Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
KNOXVILLE — Many churches across the state adopted “Game On” as the theme for Vacation Bible School this summer.
At Loveland Baptist Church, in Knoxville, the theme was: “Game Still On.” [Read more…]
From B&R staff
Tennessee Disaster Relief has been notified of a call out for Flood Recovery teams to travel to Maryland in response to the flooding in the Baltimore area roughly three weeks ago. Those who might be able to put together a team should contact Tennessee Baptist Mission Board disaster relief specialist Wes Jones at wjones@tnbaptist.org and George Blevins at yellowjacketnew@aol.com.
Baltimore County has asked that 400 homes be assessed. Current team needs include:
• IC team members
• Assessors
• Flood recovery teams
NOTE: Those interested in making donations for relief efforts can do so HERE.
Editor’s Note: The “Summer of ’67” movie screening will take place June 29-July 5 at Regal Hollywood 27 at 100 Oaks Mall in Nashville. Tickets can be purchased on site.
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
SPRINGFIELD — Christian filmmakers Sharon and Fred Wilharm have learned a lot over the past several years as they have directed and produced seven movies and numerous smaller projects.
Sharon noted that for a long while she wanted to go into “ministry,” but God never opened that door. “Then I finally figured out that filmmaking was my ministry. That’s when I really got serious about writing and directing and doing it well.”
Fred and Sharon work as a team, taking the idea from concept to paper, and then on to the screen. While they joke that their first movie needs to remain “locked up,” they have had success, especially with their last two movies, “The Good Book” and “Providence.” [Read more…]
Compiled from Baptist Press
Messengers raise their ballots at the 2018 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas. Photo by Van Payne
DALLAS — The Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting drew 9,637 messengers to Dallas June 12-13. The unofficial total is nearly double last year’s 5,015 messengers in Phoenix. [Read more…]
Though he no longer preaches every Sunday, Earl Lane spends time in God’s Word each day. The 91-year-old retired pastor is able to make ends meet thanks to Southern Baptists who give through GuideStone Financial Resources’ Mission:Dignity program.
Editor’s Note: Mission:Dignity Sunday is June 24 across the Southern Baptist Convention. Churches can order free materials from GuideStone for use on June 24 or another date. Visit MDSunday.org or call 1-877-888-9409 to order the materials.
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
SEVIERVILLE — A check for $225 a month may not seem like much money for most people.
But for retired Southern Baptist pastors or their widows, that $225 may mean the difference of having to decide between buying medicine or purchasing food. Just ask Earl Lane, a Southern Baptist pastor for more than 60 years. [Read more…]
Compiled from Baptist Press
DALLAS — Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention have elected the 68-member Committee on Nominations for 2017-2018 to represent the 34 states or territories qualified for representation on the committee according to SBC Bylaw 30. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Children and teenagers from 15 ethnic groups, representing 32 nations, enjoyed worship services during the 25th annual All Nations Camp held recently at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport.
NEWPORT — William Burton has been praying all year that 150 children and youth would come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior during the 25th All Nations Camp held May 28-June 1 at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center.
He fell just a tad short in his expectations. God provided 156 first-time salvation decisions and 24 recorded rededication decisions among the record 438 campers and staff. “It was an incredible week,” affirmed Burton, ethnic evangelism/church planting specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Burton said this year’s attendance was a 52 percent increase over last year’s then record of 288. Twenty-five additional ethnic churches participated as well, a 32 percent increase over last year, he added. The camp is open to international children, ages 7 to 17, he noted. [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: You can listen to David Leavell in Episode 15 of Radio B&R, the official news podcast of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
David Leavell
FRANKLIN — Although there are countless teaching tools and training seminars on the subject, there is actually only one requirement to be an effective sharer of the gospel: The desire to do it.
That’s the message that David Leavell, president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and pastor at First Baptist Church, Millington, is using as he encourages Christians to engage in “personal evangelism.”
Leavell believes all Christians — introverts and extroverts alike — can be effective in witnessing to their family, friends and neighbors. He likes to say that sharing the gospel “is a conversation, not a presentation,” and he is using that motto as the basis for his emphasis on evangelism.
“The reality is we have the army to attack the gates of hell with the good news of Jesus Christ,” Leavell said. “But we don’t have an active army. (We need to) mobilize the pews for the purpose of evangelism.” [Read more…]
By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press
The Fuego “volcano of fire” south of Guatemala City covered entire villages in ash after a June 3 eruption that killed at least 69. Screen capture from ABC News.
ESCUINTLA CITY, Guatemala — A Southern Baptist youth mission team already in Guatemala when a volcano erupted there June 3 is safe and helping churches house and feed survivors. [Read more…]
By David Roach
Baptist Press
Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines. (Photo by Morris Abernathy)
DALLAS — Despite turmoil related to terminations and resignations of “several” Southern Baptists “from key positions of leadership,” Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines says, there are signs “the Lord is going to come upon us powerfully in Dallas” at next week’s SBC annual meeting. [Read more…]
