LEADERS
Jim Cain
Faith Baptist Church, Linden, which meets at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center, has called Jim Cain as pastor. He has been serving as interim pastor for the past six months. A native of Memphis, Cain has lived in Perry County for about a year. His wife Mary, a native of Perry County, is involved with children’s ministry.
John Green
John Green IV is the new pastor of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville. He formerly served as senior pastor of Shindler Drive Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla. He holds the master of divinity degree from New Orleans (La.) Baptist Theological Seminary and the doctor of philosophy in evangelism and missions from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He has been active on both the state convention and Southern Baptist Convention levels. He served as vice president of the Florida Baptist Convention State Board of Missions and served on the SBC Credentials Committee in 2015 and is a member of the SBC’s Young Leaders Advisory Council. He and his wife Katherine have three children.
John Norvell
First Baptist Church, Bemis, observed a special day-long celebration in honor of John Norvell and his 30 years of dedicated service to the Lord at this church on Oct. 22. Norvell has served as a leader of children and youth, as well as senior adults, with his present title of associate pastor of music and senior adults. The day’s festivities included music from the children’s choir and Bro. John and his late wife Jane’s children, Joseph and Bethany, as well as the church’s sanctuary choir which included past and present members. A proclamation from Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist was read by Pastor Bill Sims proclaiming the day as John A. Norvell Day. Family and friends gathered in the afternoon for more celebration as the church hosted a “Celebration, Chat, and Chew” of Norvell’s journey. A highlight of the afternoon’s festivities was a surprise mini-concert by the West Tennessee Ministers of Music of which he is a member.
Chris Huff was ordained as a deacon Oct. 29 at Unity Baptist Church, Allardt.
CHURCHES
Trinity Baptist Church, Hendersonville, will celebrate its 25th anniversary on December 3, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The two-part service will consist of musical selections, a note-burning celebration, historical reflections by members, and recognitions in the first portion, followed by the lighting of the Advent Wreath, worship music, and a message by former pastor Lloyd Byers, in the second portion. Lunch in the fellowship hall will follow the service. All former members and staff are invited to participate in this celebration. Reservations for the meal can be made by contacting the church office at 615-826-0874.
Evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis will speak Dec. 3 at New Bethlehem Baptist Church, Dyer. His wife, Teresa, who is a ventriloquist, also will be at the service with “Scotty.”
First Baptist Church, Waverly, honored Pastor Scott Brown with a reception in October which is recognized as Pastor Appreciation Month.
Stones River Baptist Church, Smyrna, recently celebrated its 65th anniversary with a homecoming celebration. In addition to guests from all across Tennessee, the church had guests from North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Arkansas, according to Pastor Dan Dale. During the Sunday morning service the church burned a note on a debt that occurred in 1998 and received a special commendation from Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and a proclamation from Smyrna Mayor Mary Ester Reed. “It was more than just a homecoming. It seemed more like a revival,” Dale said.
DEATHS
James Redding, who served on the staff of the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board) from 1983-90, died Nov. 2 in Fort Myers, Fla., at the age of 84. The Nashville native also was a former missionary to Peru and served as pastor of churches in Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marilyn. He is survived by wife Geraldine Redding, four children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
James “Eddie” Haynes, pastor of Hampton’s Crossroads Baptist Church, Cookeville, died Nov. 6 after a brief illness. He served as pastor for over 42 years in Middle Tennessee and served at Hampton’s Crossroads for 19 years. He was 65. He is survived by his wife, Sheva, and two sons who are both pastors — Nathan Haynes of First Baptist Church, Spencer, and Robert Haynes of Bangham Heights Baptist Church, Cookeville.
Big Hatchie Baptist Association’s officers for 2017-2018 are, from left, Carol Moore, Brighton Baptist Church, clerk; Ronnie Wylie, Woodlawn Baptist Church, treasurer; Joe Thomason, Mount Lebanon Baptist Church, moderator; and Jody Johnson, Faith Baptist Church, vice moderator.
