LEADERS
Justin Johnson
Justin Johnson began serving in November as associational mission strategist for Sevier County Baptist Association. He joined the association’s staff in 2020 as financial administrator. After AMS Robert Nichols retired at the end of 2021, Johnson served as acting AMB until he was unanimously approved as the new AMS at the association’s annual meeting in October. Johnson also is part-time student pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Seymour.
Daryl Crouch, executive director of Everyone’s Wilson, has been named interim pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, Mount Juliet. He formerly served nine years as pastor of Green Hill Church, Mount Juliet. Shiloh also has called Bryan Howard as interim worship pastor. He has served as worship leader of churches in Tennessee and Kentucky and has performed as a piano and vocal solo artist.
Mark Puckett
Mark Puckett, director of missions for the Duck River Baptist Association in Tullahoma, will retire April 28. He has served the DRBA for 12-and-a-half years. Previously he served as a pastor in Tennessee and with the North American Mission Board in Canada. Upon his retirement, he will be serving as a mission volunteer in Canada and will be available for interim pastorates and supply preaching in Middle Tennessee. The association will honor Puckett and his wife, Linda, for their years of service with a reception March 26 from 1-4 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Tullahoma.
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Greenfield, ordained Donny Davidson to the gospel ministry on Feb. 26. Davidson is pastor of Cooper’s Chapel Baptist Church, McKenzie.
Scott Brown
Retired Tennessee Baptist pastor Jerry D. Woods, formerly of Deanburg Baptist Church, Henderson, is available to preach or to serve in interim pastorates. Contact him at 731-535-1108.
Scott Brown began serving Jan. 9 as director of missions for Wilson County Baptist Association. He had served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Waverly, since early 2017. He also has served in ministry leadership since 2003, both bivocationally and full time as a youth pastor, associate pastor and pastor. Before moving to Waverly, Brown led a church revitalization with a congregation in Orlando, Fla. He is a past second vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and is a director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
DEATHS
Billy Wayne Pearce died Feb. 13 at the age of 78. Pearce was licensed to preach at the age of 16 and was ordained into the ministry in 1968. He served as pastor of 16 churches in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Mississippi. His longest pastorate was Rugby Hills Baptist Church, Memphis, and his last pastorate was West Frayser Baptist Church, Memphis. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Betsy Pearce, two sons and three grandchildren.
Duck River Baptist Association recently filled its disaster relief trailer with boxes of used literature donated by the churches to be sent to mission fields around the world. Volunteers included the Dorrell family from First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, from left, (Esther, Joseph, Joy, Isaac, Elijah and Nathan) and Jeff Goodwin and Ray Blankenship of First Baptist Church, Winchester, who drove the truck to Birmingham, Ala.
