youth Archives - Baptist & Reflector

PRACTICAL STEPS CAN LEAD TO IMPROVED PROTECTION

February 20, 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE: In the latest Radio B&R podcast, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board administrative director William Maxwell and childhood ministry specialist Vicki Hulsey addressed the crucial steps that churches need to take in order to ensure the safety and protection of children. The podcast can be found here.

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Churches must do all they can to protect minors and others from sexual abuse, said two experts from the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, who noted some practical steps churches can take immediately that will deter prospective predators.

The comments were made during a recent Radio B&R podcast titled, “Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse” (available here). During the podcast, TBMB administrative director William Maxwell and childhood ministry specialist Vicki Hulsey, discuss a TBMB document titled, “12 Things Churches Can Do to Protect Children.” [Read more…]

BCMs PROVIDE STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH, SUPPORT

January 24, 2019

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

Morgan Owen

MARTIN — A college campus can be a frightening place for a first-time student.

Baptist Collegiate Ministry organizations can play a major role in helping incoming high school students adjust to college life, said Morgan Owen, BCM director at the University of Tennessee in Martin.

While some high school grads enter college with friends from hometown or church, many do not, Owen noted. BCMs provide incoming freshmen opportunities “to connect” with like-minded students, he said.

At UT-Martin, the BCM offers Survival, a four-day event for incoming students, freshmen and transfers.

The objective for Survival is to cultivate a faith-based community setting for incoming students as they make the adjustments to college, Owen said. [Read more…]

MOVEMENT & MILESTONES

January 8, 2019

Five Objectives progress, anniversaries top news of 2018

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

FRANKLIN — Statistics indicating that the convention-adopted Five Objectives are having an impact in Tennessee, along with significant anniversaries of Tennessee Baptist Mission Board ministries, were among the top stories in the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2018.

In addition, two TBC entities underwent changes in leadership in 2018.-

Baptisms in 2017 increased by slightly more than 2 percent over the previous year, according to the 2017 Annual Church Profile. Baptism numbers for 2018 are still being collected from ACP reports. [Read more…]

CHRISTMAS BACKPACKS IMPACT TN FAMILIES

December 20, 2018

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

Terry Robinson, left, and Tom Nelson of Roan Creek Baptist Church prepare to take a load of backpacks to a local school.

FRANKLIN — Children living in the Appalachian area of Tennessee have been beneficiaries of the Christmas Backpack Ministry for several years, most of which have been donated from outside the state itself.

The Christmas Backpack Ministry has evolved over the years since 2001 when some Girls in Action (GAs) in Georgia decided they wanted to do something special for children living in the Appalachian region of the United States. [Read more…]

FROM CALIFORNIA TO TENNESSEE VIA TEXAS

October 15, 2018

Non-typical Southern Baptist pastor leads church to impact community

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

Pastor Donnie De La Cruz leads a Bible study between skateboarding sessions at Dumplin Baptist Church in New Market.

NEW MARKET — Donnie De La Cruz would be the first person to tell you that he’s not your typical, everyday Baptist preacher in East Tennessee. And, most people who know him would agree wholeheartedly.

But, those who know him well would also say he’s totally sold out on telling lost people about the love of Jesus Christ and leading Dumplin Baptist Church in New Market to reach its community for Christ.

What makes De La Cruz different from most of his colleagues in Jefferson County Baptist Association? [Read more…]

PUTTING AN EMPHASIS ON MEMPHIS

August 30, 2018

Determined church reaches out to share gospel in community

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Robert Blake, deacon at One Faith Christian Center Church, talks to a group of young men from the West Frayser community before they take the court for pick-up basketball games.

MEMPHIS — It would have been easy for Barron Martin to take the safe route. He could have moved from the Memphis area, found a comfortable job, and simply “tuned out” the violence and poverty that plagues the neighborhood where he was raised.

Instead, he chose the opposite approach. He elected to be on the frontline. [Read more…]

MORE TO LIFE THAN PLAYING FOOTBALL

August 9, 2018

UT football great tells high schoolers about ‘Team Jesus’

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

Sam McElroy, left, of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, interviews Joshua Dobbs, former University of Tennessee football star, during a Night of Champions event at Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga.

CHATTANOOGA — Joshua Dobbs’ career at the University of Tennessee speaks for itself. Perhaps that’s why he’s more comfortable talking about Jesus than himself.

Dobbs holds four school records for a quarterback and is high on the list of other significant football records. During his UT career (2013-16), he was 23-12 as a starter with a perfect 3-0 record in bowl games. He is tied for fifth for most wins by a Tennessee quarterback.

Add to the fact that he had a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in aerospace engineering and he’s a member of the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers, it’s little wonder that he’s well respected across the state. [Read more…]

YOUTH LEARN LIFE LESSONS ON TRIP TO GUATEMALA

July 13, 2018

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Ethan Stacy, of First Baptist Church, Manchester, interacts with the boys and girls during the missions trip to Guatemala. TBMB youth ministry specialist Bruce Edwards said the youth on the trip who knew how to play guitar were instantly “rock stars” with the children.

FRANKLIN — The concept of “giving the shirt off your back” played out in an almost literal sense for a group of roughly 40 students and leaders who recently traveled to Guatemala for a week-long mission trip sponsored by the Youth Evangelism Conference and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“Many of the kids left for the trip with a suitcase packed full of clothes, and came home with a virtually empty suitcase,” said Bruce Edwards, youth ministry specialist at the TBMB. “We asked them to bring clothes that they would be willing to donate to the underprivileged in Guatemala, and I think the experience of doing that was very meaningful for many of the kids.” [Read more…]

MISSION TRIP — WITHOUT THE MILEAGE

July 10, 2018

Students in Hardeman County serve the community through Youth Evangelism Project

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

Bailee Barnes of Hornsby Baptist Church, Hornsby, washes a car as part of a community missions project known as “YEP.” The project is sponsored
by four Hardeman County churches.
— Photo by Lonnie Wilkey

BOLIVAR — Sitting in her car with the window rolled down on a steamy morning in West Tennessee, Ella Hayes had a peaceful smile on her face. She was feeling a refreshing mist of water on her arm, but that wasn’t the reason she was smiling.

Her joy came from watching the youth who were enthusiastically scrubbing the car in front of her. The students were washing cars, free of charge to the customers, as part of the Youth Evangelism Project.

“This let’s you know there is still some love in the world today,” said Hayes. “With so much prejudice and racism and all that stuff going on, it puts a damper on your heart. But to see this right here — these kids out here working for Jesus — it’s nothing but love.” [Read more…]

BIBLE DRILLERS COMPETE AT STATE LEVEL

May 18, 2018

Baptist and Reflector

MOUNT JULIET — The 2018 Bible Drill season culminated at the Missions Mobilization Center in Mount Juliet on May 5 with the Youth and High School State Bible Drills.

For the 17 State Drillers, their journey to this event began many months before, said Donna Blaydes, childhood specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

The state drillers joined approximately 1,300 other 4th through 12th grade students, who participated in Children, Youth and High School Bible Drill at the church level throughout Tennessee Baptist churches. “These drillers were actively involved in learning God’s Word. As they memorized Scripture verses, the reference of key passages, steps to salvation, and Scripture defending what they believe, their love for the Bible increased and the Word became a part of them,” Blaydes said. [Read more…]

Five Objectives progress, anniversaries top news of 2018

Non-typical Southern Baptist pastor leads church to impact community

Determined church reaches out to share gospel in community

UT football great tells high schoolers about ‘Team Jesus’

Students in Hardeman County serve the community through Youth Evangelism Project

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