Stewart
LEADERS
Ron Stewart, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Knoxville, for 28 years, will retire effective June 1, 2016. He is a former president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Stewart also was a member of the TBC Executive Board from 1998-2004 and 2006-07 and of the board of Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, from 2010-15.
Kelly Harden has been named dean of the School of Nursing at Union University, Jackson. Harden, associate dean of graduate programs in the School of Nursing and chair of the doctor of nursing practice program, joined the Union faculty in 2006. She is a member of Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson.
Natan Velasquez of Venezuela has been called as pastor, Iglesia de las Americas (Church of the Americas), Franklin. He is the former president of the Venezuelan Baptist Convention.
Atchley
Grace Atchley, executive assistant, Mid-South Baptist Association, based in metropolitan Memphis, will retire Dec. 31. She has worked for Southern Baptists for 47 years. Formerly Atchley worked at a Baptist church in Kansas, the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, Southern Baptist Brotherhood Commission for 25 years, and Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship.
Stephen Atwood of Eagleville has been called as interim pastor, Edgemont Baptist Church, Shelbyville. To apply as pastor, contact the church at 931-684-7676.
Jeremy Isbell has been called as minister of outreach and education, First Baptist Church, Selmer.
Daniel Beard was licensed to preach by New Grove Baptist Church, Ardmore, on Nov. 15.
Campbell County Baptist Association, based in LaFollette, has called Steve Ross as interim director of missions, effective Dec. 7. He is retired pastor, Black Oak Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, where he served for nine years.
McDonald
Mary McDonald, accompanist for the Tennessee Men’s Chorale and Tennessee Ladies Chorus of the Tennessee Baptist Convention for 30 years, was honored Nov. 9 during the Summit in Millington by the groups. The chorale and chorus performed at the Summit. McDonald, based in Knoxville, also is a composer and arranger.
Clark Street Baptist Church, Johnson City, has called Bill Murray as assistant pastor of students and children, Donald Minor as associate pastor of outreach and hospital, and Jim Lindsey as interim pastor.
River Bend Baptist Church, Bristol, ordained Bill Crosswhite to the ministry on Nov. 15.
Charles Pratt, director of missions, Fayette Baptist Association, based in Somerville, will lead a missions team to the Philippines Jan. 20 – Feb. 2. For more information, contact Pratt at fbafayette@comcast.net or 901-465-8613.
CHURCHES
On Jan. 29, 2016, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, will hold a Wild Game Dinner as an outreach effort. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact 615-696-8240 or cedarhbc@bellsouth.net.
Williston Baptist Church, Williston, has started meeting in its new church facilities, part of which were built by Baptist volunteers. Ricky Burns is pastor.
The children of Fosterville Baptist Church, Bell Buckle, will present “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. A potluck meal will follow. For more information, contact 615-233-5380 or bellbuckle.tn@live.com.
Grace Baptist Church, Knoxville, will begin a year-long centennial celebration on Dec. 20 beginning with a birthday celebration.
ASSOCIATIONS
William Carey Baptist Association, based in Fayetteville, reported that 236 people were baptized in its 35 churches during 2014-15. That is the highest baptism report since 2010-11, reported Randy Maxwell, director of missions.
Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association, based in Crossville, sent a missions team Nov. 15-21 to Mead, Colo., to help Bruce Hendrich, former Tennessee pastor, and his wife Lisa. The Hendrichs are church planters in Mead. The Tennesseans worked on the house where the Hendrichs are living.
This group of about 240 people helped lead the Judgment House of First Baptist Church, Selmer, reported Joey Johnson, senior pastor.
