Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

GEORGIA BAPTIST LEADER THOMAS HAMMOND WITHDRAWS FROM EC CONSIDERATION

By Laura Erlanson
Baptist Press

SUWANEE, Ga. – In an email to the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s executive committee on Jan. 23, GBMB Executive Director Thomas Hammond revealed that he had been selected as the candidate to lead the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee but had withdrawn his name. The search team had kept the candidate’s identity confidential.

“You may be aware that I was asked to be considered as a candidate for the role of President & CEO of the SBC Executive Committee,” he told leaders in the email, adding that he and his wife Kerri had been open to the opportunity but that “over the past week, it has become clear that God’s will is for us to remain in Georgia.”

Throughout the interview process, Hammond said, he and Kerri prayed Colossians 3:15, “asking God for peace and clarity.”

In written comments for Baptist Press on Jan. 24, Hammond said he let his name be considered because he loves Southern Baptists.

“I have been a Southern Baptist all my life and have a large amount of gratitude for the investment they’ve made in my life,” he said. “I believe the Southern Baptist Convention is the most evangelistic entity in the world, and I want to do my part in helping our Convention move forward.” [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: JAN. 10

LEADERS

Michael Kelley

Joey Johnson recently celebrated his 10th anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church, Selmer.

Duck River Baptist Association has called Genaro Orellana as its new Hispanic missionary. Orellana also serves as pastor of Iglesia Gracia which meets at Grace Baptist Church in Tullahoma.

Michael Kelley, executive director of Nashville Baptist Association, has announced his resignation in mid-January to become director of The Rooted Network, a discipleship and publishing organization which seeks to create life-changing discipleship experiences in the church. While the organization is based in southern California, the position is remote and Kelley and his family will remain in the Nashville area. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: DEC. 20

LEADERS

Greg Long

Greg Long is retiring after 30 years as pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Maryville at the end of December. He has been the longest tenured serving pastor in Pleasant Grove’s 191-year history.  Before coming to Pleasant Grove, he pastored two other churches in Tennessee. Greg and his wife, Susan, will continue to reside in Maryville.

DEATHS

John Thomas “Tom” Everett, former pastor of Lonsdale Baptist Church, Knoxville, and retired director of Western Heights Baptist Center in Knoxville, died Oct. 22. He was 81. Along with his late wife, Shirley, they served at Western Heights for 30 years. He is survived by two children and a granddaughter.

Joseph “Joe” Edward Wiles, retired director of missions of Stone Association of Southern Baptists and pastor of University Heights Baptist Church, Cookeville and former TBMB collegiate Ministry specialist at Tennessee Tech University where he served for 22 years, died Nov. 21 at the age of 80. Wiles was a Vietnam War era veteran and served for 22 years with the Putnam County Fire Department including service as the Battalion Commander for western Putnam County. He also served as a Christian counselor. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Anna Lee; three children; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: DEC. 6

LEADERS

Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, McKenzie, recently honored Gene Price on his 39th anniversary as pastor with a monetary gift.

First Baptist Church, Nashville, voted Nov. 19 to call Thomas West as senior pastor, effective Jan. 1, 2024. A native of Montgomery, Ala., West comes to Nashville from Queen’s Redeemer Church in England, where he served for the past five years. He also worked as an Equip teacher for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and provided theological consultancy while in London. He holds his master’s degree and doctorate from Southeastern. West and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children. West will be just the sixth pastor at First Baptist in the past 100 years. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: NOV. 22

LEADERS

Jamie Bodiford began serving Nov. 5 as pastor of First Baptist Church, Mountain City.

Ray Gilder retired Oct. 22 as pastor of First Baptist Church, Gordonsville, after eight-and-a-half years. He formerly served as bivocational ministries specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and executive director of the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: NOV. 8

Robert Warren

First Baptist Church, Linden, recognized Robert Warren for his 50 years of service as a deacon at First Baptist at the church’s 79th homecoming on Sept.17.

Austin Hall, youth minister at First Baptist Church, Newport, was ordained to the gospel ministry on Oct. 22 at the church.

