ASSOCIATIONS
Fayette County Baptist Association will hold an evangelism rally Sept. 13-14 at Warren Community Baptist Church, Somerville, with Roc Collins, director of evangelism for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
A 19-member team, representing six churches from Western District Baptist Association, worked July 8-15 with Restoration Church in New Orleans, La. Restoration is a church plant that has moved into a church that has closed. The team worked with renovation on the building and outreach.
DEATHS
Former Tennessee Baptist Convention president Jerry Glisson died July 11 at the age of 94. He was a long-time Tennessee Baptist pastor. He served at Leawood Baptist Church in Memphis from 1956-91. He also was pastor of First Baptist Church, Huntingdon from 1951-56. Glisson was active in both Tennessee Baptist and Southern Baptist life. In addition to serving as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 1970-71, Glisson served as a trustee of Union University and a trustee for both the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) and the Brotherhood Commission (no longer in existence) of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Helen. He is survived by three children — Rickey Glisson and Phil Glisson of Memphis and Lisa Garrett of Bolivar — and seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
CHURCHES
The Women on Mission group from Meridian Baptist Church, Knoxville, are collecting school supplies during the month of July for the Montgomery Village Baptist Center in Knoxville.
Sand Ridge Baptist Church, Lexington, recently sent a missions team to Prestonsburg, Ky. In addition, the church will have revival services Aug. 20-23 with guest evangelist Gary Permenter.
Bear Creek Baptist Church, Parsons, will be having a 175th anniversary celebration Aug. 20. The church organized the third Saturday in August 1842, three years before Decatur even became a county. The area was part of Perry County at the time. Former pastor, Michael Crandall will bring the morning message. The celebration will begin at 1:30 p.m., following a fellowship meal. Several local and state dignitaries will make presentations and former pastors and interim pastors will make remarks. The service will conclude with a note burning for the church’s latest addition, a new sanctuary and facility renovation.
The Women’s Ministry of First Baptist Church, Paris, is sponsoring s women’s luncheon Aug. 5 with guest speaker Jennifer Kennedy Dean.
First Baptist Church, Adamsville, held a dedication service for its new sanctuary on July 16. Barry Littlefield, who was reared in the church and called to ministry there and is now a pastor in Mississippi, was guest speaker.
Pine Grove Baptist Church, Mountain City, has begun a clothes/non-perishable food pantry once a month in Johnson County. The church is accepting gently used clothes, shoes, and non-perishable food items.
The Lesters from St. Louis, Mo., will be in concert on Aug. 6 at Union Hill Baptist Church, Goodlettsville. The address is 1301 Union Hill Road and the free concert will begin at 6 p.m. A love offering will be taken.
Riva Lake Baptist Church, Winchester, will have homecoming on Aug. 13 with guest speaker Richard Craddock, pastor of First Baptist Church, Summitville. Worship will be at 10:30 a.m. with dinner following and a singing at 1:30 p.m. with music provided by the Modesitts and Lindsay Walls.
LEADERS
Nicki Brooks, a member of the Communications Team and marketing specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, was honored for 15 years of service with the TBMB on July 13. She is an active member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville.
Warren Community Church, Somerville, has called Alex Inman as its new worship pastor.
Adam Bush has joined the staff of First Baptist Church, Gallatin, as director of communications.
Mike Hollaway recently retired as pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Bethel Springs, after 14 years at the church and 35 years of ministry. He also has served as pastor of Pine Grove Baptist Church, Henderson; First Baptist Church, Bethel Springs; Wards Grove Baptist Church, Milton; and Bear Creek Baptist Church, Parsons. He is available for supply preaching and can be reached at 731-610-1077.
Randy Pool, coordinator of Mississippi River Ministry for Tennessee, is serving as interim director of missions for Shiloh Baptist Association, based in Adamsville.
Darrell Morgan recently resigned as mission strategist for Beulah Baptist Association, based in Union City. Mark Dowdy is serving as interim mission strategist during the summer.
John David Shanks is the new children’s director at Boones Creek Baptist Church, Johnson City.
Carol B. Ghattas of Murfreesboro has recently written a book about her late husband, Raouf Ghattis, entitled A Life Surrendered. The book shares stories of lives changed by the obedience of Ghattas, an Egyptian-American missionary and pastor. At the time of his death Ghattis was pastor of Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. Carol Ghattas is a speaker on Islam and how to witness to Muslims. She has written three novels. The book is published by Xulon Press.
Albert Hodges recently began serving as interim pastor of Harmony Baptist Church, Adams.
Elk River Baptist Church, Butler, has called Larry D. Pearson as pastor.
Brian Cable is the new pastor of Big Springs Baptist Church, Elizabethton.
North Knoxville Baptist Church, Knoxville, has called Joe Emmert as senior pastor, effective July 30.
Jack Lewis, will retire July 31 as senior adult pastor at Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory. He previously was minister of education and served the church for 22 years.