Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CARSON-NEWMAN MINISTRY MEETING SURGING NEED

Appalachian Outreach provides food to struggling families, despite fewer available volunteers

Carson-Newman news office

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s community ministry, Appalachian Outreach, has for years provided the region with a variety of services, including a food pantry, clothing ministry, emergency shelter, home repairs and more.

As the community adapts to the national COVID-19 outbreak and economic turmoil, the ministry is striving to provide food for a surging number of families in need.

Executive Director Jean-Ann Washam said that the center normally serves 300 families a month and more than 3,000 in a year. But in the past week, the center has received an increased stream of calls with requests for assistance. On Thursday, workers served over 60 families in the first half of the day alone. [Read more…]

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CARSON-NEWMAN, UNION MOVE CLASSES ONLINE

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Union University and Carson-Newman  University addressed the coronavirus pandemic with their respective campus communities on March 12.

Union University in Jackson informed students, faculty and staff that it would move full semester classes on March 16 to an online or alternate delivery format.

In a letter to the Union University community, university president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said, “While there have been no confirmed cases (of the coronavirus) at the university and no one associated with Union is currently in self-quarantine, we believe that it is prudent to take necessary measures to protect the health and wellbeing of those in our community.” [Read more…]

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STORIES THAT SHAPED 2019

Baptists experience monumental year: I Stand for Life initiative, record GOTM gifts among top news stories

SEE ALSO – RADIO B&R EP. 37: TBMB JANUARY UPDATE WITH RANDY C. DAVIS

 

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — Top news stories in the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2019 included the “I Stand for Life” initiative in support of SB (Senate Bill) 1236, the election of Charles Fowler as president of Carson-Newman University and record giving for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board initiated the I Stand for Life initiative on July 23 to garner thousands of signatures from Tennessee Baptists in an effort to let Tennessee lawmakers know that Tennessee Baptists would like to see legislation passed that protects the lives of unborn children.

The petition campaign was initiated by Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB who had a desire to make sure Tennessee Baptists were informed about the issue and that their voices were heard. [Read more…]

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MOST-READ STORIES OF 2019 COVER WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS

Stories about Lifeway’s change to pension plan and the “I Stand for Life” initiative had the most views on the B&R website

Baptist & Reflector Staff

FRANKLIN — The Baptist and Reflector website serves multiple purposes for the newspaper.

The website not only runs stories that are published in the print edition of the B&R, but also is the go-to place for breaking news pertaining to Tennessee Baptists.

This past year, the B&R website experienced several significant increases in readership (see chart). In looking at the year-ending numbers, it is interesting to note that the most-read stories of 2019 involved a wide range of topics, from economics to abortion to elections.

Listed below is a look at the most-read stories (based on website views) from the past year:

1. Lifeway to freeze pension plan for pension-eligible employees

• Date posted: July 31, 2019 • Written by: Lonnie Wilkey • Position: B&R editor

This story focused on LifeWay Christian Resources announcing changes to its retiree life insurance and pre-65 retiree medical benefits, including freezing its LifeWay Pension Plan (effective Jan. 1, 2020) for current pension-eligible employees. LifeWay shared the changes in letters to current and future retirees on June 29. The changes were approved by LifeWay trustees at their February meeting. [Read more…]

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FOWLER INAUGURATED AT CARSON-NEWMAN

Carson-Newman news office

Carson-Newman University celebrated the inauguration of its 23rd president, Charles A. Fowler (center), on Nov. 8. Presenting the University’s Presidential Medallion are J. Randall O’Brien (left), the university’s 22nd president and James S. Netherton, C-N’s 21st president. 

JEFFERSON CITY — In a ceremony attended by delegates of more than 40 academic institutions, associations and learned societies, Carson-Newman University inaugurated Charles A. Fowler as the 23rd president of the 168-year-old institution.

The formal Inauguration Ceremony took place Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City. Fowler was named the University’s 23rd president in June following a unanimous vote by the institution’s Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees. [Read more…]

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CARSON-NEWMAN, TBMB TEAM UP TO RALLY FOR CHRIST

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Roc Collins

JEFFERSON CITY — As they prepared for the East Tennessee Rally for Christ at Carson-Newman, the leadership team at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board said they wanted the event to have a two-pronged purpose: To ignite the believers and offer hope to the spiritually lost.

By the time the rally came to a close, it was clear that both objectives had been met: The saints were stirred and the lost were found.

The rally, held at Holt Fieldhouse on the C-N campus on the night of Sept. 8, drew more than 900 attendees, who were treated to a night of praise, worship and encouragement. The evening also featured several life-changing decisions, including three professions of faith, three commitments to baptism and one rededication. [Read more…]

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COMING IN STRONG

Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City recently welcomed its largest freshmen class in history — 557 students. They are included in Carson-Newman’s highest enrollment in its 168-year history — 2,725 students. The enrollment also includes a record graduate class of 885 students. Since 2010, C-N has seen a 40 percent increase in total enrollment. In the photo above, C-N president Charles A. Fowler and his wife, Sandra, front center, along with faculty and staff, led the freshmen and their families on a prayerwalk through the campus on Aug. 24.
— Photo submitted by Carson-Newman University

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VICTORY FORMATION

C-N football program sees 10 players make professions

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Carson-Newman volunteer kickers and punters coach Alan Duncan and team chaplain Marty Blakely baptized 10 players from the Carson-Newman football team in Mossy Creek following football camp.

JEFFERSON CITY —  Big decisions are often made at football camp. Who is going to be the starting tailback? What scheme is the new defensive coordinator going to install?  Is the kick returner going to be used at wide receiver?

Important choices, for sure. Choices that can ultimately determine a team’s success.

And yet, those types of decisions aren’t nearly as significant as the decisions that were made at Carson-Newman’s football camp this summer. These were life-changing — and eternity-altering — decisions. [Read more…]

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FOWLER GIVES FIRST CAMPUS ADDRESS AT C-N FALL CONVOCATION

C-N news office

Charles Fowler gives his first address as president to students, faculty and staff of Carson-Newman University during the school’s Fall Convocation held Sept. 5.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University held its Fall Convocation Sept. 5 to a packed Holt Fieldhouse. The event serves as a ceremonial marker to the start of the new academic year. The occasion also marked the first time new Carson-Newman President Charles A. Fowler addressed the full campus community.

Citing Psalm 145:4, Fowler pointed to the importance of “celebrating the faithfulness of God,” as evidenced in C-N’s past, but also directing attention to the future by “anticipating the faithfulness of God. [Read more…]

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C-N STUDENT KILLED IN ACCIDENT WHILE IN GUATEMALA

C-N news office

Seth and Emma Washam

JEFFERSON CITY — A Carson-Newman University incoming freshman died July 20 in an accident while on a trip to Guatemala. 

Seth Washam was killed due to an electrical short in a hotel swimming pool. His sister Emma, a rising C-N junior, was also injured in the incident. The two are the children of C-N alumni Shannon and Jean-Ann Washam of Knoxville. Jean-Ann serves as executive director of the university’s Appalachian Outreach home repair ministry while Shannon is director of Western Heights Baptist Center in Knoxville. [Read more…]

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