CHURCHES

Parkburg Baptist Church, Pinson, will have revival services Oct. 27-30 with evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.

Colonial Baptist Church in Memphis will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 27. Former pastor Gerald Hallmark will lead the joint Sunday School class at 9 a.m. Clay Hallmark, pastor of First Baptist Church, Lexington, and former president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, will bring the message in the 10:30 a.m. worship service. A potluck luncheon will follow.

First Baptist Church, Dover, was established Aug. 17, 1924, as the first Baptist church in Stewart County. Members of the church marked the anniversary with a “Centennial Celebration” on Aug. 25 with guest speaker Randy C. Davis (president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board), former staff members and a churchwide fellowship meal. [Read more…]

LEADERS

In his third book with Courier Publishing, retired pastor Ken Clayton offers a diligent study of the book of Romans in Justified by Faith, similar to his early works on the Gospel of John and the book of Daniel. “In Romans, Paul does not share as much discussion about practical problems as he does in his other letters,” Clayton observes. “Paul used this letter to explain the Christian gospel, God’s plan of salvation and its impact on their daily living. A graduate of Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., Clayton has served churches in Tennessee and Kentucky and was a missionary in Spain. He and his wife, Joy, are members of Shiloh Baptist Church, Mount Juliet.

Jimmy Webb, pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church, Maryville, has resigned. His last day will be Sept. 15. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Jon Foster recently was ordained as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Tellico Plains.

CHURCHES

Ralston Baptist Church, Martin, will celebrate its 150th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 6. The celebration will include a 9:45 a.m. worship service, a 10:45 a.m. music celebration with the group Living Truth, a 12 p.m. luncheon (food and beverages provided by the church) and a time of celebration and testimonies from special guests afterwards. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, will hold revival services Aug. 18-21 at 7 p.m. each night with guest evangelist Joe Shannon.

Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Maryville, will celebrate its 75th anniversary with five special events in September and October. The services and speakers are: Sept. 8 at 10:30 a.m.: Greg Howard; Sept. 15 at 10:30 a.m.: Josh Glandon; Sept. 22, 10:30 a.m.: Mark Grubb; Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.: Glen Cummings and dinner on the grounds; Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m.: Randy Davis. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Van Richmond, a pastor and church planter for 12 years, has recently written When Scripture Meets the Streets: What the Bible Says About Everyday Events. The book features everyday stories from everyday people that are paired with God’s wisdom and counsel to show His loving concern for your life. An Air Force veteran of 30 years, Richmond said his “hope and prayer is these stories from life and the related Scriptures will serve as both inspiration and guidance.” The book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. His wife, Lynn, serves as convention manager for the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

John Rogers recently retired as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Mohawk. He and his wife Tina served the church for 21 years. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Kevin Crossno was ordained June 30 at Beech Springs Baptist Church in Gleason. He has been called as pastor of Mack’s Grove Baptist Church in Dresden.

First Baptist Church, Middleton, called Matthew C. Jones as pastor. He began his ministry with the church on Sunday, June 2.

Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, recently called James “Obee” O’Bryant as administrative minister of outreach and Curtis Honts as administrative minister of discipleship with a special emphasis on senior adults. [Read more…]

LEADERS

First Baptist Church, Gordonsville, has called Brandon Patton as pastor. He and his wife, Gina, have two daughters.

Doe River Baptist Church, Elizabethton, called Wayne Lyons as pastor on May 5.

CHURCHES

Barton’s Creek Baptist Church, Lebanon, celebrated its 175th anniversary on June 2. [Read more…]

LEADERS

The board of directors of Nashville Baptist Association has recommended Bob Bickford as the next executive director. The association will have a special called meeting on June 2 at Grace Baptist Church, Nashville, to vote on Bickford. He has served as the chairman of the church revitalization team of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. He led in the development of the Resound Network, a collaborative network of associations in the state of Missouri, and he served as the associate director of replant for the North American Mission Board. Bickford has authored several resources including, Am I a Replanter?, Pathways to Partnership and the Associational Replanting Guide. For nine years he pastored The Groves Church in suburban St. Louis, which was a replant of Sherwood Baptist Church. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Dean Haun, pastor of First Baptist Church, Morristown, will lead an Encounter Israel Pastors Solidarity Tour Sept. 16-25. The trip is under the auspices of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and will include tour host John Vedder. The trip is designed to help pastors and ministry leaders deepen their understanding of Israel’s prophetic restoration in the context of 4,000 years of biblical history. Tour participants will engage with local leaders in Israel and hear about current events in the region. For more information, including costs, visit www.icejusa.org/PT924. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Michael Martin will begin serving as pastor of Meridian Baptist Church, Knoxville, on June 1.  He previously served as senior pastor of Seventh Street Baptist Church in Cullman, Ala., where he served as senior pastor for 10 years. Martin received his master of divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and his undergraduate degree from Union University in Jackson. He was licensed to the ministry in March 1998 at Union Grove Baptist Church in Beech Bluff, and ordained at Calvary Baptist Church in July 1999 in Osceola, Ark. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children.

Unity Baptist Church, Madisonville, recently called Mike Blair as pastor.

Jacob Shatzer, associate provost and dean of instruction at Union University, has been named the university’s provost, effective July 1. Shatzer will replace John Netland, who has served as Union’s provost since 2017 and chose to return to the classroom as a professor. Shatzer joined the Union faculty in 2017 as assistant professor of theological studies and associate dean of the School of Theology and Missions. He is a member of West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson.

North Knoxville Baptist Church, Knoxville, has called Jim McNeal as pastor and Tracy Clayton as minister of music. [Read more…]