Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

HELPING HANDS

Baptist associations all across Tennessee held their annual meetings, primarily in September and October. Among them was Salem Baptist Association, based in Liberty, which held its 197th annual meeting on Oct. 29. Grayson and Lydia Metcalf (pictured) were present and handed out prayer cards for their parents — Phil and Laura Metcalf, who are missionaries with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, serving in Mexico. Metcalf delivered the annual message at the association and included a slide presentation of their work in Mexico.

— Photo by Donna Nichols

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MILE HIGH MISSIONARIES

Tennessee church planters, volunteers shine light in Denver

By Lonnie Wilkey & Chris Turner
Baptist and Reflector

DENVER — If you love hiking and skiing and other outdoor activities, Denver is the place to live. If you love Jesus, you might get lonely.

People are flocking to Denver and its surrounding communities. In 2018, it was recognized as the fifth fastest growing large city (more than 300,000 residents) and 34th overall in the country by WalletHub, a financial services website, according to thedenverchannel.com.

Since 2007, Denver has become “Mecca” for Millennials (those born between 1981 to 1996), observed Dave Howeth, Send City Missionary for Denver with the North American Mission Board. [Read more…]

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PARTNER WITH ASSOCIATION TO ADVANCE KINGDOM

Editor’s note: The Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations is Oct. 20–26, 2019.

By Sandy Wisdom-Martin
Exec. Dir., Southern Baptist WMU

I suppose he had to be the first denominational celebrity I ever met, though I did not know it at the time. I heard whispers in the halls of our tiny country church when I was a child: “Mr. Whitmer is here today.” Mr. Whitmer was our associational missionary, as the role was called then. He would usually visit our church twice a year.

God uses others to shape and mold us, and my story is incomplete if I leave out the role of the association in my spiritual and leadership formation. Here are some examples: [Read more…]

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TENNESSEE CHURCHES HELP REACH ANNIE ARMSTRONG RECORD

Baptist Press

SAN  FRANCISCO —  For the third straight year, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) for North American missions has hit a record high.

The 2019 offering total was announced during an Oct. 7 gathering with North American Mission Board (NAMB) trustees. Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd revealed the $62.2 million total in a video call.

“This record-breaking offering that our churches have given this past year through our Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions demonstrates the passionate desire our churches have to reach each person for Jesus Christ in North America,” Floyd said. [Read more…]

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STILL JAMMING: GA EVENT TURNS 30

By Ashley Perham
Baptist & Reflector

Tennessee WMU missions and ministry advocate Linda Robbins leads a JAM small group as children learn more about missions.

NASHVILLE — JAM, a one-day mission event for children, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

JAM, which stands for Journey into Adventures in Missions, was started by the Tennessee WMU in 1989.

Originally, the event was only for 1st through 6th grade girls in the WMU Girls in Action (GA) program.

In 2001, the event became open to all children in 1st-6th grade. [Read more…]

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IMB APPOINTS MISSIONARIES

Baptist Press

Sam Greer

RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 24 new fulltime, fully funded personnel to take the gospel to unreached people and places during their Sept. 25-26 meeting near Richmond.

The meeting also included an update on an external report regarding IMB’s prevention and response to abuse and harassment; the approval of a balanced budget for 2019-20; and orientation for 23 new trustees, including Sam Greer, pastor of Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga.

The 24 new missionaries were appointed during a special Sending Celebration, which recognized both the new personnel and the churches sending them to take the gospel to the nations. [Read more…]

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LMCO RECEIVES 3RD HIGHEST TOTAL EVER

Baptist Press

RICHMOND  — Southern Baptist church members gave $156.6 million to support international missionaries in 2018-2019, the third-highest Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions ever received. Tennessee Baptists gave $10,389,109 to the 2018-19 offering, according to the TBMB accounting office.

“Because you and your church gave through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, you are a part of reaching the unreached in every nation,” said IMB president Paul Chitwood. [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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