Tennessee Archives - Baptist & Reflector

CARSON-NEWMAN PRESIDENT SHARES HOW MISSION WILL DIRECT THE UNIVERSITY’S FUTURE

September 17, 2020

Carson-Newman news office

Carson-Newman University president Charles A. Fowler speaks during this year’s Convocation ceremony at C-N.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University President Charles A. Fowler shared with students, faculty and staff how the University’s mission must become the prevalent navigational influence on the school’s future and determine the assessment of effectiveness as an institution.

The address came during this year’s Convocation ceremony, held at Burke-Tarr Stadium to allow for social distancing due to the pandemic. The annual ceremony celebrates the senior class and serves as a faith-filled marker to begin the academic year.

Fowler emphasized the role of the University’s mission in delivering a Christ-centered education to students, stating: “It’s why we exist.” [Read more…]

TBMB DIRECTORS TO RECOMMEND $35 MILLION CP BUDGET

September 16, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board approved a recommendation for a $35 million Cooperative Program budget for 2020-21.

The board met in person for the first time since COVID-19, but also provided a virtual option that the majority of the directors chose to take. The in-person meeting was held Sept. 15 at Thompson Station Church, Thompson’s Station.

The $35 million goal, which includes $800,000 allocated to Cooperative Program administration and promotion, is the same as the current 2019-20 budget. The allocation to the SBC increased from 47.37 percent to 47.5 percent of Cooperative Program receipts. [Read more…]

PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE JOHNSON URGES BELIEVERS TO ‘WORK TO SAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE’

September 16, 2020

By Sarah Goff
Union University news office

Abby Johnson is a pro-life advocate who authored the book, “Unplanned.”

JACKSON — The Union University Auxiliary hosted “An Evening with Abby Johnson” in the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, Sept. 1. Johnson is a pro-life advocate and author of the award-winning book, “Unplanned,” which has been adapted into a movie of the same title.

“Unplanned” chronicles both Johnson’s experiences during her eight-year career at Planned Parenthood and her dramatic exit in 2009 after assisting with an ultrasound-guided abortion and witnessing a 13-week baby fight for and lose its life.

Johnson recounted the story of how she got involved in Planned Parenthood during college because she believed the lie told to her by a woman with the organization that Planned Parenthood was the only place where low-income women could go to receive health care. She told Johnson that without access to safe and legal abortion, women would be forced to get “back alley abortions” and would die from these unsafe procedures. [Read more…]

MEMPHIS CHURCH THRIVES DURING COVID-19

September 14, 2020

Online attendance, giving have surged; on-campus gatherings to resume in 2021

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Pastor Michael Ellis of Impact Baptist Church in Memphis and his congregation hosted the 2020 Best in Blue program in appreciation of local law enforcement officers just weeks before the worldwide pandemic struck in March. — Submitted photo/BP

MEMPHIS — Impact Baptist Church & Ministries of Memphis has so thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic that pastor Michael Ellis Sr. sees no reason to resume onsite worship before 2021.

“I get this call from pastors all the time asking me what we’re going to do, and I say, ‘Hey look, our attendance is up and our offering is up. You tell me what you think we’re going to do,’ ” he said. “My word to everybody is we’re going back when it’s safe for our people, and it’s not safe for them now.

“I don’t think we’re going to go back before the new year. I really don’t. I think we’re going to continue to worship online,” he said.

Impact Baptist, which drew about 200 people to Sunday worship before the pandemic, has received as many as 2,300 or more Facebook views of individual worship services and an additional $600 a month in offerings, has launched three new outreaches and has continued established ministries, Ellis told Baptist Press. [Read more…]

HYERS STEPS DOWN AFTER 65 YEARS OF MUSIC MINISTRY

September 11, 2020

By Ashley Perham
Baptist & Reflector

David Hyers retired in June as the worship leader at Beech Grove Baptist Church, Louisville. It marked the end of 65 years in ministry for Hyers, who had served at a total of 13 churches.

LOUISVILLE — After 65 years in music ministry at 13 churches, David Hyers retired in June as the worship leader at Beech Grove Baptist Church, Louisville.

Hyers, who attended Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., spoke of the evidences of God’s work in his life on his last Sunday at Beech Grove.

Hyers was 15 when he surrendered to the ministry, but although he had had some piano training, he did not know he was called to be in music ministry until he attended Carson-Newman. There, he joined the choir his first week, but didn’t start taking music courses until his third year.

