Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

PLATT ASKS STATE PAPERS TO ENCOURAGE UNITY

Baptist Press

160219platt-imb

IMB president David Platt, during a Feb. 16 meeting in Puerto Rico, asked Baptist state paper leaders for their “help in encouraging the churches.” -Photo by Shawn Hendricks.

PONCE, Puerto Rico (BP) — International Mission Board President David Platt has asked Baptist state papers to encourage unity among Southern Baptists following the announcement next week of how many IMB personnel have left the board through a series of voluntary resignation programs.

Addressing a gathering of Baptist state paper leaders Feb. 16 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Platt also detailed what he deemed some of the most exciting work God is doing through IMB missionaries across the globe. [Read more…]

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DR TEAMS CONTINUE WORK AMID FLINT WATER CRISIS

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

dr-disaster-relief-logoMOUNT JULIET — Nineteen Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will be serving in Flint, Mich., Feb. 21-28, responding to the city’s water crisis, reported Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist DR specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

The volunteers will be installing water filters in homes and providing encouragement and prayer, he added. The project is being coordinated by the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board and the Flint-area emergency management office. [Read more…]

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YOUTH CURRICULUM DEBUTS: 6-YEAR FREE RESOURCE

Baptist Press

Richard Ross

Richard Ross

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) — Richard Ross has spent most of his life leading youth to a deeper relationship with Christ, so he didn’t hesitate when he felt God’s call to develop a small group curriculum for teens and young adults.

But even Ross, a former Tennessee Baptist youth minister at Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory, was surprised at the result: a six-year free curriculum for grades 7-12 encompassing a multi-year journey to learn everything from apologetics and ethics to evangelism and missions.

The online “Disciple6” curriculum, written by 60-plus faculty and students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, includes learner and leader guides spanning core doctrines of the faith to train disciples for Christ. [Read more…]

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EZELL URGES UNION STUDENTS TO ORDER LIVES AROUND OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST

By Nathan Handley
Union University News Office

160216ezell-chapelJACKSON — Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, encouraged Union University students to be obedient in their mission as Christians at a chapel service Feb. 10 in the G. M. Savage Memorial Chapel.

“The Bible tells us very clearly that, as believers we’re to be on mission,” Ezell said. “That means as a teacher, as an engineer, whatever it is — you can be on mission.”

Ezell, a 1985 graduate of Union, said North America needs more people on mission. He said the Southeast is full of churches, but there is great need in other regions. He said Americans tend to take things for granted and assume that the way things are where they live is the way things are everywhere. [Read more…]

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BACKPACKS AID TENNESSEE CHILDREN

Baptist Press

160215backpacksALPHARETTA, Ga. — Since 2001, Appalachian Regional Ministries, a ministry of the North American Mission Board, has collected and distributed more than 140,000 Christmas backpacks and boxes filled with toys, clothing, school supplies, food, and hygiene items and a Bible.

As the ministry has expanded over the years, backpacks were distributed in the 2015 outreach to more than 46,000 children affected by poverty in Appalachia as well as the Mississippi Delta and beyond.

NAMB’s Appalachian ministry has seen more than 4,000 decisions for Christ over the years as a result of the yearly initiative. [Read more…]

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N.C. BAPTISTS TO EMPLOY IMB RETIREES

Baptist Press

BSC Executive Director-Treasurer Milton Hollifield Jr. said during a BSC Board of Directors meeting, "I give thanks to God that North Carolina Baptists rallied behind our mission board and rallied behind these returning missionaries at a most critical time."

BSC Executive Director-Treasurer Milton Hollifield Jr. said during a BSC Board of Directors meeting, “I give thanks to God that North Carolina Baptists rallied behind our mission board and rallied behind these returning missionaries at a most critical time.”

CARY, N.C. — The Executive Committee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina approved a recommendation Jan. 26 to set up a $500,000 reserve fund to employ International Mission Board retirees returning to North Carolina.

Executive Director-Treasurer Milton Hollifield Jr. said, “This reserve will provide additional funding for strategic efforts to impact lostness through disciple-making … as we seek to capitalize on the expertise of IMB missionaries who are returning to the United States.” [Read more…]

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LMCO ENGENDERS SACRIFICE, CREATIVITY

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Quilters of West Hills Baptist Church, Lebanon, pause in front of the quilt they made to be auctioned for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. From left are, first row, Kaitlyn Rodriguez, April Everett, Olivia Kelly, and Kyra Guess; middle row, Linda Nixon, Carol Pharris, Donna Lowery, and Cindy Gibbs; and back row, Deanna Rogers and Jenifer Goode.

Quilters of West Hills Baptist Church, Lebanon, pause in front of the quilt they made to be auctioned for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. From left are, first row, Kaitlyn Rodriguez, April Everett, Olivia Kelly, and Kyra Guess; middle row, Linda Nixon, Carol Pharris, Donna Lowery, and Cindy Gibbs; and back row, Deanna Rogers and Jenifer Goode.

BRENTWOOD — Giving by Tennessee Baptists to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions is up from last year about 5 percent — from $6 million to about $6.3 million as of Jan. 31.

Early reports are that giving has been both sacrificial and creative.

Some Tennessee Baptists intentionally sought to increase LMCO gifts this year due to the financial situation of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention that receives the offering.

In August 2015, the IMB announced the need to reduce personnel and offered a voluntary retirement incentive to missionary and stateside workers. [Read more…]

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COOKEVILLE PASTOR UNDERSTANDS ADDICTIONS

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Jimmie Simpson

Jimmie Simpson

COOKEVILLE — Jimmie Simpson can relate to folks who have addictions or life controlling issues. For about 15 years, he struggled with alcoholism.

People might understand his drinking and taking drugs. When he was 2 years old his father would give him alcohol to drink. When he was 15 years old, he began drinking steadily.

After high school Simpson enlisted in the U.S. Navy and he quickly found that drinking and taking drugs were accepted. [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIVING STILL STRONG

Baptist and Reflector

cplogoBRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $2,809,717 through the Cooperative Program in January.

After three months of the 2015-16 fiscal year, Tennessee Baptists have given $8,959,862.

The total is $312,199 or 3.6 percent more than what was given after the first quarter of the last fiscal year.

The amount also is 397,362 or 4.64 percent ahead of budget needs. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE FEB. 10-23

LEADERS

Floyd Douglas has retired after serving 48 years as Discipleship Training director of Piedmont Baptist Church, Dandridge, and six years as DT director for Jefferson County Baptist Association, based in Jefferson City.

Drake Denning, minister of music, Poplar Grove Baptist Church, Trenton, was ordained to the ministry by Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Milan. His father, Dale Denning, pastor, Chapel Hill Baptist, led the service.

Steve Hemann has been called as pastor, Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Bradford.

Jeff Lewis, pastor, Bethpage Baptist Church, Kenton, has resigned.

University Heights Baptist Church, Cookeville, ordained Troy Brachey recently. Brachey has been called as pastor of the church. [Read more…]

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