Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CARSON SPRINGS EVENT SETS TONE FOR CHRISTMAS SEASON

By Carla Harper
Contributing Writer, B&R

Emily Terrell of First Baptist Church, Dandridge, recently encouraged participants at the annual Christmas in November Women’s Luncheon, sponsored by Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport.

NEWPORT  — “All is Calm. All is Bright” was the theme for the annual Christmas in November Women’s Luncheon held Nov. 10 at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport.

Kevin Perrigan, manager of Carson Springs, and his wife, Debra, have sponsored the event since they first came to Carson Springs 11 years ago.

“We continue this tradition each year because it continues to have an impact. We continue to see results. Women come back and bring friends with them each year. Women tell us they have a good time; and more importantly, they have told us that it helps them get their mind set on Christ before the holidays get them too busy to get distracted from what Christmas is really about,” Perrigan said. [Read more…]

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HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO LOTTIE’S CHALLENGE?

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Time passes, transitions happen, and generations come and go, but I pray we as Southern Baptists never lose the missionary spirit of Charlotte Digges “Lottie” Moon.

Lottie Moon stood no taller than 4 feet 6 inches tall, but she cast a shadow that’s stretched for more than 100 years. Lottie left for China in the early 1880’s and gave 39 years and her life – literally – to the Chinese people as a teacher and evangelist. Among her monumental Kingdom contributions was the foundation she laid for support of international missions among Southern Baptists through a special offering. [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS BACKPACK COLLECTION INFORMATION

Editor’s Note: Tennessee Baptists are participating in “Christmas Backpacks for Children and Teens” (see story “Blessings in Backpacks” in the Sept. 26 issue of the B&R).

Backpack Collection Timeline and Locations:

Englewood Baptist – East Campus | Nov. 5-8, 2018, 9am-4pm
1646 Highway 70 East, Jackson
Contact: Randy Pool: 731-431-7101

TBMB Missions Mobilization Center | Nov. 5-8, 2018, 9am-4pm
6434 John Hagar Road, Mt. Juliet
Contact: Elizabeth Holmes: 615-371-7926

God’s Warehouse | Nov. 5-8, 2018, 9am-4pm
3441 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy, Morristown
Contact: Don Owen: 865-384-8691

If you plan to bring your backpacks to the Summit, contact Joe Sorah (423-895-1481) or Randy Pool (731-431-7101). For more information about Christmas Backpacks, please see www.tnbaptist.org/backpacks or contact Joe Sorah.

From Joe Sorah, compassion ministry specialist, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board:

“Thank you for all those who are donating Christmas Backpacks this year. We have many churches that are requesting our assistance and your participation is greatly needed. As the collection dates are nearing, we want to remind you of where to take your backpacks and ask that you call your collection center in advance to schedule a delivery time.”

“Please know that we appreciate all you are doing to help with Christmas Backpacks. Join with us in praying that many children and family members will respond to the gospel this Christmas.”

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BACKPACKS BRING HAPPINESS — AND HOPE

By Joe Sorah
Compassion Ministries Specialist, TBMB

If there was a way to share the gospel with Tennessee’s impoverished children, would you be interested in joining the effort?  If so, keep reading!

In 2001, a Georgia GA group wanted to do something for children in Appalachia for Christmas.  They filled 300 shoe boxes with gifts for needy children.  From that humble beginning, the Christmas Backpack Ministry was launched.  [Read more…]

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BLESSINGS IN BACKPACKS

Christmas backpack ministry brings gospel, toys to children

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

FRANKLIN — This Christmas, hundreds of underprivileged children in Tennessee will be receiving Barbie dolls and board games, matchbox cars and model planes.

More importantly, they will be receiving hope through the good news of Jesus.

All across the state, Tennessee Baptists are participating in “Christmas Backpacks for Children and Teens” — a ministry that originally started in 2001 with a group of GAs (Girls in Action) in Georgia. The ministry, which has grown dramatically since its inception, provides children with brand-new backpacks, filled with toys, card games, hygiene products and more. [Read more…]

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SHARING THE GOSPEL AT CHRISTMAS

By Michael Koontz
Pastor, Pine Ridge Baptist Church, Harriman

A few months ago, one of our deacons approached me about participating in the Oliver Springs Christmas Parade. The church had not been in a parade during his 10 years at the church. After a little research, we decided to jump in and see what God would do. Our church is in a transition period of young unchurched families coming in, and we are financially strapped right now. So, we went into this outreach with basically no budget. [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS IN SILVER POINT MEETS NEEDS

Church provides food, shoes to underprivileged in community

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at Christmas in Silver Point are Phoebe, left, and Winnie MacNaught.
— Photos by Lonnie Wilkey.

SILVER POINT — What began as a youth Sunday School class project 17 years ago has developed into an annual tradition at Silver Point Baptist Church, a rural congregation of about 75 people in Putnam County.

Christmas in Silver Point is now looked forward to every year by both the congregation and residents of the community, according to church leaders.

Christmas in Silver Point has continued to grow, said Pastor Tony Crow, who has been in that role for 11 years. He was a deacon and member of the church before being called as pastor. “We want to open our doors to the community and let them see Christ in us,” he said. [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS CAROLS: OKAY TO SKIP VERSES?

By David Roach
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — As worship pastor Andrew Lucius selects songs for Christmas worship, he is considering specific needs in the Georgia congregation he serves. Among his conclusions: singing only the first verse of familiar carols could leave worshipers spiritually malnourished.

The widow “who’s going through the Christmas season the first time this year without her husband … needs more than the first verse of ‘Joy to the World!’” said Lucius, associate pastor of music and worship at Bull Street Baptist Church in Savannah, Ga. “She needs to sing, ‘No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.’

“When she’s feeling the power of the curse and its application in death, I want her to be singing and believing that,” Lucius said. [Read more…]

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HOW TO PUT A SHINE ON THE GOLDEN RULE

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, B&R

Dad was grateful for gifts he received and liked and he would let you know it. But Dad was never a man of pretense, and that often resulted in awkward responses he would make when he received a gift that neither suited him or pleased him. 

At Christmas or other occasions — with our family of gift-givers and receivers around — Dad often opened a gift and said aloud, “I wonder whatever made anyone think I would want one of these!” Instead of our being offended at such a response, we all learned to laugh and know it was Dad being Dad. [Read more…]

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SYNONYMOUS: NBA TOY STORE AND DEMONBREUN

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Carolyn Demonbreun of Shelby Avenue Baptist Church welcomes shoppers to the Nashville Baptist Toy Store.
— Photo by Tammy Drolsum

NASHVILLE — When you mention the Nashville Baptist Association Toy Store, it’s hard not to think about Carolyn Demonbreun.

The NBA Toy Store has existed for 66 years and Carolyn Demonbreun has been there for 58 of those years, serving the community and sharing the love of Christ.

Demonbreun served as director of the Toy Store from 1973-97. She has been a volunteer for the last 20 years, still giving countless time to the ministry which is held at her home church, Shelby Avenue Baptist. [Read more…]

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