Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

FOWLER INAUGURATED AT CARSON-NEWMAN

Carson-Newman news office

Carson-Newman University celebrated the inauguration of its 23rd president, Charles A. Fowler (center), on Nov. 8. Presenting the University’s Presidential Medallion are J. Randall O’Brien (left), the university’s 22nd president and James S. Netherton, C-N’s 21st president. 

JEFFERSON CITY — In a ceremony attended by delegates of more than 40 academic institutions, associations and learned societies, Carson-Newman University inaugurated Charles A. Fowler as the 23rd president of the 168-year-old institution.

The formal Inauguration Ceremony took place Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City. Fowler was named the University’s 23rd president in June following a unanimous vote by the institution’s Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees. [Read more…]

CARSON-NEWMAN, TBMB TEAM UP TO RALLY FOR CHRIST

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
[email protected]

Roc Collins

JEFFERSON CITY — As they prepared for the East Tennessee Rally for Christ at Carson-Newman, the leadership team at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board said they wanted the event to have a two-pronged purpose: To ignite the believers and offer hope to the spiritually lost.

By the time the rally came to a close, it was clear that both objectives had been met: The saints were stirred and the lost were found.

The rally, held at Holt Fieldhouse on the C-N campus on the night of Sept. 8, drew more than 900 attendees, who were treated to a night of praise, worship and encouragement. The evening also featured several life-changing decisions, including three professions of faith, three commitments to baptism and one rededication. [Read more…]

COMING IN STRONG

Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City recently welcomed its largest freshmen class in history — 557 students. They are included in Carson-Newman’s highest enrollment in its 168-year history — 2,725 students. The enrollment also includes a record graduate class of 885 students. Since 2010, C-N has seen a 40 percent increase in total enrollment. In the photo above, C-N president Charles A. Fowler and his wife, Sandra, front center, along with faculty and staff, led the freshmen and their families on a prayerwalk through the campus on Aug. 24.
— Photo submitted by Carson-Newman University

VICTORY FORMATION

C-N football program sees 10 players make professions

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
[email protected]

Carson-Newman volunteer kickers and punters coach Alan Duncan and team chaplain Marty Blakely baptized 10 players from the Carson-Newman football team in Mossy Creek following football camp.

JEFFERSON CITY —  Big decisions are often made at football camp. Who is going to be the starting tailback? What scheme is the new defensive coordinator going to install?  Is the kick returner going to be used at wide receiver?

Important choices, for sure. Choices that can ultimately determine a team’s success.

And yet, those types of decisions aren’t nearly as significant as the decisions that were made at Carson-Newman’s football camp this summer. These were life-changing — and eternity-altering — decisions. [Read more…]

FOWLER GIVES FIRST CAMPUS ADDRESS AT C-N FALL CONVOCATION

C-N news office

Charles Fowler gives his first address as president to students, faculty and staff of Carson-Newman University during the school’s Fall Convocation held Sept. 5.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University held its Fall Convocation Sept. 5 to a packed Holt Fieldhouse. The event serves as a ceremonial marker to the start of the new academic year. The occasion also marked the first time new Carson-Newman President Charles A. Fowler addressed the full campus community.

Citing Psalm 145:4, Fowler pointed to the importance of “celebrating the faithfulness of God,” as evidenced in C-N’s past, but also directing attention to the future by “anticipating the faithfulness of God. [Read more…]

C-N STUDENT KILLED IN ACCIDENT WHILE IN GUATEMALA

C-N news office

Seth and Emma Washam

JEFFERSON CITY — A Carson-Newman University incoming freshman died July 20 in an accident while on a trip to Guatemala. 

Seth Washam was killed due to an electrical short in a hotel swimming pool. His sister Emma, a rising C-N junior, was also injured in the incident. The two are the children of C-N alumni Shannon and Jean-Ann Washam of Knoxville. Jean-Ann serves as executive director of the university’s Appalachian Outreach home repair ministry while Shannon is director of Western Heights Baptist Center in Knoxville. [Read more…]

NEW CARSON-NEWMAN PRESIDENT EXCITED FOR FUTURE

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
[email protected]

Charles and Sandra Fowler, center, were introduced June 10 as the new president and first lady of Carson-Newman University by David Ogle, left, chair of the presidential search committee, and Harry Brooks, right, chair of the board of trustees.
-Photo by Charles Key.

JEFFERSON CITY — When Charles Fowler was notified last fall that he had been nominated to serve as president of Carson-Newman University, he admitted it was “quite a surprise.”

Months of prayers, discussions, and meetings culminated June 7 when trustees of Carson-Newman unanimously elected Fowler as the university’s 23rd president, succeeding Randall O’Brien who retired Dec. 31, 2018. See original story, “Carson-Newman Trustees Elect Fowler as President.”

Fowler is the first Tennessee Baptist pastor elected to lead Carson-Newman since at least the 1920s, coming to the position from the pastorate of Germantown Baptist Church in Germantown, near Memphis. He assumes his new role on July 1. [Read more…]

SENSELESS TRAGEDY

By Lonnie Wilkey

Before it Hits the PressSierra Cahoon, her 2-year-old son Nolan and her unborn child all died Monday, June 17, in a senseless tragedy.

Why them? They apparently were in the wrong place at the wrong time. See story.

There’s no other reason to explain why a 33-year-old Jefferson City man tried to run over a pedestrian before going less than a mile and intentionally ramming into Cahoon who was pushing her son in a stroller. Police investigating the case believe that the driver, who was identified as William David Phillips, did not know any of his victims. [Read more…]

CARSON-NEWMAN TRUSTEES ELECT FOWLER AS PRESIDENT

Charles Fowler

By Lonnie Wilkey
[email protected]

JEFFERSON CITY — Tennessee Baptist pastor Charles A. Fowler was elected June 7 as the 23rd president of Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City.

Fowler was the unanimous choice of both the C-N presidential search committee and the board of trustees. He was introduced as president on June 10 during a news conference on the C-N campus.

“Our search was deliberate, intentional and process-oriented,” said David Ogle, chair of the search committee and member of First Baptist Church, Gatlinburg. “It went according to plan. I commend our search committee members for their hard work and faithful service as we carried out the mission to which we were assigned. [Read more…]

C-N STUDENTS BUILD EASTER BASKETS FOR AREA CHILDREN

Carson-Newman University News Office

Carson-Newman University senior Christian Hissam, a communication major from Oak Ridge, places his completed Easter basket in a donation bin for Food on Foot.

JEFFERSON CITY — During a fun-filled bustle of springtime activities, more than 70 Carson-Newman University student-volunteers assembled Easter baskets for area children in need.

The baskets were then donated to Morristown-based Food on Foot. They included toys, snacks and activity books for young children. Students lined up to assemble the gifts during the recent on-campus Easter event known simply as “The Hunt.” The University’s offices of community connections and residence life sponsored the event. [Read more…]

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