CHURCHES

Willie McLaurin, interim CEO of the Southern Baptist Executive Committee, will be at First Baptist Church, Somerville, on May 22 from 2-4 p.m. to meet with pastors, staff and directors of mission in West Tennessee to answer questions about the upcoming Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif. It is an open meeting to ask questions about leadership issues.

Pleasant View Baptist Church, Martin, will hold revival services May 15-18 with a different speaker each night. Phil Mitchell will preach at 11 a.m. on Sunday and Donald Doster will preach at 5 p.m.  Services begin at 7 p.m. during the week with Rick Walker (Monday), Gene Price (Tuesday) and Kenneth Williams (Wednesday).

LEADERS

Adams Chapel Baptist Church, Dresden, recently called Brent Davidson as pastor.

Jeff Stricklin was ordained as a deacon May 1 at Ruthville Baptist Church, Martin. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Fall Creek Baptist Church, Norene, will celebrate 200 years of proclaiming the gospel on Sunday, May 1, at 10 a.m. with Dave Shelley, director of missions for the Wilson County Baptist Association, delivering the anniversary sermon. The church was organized at the Copelands Meeting House in southeastern Wilson County on the first Saturday in May, 1822 with 21 constituent members. A fellowship meal and a time of remembrance featuring former pastors and leaders of the church will follow the service, according to Pastor James Yates. The public is invited. [Read more…]

LEADERS

After 49 years in ministry, Jerry Winfield has retired as pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church in Franklin. Previously he was pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville and First Baptist Church in Bolivar as well as churches in Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas. He also served as vice president of development and communications for the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. Denominational service included two terms as trustee of Union University and two terms on the TBMB board of directors. Winfield is available for supply preaching and interim pastorates. He can be reached at drjwinfield@comcast.net. [Read more…]

Enon Baptist Church, Halls, called Phillip Senn as pastor on March 13. The church also named retired pastor William P. “Bill” Oakley as pastor emeritus.

Susan Mason recently was recognized by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board for 25 years of service. She has been the administrative assistant at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport for 25 years. She is a member of  First Baptist Church, Newport. Mason and her husband, Pat, have a daughter and two grandsons.

Phil Taylor recently was recognized by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board for five years of service as part-time church revitalization specialist. He also serves as associational missions strategist/director of missions for CrossNet Baptist Network, based in Cleveland. He and his wife Becky have two children and three grandchildren. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Trinity Baptist Church, Knoxville, will have revival services April 3-6 with evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.

Holt’s Corner Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, will hold revival services March 27-31. Phil Waldrop of Phil Waldrop Ministries will preach at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 27. Week night services begin at 7 p.m. with David McConnell (Monday), Kirk Shepard (Tuesday), Al Patterson (Wednesday) and Roc Collins (Thursday). For more information, call 931-364-7191.

Rittertown Baptist Church, Hampton, will hold revival services April 10-13 with guest evangelist Skip Youngcourt.

LEADERS

Mack Arnold recently resigned as pastor of Cobbs Creek Baptist Church, Butler.

Bethel Baptist Church, McKenzie, recently called John King as interim pastor.

David Worley resigned in February after 16 years as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, to become pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Cedar Grove, effective Feb. 27.

Jeff Moody has been called as interim pastor of Beech Springs Baptist Church, Gleason.

EDUCATION

Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, has changed the name of the School of Religion to the School of Biblical and Theological Studies. In addition, the newly renamed school will expand its degree options in August with the addition of a master of divinity degree, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The decision to add the new master’s degree will better serve students in the region, said Ryan Stokes, director of graduate theological studies at C-N.

LEADERS

Chuck Williams, interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Milan, will write the Bible Studies for Life lessons for March-May. He formerly served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Covington.

Matt Dixon has been called as pastor of Beech Grove Baptist Church in Louisville. He formerly served as youth minister of Dotson Memorial Baptist Church, Maryville.

Liberty Grove Baptist Church, Loretto, has called Brock Kilburn as pastor. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Terry L. Kirby was called as lead pastor of First Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge, effective Jan. 1. He has previously served  as pastor of First Baptist Church, Dover; Rocky Hill Baptist Church, Knoxville; and Alpha Baptist Church, Morristown.

Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Milam, has called Jeremy Allen as student pastor.

First Baptist Church, Dyer, has called Stephen Lacy as associate pastor.

Jake Dorak, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Manchester, graduated in December with the doctor of ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Roc Colllins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, celebrated his fifth anniversary with the TBMB in January. He is a past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and formerly served as pastor of Indian Springs Baptist Church in Kingsport.

Robert Nichols retired Dec. 31 after more than 13 years as director of missions for Sevier County Baptist Association. He and his wife, Deborah, served as missionaries in Uruguay for several years before he joined the association as DOM. The couple plans to remain in Sevierville during retirement. He is available for supply preaching. Justin Johnson is serving as acting director of missions for the association. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Stoney Creek Baptist Church, Elizabethton, recently called Steve Davis as pastor.

Dungan Chapel Baptist Church, Elizabethton, recently ordained Teddy Lewis. He is serving as interim pastor.

Corey Staton recently resigned as associate pastor to students and families at First Baptist Church, Alcoa. He is moving to North Carolina. [Read more…]