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FIVE THINGS I LEARNED FROM PASTOR VIC WALLACE

February 8, 2019

J. Travis Tyler
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton

Victor and Dot Wallace

On Sunday morning, Jan. 13, Pastor Vic Wallace preached his last sermon as pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Jonesborough. Beginning in the mid-1950s, Pastor Wallace began a ministry lasting over six decades of pastoral ministry including Flag Pond, Mosheim, Mountain City, Kingsport, and Fall Branch. 

One of the longest pastorates was at First Baptist Church, Fall Branch, where I met him. His time at First Baptist which spanned 1975-1999 and 2003, 25 years in total, a rarity today. “Pastor Vic” led me to Christ at the age of 12 years old when he presented the gospel clearly to all the children at VBS in the summer of 1993. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: pastors

RETIREE FOLLOWS GOD’S CALL TO PASTOR HIS FIRST CHURCH

February 6, 2019

Four Mile Baptist, a congregation of 28, had five baptisms in 2018

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

David Oliver and his wife, Carol, recently attended the Bivocational Ministers and Wives Retreat for the second time. Oliver became pastor of his first church slightly more than a year ago at the age of 68.

PIGEON FORGE — At an age when most pastors are stepping away from the ministry or moving into interim or supply work, David Oliver did just the opposite.

At the age of 68, Oliver became pastor of Four Mile Baptist Church in Maryville.

And, what’s more, God blessed in a mighty way. His small congregation of 28 people saw five people baptized last year, along with four other additions. The church also started a special-needs class and began a nursing home ministry. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: News, Tennessee Tagged With: bivocational, pastors

FRIENDSHIPS FORMED AT RETREAT STILL GOING STRONG 10 YEARS LATER

February 6, 2019

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Pastor Jim Haggard, Middlebrook Pike Baptist, Knoxville, and his wife, Patty, have experienced life-changing connections at the Bivocational Ministers and Wives Retreat.

PIGEON FORGE — When he was invited to the Bivocational Ministers and Wives Retreat for the first time, Jim Haggard wasn’t even sure if he wanted to go.

Ten years later, he now considers it to be one of the best decisions he’s ever made.

Haggard, the pastor of Middlebrook Baptist Church in Knoxville, was dealing with the death of both of his parents — who had passed away about two months apart — when he was invited to attend the retreat. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: News, Tennessee Tagged With: bivocational, pastors

TESTIMONY OF A BIVOCATIONAL PASTOR

February 6, 2019

By Roger Britton
Pastor, Whites Creek Baptist Church, Rockwood

Roger Britton of Whites Creek Baptist Church, Rockwood, speaks during the recent Bivocational Ministers and Wives Retreat in Pigeon Forge.

On Jan. 12, 1997, my wife Kathy, daughter Kacie and son Cody and I began our ministry when I became the pastor of Whites Creek Baptist Church in Rockwood. Kathy and I were married in 1979 and had been in ministry from day one of our married lives.

We started out as bus ministry director and children’s church pastor at First Baptist Church, Austinville, in Decatur, Ala. Then, we moved on to music director, youth pastor, associate pastor and a list of other duties through the years as God led us. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: News, Tennessee Tagged With: bivocational, pastors

UNSUNG HEROES: MEET SOME OF TENNESSEE’S BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS

February 6, 2019

The ARMENTAS

Pastor’s name: Jose Armenta
Wife’s name: Carolyn
Church: Rio Grande Mission Church
City (of church): Church Hill
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Carpenter
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Sharing God’s Word with lost people.
How do you juggle the role of being a pastor along with your other job? My other job understands that I am a pastor first.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Jose: The conference gives us time to relax, to grow as a pastor and to fellowship.
Carolyn:  The conference gives us a chance to be with people who understand us and love us.

The CARVERS

Pastor’s name: Jonathan Carver
Wife’s name: Brooke
Church: Shepards Chapel Baptist Church
City (of church): Rogersville
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Information Technology support specialist; Brooke is a nurse practitioner.
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? I believe seeing restoration in the lives of individuals is every pastor’s favorite part.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Jonathan: This has been a wonderful conference, with great singing, inspirational messages, motivational sessions. It has been refreshing to fellowship and share with other pastors that face the struggles of balancing life, family, work and pastoring!
Brooke:  The entire conference has been a blessing, from the fellowship with our brothers and sisters to the uplifting messages we have heard. The worship is powerful. This was our first experience of coming to the retreat. We will definitely plan to return next year.

The COGGINSES

Pastor’s name: Mark Coggins
Wife’s name: Cathy
Church: Sugar Tree Baptist Chapel
City (of church): Holladay
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Self employed Construction and Home Remodeling
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Serving the Lord is, of course, the most rewarding, and I enjoy seeing people experience the true, living God and I am blessed enough to watch them grow.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Mark: Each year, we look forward to being refreshed and the encouragement we receive while here. The preaching and teaching we receive is a much-needed experience and time for me, personally.
Cathy:  It’s nice to come and feel encouragement from others. To be able to share and pray with others who are going through the same things means a lot (to us).

