Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

ASSOCIATION’S TEENAGERS SERVE ON SCHOOL BREAK

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Rhett Heinemeyer, left, of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Halls, uses a post hole digger with direction from Harold McDonald of the church. They are helping build a ramp onto the house of a church member despite frigid temperatures Jan. 18 as part of the Jerusalem Project of Dyer Baptist Association, based in Dyersburg. — Photo by Connie Davis Bushey

Rhett Heinemeyer, left, of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Halls, uses a post hole digger with direction from Harold McDonald of the church. They are helping build a ramp onto the house of a church member despite frigid temperatures Jan. 18 as part of the Jerusalem Project of Dyer Baptist Association, based in Dyersburg. — Photo by Connie Davis Bushey

DYER COUNTY — Instead of resting, catching up on their homework, or working some extra hours at their part-time jobs on their day off from school last week for Martin Luther King Day, about 220 teens here conducted service projects and considered God. They were participating in the 12th annual Jerusalem Project of Dyer Baptist Association.

“I see a sea of students who gave up a day off from school to worship God and serve others,” said Alisha Moody, youth leader of the association, at the launch activities of Jerusalem Project which were held on Sunday, Jan. 17. Moody also is Baptist Collegiate Ministries director of Dyersburg State Community College, based in Dyersburg.

One result of the event was that seven youth made professions of faith after hearing Chuck Johnson speak. Sunday afternoon and evening sessions were held at Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg. Johnson is associate minister to youth, First Baptist Church, Martin. Also leading a session was John Yates, a ventriloquist who is a minister at First Baptist Church, Yazoo City, Miss. Thirteen churches participated. [Read more…]

ADOPTION PICTURE OF SALVATION, PARENTS SAY

By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press

Nathan and Jennifer Washburn with children Owen RenLi and Kara Victoria.

Nathan and Jennifer Washburn with children Owen RenLi and Kara Victoria.

GREENBRIER — Nathan and Jennifer Washburn rank parenting among their greatest joys, but a desire to have children was not their main motivation in adopting.

Instead, the couple who married in 2004 point to spiritual value as their main motivation for their 2010 adoption from Kazakhstan of Kara Victoria Washburn, now 5, and, in 2014 from China, Owen RenLi Washburn, 3.

“It was primarily a theological motivation to adopt,” Nathan Washburn, pastor of First Baptist Church, Greenbrier, told Baptist Press. “It’s such a great picture of our spiritual adoption in Christ.”

As Southern Baptists observed Jan. 17 as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, which was placed on the convention calendar in 1988, Washburn describes adoption as a practical application of honoring the value God has ordained in all of human life.

“Although there are different circumstances in life and different stages of life, there’s not a spectrum to God’s image in people,” Washburn said. “Every person bears His image and bears it in its fullness. There’s really no difference.” [Read more…]

STUDY: AMERICANS SHARE CONFLICTING VIEWS ON SPORTS GAMBLING

By Lisa Cannon Green
LifeWay Research

160125sports2NASHVILLE (BP) — Wagering on sports isn’t morally wrong, most Americans say — but nearly half think it should be illegal anyway, a newly-released study shows.

And as millions nationwide manage their fantasy sports rosters, Americans straddle the fence on whether heavily advertised daily games by companies such as FanDuel Inc. and DraftKings Inc. should be banned.

A study released today (Jan. 22) from LifeWay Research shows widespread belief that sports gambling is morally acceptable. Nearly two-thirds of Americans disagree that it’s morally wrong to bet on sports. The results are from a survey conducted this past September.

Yet 49 percent think sports betting shouldn’t be legalized nationwide, while 40 percent say it should be. Eleven percent of Americans aren’t sure. [Read more…]

UNION TO HOST WEST TENNESSEE EVANGELISM RALLY FEB. 21

Union University News Office

Union University CampusJACKSON — Ernest Easley recently looked through a file folder from 1984 where he came across an old leadership magazine published by Texas Baptists.

“On every page there was something about evangelism, outreach, training, and rallies,” said Easley, professor of evangelism at Union University. “I don’t read much emphasis anymore on evangelism. I don’t see our state conventions and our national convention fanning the flame of evangelism like they once did.”

