Pat Brown looks over the closed Grief to Grace Facebook page with her daughter, Leandra Brown, who is the ministry assistant at East Tennessee Baptist Association in Newport.

NEWPORT — Pat Brown thought her ministry was over when Horace Brown, her husband of 37 years, died on Jan. 1, 2021.

Brown served as pastor of 18 churches in South Carolina and Tennessee during his ministry and was director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association when he died.

“When Horace died, I not only lost the love of my life, but I also lost ministry as I knew it,” Pat said. “For 37 years, we did everything together. We were a team and ministry was our life. For a long time, I wondered if there was still a place for me in ministry.”

She observed that when a pastor’s wife dies he can normally continue his ministry. It’s different when the pastor dies, she affirmed. “When I lost my husband, I felt my ministry was gone too because we were a team. That’s what we did together. I couldn’t go on and do it by myself,” she said.

While she had “great support” from family and friends, the past few years have been tough, Brown acknowledged. [Read more…]

TBMB looks to build church-powered future for ministry

FRANKLIN — From the chaos of craft tables to the joyful chorus of children’s voices accepting Christ, Vacation Bible School volunteers know they’re part of something transformative.

And the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board leaders are doubling down on their commitment to keep this summer tradition thriving for generations to come.

“Even today, VBS remains a significant part of most churchgoers’ spiritual journey and consistently proves to be our most effective outreach program. We don’t want to stop that momentum — we want to amplify it,” said Steve Holt, TBMB’s church services director.

The goal for VBS trainings this year is to move toward a more collaborative, network-based model where churches are connected with local volunteer experts. [Read more…]

PIGEON FORGE — The term “pastor burnout” has become an all-too-common part of the vernacular for those in ministry work.

Bivocational pastors are often highly susceptible to this issue, perhaps even more so than their full-time colleagues.

In an attempt to help bivocational pastors deal with some of the stress and hardships they face in ministry, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board annually hosts a three-day retreat for the “bivo” ministers and their wives.

“The retreat is God’s way of providing His water that keeps us filled and able to keep plowing ahead even when it feels like the well is dry,” said Roger Britton, bivocational ministry specialist for the TBMB. [Read more…]

GOTM donation allows clinic to buy new ultrasound machine

David Watts, retired radiologist, cuts the ribbon on the new ultrasound machine at Crossroads Pregnancy Clinic in Fayetteville. Watts donated funds through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions for the ultrasound machine. TBMB compassion ministry specialist Beth Moore (center, directly behind the monitor) attended the ceremony.

FAYETTEVILLE — On Jan. 14, just shy of their five-year anniversary, Crossroads Pregnancy Clinic in Fayetteville celebrated a miracle.

Through a generous donation made by a retired doctor through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions (GOTM), the clinic received a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine — a critical acquisition since their previous machine had stopped working last fall.

“The way that God worked this ultrasound out for us is totally Him and just reminds us all that He knows what we need no matter how large or small that might be to us,” said Amy Leimer, director of client services at Crossroads Pregnancy Clinic.

Lincoln County is predominantly rural, with Fayetteville as its county seat. Like many rural Tennessee counties, it has historically faced challenges with healthcare access. As a result, residents often need to travel to larger cities like Huntsville or Nashville for full obstetric care.

With the county having limited reproductive healthcare facilities, Crossroads Pregnancy Clinic serves as one of the main resources for pregnancy-related services. [Read more…]

Members of the Community Pregnancy Center in Hartsville surround the new ultrasound machine dedicated on Jan. 17. Brent Leatherwood, president of ERLC; Mary Linville, APRN; Rachel Wiles, ERLC; Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist; and Peg Shonebarger, director of Community Pregnancy Center.

HARTSVILLE — Hartsville is a small town in Middle Tennessee, located east of Gallatin in Trousdale County.

“It is a beautiful place, but it can feel a little isolated,” said Drew Byers, lead pastor at Creekside Fellowship. (The nearest Walmart is 30 minutes away, depending on whether or not you meet a tractor, he added).

Finding pregnancy care can be a challenge.

“And yet, a woman who needs compassion and help doesn’t need to drive to find it. We are right here to help,” he said.

Byers has been involved in the work of the Community Pregnancy Center for a few years and serves on its board of directors. He said the center “is a way to tangibly show mercy to those in need.”

“Having a pregnancy center in a town like Hartsville is a reminder that small places are not overlooked by the Lord Jesus,” he said.

Being “overlooked,” however, is common in small communities. [Read more…]

An open house was held at Beating Hearts Pregnancy Center in McKenzie on Jan. 15.

McKENZIE — Beating Hearts Pregnancy Center in McKenzie celebrated the dedication of its new ultrasound machine on Jan. 15, a donation that was made possible through the Psalm 139 Project. While ultrasound machines are essential for pregnancy centers, proper training is crucial to maximize their effectiveness.

The machine itself was funded through state resources between 2022 and 2023, but the critical training component came through what the center described as “the generosity of Tennessee Baptists.” Specifically, the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions provided full funding for the ultrasound training — a significant investment, as compassion ministry specialist Beth Moore notes that professional medical training for these machines typically costs around $10,000. [Read more…]

Tennessee’s bivocational ministers gathered in the heart of the Smoky Mountains last month for a weekend of fellowship and renewal. The annual Bivocational Ministers & Wives Retreat in Pigeon Forge brought together church leaders who navigate both Sunday sermons and regular jobs.

This year’s theme, “While We Can,” sparked discussions about seizing opportunities in both spiritual and secular worlds. The retreat offered these unique faith leaders a chance to share their experiences and find strength in their dual roles.

Full coverage of the retreat, including photos and participant stories, will be in the Feb. 5 edition of the Baptist and Reflector.