Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
February 23, 2021
By Timothy Cockes Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Saying the global pandemic didn’t cause the crisis in the Southern Baptist Convention, but revealed “a deeper, more insidious crisis,” SBC President J.D. Greear challenged members of the SBC Executive Committee to “repudiate” a pharisaical spirit and unite for the sake of the Gospel. “The last year […]
February 23, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd urged Southern Baptists to return to unified Great Commission cooperation as he lamented “a sound of war in the camp” of Southern Baptists and issued an updated Vision 2025 tonight (Feb. 22) at the EC meeting in Nashville. Before […]
February 17, 2021
By Jonathan Howe Baptist Press WASHINGTON — The North American Mission board has filed a petition with the Supreme Court of the United States in its ongoing case involving a lawsuit against the board filed by a former Southern Baptist state executive director. The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2017 by Will McRaney, former […]
February 17, 2021
Pastors express ‘decision fatigue’ and ‘ministerial frustration’ as COVID-19 pandemic lingers By Diana Chandler Baptist Press LEXINGTON — For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Rock Hill Baptist Church in rural west Tennessee was resuming onsite worship. Then, Pastor Richard Bray was exposed to the virus and the church had to transition once […]
February 12, 2021
By Mike Ebert Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS — Trustees with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) met Feb. 1-2 in New Orleans and visited with missionaries who are planting churches and meeting the needs of people in desperate situations. At Connect Church in Algiers, trustees heard from church planting missionary and pastor Ryan Rice who […]
February 11, 2021
By Diana Chandler Baptist Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brian Croft jokes that masks are the new “color of the carpet argument” in churches, with similarly poor outcomes. Pastors are resigning from the stress “kind of in a way I’ve never really seen.” The founder of Practical Shepherding transitioned from fulltime pastoring to lead the shepherding […]
February 10, 2021
RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees unanimously approved the appointment of 30 full-time, fully funded missionary personnel during their Feb. 3-4 meeting, and trustees applauded a report that cumulative international mission offerings have nearly reached a historic $5 billion. The new missionaries will be sent to eight of IMB’s nine global affinities. A recent Sending […]
February 8, 2021
IMB staff RICHMOND — The International Mission Board is celebrating the ongoing and indelible legacy of African Americans who have served and are serving on the mission field. IMB President Paul Chitwood says as the organization reflects on its history, Southern Baptists must be quick to confess the organization began with roots in slavery. “Only […]
February 2, 2021
By George Schroeder & Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — A task force studying the effectiveness of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission issued its report today (Feb. 1), acknowledging both support within the Southern Baptist Convention for the entity and that some see it as “a source of significant distraction from the Great Commission […]
January 27, 2021
By Carol Pipes Director of Corporate Communications, Lifeway NASHVILLE — Lifeway Christian Resources has entered into a contract for the sale of their building in downtown Nashville. Contract terms, including the sale price, have not been disclosed. Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell said he is excited about Lifeway’s future workplace and the prospects of […]
January 21, 2021
By Scott Barkley Baptist Press VANCOUVER, Wash. – Citing a desire for Southern Baptists’ focus to “be on the mission, with the Bible as our sole and final authority on all matters,” Northwest Baptist Convention Executive Director/Treasurer Randy Adams announced today (Jan. 20) that he would be nominated in June for president of the Southern […]
January 20, 2021
By Roy Hayhurst Director, Denominational and Public Relations Services, GuideStone DALLAS — Legislation signed late Dec. 27 by President Donald Trump includes provisions that could assist churches and ministry organizations, including additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as direct payments to some taxpayers. An additional $284 billon is made available for […]