Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
November 6, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorSTANTON — Three years after the official groundbreaking, construction continues at BlueOval City, the Ford Company’s sprawling auto plant in Stanton. For those who aren’t familiar with the project, here is a brief overview: What is BlueOval City? The name “BlueOval City” refers to the Ford Plant that is currently under construction in […]
November 6, 2025
By David DawsonManaging editor, Baptist and ReflectorPate joins TBMB team as new BlueOval catalyst STANTON — Eddie Pate won’t be spending his “retirement years” on the lake or at the golf course. Having recently retired from his role as director of the Kim School of Global Missions at Gateway Seminary, Pate has now accepted a […]
November 5, 2025
By Chris TurnerEditor, Baptist and ReflectorAnnual gathering will honor centennial milestones FRANKLIN — The annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists, most commonly known as Summit, begins Sunday at West Jackson Baptist Church, and will be an event marked by historical and significant milestones. This year’s theme is, “All Aboard: Advancing Together.” The event opens Nov. 9 […]
November 5, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorJACKSON — Messengers at the 2025 Summit are going to be facing tough decisions when it comes to choosing which breakout sessions to attend. This year’s list of sessions includes a wide-range of topics and full lineup of renowned speakers. Below is a brief overview of each session, including starting times and featured […]
November 4, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorNote: This version of the article has been updated to reflect the latest nominations as of Nov. 4. FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers will elect the state’s first regional vice presidents when they gather Nov. 10-11 at West Jackson Baptist Church. The new positions reflect Tennessee Baptists’ push to develop leadership and […]
November 3, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorFRANKLIN — More than 690,000 Tennessee residents who rely on federal food assistance will not receive their November benefits due to the ongoing government shutdown. Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, have begun receiving notification calls from the Department of Human Services (DHS) informing them their […]
October 28, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorFRANKLIN — The Baptist and Reflector’s website hit a significant milestone this month. Officially launched in October of 2015, the website — baptistandreflector.org — is celebrating 10 years of service to its readers. “The B&R website is such an integral part of what we do,” said Chris Turner, editor of the B&R. “It […]
October 28, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorJEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s Andrew Smith has been named series editor of the “America’s Baptists” monograph series. Published by the University of Tennessee Press, the series explores the denomination’s history and complex intricacies. Smith, who serves as C-N professor of history of Christianity, has his own history with the series. It began […]
October 27, 2025
Baptist and ReflectorHIXSON — Ruth Starkey stood in her grandson-in-law’s swimming pool, surrounded by family and neighbors. At 93, she was about to make a public declaration of faith. The journey began two years ago when the Nida family from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church started building a relationship with their neighbors, the Copps, hoping to […]
October 24, 2025
By Zoë WatkinsCommunications specialistFRANKLIN — Paul Leftwich lay trapped under a car at 16, the bumper six inches from his neck. Emergency responders lifted the vehicle off him before it could break his neck. Now 94, he still gets emotional recounting that day. “I was lost and would be in hell had it not been […]
October 23, 2025
By Zoë WatkinsCommunications specialistWHITWELL — Say the name Edwina Griffith around First Baptist Whitwell and chances are everyone will know exactly who she is. At 93, Griffith still leads the Sunday school class she’s taught for 70 years. She joined the church in 1953 and hasn’t stopped teaching since. “Being in Sunday school and teaching […]
October 22, 2025
By Carolyn TomlinContributing writer, Baptist and ReflectorAccording to LifewayResearch.com, 314,000 protestant churches operate across the United States (Hartford Institute for Religion Research). Throughout American history, churches have shaped our nation’s direction, and clergy have served as vital leaders in both congregations and communities. For generations, churches have supported their pastors and clergy, while congregations have […]