Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated from the original post.
Compiled by B&R staff
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Anxiety in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis continues to mount, but Southern Baptists across the United States are determined to respond and meet needs.
On March 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reached out to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) leadership to discuss engaging Southern Baptist volunteers in response efforts on a nationwide scale. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — As more and more churches begin livestreaming their services due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative that they do it properly and legally, according to Scott Shepherd of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“The issue is not whether churches will be caught or prosecuted,” observed Shepherd, TBMB worship and music specialist and a former minister of worship at First Baptist Church, Paris.
“The issue is being a good citizen by obeying our nation’s laws. Plus, as followers of Jesus Christ, we ought to ensure that the artists and publishers of the songs used in our worship gatherings are compensated fairly.” [Read more…]
By Hannah Conway
Special to Baptist and Reflector
Business and churches alike are scrambling to create an effective communication strategy in the midst of a global crisis. Many churches feel like they have been thrown into the deep end of the virtual/online pool.
It’s a lot to take in all at once.
So many questions. What to communicate, when, how, on what platforms? And then there’s a possible learning curve involved in order to teach church staff and members how to navigate those online resources. It’s stressful—we get it. [Read more…]
By Matt Tullos
Special assistant to the executive director, TBMB
We don’t know how long this new reality will last. It’s difficult for us to navigate local ministry in the midst of a national emergency. Here are 19 things we challenge church leaders to do during the Coronavirus also known as C-19
(1) Set aside time for personal prayer. There are so many hurdles to jump through in communicating during this uncertain time but the most important communication you can do is to intercede. Here is a short, guided prayer activity:
• Pray for God to use the Coronavirus Crisis to bring a national revival. This is the heart-cry of the Church. Could God use something as difficult and all-encompassing as a virus to bring people back to God? Absolutely. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — Churches across Tennessee are ramping up efforts to communicate with their members in a myriad of ways they never have before, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
Churches are employing e-mails, phone calls, Facebook and other social media platforms, and church websites to communicate on a mass scale in order to offer encouragement and provide information.
Chuck Workman, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, Nashville, has seen an increase of members visiting the church’s website for information. He also thinks the website is the best resource for the church to use as people seek hope and encouragement from the anxiety caused by the pandemic.
“I feel like the best way to ‘hold’ our church together is to encourage the visiting of the website,” Workman said. [Read more…]
By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press
Gospel singer Sandi Patty announced through Facebook Wednesday (March 17) she has tested positive for COVID-19. The Grammy-winning artist told fans she is self-quarantining with her husband in their home in Oklahoma. — Screen capture from Facebook
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gospel singer Sandi Patty announced through Facebook on March 17 she has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Grammy-winning artist told fans she is self-quarantining with her husband at their home in Oklahoma.
Patty explained in the video that she had not felt well in the past few weeks and had been traveling for various events, coming home the weekend of March 7.
Patty attends Crossing Community Church in Oklahoma City but said since returning home on March 7, she had not been to the church or been around anyone from the church, but had simply stayed home.
Encouraging individuals to heed advice and take COVID-19 seriously, Patty said self-quarantine is the right choice. [Read more…]
Baptist Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) — I have been pastoring and preaching for 28 years, and I’ve spent more than 20 years as a preaching professor. Until very recently, I’ve never really given any thought about how to preach to an empty room. My goal has always been that the church would be as full as we can get it when it comes time to preach! But in light of the coronavirus and the reality of providing online Sunday services, I’ve been asked by a few leaders, “What are some tips for preaching to an empty room?”
Here are some thoughts that I’m keeping in mind as I preach for video. I hope they’ll be of help to other preachers: [Read more…]
By Ronnie Floyd
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Ronnie Floyd
NASHVILLE — The future before us is highly uncertain. What appeared just days ago to be a possible banner year for your church financially, may now be seen through your eyes as the pastor, as being threatened in every way.
As the pastor of a local church, you need God’s wisdom in each decision you make relating to your church’s finances. Facing the possibility of being unable to meet in person in corporate worship services even makes these challenges greater. Therefore, how can you see the church’s budget financed and supported in these uncertain times?
Consider these nine practical suggestions:
1. Focus your church on the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. Presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and making disciples of all the nations is mission critical. Maximizing the Great Commission to your people will move their hearts towards generosity.
2. Dollars usually follow vision. The more your vision is Great Commission–driven, and it is clear for your people to see, the more your people will be moved to support it financially.
3. Teach, preach, and call your people to follow principles of biblical stewardship. Economic uncertainty does not lessen the need for them to honor God with at least the first 10 percent of all God has entrusted to them. In fact, the most secure practice they can take for their future financially is to honor God in this way. Conversely, ignoring and disobeying what God says in His Word about biblical stewardship will jeopardize that future. Going forward with God and His ways is always better and more secure.
4. The more your giving is online, the fewer challenges you will face in these times. Therefore, move as many people as possible to online giving in the wisest manner — through recurring giving which is transferred weekly from your personal bank account into the financial account of your church. This avoids any fees of any kind.
5. Never assume all of your people are operating in an online world, especially relating to financial matters. Do not hesitate to send mail to members, asking them to be faithful in giving and even supplying an envelope for them to easily give an offering. Additionally, ask them to mail offerings weekly when in-person worship services are not being held or when they do not attend. Encourage people to practice biblical stewardship.
6. Gather your leadership in person or on a conference call to share the church’s financial needs. Ask for their input for how best to maintain necessary funding for the church’s budget, and how church members can best be made aware of the needs. People do not want their church to fail. If the work of the church is important — and it is most critical in times like these — then you do not need to apologize about it, but involve the people with you in order to move toward the future in the most positive and powerful way for the Gospel.
7. Lead your church with a positive outlook toward the future. God is at work. If matters have to change anywhere in your church due to these times, then use it to sharpen your focus even more toward the Great Commission. Do away with matters that are unnecessary and embrace the future in the most positive way.
8. When your people are together in worship gatherings, even if only online for a short period of time, always connect the offering with the vision and tell the story of what God is doing or may want to do in and through your church. Biblical stewardship is not just something you need to teach in a series annually, but something to model weekly in the way you make the offering appeal. Do not miss this weekly opportunity. Always forward your Great Commission vision.
9. Pray personally about church’s finances. Pray about them with your church leadership and with your entire church. If you cannot talk to God about the needs, who can you talk to? Pray for your people and their personal financial situations that God would provide for them in every way. Prayer matters. Never hesitate to talk to God about the financial present and future of the church.
Consider these things as you work through your financial future as a church in these uncertain times.
Now is the time to lead. B&R
By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Christian Resources
NASHVILLE — The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for groups during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak recommended no gatherings of more than 50 people for eight weeks. As churches scramble to make decisions on how to move forward, new research finds many congregations are not prepared to shift their services online.
A study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research conducted last fall found 41% of pastors say they don’t put any portion of their church service online for people to view.
Around half (52%) say they post the sermon online after the service is over, while 22% say they livestream the entire service and 10% say they livestream only the sermon.
“As new technologies have emerged, churches have placed their primary weekly worship service online in much the same way they did with radio and television,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. [Read more…]
By Tess Schoonhoven
Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — The needs of communities around the U.S. have been growing in midst of the COVID-19 global crisis.
With many families unable to maintain proper childcare in light of schools shutting down, college students without a place to live and insecure communities without essential household items, churches are stepping in to bring practical aid.
Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., has jumped in to help bring food to those who normally rely on school meals for their children.
Rickey Baxley, administrative pastor at Green Hill Church, said they are partnering with the local food pantry and elementary schools. [Read more…]
