Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

Carson-Newman’s Appalachian Outreach moves to new 20,000-square-foot facility

Carson-Newman News Office

Dilyn Palmer, a junior at Morristown's Cornerstone Academy, helps to stock shelves in the dry pantry of Appalachian Outreach's new location. She was joined by several students of the school who helped the ministry prepare its new home for service.

Dilyn Palmer, a junior at Morristown’s Cornerstone Academy, helps to stock shelves in the dry pantry of Appalachian Outreach’s new location. She was joined by several students of the school who helped the ministry prepare its new home for service.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Outreach has a new home with more space to carry out their ministry. The organization moved this month to the former BAE building on Municipal Drive.

Appalachian Outreach has been in the same building on Old Andrew Johnson Highway since it opened 31 years ago, and the organization did not have plans to move.

Appalachian Outreach Executive Director Jean-Ann Washam says they were able to occupy the new building thanks to the success of Second Source thrift store, the profits from which go to Appalachian Outreach.

“It wasn’t something we were looking to do, but when it happened it was obvious to me that it was a gift from God,” says Washam, a member of Corryton Church, Corryton. “The new building gives us better logistics from handicap accessibility, to parking, to the walk-in refrigerator and freezer.” [Read more…]

Layman Comes to Aid of Fellow Veterans

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Pastor Jonathan Curry, right, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, Shelbyville, helps church member Robert Woolbright load toiletry items collected by church members for his ministry to veterans at the VA hospital in Murfreesboro. Woolbright is a Vietnam veteran.

Pastor Jonathan Curry, right, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, Shelbyville, helps church member Robert Woolbright load toiletry items collected by church members for his ministry to veterans at the VA hospital in Murfreesboro. Woolbright is a Vietnam veteran.

SHELBYVILLE — A few years ago Air Force veteran Robert Woolbright had to spend three days in intensive care at the Veterans Administration hospital in Murfreesboro.

After being moved to his room, Woolbright discovered the room had no personal hygiene items such as toothpaste or shampoo. The only thing in the bathroom was a dispenser with liquid soap.

Woolbright learned during his stay there that the hospital had only a certain allotment of hygiene items and if they were used up, the hospital staff had to wait on the next allotment.

Woolbright called his wife who had gone home to rest and asked her to bring enough items for himself and the rest of his floor at the VA hospital. [Read more…]

History Journal Highlights Partnerships

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

151009history-bookBRENTWOOD — Partnership missions in Tennessee is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

In recognition of what partnership missions has meant to Tennessee Baptists since that initial trip to Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) in 1980, Tennessee Baptist History has devoted its Fall 2015 issue to partnership missions.

In addition, the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention will feature partnerships during a special celebration banquet to be held on Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. at Crosspointe Baptist Church in Millington, about one mile from where The Summit is being held at First Baptist Church. See ad on page 6 for more information.

Tennessee Baptist History is the journal of the Tennessee Baptist Historical Society. The journal is published annually by the TBHS with the assistance of a grant provided by the Tennessee Baptist Convention. [Read more…]

Music School Leads to Church

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Johnny Juarez stands in the Rock Zone School of Music he and his wife operate. The school, which is located in a strip mall in Mount Juliet, also has a new church meeting in it.

Johnny Juarez stands in the Rock Zone School of Music he and his wife operate. The school, which is located in a strip mall in Mount Juliet, also has a new church meeting in it.

MOUNT JULIET — New Baptist churches in Tennessee have met in YMCAs, former Walmart stores, hotels, movie theaters, and restaurants. Now a new church is meeting in a music school located in a strip mall here.

It’s not that unusual when hearing the back story.

Johnny and Vanessa Juarez began operating the Rock Zone School of Music in 2014. Johnny is a recording artist (in the acoustic pop genre), composer/writer, and former worship pastor in New York City and Tennessee. He also is bilingual, speaking Spanish and English.

One day last year the couple experienced God working. On that day a parent asked Johnny to pick up a child after school and take him to the music school so the child could take a class there. [Read more…]

Tennessee Baptist DR to Help S.C. Flood Victims

Wes Jones

Wes Jones

STORY UPDATED UPDATED 10/12/15

MOUNT JULIET —Three Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief have responded to the historic flooding in South Carolina, reported Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief specialist.

Though Tennessee is not in the region organized by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief to be the first responders to disasters in South Carolina, Tennessee was asked for help by North Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief, explained Jones. North Carolina Baptist DR is leading efforts in the northeast part of South Carolina, he explained.

