LEADERS

Kenny Bruce, pastor emeritus of Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis, will write the Bible Studies for Life commentaries for the Baptist and Reflector during the Sept.-Nov. quarter. Bruce is a graduate of Mississipppi State University, Starkville, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, where he earned a master’s degree and a doctor of ministry degree. Before being called into the ministry, he attended law school for two years. He became pastor of Whitten Memorial Baptist Church in Memphis and served for seven years and as a church planter in Cordova for two years before accepting a pastorate in Alabama. He returned to Memphis in 2000 to become pastor of Leawood Baptist Church, Memphis. The church built a new church and Bruce became pastor of Leawood East. After serving as pastor of those two churches for 20 years, he retired in 2020. He is available for interim pastorates and supply preaching. Mike Dawson, who wrote during the previous quarter, will continue writing the Explore the Bible series.

John Pinkston

Miller’s Cove Baptist Church, Walland, has called Brian Ailey as pastor. He formerly served as youth pastor at Laurel Bank Baptist Church, Friendsville.

Jefferson County Baptist Association has called  John T. Pinkston as full time associational missionary. He is the former pastor of Buffalo Grove Baptist Church where he served for 29 years. Pinkston has served in the association for 38 years. [Read more…]

EVENTS

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board is sponsoring four Focus discipleship conferences in August: Aug. 19, 6-9 p.m., Faith Baptist Church, Arlington; Aug. 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., First Baptist Church, Sevierville; Aug. 26, 6:30-9 p.m., Judson Baptist Church, Nashville; and Aug. 28, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Westwood Baptist Church, Cleveland. The conferences are designed to assist pastors, Sunday School directors, group coordinators and teachers in all age groups to expand their knowledge as they focus on the Great Commission. The cost is $10 per person. Register at www.tnbaptist.org. For more information, call Mark Miller, baptism-discipleship team leader for the TBMB, at 615-476-5564. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Mark Larue

First Baptist Church, Newbern, recently called Mark LaRue as senior pastor. Mark previously served as senior pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Bethel Springs. LaRue was licensed to the ministry by the former Leaclair Baptist Church in Memphis. He was ordained by the former Dellwood Baptist Church in Memphis. A Memphis native, LaRue graduated from Crichton College (formerly Mid-South Bible College) and earned his master’s degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, both in Memphis. Mark earned his doctor of ministry in biblical preaching through the Stephen F. Olford Center for Biblical Preaching and the Master’s School of Divinity. Mark and his wife, Kimsey, have three grown sons. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Short Creek Baptist Church, Christiana, will hold Vacation Bible School July 15-18 for children ages 3 through eighth grade. Times vary. For information, call Annette Ball at 615-604-4678. The church did not conduct VBS last year due to COVID-19.

Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, will host Woman of Focus, a women’s conference on Sept. 18 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Keynote speakers are Nancy Stafford (Hollywood actress, pastor’s wife and author), and Kim Aldrich, Nashville author. Worship will be led by Grammy nominated girl band, High Road. The conference will include panelists from across the Southeast. The 2021 theme is “Lighting the Darkness.” For more information and costs, contact Sharon Wilharm at sharonwilharm@comcast.net or 615-766-2885.

Westwood Baptist Church, Cleveland, will host Special Church Security Training for local church security teams on Monday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. Guest speakers are Steve Crump, district attorney, Tennessee 10th Judicial District, who will address “What the Law Says About Protecting Others,” and Jeff Kalb, deacon and security team member at Westwood, who will address “What the Bible Says About Protecting Others.” Pre-registration is required. Visit westwoodlife.org and follow prompts on the Security Event page. For more information, contact Joe Gilbert at 423-584-3969 or jmgilbert98@gmail.com.

Liberty Baptist Church, Somerville, will hold revival services July 25-28 with evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.

LEADERS

Grace Baptist Church, Mason, recently called Tom Burris as pastor and Eli Taylor as worship leader.

