Leslie Strange, director of the Embrace Grace ministry at Judson Baptist Church, Nashville, leads a devotion for single mothers. Also in the photo, far left, is Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

FRANKLIN — Single women who decide against abortion and choose to have their babies often have nowhere to turn. That’s where Embrace Grace comes in.

Embrace Grace is a national ministry designed to make sure that “every young woman who is experiencing an unplanned pregnancy has a church family to go to for spiritual, emotional and physical support,” said Leslie Strange, director of the Embrace Grace ministry at Judson Baptist Church in Nashville.

The national ministry equips local churches to host 12-week-long support groups where women can come who are experiencing the challenges of being single mothers can come for help and emotional support.

“Many of the women when they first come to us are in desperate need of community. They feel very lonely. They feel very isolated. They don’t have great relationship with their own mothers. They don’t have a lot of family supports,” said Strange, who began the program at Judson after hearing a sermon where the speaker challenged those who were present to find places around their church where the gospel needed to be shared. [Read more…]

This group of five were recently baptized at Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church in Brentwood. — Photo courtesy of BBDC

BRENTWOOD — All are welcome to attend Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church. Be warned, though. You’re going to be able to hear the worship well before you enter the sanctuary.

“Everything we do is voice-interpreted, which is for who we call the ‘signing-impaired,’” Pastor Aric Randolph told Baptist Press. He’s referring to guests or others who hear but may not know American Sign Language (ASL). “If you visit us, everything is still voiced for you.”

The gospel is for everyone, and thus, a message everyone should be able to access. That can be difficult for deaf people, though. Many of BBDC’s attendees and members drive from considerable distances. The only other deaf churches in the state, Randolph said, are in Memphis, Knoxville and Clarksville.

The start of Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church goes back to 1984, when Brentwood Baptist Church began an outreach for the Deaf. That grew into a congregation the following year. In its own building on the east side of the BBC campus, Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025. [Read more…]

The Off the Grid ministry, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers, gives pastors and church leaders a chance to disconnect, be refreshed and build relationships with others who have a common purpose.

In the photo, participants in a recent Off the Grid event in Colorado included, from left, Kevin Perrigan, Rocky Sickel, Adam Cutshaw,  Josh Moran, Tod Lanier, Bryan Higginbotham, Matthew Nance, Russell Vickers, Doug Elders, Darren Andrus, Shawn Allred and  Tim Hensiek. 

For more information about Off the Grid events and for an upcoming schedule, visit tnbaptist.org/off-the-grid. B&R

Kathy Ward, standing, and her sister, Juanita Scott, have served as the musicians for Ward’s Grove Baptist Church in Milton for 41 years.

MILTON — Sisters Juanita Scott and Kathy Ward have shared their love for each other and their love for the Lord through their fingers making music via the organ and piano at Ward’s Grove Baptist Church in Milton, near Murfreesboro, for 41 years.

Ward, the younger of the two, gave her heart to the Lord in 1963 at Calvary Baptist Church. She explains, “My mother said I could not be baptized because of my young age.” After her mother died in 1983 Ward began going to Ward’s Grove. 

Six-months later, Ward and her daughter, Tammie Marie, were both baptized there.” She immediately began playing the organ. “They needed someone to play. I said yes and have been playing ever since.” [Read more…]

Traci Jefferson, a member of First Baptist Church, Morristown, stands in front of the Eiffle Tower in Paris, France, during her mission trip this summer. She said the Lord opened the door for many gospel conversations during her trip.

MORRISTOWN — One week as a missions volunteer during the 2024 Summer Olympics has provided Traci Jefferson with a lifetime of memories.

Jefferson, a member of First Baptist Church, Morristown, served July 22-29 as a volunteer with the International Mission Board in Paris. Though she had been to France many times, this was her first mission trip to the country.

Jefferson, who is an assistant principal at East High School in Morristown, learned about the missions opportunities available at the Olympics in January. “I love Paris and I thought it would be cool to serve during the Olympics,” she said. 

One of her primary reasons for applying was that she can speak French. She taught French at East High School for 16 years before moving into an assistant principal’s role at a nearby middle school 13 years ago. She is in her first year at East High. [Read more…]

Pastor Chuck Workman of Crossroads Church, Westmoreland, speaks prior to breaking ground for a new interactive church playground that can be enjoyed by children with special needs. — Photo courtesy of EnVision Drone & Media Studios

WESTMORELAND — Families of special needs children in Westmoreland and surrounding communities will soon have an interactive playground to enjoy.

CrossRoads Church broke ground on the new adaptive playground on Aug. 4 in Westmoreland

Mayor David Leath and other city officials attended the community celebration. The church provided free hamburgers, hotdogs and ice cream to those in attendance.  [Read more…]