LEADERS
Cody Pendergrass
Cody Pendergrass has been called as family pastor to Shiloh Baptist Church, effective Sept. 25. He has been married to Sarah Beth for 13 years and they have two daughters. Pendergrass has been in youth ministry for 17 years. He is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Clayton Dunsmore has been called as interim pastor at Union McMinn Baptist Church ,Niota, effective Oct. 2. Dunsmore served as pastor of UMBC from 1973-77. He most recently served as interim pastor at North Etowah Baptist Church, Etowah.
Michael Icenhour has been called as interim pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mountain City. It was incorrectly reported in the Oct. 12 issue that he was called as pastor.
New Macedonia Baptist Church, Philadelphia, recently ordained Brett King, who is serving as youth pastor at First Baptist Church, Sweetwater.
Luke Brackett recently was ordained to the ministry by Island Creek Baptist Church, Madisonville. He is serving as pastor of Chestua Baptist Church, Madisonville.
CHURCHES
First Baptist Church, Woodbury, will have revival services Nov. 6-9 with guest evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis.
Laneview Baptist Church, Trenton, will hold a 100-year celebration during homecoming on Oct. 30 at 10 a.m.
First Baptist Church, Scotts Hill, is planning a 75th anniversary celebration weekend Oct. 29-30 with a fish fry and prayer meeting on the 29th. The church will begin its fall revival on the following day with Joe Wright as guest evangelist.
Indian Lake Peninsula Church, Hendersonville, will host “Oasis: A Refreshing Event for Senior Adults” on Dec. 1 at 1:30 p.m. The event will feature Grammy and Dove award-winning gospel singer Guy Penrod. The program also will include Christian comedian Mickey Bell and pianist Frank Jones who will play favorite hymns and gospel songs. For more information, including ticket costs, contact Frank Jones Ministries at 205-393-7020.
DEATHS
Donald Owens
Donald Owens, pastor of Dry Creek Baptist Church, Dowelltown, since 2001, died Oct. 9 at the age of 89. Owens was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1947 and had been a pastor since he was 18 years old. In addition to Dry Creek, pastorates included Green Hill Baptist Church, Murfreesboro; Bradley’s Creek Baptist Church, Milton; Rutledge Falls Baptist Church, Tullahoma; Shellsford Baptist Church, McMinnville; and Immanuel Baptist Church, Lebanon, from 1963 to 2000. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Audrey Parker Owens. He is survived by three children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Ben Garner
Retired Tennessee Baptist pastor Richard Rains died Sept. 26 in Waynesboro at the age of 79. Rains served in ministry throughout Indian Creek Baptist Association with pastorates at Ray’s Chapel Baptist Church, Leatherwood Baptist Church and Memorial Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Francis Brewer Rains, two daughters and six grandchildren.
Memphis native Benny “Ben” Garner, a retired editor with Lifeway Christian Resources and former pastor of churches in Georgia and Mississippi, as well as a retired interim pastor throughout Nashville, died on Sept. 24 at the age of 79. Garner, who lived in Franklin, is survived by his wife, Sandra (a former staff member of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board), three children and seven grandchildren.
First Baptist Church, Dresden, held an ordination service on Sept. 25 for new deacon Ben Moore. Shown with Moore, center, are pastor Don McCulley, right, and Tommy Moore, council chairman.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Vonore, celebrated its 200th anniversary on Aug. 21. Pastor Andy Franklin holds the plaque presented from the Historical Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Convention to the congregation by Tony Rutherford, director of missions for Sweetwater Baptist Association.
