Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

PASTOR HELPS CHURCH CREATE NEW IMAGE

By Lonnie Wilkey
Baptist and Reflector

HARRIMAN — When Taylor Phelps came to the pastorate of Caney Ford Baptist Church in the Midtown community of Roane County in 2014, the church had about 22 members, he recalled.

Phelps said it did not take long for him to discover that Caney Ford was known in the Midtown community as the “family chapel or family church.” 

And, for some people in the community that reputation was negative because they felt they could never be a part of the church because they had not grown up in it. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

GREEN’S CHALLENGE: EVANGELIZE, ENCOURAGE, EXTEND

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, and president of the TBC during the 2018-19 term, delivered the president’s sermon on Nov. 19. Green served the traditional one-year term as TBC president after being elected last November. Bruce Chesser, pastor of First Baptist, Hendersonville, was elected president for the 2019-2020 term.
— Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — As his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention came to a close, David Green offered some words of excitement. He also issued a challenge.

Delivering the president’s message at the 145th annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists, Green reminded those in attendance that they have the ultimate reason to rejoice: Salvation. Green also challenged attendees to “evangelize the lost, encourage the saved and extend our borders.”

Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, delivered his year-ending president’s message during the Tuesday evening session of this year’s Summit, held at First Baptist Concord.

Green preached from Isaiah 54, and reminded attendees that they should “rejoice in the promises of God, respond to the plan of God, rely on the power of God and and remember our relationship with God.”

He also encouraged Christians to rejoice always, celebrating all that God has done for us.  “The Lord inhabits our praise,” said Green. “So, if we want Him around, then why don’t we sing more than we cry? … We need to stop acting like God is dead. We need to stop acting like God didn’t promise us anything. We need to stop acting like Jesus didn’t die on the cross for our sins. We need to live our lives like free people.”  [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

PASTORS ENCOURAGED TO PERSEVERE DESPITE STRUGGLES

By Tim Ellsworth
Contributing writer, B&R

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, preached the final message of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference on Nov. 18. He encouraged pastors to gather at the altar for prayer for each other and their churches. – Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — Speakers at the 2019 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference held Nov. 18 at First Baptist Concord addressed the theme “Run with Endurance” as they encouraged pastors to persevere in their ministries, even in times of difficulty and struggle. 

The theme came from Hebrews 12:1-2. Scott Parkinson, lead pastor of Stevens Street Baptist Church in Cookeville and president of this year’s conference, said he hoped pastors would have a fresh encounter with God through the event and be empowered to serve Him with increasing fruitfulness. 

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said one of the issues that repeatedly surfaces in his conversations with Tennessee pastors is the challenge of holding onto convictions while still being compassionate in a culture that is increasingly anti-Christ. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

THANKFUL FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

Thanksgiving will be observed today in home all across Tennessee and our nation. 

For some, the main emphasis will be food and football, mixed with a little bit of family.

Christians, however, should always keep God at the forefront of all we do, including our holiday celebrations. This is especially true on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

For Christians, every day should be “Thanksgiving.” 

God has given us so many blessings; more than any of us could possibly count. Each day, we can look around and see limitless things for which we are grateful. 

So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, be especially mindful to give God all the thanks and glory He deserves. Remember these words from Jesus in John 15:5: “… because you can do nothing without Me.”

Even when our circumstances in life seem unbearable, we can still give thanks because of Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving! B&R — Lonnie Wilkey

Facebooktwittermail

MILLER: WINNING TENNESSEE IS TALL ORDER BUT CAN BE ACHIEVED

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Hollie Miller, retired pastor and former TBC president, leads a prayer prior to preaching the convention sermon on Nov. 20 at First Baptist Concord. — Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — Considering the negative numbers and troubling trends that are prevalent in today’s church culture, the challenge of “winning Tennessee for Christ” seems incredibly daunting, perhaps even impossible. 

Hollie Miller sees it differently. 

Preaching the convention sermon at the 145th annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists, Miller, a retired pastor and former TBC president, said he is confident that Tennessee Baptists can reach their No. 1 objective of seeing at least 50,000 Tennesseans annually saved, baptized and set on the road to discipleship by 2024.  [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

TENNESSEE BAPTISTS OPPOSE CRITICAL RACE THEORY, INTERSECTIONALITY

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee Baptists overwhelmingly adopted a resolution denouncing Critical Race Theory (CRT) and intersectionality during their 145th annual meeting Nov. 19-20 in Knoxville.

Messengers to the Tennessee Baptist Convention acted on the resolution during the final session on Nov. 20. The resolution defined CRT as “a secular worldview used by some in social sciences to analyze marginalized populations by categorizing differences among peoples, especially race and gender.” The resolution noted that intersectionality “arises from dialogue regarding CRT and focuses on the overlapping categorizations within CRT.”

