Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — The feeding unit of Sullivan Baptist Association, along with supporting units from Watauga, Holston and Knox County Associations, will be heading to Cary, N.C. on Sept. 16 to begin responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — In 2016-17, Tennessee Baptists gave a record $1,843,511.03 through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.
A year later, Tennessee Baptists followed that record amount with the second highest total ever given — $1,797,423.72
“While falling short of our goal of $1,925,000, Tennessee Baptists still have a lot to celebrate with the 2017-18 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions,” said Vickie Anderson, executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief has been placed on alert status as Hurricane Florence barrels toward the East Coast.
The category 4 hurricane is expected to hit the Carolinas on Sept. 13, continuing into the next day, according to The Weather Channel. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in North and South Carolina and Virginia, according to other news reports. [Read more…]
By Vickie Anderson
Tennessee WMU executive director
For 40 years Tennessee Baptists have worked together to give help and hope through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions (GOTM) and disaster relief. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Waverly Mayor Buddy Frazier, a member of First Baptist Church, Waverly, looks over the names of the 16 people killed in a tanker explosion in 1978. Frazier was a 25-year-old police officer at the time and had just left the site minutes before the explosion.
WAVERLY — In the 40 years Tennessee Baptists have responded to disasters in the state and around the globe, countless volunteers have trekked to be the hands and feet of Jesus when people needed a friend and a helping hand.
But the state convention’s first “official” disaster relief response was done with little fanfare and no volunteers or equipment. In fact, the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board didn’t acquire a DR vehicle until after the first response.
On Feb. 24, 1978, a derailed L&N railroad car carrying liquid propane gas exploded, killing 16 people and injuring more than 200 others. Many of the survivors still carry scars from the burns they received. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, participated in the 40th anniversary of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief along with former state DR directors David Acres, left, and Tim Bearden, right.
MOUNT JULIET — Nearly 300 volunteers from every area of the state flocked to the Missions Mobilization Center in Mount Juliet July 14 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.
“We’re here today because for 40 years Tennessee Baptists have been responding in a united, cooperative manner to disaster,” observed Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“From earthquakes to tsunamis, from floods to fires, from tornados to ice storms and terrorist attacks, the men and women of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief have shown up to assist,” he continued. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief, a ministry of the Tennessee Baptist Mission board, is hosting a 40th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the at the Missions Mobilization Center in Mount Juliet. (Address: 6434 John Hagar Road, Mt Juliet, TN 37122) [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: Visit baptistandreflector.org for complete coverage of the SBC annual meeting.
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
Messengers at the SBC annual meeting raise their ballots while voting on one of the 20 proposed motions on June 12. — Photo by Matt Miller/Baptist Press
DALLAS — Though an attempt was made to exclude the vice president of the United States from speaking to Southern Baptist Convention messengers, Mike Pence addressed the convention in the June 13 morning session.
Pence’s appearance was one of several highlights during the annual meeting held June 12-13 in Dallas. The meeting drew 9,637 messengers, including 615 from Tennessee. Tennessee trailed only Texas (2,036) and Louisiana (718) in number of messengers. It was the largest attended convention since 2010. [Read more…]
From B&R staff
Tennessee Disaster Relief has been notified of a call out for Flood Recovery teams to travel to Maryland in response to the flooding in the Baltimore area roughly three weeks ago. Those who might be able to put together a team should contact Tennessee Baptist Mission Board disaster relief specialist Wes Jones at wjones@tnbaptist.org and George Blevins at yellowjacketnew@aol.com.
Baltimore County has asked that 400 homes be assessed. Current team needs include:
• IC team members
• Assessors
• Flood recovery teams
NOTE: Those interested in making donations for relief efforts can do so HERE.
Baptist Press
Bob Dixon
DALLAS — Chattanooga native Robert E. “Bob” Dixon, who pioneered Southern Baptist disaster relief ministry more than 50 years ago — seeing DR deployments as “invitations from the Father” — died May 10 at age 90.
Dixon was baptized at age 10 at Avondale Baptist Church in Chattanooga and was ordained into the ministry there in 1959. As a layman, Dixon worked with youth while still sensing a call to the ministry. In 1957, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife Jean and their two daughters to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was hired at College Avenue Baptist Church as youth director. [Read more…]
