LEADERS
Darrell Nimmo, a retired Tennessee Baptist pastor living in Goodlettsville, will write the Bible Studies for Life commentary for the March-May quarter. In addition to Tennessee he has served churches in Kentucky and Texas. He graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and he has been married to his wife Mary for 46 years. Mary has served on staff with the TBMB for 33 years at the Baptist and Reflector. They have two children and five grandchildren. Darrell is available for supply preaching and interims. Rich Lloyd, pastor of First Baptist Church, Newport, will continue writing the Explore the Bible series.
Shiloh Baptist Church, Mount Juliet, voted Dec. 3 to call Stephen M. Young II as senior pastor effective January 15, 2024. A native of Louisiana, he served as pastor of Stevendale Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, for the past 11 years. Prior to that, he served for a decade as a church-planting missionary in Minas Gerais, Brazil. He has served as ministerial staff of SBC churches in Louisiana and Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree at East Texas Baptist University and a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Grover Westover has retired after 43 years of pastoral ministry. He began his ministry in West Virginia and pastored two churches in Kentucky before coming home to West Tennessee. His most recent pastorate was Walnut Hill Baptist Church in Bells. Westover is available to serve as a supply preacher and revival preacher. He also is available to share a program of gospel music with senior adult groups in the area. He and his wife Judy live in Brownsville. He can be reached at 731-780-2001 or by e-mail at groverwestover@att.net.
Howard Kitter resigned Jan. 14 as pastor of Summertown Baptist Church, Summertown. He has accepted the pastorate of New Harmony Baptist Church, Paris.
Doug Brown, pastor of Witt Baptist Church, Morristown, recently taught a Christian apologetics class for pastors and their wives in Kenya.
DEATHS
Michael “Mike” Allen Johnson, pastor of West End Baptist Church, Fayetteville, died Dec. 14. He was 71. He served as a pastor for over 50 years, including West End Baptist for 33 years. He was a passionate supporter of Riverside Christian Academy in Fayetteville. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Lyn Johnson. He is survived by his two daughters and five grandchildren.
Omer Painter, retired pastor of several East Tennessee Baptist churches, and former director of missions for Tennessee Valley Baptist Association, died Dec. 16 in Dallas, Texas, where he had moved to be closer to his children. He was 89. His Tennessee pastorates included Eureka Baptist Church, Rockwood; Rittertown Baptist Church, Rittertown; East Alcoa Baptist Church, Alcoa; Second Baptist Church (now Towering Oaks Baptist), Greeneville; First Baptist Church, Blountville; and North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland. After retiring as a DOM in 1999, he served as interim pastor of several churches in the area. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Ruth in 1993; his second wife, Betty Jean in in 1998; and his third wife, Lyda, who died in 2021. He is survived by two sons and two grandchildren.
ASSOCIATIONS
New Salem Association of Baptist Churches will host a Men’s Conference — Car and Truck Show at the Smith County Ag Center on Saturday, March 16. Registration will be held from 9-10 a.m. Related events begin at 10 a.m. A worship service begins at 11:30 a.m. with music by The Nesbitt Family. Travis Humes will be the guest speaker. Admission is free. A food truck will be on site to purchase food. For more information on the cost of entry fees for cars/trucks, e-mail newsalemassoc@yahoo.com. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Smith County Pregnancy Resource Center.
CHURCHES
Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church, Bluff City, will hold revival services April 1-2 with guest speaker Kenny Baldwin. Jamie Ferguson is pastor.
First Baptist Church, Mountain City, recently voted to begin a Christian school.
Children of Life Church in Morristown held an ordination and constitution service in Tennessee. It is the first Micronesian Baptist church in Tennessee. Elias Nech is pastor. True Life Church is the sponsoring church. Calvary Baptist is the host church.
Wolf Creek Baptist Church, Spring City, will have revival services March 17-20. The evangelist will be Phil Glisson of Memphis.