FRANKLIN — For the sixth time in eight years, Tennessee Baptists have set a new record for giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions with total gifts of $3,128,219.03.

The 2023-24 GOTM fiscal year ended Aug. 31.

The total includes $2,451,737.21 in gifts from churches and $676,481.82 in Golden Opportunity Projects, a fund established this year to allow donors to give money or in-kind gifts (such as property) to specific GOTM-funded ministries. [Read more…]

Union student Henry Piercey, back left, with coworkers from the culinary department at Dollywood Splash Country.

JACKSON — Union University junior Henry Piercey completed a summer internship with YoungLife and Dollywood Splash Country in Pigeon Forge that he says was life changing.

“This summer really taught me to actually hand things over to the Lord,” Piercey said. “Truly, apart from Christ, I really can’t do anything, because I’ve tried it before. Anything I try on my own, it crumbles, ultimately.”

Piercey is a Christian ministry and missions major from Jackson and a member of West Jackson Baptist Church. He spent the summer going through “Discovery: God’s Answers to Our Deepest Questions,” a nine-week discipleship study with Union alumnus Ray Pettigrew, who serves as camp manager for discipleship focus with YoungLife. [Read more…]

Tennessee pastor Bobby Mullins was killed in a car accident Sept. 4, and his wife, Wanda, died from injuries the following day.

PIPERTON — Over the past few days, Kirk Baptist Church in Piperton, Tennessee, has had to post words they never wanted to post — that their pastor, Bobby Mullins, was killed in a car accident Sept. 4, and his wife, Wanda, died in the hospital the following day from her injuries.

But over the past few days, the congregation along with the family have also expressed other words, words they’ve heard the couple say in the past. On the latest Facebook post, person after person shared their memories of the Mullinses and their faith.

“I know when he passed thru heavens gate, in Brother Bobby’s own words: WELL GLORY!,” one poster wrote. [Read more…]

Connerley

BROWNSVILLE — When Brownsville Baptist needs something done, pastor emeritus Bob Connerley knows he can count on senior adults to see it accomplished. 

“One of the reasons is they have a lifetime of being part of Brownsville Baptist — beginning in the Cradle Roll Department. They are always ready to serve in any capacity needed,” said Connerley who served as pastor of the congregation from 1989-2021. He continues to serve at the church in various capacities including working with senior adults.

“This is a most unusual group of seniors,” he said. “Many of these people have known each other all their lives. Their families were friends — even before they were born. They’ve grown up in the church and have really become a close-knit community of people who love the Lord and enjoy being together.”

Emily Higgenbottom, a member of the senior group, is an example of one who has returned to Brownsville after living away for several years.  [Read more…]

Leslie Strange, director of the Embrace Grace ministry at Judson Baptist Church, Nashville, leads a devotion for single mothers. Also in the photo, far left, is Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

FRANKLIN — Single women who decide against abortion and choose to have their babies often have nowhere to turn. That’s where Embrace Grace comes in.

Embrace Grace is a national ministry designed to make sure that “every young woman who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy has a church family to go to for spiritual, emotional and physical support,” said Leslie Strange, director of the Embrace Grace ministry at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville.

The national ministry equips local churches to host 12-week-long support groups where women can come who are experiencing the challenges of being single mothers can come for help and emotional support.

“Many of the women when they first come to us are in desperate need of community. They feel very lonely. They feel very isolated. They don’t have great relationship with their own mothers. They don’t have a lot of family supports,” said Strange, who began the program at Judson after hearing a sermon where the speaker challenged those who were present to find places around their church where the gospel needed to be shared. [Read more…]

This group of five were recently baptized at Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church in Brentwood. — Photo courtesy of BBDC

BRENTWOOD — All are welcome to attend Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church. Be warned, though. You’re going to be able to hear the worship well before you enter the sanctuary.

“Everything we do is voice-interpreted, which is for who we call the ‘signing-impaired,’” Pastor Aric Randolph told Baptist Press. He’s referring to guests or others who hear but may not know American Sign Language (ASL). “If you visit us, everything is still voiced for you.”

The gospel is for everyone, and thus, a message everyone should be able to access. That can be difficult for deaf people, though. Many of BBDC’s attendees and members drive from considerable distances. The only other deaf churches in the state, Randolph said, are in Memphis, Knoxville and Clarksville.

The start of Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church goes back to 1984, when Brentwood Baptist Church began an outreach for the Deaf. That grew into a congregation the following year. In its own building on the east side of the BBC campus, Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. [Read more…]

The Off the Grid ministry, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers, gives pastors and church leaders a chance to disconnect, be refreshed and build relationships with others who have a common purpose.

In the photo, participants in a recent Off the Grid event in Colorado included, from left, Kevin Perrigan, Rocky Sickel, Adam Cutshaw,  Josh Moran, Tod Lanier, Bryan Higginbotham, Matthew Nance, Russell Vickers, Doug Elders, Darren Andrus, Shawn Allred and  Tim Hensiek. 

For more information about Off the Grid events and for an upcoming schedule, visit tnbaptist.org/off-the-grid. B&R

Kathy Ward, standing, and her sister, Juanita Scott, have served as the musicians for Ward’s Grove Baptist Church in Milton for 41 years.

MILTON — Sisters Juanita Scott and Kathy Ward have shared their love for each other and their love for the Lord through their fingers making music via the organ and piano at Ward’s Grove Baptist Church in Milton, near Murfreesboro, for 41 years.

Ward, the younger of the two, gave her heart to the Lord in 1963 at Calvary Baptist Church. She explains, “My mother said I could not be baptized because of my young age.” After her mother died in 1983 Ward began going to Ward’s Grove. 

Six-months later, Ward and her daughter, Tammie Marie, were both baptized there.” She immediately began playing the organ. “They needed someone to play. I said yes and have been playing ever since.” [Read more…]