Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

ON THE ‘FRONT PORCH’

Baptists prepare for massive opportunities at plant

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

An artist’s rendering of the to-be-constructed Ford plant, which will be called Blue Oval City, in Stanton.

BROWNSVILLE — Tennessee Baptists are on “the front porch” of a population explosion in West Tennessee that will bring thousands of people to the Volunteer State, said Danny Sinquefield, Harvest Field 1 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Harvest Field 1 includes Beulah, Dyer, Gibson County, Crockett County, Big Hatchie, Haywood, Madison-Chester, Mid-South, Fayette County, Hardeman County and Shiloh Baptist associations.

In September of 2021, Ford Motor Company, along with SK Innovations of Korea, announced plans to construct Blue Oval City, a $5.6 billion project to produce electric trucks and electric batteries at the 4,100-acre site in Stanton (Haywood County), formerly known as the Memphis Regional Megasite. It will be the largest automobile manufacturing plant in the nation, according to projections. [Read more…]

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NINE GAME-CHANGERS FOR YOUR CHURCH

By Matt Tullos
Special assistant to the executive director, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

Everybody loves a good comeback story and game-changing plays. If you enjoy sports, you can certainly remember an alley-oop, a trick play, an interception, a home run or a steal that changed the momentum of a particular game. We call them game-changers. And we desperately need these game-changing moments in our churches. 

Even the most contemporary church models easily fall into the rut of doing the same thing over and over again. That’s because we find comfort in the surprise-less groove of church practice, polity, and perspectives. 

Here are some easy, game-changing things that your church can do to sharpen your church’s purpose and reach your community and world. 

Leaders, I want to invite you to read through this short list, grade your church and adjust plans appropriately as you move forward.  [Read more…]

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WE CAN’T BE REMINDED ABOUT EVANGELISM ‘TOO MUCH’

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

As I approach my 34th year with the Baptist and Reflector, I can’t even begin to count how many sermons and messages I have listened to in more than three decades.

A good number of those messages were preached during the State Evangelism Conference which at one time was the highlight for pastors all over Tennessee. During the late 1980s and through the mid to late 1990s, the evangelism conference was well attended for the most part.

Gradually, attendance began to wane. The conference was moved from its typical January slot to early spring. It later was moved back to January but attendance was never the same. The conference was changed to regional meetings but that never caught on. Eventually the State Evangelism Conference ceased to exist.

I can’t honestly say I was disappointed because it was less meetings to sit through, but as I reflect on the evangelism conferences, I realize that it probably was a mistake to discontinue them even though attendance had decreased significantly. I have come to understand that we can never put too much emphasis on evangelism. [Read more…]

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PEOPLE NEED NEW — NOT BETTER!

By Roc Collins
Director of strategic objectives, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board

What do we really need? Some would offer social reform and that would be the fix-all for society. I would contend that we need spiritual regeneration! What’s the difference?

Social reform is making changes to improve something or some situation. Often social reform is touted as the answer to all of society’s problems. Certainly, changes could be made in our society that would improve many areas of life. But social reform without spiritual regeneration is like improving guest services on the Titanic. 

Our culture has a heart condition, and it won’t change permanently until we have true regeneration.  Spiritual regeneration is not changing something old; it’s beginning something completely new. While reformation is often needed, regeneration far and away, supersedes reform through the ages. When Jesus saved me, He didn’t just move me from bad to good, He regenerated me from dead to alive!

Like the Apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (II Corinthians 5:17 NASB). While many seek social reform that lasts for a season, nearly four million people in Tennessee are living without Christ — a far deeper, more eternal consequence. My prayer to God is for the Church of Jesus Christ to focus on the eternal need for spiritual regeneration of all people.  [Read more…]

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EVANS: GOSPEL CONVERSATIONS DON’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT

By Timothy Cockes
Baptist Press

SPRINGFIELD — Many Christians spend time thinking about ways to start gospel conversations, but pastor David Evans says evangelism starts “way before” the actual in-person conversation.

Evans, senior pastor at Springfield Baptist Church in Springfield, said talk around evangelism often deals with what should be said during a conversation but neglects the preparation necessary long before the scenario arises.

