Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist and Reflector
In a continuing effort to provide aid for those impacted by the crisis in Ukraine, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board director and executive director Randy C. Davis and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief are inviting Tennessee Baptist churches to partner with the TBMB on two projects. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
East Tennessee State University senior Micah Stephens, standing left, talks to a group of beach-goers about the free shuttle rides that the BCM provides as part of the Beach Reach ministry. Joining Stephens was fellow BCM volunteer Abigail Chapman. — Photos by David Dawson
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Isaac Depew, a sophomore at East Tennessee State University, recently joined some of his friends on a trip to Panama City Beach for spring break.
Nothing too unusual about that, right? Think again.
This trip was vastly unlike the traditional spring break getaways that most college students envision. It was about prayer-walking, not party-going; worship services, not water parks; and ministry, not mayhem.
Depew, along with roughly 700 representatives of Baptist Collegiate Ministry from around the nation, spent his week serving with Beach Reach — a ministry that seeks to share the love, hope and message of Jesus in Panama City Beach, Fla.
“We’re just a group of college kids who are on fire for the Lord, and on fire for His kingdom,” said Depew. “The main purpose that we’re all rallying behind here (in Florida) is to glorify God and to make His name known among other college students. It’s very, very encouraging to see this new generation of leaders that is rising up in the church and responding to the call.” [Read more…]
By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org
East Tennessee State University BCM student Zack Barnett, left, speaks with a group of students during Beach Reach in Panama City Beach, Fla. — Photo by David Dawson
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Although the ministry has faced some challenges in recent days, Mark Whitt was determined not to let Beach Reach get wiped out by a wave of tough circumstances.
Whitt, the director of Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Middle Tennessee State University, united with a host of other BCM leaders from around the nation in a quest to keep the Beach Reach ministry going despite recent structural changes at Lifeway that could have potentially signaled the end to the ministry. The COVID-19 pandemic has produced some hurdles for the yearly event, causing it to be canceled in 2020 and again in 2021.
But this year, Beach Reach was relaunched, and students responded in a big way, pouring their energy and efforts into the ministry.
Whitt, who served as the 2022 Beach Reach Coordinator, said he was excited and encouraged to see the ministry not only survive, but thrive, amid the tough circumstances. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptisrg
Pulaski pastor Anthony Bledsoe shares his story during the recent Bivocational Pastors and Wives Retreat in Pigeon Forge.
PULASKI — Race was not on Anthony Bledsoe’s mind when he became interim pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church in Pulaski more than 10 years ago.
Never mind that he was an African American pastor taking on the responsibilities of leading a white congregation in a town known as the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan.
“The thing that scared me was that I had never been a pastor before,” said Bledsoe, who served as interim for about six months before accepting the bivocational position full time.
“The atmosphere in Pulaski is far different from what it was back in the day (when the KKK was established in the 1800s),” he observed. “We have a wonderful community that works together, worships together and prays together,” he added. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
Wes Jones, left, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, presents the Joel Phillips Award for Outstanding Achievement to Karen and Tommy Wilson of First Baptist Church, Dresden.
JACKSON — Three Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have received two of the highest awards for service from Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The awards were voted on and approved by SBDR’s steering committee and announced during the National Roundtable in Albuquerque, N.M.
Tommy and Karen Wilson of First Baptist Church, Dresden, received the Joel Phillips Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The couple has been serving together in disaster relief since their retirement several years ago, said Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Jones said the Wilsons spent more than six months in Puerto Rico after a hurricane there a few years ago. “Since then, they have participated in almost every callout in Tennessee and beyond,” he noted. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
KNOXVILLE — Applications are now being received for grants from the Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee Medical Missions Fund.
The Baptist Healthcare System of East Tennessee (BHSET) was begun by Tennessee Baptists soon after the end of World War II. More than $2 million was contributed by 800 churches in 32 counties of East Tennessee. The hospital began service on Nov. 30, 1949. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,641,335 through the Cooperative Program in February.
For the year to date, TBC churches have given $12,155,306 through the first quarter of the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Gifts are $542,941 or 4.7 percent over what was given after the first four months of the last fiscal year. CP giving also is $488,640 or 4.19 percent over budget needs. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist & Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — As the second anniversary of the introduction of COVID-19 to the world approaches, Tennessee Baptist pastors and churches are still dealing with the stresses caused by the pandemic.
According to recent findings from Lifeway Research, while more folks are once again attending church, pre-pandemic attendance levels have stalled.
More than eight in 10 churches have an attendance of at least half of what it was prior to the pandemic. The average U.S. Protestant church reports attendance at 74 percent of what it was prior to COVID-19, which means one in four pre-pandemic churchgoers are still missing from in-person worship services, according to the article.
“People’s return to in-person worship services has stalled,” said Scott McConnell, director of Lifeway Research “There has been virtually no change in average attendance since August 2021. Some of this is the direct impact of COVID with people getting sick, needing to quarantine or being at high risk. But this also likely includes healthy individuals choosing to not return.” [Read more…]
By Timothy Cockes
Baptist Press
Cash Daniels is one of five nominees for the “Kid of the Year” award, in a partnership between Nickelodeon and Time for Kids magazine.
CHATTANOOGA — After learning his home town of Chattanooga is one of the most polluted cities in the world, 12-year-old Cash Daniels knew he had to do something.
Daniels began mobilizing and organizing various cleanup efforts in and around the Tennessee River. To date, Daniel’s efforts have helped remove more than 12,000 pounds of garbage from the river.
His efforts have received nationwide attention, including recently being named one of five nominees for the “Kid of the Year” award, in a partnership between Nickelodeon and Time for Kids magazine.
Daniels told Baptist Press he was glad to be nominated, but the main goal of his efforts is simply to help take good care of God’s creation. [Read more…]
By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press
Portland mayor Mike Callis presents 95-year-old Parnell Suttle with the 2021 Citizen of the Year Award. — Facebook photo
PORTLAND — Parnell Suttle baked 196 cakes for friends and events in small-town Portland in 2021. But at 95 and retired, she’s ready to slow down a bit.
“I’m not going to bake as many this year as I did last year,” she told Baptist Press, taking a few moments from the senior adult fellowship on Feb. 10 at First Baptist Church, Portland.
Suttle, or “Ms. Parnell” as she is affectionately called, is Portland’s 2021 Citizen of the Year, so named Monday by the Portland Chamber of Commerce in the town of about 14,000 people.
First Baptist Church received the honor of 2021 Non-Profit of the Year, the second time the church has received the designation. [Read more…]
