Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was joined by Nathan Lorick, executive director of Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, and Julio Guarneri, executive director of Baptist General Convention of Texas, during a panel discussion at the ERLC luncheon on Tuesday, June 10. ERLC president Brent Leatherwood, far left, served as moderator.

DALLAS — Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was asked on Tuesday what led him to be publicly supportive of, and actively involved with, the ongoing Supreme Court case “U.S. v. Skrmetti.”

Davis said, in this instance, there wasn’t a complex process behind his decision.

“Some cases, such as this one, are just common sense,” he said. [Read more…]

First Baptist Church Sevierville. Submitted photo.

SEVIERVILLE – First Baptist Church of Sevierville carries on the vision of Pastor Dan Spencer’s great-great uncle, M.E. Dodd.

In addition to a long list of international and national missions partnerships, and a long list of local ministries under its “Ministry Village” umbrella, First Sevierville continues its strong commitment to missions giving through the Cooperative Program, the way Southern Baptists work together in obedience to Jesus’ Matthew 28:19-20 command known as the “Great Commission.”

It was M.E. Dodd who chaired the committee that launched the Cooperative Program in 1925.

“When the Southern Baptist Convention needed money for missions, it could always count on M.E. Dodd to champion the cause,” according to a 2010 Baptist Press article. [Read more…]

Brian Baker serves as a racetrack chaplain at the Veteran’s Motorplex at The Rim in Greenbrier, Tenn. (Photo by Shawn Hendricks/The Baptist Paper)

Racetrack chaplain ‘powerful’ tool on and off the track

GREENBRIER — It’s a Saturday night at the Veteran’s Motorplex at The Rim in Greenbrier, Tenn., and racetrack chaplain Brian Baker is making the rounds with the crowd.

As he walks near the stands, a couple of regulars appear, excited to find their chaplain. One man quickly begins sharing his latest health scare — adding some four-letter words for good measure. Baker is all ears.

“Yeah, we’ve been praying for you,” says Baker, with a smile and his usual calm, easygoing personality, telling the man he is pretty much a walking miracle.

For the past nine years, Baker has been a fixture at the short track during the racing season that stretches from early spring to Halloween. It’s a highly competitive world at the track, where tempers can flair and racers compete in categories like “Big Dawgs,” “Ridge Runners” and “Scrappers.” [Read more…]

HARRIMAN — The familiar notes of “Standing on the Promises” fill the empty sanctuary of Trenton Street Baptist Church as Mildred Cole’s fingers flow across the organ keys.

Mildred Cole, 90, stands next to the organ she plays every Sunday at Trenton Street Baptist Church in Harriman.

At 90 years old, she makes the practice look effortless — a testament to nearly eight decades of musical dedication.

“I was determined to play,” she recalls with her characteristic directness.

Growing up, Cole watched her father and grandfather play the violin, but her own musical interest developed independently. She found herself drawn to the keyboard, and at just nine years old, she began piano lessons. By 12, she had taught herself the Hammond organ, taking only a year of formal instruction but learning enough hymns to play for Sunday School. [Read more…]

Ron Tilley, right, with his wife of 15 years, Sandra, in the sanctuary of Calvary Baptist Church in Lenoir City.

LENOIR CITY — Ron Tilley admits the only instrument he plays is the radio. But that hasn’t stopped him from leading a music ministry career that spans seven decades.

Tilley, who’s 86, has served as Minister of Music at nine different Baptist churches, including at his current role at Calvary Baptist in Lenoir City. He is now retiring after 72 years.

“I was obsessed with it, I guess you might say,” said Tilley, describing his lifelong passion for the music ministry.

Tilley was saved in 1947 at Broadway Baptist in Maryville. Growing up he sang in the church’s choir, until he started leading the music ministry at Calvary Baptist Church at age 15, with the encouragement and mentorship of the longtime pastor, A.A. Carlton.

“I had good training even while I was serving. He saw potential,” Tilley recalled. [Read more…]

Thousands of messengers are anticipated to gather June 10–11 for the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, being held this year in Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

DALLAS — Southern Baptists will be gathering soon in Dallas for this year’s Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting (June 10–11), which is expected to draw well over 10,000 people.

North Carolina pastor Clint Pressley appears to be running unchallenged — at least for now — for a second term as SBC president.

Other officer positions also only had one nominee announced at press time.

Still, plenty of questions and opportunities for debate concerning the Convention’s future are anticipated at the annual meeting under the theme, “Hold Fast: Confession and Cooperation,” inspired by Hebrews 10:23–24. [Read more…]

‘Miss Susan’ says she ‘loved coming to work every day’

Susan Mason has been a fixture at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport for 28 years. — Photo by Brighton Tietz

NEWPORT — An era comes to an end on May 30 when Susan Mason retires after nearly three decades on the staff of Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center.
Mason joined the staff in March of 1997 when the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board property was then known as Camp Carson.

She was employed to handle reservations for the camp. Prior to her arrival, reservations had to be made through the TBMB (formerly the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention) office in Brentwood. TBMB is now headquartered in Franklin. She has been the only person to serve in that role.

“It was a thrill to watch the conference center being built and open in 2000,” recalled Mason now office coordinator for Carson Springs. [Read more…]