishes control of a nonprofit organization that oversees Internet domain names, a California Baptist University software engineering professor says, the potential for religious liberty violations could increase.

Since 1998, the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has coordinated and administered Internet domain names, with oversight from the U.S. Department of Commerce. But as of Oct. 1, when the government’s contract expires, ICANN will be governed entirely by an independent board — a move that has been decried by some commentators as dangerous and dismissed by others as innocuous. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE OCT. 5-18

DEATHS

Jim Richards

Jim Richards

Jim Richards, 78, a longtime Southern Baptist minister, died recently in Memphis. He was a Southern Baptist missionary in the Dominican Republic and interim director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association, based in Covington, in 2016 and 2007. Richards was former interim pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Covington. He also worked for Southern Baptist organizations in Arizona and Florida. [Read more…]

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ABC DEBUTS TRANSGENDER CHILD ON TV

Baptist Press

161005modern-familyNASHVILLE — An 8-year-old girl who lives as a transgender boy appeared on the Sept. 28 episode of ABC’s “Modern Family,” portraying a transgender friend of Lily, the daughter of the show’s leading gay couple, the series’ director has announced.

Modern Family director Ryan Case identified the show’s first openly transgender actor on Twitter, saying, “He’s 8 years old, from Atlanta, and just happens to be transgender. He plays Lily’s friend Tom in this week’s Modern Family.”

Jeff Johnston, issues analyst for the marriage and parenting group Focus on the Family (FOTF), told Baptist Press the episode would likely confuse children. [Read more…]

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