Bartholomew Orr, senior pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, Miss., uses a boxing glove to illustrate a point during the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference.
MURFREESBORO — Marking the founding of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in Murfreesboro 150 years ago, preachers at this year’s Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference at the Embassy Suites hotel addressed the theme “Better Together.”
Grant Gaines, pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro and president of this year’s conference, chose Philippians 1:3 and 5 as the theme verses: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you … because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
“I love that language, because from the first day 150 years ago until now, we too, as Tennessee Baptists, have had a partnership in the gospel,” Gaines said. “In a day when the tendency of many in the culture and in the church is toward separation and isolation, my hope is that after 150 years we can recommit to partnership and cooperation.”
Derrick DeLain, pastor of Proclamation Church in Nashville, preached from Romans 12 about how Christians should interact with each other, with actions motivated by God’s mercies.
“We need salvation, and Jesus provided it to us by giving His life for ours in exchange,” DeLain said. “And now I can do the same with those that I come in contact with.”
By practicing sincere love, holding onto goodness and rejecting evil, living out what it means to be a family and recognizing the value of others, DeLain said Christians can model what it means to engage with one another to bring glory to God.
Steve Gaines delivers a message during the 2024 Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference.
Steve Gaines’ message from Joshua 5:13-15 focused on the sovereignty, superiority and sacredness of the Lord. The pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, said in an age when it is tempting to focus on politics and elections, it’s more important to be on the Lord’s side than on the side of any one politician.
“Our nation needs more than good political leaders,” he said. “We need Jesus Christ.”
Regardless of who occupies the White House or who serves in other positions of political power, Gaines said the solution is that “God is on His throne.”
Bartholmew Orr, pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, Miss., told pastors they need a supportive team around them during life’s challenges. Preaching from I Chronicles 27:32-34 and drawing parallels between a boxer’s corner team and a support system needed in spiritual warfare, Orr pointed to the men in David’s life who were invaluable resources.
“I need those that I can call on,” Orr said. “I need those that I can pray with. I need those that I can huddle with.”
But as important as a human support system is, Orr said, God himself is an even greater team. “How many know that when you have been beaten down, when you have been bloodied, you can run to your corner and find that God is still on your side?” Orr asked. “Jesus is still there.”
Grant Gaines, outgoing president of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference, and pastor of Belle Aire Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, introduces his father, Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, prior to his message at the conference.
Gary Snuffin, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, preached from Colossians 4 about prayer and how Christians should make it a priority in their lives. While financial giving is important, prayer is a form of partnership that is often overlooked.
“Prayer isn’t an optional add-on for the Christian,” Snuffin said. “It is a standard feature of the Christian life. Martin Luther said, as it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.”
Snuffin encouraged pastors to pray for one another and to pray for God to open doors for the advancement of the gospel.
Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, encouraged pastors to make the most of the time God has given them by being intentional about sharing the gospel.
“People are far more interested in hearing about the gospel than we are in sharing it,” Ezell said.
He reminded pastors that God has promised always to be with them and that God can use them as His instruments to accomplish His purposes despite their shortcomings and failures.
“Because He’s with us, we don’t have to be afraid,” he said. “Because He’s with us, we should never quit.”
In the conference’s final sermon, H.B. Charles Jr., pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Church in Jacksonville, Fla., said the church is not just a collection of individuals but a partnership in the gospel.
Preaching from Philippians 1:3-8, Charles said what binds Christians together is not personal interests or preferences but their shared commitment to Christ.
“We just all need to be periodically reminded that size, budgets, buildings, crowds and programs, none of that stuff is counted on heaven’s scoreboard,” Charles said. “That’s not what matters to the Lord. What pleases the Lord is when pastor and people are joined together in gospel partnership so that every lost man, woman, boy and girl will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and be saved.”
Officers of the 2024-25 Pastors Conference are, from left, Sam Greer, senior pastor, Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga, president-elect; Matt Brown, senior pastor, Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, president; and Micah Carter, executive pastor, Germantown Baptist, secretary-treasurer.
Matt Brown, pastor of Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, and president-elect of this year’s conference, will serve as the president for the 2025 conference in Jackson.
In officer elections, Sam Greer, senior pastor of Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga, was chosen as president-elect for 2026. Micah Carter, executive pastor of Germantown Baptist Church, was elected as secretary-treasurer. B&R
