Cynthia King of First Baptist Church, Sevierville, lets an attendee admire her newly designed face during a fall festival at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Newport. — Photo by Lonnie Wilkey

NEWPORT — Presenting a fall festival for residents of Sevier County has become a tradition at First Baptist Church in Sevierville. 

The event usually draws between 12,000-13,000 people over four nights, said Craig Mintz, Grow and Go pastor at First Baptist. “We do it up big,” he said. The festival typical includes a lot of food, hayrides, a corn maze, games, and a biblical drama with a gospel presentation. 

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in late September, however, First Baptist leaders felt it was a good time to alter its tradition. “We decided to take our fall festival on the road,” Mintz said. 

“We sensed that we needed to use our resources to take care of our neighbors who were still recovering from damage caused by the hurricane,” added Craig Wells, Next Gen Ministries pastor at First Baptist who coordinated the effort.  [Read more…]

On behalf of the Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation, Bill Yeaman recently gifted Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes with a three-million dollar donation, the largest living-donor gift in the 133-year history of the organization.

BRENTWOOD — Greg McCoy’s use of the word “historic” isn’t hyperbole. It’s factual. 

When Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes recently received a three-million dollar donation from Bill Yeaman as part of the Sumpter Yeaman Charitable Foundation, it marked the largest living-donor gift in the 133-year history of the organization. 

“We were just amazed by this act of generosity,” said McCoy, president and treasurer of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. “It’s a serious, historic gift.” 

The funds will be used for the TBCH’s Firm Foundations Project — an on-going initiative in which the organization is replacing its aging facilities with new campus homes for its Residential Care program.  [Read more…]

Mike Young, senior pastor of Zion Baptist Church, Brownsville, chats with attendees at the “BlueOval City Workers Appreciation Block Party.”

STANTON — Although the Ford Motor Company is slowing down its production schedule at BlueOval City, there are no plans to pump the brakes on the evangelism efforts in that region. 

In fact, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and its partnering local churches say they plan to keep surging in West Tennessee, even after the Ford Company’s recent announcement that the launch of its next-generation electric truck would be delayed 18 months. 

“What we plan to do as Tennessee Baptists is to step on the gas,” said Danny Sinquefield, coordinator of the TBMB’s BlueOval City Partnership.  [Read more…]

Lifeway camps partner with churches to welcome kids and students with disabilities to camp so more campers will have the opportunity to respond to the Gospel. — Lifeway photo

BRENTWOOD — It was the last night of a week of FUGE Camps in Mobile, Alabama, and groups were gearing up for Mega Relay – a high-energy relay race that involves everyone at camp and serves as the iconic close to each FUGE Camps session of the summer. As teams gathered to prepare for the race, one group had a different routine than the rest.

As other groups began the relay with a full field of vision, this team opted to don blindfolds. That week at camp, their group included one student who was blind. Looking for a way to help him enjoy the Mega experience, the entire group chose to wear blindfolds in an act of solidarity as they participated in the relay together.

Knowing they would not win the relay race with blindfolds around their faces, they showed up excited to experience this moment together – no matter their ability. This was just one moment that reflects Lifeway camps’ desire to include every camper. [Read more…]

The BCM building on the campus of MTSU.

MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University experienced a day on campus on Monday, Oct. 28, that you never want to see happen, said Mark Whitt, collegiate ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

According to Sidelines, MTSU’s student newspaper, a student died by suicide inside the James E. Walker Memorial Library on Monday afternoon. University president Sidney McPhee sent out a statement to the campus confirming the death.

The school newspaper also reported the university canceled all classes the following day. “My hope is that our community will use this time to grieve and reach out for support resources being made available,” McPhee said in an email addressed to the MTSU community. “Essential services, including counseling resources, will remain open and available.” [Read more…]

Tina Golden of Lyons Creek Baptist Church, left, and Kathy Henry of Talbott Baptist Church, Talbott, look over job requests from the incident command post at Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethton.

ELIZABETHTON — It’s been a month since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in northeast Tennessee but Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are still on the job.

The TBDR incident command post that was previously at First Baptist Church in Dandridge transitioned last week to Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton.

The command post, led by John and Kaye Thomas, takes over cleanup efforts previously coordinated by Texas Baptists in Johnson City. The Texas incident command team closed operations Oct. 21 though some Texas volunteers have remained to help. [Read more…]

Hensley

NEWPORT — While hurting people in Cocke County and other counties in northeast Tennessee welcomed Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, not as much help was needed because members of local churches already were helping each other and their neighbors. 

“It is amazing what the Lord has done through our churches,” said Mike Hensley, director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association. 

Every one of the association’s 38 churches (of which the large majority is 100 members or less) ministered in one way or another, whether it was donating food and water, volunteering to assist others and just doing whatever needed to be done, Hensley said.  [Read more…]

Henry

DANDRIDGE — When Kathy Henry was first approached about being a disaster relief chaplain she was hesitant because she saw it as more of a pastoral role. 

“I didn’t know if I was equipped to be a chaplain,” she said. 

After prayer and counsel from her husband Brock (who also is a DR volunteer) and a trusted friend, she agreed to accept the role and was trained as a chaplain for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.  [Read more…]