Baptist and Reflector

06/05/2026

"Mission:Dignity is Worthy of Support";

Mission:Dignity provides financial help to Southern Baptist ministers and their widows who served SBC congregations faithfully over the years. Many of these ministers served small churches that did not have the financial resources to help their pastors prepare for retirement.provides financial help to ministers & their widows who served SBC congregations faithfully over the years.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4vnTFAq

For nearly 45 years, God gave me the awesome privilege of writing stories about how God is using Southern Baptists to share the good news of his son, Jesus

06/04/2026

"How Forest Hill Baptist Found New Life with ‘Perfect-Fit’ Partnership"; Forest Hill Baptist Church turns 116 years old this year, and it has a partner to thank for still being here to celebrate.

On June 9, the Germantown congregation will mark the milestone with a Friends Day Celebration alongside Harvest Church, the congregation that, more than a decade ago, helped save them. The two churches now share the same address at 3645 Forest Hill Irene Road.

Danny Sinquefield, former pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett and current Harvest Field One Leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, helped broker the partnership.

“When Harvest was looking for a location in that vicinity, it seemed like a perfect fit,” said Sinquefield. “I introduced the two pastors and they began to pray and share the possibilities. This was a match made in heaven as both congregations were blessed.”

Forest Hill Baptist’s roots stretch back to April 1910, before Germantown existed as most know it today — before the subdivisions and the sprawl. Families gathered in a local schoolhouse on Sunday afternoons, sitting at school desks, singing hymns, and studying Scripture.

Read more about Forest Hill Baptist and their 'perfect-fit" here: https://bit.ly/43BKpwO

GERMANTOWN — Forest Hill Baptist Church turns 116 years old this year, and it has a partner to thank for still being here to celebrate.

06/03/2026

"Jones Announces Retirement Plans"; When Wes Jones was handed the reins of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief director (now specialist) in September of 2015, he recalled a story he was told before assuming his new role.

A Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff member shared that the position is “a simple job. Not much happens around here,” Jones laughed.

“I had one month of a simple job before things hit the fan (Hurricane Joaquin caused historic flooding in South Carolina) and they have been hitting the fan ever since,” he said. “We have had call out after call out after call out. It’s been amazing.”

“The volunteers have impressed me the most — their willingness to serve over and over again to share Jesus with hurting people in the midst of disasters.” Read more about Wes Jones tenue with Disaster Relief here: https://bit.ly/4fNpVs7

MOUNT JULIET — When Wes Jones was handed the reins of Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief director (now specialist) in September of 2015, he recalled a story he

06/02/2026

"Triumph Over Tragedy"; The morning after her son was killed, Katrina Leonard knew only one thing: She had to go to church.

Noah Taylor died July 12, 2025, shot while driving to work on I-24, the victim of a road rage incident. He was 22.

“As his mother, I carried Noah in my body, but he carried my heart in his hands every single day of his life,” she said. “From the moment I knew he existed, he became a part of me — and he always will be.”

In an act of faith that has defied grief, Katrina has forgiven the people responsible for her son’s death and found a church family that has grown with her and sustained her through one of the hardest seasons of her life.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4nTQuOk

SMYRNA — The morning after her son was killed, Katrina Leonard knew only one thing: She had to go to church.

06/01/2026

"Resolutions Committee Releases Slate for 2026 SBC Annual Meeting";

The slate of resolutions for the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention has been released by the committee appointed by SBC President Clint Pressley. The group has released resolutions dealing with current SBC topics such as the office of the pastor and disability ministry along with cultural topics like immigration, political violence and artificial intelligence.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4uElLYd

NASHVILLE (BP) – The slate of resolutions for the 2026 Southern Baptist Convention has been released by the committee appointed by SBC President Clint

06/01/2026

"Fun & Games"; Joe Sorah said he recently felt the Lord was calling him to play the role of matchmaker.

No, not in the traditional sense of helping individuals find suitable dating partners, but rather by helping married couples — specifically ministry couples — find new friendships among their peers.

“When talking to pastors and their wives, one of the recurring problems that we kept hearing about was loneliness,” said Sorah, strengthening gospel leaders team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. “That seemed especially true with ministers’ wives, but also with pastors themselves. So, we really started thinking about ways to help couples get connected.”

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4uHNN5q

JACKSON — Joe Sorah said he recently felt the Lord was calling him to play the role of matchmaker.

06/01/2026

Our very own Wiley Couch was featured in the Baptist and Reflector!
https://baptistandreflector.org/tennescene-may-27-2/

05/29/2026

Zoë is back for our bi-weekly round up! We are so thankful for her reporting this news to us!
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05/29/2026

"ACP 2025: Positive Numbers Emerge"; Tennessee Baptist churches baptized more than 19,000 in 2025, while weekly worship attendance climbed back to pre-COVID levels, according to data released by Lifeway Research through the Annual Church Profile (ACP).

The 2025 ACP reported 19,277 baptisms in Tennessee, up from 18,935 in 2024 — a gain of 342. Weekly in-person worship attendance rose to 334,852, compared to 328,787 the prior year, an increase of more than 6,000. Small group, Sunday School, and Bible study participation grew to 196,772, the highest participation level in recent memory, up from 194,482 in 2024.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4uD2lDc

NASHVILLE —Tennessee Baptist churches baptized more than 19,000 in 2025, while weekly worship attendance climbed back to pre-COVID levels, according to data