Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

CHURCH STARTS NEW MINISTRY BY OFFERING ONLINE ASSISTANCE

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
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MURFREESBORO — In keeping with social-distancing guidelines, many churches have elected to use online streaming in place of their normal worship services and other gatherings.

The transition hasn’t been easy for all churches, especially those who had never before used live streaming. And that’s where New Vision Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, comes in.

New Vision has developed a ministry in which the church is helping other churches get started with online worship services and other events. The ministry includes helping churches with both the technical aspects of online services as well as the actual production itself. [Read more…]

PANDEMIC HAVING DRASTIC IMPACT ON FUNERALS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
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FRANKLIN — A side effect of the worldwide COVID-19 has been the way funerals are now conducted.

No longer can large crowds congregate to say goodbye to loved ones or console family members. ‘The pandemic has created an unprecedented time in our society,” said Roc Collins, strategic objectives director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

CHESSER: PASTORS FINDING NEW WAYS TO MINISTER

‘Shepherding the flock’ looks, feels different with social distancing

Baptist and Reflector

Bruce Chesser is president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville.

FRANKLIN — The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted churches, not just in terms of altering worship services, but well beyond that.

Funerals, weddings, small group gatherings, hospital visitation — all of these things, and more, have had to be changed in accordance with social distance restrictions and other guidelines. [Read more…]

FLOYD: WE WILL NOT RETREAT: THE REAL REASON FOR SUPPORTING THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ronnie Floyd is president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee. April 26 is Cooperative Program Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention.

By Ronnie Floyd 

Ronnie Floyd

NASHVILLE — When the coronavirus (COVID-19) began to spread across the globe, our work as Southern Baptists did not stop.

And as we approach and celebrate Cooperative Program Sunday in the SBC on April 26, it’s possible that in our lifetimes, we have never had greater reason to continue to generously support the Cooperative Program.

Our missionaries are still on the field, both overseas and in North America. Our seminary students are still being trained for ministry and missions. Our work together in each of our respective regions, states, nation and world is still alive and active. Disaster Relief ministry is still operating through state conventions in this critical hour, along with our Send Relief ministry. Our chaplains are still ministering. [Read more…]

FINDING BALANCE IN THE PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted all of us. While some are dealing with the illness, or possibly even the death, of a loved one, others are struggling to adjust to what is being called “the new normal” in regard to social distancing and quarantine guidelines that have been implemented nationwide.

So, what is the best way to handle the tidal wave of emotions? Although there certainly is not one clear-cut formula, here are some suggestions and practices that can help ease some of the anxiety during this time of uncertainty: [Read more…]

WILL COVID-19 MAKE YOU REEVALUATE PRIORITIES?

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
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COVID-19 has turned lives upside down all over the world. Thousands of people have died and thousands have gotten the disease. Thankfully, many have survived and have recovered from the virus.

Millions of people, however, have not gotten the disease but their lives also have changed. Whoever heard of “social distancing” a month ago? [Read more…]

TBMB PROVIDES PRAYER HOTLINE

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is providing a Prayer Hotline that will be answered 24 hours a day for the foreseeable future by trained Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief chaplains.

The phone number is 844-600-8262 (844-600-TBMB).

The prayer hotline, which launches at 11 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, April 15, is for anyone looking for prayer or conversation with an experienced chaplain, said Bill Choate, director of Baptist Collegiate Ministry for the TBMB. When there are specific needs, individuals may be referred to other resources, he added.

“These days are extraordinarily difficult for so many,” Choate observed. “The coronavirus crisis is affecting not only church members and communities but also church leaders, pastors and ministerial staff.” [Read more…]

MORE CHANGE — BUT THE MISSION REMAINS

By Randy C. Davis
TBMB President & Executive Director

There are two things about which we can be certain in these uncertain days: God is on His throne sovereignly ruling over the universe, and change seems to be a regular occurrence and comes quickly.

About a year ago I wrote about a change that few Southern Baptists would have ever anticipated. LifeWay Christian Resources sent ripples through denominational life when it announced the closing of its 170 LifeWay Christian Stores and shifting exclusively to online sales.  [Read more…]

TENN. BAPTIST DR TEAMS FAN OUT

By David Dawson
Baptist and Reflector
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Marlin Curnutt, left, of FBC Morristown, talks with Sharon Wildner, the director of God’s Warehouse Coronavirus Plan, as they organize boxes for delivery from God’s Warehouse in Morristown.

FRANKLIN — Wes Jones is accustomed to dealing with the unpredictable. It’s his job.

He’s been involved with flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, power outages and all in between.

But even Jones, the Disaster Relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, admits that the current confluence of instability, uneasiness and confusion — created by the COVID-19 pandemic — has been a major challenge. [Read more…]

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