By Carson-Newman News Office

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University has announced it will offer a new associate of arts degree in liberal studies beginning fall of 2015.

The new degree option can offer the financial opportunity for students wishing to take advantage of the state’s new Tennessee Promise initiative.

Tennessee Promise, an initiative of the state government, will provide two years tuition-free education at a community college or technical school in Tennessee.

The program begins in the fall of this year and, according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel, 90 percent of the state’s high school seniors have applied for the scholarship. [Read more…]

By Baptist and Reflector

DYERSBURG — The annual Jerusalem Project, sponsored by Dyer Baptist Association, saw 50 teenagers make decisions for Christ.

The decisions included both first time professions of faith for Christ and rededications, according to Stan Cavness, Baptist Collegiate Ministry specialist at Dyersburg State Community College. Cavness, who also is pastor of Enon Baptist Church, Halls, serves as youth ministry coordinator for Dyer Baptist Association. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — After a full year under its belt, the Tennessee Baptist Convention’s 1-5-1 Harvest Plants initiative is showing positive results.

“1-5-1 is meeting and exceeding our expectations,” said Bobby Welch, associate executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Welch and other TBC staff members came up with the concept which encourages churches to establish small groups and/or new churches. [Read more…]

By Baptist and Reflector

The Committee on Boards and Committee on Committees are receiving recommendations from Tennessee Baptists of individuals to serve on Tennessee Baptist Convention boards or committees.

Tennessee Baptists are strongly encouraged to make recommendations of fellow Tennessee Baptists to serve on the Executive Board, one of the seven institutional boards of trust or one of the eight convention committees, all of which carry on the work of the convention between sessions of the convention. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD – The Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes has received a gift of $1 million for its foster care program.

Former NBA franchise owner George Shinn and his wife, Denise, who now live in Franklin, presented the first installment of the gift to TBCH officials Jan. 15 during a special ceremony on the TBCH campus. The gift will be given over several years. [Read more…]

By Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — After a slow start in November, the first month of the 2014-15 fiscal year, Cooperative Program giving rebounded in December.

Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave a total of $3,325,814 through the Cooperative Program in December.

[Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

MILTON — Nathan Hale, pastor of Milton Baptist Church here, preached Sunday, Jan. 4, though he and his family lost their house in Murfreesboro and most of their belongings to fire just two days before.

He preached wearing clothes given to him and using a New Testament he had at the church.

“It didn’t occur to me not to,” said Hale, who has served as a pastor for 50 years. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

First Baptist Church, Madisonville, honors Lon Shoopman on 40th anniversary

MADISONVILLE — When Lon Shoopman became pastor of First Baptist Church here on the second Sunday of January in 1975 he had no expectations of how long he would remain.

But he knew how he would approach his second pastorate as he transitioned from First Baptist Church, in Sebree, Ky., where he served for four years following graduation from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

ELIZABETHTON — Members of Oak Street Baptist Church here are excited to see their pastor and his wife leave — sort of.

Members are sad they are leaving but excited about why they are heading west to Colorado. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

GOODLETTSVILLE — During the budgeting process for the new year, members of Union Hill Baptist Church here faced a dilemma.

Because of a slight decline in membership and giving in recent months, the budget and finance committee had to reduce the church’s budget by 8.5 percent. [Read more…]