LEADERS

Derek Westmoreland is now serving as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington. He formerly served as senior pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, from 2012-20. Westmoreland was licensed and ordained into the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church, Collierville. He is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova. He earned a doctor of ministry degree in expository preaching from Union in 2014. Westmoreland currently serves as a director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He and his wife, Tiffany, have four children.

Frank Derrick began serving Jan. 1 as director of missions for Union Baptist Association, based in Sparta. Derrick also serves as associate pastor and minister to students at Bear Cove Baptist Church, Sparta. Derrick and his wife, Connie, have four grown children and several grandchildren. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Jimmy Tucker is the new manager of Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden. Tucker grew up in Lakeland, Fla., and recently worked at Camp Whispering Pines in Citronelle, Ala., as director and prior to that served as director at Pu’u Kahea Conference Center/Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Ashley, have two children.

Scott Manns Sr. began serving Jan. 3 as senior pastor of Dotsonville Baptist Church,Woodlawn, in Cumberland Baptist Association. He formerly served in Alabama.

Parks Chastain is the new pastor of Maple Grove Baptist Church in Dickson. [Read more…]

Charles Pratt, director of missions for Fayette Baptist Association, based in Somerville, has recently written a new book, Back to the Beginning of a Perfect Creation. The book reinforces the Bible’s account that God created the world in six days. Pratt also founded overseas ministry called Cross Partners Ministry Inc., to assist in constructing church buildings in poor countries and has led volunteer teams on numerous trips to share their faith with people in outdoor crusades, high school classrooms and with college students, resulting in thousands of professions of faith. For more information about the book or how to obtain a copy, contact Pratt at 901-573-5063.

Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City has appointed Gloria Walker as vice president for student services, effective Dec. 4. She had been serving as acting VP for student services since May 1.  She joined the C-N staff in 2012 as athletic liaison before also joining the Life Directions office as academic advisor. She had dual roles until serving for nearly four years as co-director of Student Success. She is a member of Manley Baptist Church, Morristown. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Clear Creek Baptist Church, Dyer, called Steve Hemann as pastor, effective Nov. 1.

Chris Sumner has been called as youth pastor by White Hall Baptist Church, Trenton.

Short Creek Baptist Church, Athens, has called Will Davis as pastor, effective Nov. 8.

Garry Duncan began serving as pastor of South Liberty Baptist Church, Athens, on Nov. 15. [Read more…]

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…]

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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…]