“I had about eight or nine non-curriculum opportunities to get caught up and develop in music,” he said. “It’s just awesome how God did all those things.” [Read more…]

HEAT FAILS TO DETER TENNESSEE DR VOLUNTEERS

September 10, 2020

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Disaster Relief volunteers work on house where a tree had fallen during Hurricane Laura.

WINNFIELD, La. — A heat index above 100 degrees each day and high humidity have not stopped Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from ministering in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

Volunteers began arriving over the recent Labor Day weekend to begin assisting hurricane victims. The team is stationed at First Baptist Church, Winnfield, and is helping residents in that city and surrounding areas.

Though Winnfield is 125 miles north of where Laura came ashore in Lake Charles, it was still a Category 2 hurricane when it hit the area, said Gary Brooks, a DR volunteer from Knox County Baptist Association and a member of Glenwood Baptist Church, Powell.

Brooks, who is serving as the team’s “Blue Cap” told the Baptist and Reflector on Sept. 9 that the team has been working in Dodson, about 10 miles from Winnfield. “This place is absolutely torn up,” he said. “If you drive down any street, every second or third house has a tree in the middle of it.” [Read more…]

PANDEMIC PROMPTS CHURCHES TO CONSIDER PERMANENT CHANGES

September 8, 2020

By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press

Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tenn., has begun meeting in person again, but the church’s online presence remains strong. —Submitted photo

HENDERSONVILLE — Every church has adjusted some aspects of ministry since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic. But even as the effects of COVID-19 continue to press into the modern landscape of the evangelical church, some congregations are already turning from the question of how to shift from the current moment toward changes for the long-term future.

Robby Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, said he views the impact of COVID-19 on ministry not as an interruption, but instead as a disruption to the way things have typically been done in the local church.

Long Hollow staff see changes that track with larger changes in culture and life as necessary for faithful stewardship of the ministry God has given them. The most immediate, tangible change, according to Gallaty — and this is something he doesn’t anticipate turning around anytime soon — is attendance at church gatherings. [Read more…]

‘A LIFE IN ART’ SHARES PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVES

September 8, 2020

By Kristen Early
C-N news office

William L. “Dub” Swafford describes one of his paintings on display at Carson-Newman University to pastors from Jefferson County Baptist Association.

JEFFERSON CITY — Called to the pulpit more than 60 years ago, pastor William L. “Dub” Swafford, 91, has served in nearly a dozen Baptist churches throughout Middle and East Tennessee. During much of that time, he used art to process the often demanding role of pastoring.

“I’ve always drawn, from the time I was just small,” he said. “It interested me. I started painting as kind of a relaxation. I wasn’t an artist. I was always a pastor. When I was painting, I could study through problems, study through sermons.”

His creative meditation technique extended from painting to pen and ink, calligraphy, and woodcarving as well. The fruit of his art included nearly 10,000 sermons and devotions that inspired generations of believers over his 62 years of shepherding. [Read more…]

FBC, HENDERSONVILLE, BAPTIZES 51 IN OUTDOOR SERVICE

September 7, 2020

Baptist and Reflector

HENDERSONVILLE — Since COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic in March, many churches have had to either forgo baptisms or “step outside the box” to get them done.

Such was the case at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville. “Like many, we have grown weary of all of the cancelations and postponements,” said senior pastor Bruce Chesser. “So, we have told our ministry team, ‘Stop focusing on what we cannot do and let’s figure out what we can do.’

“We have told them to think outside the box” he added. As a result, several ministry opportunities have resulted from this way of thinking, said Chesser, who also is serving as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

TENNESSEE BAPTIST DR TEAMS SENT TO LOUISIANA

September 3, 2020

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been called into action and will be arriving in Louisiana to aid with recovery efforts following Hurricane Laura.

Teams from Knox County Association (bucket truck, skid steer and chainsaw units), Nolachucky Association (bucket truck, chainsaw and skid steer units), Jefferson County Association (bucket truck and chainsaw units) and Woodland Baptist Church (chainsaw and skid steer) began making their way to Winnfield, La., today (Sept. 3).

Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said other teams remain on alert, and said “follow-up teams” are likely to be needed in the days ahead. [Read more…]

Online attendance, giving have surged; on-campus gatherings to resume in 2021

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