TENNESSEANS ENJOY FELLOWSHIP AT SBC MEETING

Keeping true to tradition, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board hosted a “dessert reception” during this year’s Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. The reception — which took place on June 12 (the evening prior to the official start of the annual meeting) at the New Orleans convention center — was well attended, as Tennessee Baptists filled the room for a time of fellowship and king cake. Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB, welcomed attendees with a brief word.

-Photos by Lonnie Wilkey

Enjoying fellowship at the TBMB dessert reception are, from left, Brad Rogers, Alan Rogers, pastor of New Salem Baptist Church, Soddy-Daisy, and Rob and Sheila Anderssen of East Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga, where he serves as pastor.
Mike and Kathy Kemper, left, visit with pastor Bryan Morris of Ararat Baptist Church, Jackson, during the TBMB event. Kemper is the director of missions for Gibson Baptist Association.
Pastor Lawrence Cotton, left, of Tasso Baptist Church, Cleveland, and Phil Taylor, director of missions for CrossNet Baptist Network, pause during the TBMB dessert reception.
Willie McLaurin, interim president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, shares with Tennessee Baptists during the dessert reception. Standing beside McLaurin is Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, which sponsored the fellowship.
Christy and Sarah Ball enjoy time together during the dessert fellowship sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in New Orleans. Christy is the wife of Chad Ball, who resigned effective June 11 as pastor of First Baptist Church, Adamsville, to accept the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Gautier, Miss.
Pastor Chris Garner of Gillespie Avenue Baptist Church, Knoxville, and his wife, Lauren, and children Benjamin and Stella, enjoy time together at the TBMB dessert fellowship.
Enjoying the TBMB dessert fellowship are, from left, Stephanie and John Charping of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Germantown, and Van McClain, professor at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary near Memphis.