Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

PRODIGALS CHALLENGE FAITH OF EVEN MINISTERS

Parents who are ministers, ministers’ wives and children relate their prodigal “journey”

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15: 11-32.

151207prodigalMILLINGTON — A prodigal or child who rebels against the Christian teachings of their parents can bring the strongest Christian to their knees. It is especially difficult for Christians who are ministers or ministers’ wives.

Shame, embarrassment, criticism, and resignations from ministerial positions often ensue.

One child and two parents shared their journeys at “The Good Cup,” a meeting for ministers’ wives held Nov. 9 here as part of the Summit. The Summit is the annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists.

[Read more…]

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MISSIONS, COOPERATION DRIVE SMALL TENN. CHURCH

Baptist Press

The annual wild game supper at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenfield, Tenn., draws about 200 diners, many of whom are not church members.

The annual wild game supper at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenfield, Tenn., draws about 200 diners, many of whom are not church members.

GREENFIELD, Tenn. (BP) — The men at Bethel Baptist Church reach out to the unchurched men in their community each autumn by showing off their culinary skills at a wild game supper, preparing turkey, deer, raccoon, crappie, catfish, rabbit, duck and other critters.

Meanwhile, the congregation’s Women on Mission excel each year at promoting missions, noted David Worley, pastor of Bethel Baptist in Greenfield, Tenn. In 2014, for example, with a goal of $19,630 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the church gave $26,896.

The church “believes strongly in missions,” Worley said. Bethel Baptist has given 20 percent to missions through the Cooperative Program for years, preceding and throughout Worley’s pastorate that began nine years ago. [Read more…]

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COUPLE DECIDE TO REMAIN WITH IMB

Missionaries Ted, Beverly Holmes plan to return to “our home” in Poland

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Beverly and Ted Holmes, International Mission Board missionaries to Poland from Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Baptist Convention Baptist Center in Brentwood recently.

Beverly and Ted Holmes, International Mission Board missionaries to Poland from Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Baptist Convention Baptist Center in Brentwood recently.

NASHVILLE — Instead of a “Pauline Damascus Road experience,” it was a quiet voice, the nudge toward, “This is the way. Walk in it,” said Ted Holmes of the couple’s decision to stay with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board as missionaries to Poland. He referred to Isaiah 30:21, which was used in a Bible school the Holmeses helped lead this past summer in Poland.

For Beverly it was several things, including hearing Jonasz Skrzypkowski, their recent guest from Poland, speaking to Carson-Newman University students in Polish. Though Beverly has struggled with the language, she thought as she heard Skrzypkowski speak, “That’s a beautiful language.”

The Holmeses were speaking of the staff cutting measures of the IMB in response to financial woes which included offering them early retirement. Ted and Beverly have been missionaries in Poland for seven years. Formerly Ted was associate pastor, Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, and Beverly was a physical education teacher in Franklin.

They consider Poland their home now, they explained, though they were in their 40s when they and their youngest daughter, Megan, began serving there. [Read more…]

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CHURCHES CAN TAKE STEPS TO BECOME MORE SECURE

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

church, structure, construction, sky, building, securityMILLINGTON — Andy Willis knows something about security. As director of security for Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, he is in charge of the largest Baptist church facility in the state of Tennessee — over one million square feet sitting on 300 acres. He also oversees the safety of the about 15,000 people who gather there each Sunday morning.

Willis led the breakout session, “Security Warning: Churches a Rising Target for Attack,” during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 10-11 held in Millington.

He proposed security measures, but added that they should be conducted as part of “the ministry of security.” [Read more…]

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LEADING TENNESSEANS TO JESUS

New TBC president has passion to see churches reach the lost

Roc Collins stands with his wife, Jeralyn, following his election last month as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He is pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport.

Roc Collins stands with his wife, Jeralyn, following his election last month as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. He is pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

JEFFERSON CITY — In Roc Collins’ new role as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention his learning curve will be minimal. Since becoming pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, 10 years ago, Collins has been fully involved in Tennessee Baptist life. He has served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference and this past year was chair of the TBC’s Executive Board.

Though born in North Carolina (the son of a Baptist pastor), Collins has strong ties to the Volunteer State. Both his parents were reared in Tennessee and Collins graduated from Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. While in college he accepted his first pastorate — Briar Thicket Baptist Church, Bybee. “I have a heart for the state of Tennessee and I love Tennessee Baptists,” Collins said.

