Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

REVIVAL IN ROGERSVILLE!

Scheduled for four days, revival lasts four weeks at East Rogersville Baptist Church

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

ROGERSVILLE — East Rogersville Baptist Church planned and prepared for a four-day revival conference from Feb. 2-5. God had other plans.

Youth and adults gather at the altar to pray at East Rogersville Baptist Church during a revival conference that began on Feb. 2 and lasted four weeks.

At the conclusion of the Feb. 5 meeting, members told pastor John Butler “we need to keep meeting.” Butler agreed and the revival extended four weeks, concluding on Feb. 28. The revival has included participants from churches of different denominations and non-denominational churches as well.

This was not just an East Rogersville Baptist Church event, the pastor stressed.

As of Feb. 28, there had been nearly 30 professions of faith, and many of them have already been baptized he added. [Read more…]

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NEW TITLE, SAME PASSION

Barbier reflects on impact, importance of youth ministry

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

TBMB youth ministry specialist Jay Barbier worships with the crowd on the opening night of the 2019 YEC event.
— Photo by Royce DeGrie

FRANKLIN — Jay Barbier has a new title with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and it’s a perfect fit with his love and passion for youth ministry.

Barbier recently was named youth ministry specialist for the TBMB following the retirement of Bruce Edwards in January. He has served with the TBMB for the past two years as evangelism event specialist, coming to that role from First Baptist Church, Millington, where he served as minister of youth for seven-and-a-half  years.

The past two years have actually helped prepare Barbier for his new role as he met with and began building relationships with youth ministers and leaders across Tennessee. He shared his vision for youth ministry in Tennessee during a recent podcast of Radio B&R. (The full podcast, Episode 38, is available at RadioBandR.org).

“As youth ministry specialist, my role is to serve churches. … I want to help churches where they are as well as help them move the ball forward when it comes to evangelism, discipleship or anything else that we can do to serve them,” Barbier said.

He observed that discipleship is a key to effective youth ministry. People learn best by example, Barbier said, noting that as a new Christian he wanted to lead others to Jesus. “I had pastors, deacons, and individuals who helped me. They showed me. They took me to visitation. They included me in salvation conversations with other people.” [Read more…]

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WHERE ARE RECRUITS FOR WORLD CONQUEST?

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

There is a growing reality that causes me great concern. I’m scanning the horizon looking for the billowing dust of reinforcements charging toward the spiritual battle, but all I see are wisps from the few. Where are the supply of recruits enlisted for world conquest?

Where are the pastors and ministers to shepherd Christ’s bride during these most desperate of days?

Where are the missionaries to carry the gospel to faraway lands?

Increasingly, too many of our pulpits stand vacant rather than filled by a God-called man filled with biblical authority proclaiming Jesus’ all-sufficient death, burial and resurrection on behalf of sinful humanity. [Read more…]

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FLOYD ISSUES VISION 2025 CALL FOR EVANGELISM

By Jonathan Howe and Amy Whitfield
Baptist Press

SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd announced a new five-year initiative in conjunction with multiple entities to reach every person with the Gospel in every town, every city, every state and every nation. — Photo by Eric Brown

NASHVILLE — SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd announced a new five-year initiative in conjunction with multiple entities to reach every person with the Gospel in every town, every city, every state and every nation.

In his address Monday night (Feb. 17), Floyd presented this Convention-wide initiative to members of the EC and a packed crowd in attendance for the group’s February 2020 meeting.

“Vision 2025 is not a slogan or rallying cry,” Floyd said. “It’s a path forward to help us reimagine a new future together of reaching the world for Jesus Christ — every person, every town, every city, every state and every nation.” [Read more…]

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YANES: CORONAVIRUS OPPORTUNITY FOR LOVE, UNDERSTANDING

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — The international coronavirus outbreak should not spread panic in the U.S., but should encourage Gospel love and understanding among the diverse body of Southern Baptists, Asian American relations leader Peter Yanes told Baptist Press.

