LEADERS
Jimmy Tucker
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.
Carter Brown began serving Dec. 1 as director of Camp BA YO CA in Knox County Baptist Association. He formerly was director of Camp Tipton in Chilhowee Baptist Association. Camp Tipton has called Matthew Fowler as the new director. A graduate of Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, he is a former youth pastor at Central Baptist Church, Alcoa. He and his wife, Kelli, served on the camp staff for several summers and are familiar with the camp operations. They began their new ministry Jan. 11.
Encounter Life Church, Manchester, has called Billy Levengood to return as pastor. He was founding pastor of the church and left in 2016 to plant Redemption Community Church in Oxford, Pa., with NAMB.
Brian Stowers has been called as pastor of Boynton Valley Baptist Church, Manchester, in north Coffee County. He has served as a youth pastor and children’s director in previous churches. This is his first pastorate.
Siam Baptist Church, Elizabethton, has called Willie Lunceford as pastor.
Ben Whitmire will begin serving Jan. 17 as pastor of Maplewood Baptist Church, Paris. The church will host a pounding for the pastor and his family.
DEATHS
Roy Fowler
Roy A. Fowler of Athens, a retired pastor, Southern Baptist missionary and director of missions, died Dec. 28. He was 86. Fowler served as a missionary to Brazil. He served as pastor of churches in Kentucky, Arkansas and Illinois. He moved to McMinn County in 1991 where he served as director of missions for McMinn-Meigs Baptist association until his retirement in 2000. Fowler had a twin brother, Ray (now deceased) who was a longtime pastor in Memphis. Fowler is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia Ann Ross Fowler, six children, 15 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Charles “Chuck” Wilkerson died Nov. 24 at the age of 77. He was recognized earlier this year for serving 25 years as pastor of Paynes Baptist Church, Estill Springs, in Duck River Baptist Association.
James “Jim” Growden died Nov. 29 at the age of 82. Growden was a former pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Manchester, and College Street Baptist Church, Tullahoma. He also was a former director of the Shepherd’s House ministry in Tullahoma.
Bennie Morrison, a layman at Harmony Baptist Church, Whiteville, in Haywood Baptist Association, died Jan. 4 of COVID-19. He was 87. Morrison led music on a volunteer basis at Harmony Baptist for 70 years. He also taught a men’s Sunday School class for many of those years. He was a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and spent more than 40 years in public education.
ASSOCIATIONS
Chilhowee Baptist Association, based in Maryville, has announced that Camp Tipton will begin construction of the first of two, two-bedroom cabins that will house 10-12 campers each in order to enhance the camp’s ability to host more mission teams and church retreats with up-to-date lodging.
Salem Baptist Association, based in Liberty, held its first virtual annual meeting in its 198-year-history, on Dec. 8 with 15 churches in attendance. The association reelected Dusty Desimone as moderator; Bobby Lee Hale, vice moderator and Kenward Griffith as treasurer. Aaron Disney was newly elected as clerk. Paul Fries serves as director of missions.
