Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
March 3, 2025
By Zoẽ WatkinsCommunications specialist, TBMBKNOXVILLE — North Knoxville Baptist Church is a revitalization story in the works. Like many other Tennessee Baptist churches, they’ve transformed resources and everyday circumstances into golden opportunities for ministry. Pastor Jim McNeal has led the church to open their facilities for two other churches to meet there. One is a […]
February 27, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorBCM leaders, students recall life-changing moments from their travels KNOXVILLE — Rodney Norvell has been at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) for 11 years, leading students on journeys of faith and service. One of his favorite things as a BCM minister is taking students on mission trips. Norvell first heard about ministry […]
February 25, 2025
By Tim EllsworthUnion University CEDAR HILL — Jackie Edwards and her husband Sterling have been friends and fellow church members with Billy and Dianne Seeley for years. Jackie has seen their heart for service and their love for the people at Cedar Hill Baptist Church. When she found out last year that Billy was experiencing […]
February 24, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorELIZABETHTON — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has established two warehouses in Elizabethton to help residents who lost their homes to Hurricane Helene as part of Arise and Build, the repair and new build arm of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief. Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of TBMB, established an Arise and […]
February 21, 2025
By Baptist and Reflector Tidwell HUMBOLDT — Longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor Jerry Tidwell died Feb. 17 at his home in Humboldt, Tenn. He was 62. Tidwell, a former president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, most recently served as pastor of Atwood Cornerstone Church. He was a previous pastor at West Jackson Baptist Church, Ellendale Baptist […]
February 21, 2025
By David DawsonManaging editor, Baptist and ReflectorFRANKLIN — Despite some recent adjustments to the format, the ultimate goal of the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) has not changed. “It’s all about leading students to Christ,” said Jay Barbier, Harvest Field Three team leader and former youth ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “Seeing professions […]
February 20, 2025
By Baptist and ReflectorFRANKLIN — Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, has issued a call for teams to respond to flooding in West Tennessee. Jones said teams will be needed in Rives, located just below Union City. “We are going to need flood recovery teams, starting next week, and probably […]
February 20, 2025
By Union University news officeJACKSON — Jimmy Bledsoe emphasized the critical role of theological education in missions during his keynote address at Union University’s fifth annual W.D. Powell Missions Lecture on Jan. 30. “The glory of God and the mission of God has to be our highest priority and our greatest occupation,” Bledsoe said. “Even […]
February 20, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorMORRISTOWN — In the wake of the floods that struck Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, God’s Warehouse Ministries has mobilized a rapid response effort to deliver critical supplies to affected communities. The multi-state flood hit on the weekend of Feb. 15, leaving at least 14 dead. This disaster not only comes after the […]
February 20, 2025
By Zoë WatkinsCommunications specialistNetwork of churches extends English Language Learners classes JACKSON — Y no nos cansemos de hacer el bien, porque a su debido tiempo segaremos, si no nos rendimos. Most people in Tennessee probably can’t understand that sentence. It’s a Spanish translation of Galatians 6:9. There’s a large pocket of Tennesseans, however, who […]
February 19, 2025
By Zoë WatkinsCommunications specialistKnox Chambers, 12, sees school as a mission field CLARKSVILLE — “If you met Jesus today, what would you say to Him?” This is the question 12-year-old Knox Chambers uses to open gospel conversations with classmates. As a 6th grader in Montgomery County, Knox has led five of his classmates to Christ […]
February 17, 2025
By Baptist and ReflectorFRANKLIN — Fifty homes in 50 weeks. It sounds like an ambitious goal, but it’s one that the Appalachia Service Project and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) volunteers are working hard to accomplish. According to Chris Schroeder, ASP vice president of new build and disaster recovery, the amount of need that still […]