Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By Baptist Press and B&R
NASHVILLE — With many in the U.S. expected to give more money to charities this Christmas season, financial experts are advising a biblically based, focused and well-educated approach to charitable giving.
Christians should be careful to give their gifts to charities that have proven to be responsible stewards of God’s resources, said William Townes, Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee vice president for convention finance. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Editor’s Note: Tennessee Baptist churches are collecting money this month for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Mike and Heather McAfee are missionaries with strong Tennessee ties. They were featured missionaries in the recent Week of Prayer for International Missions. They also participated in the Missions Extravaganza held at The Summit in Brentwood in November. They currently are residing in Cookeville but will be returning to the Ivory Coast in West Africa in January.
COOKEVILLE — It’s really not surprising that Heather and Mike McAfee became missionaries with the International Mission Board.
They pretty much grew up learning about Southern Baptist missions and how Southern Baptists work together through the Cooperative Program to support missions efforts locally, nationally, and around the world. [Read more…]
By Baptist and Reflector
(UPDATED 12-9-14)
Kevin Ezell
HENDERSONVILLE – Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, based in Alpharetta, Ga., has been named interim pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church.
The announcement was posted Dec. 4 on Long Hollow Baptist’s website.
Ezell fills the void created by the death of David Landrith who served as pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church from 1997 until his death on Nov. 18 following a bout with cancer.
The website noted that prior to becoming president of the North American Mission Board, Ezell served as senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., a congregation “which experienced a similar story to Long Hollow, growing to seven campuses across two states as God moved in a powerful way.”
The website noted that as interim pastor Ezell would preach in the main weekend worship services, help prepare the church for its next pastor, and provide prayer and encouragement for the church and staff.
In a statement released to the Baptist and Reflector on Dec. 9, Ezell observed that “David Landrith was a very good friend of mine.
“He was one of the most genuine and authentic Christians and pastors I have ever known. I am humbled and honored to serve such a great church during this time of transition,” Ezell said.
Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, observed that Ezell “is a friend and has been a strong encourager of the work of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
“I know that God will use him as an instrument of comfort and healing during this strategic time in the life of Long Hollow,” Davis said.
The TBC leader added that Ezell’s “friendship with Pastor Landrith and the church’s familiarity with Kevin will certainly be great assets during this period of transition.”
Keith Getty
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — Worship leaders of churches should adopt a more active role in assisting their congregations to worship in a way which can help them mature as Christians, said Keith Getty, Christian music artist and composer, at The Summit of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Nov. 11.
Solely “singing happy verses” or “songs that say little about little” won’t lead to worship or maturing Christians and won’t stem the tide of the younger generation leaving churches, he stated at a breakout session he led.
“What a disgrace it is to be rattling our car keys and playing with our phones rather than worshiping,” he stated. [Read more…]
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Editor’s Note: See an article on Ellis and the ministry of Impact Baptist Church in the Frayser community of Memphis.
MEMPHIS — The new president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention downplays the fact that he is the convention’s first African-American president.
“Being selected president is not about Michael Ellis. It’s about what God is doing,” said Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist Church in the Frayser community of Memphis.
“In one year I have the responsibility to accomplish what God has designed for me and for His purpose for allowing me to be elected,” he continued. [Read more…]
By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector
SHELBYVILLE — “I knew God would provide and we would get along but I really didn’t imagine this thing would explode,” said Joe Thompson.
What “exploded” during 2014 at Southside Baptist Church is phenomenal. Though the church only draws about 130 people to Sunday morning activities, members have seen 350 people make decisions for Christ and have sent out 55 volunteer missionaries to Haiti, Nicaragua, Honduras, and five states. Of the missions workers, most are short-term but one family is serving long-term in Utah and another is in Nashville working long-term with the Muslim community.
Also, the church has increased giving to local missions, through the Cooperative Program to Tennessee Baptist and Southern Baptist missions, and to the Baptist association, said Thompson, who is pastor. [Read more…]
Michael Ellis, pastor of Impact Baptist Church, Memphis, and president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, visits with Carol Dyson, left, and Michelle Barger of Image Clear Ultrasound, a mobile unit which sets up to offer free ultrasounds on property owned by Impact Baptist Church.
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
MEMPHIS — In 2006, Impact Baptist Church began as a church plant of Bellevue Baptist Church in nearby Cordova in the living room of its first pastor, Michael Ellis and his wife, Angela.
The church began with 22 people and now averages between 175-200 people on any given Sunday.
Impact Baptist had strong ties with Bellevue and was meeting in a church building (formerly Georgian Hills Baptist Church) owned by Bellevue in the Frayser community of Memphis until last December.
Ellis, who was elected president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in November, noted that Bellevue informed them that they wanted to go in another direction by starting a satellite congregation in Frayser. [Read more…]
Elected officers of the Tennessee Baptist Convention at its Nov. 11-12 annual meeting were, from left, Nathan Washburn, pastor, First Baptist Church, Greenbrier, second vice president; Michael Ellis, pastor, Impact Baptist Church, Memphis, president; and David Leavell, pastor, First Baptist Church, Millington, vice president. — Photos by Connie Davis Bushey
TBC elects first African-American president; strides made toward 50/50 CP distribution
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — By unanimous consent, messengers to the 140th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention elected the first African-American president in convention history during the Nov. 11-12 meeting held at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood. [Read more…]
David Landrith
By Baptist and Reflector
HENDERSONVILLE – David Landrith, 51, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, died Nov. 18 at his home following an extended bout with cancer.
Landrith was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called colorectal melanoma in March of 2013, according to a statement released by Long Hollow Baptist Church. Despite several surgeries and clinical trial medicines, the cancer spread throughout his body, including his lungs and brain. [Read more…]
By Baptist and Reflector
BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $3,204,689 through the Cooperative Program in October.
The strong showing enabled the TBC to finish the 2013-14 fiscal year with $34,032,296 in CP receipts.
The amount fell just short ($256,650 or 0.7 percent) of matching last year’s total giving of $34,288,947. [Read more…]