Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

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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SEPTEMBER: PERFECT TIME TO PRAY, PARTICIPATE

By Vickie Anderson
Tennessee WMU Executive Director

According to www.nationaldaycalendar.com, the month of September has a variety of things to observe or celebrate: baby safety, better breakfast, blueberry popsicles, chicken, classical music, courtesy, fall hats, honey, mushrooms, rice, piano, self-care, self-improvement, square dancing, whole grains, and more.

For Tennessee Baptists, September brings the opportunity to observe and participate in the Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. And while the offering is taken year-round, and the ministries happen throughout the year, in September, we spotlight how together we support missions and ministries in Tennessee. [Read more…]

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GOLDEN MOMENT

Tennessee Baptists establish new record for giving through Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions

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

FRANKLIN —  Tennessee Baptists gave a record $1,920,733 through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions in 2018-19.

The amount is $77,222 over the old record of $1,843,511 which was set during 2016-17.

Tennessee Baptists have come to understand and value that “any way you slice it, Tennessee is a missions field,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“We are excited and thrilled that Tennessee Baptists have given sacrificially to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in our state where more than 50 percent of the residents are unchurched,” Davis continued.

Vickie Anderson, executive director of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, which helps to promote the annual GOTM offering, agreed. “The churches who give through GOTM see that our state is a missions field,” she said. [Read more…]

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YOUR GOTM GIVING AND YOUR KINGDOM IMPACT

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

I spend a lot of time crisscrossing the state on Interstate 40, so much so that I jokingly call it “Randy Davis Boulevard.” The landscape constantly passes, but rarely changes. It’s the people, however, who make Tennessee special.

And the people change. One way we change is our increasing numbers. Our population is rapidly growing. People are relocating here from around the country and around the world bringing racial, ethnic, economic, religious — and non-religious — diversity. There are more dissimilar people now living in Tennessee than ever before.

However, as significant as our diversity is, it is more important to focus on what we have in common. People need Jesus — to be saved, baptized and set on the road to discipleship. Our population is growing faster than the gospel is advancing. The result is that every year our state is becoming more spiritually lost. The reality: any way you slice it, Tennessee is a mission field.

I’ve been saying that for the past several years. It’s a belief based on what I see as I travel Tennessee’s interstates and backroads. [Read more…]

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BCM STUDENTS BRING ENERGY TO DR WORK

By Ashley Perham
Baptist and Reflector intern

WARSAW, N.C. — The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions makes it possible for Tennessee Baptists to pass the torch of service down to the next generation through intergenerational missions.

 “For almost three years now, Tennessee Disaster Relief and The Baptist Collegiate Ministries in Tennessee have begun to work together to respond to disasters. We know that students have the desire to help,” said Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board disaster relief specialist.  [Read more…]

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NEW RECORD SET FOR GOTM

Baptist and Reflector staff reports

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptists officially set a new record on Friday. In the coming days, they’re likely to shatter it.

The yearly total for giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions reached $1,849,366.84 on Friday, setting a new one-year mark for Tennessee Baptists and surpassing the previous high of $1,843,511.03 that was given in 2017. 

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said the accomplishment was a testament to the evangelistic mindset of Baptists across the state.

“I believe Tennessee Baptists clearly see that any way you slice it, our state is a mission field,” said Davis. “They continue to give generously because I believe they want to see people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. I am truly grateful for the partnership we have in ministry and am proud of the way our churches continue to rise to the occasion.”

Tennessee Baptists now have four weeks to continue to add to the record-setting total.

 “With 29 days left to go this month before the offering year closes, we will get to celebrate a new record every day,” said Tennessee WMU executive director-treasurer Vickie Anderson. B&R

 

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MOVEMENT & MILESTONES

Five Objectives progress, anniversaries top news of 2018

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

FRANKLIN — Statistics indicating that the convention-adopted Five Objectives are having an impact in Tennessee, along with significant anniversaries of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board ministries, were among the top stories in the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2018.

In addition, two TBC entities underwent changes in leadership in 2018.-

Baptisms in 2017 increased by slightly more than 2 percent over the previous year, according to the 2017 Annual Church Profile. Baptism numbers for 2018 are still being collected from ACP reports. [Read more…]

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REMEMBERING THE LORD OUR GOD IN 2018

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

You may be overrun with Christmas activities and see a busy 2019 blowing in like a thunderstorm racing across a Kansas prairie. Last minute gifts, parties, travel to be with loved ones, and on it goes. We get to this point of the year and it seems we try to squeeze about six months of activity through the funnel of a couple weeks. We seldom slow down or stop long enough to remember. [Read more…]

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TWO SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL WORDS: THANK YOU

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

It’s just two words but they are incredibly powerful when flowing from a heart genuinely filled with gratitude. They can be delivered a number of ways; a text, an e-mail, or better yet, a handwritten note. Think what it means if you receive a call and the person on the other end simply says, “I wanted to call and just say thank you.”

And then there is the ultimate. Someone who gives you a hug or a handshake, looks you in the eyes and sincerely says, “thanks” for something you’ve done.

You know the Bible instructs us to “Devote [our]selves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2). Simple. Straightforward. Impactful: “Thank You.” [Read more…]

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LEXINGTON CHURCH EXCITED ABOUT DRAMATIC RISE IN GOTM GIVING

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

LEXINGTON — With a three-step approach, First Baptist Church, Lexington, is making giant strides in its commitment to mission work in Tennessee.

Two years ago, the church adopted a mission strategy that focused on taking the gospel “across the street, across the states and across the seas.” The local component of the plan has led to a dramatic increase in the church’s giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions — from $805 in 2016 to nearly $17,000 this past year. [Read more…]

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