Beulah Baptist Church, Kingsport, recently held a recognition service for its first ever VBS Directors Traineeship graduates. The program was initiated by longtime VBS director Betty Cress, now assistant VBS director for 2024, who felt the need to train young adults for VBS leadership in the church. Cress developed a manual with input from others, including Vicki Hulsey, childhood specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. The five graduates of the program received a certificate and a copy of The Prayer Code by O.S. Hawkins. From left are Hunter Smith, Shian Herring, Alyssa Herring, Kendra Asher, Rachel Campbell and Betty Cress.
BOOKS
Ernest Easley, teaching pastor of equipping at First Baptist Church, Cleveland, recently has written Resting in God’s Sovereignty. The book is a 30-day devotional on God’s plan for His people. It provides his insight from a pastor who has learned the goodness that comes from trusting the Lord and cites 10 biblical figures who trusted in the Lord as well. Easley served as a lead pastor for more than 32 years in Texas and Georgia and is a former professor of evangelism at Union University in Jackson. For information on the book, visit www.restingingodssovereignty.com.
Sheila Stafford Rogers, a member of First Baptist Church, Fisherville, in Eads, recently has written I Believe in God, So I’m Saved, Right? The book explores the question, “Has your spirit ever been grieved when someone professes Christianity but their life tells a different story? The book shines a spotlight on the many faulty ideas some believers have that rob them of the truth of genuine salvation and an eternal life with God. The book is available from www.amazon.com.
Matt Tullos, stewardship specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, recently authored Oh-No, Aha and Glory Be: Backstories of Chaos, Rescue & Worship. The book is a collection of columns written by Tullos as he examines life events that everyone faces — things that cause us to exclaim “Oh-No,” lessons that make us go “Aha” and those wonderful events when we can say, “Glory Be” while giving thanks to God. And, Tullos notes, “on rare occasions we say all of them in a minute. This is the nature of life and its symphony of sudden calamities and miraculous rescues.” The book is available on Amazon.
Mike Salva, media specialist for the TBMB, recently authored Allergic to Pretense: A Collection of Dopey Cartoons. It’s a collection of mostly single-panel gag cartoons, with topics that include introversion, relationships, conformity, hypocrisy, political posturing, and the occasional Batman reference. Some are detailed drawings, while others look like they could have been scribbled on a napkin. Salva is an animator who’s made a lot of cartoons with a lot of well-known people in showbiz, and a lot of well-known companies. The book is available on Amazon.DEATHS
Longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor Johnny Burton Hood died Dec. 26 at the age of 78. Pastorates included Old Ocoee Baptist Church, Benton; Eastview and Brittsville Baptist churches in Georgetown; and Elkmont Baptist Church, Cleveland, where he retired in 2020 after 35 years of service.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shirley Hood, three sons, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
EVENTS
The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board will sponsor a Church Revitalization Conference, Feb. 22-23, at Victory Baptist Church in Mount Juliet. Program leaders include Bill Elliff, pastor, The Summit Church, North Little Rock, Ark.; Jeff Iorg, president, Gateway Seminary, Ontario, Calif.; and Austin Clark, worship leader, First Baptist Church, Seymour. The cost is $20 and includes meals and materials. For more information or to register, visit here.
The State Evangelism Conference will be held April 7-8 at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. The conference begins at 6 p.m. on April 7 and will conclude at 4:30 p.m. the following day. Program personalities include Jordan Easley, pastor, First Baptist Church, Cleveland; Sam Landrith, senior associate pastor, Thompson Station Church, Thompson’s Station; John Butler, pastor, East Rogersville Baptist Church, Rogersville; Bobby Lewis, pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Knoxville; Bartholomew Orr, pastor, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, Miss.; Kirk Kirkland, worship leader, Judson Baptist Church, Nashville; and Ben Waites, worship leader, Ben Waites Ministries, Nashville. More info here.
Mike Winters
LEADERS
Pond Grove Baptist Church, Rockwood, called longtime Tennessee Baptist minister Mike Winters as pastor, effective Jan. 14.
Dwight Henry recently was called as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Spring City.