Misinformation has spread across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok, NBC news has reported, spreading fear, racial stereotyping and xenophobia.

“We need to be gracious in our convention dealing with many of our Asian American brethren,” said Yanes, executive director of Asian American Relations & Mobilization for the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. [Read more…]

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STORIES THAT SHAPED 2019

Baptists experience monumental year: I Stand for Life initiative, record GOTM gifts among top news stories

SEE ALSO – RADIO B&R EP. 37: TBMB JANUARY UPDATE WITH RANDY C. DAVIS

 

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

FRANKLIN — Top news stories in the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2019 included the “I Stand for Life” initiative in support of SB (Senate Bill) 1236, the election of Charles Fowler as president of Carson-Newman University and record giving for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board initiated the I Stand for Life initiative on July 23 to garner thousands of signatures from Tennessee Baptists in an effort to let Tennessee lawmakers know that Tennessee Baptists would like to see legislation passed that protects the lives of unborn children.

The petition campaign was initiated by Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB who had a desire to make sure Tennessee Baptists were informed about the issue and that their voices were heard. [Read more…]

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CATCH A VISION FOR SHARING GOSPEL IN 2020

By Bruce Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention

It is always an honor to be named as president of any organization of which you are a part. I am honored to have been elected to serve you for the next year as the president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

I have had the opportunity to live in Alabama, Texas and Arkansas prior to living in Tennessee. I was born and lived my young years in Andalusia, Ala. After college in Mobile, my wife and I went to Texas to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  [Read more…]

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CHRISTMAS IS PERFECT TIME TO PROCLAIM JESUS

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

There has been growing evidence over the past two decades that Christians are becoming increasingly reluctant to openly share their faith. Research from The Barna Group, LifeWay Christian Research and others in recent years confirm that more and more Christians are having fewer gospel conversations.

That leads to the question: Why? Why are people who affirm their faith in Jesus so unwilling to share their faith with others. One reason is fear. 

We are afraid of what people will think about us if we talk about Jesus Christ. We are afraid of being ridiculed. We simply need to get over it. Jesus was not afraid to die on the cross for you and me. We shouldn’t be afraid to tell others of His love for them. [Read more…]

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GREEN’S CHALLENGE: EVANGELIZE, ENCOURAGE, EXTEND

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, and president of the TBC during the 2018-19 term, delivered the president’s sermon on Nov. 19. Green served the traditional one-year term as TBC president after being elected last November. Bruce Chesser, pastor of First Baptist, Hendersonville, was elected president for the 2019-2020 term.
— Photo by James Wilson

KNOXVILLE — As his term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention came to a close, David Green offered some words of excitement. He also issued a challenge.

Delivering the president’s message at the 145th annual meeting of Tennessee Baptists, Green reminded those in attendance that they have the ultimate reason to rejoice: Salvation. Green also challenged attendees to “evangelize the lost, encourage the saved and extend our borders.”

Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, delivered his year-ending president’s message during the Tuesday evening session of this year’s Summit, held at First Baptist Concord.

Green preached from Isaiah 54, and reminded attendees that they should “rejoice in the promises of God, respond to the plan of God, rely on the power of God and and remember our relationship with God.”

He also encouraged Christians to rejoice always, celebrating all that God has done for us.  “The Lord inhabits our praise,” said Green. “So, if we want Him around, then why don’t we sing more than we cry? … We need to stop acting like God is dead. We need to stop acting like God didn’t promise us anything. We need to stop acting like Jesus didn’t die on the cross for our sins. We need to live our lives like free people.”  [Read more…]

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THE ROMAN ROAD AND A TESTIMONY

By Lonnie Wilkey

Before it Hits the PressAs one might expect, evangelism was a popular topic during this week’s Summit held at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville. The theme for the 145th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention was Win TN By All Means.

Several excellent videos focusing on evangelism were featured throughout the sessions.

During the Tuesday night session on Nov. 19, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, recognized the top churches in total baptisms and baptisms based on average attendance in 2018. [Read more…]

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