“In all reality, evangelism conversations start way before that,” Evans said. “Are you preparing your mind, your psychology, your posture and your perspective so when that time comes it’s less about the particular words I use to open the door and more about ‘Am I willing and intentional in that moment.’ ” [Read more…]

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ARDMORE CHURCH JOURNEYS FROM COVID-19 TO CHAOS TO SALVATIONS

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

Pastor Michael Cothren prepares to baptize his daughter, Laken. She was one of 18 people baptized at Kelly’s Creek Baptist Church in Elkton in August. The baptisms were held in the Elk River.

ARDMORE — A small country church “in the middle of nowhere” is doing quite well as it continues to rebound from an off year due to COVID-19, says pastor Michael Cothren of Kelly’s Creek Baptist Church.

This summer, Kelly’s Creek held camps for youth and children and the result was 11 decisions for Christ at camp and three more who made decisions in the aftermath of camp.

As a result of some other salvations, Kelly’s Creek recently baptized 18 new believers in the Elk River, Cothren said. Among the believers was his daughter, Laken, and some of the family who own the land adjoining the river where the baptisms were held. [Read more…]

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SIX WAYS TO INVEST IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

By Matt Tullos
Special assistant to the executive director

Matt Tullos

I don’t think he’d ever remember this, but a man changed my life in a very intentional way. His name was Phillip Willis. Every Tuesday, Bro Phil would pick me up after school to take me to visit and evangelize other students. To this day, I still remember those visits. I remember watching Bro. Phil sharing his faith and challenging me to do the same. 

He was a busy man, but he decided to make an investment in me and he changed the arc and direction of my life that year. He’s my favorite example of a disciple who made disciples, because I was the recipient of a man who took time to pour his life into an awkward ninth grade boy. Discipleship requires investment but the returns are eternal. Here are five dynamics of a disciple making disciples. They form an acrostic for the word INVEST.  [Read more…]

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VBS BECOMES ANCHOR FOR OUTREACH AT SPRINGFIELD BAPTIST

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

With excitement and energy on display, a group of children pose for a photo during Vacation Bible School at Springfield Baptist Church. The church hosted several additional events in connection with VBS this year.

SPRINGFIELD — The staff at Springfield Baptist Church wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. They were just trying to find a way — or more accurately, several ways — to improve an already-successful event: Vacation Bible School.

Three weeks after the fact, it’s clear to see that they met their objective. 

The validation of their success can be seen in the 27 professions of faith that were recorded in the span of less than a week during early June. 

“We are in the midst of a breakout at our church,” said Springfield pastor David Evans. “The Lord is moving and it’s been awesome to watch.”

Springfield Baptist Church has a long history of hosting VBS, and the summertime tradition is a much-anticipated event at the church. But this year, the staff at Springfield wanted to take VBS to an even higher level by putting a renewed emphasis on outreach.  [Read more…]

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PERSISTENT PRAYERS FUEL GROWTH AT OAK GROVE

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

-Photo: Oak Grove Facebook page

COVINGTON — Oak Grove Baptist Church, Covington, has seen a sizable increase in professions of faith and baptisms over the past year, with 13 new members joining the church and four additional individuals committed to joining in the coming weeks.

These praise-worthy numbers would be impressive at any time, but they are especially encouraging right now, as the church — and much of the nation — continues to rebound from the hardships caused by the pandemic.

So, the question is: what has led to the surge at Oak Grove? Has there been an intense evangelistic push? A strategic emphasis on social media? No, the answer is actually quite simple, said Oak Grove pastor Gary Stafford. [Read more…]

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PAST PRESIDENTS DISCUSS FUTURE OF DENOMINATION

Baptist Press

Four former SBC presidents (from left), Fred Luter, Steve Gaines, Johnny Hunt and James Merritt, participated in a panel discussion moderated by Jordan Easley (far right). The men agreed that the SBC’s future hinges on a reemphasis on evangelism and missions.
-Photo by Abby Duren

NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC’s future hinges on a reemphasis on evangelism and missions, four former presidents agreed during a panel discussion before the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting.

Former SBC presidents Steve Gaines, Johnny Hunt, James Merritt and Fred Luter, who gathered for a session on the Vision Stage in the exhibit hall of the Music City Center on June 14, one day before the annual meeting opened, found agreement on the convention’s greatest needs.

Merritt, pastor at Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Ga., who served as SBC president from 2000-2002, said evangelism is “for the most part not on our radar on a day-to-day basis.”

“How often do we pray, ‘God put someone in my path today that I can talk to about Jesus?”’ Merritt said. “The two most embarrassing questions you can ask a Christian is when is the last time you led a person to Christ, and when was the last time you tried?” [Read more…]

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