Byron Ash, pastor of Cowpunchers Cowboy Church in Shelbyville, back row with cowboy hat, recently baptized an entire family of new believers, the Wagners. They family now regularly attends the church, driving roughly 100 miles roundtrip to be at Cowpunchers each week.

SHELBYVILLE — As pastor of a cowboy church, Byron Ash has a strict rule: No poaching allowed. 

That’s not in reference to cattle or horses, but to church members.

“If someone in our church has a friend who is already a member of another church, I tell them NOT to invite them to our place,” said Ash, pastor of Cowpunchers Cowboy Church in Shelbyville. “In fact, I get mad if they do. We’re not here to take members away from other churches. We’re not rustlers. Our goal is to reach the unchurched.” 

That simple objective is being achieved each and every Sunday at Cowpunchers, which started ten years ago with four adults and five kids in a small meeting space and has now grown into a thriving church that ranks among the top churches in the state in baptisms. Along the way, they’ve helped plant four other cowboy churches. 

“There’s no way to explain what’s happened here other than to say it’s all Him,” said Ash. “It’s not me. It’s not our staff. It’s all Him. Jesus has allowed us to be used, there’s no other way to put it.” [Read more…]

Campers at Linden Valley Conference Center take a raft ride down the Buffalo River. The two Baptist Conference Centers, Linden Valley and Carson Springs, combined to host more than 5,600 guests this summer and attendance records were broken.

FRANKLIN — More than 250 individuals accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior during summer camps held at Tennessee Baptists’ two conference centers at Carson Springs Baptist in Newport and Linden Valley in Linden.

The summer of 2024 has been the largest in attendance in Carson Springs history, affirmed Kevin Perrigan, manager of Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center.

Carson Springs reported 2,971 guests from more than 60 different churches with 106 salvation decisions from six kids camps; seven youth camps, eight college/adult groups, and a one-day event.  [Read more…]

FRANKLIN — For the sixth time in eight years, Tennessee Baptists have set a new record for giving through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions with total gifts of $3,128,219.03.

The 2023-24 GOTM fiscal year ended Aug. 31.

The total includes $2,451,737.21 in gifts from churches and $676,481.82 in Golden Opportunity Projects, a fund established this year to allow donors to give money or in-kind gifts (such as property) to specific GOTM-funded ministries. [Read more…]

Union student Henry Piercey, back left, with coworkers from the culinary department at Dollywood Splash Country.

JACKSON — Union University junior Henry Piercey completed a summer internship with YoungLife and Dollywood Splash Country in Pigeon Forge that he says was life changing.

“This summer really taught me to actually hand things over to the Lord,” Piercey said. “Truly, apart from Christ, I really can’t do anything, because I’ve tried it before. Anything I try on my own, it crumbles, ultimately.”

Piercey is a Christian ministry and missions major from Jackson and a member of West Jackson Baptist Church. He spent the summer going through “Discovery: God’s Answers to Our Deepest Questions,” a nine-week discipleship study with Union alumnus Ray Pettigrew, who serves as camp manager for discipleship focus with YoungLife. [Read more…]

Tennessee pastor Bobby Mullins was killed in a car accident Sept. 4, and his wife, Wanda, died from injuries the following day.

PIPERTON — Over the past few days, Kirk Baptist Church in Piperton, Tennessee, has had to post words they never wanted to post — that their pastor, Bobby Mullins, was killed in a car accident Sept. 4, and his wife, Wanda, died in the hospital the following day from her injuries.

But over the past few days, the congregation along with the family have also expressed other words, words they’ve heard the couple say in the past. On the latest Facebook post, person after person shared their memories of the Mullinses and their faith.

“I know when he passed thru heavens gate, in Brother Bobby’s own words: WELL GLORY!,” one poster wrote. [Read more…]

Connerley

BROWNSVILLE — When Brownsville Baptist needs something done, pastor emeritus Bob Connerley knows he can count on senior adults to see it accomplished. 

“One of the reasons is they have a lifetime of being part of Brownsville Baptist — beginning in the Cradle Roll Department. They are always ready to serve in any capacity needed,” said Connerley who served as pastor of the congregation from 1989-2021. He continues to serve at the church in various capacities including working with senior adults.

“This is a most unusual group of seniors,” he said. “Many of these people have known each other all their lives. Their families were friends — even before they were born. They’ve grown up in the church and have really become a close-knit community of people who love the Lord and enjoy being together.”

Emily Higgenbottom, a member of the senior group, is an example of one who has returned to Brownsville after living away for several years.  [Read more…]