CHURCHES
Central Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, in cooperation with Clinton Baptist Association, will host its first annual Small Group Symposium on Jan. 20, 2022. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and breakfast and lunch will be provided to the first 200 people who register. Special guest speaker is Jerry Ross, education pastor at Quail Springs Baptist Church, Oklahoma City. A former mnister in Tennessee, Ross has helped start more than 400 small groups/Sunday School classes in 30 years. The event also will feature a panel discussion with James Rafferty, pastor of Central Baptist Church; Mike Floyd, Grace Baptist Church, Knoxville; and Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. For more information or to register, contact the church at www.orcbc.org or 865-483-7495.
Grace Fellowship Church held its first service Oct. 31 in Cowan. The church is a mission of First Baptist Church, Estill Springs. Church planter Robert Smith is pastor. The church is meeting at the Franklin House, 108 Cumberland Street, Cowan.
DEATHS
Abe Silliman
Longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor Abe Silliman died Nov. 5 at the age of 75. Silliman was pastor of 11 churches in Tennessee, including Turkey Creek Baptist Church in Savannah twice. He retired in 2014 from the pastorate of Beech Grove Baptist Church, Dyersburg, after 50 years of preaching. He was involved in Tennessee Baptist life at both the association and state convention levels. Silliman is survived by his wife of 58 years, Clara, four children and 11 grandchildren.
EVENTS
The West Tennessee Pastor’s Conference will meet Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. in the Grant Center at Union University. Guest speaker will be Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Noah’s Ark Widows Ministry of First Baptist Church, Ethridge, celebrated its 11-year anniversary on Dec. 4th (postponed from Sept. due to Covid). The group began with six members and to date 115 ladies have joined this ministry. Several members have passed away and a few have remarried. The group meets on the first Saturday of each month at First Baptist at 9:30 a.m. All widows are invited to join them. Pictured from left, are kneeling, co-leader Debbie Griffin, Janet Poston, Fay Dodson and co-leader Diane Hildenbrandt; second row, Karen Demorest, Kay Stoneburner, Wanda Pruitt, Betty Liles, Jane Jennings, Marlys Smith, Kay Parker and Margie Kobeck; back row, Mary Kay Michaels, Carol Belew, Pat Myhan, Jackie Hyde, Gail Renfro, Sherry Jones, Sally Riley, Debbie Nutt, Jody Konig, Sherry Young, Janet Rae Franks and Pat Stewart. Present but not pictured: Elvie Tillar.