The HARBINS

Pastor’s name: Bradley Harbin
Wife’s name: Jennifer
Church: Enterprise Baptist
City (of church): Morristown
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Electrical Engineer
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Seeing others grow in Christ.
How do you juggle your duties as a full-time pastor and the responsibilities of your “other” job? Not very well (sometimes), but God leads!

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Bradley: (One of my favorite parts was) spending time with just my wife. (I also enjoy) the great preaching and the (overall) refreshing.
Jennifer:  (I enjoy) the time in the Word and the fellowship with the other wives in the ministry.

The HICKSES

Pastor’s name: Tecky Hicks
Wife’s name: Linda
Church: First Baptist Church, Surgoinsville
City (of church): Surgoinsville
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Cattle Farmer
How do you juggle your duties as a full-time pastor and the responsibilities of your “other” job? God first, family second, church third, and God giving the increase.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Tecky: It provides for me more insights I need from men of a like faith.
Linda:   A retreat from the busy everyday life. (And I) enjoy seeing old friends and hearing all the dynamic preaching.

The MARTINS

Pastor’s name: Barron V. Martin, Sr.
Wife’s name: Andrea
Church: One Faith Christian Center
City (of church): Millington
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Refrigeration/HVAC technician
How do you juggle your duties as a full-time pastor and the responsibilities of your “other” job? I prayed and asked the Lord to balance my time and my wife fills all the gaps.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Barron: The conference has solidified my wife and I as a team.
Andr’ea: The Conference has given me the time I needed alone with my husband. It has given us or reminded us of who we are to each other. I enjoyed the preaching, the Shepherd Family, and the wives’ groups.

The McCREARYS

Pastor’s name: Hobbie McCreary
Wife’s name: Kathy
Church: Grace Baptist
City (of church): Johnson City
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Fiscal director
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Sharing the gospel, providing messages that equip the church, developing relationships and encouraging others.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Hobbie: (It) provides encouragement, time to refocus, time to draw closer to God and wife. I enjoyed the preaching, worship together (great to hear all the pastors singing together) and meeting other pastors and their wives to discuss family and ministry challenges.
Kathy:  I enjoyed the conference greatly. The preaching, fellowship, and I really like the women’s meetings — discussing the challenges of being a pastor’s wife and the blessings. Good time of fellowship.

The MURRAYS

Pastor’s name: Bill Murray
Wife’s name: Kristie
Church: Greenwood Baptist
City (of church): Johnson City
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Contractor
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Being able to both serve God and draw close to Him and at the same time help others do the same.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Bill: The fellowship with the other bivocational pastors across the state as well as the encouragement.
Kristie:  This conference encourages us to continue in our God-given call to reach the lost and make disciples. I find this to be a place where you can be real and share your struggles.

The NICKELLS

Pastor’s name: Ronald Nickell
Wife’s name: Rhonda
Church: Pine Orchard Baptist
City (of church): Oakdale
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Bodyshop office
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Meeting the physical and spiritual needs of God’s people.
How do you juggle your duties as a full-time pastor and the responsibilities of your “other” job? I try to do my best at both (jobs). But yet focus on the things that are a priority in my life.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Ronald: (It’s a time of) meaningful fellowship and messages that encourage and challenge me.
Rhonda:  It renews the soul and you have a chance to meet new friends.

The SIMMONSES

Pastor’s name: Josh Simmons
Wife’s name: Bethany
Church: College Grove Baptist
City (of church): College Grove
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Service manager at equipment dealer
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? I love talking to people and discipling men. Time spent outside the four walls, living out Jesus’s commandment to love one another is time well spent.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Josh: Hearing different peers’ perspective and someone else’s preaching fills our souls. Our commitment is renewed in the prayer times and our emotions are stirred by the beautiful music.
Bethany:  So often we spend all of our time pouring into others. Being a pastor’s wife can be lonely and exhausting. This retreat has given us a renewed spirit! It has been encouraging and a wonderful time to focus on us and our relationships with Jesus.

The WEBBS

Pastor’s name: Travis Webb
Wife’s name: Christina
Church: Westview
City (of church): Morristown
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Food City, Lighting
How do you juggle your duties as a pastor and the responsibilities of your “other” job? Priority is a must: Jesus first, everything else second. It’s easier said than done, but when I do, the balance is right.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Travis: This conference is great and allows me to be refreshed in the ministry. I learn something new every year.
Christina:  This conference has always been great and enjoyable. It gives us a chance to be with other ministry couples and catch up. We hear good preaching and always come home with new ideas.

