Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
August 11, 2017
By Courtney Swaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — Maury City First Baptist Church returned to IMPACT camp for the second consecutive year after an overwhelming affirmation from the kids. “We come back because this particular camp does a really good job of recognizing that camp is not for camp’s sake,” said Mikey Waddey, pastor […]
August 11, 2017
By Courtney Swaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — As Bryan Bratcher was attending his first IMPACT camp three years ago, he wondered, “What if there was a church in our community that was committed to biblical truth that had this kind of culture?” In 2014 Bratcher attended IMPACT camp (his first ever youth camp) […]
August 10, 2017
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector LAFAYETTE — When Johnny Beaver moved to Tennessee several years ago, he thought he would never serve as pastor of a church again. God had other plans. Beaver readily acknowledges that he and his wife moved to Tennessee from Pascagoula, Miss., to rebuild their life and marriage. He […]
August 9, 2017
Editor’s Note: David Leavell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington, has been announced as a nominee for president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Any other nominee for the offices of president and vice presidents are encouraged to notify the B&R and we will print those nominations as well. Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Knoxville native […]
August 8, 2017
Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave a total of $2,683,692 through the Cooperative Program in July. For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $25,524,540, a decrease of $474,241 or 1.8 percent over that given during the same time frame last year. With three months left in the 2016-17 fiscal year, receipts […]
August 8, 2017
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector LAFAYETTE — The smell of chicken nuggets wafted through the fellowship hall at Calvary Baptist Church on this sticky Tuesday morning in late July. It was 8:30 a.m., and a group of about a dozen volunteers was happily humming along like an assembly line. In the kitchen, several ladies […]
August 1, 2017
Baptist and Reflector FAIRFIELD GLADE — Former Tennessee Baptist Convention president Leonard Markham will retire July 30 after 11 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Fairfield Glade. The 69-year-old Markham has served six churches in Tennessee as pastor — First Baptist Church, Elk Valley; West End Baptist Church, Knoxville; Ball Camp Baptist Church, Knoxville; […]
July 31, 2017
By Courtney Swaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — Cypress Creek Baptist Church in Martin brought a large contingent of students to this year’s Journey Camp Weekend. And why wouldn’t they? Last year the church saw five young people accept Jesus Christ as Savior as a result of attending the weekend camp geared toward children […]
July 28, 2017
By Courtney Shaw Summer Intern, Linden Valley LINDEN — Most campers do not have the opportunity to attend Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center at the age of 5. Melissa Russell did and it has had an impact on her life ever since. When Russell was 5 years old, her mother taught Mission Friends at Northside […]
July 28, 2017
By Kara Bettis ERLC Writer CORDOVA — Born and raised in the “birthplace of Rock and Roll,” Donna Gaines returned 25 years later armed with a background in education and a heart for the county that claims one of the highest rates of childhood poverty. Gaines is a women’s ministry leader and wife to Southern […]
July 27, 2017
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector GATLINBURG — Ruth Martin is not likely to ever forget Nov. 28, 2016. That’s the day she became homeless. The 91-year-old widow of a Tennessee Baptist pastor left her home of 40-plus years that night with just the clothes she wore. As fire surrounded her home atop a […]
July 26, 2017
By David Dawson Baptist and Reflector FRANKLIN — Driven by the belief that “school safety” should not be limited to fire drills and first-aid kits, many churches in Tennessee are doing their part to protect the spiritual safety of students, too. Numerous initiatives and programs have been designed in recent years to cover students in […]