Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

THE SUMMIT: WILL YOU BE THERE IN NOVEMBER?

By Roc Collins
President, TBC

Roc Collins

Roc Collins

What a blessing it is to be a Tennessee Baptist. God has so richly blessed our state and convention, and we are seeing people saved, baptized, and set on the road of discipleship. The generosity of our churches is seen in both our local communities and across our state as a whole. With all that we see God doing in our state, I can hardly wait to join you at the Summit.

This year the gathering of Tennessee Baptists, “The Summit,” will take place in Sevierville on Nov. 13-17. These will be some exciting days in the life of Tennessee Baptists.  This year we are beginning on Sunday evening with a time of worship that we are calling the “Tennessee Reunion.” We will be led in worship by the Tennessee Mens Choral and hear a great message from our very own Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

On Monday we will have a powerful Pastors Conference with Todd Stinnett, conference president.  Dr. Stinnett has enlisted a strong group of preachers to encourage, excite, and inspire us. [Read more…]

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A ‘TENNESSEE REUNION’ PLANNED

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

160913tnreunionBRENTWOOD — The Tennessee Baptist Convention’s annual Summit: The Gathering of Tennessee Baptists is expanding this year.

As always, the Summit (scheduled for Nov. 13-17) will include the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference and the annual business meeting, but this year will include the “Tennessee Reunion” on Sunday night, Nov. 13, and a golf tournament on Thursday, Nov. 17. [Read more…]

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B&R DAY; SCHEDULE CHANGES

Baptist and Reflector

B&R_Masthead_STACKEDBRENTWOOD — We welcome the more than 6,000 new readers who are being provided a copy of this week’s issue through our Baptist and Reflector Day emphasis.

Our staff hopes you will enjoy the articles and information provided. The B&R is printed 26 times a year and articles are added regularly to the baptistandreflector.org website.

Due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday and the need to print reports required by TBC Constitution and Bylaws, our schedule will change slightly in September. Our publication dates will be Sept. 14 and 21. It will resume alternate weeks in October. As a result, this issue contains Sunday School commentaries for the next three weeks.

We value our loyal readers and welcome new readers to  join our B&R “family of subscribers.” For your convenience a subscription form is here.

-Editor

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FREEMAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR TBC PRESIDENCY

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Steve Freeman

Steve Freeman

BRENTWOOD — Steve Freeman, senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, will be nominated for the presidency of the Tennessee Baptist Convention at The Summit in November.

Freeman currently serves as chair of the Executive Board of the TBC. He is the only announced nominee to date.

Chattanooga-area pastor Eric Stitts of Bayside Baptist Church, Harrison, informed the Baptist and Reflector May 23 of his intention to nominate Freeman during the TBC’s annual meeting at Summit, scheduled for Nov. 13-17 in Sevierville.

Stitts noted that Freeman “has a deep and abiding love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his church, and for the state of Tennessee. [Read more…]

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WHAT’S IN A NAME? IDENTITY AND MISSION

By Roc Collins
President, TBC

Roc Collins

Roc Collins

Everybody has a name. It represents who you are. My given name identifies who I am and is used whenever I write a check, go to the dentist, or order a coffee at the coffee shop. Your name is your identification.

Sometimes names are changed, as we see in the Bible. When Jesus met Simon Peter, He said to him, “… you shall be called Cephas.” How awesome is that? Jesus saw Peter not for who he was then but who he would become. Peter was a fisherman by trade but Jesus saw that he would be a “Rock” for the Kingdom. It did not happen immediately, but after many ups and downs, failures and victories, and even a few denials, Peter came into his potential. In fact, he stood like a “Rock” on the day of Pentecost and preached the gospel with such conviction that 3,000 were added to the church. And that was just the start. A careful study through the Book of Acts reveals that Peter continued to be a mighty minister for the Lord and was used greatly for the sake of the Kingdom. [Read more…]

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BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS PLAY KEY ROLE: PARROTT

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

John Parrott

John Parrott

ROGERSVILLE — With a half year under his belt as interim bivocational ministries specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, John Parrott has confirmed what he already knew from his role as a director of missions — bivocational ministers are critical in helping to reach Tennessee Baptists with the gospel.

Statistics show that approximately 65 percent of churches in Tennessee are served by bivocational pastors — men who also hold another job, Parrott said.

