Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist Press
DALLAS — “Testify! Go. Stand. Speak.” will be the theme for the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting June 12-13 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, SBC President Steve Gaines has announced.
Evangelism is the urgency of the theme anchored in Acts 5:20, Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church Cordova, told Baptist Press Jan. 17. [Read more…]
By Benjie Shaw,
BCM Director, University Of Tennessee Health Science Center
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: America’s religious landscape has undergone large shifts in the last 20 years. In September, the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) released its latest study, titled “America’s Changing Religious Identity.” In short, the PRRI study discovered: [Read more…]
By Chris Turner
TBMB Communications Director
The plane taxied to a stop and flight attendants opened both the forward and rear doors for us to disembark. As I rose from my seat, a smell hit me like a sucker punch and triggered a gag reflex. People cleared a space. Fortunately, it turned out well for everyone.
The smell continued its assault on my senses. As we pulled away from the airport and navigated around the emaciated cow meandering down the expressway, I asked the missionary, “What’s that smell?”
“Oh, that’s just Calcutta,” he responded with a chuckle. “You get used to it after a few months.” [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Morgan Clough displays a copy of his new book, Renegade Preacher: From Rape to Recovery.
MADISONVILLE — Morgan Clough would be the first to admit he did not take the traditional path to becoming a Southern Baptist pastor.
In fact, he was well off the path for most of his first 35 or so years of life — having been raped 52 times as a child and later falling into a life of alcohol, addiction, and crime. [Read more…]
By David Leavell,
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention
Every Tennessee Baptist knows John 3:16. It truly is the Gospel in a nutshell i.e. the greatest verse in the universe! My challenge is for every Tennessee Baptist to share John 3:16, once a week, with a lost person, with the intention of leading them to personal faith in Christ. The only way Objective One (to baptize 50,000 people a year and set them on the road to discipleship by 2024) can ever be accomplished is by the blessing of God and the obedience of God’s people. [Read more…]
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…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Last year the Baptist and Reflector told the story of Tiffany Bowen, a pastor’s wife in West Tennessee, who was a self-described “atheist, feminist bartender.” Tiffany candidly shared her story of her journey from someone who denied God to becoming the wife of Jason Bowen, who would later become pastor of First Baptist Church, Trenton.
At the conclusion of the story, Tiffany said she was willing to share her story anywhere, anytime. “If it brings God glory, then I’m an open book,” she stated. A year later, the book is still open. [Read more…]
By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — Although they don’t appear on Google maps or GPS devices, prayer outposts are popping up all across Tennessee.
The influx has been created by the Pray4TN campaign — an initiative designed and developed by Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff members Roc Collins, David Evans, and Steve Pearson. [Read more…]
By David Leavell,
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention
David Leavell
I know you see it. At least, I hope you see it. Tennessee is becoming increasingly lost with each passing year. More people who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior. More people without hope. More people without divine forgiveness. Tennessee grows approximately 60,000 people a year. Last year, Tennessee Baptists baptized 20,302 people. That is the lowest number of people baptized since 1986. That’s 30 years folks. The reality is that something has to change! We must get on our knees in prayer, allow the Holy Spirit of God to burden our hearts, and open our mouths to share the life-giving message of Jesus Christ. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
David and Vicki Leavell
MILLINGTON — As David Leavell begins his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, his goal is as simple as a sermon with one point — just share the gospel.
He basically sees himself following the same message of the previous two convention presidents (Roc Collins and Steve Freeman) who strongly emphasized evangelism as Tennessee Baptists have a goal (the first of five objectives) in seeing 50,000 people annually saved, baptized, and set on the road to discipleship by 2024. [Read more…]
