Tennessee Archives - Page 2 of 176

TENNESSEE PASTOR PUBLISHES NEW DAILY DEVOTIONAL BOOK

December 30, 2021

Baptist Courier

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Tennessee Baptist pastor Todd Stinnett has written My Daily Word of Truth, a daily devotional book to assist believers not only in discovering the meaning of Scripture, but in making the application to their daily lives.

“If you’ve been looking for a way to become a better student of Scripture, but had no idea where to begin, this is the devotional for you,” Stinnett said.

“This book is no substitute for the Word of God, but by using it I believe you will become better acquainted with Scripture, said Stinnett, senior pastor of Black Oak Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville. [Read more…]

BEECH RIVER CHURCHES MEET NEEDS IN DECATUR COUNTY

December 29, 2021

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

Vickie Alexander, WMU director for Beech River Baptist Association, prepares “to-go boxes.”

LEXINGTON — Portions of Henderson and Decatur Counties sustained scattered damage from tornadoes that struck the state on the weekend of Dec. 10.

Residents of both counties, especially Decatur County, were not unscathed. Tornadoes took out the TVA lines that carried electricity into both counties.

Most of Henderson County had power restored within two days, but Decatur County was without power for six days and water for five days, said Stan Wafler, director of missions for Beech River Baptist Association.

Wafler learned of the gravity of the crisis while serving on a DR team from Beech River that was helping residents in Dresden who took a massive hit from the tornado.

“We needed to get water and food into Decatur County,” he said. All the bottled water in area stores had been given out or sold.

Phone calls were made and the association was given 288 cases of water on four pallets from a distributer in Jackson. David Adams, pastor of Southside Missionary Baptist Church in Parsons, secured a truck and trailer and he and Wafler picked up the water and delivered it to the fire department in Scotts Hill and the EMA office in Decaturville, Wafler said. [Read more…]

AFTER SPLIT, CHURCHES REUNITE FOR MUSICAL

December 28, 2021

Green Hill Church and Victory Baptist combine for Christmas performance

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

Jason Harlin, music/young adult and family pastor at Victory Baptist Church leads a combined choir from Victory and Green Hill Church in a Christmas musical that marked a reconciliation effort between the two churches. Victory was established 21 years ago when a group left Green Hill Baptist.

MOUNT JULIET — For the most part, Baptist churches avoid the “s” word (split) whenever possible.

But two Mount Juliet congregations — Green Hill Church and Victory Baptist — acknowledge that is what happened with their churches 21 years ago.

Members from Green Hill left and formed Victory Baptist just a few miles from their former church home. On the second Sunday the group met, Chuck Groover, a teacher and coach at Mount Juliet High School and former bivocational pastor of Hobson Pike Baptist Church in the community, came and preached in June of 2000. He soon became the interim pastor and in October he was called as bivocational pastor. Groover became the fulltime pastor a year later in June 2001 and has been there ever since. He will retire on Dec. 31.

Groover is well versed with what caused the two churches to part ways and he noted there were some ill feelings on both sides for a long while.

But, he observed, “time can heal wounds” and while there may have been issues related to worship and leadership style, the two groups were committed to sharing the gospel. [Read more…]

HAYWOOD HONORED FOR 40 YEARS OF MINISTRY AT BRENTWOOD BAPTIST

December 27, 2021

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Gayle Haywood, center, was honored and recognized during a recent service at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood. Haywood is retiring after 40 years of ministry at Brentwood.

BRENTWOOD — Gayle Haywood received two standing ovations during a recent Sunday morning service at Brentwood Baptist Church.

Still, pastor Mike Glenn made it clear that no amount of applause would be sufficient to express the church’s appreciation for Haywood, who is retiring after 40 years of service at Brentwood.

“There are not many times in our lives when we get to look at greatness,” Glenn said to the congregation during a ceremony honoring Haywood. “But standing next to me right now is greatness.”

Haywood served in a variety of roles during her tenure, ranging from children’s ministry to senior adults and seemingly all demographics in between. [Read more…]

COMPASSION IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

December 24, 2021

Year-round support needed for the hurting, struggling, hungry

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Research compiled by various organizations in recent years confirms that Americans are far more likely to support charities and non-profit groups during the holidays than at any other time during the year.

One published report, by NeonOne, showed that nearly one-third (31 percent) of all donations/giving to the non-profit sector occurs around the holidays. Another report revealed that 57 percent of Americans say that their charitable inclinations are linked to the holidays.

These numbers aren’t particularly surprising — since Christmas is widely viewed as the season of giving — but they are, in some ways, troubling.

Beth Moore, compassion ministries specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said her hope is that more people, especially believers, would understand that helping others never goes out of season. People are hurting, hungry and in need of help throughout the year, she said. [Read more…]

TBAH HOSTS GROUNDBREAKING FOR FIRST MINISTRY IN WEST TENNESSEE

December 23, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for Baptist Village-Humboldt on Nov. 30 were, from left, Clay Hallmark, pastor, First Baptist Church, Lexington, and president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention; Jimmy Burroughs, pastor of Pinson Baptist Church, Pinson, and TBAH board chair; Mark Anderson, president-treasurer TBAH; Marvin Sikes, mayor of Humboldt; Steve Babcock, minister of missions, discipleship and administration, The Church at Sugarcreek, Humboldt, and TBAH vice-chair; and T. O. Lashlee, co-owner of Lashlee-Rich Contractors, builder for Baptist Village-Humboldt. — Photo by Danny Sinquefield

HUMBOLDT — Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes broke ground Nov. 30 for its first ministry in West Tennessee — Baptist Village-Humboldt.

Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes was founded by the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 1974 to develop a residential ministry for senior adults. In 1989, TBAH was given the additional assignment of providing residential care for adults with exceptional needs.

Today, TBAH has two group homes for adults with exceptional needs in Knoxville, one in Jacksboro, two in Lebanon, and one in Hermitage.

Baptist Village-Humboldt will join Baptist Village-Johnson City in providing Christian care and homes for senior adults in retirement. [Read more…]

DR TEAMS IN ACTION AFTER STORMS

December 22, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

Bethpage Baptist Church suffered “a total loss” from the storms that hit parts of Tennessee on Dec. 11.

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists disaster relief units have been dispatched across the state to provide assistance to those affected by the tornadoes and straight line winds that tore across Tennessee and several nearby states during the early morning hours of Dec. 11.

The storms resulted in dozens of deaths and numerous injuries.

One DR team team — a quick response unit — is now stationed in Samburg, where the team is feeding survivors and responders.

Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, noted that Samburg was among the hardest hit by the storms, with roughly 80 percent of the city receiving damage. [Read more…]

RURAL LEXINGTON CHURCH MEETS GOTM, BACKPACK GOALS

December 20, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

Members of Rock Hill Baptist Church, Lexington, made a Christmas tree out of backpacks. The church collected 111 backpacks for the Christmas Backpack Ministry sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board while at the same time collecting $3,450 for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. The church’s goals were $3,000 for GOTM and 100 backpacks.

LEXINGTON — Rock Hill Baptist Church is a rural congregation that has been averaging between 60-70 people in worship since the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, according to pastor Richard Bray.

Bray noted that the church’s missions committee led the congregation to participate in the Christmas Backpack Ministry in August but they did not begin preparing the backpacks until September, at the same time the church was promoting the annual Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

“We were concerned that one or the other might suffer, especially considering our attendance is only about 65 to 70 percent of pre-COVID levels,” the pastor said.

Bray also noted that members of Rock Hill Baptist “have a big heart” for kids, so there was concern that giving might decrease for the Golden Offering, but that was not the case. [Read more…]

STUDENTS TAKE BIBLE COURSES DURING SCHOOL

December 16, 2021

STUDENTS TAKE BIBLE COURSES DURING SCHOOL

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

Stephanie Lloyd, teacher and program director of Released Time Bible Education, teaches a class at Hillcrest Baptist Church in LaFollette, adjacent to Campbell County High School.

LAFOLLETTE — Students at Campbell County High School in LaFollette are taking Bible courses for academic credit during school hours — and it is perfectly legal.

The courses are offered through Released Time Bible Education (RTBE), a unique program which allows students to attend off-campus Bible classes during the school day.

The biblical instruction is provided by the Campbell County Christian Learning Center (CCCLC) as an opportunity to encourage students “to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, grow in the Christian faith and apply biblical principles for Christian living,” according to the CLC website.

The Christian Learning Center is a non-denominational para-church ministry that works with the support of local churches and individuals to provide classes that are intended to be academic as well as devotional, according to the website.

While there are other RTBE programs in the state offered in elementary and middle schools, CCHS is the only high school in Tennessee where students can earn academic credit, said Zach Lloyd, pastor of East LaFollette Baptist Church and interim executive director of the CLC. Students attend the class every day and can earn a half-credit for the course, he added. [Read more…]

TORNADOES WREAK HAVOC IN TENNESSEE, SURROUNDING STATES

December 13, 2021

Baptist and Reflector

Bethpage Baptist Church, Kenton, suffered “a total loss” from the storms that hit parts of Tennessee on Dec. 11.

FRANKLIN — At least one Tennessee Baptist church was destroyed following tornadoes and straight line winds that tore across Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee during the early morning hours of Dec. 11, leaving behind dozens of deaths and numerous injuries.

Bethpage Baptist Church in Kenton was leveled by the tornado. (Full story HERE). The storm tore apart the church’s gym and fellowship hall. The sanctuary remained intact, but the building has now been classified as a total loss due to structural damage caused by the winds.

“We know have to take everything down and start from scratch,” Bethpage pastor Garry Burkacki said. The church’s steeple was found in a farmer’s field about 600 or 700 yards away from the church.

Roger Stacy, director of missions for Gibson Baptist Association, said the town of Kenton, near the Obion County line, was hit hard with about 60 homes damaged, some of which were a total loss. “We are fortunate. There was no loss of life (there).”

As of Dec. 13, Stacy was still awaiting word from the county’s Emergency Management Office. “We are waiting to see how we can be a part of the cleanup efforts,” he said. [Read more…]

Green Hill Church and Victory Baptist combine for Christmas performance

Year-round support needed for the hurting, struggling, hungry

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