Although the Ford Motor Co. ended production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning this month as part of a broader shift away from large electric vehicles, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board isn’t backing away from its evangelism efforts in BlueOval City.
“We are just going to keep pressing the gas every time Ford taps the brakes,” said Danny Sinquefield, coordinator of the TBMB’s BlueOval City partnership. “Nothing is really going to change for us in terms of how we move forward.”
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Ford will take a $19.5 billion hit as it reshapes its EV strategy, with the costs stemming from its decision to produce fewer electric vehicles and more gasoline-powered and hybrid models.
The Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center at BlueOval City has been renamed the Tennessee Truck Plant and will now produce new gas-powered trucks starting in 2029, replacing the previously planned next-generation electric truck.
This marks the latest setback for the $5.6 billion Haywood County facility, Tennessee’s largest-ever single investment. Ford had already delayed mass production from its original 2025 target to 2027, then again to 2028 in August.
The changes follow the rollback of federal emissions standards and EV tax credits under the new administration.
Connection to Tennessee Baptists
The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has maintained a presence at BlueOval City since construction began, implementing evangelistic outreach for the region — and those efforts will continue, unabated, in the weeks and months ahead, Sinquefield said.
“We feel like the (changes announced by Ford) just gives us more time to continue to lay the foundation, to plant churches and strengthen existing churches,” he said. “We see all of this as a positive thing for us. We aren’t slowing down.”
The TBMB plans to open at least 40 new church plants in the area over the next decade. Through the BlueOval Coalition, the organization has hosted block parties, worship services, Bible clubs, youth events and community meals — including a luncheon serving more than 1,000 construction workers.
‘Stay the course’
“Our plan is to stay the course,” Sinquefield said. “The people, and the businesses are coming — it just won’t be quite as soon as we originally thought. For now, we will continue to minister to those who have already arrived, and we will continue moving ahead with our plans to reach those who are coming to the area in the future.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Zoë Watkins and David Dawson and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
