TENNESCENE: SEP. 28

LEADERS

Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, recently called Mark Warren as senior pastor.

Carol Ghattis

Tennessee native and former International Mission Board missionary Carol Ghattis has recently released a new book entitled, Not in Kansas Anymore: Finding Home in Cross-Cultural Service. Ghattis and her late husband, Raouf, founded the Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, after returning from the mission field in 2009. Though now a member of Third Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, Ghattis still serves behind the scenes as administrator of Arabic Baptist Church. Ghattis is experienced in cross-cultural ministry, having worked among Laotians, West Africans and Arabs. The book is written for people thinking about missions, already on the journey or helping others to move toward the call to serve. The book is available from xulonpress.com or other online book distributors.

James Humphreys

DEATHS

James E. Humphreys died Sept. 10 in Bruceton at the age of 99. Humphreys, a World War II Air Force veteran, was a longtime minister in Tennessee and served as director of missions for two Tennessee Baptist Associations — Weakley County Baptist Association (1976-80) and Carroll-Benton Baptist Association for a number of years. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Huntingdon. Humphreys was preceded in death by his wife, Doris. He is survived by four children, five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

CHURCHES

Woodbury Road Baptist Church, Murfreesboro, will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Oct. 23, beginning at 10 a.m. Beulah Bound Bluegrass Band will sing and pastor Monty Kapavik will bring the morning message. Lunch will follow. Everyone is invited to join Woodbury Road members in celebrating 75 years of ministry in the Kittrell community.

Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Ripley, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. During the service the church dedicated its family life center and memorial wall. Clay Gilbreath, right, director of missions for Big Hatchie Baptist Association, based in Covington, presents a plaque from the Tennessee Baptist Convention Historical Committee to pastor Johnny Michael.
Auburn Baptist Church, Auburntown, is marking its 200th anniversary with a bicentennial celebration on Oct. 9. There will be a special worship service beginning at 10 a.m., noon meal and an afternoon of fellowship and gospel music. Pictured is the church bicentennial committee with the Tenn. 112th General Assembly Resolution commending the church on its 200th anniversary. From left, front row are pastor, Larry Thomas, Jolene Bobo, Chris and Emily Crook back row: Deborah Leach, Derrick Hughes and Donna Nichols.
Union University broke ground Sept. 9 on a 40,000-square-foot academic building on the Great Lawn that will house the McAfee School of Business and the departments of computer science and engineering.Site work on the building is expected to begin in the next couple of months, with an estimated completion date in time to open for the fall 2024 semester. The McAfee family, for whom the McAfee School of Business is named, announced in 2021 a lead gift for the building. Carolyn McAfee Bruner and her late husband, James T. McAfee Jr., graduated from Union in 1961. Their son Tom is a 1994 Union graduate and is chairman and president of Hallmark Systems Inc. His wife Julie is a 1993 Union graduate. Tom McAfee spoke at Friday’s groundbreaking about his love for Union and for his vision of what the new academic building will accomplish. Participating in the groundbreaking, from left, were Robyn Hari, chair of Union’s board of trustees; Steve Williams, Union’s Student Government Association president; Carolyn McAfee Bruner; Tom McAfee; Hyran Barefoot, retired Union University president; and Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, Union University president.
Curtis and Wilma Hicks, members of West Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland, recently served as summer volunteers at Carson Springs Baptist Conference Center in Newport.
Participating in the first Off the Grid backpacking trip for women were, from left, Emily Terrell and Laura Tahan of First Baptist Church, Dandridge, and Crystal Brown of First Baptist Church, Waverly. Off the Grid is a ministry of the Tennessee Baptist Conference Centers. For more information, contact Kevin Perrigan at kperrigan@tnbaptist.org.