LEADERS

Spring Hill Baptist Church, Trenton, recently ordained Jeff Jarnigin and Mike Howell as deacons. John Adams preached the ordination message.

Carol B. Ghattas has recently written, When Doors Close: Changing Course in Missions Without Losing Your Way, published by Xulon Press. The book is written for those who are thinking about missions, already in the journey or reflecting on ministry from the other side of a closed door. Ghattis and her late husband, Raouf, founded the Arabic Baptist Church in Murfreesboro after returning from the mission field. She now attends Third Baptist Church in Murfreesboro.

Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens, recently called Travis Torbett as pastor.

First Baptist Church, Somerville, has called Ethan Winfield as associate pastor of students/young adults.

Sonya Smith is the new preschool/children’s director at Orlinda Baptist Church, Orlinda. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Tod Tanner has been named vice president and chief administrative officer of the Tennessee Baptist Foundation. Tanner has a degree in business administration from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; a master of religious education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas; and a doctor of education degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He is a former staff member of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, and most recently served as family pastor for the Gathering@840 in Franklin. He and his wife, Deborah, have a daughter.

Roy Slaughter was called as pastor of First Baptist Church, Hillsboro, on April 11. He formerly served as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Manchester. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He and his wife, Bridgett, have three adult children. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Fairview Baptist Tabernacle Church, Sweetwater, recently called Hollie Miller as full-time pastor. He formerly served as pastor of Sevier Heights Baptist Church, Knoxville, for 31 years and is a past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Fayette Baptist Church, Somerville, has called Hunter Burris as children’s minister. He and his wife, Taylor, have been serving as interim directors for several months. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Smyrna Baptist Church in Chapel Hill has called Mark Smith as pastor.  He began serving April 4.  He and his wife Toni last served at First Baptist Church, Dexter, Mo.

CHURCHES

Last year lightning struck Roe Junction Baptist Church, Morristown, and it burned to the ground. Disaster relief volunteers assisted in the demolition and hauled away debris, according to Wes Jones, disaster relief specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. This summer, Builders for Christ, a national organization will help rebuild the church and they are looking for construction volunteers to assist, Jones said. For more information, contact Greg Womack of Builders for Christ at 205-837-9454 or Joe Halbrooks at 205-907-8423. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Jeremy Wallace began serving in March as pastor of Niles Ferry Baptist Church, Greenback.

Daryl Crouch, senior pastor of Green Hill Baptist Church, Mount Juliet, will resign April 11 to become executive director of Everyone’s Wilson, a coalition of gospel-loving churches who work together for the good of everyone in Wilson County.

Forest Hill Baptist Church, Maryville, has called Andy McCorkle as youth director and Ben Donnell as children’s director.

China Grove Baptist Church, Rutherford, called Wayne Rowan as pastor beginning March 7.

James Twilbeck celebrated his 20th anniversary as director of missions for Western District Baptist Association on April 1. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

Cash Point Baptist Church, Ardmore, will celebrate its 125th anniversary on March 28. A celebration service is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, at 11 a.m. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Carson-Newman University has named Jeremiah Young as  director of campus ministries, effective March 15. Young comes to C-N from Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, where he served as student pastor for eight years. Young previously served as youth minister at First Baptist Church in Ozark, Arkansas.

He holds a Master of Arts in pastoral ministry from Caskey School of Divinity at Louisiana College and a Bachelor of Science degree in youth ministry from Toccoa Falls College. “Jeremiah Young has a passion to see students changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said C-N President Charles Fowler. “He demonstrates a commitment to discipling followers of Christ to use their God-given gifts to transform the world. Such a ministry is a perfect fit for Carson-Newman where, as Christian educators, we help our students reach their full potential to become worldwide servant-leaders.” [Read more…]

LEADERS

Michael Julian will write the Bible Studies for Life lessons for Baptist and Reflector for the March-May quarter. A native of North Carolina, Julian is pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton. He formerly served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Obion. He is a graduate of Mars Hill (N.C.) University and holds a master of divinity degree with an emphasis on pastors and teachers from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children.

Scott Brown, pastor of First Baptist Church, Waverly, since 2017, will write the Explore the Bible series in the Baptist and Reflector for the March-May quarter. A native of Georgia, Brown served churches in youth and pastoral ministries in Florida and Georgia before moving to Tennessee. He holds a doctor of philosophy degree from Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Crystal, have two children.

South Carolina native Jay Hardwick has been called as senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville. He is a graduate of North Greenville University, Tigerville, S.C. and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He is pursuing a doctor of ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C. Hardwick has been a pastor in South Carolina and was assocate executive director-treasurer and chief strategist of the South Carolina Baptist Convention before accepting the pastorate at Forest Hills. He and his wife, Lara Beth, have three daughters. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Derek Westmoreland is now serving as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington. He formerly served as senior pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, from 2012-20. Westmoreland was licensed and ordained into the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church, Collierville. He is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova. He earned a doctor of ministry degree in expository preaching from Union in 2014. Westmoreland currently serves as a director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He and his wife, Tiffany, have four children.

Frank Derrick began serving Jan. 1 as director of missions for Union Baptist Association, based in Sparta. Derrick also serves as associate pastor and minister to students at Bear Cove Baptist Church, Sparta. Derrick and his wife, Connie, have four grown children and several grandchildren. [Read more…]