Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

NEW YEAR, SAME QUESTIONS

Church leaders continue to grapple with tough decisions regarding worship, other ministries

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

FRANKLIN — A new year has begun, but church leaders must continue to address a question that has been present since the onset of COVID-19 nearly a year ago: Do we have live-person or virtual services?

As COVID-19 cases continued to rise dramatically in Tennessee last month, Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order Dec. 20 declaring “a continuing state of emergency and major disaster in order to facilitate the response to COVID-19.”

During a statewide address on Dec. 20, Lee exhorted Tennesseans to “make some hard decisions.” He noted 10,000 Tennesseans are getting sick every day and 100 people are dying daily from COVID. “We are in a war. With the arrival of the first vaccine, we have launched an offensive that will end this war, but the next few weeks will be critical,” Lee stressed.  [Read more…]

CARSON-NEWMAN CELEBRATES EFFORTS OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

Carson-Newman News Office

-Photo: Carson-Newman

JEFFERSON CITY — There have been moments this year when it has felt like no news has been the only good news.

Carson-Newman University’s admissions team saw how the pressures and uncertainty of the pandemic and resulting economic turmoil have weighed on young adults and wanted to find a way to bring a little joy to at least one family.

The university requested nominations for high school seniors who persevered despite this year’s difficulties. The winning senior received a weekend getaway in the Smokies. C-N received testimonials about dozens of high school seniors across the region. [Read more…]

GOODBYE 2020, HELLO 2021

By Kathy McBroom

This year is a not a year we will soon forget. Speaking for educators, our lives have changed drastically. Those close relationships that we built with kids are now so different.

We’ve gone from watching students learn our educational concepts while being in a classroom with a teacher each day to struggling with the inconsistency of being in class, or at home and online or a combination of both with limited support. The consistency of having students every day close by is gone, and a lot is lost in that. [Read more…]

CONFERENCE CENTERS ASSIST CHURCHES DURING PANDEMIC

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

Mike Testa, right, a leadership consultant from Ohio, recently led a “Staff Recharge Weekend” for Shiloh Baptist Church in Mount Juliet, at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden. Shiloh participants included, from left, Alex Darnall and Chuck and Tara Workman.

LINDEN — Even during a worldwide pandemic, the two conference centers owned and operated by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board are open and meeting the needs of churches during the fall and winter months.

“Even though COVID-19 is still among us, we’re still open and serving our guests,” said Mark Proctor, associate administrator of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden and Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport “are sacred places owned by Tennessee Baptists as places of rejuvenation, restoration and refuge,” Proctor said. [Read more…]

TOP 10 MOST-READ STORIES OF 2020

Baptist and Reflector Staff

FRANKLIN — The Baptist and Reflector website, launched in 2016, is the digital counterpart to the print edition.

The site inlcudes stories, information and photos that are published in the print edition of the B&R, and is also the home for breaking news that pertains to Tennessee Baptists.

This past year, the B&R website experienced its biggest year to date (see below for a look at the increases in numbers).

The chart below recaps the most-read stories from 2020 based on website views.

Spotted on the list are feature stories, hard-news stories and opinion columns. Interestingly, some of the stories were published before the start of 2020, but still received a high amount of views this year. [Read more…]

2020: A YEAR TO REMEMBER

Ministry created by tornadoes, pandemic dominate year’s top stories

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

FRANKLIN — The year 2020 began on a positive note with giving through the Cooperative Program at a high level for the first four months of the fiscal year and after a record-breaking year for gifts through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions in 2019.

Then came March — and life turned upside down, not only for the nation, but for Tennessee Baptist churches as well. [Read more…]

GOVERNOR ENCOURAGES CHURCHES TO CONSIDER ONLINE SERVICES

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

Tennessee Gov. Lee, seen here at his desk, issued an executive order on Dec. 20 concerning the increase in COVID cases.
— Screen capture from Facebook

NASHVILLE — As COVID-19 cases continue to rise dramatically in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee issued an executive order Dec. 20 declaring “a continuing state of emergency and major disaster in order to facilitate the response to COVID-19.”

According to latest statistics from the Center for Disease Control, Tennessee now ranks as the worst state for new COVID-19 cases in the United States.

WSMV-TV in Nashville reported Dec. 21 that Tennessee’s daily cases per 100k over the last seven days sits at 128.1, just ahead of Texas which follows at 125.6. “Tennessee is now ground zero for a surge in sickness,” Lee observed.

During a statewide address on Dec. 20, Lee exhorted Tennesseans to “make some hard decisions.” He noted 10,000 Tennesseans are getting sick every day and 100 people are dying daily from COVID. “We are in a war. With the arrival of the first vaccine, we have launched an offensive that will end this war, but the next few weeks will be critical,” Lee stressed.  

He encouraged Tennesseans to not gather with people outside their households. In his executive order, he limited indoor public gatherings to no more than 10 people. [Read more…]

CHRISTMAS CHOIRS ADAPTING FOR COVID-19

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

Marcie Gray, a soloist with First Baptist Church, Dandridge, sings live at the church while being backed up by a virtual choir.

FRANKLIN — Christmas music presentations won’t be the same in most Tennessee Baptist churches this year or may not occur at all, thanks to COVID-19.

Most Tennessee Baptist choirs begin in October or early November to prepare their Christmas music. For many of these churches, it involves the traditional choir plus senior adult, children’s and youth choirs and, oftentimes, orchestra and handbell ringers.

“This will be a Christmas like no other for worship and music ministries across Tennessee,” observed Scott Shepherd, worship and music specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. [Read more…]

COVID-19 LEADS TO CHRISTMAS CHANGES ACROSS THE NATION

By Aaron Earls
LifeWay Research

NASHVILLE — Almost all Americans celebrate Christmas, but most say COVID-19 will cause some changes to their usual holiday habits.

A new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found 93 percent of American adults say they celebrate Christmas. That number is essentially unchanged from a decade ago when 91 percent said the same in a 2010 LifeWay Research survey. [Read more…]

TRADITIONS MAY BE ALTERED, BUT FOCUS REMAINS

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

Christmas celebrations may look a little different this year for many Tennessee families as they deal with the reality of COVID-19.

But take heart. One thing COVID-19 can’t affect is the reason we celebrate Christmas — the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Christmas is always hard on families who have lost loved ones during the year and 2020 will be no different. As of Dec. 13, there were 5,406 reported deaths from COVID in the state, according to www.tn.gov/health. As this paper is delivered to homes this week, that number will have increased. [Read more…]

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