By Cody Glen Barnhart
Director of music and media, First Baptist Church, Alcoa 

Recently, Seacoast Church announced that former Southern Baptist pastor Darrin Patrick passed away from what “appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” The news sent shockwaves through social media. Patrick’s passing is a devastating blow. We seem to have lost another one of our brothers to the crisis of mental health.

Patrick’s death serves as a somber reminder that the effects of the coronavirus outbreak are not only physical: isolation feels ever-present.

Because 2020 has gone awry, an entire generation of pastors feel (perhaps for the first time) the need for pointed, calculated and faithful leadership. Pastors have a lot of stress right now. And in the midst of this, they can’t even hug one another as a reminder of the brotherhood they share in Christ. [Read more…]

By Bruce Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention 

Most of us are trying to determine the best course of action in reengaging in on campus worship. Notice I did not say “reopening.” We haven’t been closed.  Almost all of us have continued to lead our people in Sunday worship, Wednesday night Bible studies, and we have engaged many of our small groups in some new thing called Zoom. Zoom, zoom, zoom.  We’ve zoomed all over the planet in the last few months.

Here are a few things to remember.

First, no one knows exactly how to handle this. Unless you were alive 100 years ago, none of us have ever been through a pandemic.  Your pastor has not been through it, your director of missions has not been through it, your state executive director has not been through it, and you have not been through it.  No one but the Lord knows what the next few weeks and months are going to hold.

Second, we must have a plan. Leaders lead. We must develop a plan to reengage. For most, it will be done in phases. The reality is that the date might change.  But whatever the date happens to be, there has to be a plan.  [Read more…]

By Scott C. Shepherd
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board music and worship specialist

In the coming weeks and months, churches across Tennessee will make the decision to gather again for worship. These services — though COVID-19 restrictions have been reduced — will not be a return to “worship as usual.” 

Here are 15 worship related helps for churches to consider as they prepare to regather.

Maintain social distancing in worship. Restrictions have been lessened, but social distancing must continue. 

• Arrange the congregation so families are at least six feet apart from other families. Block off certain pews or remove chairs, and utilize staff, ushers and deacons to direct traffic, but these guides should also maintain social distancing.  [Read more…]