CHURCHES
Etter Baptist Church, Byrdstown, will host its 4th annual Golden 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, March 16, at 9 a.m. The event begins at Sunset Marina in Monroe and runs along the shores of Dale Hollow Lake. Early registration is $25 and includes a T-shirt if registered before March 1; $35 same day registration. All proceeds for the event go toward the Golden Offering for State Missions. For more information, contact Eric Thoman at 931-650-1077.
Lincoln Baptist Church, Fayetteville, will host a concert with the Open Heart Quartet from Bedford, Ind., on Feb. 23 from 6-8 p.m. The church is located at 267 Lincoln Road in Fayetteville.
Hillcrest Baptist Church, Lebanon, will host its 4th annual Real Bible Conference March 6-8. On Wednesday, there will be a 6:30 p.m. service. Services on Thursday and Friday include a 9 a.m. service with lunch provided and a 6:30 p.m. service. Speakers include Ron Coram, Kevin Hamm, Roc Collins, Bartholomew Orr, Mike Stone and Tommy Steele. The church is located at 621 Hartsville Pike in Lebanon.
Inskip Baptist Church, Knoxville, will celebrate its 100th year anniversary on Sunday, June 9. All members and staff, past or present, encouraged to attend. Worship starts at 10:45 a.m., followed by lunch and afternoon service. Everyone is invited.
DEATHS
B. Gray Allison
Thomas Edward Gatton, a former Tennesssee Baptist pastor, died Feb. 7 in Oklahoma City at the age of 92. He was pastor of several churches in Tennessee, including Second Baptist Church, Knoxville, where he served for 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Beverly Harris Gatton, three children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
B. Gray Allison, the founder of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova, died Feb. 12. He was 94.
Known as “Dr. Gray” by friends and associates, he served as Mid-America’s president from its inception in 1972 until 1997. After that time he continued to serve as professor and chair of the evangelism department.
Allison created the seminary to be a conservative alternative to liberal-leaning institutions. He required faculty and staff to be Bible-believing and fully committed to personal evangelism while championing biblical inerrancy. As a predominately donor-supported institution, the seminary was also created to provide students a fully accredited, high-quality, personal and practical education at an affordable cost.
LEADERS
Ross Campbell was ordained into the gospel ministry on Jan. 20 at Clark Street Baptist Church, Johnson City, on Jan. 20. He is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. He works with high school and college students and the church’s outreach ministry.
Donna Abbott recently retired after almost 30 years as a ministry assistant at Meridian Baptist Church, Knoxville.
First Baptist Church, Collinwood, has called David Byrd as interim pastor for six months.
Brian Sohn, assistant professor of education at Carson-Newman University, has recently co-authored The Phenomenological Heart of Teaching and Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice in Higher Education. Sohn co-authored the book with five other writers. He was lead author on two of the nine chapters and co-wrote the remaining seven.
Brownsville Baptist Church, Brownsville, held a 10th anniversary reception for Walter Brinks, minister of music and children, and his family on Feb. 10.
Eagleview Baptist Church, Cosby, has called Kris Brady as pastor.
French Broad Baptist Church, Parrottsville, has called Herb Burchell as pastor.
Frank Bell recently retired as pastor of Webb Baptist Church, Hartford. Daniel Bell is now serving as pastor.
EVENTS
The West Tennessee Evangelism Rally, sponsored by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and Union University, will be held March 3 in the Penick Academic Commons in the campus of Union in Jackson. Roc Collins, director of strategic objectives for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board will preach at the rally while Kevin Hamilton, minister of music and worship at The Church at Sugar Creek in Humboldt, will lead worship. A number of breakout sessions led by Tennessee Baptist pastors and denominational leaders will be presented. Youth and women’s tracks also will be offered. Registration for the event closes on Feb. 24.
Milton Knox, center, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dayton, celebrated his 30th anniversary with the church on Feb. 3. At the service were Steve Pearson, right, of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff, who read a letter from Randy C. Davis, TBMB president and executive treasurer, and Josh Lancaster, associate pastor of Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga. Lancaster serves as a TBC connector for Harvest Field 5.
