Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

ONE EXCELLENT WITNESS

By Zoë Watkins
Communications specialist

Knox Chambers, 12, sees school as a mission field

CLARKSVILLE — “If you met Jesus today, what would you say to Him?”

This is the question 12-year-old Knox Chambers uses to open gospel conversations with classmates.

As a 6th grader in Montgomery County, Knox has led five of his classmates to Christ as well as started a lunchtime prayer group that’s grown to 10 students.

“He’s sharing the gospel and building bridges with people,” said First Baptist Clarksville pastor Ronny Raines. “It’s really unusual to see someone like this. You don’t see many at that age having that kind of spiritual discernment.” [Read more…]

ASP SEES ‘INCREDIBLE RESPONSE’ IN EAST TENN.

By Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Fifty homes in 50 weeks.

It sounds like an ambitious goal, but it’s one that the Appalachia Service Project and Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) volunteers are working hard to accomplish. 

According to Chris Schroeder, ASP vice president of new build and disaster recovery, the amount of need that still exists in East Tennessee in the almost six-month aftermath of Hurricane Helene will last for years. 

“We don’t want to shy away from that challenge,” Schroeder told the Baptist and Reflector. “But it takes all of us.” [Read more…]

UNION PHARMACY STUDENTS EARN TENNESSEE’S TOP NAPLEX PASS SCORE

By Union University news office

JACKSON — The Union University College of Pharmacy’s class of 2024 scored a 91.7 percent pass rate for first-time attempts on both the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination, giving Union the highest pass rate in Tennessee and 10th highest nationally on both exams.

It’s the fifth time in the last six years for Union to have the highest NAPLEX pass rate among Tennessee’s six pharmacy schools. The average pass rate in Tennessee was 77 percent in 2024, while the national average was 77.5 percent for all graduates from programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

Union was also the highest performing program among Christian universities nationally.

“The class of 2024 is a fine example of our desire to be excellence-driven in all things,” said Kim Jones, dean for Union’s College of Pharmacy. “Earning the highest NAPLEX and MPJE scores in the state of Tennessee and thereby securing a top 10 spot in the nation is no small feat.”

Jones said the Union scores affirm “that our students are educated by the finest faculty and clinical preceptors, professionals committed to developing compassionate pharmacists of distinctive character and committed to excellence.”

Union pharmacy students’ performance on the NAPLEX over the past decade ranks Union ninth nationally out of 139 programs.

C&C STAFFERS WIN AWARDS AT ANNUAL SEJC COMPETITION

By Union University news office

JACKSON — Five members of the Cardinal & Cream staff earned recognition in the Southeast Journalism Conference’s annual Best of the South awards competition.

The Cardinal & Cream is Union University’s student publication, with daily news, sports, arts and entertainment and feature stories posted online at cardinalandcream.info A magazine issue is published once per semester.

Josiah Mancha won first place as best arts and entertainment writer, while Olivia Bell placed first as best opinion/editorial writer.

Abby Kraus finished second as best magazine designer. Amy DeGroot won third place as best sports writer. Faith Orr tied for fifth place as best artist/illustrator.

The Cardinal & Cream website placed fourth as best website.

“The SEJC membership seems to grow each year, with many large state schools competing for a few coveted awards,” said Ted Kluck, associate professor of communication arts and adviser for the Cardinal & Cream. “I’m so proud of how my students have excelled year after year against the best competition in the nation, and I’m especially proud of how they keep Christ pre-eminent and haven’t changed subject matter to appease cultural whims. Their continued success is a testament to their talent, and the joy we experience in our work.”

The awards were presented during the SEJC annual event held Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

The annual conference draws journalism students from 42 member colleges and universities in all states across the Southeast. These universities include both large state schools such as University of Memphis, Mississippi State, University of Alabama, University of Florida and University of Kentucky, as well as private institutions like Belmont University, Samford University and Harding University.

C-N NURSING PROGRAM ADDS PRINCETON REVIEW TO ACCOLADES

By Carson-Newman news office

Assistant professor of exercise science Don Reagan talks with nursing professionals during a lab as part of Carson-Newman University’s MSN online program. Since January, Carson-Newman’s online Master of Science in Nursing program has been touted by both U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is hailed by The Princeton Review as one of the best programs in the nation. The organization cites Carson-Newman’s program in its 2025 Best Online Nursing School Master’s Programs listing.