“It’s important to help our sister states when they need us whether we’re in the region or not,” said Jones. [Read more…]

Apologetics Gives Reason for Hope

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

First TBC apologetics conference explores intelligent design found in God’s creation

Danny Faulkner, a Christian astronomer for the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., near Cincinnati, Ohio, speaks Sept. 29 during the first apologetics conference sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Danny Faulkner, a Christian astronomer for the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Ky., near Cincinnati, Ohio, speaks Sept. 29 during the first apologetics conference sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

NASHVILLE — An understanding of apologetics creates a sense of amazement and wonder, says David Evans, evangelism specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

“Apologetics is the art and discipline of defending our hope. It gives us the reason for the hope that is within us,” he continued.

Evans planned the first apologetics conference sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The sold out event which attracted about 160 participants from 88 churches was held Sept. 29 in the planetarium of the Adventure Science Center in Nashville. [Read more…]

TBCH Receives National Accreditation

By Baptist and Reflector

tbchBRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes was notified Sept. 9 that it has been accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).

On Nov. 6, 2013, the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes signed a no-cost operating agreement with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to provide Foster Care (Resource) Homes to the state. Part of this agreement required COA accreditation. [Read more…]

TBC CP giving holds steady

By Baptist and Reflector

cplogoBRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave a total of $2,875,804 through the Cooperative Program in September.

For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $30,736,482.

The amount is a slight decrease of $91,126 or 0.3 percent below what was given during the same time frame last year. [Read more…]

Security for Missions Volunteers

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

More dangerous world requires travelers to be ‘wise as serpents,’ says security expert

John Tallman, left, of Fort Sherman Academy visits during a break of the conference with, from left, Al Nickel of Thompson’s Station Baptist Church, Thompsons Station; Ron Wilson of Magna View Baptist Church, Talbott, who also is a Jefferson County deputy sheriff; Scott Johnson, pastor, Lantana Road Baptist Church, Crossville; and David Carothers, pastor of missions and discipleship, First Baptist Church, Jackson.

John Tallman, left, of Fort Sherman Academy visits during a break of the conference with, from left, Al Nickel of Thompson’s Station Baptist Church, Thompsons Station; Ron Wilson of Magna View Baptist Church, Talbott, who also is a Jefferson County deputy sheriff; Scott Johnson, pastor, Lantana Road Baptist Church, Crossville; and David Carothers, pastor of missions and discipleship, First Baptist Church, Jackson.

MOUNT JULIET — Missions volunteers and missionaries must be as wise as serpents as they travel, advised John Tallman of a personal protection training company which trains missionaries for the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board and missions volunteers of Baptist state conventions.

Tallman led “Faith-focused Travel Security” for the Tennessee Baptist Convention Sept. 17. The event was held at the Missions Mobilization Center of the TBC in Mount Juliet. [Read more…]

100-Year-Old Preacher Still Feels Call

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

These two military chaplains have a lot in common. Besides their military service as chaplains, they both preach at Hobson Pike Baptist Church, Nashville. Larry Kelly, left, retired chaplain for the U.S. Navy, preaches at the church. Seth Rone, U.S. Army National Guard chaplain, is pastor of Hobson Pike Baptist.

These two military chaplains have a lot in common. Besides their military service as chaplains, they both preach at Hobson Pike Baptist Church, Nashville. Larry Kelly, left, retired chaplain for the U.S. Navy, preaches at the church. Seth Rone, U.S. Army National Guard chaplain, is pastor of Hobson Pike Baptist.

HERMITAGE — Larry Kelly, a member of Hobson Pike Baptist Church here, preached at the church Sept. 13 because the pastor had to be away. He often preaches at the church though he just turned 100 years old.

Kelly was recognized by the church on Sept. 13 on his upcoming birthday.

Amazingly, Kelly just returned to Hobson Pike Baptist as a member in the spring after serving as pastor of a Presbyterian church in Unionville for six years. He left that church mainly because it was some distance away from his home. His wife, Ruth Ann, needed to be closer to home for medical treatments. Kelly stopped driving a few years ago but is helped by family members who transport him and Ruth Ann where they need to go.

“He often says he feels the call to preach today as strong as he did when he started,” reported Carolyn Atkinson, a fellow member of Hobson Pike.

Another member of the church, Steve Freeman, deacon, spoke of Kelly during the Sept. 13 worship service. Freeman reported that Kelly joined the church when he was 93 years old and “started working.” Then Kelly became pastor of the church so he left for six years. [Read more…]

Address

4017 Rural Plains Circle
Franklin, TN 37064

Contact Information

Mail: Baptist & Reflector, P.O. Box 682789, Franklin, TN 37068
Physical Address: 4017 Rural Plains Circle, Franklin, TN 37064
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 615-371-2003

2025 © The Baptist and Reflector. All Right Reserved.