Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

History Made During Summit

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Elected officers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention at its Nov. 11-12 annual meeting were, from left, Nathan Washburn, pastor, First Baptist Church, Greenbrier, second vice president; Michael Ellis, pastor, Impact Baptist Church, Memphis, president; and David Leavell, pastor, First Baptist Church, Millington, vice president. — Photos by Connie Davis Bushey

TBC elects first African-American president; strides made toward 50/50 CP distribution

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — By unanimous consent, messengers to the 140th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention elected the first African-American president in convention history during the Nov. 11-12 meeting held at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood. [Read more…]

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David Landrith dies after bout with cancer

David Landrith

David Landrith

By Baptist and Reflector

HENDERSONVILLE – David Landrith, 51, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, died Nov. 18 at his home following an extended bout with cancer.

Landrith was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called colorectal melanoma in March of 2013, according to a statement released by Long Hollow Baptist Church. Despite several surgeries and clinical trial medicines, the cancer spread throughout his body, including his lungs and brain. [Read more…]

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TBC CP Giving Finishes Strong

By Baptist and Reflector

cplogoBRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $3,204,689 through the Cooperative Program in October.

The strong showing enabled the TBC to finish the 2013-14 fiscal year with $34,032,296 in CP receipts.

The amount fell just short ($256,650 or 0.7 percent) of matching last year’s total giving of $34,288,947. [Read more…]

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Baptists Pray Over Tennessee

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Prayer rallies, such as this one held earlier this year at the Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton, were held in all 95 counties in Tennessee in 2014. The rallies included the “Salvation Bell” and prayers for those in Tennessee who do not know Christ as Savior were led by Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Prayer rallies, such as this one held earlier this year at the Carter County Courthouse in Elizabethton, were held in all 95 counties in Tennessee in 2014. The rallies included the “Salvation Bell” and prayers for those in Tennessee who do not know Christ as Savior were led by Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

BRENTWOOD — At the beginning of this year, Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, had an ambitious goal.

His desire was to ring the “salvation bell” and to lead prayer rallies in every county of the state. And though the weather was not always cooperative (three rallies had to be rescheduled), Davis accomplished the goal on Nov. 3 with the three remaining rallies in Davidson, Williamson, and Rutherford counties. [Read more…]

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Summit Begins Next Week

Baptist and Reflector

summit-logoBRENTWOOD — The Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists kicks off next week on Monday, Nov. 10, at Brentwood Baptist Church.

The first day of Summit features the Tennessee Baptist Convention Pastors Conference with sessions beginning at 1 and 5:45 p.m. Other meetings on Monday include Hispanic pastors gathering, the Good Cup (a meeting for ministers’ wives), the Black Church Pastors luncheon, Tennessee Baptist Religious Educators Association, and a host of TBC committee meetings. [Read more…]

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Tennessee Voters Pass Amendment 1

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD – Despite an aggressive push by those opposing Amendment 1, Tennessee voters adopted the amendment, which will allow for regulation of abortions in the state, by a margin of 728,751 (53 percent) to 656,427 (47 percent).

The number of “yes” votes cast far exceeded the number required (approximately 675,000) for passage. For an amendment to the State Constitution to pass, it needs a simple majority plus 1 in the number of ballots cast in the governor’s race. [Read more…]

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WMU Dedicates Missionary House

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Leaders of the dedication program stand in front of the house. They included, from left, Gary Rickman, director of strategic relationships, Tennessee Baptist Convention; Tammy Saffel, former Tennessee WMU president of Ruston, La.; Candy Phillips, Tennessee WMU executive director; and Bobby Turner, Tennessee WMU president of Knoxville.

Leaders of the dedication program stand in front of the house. They included, from left, Gary Rickman, director of strategic relationships, Tennessee Baptist Convention; Tammy Saffel, former Tennessee WMU president of Ruston, La.; Candy Phillips, Tennessee WMU executive director; and Bobby Turner, Tennessee WMU president of Knoxville.

MOUNT JULIET — Despite “the rough spots” a dream became a reality for Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union on Nov. 1.

It was because of those rough spots that “we knew that God was in this,” said Bobby Turner, Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union president, at the dedication of the missionary house built by Tennessee WMU.

She quoted Hebrews 3:4 — “For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.”

“This was a God-sized task,” said Turner of Knoxville. [Read more…]

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Tennessee WMU Elects Exec

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Vickie Anderson

Vickie Anderson

MOUNT JULIET — Vickie Lynn Anderson was unanimously elected executive director/treasurer of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union Nov. 1.

Anderson currently is associate director/ministry specialist for missions growth and leadership development for Tennessee WMU. She has been on the staff for 20 years.

She was elected to the role by the Executive Board of Tennessee WMU from about 50 candidates. Candy Phillips, current executive director, will retire Dec. 31 after serving for 12 years. Formerly Phillips was president for four years. [Read more…]

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West Tennessee Pastor, Wife Killed in Automobile Accident

Baptist and Reflector

LARRY BYASSEE

LARRY BYASSEE

RIDGELY – Tennessee Baptist pastor Larry Byassee and his wife, Shirley, were killed Oct. 26 in an automobile accident on State Highway 78 near Ridgely, according to news reports.

Byassee, 71, was pastor of Wynnburg Baptist Church in Lake County. He had just preached his last sermon at the church. He and his wife were in the process of moving to Hermitage to be near their daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Jeremy Lyell.

According to news accounts, Lyell was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Equinox when an oncoming car moved into their lane, striking them head on. The Byassees were passengers in the car. [Read more…]

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Tennesseans Face ‘Monumental’ Vote, Says Davis

Baptist and Reflector

Jayme Hull, center, women’s ministry director at Judson Baptist Church, Nashville, speaks at a press conference in support of Amendment 1 held Oct. 14 at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. Middle Tennessee ministers gathered in support of Amendment 1, including Frank Lewis, far right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Nashville. Lewis spoke briefly at the press conference in support of Yes on 1.

Jayme Hull, center, women’s ministry director at Judson Baptist Church, Nashville, speaks at a press conference in support of Amendment 1 held Oct. 14 at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. Middle Tennessee ministers gathered in support of Amendment 1, including Frank Lewis, far right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Nashville. Lewis spoke briefly at the press conference in support of Yes on 1.

BRENTWOOD — Tennesseans are facing “the most monumental vote” in the state’s 218-year-old history, says Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Referring to Amendment 1 which is on the state ballot, Davis said, “It will be an indictment on Christians if Amendment 1 does not pass.”

Davis made his observations in a column posted at www.tnbaptist.org on Oct. 17. It also has been published in daily newspapers across the state. [Read more…]

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