The YOUNGS

Pastor’s name: Matthew Young
Wife’s name: Janna
Church: Laurel Bank Baptist
City (of church): Friendsville
Other profession (in addition to pastor): Rosenberg Assistant Professor of Practice at University of Tennessee
What is your favorite part about being a pastor? Watching people mature in the faith as they recognize the sufficiency of God’s Living Word.

Quoting the couple about the conference:

Matthew: It was helpful to have a few days to get to know the TBMB staff. (Also) fellowship with other bivo pastors and wives was encouraging.
Janna:  Being new to being a pastor’s wife, it was great to meet other wives from our association and surrounding areas.

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Filed Under: News, Tennessee Tagged With: bivocational, pastors

SERVING THE GROWING NUMBER OF BIVO HEROES

February 6, 2019

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

Here’s a riddle for you.

What do a banker, a contractor, an elementary teacher, a chemist, an engineering professor and a farmer all have in common?

Answer: They are all faithful pastors.

Unbelievably, approximately 60 percent of the pastors in Tennessee are bivocational. Let that sink in a moment. The majority of the churches connected to the Tennessee Baptist Convention have pastors who have a vocation apart from their ministries as a church’s pastor. And, if you include churches that have fulltime pastors but whose wives have secular jobs in order to make ends meet, the number jumps to probably 75 percent.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: bivocational, pastors, Randy C. Davis

BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS ARE THE ‘IRON MEN OF MINISTRY’

February 6, 2019

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

PIGEON FORGE — They’re machinists, salesmen, police officers, bankers, teachers, college professors, retirees, electricians, plumbers and the list goes on, but they all have one thing in common — they are dedicated servants of God devoted to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One hundred and twenty-one bivocational ministers from across Tennessee, along with their spouses and two other family members, gathered Jan. 26-28 in Pigeon Forge for the 2019 Bivocational Ministers and Wives Retreat sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Tennessee Tagged With: bivocational, pastors

PASTORS: OFFERINGS SEE BOOST IN 2018

January 8, 2019

By Aaron Earls

LifeWay Christian Resources

NASHVILLE — The economic recovery has reached the offering plate, according to a study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research.

Today, eight in 10 Protestant pastors (79 percent) say the total offerings at their church this year are at or above last year’s levels, including 42 percent who say this year is ahead of last year. Few pastors (15 percent) say giving is not keeping pace with last year.

Those positive giving numbers have followed the economic upturn, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

“The increases in offerings so many churches are experiencing coincide with what most economists refer to as ‘full employment,’ as well as increased wage growth in 2018,” McConnell said. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: SBC Tagged With: LifeWay, money, pastors

TOP STORIES OF 2018

January 8, 2019

Analytics of the B&R website reveal these stories to have received the most clicks in the past 12 months

1-5. RESIGNATION, TERMINATION OF PROMINENT SBC LEADERS MAKE UP TOP-5 STORIES OF 2018

Stories about Frank Page (left) and Paige Patterson (above) were among the most read on the B&R site in 2019. — Photos from Baptist Press

Frank Page’s resignation as president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee in late March and Paige Patterson’s termination from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in late May were among the biggest stories of the year among B&R readers. In fact, the five most-read stories of the year on the B&R website involved either Page or Patterson. The No. 1 most-read story — “Southwestern Trustees terminate Patterson” — was posted on May 31 and was compiled by the B&R staff. Other stories that made the top-5 included:

No. 2 — EC’s Page resigns over ‘Personal Failing’ (posted on March 27)
No. 3 — Patterson removed as SWBTS President (posted May 23)
No. 4 — Patterson: ‘I will not preach the convention sermon’ (posted on June 8)
No. 5 — What the Southwestern action really means (Column by B&R editor Lonnie Wilkey, posted May 23).

 

6. GREEN TO BE NOMINATED AS TBC PRESIDENT

David Green, pictured here with his wife, Tracy, was elected TBC president in November. — Photo by James Wilson

On July 5, the B&R posted a story announcing David Green, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greeneville, would be nominated for president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

The story, compiled by the B&R staff, noted that Danny Sinquefield, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett, had notified the Baptist and Reflector of his intention to nominate Green. Sinquefield said he asked Green to prayerfully consider the nomination.

Green was elected president of the TBC three months later during Summit at West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson.

 

7. THE KING’S ACADEMY APPOINTS MERCER AS PRESIDENT, HEADMASTER

On July 12, the B&R posted a story announcing that the Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy/The King’s Academy board of trustees had unanimously elected Matthew Mercer as president/headmaster. Mercer was picked to replace Walter Grubb, who retired after seven years of service as principal and 24 years as academy president/headmaster. “We are eager to see what God is going to do in and through our family at TKA,” said Mercer.

 

8. TENN. DR TEAMS RESPOND AFTER HURRICANE IN N.C.

On Sept. 19, the B&R posted a story about Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams that were providing assistance in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence. The story, compiled by the B&R staff, included information from TBMB disaster relief specialist Wes Jones.

