DEATHS

Wilkey M. Jones Sr., a Baptist minister for 57 years and member of First Baptist Church, Decaturville, died Oct. 11 at the age of 84. He served on the staff of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes in Brentwood for eight years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Katie Sue McKee Jones. He is survived by his wife, Margie Jones, four children, two step-children and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Vernon Woodard, minister of music at Center Point Baptist Church, Springfield, died Nov. 16.

LEADERS

David Ward, pastor of Allensville Baptist Church, in Mount Pleasant is the new moderator of Maury Baptist Association, which is comprised of more than 20 Southern Baptist churches.

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Rossville, in Fayette Baptist Association, called Mike Hollaway as pastor on Nov. 3. Hollaway’s late father, Raymond Hollaway, was a former director of missions in the association. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Faith Baptist Church, Linden, which meets at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center, has called Jim Cain as pastor. He has been serving as interim pastor for the past six months. A native of Memphis, Cain has lived in Perry County for about a year. His wife Mary, a native of Perry County, is involved with children’s ministry. 

John Green IV is the new pastor of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville. He formerly served as senior pastor of Shindler Drive Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla. He holds the master of divinity degree from New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary and the doctor of philosophy in evangelism and missions from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He has been active on both the state convention and Southern Baptist Convention levels. He served as vice president of the Florida Baptist Convention State Board of Missions and served on the SBC Credentials Committee in 2015 and is a member of the SBC’s Young Leaders Advisory Council. He and his wife Katherine have three children. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Stan Wafler has been elected as the associational missionary (director of missions) for Beech River Baptist Church, based in Lexington. He and his wife Pam served for 15 years as career missionaries with the International Mission Board. Wafler has served in youth leadership roles in churches in Tennessee and as a pastor in Mississippi. He is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned three degrees, including a Ph.D. The Waflers have three children. They have been living in the Memphis area and are members of Ellendale Baptist Church, Bartlett.

Palmersville Baptist Church, Palmersville, called Brian Gallimore as pastor on Oct. 1. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Clark Street Baptist Church, Johnson City, unanimously voted Sept. 10 to call Randy Hommel as pastor. He is a Kingsport native who recently returned to the area after serving as pastor of Bel-Aire Baptist Church, Gulfport, Miss.

ASSOCIATIONS

Jere Phillips will lead a “Preaching and Teaching Through the January Bible Study” on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilson County Baptist Association office at 317 W. Spring Street in Lebanon. The January Bible Study is First Peter: Living As Strangers In A Secular World. [Read more…]

LEADERS

First Baptist Church, Tullahoma, has called Kevin Ivy as pastor. He previously served at Providence Baptist Church in Clinton, Miss. He also is the founder of a non-profit ministry called Mission Surge and has been personally involved in missions work in 11 countries and across the United States.

Wayne Stowers is the new minister of students at First Baptist Church, Decherd.

Johnny Mayes has been called as pastor of Oaklawn Baptist Church, Winchester. He previously served at Mount View Baptist Church, Trinity, Ala.

Fellowship Baptist Church, Milan, recently called Eddie Holmes as pastor. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

First Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge, will have a special Sunday Oct. 1. The speaker will be Phil Glisson, evangelist from Memphis. His wife, Teresa, who is a ventriloquist, will be there with Scotty.

On Oct. 8, Gibson Baptist Church, Gibson, will be celebrating 140 years of ministry with a special day of worship. Max Walker will be preaching the morning service at 10:30 a.m., along with special music and an add-a-dish meal following the service. Also, as part of the celebration, a cake walk will take place.

Members of Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, Portland, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Fosterville Baptist Church, Bell Buckle, will celebrate homecoming on Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. Philip Meade will speak. A fellowship dinner will follow. For more information, call 615-233-5380.

Clark Street Baptist Church, Johnson City, will celebrate 60 years of ministry with a homecoming celebration on Sept. 17. The service begins at 10 a.m. with the gospel trio Sacred Harmony, followed by an 11 a.m. service with guest speaker Willie Lunsford and guest choir director Glenn Church. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Bethel Baptist Church, Clinton, recently held revival services with Floyd “Lammie” Lammersfeld. There were two professions of faith.

First Baptist Church, Pulaski, will host a faith and disability conference sponsored by the Giles County Special Needs Support Group on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m. Chrissy Hood, chair of the organization, said the goal of the conference is to “make churches more aware of those in our community with disabilities and give insight into ways to make churches more welcoming to those with disabilities. Speakers include Erik Carter, professor of special education at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, and Brandon Brown of Empower TN. For more information, call Hood at 931-363-8273. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Riva Lake Baptist Church, Winchester, celebrated homecoming on Aug. 13 with guest speaker Richard Craddock, pastor of First Baptist Church, Summitville.

Highland Park Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, will hold homecoming service on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m.

Iron City First Baptist Church, Iron City, celebrated homecoming on Aug. 20.

Lucy Baptist Church, Millington, will celebrate its 147th anniversary on Sept. 17 with a time of fellowship at 9 a.m., followed by Sunday School at  9:30 a.m., and worship at 10:45 a.m. with former member Brandon Tucker preaching. Tucker currently serves as lay elder at Lakewood Baptist Church in Oakland. A fellowship meal (“potluck”) follows at noon. [Read more…]