LEADERS

Mike Thrower, director of missions, Beech River Baptist Association, based in Lexington, retired Jan. 31 after serving almost 15 years. He has be en called as minister to senior adults and of pastoral care, First Baptist Church, Lexington. Formerly he was pastor, Brunswick Baptist Church, Brunswick, for 20 years; and pastor of two churches in Mississippi for six years. Thrower is a graduate of New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary.

David and Mary Demps, house managers of Stoneway Acres — White House (for men), Lebanon, of Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes, based in Brentwood, are retiring. The couple has served TBAH for 20 years. The Demps also are directors of the special needs ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church, Lebanon. They will be honored by the church on Sunday, March 26 at 7 p.m. For more information, contact Tricia Culver at 615-444-8820 or wcba@wcbamissions.com. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

New Market Baptist Church, New Market, will hold its 20th annual “Trail to the Empty Tomb.” About 650 people viewed the presentation last year on two nights. One night was rained out. This year the outdoor dramatic presentation will be offered Thursday – Saturday, April 13-15, from 8-9:30 p.m. For more information, contact Becky Finley at 865-850-6313 or rebeccalfinley@charter.net.

Trinity Baptist Church, Knoxville, will hold revival services March 19-22. Phil Glisson, evangelist of Memphis, will preach. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Bobby Rushing was called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Gleason, effective Jan. 15.

First Baptist Church, Lafayette, called Waylon Eddings of Texas as senior pastor, effective Jan. 8.

Larry Fields, retired senior pastor, Central Baptist Church, Bearden, Knoxville, has been called as interim pastor, Smithwood Baptist Church, Knoxville. He served Central Baptist, Bearden, for 23 years. He also was interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Roger Smith has been called as youth pastor, Ninth Street Baptist Church, Erwin.

Jamie Carver and Troy Whitson have been licensed to preach by Grace Baptist Church, Johnson City.

Charles Anderson, retired pastor who lives in Stone Baptist Association, based in Cookeville, will return on a missions trip to Brazil again this year. He has been traveling there for 18 years. For more information, contact the association at stoneassoc@citlink.net or 931-526-4655.

Ralph Carter has been called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Ridgetop. [Read more…]

ASSOCIATIONS

A team of nine people from the Duck River Baptist Association, based in Tullahoma, and William Carey Baptist Association, based in Fayetteville, served in Taiwan Nov. 25 – Dec. 3. The Tennessee Baptists spoke to 41 classes in two schools and distributed 550 copies of the Gospel of John to students and the Bible to 41 teachers. Team members also distributed 225 New Testaments to tourists from the communist mainland and served in high school where they had spiritual discussions with students, reported Mark Puckett, director of missions, Duck River Association. 

Ocoee Outreach of CrossNet Baptist Network (formerly Bradley Baptist Association), based in Cleveland, saw 110 people make professions of faith during the summer of 2016. A total of 1,400 volunteers from 33 churches in 12 states served, leading 74 home repair projects, block parties, programs, day camps, Backyard Bible Clubs, and sports camps. [Read more…]

LEADERS

China Grove Baptist Church, Rutherford, has called Billy Crowell as interim pastor.

Dale Denning, pastor, Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Milan, was recognized recently for his 25 years of service there. Bill Northcott, former Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff member who was Denning’s pastor, made a presentation for the TBMB.

Jon Hathcock, senior pastor, East Athens Baptist Church, Athens, has been called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Fayetteville. Bob Pruett is serving as interim pastor of East Athens Baptist. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Bill Small, pastor, Rockford Baptist Church, Rockford, and his wife Mickie, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Clark Street Baptist Church, Johnson City, ordained Donald L. Minor to the ministry recently.

Woodlawn Baptist Church, Bristol, called Jonathan W. Casteel as pastor effective Nov. 1.

Chris Pass has been called as pastor, Grandview Baptist Church, Maryville.

First Baptist Church, Alcoa, has called Matt Giles as pastor. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Glen Cummings, pastor, Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Maryville, has resigned effective Dec. 18.

Will McReynolds was called as pastor, West Hills Baptist Church, Lebanon, effective Nov. 6. He comes to the church from Blue Springs Baptist Church, Rutledge.

First Baptist Church, Maryville, has called Bill Booth as pastor effective Dec. 4. He formerly was pastor of a church in Virginia. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

For about 20 years West End Baptist Church, Fayetteville, has held a Tail Gate Party capitalizing on the annual football rivalry of nearby University of Tennessee and University of Alabama and to help the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. People are asked to bring toilet paper or Tide laundry detergent because UA fans say, “Roll Tide.” Toilet paper is on a roll so that is why it is asked for, explained Mike Johnson, pastor. People also can bring paper towels or Cheer laundry detergent if they want to “wipe out Alabama” and “cheer UT on,” added Johnson. This year about 175 people attended the event, which is association-wide. It was held a few days following the game which was won by UA but “that didn’t keep everyone from having a good time,” he said. Enough of the items were collected to fill a large trailer which was delivered to the TBCH Brentwood campus, said Johnson.

Calvary Baptist Church, Knoxville, will distribute Thanksgiving baskets of food to needy families on Sunday, Nov. 20, following the morning service. For more information, contact 865-523-9419 or amanda@knoxcalvary.com. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

The Grove Church, Greenbrier, has chartered an American Heritage Girls troop and a Trail Life troop for boys. These groups are Christian alternatives to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. For more information, contact Robert Dillard at 615-498-8292 or admin@thegrove431.com.

Etter Baptist Church, Byrdstown, will hold its annual Golden 5K Walk/Run for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions on Saturday, Nov. 5 beginning at 9 a.m., at Sunset Marina, Obey River Park. For more information, contact Eric Thoman, pastor, at 931-650-1077 or the church’s Facebook page.

Faith Baptist Church, Madison, will hold a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Activities for children also will be provided. Space for exhibitors may be available. For more information, contact 615-579-7412 or dkaywendell@gmail.com. [Read more…]