LEADERS

Russ Wilkins, director of missions for Shiloh Baptist Association since 2018, will write the Explore the Bible Sunday School commentaries for the Dec.-Feb. quarter. Wilkins was born and raised in Millington, graduated from Union University, Jackson, and then worked there for four years. After serving as an admissions Counselor, he went into full-time ministry at First Baptist Church, Huntingdon, where he served the next 25 years in various roles including associate, youth and missions pastor. He has been married to his wife Debbie for 29 years. They have two children, Sarah (married to Bishop Haynes) and Tripp as well as one granddaughter, Brynleigh.

Yellow Creek Baptist Church, Cumberland City, has called George “Butch” Smith as senior pastor. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, and has more than 20 years of pastoral experience. He most recently served as associate pastor of Caney Creek Baptist Church in Texas. He and his wife, Michele, will begin serving the church on Dec. 6. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, has called Matt Crawford as senior pastor, following the retirement of Richard Hipps who retired last year after 17 years. Crawford has served three churches in Florida, most recently as the East Campus pastor for City Church In Tallahassee. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and holds his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He and his wife, Christie, have five children.

Brian Warden has been called as pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mountain City. [Read more…]

[Read more…]

LEADERS

Brian Warden has been called as pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mountain City.

Calvary Baptist Church, Elizabethton, recently ordained David Shankle as a deacon.

Ben Styles recently resigned as pastor of Niles Ferry Baptist Church, Greenback. [Read more…]

LEADERS

James Hickey, director of missions for Union Baptist Association, Sparta, has resigned after serving in the position for just over five years. Prior to service in Union, he served as pastor of East Commerce Baptist Church in Lewisburg for 26 years, where he retired in 2012, after 44 years in ministry.  Other Tennessee churches in which he served include First Baptist Church, Benton; Saulsbury Baptist Church, Saulsbury; and Shiloh Baptist Church, Ocoee.  Hickey has degrees from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis and Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville. He has served on various committees in the Tennessee Baptist Convention while still a pastor. He will continue to serve in Union until a new director of missions is called. Union Association is now seeking a part-time director of missions.  For information, call 931-738-3250 or e-mail uba@blomand.net. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, celebrated his fifth anniversary in September. Jones and his wife, Pam, are former Southern Baptist missionaries to Costa Rica, Belize and Guatemala. He also served as a director of missions in Iowa where he was heavily involved in disaster relief work. Since coming to Tennessee, TBC DR teams have responded to 78 disasters, which accounts for 32 percent of the total 247 responses made since TBDR was formed in 1978.

Trinity Baptist Church, Jonesborough, recently called Chris McDonald as minister of music. He has a bachelor of church music degree from Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, and a master of church music degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He and his wife, Hope, have two children. The church also called Amy Herington as children’s ministry coordinator. She has a bachelor of arts in biblical studies from Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, James, have three children. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Corey Cain was called July 1 as the lead pastor of First Baptist Church, Seymour. Cain previously served as pastor of Maplewood Baptist Church, Paris. Cain currently serves as president of the Tennessee Baptist Pastors Conference and second vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Kerry Franks recently was called as pastor of Green River Baptist Church, Waynesboro. He had been serving as youth pastor. He begins his new role in September.

Birchfield Baptist Church, Maryville, recently called Greg Watson as pastor. He was misidentified in the July 22 issue. The Baptist and Reflector staff apologizes for the error. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Trinity Baptist Church, Knoxville, will hold revival services Sept. 20-23 with evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.

Lucy Baptist Church, Millington, will celebrate its 150th anniversary Sept. 19-20. A worship service is planned for Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6, followed by a dessert fellowship. Brunch will be served on Sunday, Sept. 20, followed by the worship service. Former staff member Robert Hooker, pastor of Huber Heights Baptist Church, Huber Heights, Ohio, will preach in both services. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Roger “Sing” Oldham has been named director of pastor engagement for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Oldham has been serving as a contract consultant over the past six months assisting the TBMB in the area of developing systems and tools in the area of equipping pastors and ministry leaders.

Prior to joining the TBMB staff, Oldham served as a vice president for the SBC Executive Committee for 12-and-a-half years.

Oldham previously was pastor of First Baptist Church, Martin, for 21 years. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Central Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, called James R. Raffety of Owasso, Okla., as senior pastor, effective July 1. He was called to full-time ministry in 1995 and has 16 years of Christian service as a youth minister, singles minister, houseparent and as a senior pastor.

Daniel McKenzie was called June 14 to serve as discipleship pastor at First Baptist Church, Manchester. He will begin on Aug. 2. Also, at First Baptist, Cyndi Cox, director of Christian education, is retiring after 22 years on staff. [Read more…]