Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
May 24, 2023
LEADERS Matthew “Matt” Ledbetter has been called as director of missions for Duck River Baptist Association, based in Tullahoma. He previously served as pastor of Creeksville Baptist Church in Conway, N.C. He has also been serving as the interim director of missions for the West Chowan Baptist Association in North Carolina. In addition to 25 […]
May 10, 2023
LEADERS Former Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff member Bob Brown has been elected vice chairman of the trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. Brown is executive director of Lakeway Christian Schools and interim pastor of Chilhowee Hills Baptist Church, Knoxville. He and his wife, Linnie, are members of First Baptist Church, Dandridge. […]
April 26, 2023
DEATHS John Henry Franklin, retired pastor of churches in Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee and longtime pastor of Everett Hills Baptist Church, Maryville, died March 21. He was 85. John is survived by his wife Betty, three children, four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Parker “Spencer” Johnson, retired Pastor of Shepherd Baptist Church, Chattanooga and other […]
April 12, 2023
LEADERS Meadow View Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, called David Miller as interim pastor, effective March 1. Pastor Rodney Duckett, along with his wife, Michelle, celebrated their 10th anniversary on April 8 at Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Mount Juliet. This year also marks Duckett’s 20th anniversary in the ministry. During his tenure, the church has undergone […]
March 29, 2023
LEADERS Lynn Valley Baptist Church, Elizabethton, recently called Tim Tapp as pastor. Doe River Baptist Church, Elizabethton, has called Cody Pierce as music minister. Michael Garland has resigned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Watauga. First Baptist Church, Fairfield Glade has called two new ministers. Barry Bouchillon will serve as minister of music. He and […]
March 15, 2023
LEADERS Justin Johnson began serving in November as associational mission strategist for Sevier County Baptist Association. He joined the association’s staff in 2020 as financial administrator. After AMS Robert Nichols retired at the end of 2021, Johnson served as acting AMB until he was unanimously approved as the new AMS at the association’s annual meeting […]
February 21, 2023
EVENTS The Missions Get-Together, sponsored by Tennessee Woman’s Missionary Union, will be held March 16-18 at Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood. The event features general sessions, breakout sessions and a missions/ministry fair with more than 35 exhibitors. For more information, visit www.tnbaptist.org/mgt2023. CHURCHES Oakland Baptist Church, Springfield, will host The Mylan Hayes Family from Hudson, N.C., […]
February 8, 2023
EDUCATION Carson-Newman University’s nursing and education online programs both rank No. 2 in Tennessee in their respective categories, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings released Jan. 24. For its 2023 Best Online Programs, U.S. News assessed schools based on a variety of objective factors, such as student engagement, faculty credentials and services and […]
January 25, 2023
LEADERS Preston Garner, worship pastor at Everettt Hills Baptist Church, Maryville, resigned recently to join the staff of First Baptist Church, Concord, effective Jan. 9. Southside Baptist Church, Winchester, recently ordained David Jolley as a deacon. Williams Chapel Baptist Church, Springfield, called Chris Mays as pastor on Jan. 8. He began serving Jan. 23. He […]
January 11, 2023
LEADERS Charlie Harkleroad, pastor of Leadvale Baptist Church, White Pine, retired Dec. 31 after 22 years of ministry with the congregation. He will be available for pulpit supply. Harkleroad can be reached at 865-388-0765. EDUCATION Union University trustees in their December meeting approved a strategic plan that will guide the university’s operational goals and planning […]
December 21, 2022
LEADERS Members of Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga, voted Dec. 4 to call Curtis Hill as senior pastor. Hill visited Brainerd Baptist more than 23 years ago while a first-year seminary student at Tennessee Temple in Chattanooga. Tom Meade, chairman of the pastor search committee, noted: “Today, we welcome that same man to this sanctuary to […]
December 7, 2022
DEATHS Albert Wardin, a prolific historian who helped make the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives (SBHLA) a global hotspot for Baptist researchers, died Nov. 14. He was 94. A research room in the SBHLA is named after Wardin. A history professor at Belmont University in Nashville for more than a quarter century, Wardin authored […]