MURFREESBORO — Tennessee Baptists kicked off their celebration of 150 years of cooperation with energy, excitement and passion during the first session of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s annual Summit, Monday, Nov. 11 at the Murfreesboro Convention Center. 

Celebrating objectives reached

Led by the worship team from First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, nearly 900 messengers and guests began the evening session with praise and worship focused on the faithfulness of God. In addition to the evening’s business, Roc Collins, TBMB’s strategic objectives director, led the congregation in celebrating the completion of TBMB’s 2024 five strategic objectives, covering the period from 2014 to 2023. [Read more…]

Messengers show their ballots at the 2024 Summit on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Murfreesboro. — Photo by David Dawson

MURFREESBORO — Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers adopted a $35 million for 2024-25, not a surprise since this will be the sixth consecutive year that the budget has remained the same.

What’s new is a change in how CP gifts will be distributed between the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Daniel Jerkins, pastor of Hickory Withe First Baptist Church, Eads, and chair of TBMB’s Budget and Ministry Committee, presented the Cooperative Program budget recommendation. 

“The proposed CP allocation goal for next year is $35 million with the first $800,000 committed to Cooperative Program Promotion and Administration,” Jerkins said during the Tuesday business session of this year’s Summit, held at the Murfreesboro convention center. [Read more…]

MURFREESBORO — With a near-unanimous showing, messengers at the 2024 Summit approved the Acts 2:17 Initiative Report as the “foundational blueprint for Convention ministry for the foreseeable future.” 

The report — which included the complete report of the Steering Team and Workgroups, the executive Summary of Steering Team and Workgroups, and the plan of implementation — was overwhelmingly approved, with just two dissenting votes, during the Tuesday afternoon session of the 2024 Summit in Murfreesboro. 

“We are ready to pour everything we’ve got into (the Initiative) in order to assist and serve our churches,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.  [Read more…]

JACKSON — Gaining valuable preaching experience, Union University students participated in a special preaching opportunity hosted by the Dyer Baptist Association on Oct. 6 when six churches volunteered to open their pulpits to students from the School of Theology and Missions.

Adren Pearce, Union’s coordinator for chapel and church relations, said this opportunity is fruitful for both students and local churches. 

“It benefits the students because they learn the practice of preparing and delivering a sermon,” Pearce said. 

“It helps with spiritual growth as the students spend extended time in God’s Word and in prayer in preparation for their sermons. The church is benefited by the encouragement that comes from seeing young men faithfully pursue their calling into ministry,” he said. [Read more…]

Union University junior Mackenzie Cooper picks up trash and leaves at the Jackson’s Cypress Grove Nature Park during the annual Campus and Community Day on Oct. 23.

JACKSON — As a native of Jackson, Tennessee, Union University junior Mackenzie Cooper loves her community. She took advantage of the university’s annual Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service on Oct. 23 to help pick up trash at the city’s Cypress Grove Nature Park as a way of showing her appreciation.

“Jackson gives a lot to Union University, and it’s very important to give back,” Cooper said. “As Christians, we are called to give back to our community and to support others. Picking up trash is a great way to be part of the community and help serve other people.”

Cooper, a zoology major, was one of about 800 people from Union who participated in the 22nd annual day set aside for community service.  [Read more…]

An aerial view of Riverview Baptist Church in Newport following the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.

NEWPORT — Riverview Baptist Church, located on the bank of the Pigeon River in Newport, sustained major damage due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in late September. 

The church appears to actually be sitting in the river in an ariel photograph.

The church had extensive damage in the basement as well as in the sanctuary which also sustained water damage but not to the extent of the basement, said Riverview pastor Tim Grooms.

The church will have to replace the carpet and drywall in the sanctuary, along with completely remodeling the basement. In addition, the church will need a new heating and air unit and all the electrical work redone, Grooms said. [Read more…]