DEATHS
Charles Guthrey
Longtime Tennessee Baptist volunteer Charles E. “Charlie” Guthrey died March 1 at the age of 94. The McMinn County native moved to Knoxville in 1957 and eventually formed Galloway & Guthrey Achitects-Engineers. Guthrey did numerous church construction projects over the years at no cost. He led the restoration and expansion of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry building at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He was a longtime member of Central Baptist Church, Bearden, in Knoxville where he served in many roles, including deacon. He is survived by his wife, Hazel, two children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Stuart L. Duke, 62, a member of Broadway Baptist Church, Maryville, and a disaster relief volunteer in Chilhowee Baptist Association, died of cancer March 3. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice, a daughter and two grandchildren.
LEADERS
William Oakley
William “Bill” Oakley retired Feb. 24 as pastor of Enon Baptist Church, Halls, after 69 years of pastoral ministry. During his ministry, he served as director of church services for the Michigan Baptist Convention and vice president of Williams Baptist University in Arkansas. Oakley also served on the executive boards of four Baptist state conventions, including Tennessee, and on the board of trustees for three universities and one Baptist hospital. He has preached more than 15,000 sermons and witnessed about 5,000 people accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He plans to do supply work, one-day revivals and other special occasions “as the Lord permits.”
Evangelist Phil Glisson of Memphis will lead revival services March 24-27 at Trinity Baptist Church, Knoxville, and April 7-10 at Oak Street Baptist Church, Soddy-Daisy.
David England
David England, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Taft, has been called as director of missions for William Carey Baptist Association based in Fayetteville. The association recently welcomed him and his wife Angie with a reception. The Englands have five children and six grandchildren.
Gary Herndon recently was called as pastor First Baptist Church, Charlotte. He was ordained into the ministry by Pleasant View Baptist Church, Clarksville.
First Baptist Church, Somerville, has called Jason Almond as minister to children and Valerie Griffin as communications director.
Jason Taylor was ordained into the gospel ministry on March 10 at First Baptist Church, Clinton.
Bobby L. Bernard began serving Dec. 30, 2018, as pastor of Solomon’s Temple Baptist Church, Kingsport.
Josh Grizzle has been called as pastor of Bowmantown Baptist Church, Jonesborough, effective March 24.
Shelley Pierce, wife of James K. “Tommy” Pierce of Towering Oaks Baptist Church, Greeneville and director of preschool and children’s ministries at the church, has recently written Sweet Moments: Insight and Encouragement for the Pastor’s Wife, published by Elk Lake Publishing Inc., and released March 1. She also is the author of a middle grade fiction series entitled “The Crumberry Chronicles.” Pierce describes her book as “a work of the heart. As a pastor’s wife of 37 years, I have experienced the joys and challenges that are part of everyday life. … I hope to connect with women in ministry and encourage them to not only survive this crazy, wonderful, difficult calling but to thrive in it,” she said.
CHURCHES
A team of 30 volunteers from Sand Ridge Baptist Church, Lexington, will serve March 23-30 in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The team will be involved in block parties. The goal is to canvas Montemorelos to find prospects for a new church God is leading missionaries to plant.
On March 1-3, youth groups from nine Baptist churches and one Church of Christ congregation across Henry County came together for worship, prayer and to share God’s Word with over 250 students during DNOW. During the event, students stayed at host homes and church gymnasiums all across Henry County. The event was led by youth pastors from the different churches. Many students made decisions to refocus their lives on God and at least six salvations have been reported, according to Dusty Tuders, student and children’s pastor at Springhill Baptist Church, Paris. This is the fourth year of the event and it has continued to grow more and more interest each year, Tuders added. “We love the fact that we can come together for the sole purpose of seeing God move within our groups. There is no competition, jealousy, or arguments among our leaders. We just want our students to grow closer to God and to march into their schools on Monday knowing that there are students all over their schools that worshiped with them this weekend. There is something encouraging in realizing that you are not alone in your pursuit of God. Our leaders are not interested in raising up a youth. We want an army in Henry County.”