Martha Chambers, vice president of finance and business and chief financial officer at Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, has retired. She joined the staff as comptroller in 2011 and was named CFO within six months of her arrival. Elaine Smith will assume the role of chief business and personnel officer. Previously Smith served as associate vice president for business and personnel services. Robert Key will serve as chief financial officer/treasurer. Key previously served as assistant vice president for financial and accounting services and controller. In addition, Kevin Triplett has been named vice president of university relations. He formerly served as executive pastor at Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, for two years.

Ruthville Baptist Church, Martin, recently called Scott Williams as pastor.

John Bowers recently joined the staff of Weakley County Baptist Association to serve in the association’s biblical counseling ministry. He is a certified counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.

Jerry Cornett recently resigned as pastor of Stoney Creek Baptist Church, Elizabethton.

DEATHS

Don Mauldin

Retired Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff member Donald E. Mauldin died June 20 at the age of 88. A native of South Carolina, Mauldin served churches in his home state before moving to Nashville in 1966 to become minister of education at Woodmont Baptist Church. He later served as associate director of missions for Nashville Baptist Association before joining the staff of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now TBMB) in 1976 where he served until his retirement in 2001. Mauldin, who was a member of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, spent most of his career working in discipleship training.

Cynthia Simmons

He also led the former senior adult conference that was held in Gatlinburg on an annual basis for a number of years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn. He is survived by two daughters and three grandsons.

Cynthia Erin Bourne Coulston Simmons, 38, died June 3 in Memphis after complications from a second liver transplant. A native of Covington, she was the wife of Josh Simmons, pastor of Cross Roads Baptist Church, Bells. She served as a children’s Sunday School teacher for 13 years. She is survived by her husband and 5-year-old son, Eli.

ASSOCIATIONS

The disaster relief team from William Carey Baptist Association went to St. Charles, La., May 23-29 to install insulation and drywall. Eight people from four churches participated.

Weakley County Baptist Association will sponsor its annual summer mission trip July 10-16. The team, which will include youth who have completed the eighth through 12th grades and adults, will serve with Ocoee Outreach in Cleveland. The team will assist with Vacation Bible School in the Boys and Girls Club and in several construction projects. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Spring Hill Baptist Church, Trenton, recently ordained Jeff Jarnigin and Mike Howell as deacons. John Adams preached the ordination message.

Carol B. Ghattas has recently written, When Doors Close: Changing Course in Missions Without Losing Your Way, published by Xulon Press. The book is written for those who are thinking about missions, already in the journey or reflecting on ministry from the other side of a closed door. Ghattis and her late husband, Raouf, founded the Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro after returning from the mission field. She now attends Third Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.

Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens, recently called Travis Torbett as pastor.

First Baptist Church, Somerville, has called Ethan Winfield as associate pastor of students/young adults.

Sonya Smith is the new preschool/children’s director at Orlinda Baptist Church, Orlinda. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Tod Tanner

Tod Tanner has been named vice president and chief administrative officer of the Tennessee Baptist Foundation. Tanner has a degree in business administration from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; a master of religious education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas; and a doctor of education degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He is a former staff member of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, and most recently served as family pastor for the Gathering@840 in Franklin. He and his wife, Deborah, have a daughter.

Roy Slaughter was called as pastor of First Baptist Church, Hillsboro, on April 11. He formerly served as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Manchester. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He and his wife, Bridgett, have three adult children. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Fairview Baptist Tabernacle Church, Sweetwater, recently called Hollie Miller as full-time pastor. He formerly served as pastor of Sevier Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, for 31 years and is a past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Fayette Baptist Church, Somerville, has called Hunter Burris as children’s minister. He and his wife, Taylor, have been serving as interim directors for several months. [Read more…]

Mark Smith

Smyrna Baptist Church in Chapel Hill has called Mark Smith as pastor.  He began serving April 4.  He and his wife Toni last served at First Baptist Church, Dexter, Mo.

CHURCHES

Last year lightning struck Roe Junction Baptist Church, Morristown, and it burned to the ground. Disaster relief volunteers assisted in the demolition and hauled away debris, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. This summer, Builders for Christ, a national organization will help rebuild the church and they are looking for construction volunteers to assist, Jones said. For more information, contact Greg Womack of Builders for Christ at 205-837-9454 or Joe Halbrooks at 205-907-8423. [Read more…]