Bruce Chesser
Welcome to Nashville and the great state of Tennessee. Tennessee is a great place to live, work and worship and we are so happy that you are here for the 2021 meeting of Southern Baptists.
The Tennessee Baptist Convention is filled with churches that are, in turn, filled with wonderful people. As I have traveled to visit with churches, associations and convention entities for the past 20 months, I have become keenly aware of the depth and commitment of these people. Tennessee is known as “The Volunteer State” and that mantra is certainly true in our Tennessee Baptist churches.
Tennessee is divided into three grand regions known as West Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and East Tennessee. Our state flag displays three stars that represent those three divisions. But I am thrilled to tell you that there is no division among Tennessee Baptists.
Under the leadership of Dr. Randy Davis, our focus is clear and our determination is five-fold: To see 50,000 Tennesseans annually saved, baptized and set on the road to discipleship; have at least 500 Tennessee Baptist churches revitalized by 2024; planting and strategically engaging at least 1,000 new churches by 2024; realize an increase in local church giving through the Cooperative Program that reaches at least 10 percent by 2024; and realize an annual increase to Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions that reaches at least $3 million by 2024.
Welcome to Nashville and to the state of Tennessee. Enjoy a Moon Pie or a Goo Goo Bar while you are here. And come see us again real soon!
— Bruce G. Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Hendersonville
