Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

BANNER BAPTIST GIVES BACK

by David Dawson
Baptist & Reflector

GATLINBURG — Pastor Pete Lamon and the members of Banner Baptist Church have come full circle.

Last year at this time, they were receiving assistance. This year, they are helping provide it.

Banner Baptist, located just outside the Gatlinburg city limits, is one of several churches that suffered substantial damage during the wildfires that swept through the area in November of 2016. Banner Baptist lost its fellowship hall and many members saw their homes destroyed. [Read more…]

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FALL FESTIVAL TO REACH 7,000 IN WAVERLY

by David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

First Baptist Church, Waverly, will host a fall festival on Oct. 31. More than 7,000 people attended FBC’s fall festival last year.

WAVERLY — Scott Brown, the pastor of First Baptist Church, Waverly, doesn’t think Christians should hide from Halloween.

The members of his congregation obviously agree.

Rather than avoiding the night that is traditionally linked to ghosts and goblins, First Baptist embraces it by hosting one of the largest fall festivals in the state.  [Read more…]

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CALIFORNIANS EXPLORE TENNESSEE ROOTS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Ricky Campbell, left, pastor of First Baptist Church, Mountain City, looks over old church minutes with Phil Neighbors, co-pastor of Valley Baptist Church, Bakersfield, Calif. Neighbors’ fifth great grandfather, James Tompkins, was the first pastor of FBC, Mountain City.

MOUNTAIN CITY — Approximately 100 California Baptists, most of whom had never been to the Volunteer State, worshiped at First Baptist Church, Mountain City, on Sunday, Oct. 15.

The Californians, members of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, have no direct ties to Tennessee, but they feel connected to the state through one of their pastors. [Read more…]

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PASTORS SEE SPIRITUAL DARKNESS IN ITALY

Baptist and Reflector

A team of Tennessee Baptists, comprised of African-American pastors and their spouses, recently served in Italy and worshiped at Rome Baptist Church in Rome. From left are Lemar and Donna Walker, Christ’s Community Church, Memphis; Antonia and Willie McLaurin, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board; Brian and Stacey Carmichael, Holy Temple Baptist Church, Memphis; and Ternae and Angela Jordan Sr., Mount Canaan Baptist Church, Chattanooga.

FRANKLIN — A team of African-American pastors from Tennessee recently discovered firsthand that spiritual darkness in Italy is real, said Willie McLaurin, special assistant to the executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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STATE’S FIRST PASTOR REINTERRED

by David Dawson
Baptist & Reflector

Pallbearers carry the remains of Tidence Lane to his new resting place at First Baptist Church, Whitesburg. In the foreground are, from left, Allen Payne, pastor, FBC, Whitesburg; Randy C. Davis, president and executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board; and Richard Long, pastor, Brown Springs Baptist Church, Mosheim. Photo by Madison Turner

WHITESBURG — The remains of Tennessee pastoral pioneer Tidence Lane have been moved to the grounds of his first church.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board joined with First Baptist Church, Whitesburg, for the reinterment of Lane’s remains, along with the remains of several family members, during a ceremony on Oct. 21.  [Read more…]

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CHURCH HOSTING 5K RUN FOR GOLDEN OFFERING

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

Participants pose for a picture after last year’s Golden 5K race, hosted by Etter Baptist Church.

BYRDSTOWN — Many members of Etter Baptist Church in Byrdstown will be doing some legwork in their efforts to increase the church’s giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

Acting on the priorities of its missions-minded congregation, the church will host its third annual “Golden 5K” race at the Obey River Campgrounds at the Sunset Marina on Nov. 4. All of the proceeds from the race go to the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. [Read more…]

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TENNESSEE BAPTISTS DENOUNCE RACISM

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Randy C. Davis, center, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, speaks during a press conference held Oct. 25 at the Church Support Center. Davis was joined by an ethnically diverse group of pastors from across the state. Also speaking during the conference was Jay Wells, left, pastor emeritus of Simeon Baptist Church, Antioch, and Thi Mitsamphanh, right, pastor of International Christian Church, Smyrna. — Photo by Corinne Rochotte, Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN – A mix of ethnically diverse Tennessee Baptists gathered in a display of unity at the Church Support Center in Franklin Oct. 25 to publicly denounce the white supremacist movement and racism during a press conference called by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“We don’t call press conferences very often but we believe it is impossible to stand silently by while the white supremacy movement plans to invade our state and perpetrate its evil Saturday (Oct. 28) in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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