Baptist and Reflector Staff

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Chris Turner, director of communications for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board since 2014, has been named editor of the Baptist and Reflector.

CORDOVA, Tenn. (BP) -- Former Southern Baptist Convention president and Tennessee Baptist pastor Steve Gaines announced to his congregation at Bellevue Baptist Church Nov. 19 that he has been diagnosed with kidney cancer.

Wildfires spread quickly in north Oklahoma City, Edmond and Guthrie on Friday, March 31 causing many to lose their homes. Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) supported first responders providing meals on Friday and Saturday (April 1).

LAVACA COUNTY, Texas (BP) – plane crash in Lavaca County, Texas, has killed four members of Harvest Church in Germantown, Tenn., and left one person hospitalized in Victoria, Texas.

GALVESTON, Texas (BP) -- During the annual meeting of the Association of State Baptist Publications held in Galveston, Texas, Baptist editors affirmed the work of Baptist state convention executive directors. Editors unanimously adopted "A Resolution of Appreciation for State Executive Directors." The resolution was presented by Gerald Harris, editor of The Christian Index in Georgia, who noted he enjoys a good relationship with his state executive director, J. Robert White.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday (Jan. 9) to uphold the results of a 2014 statewide vote in Tennessee that provided for stricter abortion regulations in the state. The vote will enable state legislators to enact restrictions on abortions that are already in place in neighboring states. A 48-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions was enacted by state legislators and signed into law by the governor in 2015. A number of churches and religious organizations, including the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), supported Amendment 1 through an effort called "Yes On 1."