Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

TOGETHER TIME

WMU event features fellowship, worship, wisdom

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

WMU attendees bow for a time of prayer during this year’s Get-Together and Connection. –Photos by James Wilson, Baptist and Reflector

GATLINBURG — Many tourists travel to Gatlinburg with hopes of relaxing and rejuvenating. But for those who attend WMU’s Get-Together and Connection, the goal is much deeper: To become re-energized spiritually.

The three-day event, which was held April 5-7 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, featured the theme “Unshakable Pursuit,” and presented attendees with ideas and plans on how to be strong in the Lord, even amid the turmoil and challenges that life so often presents. [Read more…]

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FROM VBS TO TBC PRESIDENT

Green’s path in minstry began with profession of faith at Vacation Bible School

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

TBC president David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, speaks at a VBS training event sponsored by Maury Baptist Association in Columbia.

GREENEVILLE — Tennessee Baptist Convention president David Green believes in the importance of Vacation Bible School, and he recognizes it as one of the denomination’s most effective evangelistic outlets.

But for Green, it’s actually a little more personal than that. 

Understand that Green is not just a proponent of VBS. He’s a product of it. [Read more…]

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN DOMINICA

DR teams continue recovery efforts on Caribbean island

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

DR volunteers gather for prayer with staff and members of La Plaine Baptist Church on the island of Dominica.

FRANKLIN — More than 17 months after Hurricane Maria left its devastating signature on the Caribbean island of Dominica, Tennessee Baptist disaster relief teams are still going strong in their efforts to help residents recover from the deadly storm. 

And they won’t be slowing down any time soon.   

Tennessee Baptist Mission Board disaster relief specialist Wes Jones said DR teams will continue to routinely travel to Dominica for the foreseeable future.   [Read more…]

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ALWAYS ANSWERING THE CALL

Tennessee Baptist DR units aid recovery from February floods

By Carolyn Tomlin
Contributing writer, B&R

Don Vailes from Woodland Baptist Church, Brownsville, surveys the damage of the flood waters.

JACKSON — February 2019 was one of the wettest Februaries on record in Tennessee. Torrential rains swelled the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers and all their tributaries to record flood levels. 

Numerous homes and businesses in several counties near the rivers were flooded and underwater. 

Flooding affected much of the state. In all, 58 counties in West, Middle and East Tennessee surveyed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were over their per capita damage threshold in public damage, according to an article in The Jackson Sun on March 26.  [Read more…]

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DISASTER RELIEF: AT WORK IN OUR STATE — AND WELL BEYOND

Compiled by B&R staff

Sandra Williams, left, of Sullivan Baptist Church, Kingsport, and Shelley Self of First Baptist Church, Alcoa, work the feeding unit at a recent Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief project.

While many Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from a number of TBC churches have been working in various places in Tennessee in response to the flooding that struck the state in February, other DR personnel have been continuing to work elsewhere around the country and in Puerto Rico and Dominica. 

Here’s a look at just some of the projects and recovery efforts that are taking place:  [Read more…]

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FOR THE LONG HAUL

Morristown business donates truck for Disaster Relief work

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

Standing in front of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief’s newest ministry tool are, from left, David Hawkins, director of missions, Nolachucky Baptist Association; Don Owen, DR director for Nolachucky Association; Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board; Roscoe England, DR volunteer and driver; Doyle Wallace, president of Wallace Hardware in Morristown; and Wes Jones, DR specialist for the TBMB. Wallace Hardware donated the truck to be used for disaster relief ministry.
— Photo by Charles Key, Carson-Newman University

MORRISTOWN — Wallace Hardware in Morristown recently donated a truck to be used for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief ministry.

The truck was donated to Nolachucky Baptist Association’s disaster relief ministry, which, in turn, donated it to Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief. The truck will be housed at “God’s Warehouse” in Morristown.

Don Owen, disaster relief director for Nolachucky Association, noted that Wallace had allowed DR to use the truck and its trailers for the past three years for numerous trips to areas that have been impacted by hurricanes and other disasters. [Read more…]

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A BUSY MARCH — DAVIS REFLECTS ON YEC, DR, BCMs

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

FRANKLIN — Evangelism and missions were once again at the forefront of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in March.

In his podcast reflecting on the month before, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board President and Executive Director Randy C. Davis observed that 780 decisions for Christ during the annual Youth Evangelism Conference was one of the highlights in March. In addition, more than 60 people surrendered to vocational ministry, he said.

“We’re just thrilled at what God did at YEC this year.”

Davis said the impact of YEC continues to grow even after its 51st year. [Read more…]

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MISSION WORK STILL MATTERS TO WILSON

By Grace Thornton
Writer, WMU Foundation

Creely Wilson displays her Girls Auxiliary cape which she earned as a member of Girls in Action (GAs). “Being a GA was always very important to me,” said Wilson.

BRENTWOOD — Creely Wilson has been packing recently to move to her next home — a small place in a senior living community. She’s had to downsize a little bit.

But in all of the cleaning out, Wilson was certain one thing wasn’t getting left behind — a small Lottie Moon doll that’s been on her mantle for years. She has other things she loves in life, but missions tops the list.

“I’ve learned a lot from the life of Lottie,” she says of the beloved missionary to China. “She really got women started in missions.”

It’s a legacy that’s kept going with Wilson, says Betty Wiseman, a fellow church member at Brentwood Baptist Church in Tennessee — to the point that Wiseman says without hesitation that Wilson “is our Lottie Moon.”

“She’s revered in our church,” Wiseman said. “She’s a gem, a really special lady. She represents to us what it means to be a woman of God who cares, who gives and who offers servant leadership.” [Read more…]

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GAINES: USE EASTER TO EVANGELIZE

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

Calvary Baptist Church pastor Grant Gaines, seen here speaking at Union University, says Easter is a great time to invite friends and neighbors to church. — Photo by Anne Richoux, Union University

JACKSON — Easter is the perfect time to invite people to church to hear about Jesus and the resurrection story, said Grant Gaines, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Jackson.

Gaines, who led a breakout session during a recent evangelism conference at Union University, was featured recently on a Radio B&R podcast (Listen to episode 26 here).

“Easter is a natural time to focus on inviting people to church,” Gaines said. The concept fits hand in glove with the church’s evangelistic strategy. “We believe that inviting people to come to church is still a great way to do evangelism,” Gaines noted.

He explained that “a church invite” is not necessarily direct personal evangelism “because you’re not necessarily explaining the gospel to your neighbor, or coworker or your family member that you’re inviting. [Read more…]

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