By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

The above photo is a screen shot from the video that Scott Shepherd (pictured) sent to each member of the Tennessee Baptist Virtual Choir to help them practice for the video song presentation.

FRANKLIN — In the world of music, timing is everything. If just one person is out of sync, it can be enough to ruin the whole song.

Now, think about this for a moment: how much more difficult would it be for everyone — the choir and the musicians — to be on the same page if they weren’t in the same room?

That was the challenge that Scott Shepherd faced when he decided to put together a special video presentation by the Tennessee Baptist Men’s Chorale and the Tennessee Ladies Chorus for this year’s Virtual Summit.

Each member of the two choirs (the Chorale and Chorus) recorded a video of themselves singing (and/or providing accompaniment) to the song “I Will Make All Things New.” Shepherd then took the videos and “layered” them on top of each other to bring together a full choir experience. [Read more…]

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

TBMB president and executive director Randy C. Davis (left) and TBC president Bruce Chesser, pastor of FBC, Hendersonville, introduce the next segment at 2020 Virtual Summit.

FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s first Virtual Summit was not the original choice of convention leadership but it proved to be the most viable alternative during a worldwide pandemic.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tennessee, the decision made in late August to cancel the in-person meeting set for Nov. 8-11 at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, proved to be prudent.

Convention president Bruce Chesser noted in his opening remarks that leadership listened to professionals in healthcare who predicted there would be a new wave of cases in the fall. “That has proven to be the case. It has been expedient to do this (Summit) the way we are doing it,” he said.

Prior to the Virtual Summit, Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, said leadership made the call “to err on the side of protecting Tennessee Baptist messengers and guests. It was a tough call to cancel, but the right call,” he affirmed. [Read more…]