Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CHURCH CAN ADDRESS HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Leaders of Night of Hope Nashville, a conference on human trafficking, were, from left, Joe Sorah of the Tennessee Baptist Convention; Jim Cross, pastor, First Baptist Church, Donelson, site of the meeting; U.S. Sen. Bob Corker; Ashleigh Chapman, Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice; and Rusty Sumrall, director of missions, Nashville Baptist Association.

Leaders of Night of Hope Nashville, a conference on human trafficking, were, from left, Joe Sorah of the Tennessee Baptist Convention; Jim Cross, pastor, First Baptist Church, Donelson, site of the meeting; U.S. Sen. Bob Corker; Ashleigh Chapman, Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice; and Rusty Sumrall, director of missions, Nashville Baptist Association.

DONELSON — “The United States of America needs to use its moral leadership to end modern slavery around the world,” said U.S. Sen. Bob Corker at First Baptist Church here. His statement elicited applause from the about 300 in attendance.

Twenty-seven million people around the world are living in slavery because of human trafficking, “more than at any time in our world’s history,” reported Corker. He was one of several speakers for “Night of Hope Nashville” on ending human trafficking. First Baptist hosted the Oct. 13 conference.

To address human trafficking in the United States, a law was passed within the past year and a half to help law enforcement identify traffickers who are using the Internet, said Corker.  [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

PAST ELECTIONS: ‘DIRE’ CHRISTIAN PREDICTIONS NOT NEW

By David Roach
Baptist Press

161027past-electionsNASHVILLE (BP) — During the presidential campaign of 1800, Christian opponents of candidate Thomas Jefferson warned he “abhors the Christian system” and if elected, might send troops to seize Christians’ Bibles.

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln’s election was thought by some Southern Baptist leaders to threaten fundamental American liberties. A century later, the presidential campaign elicited the Chicago Sun-Times headline “Southern Baptists Tell Why They Are Attacking Kennedy.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

WANT AN ADDED TREAT THIS HALLOWEEN? TRY CHURCH, SAY AMERICA’S PASTORS

By Bob Smietana
Lifeway Research

161026halloweenNASHVILLE, Tenn. — This Halloween, millions of Americans will carve pumpkins, dress up in costumes, decorate their yards, and gobble down the candy they get while trick-or-treating.

America’s preachers also hope they’ll consider coming to church, according to a new phone survey of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.

Two-thirds of Protestant pastors say they encourage church members to ask their neighbors to a church-related event like a fall fair or trunk-or-treat. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

BAG LADIES DRAW GLOBAL ATTENTION

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Members of the Bag Ladies of Second Baptist Church, Union City, and several other churches stand with Randy Pool, Mississippi River Ministry director for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. From left are Janice Akin, Jeannie Wilson, Peggy Robinson, and Pool. The Bag Ladies make mats for the homeless out of plastic bags. Pool introduced them to the project and helps them distribute the mats.

Members of the Bag Ladies of Second Baptist Church, Union City, and several other churches stand with Randy Pool, Mississippi River Ministry director for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. From left are Janice Akin, Jeannie Wilson, Peggy Robinson, and Pool. The Bag Ladies make mats for the homeless out of plastic bags. Pool introduced them to the project and helps them distribute the mats.

UNION CITY — On a recent Tuesday Peggy Robinson was interviewed by someone from NBC Nightly News in New York City.

Robinson, a long-time member of Second Baptist Church here, is becoming used to the media attention which has extended to media in other countries.

It probably started around Sept. 9 when a video of her and her fellow “Bag Ladies” who make mats for the homeless out of plastic bags was posted online. Produced by WPSD-TV in Paducah, Ky., the video and story appeared on WPSDlocal6.com and the station’s Facebook page. The video went viral with currently 14 million views. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

EVANGELICAL DIVIDE SEEN IN ELECTION

Baptist Press

161021evangelicalsNASHVILLE — Americans with evangelical beliefs share a great deal in common. They trust in Jesus alone, evangelize their neighbors, and believe the Bible is the final authority in their lives.

