By Linda Lawson Still
Contributing Writer, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Citing a downturn in advertising revenue and increasing costs for printing and postage, Baptist & Reflector Editor Lonnie Wilkey announced the paper will cut back publication to biweekly, effective with the June 4 issue (there will be no issue on May 28 under the current publication schedule).

The electronic edition will follow the print schedule.

To supplement the every other week publication, breaking news will be released via the Tennessee Baptist Convention website (www.tnbaptist.org) and mass e-mails to those who want to add their names to the current list. Around November, a new B&R website will be launched to carry print stories and additional electronic content such as columns. Also, use of social media will be increased to facilitate dialogue on key issues impacting churches. Further down the road, a B&R phone app will be available. [Read more…]

By Erin Roach
Baptist Press

BRENTWOOD— Union University is launching a program to provide theological education for deaf missionaries and church planters.

Through the partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board, the Southern Baptist Conference for the Deaf, Brentwood Baptist Church, and Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church, deaf believers can receive customized theological training for missions and ministry and earn a certificate in theology education.

“A significant number of the world’s unreached people are deaf,” said Carla Sanderson, Union’s provost and executive vice president for strategic initiatives. “The CTE is giving deaf missionaries the tools they need to share the gospel through story-telling techniques so that deaf people can know the good news.” [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: This issue of the Baptist and Reflector lists the top churches in the state in baptisms and Cooperative Program giving during the 2012-13 church year. See charts on page 4.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

HENDERSONVILLE — In 2013 Long Hollow Baptist Church became the first church in the Tennessee Baptist Convention to baptize at least 1,000 people in a single church year.

Last year 1,051 were baptized at Long Hollow as a result of their outreach efforts, said Jeff Lovingood, next generation pastor at the church.

What’s more, he added, the church is on target to exceed 1,000 baptisms again in 2014, he added.

Lovingood noted 2013 was a challenging year for the congregation as they watched their pastor (David Landrith) battle cancer. [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — The Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention is just weeks away from closing the doors for good at the Baptist Center in Brentwood where it’s been located for 45 years. The board is relocating, and will have a new address beginning the last week in May.

Executive Board leaders signed a three-year lease agreement with LifePoint Hospitals, the hospital corporation headquartered in the building.

“We’re excited about the move and the possibilities this opens in the future,” said Executive Director-Treasurer Randy C. Davis. “There has been a lot of work by our staff to get us ready to move. It’s not easy to pack up 45 years, but everyone has a real positive spirit and we are all looking forward to getting settled and getting on with the work of serving our Tennessee Baptist churches.” [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Every year churches across Tennessee collect an annual offering for the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes.

Other than Bryant Millsaps, president of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes, probably no one is hoping for a better Mother’s Day Offering than former TBCH president Gerald Stow.

Stow, who served as president of TBCH from 1984-99. has continued to serve with the Tennessee Baptist Convention entity as an “ambassador” for the ministry. [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — After two months of giving less than $3 million through the Cooperative Program, Tennessee Baptist Convention churches rebounded in April.

TBC churches contributed a total of $3,376,035 through the CP last month.

After six months of the current fiscal year, churches have given $17,225,891. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

FAYETTEVILLE — It’s not likely that pastor Darrell Haney or his family will ever forget the night of April 28.

After being lulled into believing the storms were over, an F-3 tornado struck the Howell Hill community of Lincoln County, leaving behind two deaths and a number of destroyed or severely damaged homes.

A huge oak tree landed on Haney’s home in the room next to the bathroom where he and his family (which included his son and daughter-in-law and two grandchildren) were taking refuge. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

SEYMOUR — Cold weather, including some snow flurries and sleet, failed to chill the atmosphere at Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy on April 15.

Several hundred people braved the weather to attend the dedication of the Polly Enix Tibbetts Building, the first new construction on the HCBA (also known as The King’s Academy) campus since the 1960s.

The debt-free, 18,000-square-foot facility is a multi-purpose building which provides recreational space as well as additional classroom space, said Walter Grubb, president and headmaster. “Adding 18,000 square feet of usable space would bless any school,” Grubb observed. [Read more…]

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — The Baptist and Reflector is conducting a survey of both readers and non-readers.

“We need your help,” said Lonnie Wilkey, editor of the Baptist and Reflector. [Read more…]