Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

IN PARIS, ‘DEATH, PAIN & TERROR’ MET BY PRAYER, HOPE

by Charles Braddix
Baptist Press

France, Map, French, Paris, Dark, black color, Europe, redPARIS (BP) — Friday the 13th became a day of infamy in Paris after a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris left at least 129 people dead and 350 wounded.

“This has been the worst attack in Paris since World War II,” said Tara Chaney*, an International Mission Board worker in France. “People are in a state of shock and mourning; however, there is also a sense of resolve. Parisians are slowly going about their lives. They want to prove to the terrorists that they have not won.”

IMB officials reported all of their personnel in Paris are safe, although four were at the national stadium that was one of six locations targeted by terrorists. [Read more…]

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MISSIONARIES MAKE TOUGH DECISION

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Peter & Jennie Stillman

Peter & Jennie Stillman

MOUNT JULIET – Jennie and Peter Stillman, 35-year career missionaries with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, were pre­paring to leave for Tennessee for stateside assignment in September when they received notice in late August that the IMB was going to have to reduce its missionary/staff personnel by 600-800 people.

The first wave of cuts was slated to come from voluntary reti­r­­ement ­incentives for missionaries/staff over the age of 50 who have been with the IMB for at least five years. [Read more…]

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IMB Announces Budget Shortfall; 600 to 800 Positions to Be Eliminated

imb-logoBy IMB Staff

Editor’s Note: For additional information, see Frequently Asked Questions released by the IMB following this article.

RICHMOND —International Mission Board leaders have outlined a plan to address IMB’s revenue shortfalls and complete a reset of the organization in order to move forward into the future with innovative vision, wise stewardship and high accountability. [Read more…]

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Search Committee Member Offers Perspective

Editor’s Note: Scott Harris, missions minister at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, served on the search committee of the International Mission Board that called David Platt as president. Here is his perspective on the new IMB leader.

By Baptist and Reflector

“Our ultimate goal in the process was to find the right leader for the ultimate responsibility of the Church; bringing the gospel to all nations.

“Shortly after our committee was formed in February, we knew that we needed feedback from the field, the Richmond home office, SBC pastors, and denominational leaders. We received 2,000 opinion surveys and over 100 nominations.

“We bathed the process in prayer and prioritized the qualities and values needed in a leader of the IMB in an ever-changing world and declining denominational landscape. The stark reality is that the SBC and our mission efforts are struggling; the baptism rate for last year — 314,000 — is at a 60 year low. Our missionary force has been drawn down in the last seven years from 5,620 to 4,860 due to lack of funding. If things don’t change, this number could go down to 4,200. [Read more…]

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Platt Elected to Lead IMB

Editor’s Note: David Platt was elected as president of the International Mission Board on Aug. 27. The Baptist and Reflector posted a story on the Tennessee Baptist Convention website that day. This article is a shortened version with added comments from Tennessee Baptists who are serving as IMB trustees.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

ROCKVILLE, Va. — Alabama Baptist pastor and noted author David Platt has been elected president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.

Platt’s election took place Aug. 27 during a trustee meeting held at the IMB’s International Learning Center in Rockville, Va.

Platt, 36, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., will take office effective immediately as president of the 169-year-old Southern Baptist missions entity, the largest denominational missionary-sending body among American evangelicals. More than 4,800 Southern Baptist international missionaries serve world-wide. [Read more…]

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Alabama Pastor Elected to Lead SBC International Mission Board

By Baptist and Reflector

ROCKVILLE, Va – Alabama Baptist pastor and noted author David Platt has been elected president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.

Platt’s election took place Aug. 27 during a trustee meeting held at the IMB’s International Learning Center in Rockville, Va.

Platt, 36, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., will take office effective immediately as president of the 169-year-old Southern Baptist missions entity, the largest denominational missionary-sending body among American evangelicals. More than 4,800 Southern Baptist international missionaries serve world-wide. [Read more…]

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