 

9. GOD’S PLAN IS PERSONAL FOR RICKY SKAGGS

Ricky Skaggs poses with his wife Sharon White.

On Nov. 2, the B&R posted a feature story about country music star Ricky Skaggs. The story, from Baptist Press, was posted roughly three weeks after Skaggs was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Skaggs, a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, told BP that he believes God wants to be intimately involved in life’s details.

“God is such a personal God,” Skaggs told BP. “He loves the journey in our life, and He wants to walk with us, and He wants us to walk with Him.”

 

10. COURT UPHOLDS AMENDMENT 1 VOTE

On Jan. 10, the B&R posted a story that informed readers that “A federal appeals court ruled to uphold the results of a 2014 statewide vote in Tennessee that provided for stricter abortion regulations in the state.” The story, compiled by the B&R staff, noted that a number of churches and religious organizations, including the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, supported Amendment 1 through an effort called “Yes On 1.”

 

11. RETIRED TBMB STAFFER PAUL CLARK DIES

Paul Clark

On Dec. 26, the B&R posted a story that reported the passing of Paul Clark Jr., (left) the retired director of worship and music ministries for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Clark died after a long illness.

The story, written by Baptist and Reflector editor Lonnie Wilkey, was among the most read stories of the year even though it was posted only five days before the year ended. The high volume of readers underscores the impact of Clark’s far-reaching ministry and the amount of lives that he touched.

 

12. PASTOR’S WIFE SHARES STORY OF TRAGEDY, FAITH

On April 10, the B&R posted a story about Kim Harmon, who endured an unspeakable tragedy that involved her nephew being charged with the death of her brother-in-law.

Harmon, the wife of a Tennessee pastor, used the tragedy to bring glory to God, expressing how she learned to forgive her nephew in a recently-published book, When Life Knocks You Down, Fall Forward: A Story of Struggle, Strength, & True Forgiveness.

 

13. LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAILAND CAVE RESCUE

On July 11, the B&R posted a blog from editor Lonnie Wilkey about the 12 soccer players and their coach who were rescued after being trapped in a cave for 18 days in Thailand.

In his blog, Wilkey wrote, “Christians and churches can learn from this incredible cave rescue as they are faced with a similar life and death issue: reaching the thousands upon thousands of people in our world who will die without professing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”

 

14. BAPTISTS RALLY AROUND HISPANIC FAMILIES

On April 10, the B&R posted a story, written by editor Lonnie Wilkey, about Tennessee Baptists who were ministering to families affected by the raid on a Bean Station slaughterhouse. The story included quotes from William Burton, ethnic church planting specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. In the story, Burton noted that some of the 100-plus or so children whose families were employed by the slaughterhouse went home from school only to find one or both parents were in the process of deportation. Burton said First Baptist Church, Morristown, and Hillcrest Baptist Church, Morristown, along with other churches of Nolachucky Baptist Association, had sent food, water, and toiletries to family members and even provided toiletry kits to those who were being deported.

 

15. IN PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT PASTOR

Randy C. Davis

On Feb. 6, the B&R posted a column by TBMB president and executive director Randy C. Davis in which he encouraged pastors to “quit trying to be everywhere, do everything, and please everyone.” Davis said pastors should, “Lean into the One Who is perfect. … We need to daily sit at the feet of Jesus and just enjoy His presence. He is the One who renews, restores, and reenergizes. You can only serve from the overflow of His grace in your life, so you need to drink often from His refreshing fountain.” Davis closed the column by challenging both pastors and church members: “Let’s live as people of grace, loving one another, and loving the spiritually lost. Let’s help each other finish strong.”

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Filed Under: News, Tennessee Tagged With: abortion, Disaster Relief, ethnic, Executive Committee, King's Academy, legal, pastors, Summit, SWBTS, tragedy, worship and music

EVERY CHURCH NEEDS A GOOD PASTOR (SEE JOHN 10)

December 11, 2018

By Johnnie Godwin
Contributing Columnist, Baptist and Reflector

                                                        iStock photo

The word “pastor” appears only in Ephesians 4:11 in all the KJV New Testament. And It appears just eight times in the OT — all in Jeremiah (2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16; 22:22; 23:1, 2). Both in the OT and the NT, the word “pastor” translates the word for “shepherd.” Of course, the word “shepherd” appears numerous times throughout the Bible. Further, “elder” and “bishop” are used as synonyms in the NT for pastor. The role and function of pastor appear in writings of Paul and Peter and John.

You can find qualifications for a pastor in I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-4 and other related passages. But I’ve chosen to focus on the role of a good pastor as Jesus gave it in John 10. Every church needs a good pastor, as Jesus defined it. And every good pastor needs a good church too. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Opinion Column Tagged With: pastors

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