That’s one reason why Easley, in partnership with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, helped to organize the West Tennessee Evangelism Rally that will be held Feb. 21 on the Union campus. The event is for pastors, staff members, church members, students and anyone else interested in evangelism. [Read more…]

CHURCH IMPRESSES FORMER MISSIONARY

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Eric Thoman, pastor, Etter Baptist Church, Byrdstown, sits in the sanctuary of the church.

Eric Thoman, pastor, Etter Baptist Church, Byrdstown, sits in the sanctuary of the church.

BYRDSTOWN — When Eric Thoman (pronounced Toh-mahn) came to Etter Baptist Church here about four years ago, he was glad to be called as pastor of a church which was so supportive of Southern Baptist efforts. He was a North American Mission Board missionary in Ohio for seven years who was downsized because of restructuring by the Southern Baptist Convention agency.

Since then, Thoman has continually been impressed with Etter Baptist and its generosity, especially toward missions.

“It’s nothing I did or anything. This church is strong in missions and I just encourage them.” [Read more…]

BAPTISTS MINISTER IN CRISIS

Volunteers provide meals, support until search for Pinson toddler ends

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Noah Chamberlin

Noah Chamberlin

PINSON — The halls of Pinson Baptist Church are no longer a flurry of activity. After seven days of hosting law enforcement personnel, emergency management personnel, and volunteers who came from several states to search for 2-year-old Noah Chamberlin, another press conference was held on Thursday, Jan. 21. It was one people prayed wouldn’t occur.

In tears, Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver announced that the toddler’s body had been found. Then John Gaters, pastor of Pinson Baptist, led those gathered in the hymn, “Carry Me.”

The toddler disappeared on Jan. 14 while on an afternoon walk in the woods with his grandmother and 4-year-old sister behind his grandparent’s home. [Read more…]

FOCUS ON LONG-TERM MARKET GOALS

By Roy Hayhurst
GuideStone Financial Resources News Office

Photo -Richard Drew/AP, Creative Commons

Photo -Richard Drew/AP, Creative Commons

DALLAS — After a volatile start to the first week of trading in the 2016 calendar year, some investors are understandably concerned about their portfolios, but long-term investors should continue to consider their objectives and time horizons.

David S. Spika, global investment strategist at GuideStone Capital Management, LLC, offered perspective on the cur-rent market, noting 2016 likely will be a volatile year. Last year, after a bout of volatility, Spika was featured in a commentary posted on GuideStone’s website (GuideStone.org/VolatilityVideo), explaining the nature of the stock price swings at the time, as well as offering perspective on the market. In reflecting on the current market news, he said the volatility experienced in the second half of 2015 will likely persist for the foreseeable future and is not abnormal in the later stages of an economic cycle such as today’s. [Read more…]

UNION OFFERS AID TO WEST TENN. STUDENTS

Union University News Office

JACKSON — Union University has instituted a new scholarship designed specifically to benefit students from West Tennessee. The West Tennessee Heritage Scholarship will provide an automatic $1,500 scholarship to any student from West Tennessee who attends Union, with a minimum high school grade point average of 2.0. “This is where we’re rooted,” said Dan Griffin, Union’s vice president for enrollment management.

“This is where 60 percent of our students come from. This is who we’re committed to. Union isn’t where it is today if it’s not for the people of West Tennessee.” [Read more…]

CONGREGATION TAKES ANOTHER STEP

Forty Forks Baptist Church, once closed, now has debt-free facility in Bethel Springs

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Randy Smith, pastor, Forty Forks Baptist Church, Bethel Springs, enjoys time with his son Colton.

Randy Smith, pastor, Forty Forks Baptist Church, Bethel Springs, enjoys time with his son Colton.

BETHEL SPRINGS — Forty Forks Baptist here was closed several times and the congregation’s small, one-room, block building sat abandoned for about six years when Randy Smith got involved.

Smith, who at that time had felt called to the ministry for a couple of years, had grown up at Forty Forks Baptist.

But not only had the church been closed after the congregation had disbanded, but the building’s ceiling had collapsed and it never had running water or a bathroom. [Read more…]

IMB ELIMINATES COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE, WRAPS UP ‘RESET’

By Julie McGowan
IMB news office

160114imb-officeRICHMOND — The International Mission Board is in a position, financially, where no missionaries will be required to leave the field as the organization wraps up its two-phase reset, IMB President David Platt announced Jan. 14.

The majority of the IMB’s Richmond Communications Center, however, will lose their positions, Platt also announced. The Communications Center will be eliminated, he said. [Read more…]

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