Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

Montana Partnership Nearing End

Volunteers from Ridgeway Baptist Church, Memphis, (from left, Isabella Everett, Carrie Ray, and Kymberly Kirkpatrick) conducted vacation Bible school at a church in Lakeside, Mont., in July.

Volunteers from Ridgeway Baptist Church, Memphis, (from left, Isabella Everett, Carrie Ray, and Kymberly Kirkpatrick) conducted vacation Bible school at a church in Lakeside, Mont., in July.

BOZEMAN, Mont. — A 10-year partnership between the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the Montana Southern Baptist Convention has mutually benefited both parties, leaders agree.

The partnership has been “a shot in the arm” for Montana Baptists, observed Steve Fowler, a church planting missionary who was state missions director for the Montana convention when the partnership began. [Read more…]

Preparations for The Summit Underway

reachnowBRENTWOOD — Preparations are underway for The Summit, to be held Nov. 9-11 at First Baptist Church, Millington.

The Summit includes the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference, related luncheons and meetings, and the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

The theme for this year’s meeting is “Reach Now … Whatever It Takes,” based on I Corinthians 9:19. [Read more…]

Cowboy Church Draws Unchurched

Kent Hightower, pastor of the Circle C Cowboy Church, Morristown, preaches at the church recently. The church is featured in a video about the 2015 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. Attending the service on horseback are members of the church’s drill team.

Kent Hightower, pastor of the Circle C Cowboy Church, Morristown, preaches at the church recently. The church is featured in a video about the 2015 Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. Attending the service on horseback are members of the church’s drill team.

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

MORRISTOWN — “Cowboy Church is not your traditional church,” said Kent Hightower, church planter/pastor of the Circle C Cowboy Church here, on a video produced by the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Folks connect with the church “because Cowboy Church is simple church. We use a simple message.

“We proclaim Christ and we make it easy for folks to understand,” the pastor added. [Read more…]

92-Year-Old Is Committed to Outreach

Jim Humphreys prays with some ladies who came to First Baptist Church, Huntingdon, recently for its weekly food voucher ministry. From left are K’Lee Felty, Tina Shumate, and Tina Crossan.

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

HUNTINGDON — His goal every week is to make one outreach contact.

This is true though Jim Humphreys is 92 years old.

Age is not the main factor for the retired director of missions and pastor in meeting his goal. He explained that for years he let other things keep him from being the witness that he should. [Read more…]

Church Puts BHET Grant to Good Use

Jeff Carson, a dentist from North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland, didn’t have the luxuries of his dental office while serving in a remote village in Brazil. Here he pulls a tooth of a patient leaning back in a lawn chair.

Jeff Carson, a dentist from North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland, didn’t have the luxuries of his dental office while serving in a remote village in Brazil. Here he pulls a tooth of a patient leaning back in a lawn chair.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

CLEVELAND — Pastor Jay McCluskey of North Cleveland Baptist Church here has always had a great appreciation for the former Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee in Knoxville.

He was born at the hospital and even worked there for a brief period between his college and seminary years.

Now, he has seen his church benefit from the hospital’s legacy. [Read more…]

‘Boomer Wave’ Coming to Churches

Experts say Baby Boomers want their retirement years to be filled with meaningful activities — and that churches should help them achieve that goal. — Creative Commons photo by Bill Stanley

By Jeff Brumley
Associated Baptist Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Congregational coaches are warning churches against becoming so fixated on Millennials and other young people that they ignore the surging population of Baby Boomers already in their midst.

But those experts say most congregations simply aren’t ready to listen to that advice, especially when reaching out to potential members in their 50s, 60s, and 70s doesn’t seem as exciting as ministering to younger generations. [Read more…]

Faith Sustains County Sheriff

Polk County Sheriff Steve Ross, left, takes a break in his office to visit with his pastor Joel Jenkins of Benton Station Baptist Church, Benton. Jenkins is at the jail often in his role as youth services officer for the General Sessions Court judge.

Polk County Sheriff Steve Ross, left, takes a break in his office to visit with his pastor Joel Jenkins of Benton Station Baptist Church, Benton. Jenkins is at the jail often in his role as youth services officer for the General Sessions Court judge.

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BENTON — When you have two positions that basically require a 24/7 commitment, 24 hours in a single day sometimes is not enough.

That is what Steve Ross has discovered as he approaches his first anniversary as Sheriff of Polk County.

“There are days when I can’t get everything done,” admitted Ross who in his “spare time” serves as associate pastor of Benton Station Baptist Church, ministering primarily to youth. [Read more…]

Bobby Welch to Retire From TBC

Welch

Welch

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Bobby Welch, associate executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention since May of 2011, will retire Aug. 31.

Welch announced his plans to step down during a TBC staff meeting last month.

With his 50th wedding anniversary this month (Aug. 21), Welch said he was retiring to spend more time with his wife Maudellen and his two children and four grandchildren.

He estimated that during his military and ministry careers, he was away from his family 50 percent of the time.
“Family is a big deal,” he said. [Read more…]

DR Volunteers Serve Tornado Victims

Roscoe England of Sevier Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, cuts a damaged tree in the Sweetwater/Tellico Plains area.

Roscoe England of Sevier Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, cuts a damaged tree in the Sweetwater/Tellico Plains area.

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

SWEETWATER — As Kenny Witt, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer of Madisonville, drove down a rural road near Sweetwater by homes and property, he saw more trees damaged by the tornado and storms which struck Monroe County July 14. He stopped at a house which had downed trees but didn’t find anyone home. Witt went further down the road to the next house and found the owner of the previous house was there staying with her mother-in-law because she was expecting a baby soon. [Read more…]

From $75 to GOTM to Much More

Ray Wood, right, financial treasurer, West Shiloh Baptist Church, Stantonville, and James Stophel, pastor.

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

STANTONVILLE — When Pastor James Stophel joined four other pastors and the director of missions of Shiloh Baptist Association recently to hear a Tennessee Baptist Convention staff member, he didn’t hesitate to ask how a small, rural Baptist church could respond.

Stophel said he was glad for the challenges presented by the Five Objectives of the TBC but initially his opinion was that the $3 million goal for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions “will scare most of our churches to death.” In other words, most churches need the statewide goals broken down to “realistic numbers they can understand,” he noted. [Read more…]

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