CHURCHES
Rocky Point Baptist Church, Russellville, recently celebrated 152 years of ministry and missions with a homecoming celebration. Maurice Quillen brought the message and David Hawkins, director of missions for Nolachucky Baptist Association, presented a plaque to Pastor Ross Woody recognizing the church for 150 years of cooperation with the Tennessee Baptist Convention.
The Helping Hands group of Lebanon Baptist Church, Talbott, recently made skirts and scarves for girls in an orphanage in India. They also provided shoes for children.
Dodson Branch Baptist Church, Cookeville, will hold revival services Sept. 30-Oct. 3 with guest evangelist Harold Hunter.
LEADERS
Houston Baptist Church, Collinwood, called John Scoggin as pastor on Aug. 26.
Jeff Wayne Franks was ordained into the gospel ministry Sept. 9 at First Baptist Church, Waynesboro.
Shelley Ball
New Concord Baptist Church, Kenton, has called Rodney Gregg as full time pastor. He was ordained Aug. 26 at Woodland Mills First Baptist Church, Woodland Mills.
Shelley Ball has been appointed assistant vice president for student affairs at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City. She will continue serving as dean of students at the university, a position she has held since 2008. She is an alumnus of the university.
Michael Prince is serving as interim pastor of First Baptist Church, Clinton.
DEATHS
Retired pastor Byron R. Epps died Sept. 3 in Cookeville. He was 88. He and his wife Tine were former missionaries with the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served as pastor of churches in Iowa and Wisconsin and as a director of missions in Wisconsin. He served nine churches as associate pastor. During retirement he served for three years as pastor of University Heights Baptist Church in Cookeville. He was preceded in death by his wife. He is survived by three children and 12 grandchildren.
The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board has named five leaders across the state to serve as “Connectors” across Tennessee. The Connectors will be an extension of Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB and the Executive Leadership office. Connectors will serve as an advocate, encourager and a strategic connection between the churches, leaders and associations in their region with the TBMB ministries and entities. The primary role of the Connectors will be to provide relational and networking support to the work of the local churches and leaders in embracing the Five Objectives of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. From left are Joel Pigg, pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Trenton; Danny Sinquefield, pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett; Josh Lancaster, executive pastor, Red Bank Baptist Church, Chattanooga; Pete Tackett, pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Johnson City; and Larry Robertson, pastor, Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville.