Though they have other professions, bivocational ministers are not part-time, stressed Parrott, who retired last year as director of missions for Holston Valley Baptist Association, based in Rogersville. [Read more…]

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THE TENNESSEE BAPTIST CONVENTION – A YEAR IN REVIEW

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

fiveobjectivesBRENTWOOD — A highlight for Tennessee Baptists in 2015 was the news that baptisms increased in Tennessee Baptist Convention churches for the second year in a row. In 2014, 2,603 TBC churches reported 23,499 baptisms, the largest number of baptisms recorded since 2010. In 2013 churches reported 21,979 baptisms.

The year saw leadership changes with TBC entities. Vickie Anderson began serving Jan. 1 as the executive director/treasurer of Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union. She was installed later in the year to that position during WMU’s annual meeting. Mark Anderson was elected in December to succeed Kenny Cooper as president of Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes. Cooper will retire Dec. 31 after 20 years in the role while Anderson, a longtime staff member, will assume his new role on Jan. 1. Bryant Millsaps will retire Dec. 31 as president of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes and will be succeeded by Greg McCoy who served throughout 2015 as president-elect. Several changes occurred on the TBC Executive Board staff, including the retirement of Bobby Welch as associate executive director. Welch, who served since 2011, was instrumental in helping to initiate the 1-5-1 Harvest Plants initiative geared toward sharing the gospel, starting churches, and discipling people. [Read more…]

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GOD ‘HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU,’ SAYS EZELL

By Tim Ellsworth,
Contributing Editor, B&R

Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga, presented the closing message at the 2015 Summit held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington. — Photo by Corinne Williams

Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga., presented the closing message at the 2015 Summit held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington.
— Photo by Corinne Williams

MILLINGTON — “In ministry, it can be very difficult,” said Kevin Ezell, president, Southern Baptist North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga. He preached during the Tennessee Baptist Convention annual meeting held here at First Baptist Church. Ezell speaks from experience. Of the churches he served, he only received one unanimous call to serve as pastor of a church and at one church, he was the only one to attend an evening service, he recalled.

The Apostle Paul also went through discouragement, noted Ezell. God responded in Acts 18:9-10 by telling Paul not to fear and not to quit because He would be with Paul. God also told Paul that He would protect Him from physical harm. [Read more…]

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ONLY TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE — LOST & SAVED: NEWCOMB

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Ray Newcomb preaches during the Tuesday afternoon session of the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Several members of First Baptist Church, Millington, when he was pastor, help him illustrate a point of his message.

Ray Newcomb preaches during the Tuesday afternoon session of the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Several members of First Baptist Church, Millington, when he was pastor, help him illustrate a point of his message.

MILLINGTON — Pastors should lead their churches to become “soul-winning churches,” said Ray Newcomb, pastor emeritus, First Baptist Church, Millington, who preached during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention last week here. He preached in the church he retired from because First, Millington, hosted the annual meeting.

To lead their churches to become soul-winning churches, some pastors might have to make a spiritual commitment, said Newcomb, a former TBC president.

He preached from Acts 20 citing the Apostle Paul’s direction to the new church. [Read more…]

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ELLIS CHALLENGES CONVENTION TO BE UNIFIED

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Michael Ellis, Tennessee Baptist Convention president and pastor of Impact Baptist Church, Memphis, preaches on Tuesday evening of the annual meeting of the TBC which was held at First Baptist Church, Millington.

Michael Ellis, Tennessee Baptist Convention president and pastor of Impact Baptist Church, Memphis, preaches on Tuesday evening of the annual meeting of the TBC which was held at First Baptist Church, Millington.

MILLINGTON — Michael Ellis, president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, reported that over the past year in his travels and service he observed that “we’re doing so many great things apart. We need to bring those things together.” Issuing “A Call for Unity in the Community,” Ellis preached last week during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The pastor of Impact Baptist Church, Memphis, referred the crowd to Philippians 2:1-5.

Light-heartedly he explained that the community he referred to wasn’t the hood he came from, but “the community of believers.”

Christians ought to be unified because we have one church, one purpose, and one King, as Larnelle Harris just sang, he explained. Ellis reminded messengers, however, that the devil hates unity. [Read more…]

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