Baptist and Reflector
Leaders involved in the revitalization of Westwood Baptist Church, Nashville, include, from left, back row, Matt McCullough, pastor of Trinity Church; John Richardson, administrative director and deacon at Westwood; Rusty Sumrall, executive director of Nashville Baptist Association; front row, Scott Patty, pastor, Grace Community Church, Bob Hammer, interim pastor, Westwood Baptist Church; and Gene Skaggs, minister of music, Westwood.
NASHVILLE — Westwood Baptist Church, Nashville, voted June 28, to form a partnership with Grace Community Church and Trinity Church for the purpose of revitalization and renewal.
Westwood also voted to hire a full time pastor who will live in the proximity of the church. Bob Hammer will continue to minister on the pastoral team as a volunteer after the new pastor comes to serve at Westwood.
Westwood leadership have spent the past two years developing a strategy for the future of their church, said Rusty Sumrall, director of missions for Nashville Baptist Association.
“As the NBA staff worked with Westwood, they determined the best plan for their church was to find a church or churches that would stand with Westwood to give help to revitalize the church and move into the future,” he recalled.
“God has opened the doors for a partnership with Grace Community Church and Trinity Church and possibly other churches to come alongside Westwood to offer support and encouragement,” he added.
Sumrall expressed gratitude for “this beautiful example of sister churches working together to reach Nashville for Christ.”
Kevin Minchey, church revitalization specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, affirmed the action of the Nashville Baptist churches.
“After meeting with the leadership and speaking at Westwood multiple times, I can see the wisdom in their choice of the adoption pathway to revitalization,” he noted.
“Dr. Hammer and the church have been praying that they could find a way to call a younger pastor full-time and encourage him to recast a new vision for Westwood. The partnership with Grace Community and Trinity is an answer to their prayers,” Minchey said. B&R