But when it comes to voting, race and political affiliation still divide evangelicals, according to a survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research taken just before the second presidential debate. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

A DAY AT THE ZOO AFFIRMS CREATION

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Former Tennessee Baptist Convention staffer Jennie Rhodes spies a monkey in a tree at the Nashville Zoo with her husband, Justin. The Rhodes, who were attending the TBC Apologetics Conference, live in Clarksville.

Former Tennessee Baptist Convention staffer Jennie Rhodes spies a monkey in a tree at the Nashville Zoo with her husband, Justin. The Rhodes, who were attending the TBC Apologetics Conference, live in Clarksville.

NASHVILLE — On a recent Saturday some folks viewing the giraffes at the Nashville Zoo could hold their smart phone up to the area sign and view via video Brent Porter, associate pastor of students, Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, say, “God created the giraffe on day six and created it as the tallest animal in all of the world. …

“The giraffe has one of the strongest hearts of any animal because it has to have the pressure to push the blood all the way to the brain. …” The giraffe also has very high blood pressure which seems like it would damage his brain when he lowers his head, he explained. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

TENNESCENE OCT. 19-NOV. 1

DEATHS

Oran Creasman

Oran Creasman

D. Oran Creasman, 82, retired pastor of Riceville, died Oct. 8. He was pastor emeritus of Eastanallee Baptist Church, Riceville, which he served from 1965-2001 as music director and then as pastor. He then was interim pastor of several churches. Creasman was a member of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board. He also was an educator. From 1965-85 he was assistant principal and then principal of McMinn County High School. He served on a missions team in Hong Kong and was a leader of several community organizations. Creasman led prayer during a visit of President Ronald Reagan to Athens. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia; four children; brother Carl of Riceville, who has been a parliamentarian of the TBC; brother Herschel of Florida; sister Ozelle of Athens; seven grandchildren; and one great grandchild. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

BCM STUDENTS USE FALL BREAK TO MINISTER

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Nick Fontenot, left, and Caleb Stephens of Tennessee Tech work to remove a kitchen countertop from a home in Walker, La.

Nick Fontenot, left, and Caleb Stephens of Tennessee Tech work to remove a kitchen countertop from a home in Walker, La.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Nearly 70 Baptist Collegiate Ministries students from three Tennessee campuses (University of Tennessee-Knoxville; Belmont University, Nashville; and Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville) used their fall break to help flood victims in Louisiana.

In addition, a team from Walters State Community College in Morristown did disaster relief work in West Virginia.

The Tennessee college students did mudout in homes in the greater Baton Rouge area following heavy flooding in the state in August. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

NOBTS TO LAUNCH ADRIAN ROGERS CENTER FOR PREACHING

By Gary D. Myers
Public Relations, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

A center focusing on expository preaching named for the late Adrian Rogers is being established by New Orleans Seminary.

A center focusing on expository preaching named for the late Adrian Rogers is being established by New Orleans Seminary.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have approved the establishment of an Adrian Rogers Center for Expository Preaching.

Additional initiatives also were approved during the trustees’ fall meeting to enhance the training of local church pastors and other church leaders — a Christian leadership major in the doctor of philosophy program and several enhancements to the seminary’s master of divinity program.

“Dr. Adrian Rogers is one of the most significant alumni in the history of NOBTS — well-known for a lifetime of excellent expository preaching,” President Chuck Kelley said following the trustee meeting. “This center will enhance our ability to train students and prepare them to open God’s Word and teach through great expository preaching over the years of their ministry.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

GA DR EFFORTS WINDING DOWN

Baptist and Reflector

dr-disaster-relief-logoSAVANNAH, Ga. — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief operations at Southside Baptist Church in Savannah are winding down, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

The feeding unit of Sullivan Baptist Association, based in Kingsport, was sent to Savannah last week in response to Hurricane Matthew. A shower trailer unit from Holston Baptist Association, based in Johnson City, along with chain saw teams from both associations; Cumberland Baptist Association, based in Clarksville; and Knox County Baptist Association, based in Knoxville, have been on site. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Address

4017 Rural Plains Circle
Franklin, TN 37064

Contact Information

Mail: Baptist & Reflector, P.O. Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068
Physical Address: 4017 Rural Plains Circle, Franklin, TN 37064
Email: bandr@tnbaptist.org
Phone: 615-371-2003

2025 © The Baptist and Reflector. All Right Reserved.