By Ashley Perham
Baptist & Reflector intern

Danny Rachel, pastor of Parkburg Baptist Church, Pinson, shares how his congregation has benefited from church revitalization in a new Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions video.

PINSON — Approximately 75-80 percent of churches are stagnant or in decline, and as many as 10 percent of Southern Baptist churches may cease to exist in the next 10 years unless fundamental changes are made, according to Steve Holt, church services director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

The Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions and the Cooperative Program makes it possible for the TBMB to partner with churches in church revitalization, a process which moves a plateaued or declining church toward a healthy and sustained environment. [Read more…]

Selmer congregation gives property, buildings to sister church after unanimous vote

By Lonnie Wilkey
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

Serving the Lord’s Supper during the last service at Central Baptist Church, Selmer, are, from left, pastor Stephen Davison, deacons Bob Ray and Tommy Doyle and Joey Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Selmer.

SELMER — Though only 25 years old, Central Baptist Church in Selmer had fallen on hard times in recent years.

Attendance had dwindled to less than 10 people and the church knew two years ago that something had to change for the church to survive, said pastor Stephen Davison. The members consulted with the local association and representatives from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board about church revitalization. [Read more…]

Selmer congregation gives property, buildings to sister church after unanimous vote

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

Serving the Lord’s Supper during the last service at Central Baptist Church, Selmer, are, from left, pastor Stephen Davison, deacons Bob Ray and Tommy Doyle and Joey Johnson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Selmer.

SELMER — Though only 25 years old, Central Baptist Church in Selmer had fallen on hard times in recent years.

Attendance had dwindled to less than 10 people and the church knew two years ago that something had to change for the church to survive, said pastor Stephen Davison. The members consulted with the local association and representatives from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board about church revitalization.

About seven months ago, as attendance dwindled to less than 20 people, it became apparent that the best solution for Central was to merge with another church by giving its property to a sister church in Shiloh Baptist Association. “We prayed for a church to partner with us,” Davison recalled.

Along came First Baptist Church, Selmer, which was already pursuing a multi-campus approach to its ministry, according to pastor Joey Johnson. [Read more…]

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

Pastor David Mackens stands outside the current sanctuary of Lone Oak Baptist Church in Cumberland Furnace. Under his leadership the church has grown from about 45 to more than 450. The church is in the process of building a new facility in the nearby Cunningham community of Montgomery County.

CUNNINGHAM — David Mackens is well aware there are not many openings for former Pentecostal pastors in Southern Baptist life.

But nearly 12 years ago, there was an opening at Lone Oak Baptist Church in Cumberland Furnace and Mackens was asked to preach one Sunday. Though he was, indeed, a former Pentecostal pastor, they asked him to come back and serve on an interim basis until the church found a pastor.

Mackens agreed, but made it clear the pastor would not be him. He was wrong. In December of 2007, the church called him as pastor and he accepted. [Read more…]