Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
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…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Willie McLaurin, special assistant to the executive director/treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, led a breakout session on fitness at the Summit in November. — Photo by Corinne Williams
MILLINGTON — As a new year is set to begin, thousands upon thousands of people make that traditional New Year’s resolution to lose those extra pounds gained during the past year.
For most, it is easier said than done, says Willie McLaurin, special assistant to the executive director/treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
McLaurin led a breakout during the November Summit at First Baptist Church, Millington, entitled “Fit for Life, Fit for Him.”
The TBC staffer speaks from experience. He once weighed 384 pounds, but over the past eight to nine years, he has lost 165 pounds and has maintained that weight loss. [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…]
Mike Overcash
By Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.— The Tennessee Baptist Convention has named a former employee and veteran of numerous disaster relief efforts to lead the state’s disaster relief initiative on an interim basis.
Mike Overcash began his duties as the TBC’s interim disaster relief director Jan. 5, succeeding David Acres who retired from the position last fall. Overcash was a computer systems specialist with the TBC from 1995-2001. However, he has long been involved in Tennessee disaster relief efforts through Judson Baptist Church where he’s a member. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C., Overcash escalated his involvement and became a fulltime disaster relief volunteer, helping in the wake of that incident as well as multiple hurricanes and tornados that wreaked havoc across the Southeastern United States from 2003 to 2005. He has remained an active part of disaster relief efforts since. [Read more…]
Vern Powers
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — Vern Blanchard Powers, a longtime leader in the Tennessee Baptist Convention, died Dec. 19 at the age of 94 at his home in Old Hickory.
Though born in Evansville, Ind., Powers spent most of his life in Tennessee. His dad, Blanchard Powers, also was a longtime pastor. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
CLARKSVILLE — Over the years Pastor Jimmy Terry of Tabernacle Baptist Church here has witnessed what he perceives as a de-emphasis on Christmas by Christians.
Christians have abandoned Christmas (and Easter), Terry observed. “We have given it over to the secular world.”
For the past four years or so Terry has purchased several hundred yard signs which proclaim, “Christmas is all about JESUS.”
The Clarksville pastor took it a step further this year — actually a huge step based on faith. Terry purchased 10,000 signs at a cost of $3 each.
“When you step out in faith, Jesus will not let you sink,” Terry declared. “If you don’t believe it, just ask Peter,” he continued, noting that he is confident that churches and individuals will provide the resources needed for the signs. [Read more…]