[Read more…]

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LIFEWAY COMPLETES SALE OF DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE CAMPUS

By Art Toalston
Baptist Press

151201lifewayNASHVILLE (BP) — LifeWay has completed the sale of its 14.5-acre campus in downtown Nashville.

“Although this momentous event is cause for thanksgiving, it is also bittersweet,” Thom S. Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, wrote in an email to the Southern Baptist entity’s trustees and employees Nov. 24 after the sale was announced around 5 p.m.

“LifeWay has served the bride of Christ from this property for more than 100 years,” Rainer wrote. “Those of us who serve today continue an unbroken line of tens of thousands of employees who have stewarded the responsibility to produce trustworthy Christian resources for the church. And, we will continue to do so into the future, but from a new location.”

The sale was announced in a joint news release from LifeWay and Southwest Value Partners, a private real estate investment firm based in San Diego. [Read more…]

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ARABIC BAPTIST LEADER RAOUF GHATTAS DIES AT AGE 69

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

MURFREESBORO — Raouf W. Ghattas, a Tennessee Baptist pastor known for his work in reaching Muslims with the gospel, died Nov. 25 of an apparent heart attack at his home in Murfreesboro.

Raouf

Raouf W. Ghattas was noted for his love of Muslims and his desire to educate others about Islamic culture and how to share the gospel with Muslims.

Ghattas, 69, was pastor of Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, a congregation he helped establish in 2011 along with his wife, Carol.

Ghattas was born in Cairo, Egypt to an Evangelical Presbyterian family. He received a degree from Cairo University and immigrated to the United States in 1976. He worked for 12 years as a nuclear engineer. God called him to pastor the Arabic Mission of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX where he served from 1985-1990. While serving as pastor, he earned both his M.Div. and D. Min. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, completing his doctorate in Muslim Evangelism. [Read more…]

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GOD ‘HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU,’ SAYS EZELL

By Tim Ellsworth,
Contributing Editor, B&R

Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga, presented the closing message at the 2015 Summit held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington. — Photo by Corinne Williams

Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga., presented the closing message at the 2015 Summit held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington.
— Photo by Corinne Williams

MILLINGTON — “In ministry, it can be very difficult,” said Kevin Ezell, president, Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga. He preached during the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting held here at First Baptist Church. Ezell speaks from experience. Of the churches he served, he only received one unanimous call to serve as pastor of a church and at one church, he was the only one to attend an evening service, he recalled.

The Apostle Paul also went through discouragement, noted Ezell. God responded in Acts 18:9-10 by telling Paul not to fear and not to quit because He would be with Paul. God also told Paul that He would protect Him from physical harm. [Read more…]

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ONLY TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE — LOST & SAVED: NEWCOMB

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Ray Newcomb preaches during the Tuesday afternoon session of the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Several members of First Baptist Church, Millington, when he was pastor, help him illustrate a point of his message.

Ray Newcomb preaches during the Tuesday afternoon session of the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Several members of First Baptist Church, Millington, when he was pastor, help him illustrate a point of his message.

MILLINGTON — Pastors should lead their churches to become “soul-winning churches,” said Ray Newcomb, pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church, Millington, who preached during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention last week here. He preached in the church he retired from because First, Millington, hosted the annual meeting.

To lead their churches to become soul-winning churches, some pastors might have to make a spiritual commitment, said Newcomb, a former TBC president.

He preached from Acts 20 citing the Apostle Paul’s direction to the new church. [Read more…]

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UNION DEDICATES AND OPENS NEW LIBRARY, THE LOGOS

By Tim Ellsworth
Union University News Office

151123uu-dedicationJACKSON, Tenn. — Hundreds of Union University students, alumni, employees, trustees and friends gathered in front of The Logos Nov. 6 to dedicate and open the new library on the university campus.

“The building of this library, The Logos, has been made possible by the many people who have used their blessings from God to bless Union University,” said Bill Latimer of Union City, Tennessee, who provided the lead gift of $10 million for the building through the Bill and Carol Latimer Charitable Foundation. “We pray that God will bless not only these people, but all of those who attend Union University and all who will walk into this beautiful library.” [Read more…]

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