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…]

12 THINGS CHURCHES CAN DO TO PROTECT MINORS

February 20, 2019

Institute the Two-Adult Rule: There must always be at least two adults in the room, in the car, in the van, or anywhere that minors are gathered. These two can NOT be husband and wife.
Institute the Six-Month Rule: An individual must be a member of the church for at least six months before being considered for work with minors in any way. Pedophiles and others looking to prey on minors will not likely stay at the church that long. [Read more…]

PRACTICAL STEPS CAN LEAD TO IMPROVED PROTECTION

February 20, 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE: In the latest Radio B&R podcast, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board administrative director William Maxwell and childhood ministry specialist Vicki Hulsey addressed the crucial steps that churches need to take in order to ensure the safety and protection of children. The podcast can be found here.

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Churches must do all they can to protect minors and others from sexual abuse, said two experts from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, who noted some practical steps churches can take immediately that will deter prospective predators.

The comments were made during a recent Radio B&R podcast titled, “Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse” (available here). During the podcast, TBMB administrative director William Maxwell and childhood ministry specialist Vicki Hulsey, discuss a TBMB document titled, “12 Things Churches Can Do to Protect Children.” [Read more…]

THE HEAVY HAND OF GOD’S JUDGMENT

February 11, 2019

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

It is a heavy blow when God determines to bring to light that which is hidden in the shadows. Sometimes the Body of Christ must bear the weight of His judgment when He does.

Such a blow was delivered yesterday morning in an article that appeared in the Houston Chronicle. The headline was, “Abuse of Faith.” The extremely thorough story reported 20 years of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches that affected at least 700 victims. Far and away the majority of the victims were children or youth; and far and away the perpetrators were ministers. Just in the past decade, at least 250 people who worked for or volunteered in a Southern Baptist church have been charged with sex crimes. [Read more…]

CHRISTMAS BACKPACKS IMPACT TN FAMILIES

December 20, 2018

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

Terry Robinson, left, and Tom Nelson of Roan Creek Baptist Church prepare to take a load of backpacks to a local school.

FRANKLIN — Children living in the Appalachian area of Tennessee have been beneficiaries of the Christmas Backpack Ministry for several years, most of which have been donated from outside the state itself.

The Christmas Backpack Ministry has evolved over the years since 2001 when some Girls in Action (GAs) in Georgia decided they wanted to do something special for children living in the Appalachian region of the United States. [Read more…]

AS IMPORTANT AS EVER

November 6, 2018

Camp-O-Ree a reminder of the need for RAs

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

Juliana Wilson, communications and childhood missions specialist for Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, shares information about the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions with this RA group from Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett.
— Photos by Stephanie Johnson

LINDEN — Though the number of boys in Royal Ambassadors, a Southern Baptist missions education program for boys in grades one-six, has declined in recent decades, it is still as relevant as ever, agree missions leaders in Tennessee.

“Royal Ambassadors is 110 years old this year and the mission today is just as important as it was all those years ago,” said Brian Holt, state Royal Ambassadors and Challengers (missions education program for boys in grades 7-12) coordinator for Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union.

“We have unreached peoples all over the world. That includes places here in the United States. How will we understand the importance of reaching these groups if we do not start teaching missions at an early age? Would you know that Salt Lake City is an unreached people group? RAs do,” Holt said.

He added that RAs teach “what it means to be a missionary, what our missionaries do and provides them with the most basic skills they need to be a missionary themselves.”

RAs, however, is not alone in the decline. Missions organizations as a whole have experienced a decline in membership, observed Juliana Wilson, communications and childhood missions specialist for Tennessee WMU. [Read more…]

JAM CHALLENGES KIDS TO MAKE CHRIST KNOWN

October 17, 2018

Baptist and Reflector

Children and leaders gather for a time of exciting worship and learning during Middle Tennessee JAM 2018.

MOUNT JULIET — Middle Tennessee JAM (Journey Adventures in Missions) 2018, a missions event for boys and girls in grades 1-6, including Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors and Children in Action, took place Sept. 29 at Victory Baptist Church in Mount Juliet.

JAM allows children from across the state to come together to learn more about what it means to know God and make him known, said Juliana Wilson, communications/childhood missions specialist for Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union. The Middle Tennessee event was the first of three JAM events which will take place in each grand division of the state, she added.

The group of 275 children, leaders and volunteers attending JAM learned fun new ways they could make Christ known to their families, communities, country and world.
[Read more…]

Camp-O-Ree a reminder of the need for RAs

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