Rome Baptist Church, Lebanon, recently ordained Levi Thommason to the gospel ministry. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: OCT. 25

LEADERS

Joe Bill Sloan, a 1967 Carson-Newman University alumnus and a longtime professor and dean, is a 2023 inductee to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) Hall of Fame. The organization announced that he is one of 24 inductees, each representing TICUA member institutions. Sloan also served as C-N’s interim president on one occasion. In 2022, Carson-Newman honored Sloan as a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Robert Reedy Bryan Society for his exceptional and meritorious service to Carson-Newman University.

DEATHS

Rick McAbee

Julius Franklin “Frank” Hicks, retired pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Madisonville, where he served for 38 years, died Sept. 25. He was 78. He also served as pastor of Bethel Springs Baptist Church, Calhoun, and Clear Springs Baptist Church, Athens. Hicks is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Hicks, three children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

George Richard “Rick” Curtis McAbee, pastor of Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Harriman, died Sept. 16, after a battle with cancer. He was 53. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during Operation Desert Storm. He is survived by his wife Sherry McAbee, five children and a grandchild. [Read more…]

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TENNESSEE BAPTISTS AMONG SIGNERS IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

By Brandon Porter
Baptist Press

NASHVILLE — A statement has been released by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission called the Evangelical Statement in Support of Israel condemning the attacks on Israel, calling on Christians to pray for Israelis and Palestinians and urging policymakers to use their power to protect innocent life in the Middle East. The statement bears the signatures of dozens of pastors, SBC entity and state convention leaders and leaders of various Christian organizations.

“These repugnant atrocities by Hamas should shake us to our core. Hundreds of innocent Israeli lives have been struck down by a rampaging enemy. There should be no question that the Israeli government has the right to defend its citizens and sovereignty that have been so grossly violated,” said Brent Leatherwood, ERLC president, in a release. [Read more…]

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TENNESCENE: OCT. 11

LEADERS

Dana Fachman, senior pastor of Meridian Baptist Church, Knoxville, for the past 34-and-a-half years plans to retire at the end of this year. Current and former church members and friends are invited to attend a reception for him on Nov. 11 in the Meridian Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 1-4 p.m.

Ronnie Smith is serving as interim pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Sale Creek.

Rick Dixon has been called as interim pastor of Ogden Baptist Church, Dayton. [Read more…]

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TENNSCENE: SEP. 27

LEADERS

Hopewell Baptist Church, Springfield, called Brad Hall as pastor in August. He preached his first sermon at Hopewell on Sept. 3.

Phillip Senn recently resigned as pastor of Enon Baptist Church, Halls. He is available for pulpit supply or interim pastorates. He can be reached at pcsenn@gmail.com or 731-446-9538.

DEATHS

Paul Stewart Moody, retired pastor of Erin Baptist Church, Erin, died Aug. 1, 2023. He was given the title pastor emeritus at Erin Baptist after serving the church for 30 years. He was 85. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Moody, two children and four grandchildren.

Jack James Price of Ooltewah, retired pastor of Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, Cleveland, died Aug. 16. He was 88. Following retirement, he served as interim pastor of several churches in the area. Price, who was preceded in death by his wife, is survived by his two children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Robert “Bobby” L. Kitts, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Morristown, and former longtime pastor of Agape Baptist Church,White Pine, died Aug. 9 at the age of 70. He led several churches throughout Hamblen, Jefferson, Greene and Grainger counties. Kitts was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy. He is survived by two children and eight grandchildren.

Edward G. Hamil, retired pastor of Hatchie Baptist Church, Hornsby, and many other churches throughout the country died Aug. 20 at the age of 82. Hamil is survived by his wife Aelena, six children and 31 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