The resolution presented to TBC messengers was originally written and presented by Shawn Allred, pastor of First Baptist Church, Kenton. The TBC Resolutions Committee rewrote the resolution that was presented for a vote by messengers. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

SNAPSHOTS FROM SUMMIT

  • Donna Blaydes, childhood specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, right, speaks with interim pastor Andy King and his wife, Charlene, of Fruitland Baptist Church, Humboldt. The couple chatted with Blaydes at the “Reaching the Next Generation” booth at the Exhibit Hall. Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, left, presents a Tennessee flag to Lance Borden, who supervises the work with the German language people group. — Photos by James Wilson
  • State representative Jason Zachary, left, who is a member at First Baptist Concord, answers questions from crowd regarding upcoming pro-life legislation. Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis served as the moderator of the Q-and-A session.
  • Jeanne Davis, wife of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis, addresses ministers’ wives during the Good Cup session on Nov. 18.
  • Eagle Award: John D. Wallace - The late John D. Wallace was honored with the 2019 Eagle Award for the Kingdom impact he made during his lifetime. A large group of Wallace’s family members accepted the award on his behalf during the Sunday night service at First Baptist Concord. Pictured above are (from left): Lindsey Dawson, John Trusler, Christine, Brooke and Drew Dawson, Austin Trusler, John and Shannon Wallace, Lynn Dawson, Dane Dawson (back), Deanna Wallace, Lisa Trusler and Robin Dawson. Front row is Doyle Wallace, left, and Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
  • Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, left, presents a Tennessee flag to Lance Borden, who supervises the work with the German language people group.
  • Tracy Green introduces her husband, David Green, president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, prior to his president’s sermon during the Tuesday night session at Summit at First Baptist Concord.
Facebooktwittermail

SUMMIT SUMMARY: EVANGELISM AT FOREFRONT

TBC leaders, messengers focus on how to ‘Win TN, by all means’ during 145th annual meeting

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, preached the final message of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference on Nov. 18. He encouraged pastors to gather at the altar for prayer for each other and their churches.
– Photo by James Wilson

Editor’s Note: See stories from the 2019 Summit in Knoxville throughout this issue.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers gathered at First Baptist Concord, Nov. 17-20 for four days of inspirational worship, fellowship and to conduct business during the 145th annual meeting held during The Summit: A Gathering of Tennessee Baptists.

The Summit drew 998 registered messengers from 444 churches and 117 registered guests. The total is the highest since 2016 when 1,228 messengers from 501 churches gathered at the Sevierville Convention Center. Last year’s Summit drew 994 messengers from 409 churches to West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson.

Convention messengers demonstrated focus, excellence and unity, observed Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

CHARLES: GOD GRANTS SECOND CHANCES

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., delivers the sermon on Tuesday afternoon at the 145th annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists.

KNOXVILLE —  There’s far more to the story of Jonah than just the giant fish that is so often pictured in children’s books. 

Jonah’s saga is actually a story of rebellion, redemption and restoration that ultimately points to God’s mercy and patience, said Florida pastor H.B. Charles in his sermon at the annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists.  

“We have all played (the role of) Jonah in our lives,” said Charles, pastor of Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Fla. “You are Jonah; I am in Jonah. But as much as we can relate to Jonah’s rebellion, we all qualify for another chance.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

TENNESSEE BAPTISTS ELECT BRUCE CHESSER AS PRESIDENT

Baptist and Reflector

Bruce Chesser

KNOXVILLE — Hendersonville pastor Bruce Chesser has been elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Chesser was elected without opposition Nov. 19 during the afternoon session of the 145th annual meeting of the TBC.

He was nominated by Bruce Raley, executive pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville. A former pastor in Arkansas, Alabama and Texas, Chesser has served as pastor of First Baptist, Hendersonville for the past 10 years.

Raley described Chesser as a pastor/shepherd and an “anointed preacher and teacher of the gospel. He has a passion to see people come to Jesus and to grow in Christ.” [Read more…]

Facebooktwittermail

Recent Posts

Tags

abortion baptisms Baptist Collegiate Ministries Bible: Acts Bible: Matthew Bible: Psalms Carson-Newman University childhood Christmas church revitalization collegiate Cooperative Program Disaster Relief education election evangelism family Five Objectives Golden Offering homosexuality IMB international LifeWay Lonnie Wilkey Lottie Moon missions money NAMB new churches pastors prayer racial reconciliation Radio B&R Randy C. Davis SBC SBC annual meeting sports Summit TenneScene transgender Union University volunteers WMU Woman's Missionary Union youth

Categories

Bible Studies for Life Culture Explore the Bible Featured News Opinion Column Radio B&R SBC Sunday School Lessons Tennessee Uncategorized