Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

MOTHER’S FAITH INSPIRES FILM MAKER

Tennessee native Gary Granstaff Produces Faith-Based ‘The Masked Saint’

The Masked Saint, portrayed by actor Brett Granstaff, is based on a book by the same name, written by Chris Whaley, a Baptist pastor who was a former wrestler.

The Masked Saint, portrayed by actor Brett Granstaff, is based on a book by the same name, written by Chris Whaley, a Baptist pastor who was a former wrestler.

FRANKLIN – After decades of living in Seattle, Wash., and Los Angeles, Tennessee native and movie producer Gary Granstaff returned to his roots. Granstaff was reared in the small community of Defeated in Smith County near Carthage.

He attended and became a member of First Baptist Church, Carthage, where his mother (Hazel Granstaff) was an icon in the church and in the community. She taught school and was a librarian for more than three decades in Smith County. Now in his 60s, Granstaff even recalls seeing the Baptist and Reflector as a child. “The Baptist and Reflector was one of the first publications I remember coming to our home,” he said. [Read more…]

COUNSELOR PUTS ADVICE INTO PRACTICE

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Weslee Hill, right, in a happy moment with her mother, Susie Edwards, a longtime staff member of the Baptist and Reflector who died last March after a battle with cancer.

Weslee Hill, right, in a happy moment with her mother, Susie Edwards, a longtime staff member of the Baptist and Reflector who died last March after a battle with cancer.

MARTIN — Weslee Hill has counseled people through stressful times in their lives for the past 10 years as the counselor for Weakley County Baptist Association, based in Dresden. She is now putting into practice advice she has been giving to others for the past decade.

Hill has especially walked with despondent clients through holidays including Christmas.

The despondency quite often is dealing with the loss of a loved one, but it can involve a number of things including broken and fractured relationships, Hill said. [Read more…]

BETHLEHEM EXPERIENCE DRAWS 987 PEOPLE

Baptist Association sees 10 people make commitments to Christ, 44 in three years

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Ramona Reardon of First Baptist Church, Whitley City, Ky., explains to visitors of the Bethlehem Experience the spices and herbs she is selling. With her is Gracie Cotton of New Haven Baptist Church, Oneida. — Photo by Connie Davis Bushey

Ramona Reardon of First Baptist Church, Whitley City, Ky., explains to visitors of the Bethlehem Experience the spices and herbs she is selling. With her is Gracie Cotton of New Haven Baptist Church, Oneida. — Photo by Connie Davis Bushey

WINFIELD — Just like a time traveler, one enters the stone-walled streets filled with residents of another time.

Cloaked women carry baskets of wares as robed men go about their business. Many are working at stalls and discussing their products. Roman soldiers stride among them, unsmiling. Soldiers also monitor the census takers and tax collectors.

A visitor from modern times, a young man, is called up to the census table where two Jewish men are working. The workers demand his papers and one comments that he will soon be of age to be a soldier. A Roman soldier interjects in an authoritative voice that the boy will be required to serve in the Roman military. The young man, with a shocked expression, quickly rejoins his group. [Read more…]

CLAIMING EXEMPTION PROTECTS COLLEGES

Tennessee universities among those that have asserted right to Title IX exemption

By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner
Baptist & Reflector

151215title9BRENTWOOD — In a world and culture where sexual orientation and long-held traditions such as marriage are constantly being redefined, Christian colleges are taking steps to protect their institutions. Approximately 30 religiously affiliated colleges and universities nationwide (including Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City and Union University in Jackson) have asked for and received recognition of their exemption from certain sex nondiscrimination regulations of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX generally prohibits institutions of higher education that receive federal funding directly or indirectly from discriminating on the basis of sex. However, when it was enacted, Congress made provision for an exemption to accommodate religious beliefs, and the Department of Education acknowledges the exemption to those colleges and universities that follow the United States Department of Education’s process and assert their rights to the exemption. Carson-Newman and Union both asserted their rights in letters to the Department of Education earlier this year. [Read more…]

LINDEN VALLEY CITED FOR EXCELLENCE

Baptist and Reflector

151211linden-awardLINDEN — Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center has been awarded the 2015 Star of Excellence for Outstanding Non-Profit Organization.

The award was presented to Tim Bearden, conference centers senior manager for the Tennessee Baptist Convention, on Dec.  3 during an awards banquet sponsored by the Perry County Chamber of Commerce. The conference center was recognized for the “outstanding service and contributions your organization and its volunteers provide to benefit Perry County.” [Read more…]

TBAH ELECTS ANDERSON AS PRESIDENT

By Connie D. Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Mark Anderson

Mark Anderson

BRENTWOOD — Mark Anderson, a long-time staff member of Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes, was unanimously elected president by the TBAH board on Dec. 8. He will begin serving Jan. 1. He follows Kenny Cooper who served TBAH in that role for 20 years. Cooper will retire Dec. 31.

Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, observed that Anderson has “a proven record of competent service with Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing great things accomplished while working with Mark in the years ahead,” Davis said.

Anderson has been director of disabilities ministry for 26 years. Formerly he was a social worker for the state of Tennessee serving at the Harold Jordan Center for five years; and social counselor for the state of Tennessee’s Department of Human Services. Anderson holds the master of education in nonprofit leadership from Belmont University, Nashville; the master of science in guidance and counseling from Tennessee State University, Nashville; and the bachelor of science in psychology from Belmont. [Read more…]

CHURCH, PASTOR ARE REVITALIZED

Molino Baptist Church is revitalized after former member is revitalized into its pastor

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Long-time and newer members of Molino Baptist Church pause outside the church recently. They are, from left, first row, Joe Self, pastor; second row, Keitha Towry, Keran Self, Linda Smith, Chloe Barnhouse (in front of Smith) and Joyce Davis; third row, Ed Towry, Joe Smith, and Mark Dempsey.

Long-time and newer members of Molino Baptist Church pause outside the church recently. They are, from left, first row, Joe Self, pastor; second row, Keitha Towry, Keran Self, Linda Smith, Chloe Barnhouse (in front of Smith) and Joyce Davis; third row, Ed Towry, Joe Smith, and Mark Dempsey.

TAFT — Church revitalization begins one person at a time, believes Joe Self. In this case, it began with him.

The story begins in the 1980s when a rural church near Fayetteville was “a focal point and center of worship” for a small community here, recalled Joe Self.

Self, who was in his 20s, attended that church, Molino (Moh-line-ah) Baptist Church, then.

“It was there that I felt a call to the pastorate,” he recalled.

But he hesitated to respond. For one thing, like a lot of people he didn’t feel worthy, he explained.
[Read more…]

PRODIGALS CHALLENGE FAITH OF EVEN MINISTERS

Parents who are ministers, ministers’ wives and children relate their prodigal “journey”

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15: 11-32.

151207prodigalMILLINGTON — A prodigal or child who rebels against the Christian teachings of their parents can bring the strongest Christian to their knees. It is especially difficult for Christians who are ministers or ministers’ wives.

Shame, embarrassment, criticism, and resignations from ministerial positions often ensue.

One child and two parents shared their journeys at “The Good Cup,” a meeting for ministers’ wives held Nov. 9 here as part of the Summit. The Summit is the annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists.

[Read more…]

MISSIONS, COOPERATION DRIVE SMALL TENN. CHURCH

Baptist Press

The annual wild game supper at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenfield, Tenn., draws about 200 diners, many of whom are not church members.

The annual wild game supper at Bethel Baptist Church in Greenfield, Tenn., draws about 200 diners, many of whom are not church members.

GREENFIELD, Tenn. (BP) — The men at Bethel Baptist Church reach out to the unchurched men in their community each autumn by showing off their culinary skills at a wild game supper, preparing turkey, deer, raccoon, crappie, catfish, rabbit, duck and other critters.

Meanwhile, the congregation’s Women on Mission excel each year at promoting missions, noted David Worley, pastor of Bethel Baptist in Greenfield, Tenn. In 2014, for example, with a goal of $19,630 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, the church gave $26,896.

The church “believes strongly in missions,” Worley said. Bethel Baptist has given 20 percent to missions through the Cooperative Program for years, preceding and throughout Worley’s pastorate that began nine years ago. [Read more…]

COUPLE DECIDE TO REMAIN WITH IMB

Missionaries Ted, Beverly Holmes plan to return to “our home” in Poland

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Beverly and Ted Holmes, International Mission Board missionaries to Poland from Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Baptist Convention Baptist Center in Brentwood recently.

Beverly and Ted Holmes, International Mission Board missionaries to Poland from Tennessee, visit the Tennessee Baptist Convention Baptist Center in Brentwood recently.

NASHVILLE — Instead of a “Pauline Damascus Road experience,” it was a quiet voice, the nudge toward, “This is the way. Walk in it,” said Ted Holmes of the couple’s decision to stay with the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board as missionaries to Poland. He referred to Isaiah 30:21, which was used in a Bible school the Holmeses helped lead this past summer in Poland.

For Beverly it was several things, including hearing Jonasz Skrzypkowski, their recent guest from Poland, speaking to Carson-Newman University students in Polish. Though Beverly has struggled with the language, she thought as she heard Skrzypkowski speak, “That’s a beautiful language.”

The Holmeses were speaking of the staff cutting measures of the IMB in response to financial woes which included offering them early retirement. Ted and Beverly have been missionaries in Poland for seven years. Formerly Ted was associate pastor, Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, and Beverly was a physical education teacher in Franklin.

They consider Poland their home now, they explained, though they were in their 40s when they and their youngest daughter, Megan, began serving there. [Read more…]

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