childhood Archives - Baptist & Reflector

THE ABCs OF GEN Z

October 10, 2019

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SHELBYVILLE — “Does anyone know what a slo-fie is?” asked Donna Blaydes as she glanced around the classroom filled with adults.

After a few moments of mostly blank stares and silence, Blaydes explained that the term, which is only about three weeks old, refers to slow-motion “selfies” that can be recorded with the latest version of iPhones.

The response to Blaydes’ question perfectly illustrated the point that she was making: Technology is moving so rapidly that it can be challenging for parents and grandparents to keep up. [Read more…]

10 CHARACTERISTICS OF GEN Z

October 9, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

SHELBYVILLE — While leading a breakout session called “Parenting and Grandparenting Gen Z Kids” at the TBMB’s conference, Debbie Doane revealed 10 common characteristics among Gen Z-ers. Doane then discussed ways in which these characteristics shape relationships with this demographic. By learning more about their world, it becomes easier to open the lines of communication, she said.

1 They’ve always been ‘wired’

Gen Z kids have been surrounded by screens their whole lives. With the commercialization of the internet in 1995 — the year that many consider to be the start of Gen Z — and the influx of cell phones, Gen Z is seemingly always connected to something. [Read more…]

FROM CHURCH-HOUSE TO NEIGHBORHOOD-HOUSE

September 27, 2019

By Justin Mullins
Young Families Pastor, Collierville First Baptist Church

Children enjoy a Backyard Kids Club provided by Collierville First Baptist Church.

A few years ago, our church, Collierville First Baptist Church, decided to take a closer look at who we were reaching through our annual Vacation Bible School. While our numbers were strong, we were surprised to discover that only four percent of the children who attended were unchurched.

We put all our resources, volunteers and effort into a huge program that consisted of 96 percent of the children attending our church or another church in the area. So, we began to pray and ask the Lord for a new and exciting opportunity to reach new families with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We defined the success of this program by how many unchurched families we could reach. [Read more…]

VBS – IS IT WORTH IT?

June 17, 2019

By Debbie Richard

I would like to tell you a story about an 8-year-old girl.

Her parents did not go to church. The family loved the outdoors, so most weekends were spent camping.

Since both parents worked, the girl and her younger brother had to have a sitter. It so happened their sitter was the wife of a Baptist preacher. Every afternoon when their father picked them up, the preacher would meet him at the door and invite the family to church. [Read more…]

IAM4KIDS IS CHANGING LIVES THROUGH MENTORING

May 3, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

LAWRENCEBURG — While serving as director of the “IAM4Kids” mentoring program, Steve Seaton is continuously seeing life-changing transformations take place through the faith-based ministry.

But on an even deeper level, Seaton’s appreciation for mentoring developed long before he joined the “IAM4Kids” staff. It actually happened when he was on the other side of the table. [Read more…]

TBMB DIRECTORS HEAR PLAN FOR SPECIAL TASK FORCE

May 1, 2019

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

Eric Nichols, pastor of the Thompson Station Church, Columbia Campus, welcomes directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board to Thompson Station Church in Thompson’s Station. Looking on are Randy C. Davis, left, president and executive director of the TBMB, and Mike Kemper, right, board chair and interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Dyer.

Updated May 3, 2019

THOMPSON’S STATION — Directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board approved four recommendations and heard plans for a Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Task Force during their meeting April 30 at Thompson Station Church in Thompson’s Station.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB, announced plans for the task force during his report to the board of directors.

Though the issue of sexual abuse of children in Southern Baptist churches became widely known after articles were released by The Houston Chronicle in February, Davis said the TBMB has been assisting churches in taking steps to prevent sexual abuse for 20 years and will continue to do so. [Read more…]

GAINES: USE EASTER TO EVANGELIZE

April 2, 2019

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

Calvary Baptist Church pastor Grant Gaines, seen here speaking at Union University, says Easter is a great time to invite friends and neighbors to church. — Photo by Anne Richoux, Union University

JACKSON — Easter is the perfect time to invite people to church to hear about Jesus and the resurrection story, said Grant Gaines, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Jackson.

Gaines, who led a breakout session during a recent evangelism conference at Union University, was featured recently on a Radio B&R podcast (Listen to episode 26 here).

“Easter is a natural time to focus on inviting people to church,” Gaines said. The concept fits hand in glove with the church’s evangelistic strategy. “We believe that inviting people to come to church is still a great way to do evangelism,” Gaines noted.

He explained that “a church invite” is not necessarily direct personal evangelism “because you’re not necessarily explaining the gospel to your neighbor, or coworker or your family member that you’re inviting. [Read more…]

VBS, BUS MINISTRY LED ASHLEY VIRTO TO CHRIST

March 11, 2019

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

FRANKLIN — Ten years ago Ashley Virto was a Catholic teenager in Ripley, Miss., who knew about Jesus Christ, but didn’t know Jesus Christ.

Thanks to a bus ministry and a Vacation Bible School, Ashley Virto (now 24) is a Christian serving Jesus Christ in her local church (Judson Baptist in Nashville) and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and is now helping to train Spanish VBS leaders.

For the past three years Virto has taught various aspects of VBS, from recreation to arts and crafts, during training for VBS leaders who speak Spanish. [Read more…]

THE ROOT OF MANY LEADERS’ FAITH BEGINS WITH GOSPEL SHARED AT VBS

March 11, 2019

By Vicki Hulsey
Childhood Ministry Specialist, TBMB

A VBS “snapshot” of Hillview Baptist Church attendees of Vacation Bible School.

I recently heard Landry Holmes, author of It’s Worth It, talk about the “snapshots” he has in his mind regarding Vacation Bible School.

I began to think about the pictures people have in their minds of their childhood and VBS memories. As I talk with ministry leaders across Tennessee, I often hear the stories of faith that originated in Vacation Bible School. And, many times those experiences included going to VBS and then returning home to unchurched parents.

While listening to Landry Holmes, snapshots immediately came to my mind of memories of my VBS experiences that will always be a part of my heritage that still impact my life as a leader. [Read more…]

VBS: TRIED, PROVEN — AND STILL EFFECTIVE

March 11, 2019

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

FRANKLIN — Ever since the first Vacation Bible School was held in New York City in 1898, the program has reached thousands upon thousands of children with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Despite its record of success, some churches view VBS as an outdated tool of evangelism and are “abandoning one of the best conduits for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with future generations,” observed Vicki Hulsey, childhood specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

TBMB leads seminars on how to reach this easily-distracted demographic

1 They’ve always been ‘wired’

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