Carson-Newman’s MSN-FNP program is designed for nurses looking to advance their education and careers. Graduates are prepared with the skills necessary to be holistic and confident family nurse practitioners or advanced practice nurses. The online program allows students a flexible schedule that supports work-life balance. [Read more…]

CULBRETH RETIRES AS DOM IN HAMILTON CO.

Baptist and Reflector

Culbreth

CHATTANOOGA — Dennis Culbreth, director of missions (DOM) for Hamilton County Baptist Association, retired Jan. 31 after a decade of service coordinating ministries among 100-plus Tennessee Baptist churches in the region.

Culbreth, 67, was considered a “pastor to pastors” during his DOM tenure. While with Hamilton County, Culbreth facilitated pastor networking, charity initiatives, and ministry training, in addition to coordinating food programs, English classes, women’s job training, and university outreach. Culbreth also played a role during challenging moments, such as organizing a 1,500-person prayer event to address racial injustice during the summer of 2020. [Read more…]

TBDR TEAMS NEEDED IN EAST TENNESSEE

By Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief teams who specialize in remodeling teams are needed in East Tennessee for the last two full weeks of February.

Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, issued a “call out” on Friday, Feb. 7.

Jones is asking volunteers and teams who are to available to work on these projects to contact Kaye Thomas as soon as possible. Thomas can be reached at the IC by calling 615-969-0410.  

The housing location is Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethton.

“Teams can come as early as next week,” Jones said.

GRIEF TO GRACE MINISTRY IS OUTLET FOR WIDOWS OF PASTORS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Contributing writer, Baptist and Reflector

Pat Brown looks over the closed Grief to Grace Facebook page with her daughter, Leandra Brown, who is the ministry assistant at East Tennessee Baptist Association in Newport.

NEWPORT — Pat Brown thought her ministry was over when Horace Brown, her husband of 37 years, died on Jan. 1, 2021.

Brown served as pastor of 18 churches in South Carolina and Tennessee during his ministry and was director of missions for East Tennessee Baptist Association when he died.

“When Horace died, I not only lost the love of my life, but I also lost ministry as I knew it,” Pat said. “For 37 years, we did everything together. We were a team and ministry was our life. For a long time, I wondered if there was still a place for me in ministry.”

She observed that when a pastor’s wife dies he can normally continue his ministry. It’s different when the pastor dies, she affirmed. “When I lost my husband, I felt my ministry was gone too because we were a team. That’s what we did together. I couldn’t go on and do it by myself,” she said.

While she had “great support” from family and friends, the past few years have been tough, Brown acknowledged. [Read more…]

RECOMMENDATIONS CURRENTLY SOUGHT FOR TBC’S BOARDS, COMMITTEES

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — The Committee on Boards and Committee on Committees have jointly developed forms for Tennessee Baptists to use in recommending individuals for service on Tennessee Baptist Convention boards or committees.

Tennessee Baptists are strongly encouraged to go online at www.tnbaptist.org/boardrec to recommend fellow Tennessee Baptists to serve on the Tennessee Baptist Mission 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.

Recommendation form instructions, bylaw requirements, and committee preferences are listed on the paper form and are also included on the website. [Read more…]

VBS STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF TBMB MINISTRIES

By Zoë Watkins
Communications Specialist

TBMB looks to build church-powered future for ministry

FRANKLIN — From the chaos of craft tables to the joyful chorus of children’s voices accepting Christ, Vacation Bible School volunteers know they’re part of something transformative.

And the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board leaders are doubling down on their commitment to keep this summer tradition thriving for generations to come.

“Even today, VBS remains a significant part of most churchgoers’ spiritual journey and consistently proves to be our most effective outreach program. We don’t want to stop that momentum — we want to amplify it,” said Steve Holt, TBMB’s church services director.

The goal for VBS trainings this year is to move toward a more collaborative, network-based model where churches are connected with local volunteer experts. [Read more…]

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