Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

B&R’s TOP-10 MOST READ STORIES OF 2017

Based on analytics from the B&R Website, here’s a list of stories that garnered the most views in the past 12 months:

1. PLATT APOLOGIZES TO SOUTHERN BAPTISTS

David Platt

Posted: Feb. 17, 2017
Written by: Lonnie Wilkey, B&R Editor

ONTARIO, Calif. – David Platt, president of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, issued an apology to Southern Baptists on Feb. 15 for the IMB’s involvement in an amicus brief last summer. Platt apologized during a meeting of the Association of State Baptist Publications held in Ontario, Calif. He also apologized to Baptist state convention executive directors during their session on the same day. In May of 2016, the IMB, along with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, signed an amicus brief in support of a mosque to be built in New Jersey. The action, which was done without the knowledge of IMB trustees, led Tennessee pastor Dean Haun of First Baptist Church, Morristown, to resign as a trustee. “I grieve how the amicus brief in the recent mosque case has been so divisive and distracting,” Platt told editors, adding that his purpose in bringing it up “is not to debate religious liberty” but to say he wants the IMB to remain focused on its mission. [Read more…]

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GOTM, DR RESPONSES TOP 2017 NEWS

Past year’s biggest stories include record-breaking totals for Golden Offering, tireless work by DR teams

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Record gifts through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions and disaster relief responses were among the top news stories in 2017 throughout the Tennessee Baptist Convention

Tennessee Baptists gave $1,843,511.03 through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions for 2016-17, just barely falling short of the $1.85 million goal. It’s the largest amount in the 115-year history of the GOTM, reflecting a 7.6 percent increase over the previous year. GOTM offerings have increased more than 20 percent in four years.

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded to at least eight different disasters during the year, the most in recent memory. [Read more…]

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IMB’S PLATT: WHEN WE PRAY, GOD WORKS

EDITOR’S NOTE: This year’s Week of Prayer for International Missions in the Southern Baptist Convention was Dec. 3-10 with the theme verse taken from 2 Corinthians 5:14 (HCSB) “For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died.” The verse undergirds the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. The offering, in tandem with Cooperative Program gifts from Southern Baptist churches, supports international workers in seeking to fulfill the Great Commission. Gifts to the Lottie Moon offering are received through local Southern Baptist churches or online at IMB.org/lmco, where there are resources to promote the offering. This year’s goal is $160 million.

Believers pray during a worship service in Nepal, a country where it often takes people years to decide to follow Christ after they hear the gospel for the first time. Pray for IMB workers who are giving their lives to be there for the long haul, sharing with the Nepali people in the face of difficulties.
-IMB Photo

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — No matter what the story is, whether it’s a family planting a church in a doctor’s office in Japan or a young man sharing truth over coffee with university students in Mexico City, International Mission Board president David Platt says two things are true: God is at work through missionaries around the world and praying for them matters. [Read more…]

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PLATT, IMB WELCOME 32 NEW MISSIONARIES

Baptist Press

Matthew Fisher (center), a new IMB missionary, is lifted in prayer by Gordon Fort, IMB ambassador for the president (front right), and Daniel Ethridge (left), who led worship from Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Va.
-Photo by Roy Burroughs/IMB

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — As a preschooler in Mission Friends, new Southern Baptist missionary Amy Jones learned about God’s desire to gather people from every nation, tribe, people group and language by His grace and for His is glory.

“It became real when my mother returned from England with stories and a tea set,” Jones recalled during a Sending Celebration Nov. 16 that marked the appointment of 32 new International Mission Board personnel at the IMB’s office in Richmond, Va. “Europeans are fascinating peoples, but too few follow Christ. So I began to pray for them.” [Read more…]

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HUNGRY PEOPLE LIVE HERE

By Joe Sorah
Compassion Ministries Specialist, TBMB

As I reflect upon my childhood, I can remember being very concerned with the problem of hunger in our world. I grew up in a pastor’s home. We used to receive appeals for funds to feed hungry children. The letters would come with pictures of children on little cards from far off countries. Those pictures really bothered me. I couldn’t stand the thought of children going hungry.

My mother would collect her change through the year, deposit the money in a rice bowl, and take it to church on World Hunger Sunday. It was a big deal to my family and me. My family could not bear the thought of hungry people while we had food on our table. [Read more…]

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BAPTIST TRUSTEES: A MATTER OF STEWARDSHIP

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

In recent weeks, the actions of trustees, both at the Southern Baptist Convention and Tennessee Baptist Convention levels have been in the forefront. Carson-Newman University trustees took a bold action when they affirmed that the university would operate within the guidelines of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board dealt with the Cooperative Program and a reduced budget.

At the SBC level, trustees of the International Mission Board voted for David Platt to serve a Virginia Baptist church as a teaching pastor while performing his duties as IMB president. [Read more…]

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TBMB DIRECTORS ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Mike Kemper, center, interim pastor of Smyrna Baptist Church, Humboldt, was elected chair-elect of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. With him are current chair Mike Sams, right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Martin, and Cal Hampton, senior associate pastor of preaching and evangelism at First Baptist Church, Clarksville, who will serve as chair in 2018 following The Summit in Hendersonville.

FRANKLIN — The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board have approved expanding the definition of a cooperating Baptist church to include those churches that give through the Tennessee Baptist Convention portion of the Cooperative Program budget without restriction or designation.

The action was one of several recommendations adopted by the TBMB directors during their meeting Sept. 12 in Franklin.  [Read more…]

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PLATT TO SERVE AS TEACHING PASTOR

Compiled from IMB website

RIDGECREST, N.C. – Trustees of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board have given approval for President David Platt to serve as teaching pastor of McLean Bible Church in McLean, Va., in addition to his duties with the IMB.

Approval was given during the IMB board of trustee meeting held Sept. 11-13 at Ridgecrest (N.C) Baptist Conference Center.

[Read more…]

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5 ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR SHORT-TERM SUMMER MISSION TEAMS

Baptist Press

IMB photo

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — Summers provide great opportunities for short-term mission teams to serve the cause of Christ around the globe.

At the same time, missionaries in cross-cultural settings are anticipating the arrival of those teams — a process that can bring joy and excitement, but sometimes fear. Short-term summer mission teams can provide much needed help for missionaries, but for both the missionary team and the volunteer team to profit, each side needs to prepare well. [Read more…]

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IMB TRUSTEES APPOINT 31 MISSIONARIES

Baptist Press

PHOENIX — Through Southern Baptists’ “faithful, generous and consistent giving” of more than $98 million to the Cooperative Program and approximately $153 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the International Mission Board has reached financial stability, IMB President David Platt told the entity’s trustees June 12.

“That’s breathtaking: over $250 million given from Southern Baptist churches for the spread of the gospel among the nations,” Platt said. “And as a result of that giving, I am glad to report to trustees and the broader SBC that IMB is standing on firm financial ground.” [Read more…]

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