  • The Noah’s Ark Widows’ Ministry of Ethridge First Baptist Church held their 13th celebration on Sept. 2 at the church. The group began with only six members, but to date has 124 members. The group sponsors several ministries: In April they traveled to the Appalachian Trail to minister to the hikers, and they are currently preparing to host a Baby Tent at the Middle Tennessee District Fair in addition to other local ministries. Members agree that their grief pain is lessened by ministering to others. They meet on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall of Ethridge FBC. All widows are invited to attend. Members who attended the celebration recently were (not in order) co-leaders Debbie Griffin and Diane Hildenbrandt, Sally Riley, Jackie Hyde, Kay Stoneburner, Marlys Smith, Kay Parker, Fay Dodson, Janet Haun, Reba Hollis, Linda Huntley, Virginia Fenn, Jane Jennings, Sara Gobble, Margie Kobeck, Becky Bales, Sherry Jones, Jody Konig, Wanda Pruitt, Bobbie Huntley, Maria Massey, Gail Renfro, Betty Liles and Pat Myhan.
    The Noah’s Ark Widows’ Ministry of Ethridge First Baptist Church held their 13th celebration on Sept. 2 at the church. The group began with only six members, but to date has 124 members. The group sponsors several ministries: In April they traveled to the Appalachian Trail to minister to the hikers, and they are currently preparing to host a Baby Tent at the Middle Tennessee District Fair in addition to other local ministries. Members agree that their grief pain is lessened by ministering to others. They meet on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall of Ethridge FBC. All widows are invited to attend. Members who attended the celebration recently were (not in order) co-leaders Debbie Griffin and Diane Hildenbrandt, Sally Riley, Jackie Hyde, Kay Stoneburner, Marlys Smith, Kay Parker, Fay Dodson, Janet Haun, Reba Hollis, Linda Huntley, Virginia Fenn, Jane Jennings, Sara Gobble, Margie Kobeck, Becky Bales, Sherry Jones, Jody Konig, Wanda Pruitt, Bobbie Huntley, Maria Massey, Gail Renfro, Betty Liles and Pat Myhan.
  • Women on Mission at Beulah Baptist Church, Kingsport, hosted their annual salad supper on Sept. 5 with guest speaker, Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. She presented information on how Tennessee churches are meeting needs through compassion ministry. There were 18 in attendance. From left are, back row, Shirley Lane, Shelia Shaw, Gloria Hobbs, Sandra Gardner, Charlene Jessee, Vivian Bradshaw, Angela Presnell, Sarah Presnell, Becky Sexton; front row, Jackie Crosby, Marsha Davis, Lynn Rodgers, Beth Moore, Poppy Sexton, Phyllis Campbell and Stella Sexton. — Photo by Sue Robertson
    Women on Mission at Beulah Baptist Church, Kingsport, hosted their annual salad supper on Sept. 5 with guest speaker, Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. She presented information on how Tennessee churches are meeting needs through compassion ministry. There were 18 in attendance. From left are, back row, Shirley Lane, Shelia Shaw, Gloria Hobbs, Sandra Gardner, Charlene Jessee, Vivian Bradshaw, Angela Presnell, Sarah Presnell, Becky Sexton; front row, Jackie Crosby, Marsha Davis, Lynn Rodgers, Beth Moore, Poppy Sexton, Phyllis Campbell and Stella Sexton.
  • Calvary Baptist Church, Waynesboro, ordained three new deacons on Aug. 27. From left are Sawyer Ray, AMS, Indian Creek Baptist Association; deacons Jarrod Davis, Elbert York, Gary Mitchell and pastor Jacob Kitchens.
    Calvary Baptist Church, Waynesboro, ordained three new deacons on Aug. 27. From left are Sawyer Ray, AMS, Indian Creek Baptist Association; deacons Jarrod Davis, Elbert York, Gary Mitchell and pastor Jacob Kitchens.
  • Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers joined forces with the Cumberland Gap DR team to provide lunch during the recent missions fair sponsored by Cumberland Gap Baptist Association at Pump Springs Baptist Church in Harrogate. See story on page 6. Volunteers, from left, are Larry Ray, Lloyd Phillips, Johnny Conkin, Donna Wilson, Joe Martin (Cumberland Gap Association DR director) and Robert Wilkerson.
    Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers joined forces with the Cumberland Gap DR team to provide lunch during the recent missions fair sponsored by Cumberland Gap Baptist Association at Pump Springs Baptist Church in Harrogate. See story on page 6. Volunteers, from left, are Larry Ray, Lloyd Phillips, Johnny Conkin, Donna Wilson, Joe Martin (Cumberland Gap Association DR director) and Robert Wilkerson.

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