Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

FBC, HENDERSONVILLE, BAPTIZES 51 IN OUTDOOR SERVICE

Baptist and Reflector

HENDERSONVILLE — Since COVID-19 became a worldwide pandemic in March, many churches have had to either forgo baptisms or “step outside the box” to get them done.

Such was the case at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville. “Like many, we have grown weary of all of the cancelations and postponements,” said senior pastor Bruce Chesser. “So, we have told our ministry team, ‘Stop focusing on what we cannot do and let’s figure out what we can do.’

“We have told them to think outside the box” he added. As a result, several ministry opportunities have resulted from this way of thinking, said Chesser, who also is serving as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

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JOURNEY MARKED WITH JOY, CHANGE

TN Baptists Are Celebrating a Decade With Davis

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

Tennessee Baptist Mission Board president and executive director Randy C. Davis has approached his 10-year anniversary with the TBMB. In the photo above — which was taken nearly three years before racial tensions in the United States reached a peak in recent weeks — a mix of ethnically diverse Tennessee Baptists gathered in a display of unity in a called press conference at the Church Support Center in Franklin to publically denounce the white supremacist movement and racism. It was the first (and only) press conference called by Davis.

FRANKLIN — In August of 2010, just six weeks after becoming the executive director of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board), Randy C. Davis reflected on his new role in an interview with the Baptist and Reflector.

“We have incredible opportunities before us to continue to impact our state for the cause of Christ,” he said.

Davis recalled that when he was approached about leaving a pastorate he and his wife Jeanne loved (First Baptist Church, Sevierville) that they prayed for and asked for a clear call from God. “We didn’t want to miss God. We didn’t want to wonder if we’d done the right thing. God did give us a very, very clear call.”

Ten years and more than 400,000 miles of in-state travel later, that call still resonates with Davis.

He has seen the convention move forward but he also affirmed that opportunities still remain to impact Tennessee for Christ.

In a podcast with Radio B&R (see Episode 45), Davis recalled that soon after he began his work with the board he discovered that the number of people in Tennessee who were being saved, baptized and set on the road to discipleship had declined “dramatically” over half a century. [Read more…]

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DON’T JUST STAND THERE, PRAY SOMETHING!

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

There have been some excellent Bible teachers over the last 100 years. Without reservation, I count the late Dr. Ron Dunn as one of them. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and anointed to teach like few men I have ever known. Every message articulated careful biblical exposition, clear illustrations and practical applications. He kept it real, relevant and preached with a compelling word from the Lord.

I was visiting Dr. Dunn and his wife, Kay, at their home in Dallas in early 1991. He gave me a signed copy of his then latest book, “Don’t Just Stand There Pray Something: The Incredible Power of Intercessory Prayer.” I will always remember that visit with the Dunns, and the title of the book has forever been etched on my mind. [Read more…]

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GREEN: KEEP DOING WHAT WE DO WELL

TBC’s new president plans to continue focus on statewide evangelism

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

David Green

FRANKLIN — As David Green begins his tenure as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, his primary plan is to encourage Tennessee Baptists to keep their focus on what past TBC presidents have emphasized in recent years — sharing the gospel with the more than four million people in Tennessee who have no relationship with Jesus Christ.

Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, was elected by acclamation in November during the Summit held at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson to lead the convention in 2019. [Read more…]

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LEAVELL: DESIRE NEEDED TO SHARE GOSPEL

Editor’s Note: You can listen to David Leavell in Episode 15 of Radio B&R, the official news podcast of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

David Leavell

FRANKLIN — Although there are countless teaching tools and training seminars on the subject, there is actually only one requirement to be an effective sharer of the gospel: The desire to do it.

That’s the message that David Leavell, president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and pastor at First Baptist Church, Millington, is using as he encourages Christians to engage in “personal evangelism.”

Leavell believes all Christians — introverts and extroverts alike — can be effective in witnessing to their family, friends and neighbors. He likes to say that sharing the gospel “is a conversation, not a presentation,” and he is using that motto as the basis for his emphasis on evangelism.

“The reality is we have the army to attack the gates of hell with the good news of Jesus Christ,” Leavell said. “But we don’t have an active army. (We need to) mobilize the pews for the purpose of evangelism.” [Read more…]

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TBMB APPROVES $2.1 MILLION GOTM BUDGET

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Five Objectives 5 ObjectivesFRANKLIN — The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board unanimously approved a $2.1 million goal for the 2018-19 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

The goal is an increase of $250,000 or 13.5 percent over the 2017-18 goal of $1.925 million. The projected income is $1.85 million.

The Golden Offering for Tennessee Baptist Missions is a cooperative effort of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union and the TBMB. The goal also was approved by the Tennessee WMU Executive Board.

The Golden Offering “is an important part of what we do,” affirmed Martha Pitts, president of Tennessee WMU. [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIVING HOLDS STEADY

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $2,775,621 through the Cooperative Program in March.

After five months of the 2017-18 fiscal year, Tennessee Baptists have given $14,674,290.

The total is $59,461 or 0.4 percent over the amount given during the same time frame last year. It also is $299,290 or 2.08 percent over current budgeted needs. [Read more…]

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YOUR STATE PAPER AND THE FIVE OBJECTIVES

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

In 2014, Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers who attended the annual meeting at The Summit at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, took an action which charted the course of the convention and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board through 2024.

Messengers overwhelmingly adopted the Five Objectives that are geared to seeing at least 50,000 Tennesseans annually saved, baptized, and set on the road to discipleship by 2024; having at least 500 Tennessee Baptist churches revitalized by 2024; planning and strategically engaging at least 1,000 new churches by 2024; realizing an increase in annual local church giving through the Cooperative Program that reaches at least 10 percent by 2024; and realizing an increase in annual giving for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions that reaches at least $3 million by 2024. [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIFTS NEAR BUDGET

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,852,274 through the Cooperative Program in November.

After one month of the 2017-18 fiscal year, Cooperative Program gifts are $71,989 or 2.5 percent below what was given after one month in the last fiscal year.

Gifts also are $22,726 or 0.79 percent below budget needs. [Read more…]

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CHURCH HOSTING 5K RUN FOR GOLDEN OFFERING

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector

Participants pose for a picture after last year’s Golden 5K race, hosted by Etter Baptist Church.

BYRDSTOWN — Many members of Etter Baptist Church in Byrdstown will be doing some legwork in their efforts to increase the church’s giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.

Acting on the priorities of its missions-minded congregation, the church will host its third annual “Golden 5K” race at the Obey River Campgrounds at the Sunset Marina on Nov. 4. All of the proceeds from the race go to the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. [Read more…]

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