Pastor Lincoln Shelton, right, of Roan Park Baptist Church and deacon Jerry hold pieces of what used to be their parking lot which the church paved just two weeks before Hurricane Helene hit, causing the nearby Doe River to flood, destroying the parking lot and damaging all three of its structures.

ROAN MOUNTAIN  — Two weeks after Roan Park Baptist Church, a congregation of about 15 members, reached into their savings account and spent approximately $20,000 to pave its parking lot, flood waters caused by Hurricane Helene washed it away.

In addition, the church’s sanctuary, Sunday School building (former sanctuary) and fellowship hall all had at least a foot of standing water inside.

“Losing our parking lot was a setback but it did not destroy our spirit,” affirmed pastor Lincoln Shelton.

“It was discouraging for sure but we all know God has a plan and purpose. We have to remain faithful,” he added. [Read more…]

Vincent Zhou, a seventh grade Chinese American student, plays the piano for the S.O.U.L.S. youth choir during a recent practice at Callahan Road Baptist Church in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE — Knoxville native and professional music educator Jill Hobby has a heart to see souls saved along with a deep love for children and music.

Twenty-five years ago, while serving as a choral director in Knoxville, she had a desire to see an international citywide choir in the city, but she “was hesitant to take the leap.”

God rekindled that desire 12 years ago, and she crafted specific plans for the international choir and applied for various grants to get it off the ground, but to no avail.

Finally, last year she made progress with one of the grant organizations, by making it to the second round, and was told she needed to establish a 501(c)(3) organization. Hobby did so, creating S.O.U.L.S (Sounds of Unity Lifting Spirits).

The organization became a reality in May when 33 students from six countries began rehearsing and have since held three concerts in the Knoxville area. The choir is free and open not only for Baptist students but also to students of different churches and cultures, Hobby said. [Read more…]

Messengers show their ballots at the 2024 Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Murfreesboro.

MURFREESBORO — Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, was re-elected without opposition for a second term as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention during the afternoon session of Summit on Nov. 12.

Hardwick was nominated by Cliff Marion, pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington, who described Hardwick as a family man, a faithful preacher and a true friend. “He has shown that he is a great, unifying leader in Tennessee,” Marion said.

Joining him as officers are Justin Hiens, pastor of Second Baptist Church, Union City, vice president, and Mike Hensley, director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association, second vice president. Both men were unopposed for office.  [Read more…]

MURFREESBORO — The 150th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention convened Nov. 11 with 836 registered messengers from 468 churches.

“We are excited to be back in the town where it all started,” said TBC president Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville.

The convention exists because of the “faithfulness” of the group that gathered in 1874 and “decided they could do more together than they could apart,” he said. [Read more…]

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, shares gratitude for Tennessee Baptists partnering with Southern Baptist churches to cooperatively send and support international missionaries. — IMB photo

MURFREESBORO — An International Mission Board Sending Celebration is a time to support those who are going on the field to share the gospel with a lost world. Such an event allows participants the chance to commemorate those who mentored and discipled them. For many, their mentors are current or former IMB missionaries who have encouraged them to ask how God might use them through the IMB.

New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro hosted a Sending Celebration on Nov. 10 that featured 49 newly appointed missionaries, including three from Tennessee. The IMB event kicked off the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the state convention.

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, shared how thankful Tennessee Baptists are to partner with Southern Baptist churches to cooperatively send and support international missionaries. [Read more…]

Wade Thomas, left, and Tom Nelson are involved in the medical equipment ministry at Roan Creek Baptist Church in Mountain City. The church provides medical equipment and supplies at no cost to people in the community.

MOUNTAIN CITY — Looking for a walker or hospital bed or some other medical equipment and don’t know where to go? Roan Creek Baptist Church would be a good place to start.

While a medical equipment ministry may not be typical for most Baptist churches, it definitely fulfills a need in northeast Tennessee, said Roan Creek pastor David Hankal.

There is a lot of poverty in the area, Hankal said. “This ministry is God-sent,” he affirmed.

The ministry began about 12 years ago under the leadership of Harry Cunningham (now deceased) who also was serving as senior adult minister at the time, Hankal said. [Read more…]

Kathy Fields, center, with her husband Brad Fields, holds the Eagle Award that was presented posthumously to her parents, Don and Ann Davis. Standing with her are: Dillion Taylor, Kate Fields, Lucile Conley, Fannie Golden (Ann’s sister) and Don Golden.

MURFREESBORO — Summit 2024 opened with celebration, ceremony and send-offs.

Gathering at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro for a time of worship and praise on Sunday night, an overflow crowd cheered for, and prayed over, a group of roughly 50 missionaries who were commissioned by the International Mission Board. 

The Sunday night service marked the kick-off of this year’s Summit — the annual gathering of Tennessee Baptists — and served as the opening bell for the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s 150th anniversary celebration.

The service, which included a message from IMB president and Tennessee native Paul Chitwood , concluded with recognition of Don and Ann Davis, who were honored posthumously with this year’s Eagle Award.  [Read more…]

Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, passes out donuts to fans attending the Middle Tennessee State University football game Nov. 9 in Murfreesboro. TBMB partnered with Concord Baptist Association to host “a tailgate party” as part of an outreach event in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, which was established in Murfreesboro in 1874.

MURFREESBORO — Two days before the Tennessee Baptist Convention officially celebrates its 150th anniversary, Tennessee Baptists returned to their roots to share the gospel in Rutherford County.

The TBC was established in 1874 at First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board decided to commemorate the milestone by partnering with Concord Baptist Association on Nov. 9 to minister and have gospel conversations in two locations within the county.

“The reason we’re having our convention this year in Murfreesboro and the reason we want to show them some love is because 150 years ago, that’s where the first Tennessee Baptist Convention came together,” said Randy C. Davis, TBMB president and executive director. [Read more…]

NEWPORT — Randy Runions, senior pastor of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, has always been a supporter of both the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention and a strong believer in cooperative giving.

But after going through the devastation left behind in Newport and throughout Cocke County, cooperation “is way greater than I thought,” Runions affirmed.

Cooperation is not people in Nashville cutting checks, he said. “Cooperation is seeing different disaster relief teams (our fellow Baptists) come to our communities and provide help where it is needed.”

Runions has learned firsthand the truth of how “Baptists are stronger together. [Read more…]