Lifeway camps partner with churches to welcome kids and students with disabilities to camp so more campers will have the opportunity to respond to the Gospel. — Lifeway photo

BRENTWOOD — It was the last night of a week of FUGE Camps in Mobile, Alabama, and groups were gearing up for Mega Relay – a high-energy relay race that involves everyone at camp and serves as the iconic close to each FUGE Camps session of the summer. As teams gathered to prepare for the race, one group had a different routine than the rest.

As other groups began the relay with a full field of vision, this team opted to don blindfolds. That week at camp, their group included one student who was blind. Looking for a way to help him enjoy the Mega experience, the entire group chose to wear blindfolds in an act of solidarity as they participated in the relay together.

Knowing they would not win the relay race with blindfolds around their faces, they showed up excited to experience this moment together – no matter their ability. This was just one moment that reflects Lifeway camps’ desire to include every camper. [Read more…]

The BCM building on the campus of MTSU.

MURFREESBORO — Middle Tennessee State University experienced a day on campus on Monday, Oct. 28, that you never want to see happen, said Mark Whitt, collegiate ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

According to Sidelines, MTSU’s student newspaper, a student died by suicide inside the James E. Walker Memorial Library on Monday afternoon. University president Sidney McPhee sent out a statement to the campus confirming the death.

The school newspaper also reported the university canceled all classes the following day. “My hope is that our community will use this time to grieve and reach out for support resources being made available,” McPhee said in an email addressed to the MTSU community. “Essential services, including counseling resources, will remain open and available.” [Read more…]

Tina Golden of Lyons Creek Baptist Church, left, and Kathy Henry of Talbott Baptist Church, Talbott, look over job requests from the incident command post at Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethton.

ELIZABETHTON — It’s been a month since Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc in northeast Tennessee but Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are still on the job.

The TBDR incident command post that was previously at First Baptist Church in Dandridge transitioned last week to Grace Baptist Church, Elizabethton.

The command post, led by John and Kaye Thomas, takes over cleanup efforts previously coordinated by Texas Baptists in Johnson City. The Texas incident command team closed operations Oct. 21 though some Texas volunteers have remained to help. [Read more…]

Hensley

NEWPORT — While hurting people in Cocke County and other counties in northeast Tennessee welcomed Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers, not as much help was needed because members of local churches already were helping each other and their neighbors. 

“It is amazing what the Lord has done through our churches,” said Mike Hensley, director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association. 

Every one of the association’s 38 churches (of which the large majority is 100 members or less) ministered in one way or another, whether it was donating food and water, volunteering to assist others and just doing whatever needed to be done, Hensley said.  [Read more…]

Henry

DANDRIDGE — When Kathy Henry was first approached about being a disaster relief chaplain she was hesitant because she saw it as more of a pastoral role. 

“I didn’t know if I was equipped to be a chaplain,” she said. 

After prayer and counsel from her husband Brock (who also is a DR volunteer) and a trusted friend, she agreed to accept the role and was trained as a chaplain for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief.  [Read more…]

Volunteers at New Salem Baptist Church, Limestone, prepare for distribution a wide variety of donations the church has received and that will go out to the surrounding area where flooding from the Nolichucky River caused extensive damage. New Salem is one of many local churches in upper Northeast Tennessee that have rallied to serving their communities and other churches that were destroyed by flooding. — Photos by Chris Turner

LIMESTONE — Craig Ponder’s first impression of the ATV four-wheeler gang congregating in the church’s parking lot was not good. 

“I thought they were a bunch of tourists coming to check out the flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene,” he said. “I was wrong, and I’ve since apologized. They were people coming to check on family members and friends cut off and stranded on the other side of the river.”  [Read more…]

Hankal

MOUNTAIN CITY — Long before disaster relief volunteers could even get into Mountain City, pastor David Hankal and members of Roan Creek Baptist Church were out in the community checking on neighbors and fellow church members. 

“We took meals provided by the Salvation Army to people who could not get out and did welfare checks, among a variety of things” said Roan Creek pastor David Hankal. 

“Our church people are phenomenal,” Hankal said. “They see a need and start ministering,” he said.  [Read more…]