LEADERS
Bob Bickford
The board of directors of Nashville Baptist Association has recommended Bob Bickford as the next executive director. The association will have a special called meeting on June 2 at Grace Baptist Church, Nashville, to vote on Bickford. He has served as the chairman of the church revitalization team of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. He led in the development of the Resound Network, a collaborative network of associations in the state of Missouri, and he served as the associate director of replant for the North American Mission Board. Bickford has authored several resources including, Am I a Replanter?, Pathways to Partnership and the Associational Replanting Guide. For nine years he pastored The Groves Church in suburban St. Louis, which was a replant of Sherwood Baptist Church.
Charles Specht
Trinity Baptist Church, Hendersonville, has called Charles Specht as senior pastor. He served as interim pastor for nearly a year. He also is a published author. Specht and his wife, Kathy, have five children.
Battle Creek Baptist Church, Springfield, recently called Danny Dixon as pastor. He served as interim pastor for a year.
CHURCHES
Ralston Baptist Church, Martin, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The church was formed in May of 1874. The church will hold an all-day celebration on Oct. 6.
Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, celebrated the opening of its new permanent home for its Avenue South Campus on Sunday, May 12. The event took place at the new location, 901 Acklen Avenue in Nashville, and marked the relocation from their previous location at the Acuff Rose Building on 8th Avenue South. Ten years ago, Brentwood Baptist Church started its third campus, the Church at Avenue South, to reach families and young adults in Davidson County. Today, Brentwood Baptist has nine regional campuses across Middle Tennessee.
EDUCATION
Union University held its 199th annual spring commencement during two ceremonies on May 4 on the university’s Great Lawn for 440 graduates. Hunter Baker, provost at North Greenville University and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Union, delivered the commencement address, encouraging graduates to be faithful to God and to each other as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
Carson-Newman University announced four inductees into the third class of the Robert Reedy Bryan Society. The recognition took place during C-N’s May 3 spring undergraduate commencement, which awarded degrees to 288 graduates and featured commencement address speaker, Phil Roe, former mayor of Johnson City and representative of the First Congressional District in the U.S. Congress. Inductees to the Bryan Society included Jeanette Blazier, Becky Boatright, Jim Coppock and Carey Herring.
DEATHS
Bill R. Ailey of Maryville died May 20 at the age of 72. He served as pastor of several churches in Chilhowee Baptist Association. He is survived by his wife, Connie, and a son and grandson.
Jo Ann (Browning) Davis of Mount Juliet died May 5 at the age of 89. Davis and her late husband, Don, were very active in disaster relief and mission projects all over the world. The couple donated 14 acres of land where the Missions Mobilization Center and a missionary house is located. She is survived by two children, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
SS WRITERS
Joshua Moore, pastor of First Baptist Church, Sharon, will write the Bible Studies for Life series in the Baptist and Reflector for the June-August quarter. He formerly served as pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Milan, and minister of education at FBC, Dresden. Moore is a 2003 graduate of Union University and holds two master’s degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
Darrell Nimmo, who wrote the Bible Studies series last quarter, will write the Explore the Bible series this quarter.
Shiloh Baptist Association recently recognized Ben Martin, center, pastor of First Baptist Church, Michie, for 40 years of service and commitment as a minister of the gospel. With him is his wife, Lisa, and Russ Wilkins, associational missions strategist.
