LEADERS

China Grove Baptist Church, Rutherford, has called Billy Crowell as interim pastor.

Dale Denning, pastor, Chapel Hill Baptist Church, Milan, was recognized recently for his 25 years of service there. Bill Northcott, former Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff member who was Denning’s pastor, made a presentation for the TBMB.

Jon Hathcock, senior pastor, East Athens Baptist Church, Athens, has been called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Fayetteville. Bob Pruett is serving as interim pastor of East Athens Baptist. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Bill Small, pastor, Rockford Baptist Church, Rockford, and his wife Mickie, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Clark Street Baptist Church, Johnson City, ordained Donald L. Minor to the ministry recently.

Woodlawn Baptist Church, Bristol, called Jonathan W. Casteel as pastor effective Nov. 1.

Chris Pass has been called as pastor, Grandview Baptist Church, Maryville.

First Baptist Church, Alcoa, has called Matt Giles as pastor. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Glen Cummings, pastor, Madison Avenue Baptist Church, Maryville, has resigned effective Dec. 18.

Will McReynolds was called as pastor, West Hills Baptist Church, Lebanon, effective Nov. 6. He comes to the church from Blue Springs Baptist Church, Rutledge.

First Baptist Church, Maryville, has called Bill Booth as pastor effective Dec. 4. He formerly was pastor of a church in Virginia. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

For about 20 years West End Baptist Church, Fayetteville, has held a Tail Gate Party capitalizing on the annual football rivalry of nearby University of Tennessee and University of Alabama and to help the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes. People are asked to bring toilet paper or Tide laundry detergent because UA fans say, “Roll Tide.” Toilet paper is on a roll so that is why it is asked for, explained Mike Johnson, pastor. People also can bring paper towels or Cheer laundry detergent if they want to “wipe out Alabama” and “cheer UT on,” added Johnson. This year about 175 people attended the event, which is association-wide. It was held a few days following the game which was won by UA but “that didn’t keep everyone from having a good time,” he said. Enough of the items were collected to fill a large trailer which was delivered to the TBCH Brentwood campus, said Johnson.

Calvary Baptist Church, Knoxville, will distribute Thanksgiving baskets of food to needy families on Sunday, Nov. 20, following the morning service. For more information, contact 865-523-9419 or [email protected]. [Read more…]

CHURCHES

The Grove Church, Greenbrier, has chartered an American Heritage Girls troop and a Trail Life troop for boys. These groups are Christian alternatives to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. For more information, contact Robert Dillard at 615-498-8292 or [email protected].

Etter Baptist Church, Byrdstown, will hold its annual Golden 5K Walk/Run for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions on Saturday, Nov. 5 beginning at 9 a.m., at Sunset Marina, Obey River Park. For more information, contact Eric Thoman, pastor, at 931-650-1077 or the church’s Facebook page.

Faith Baptist Church, Madison, will hold a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Activities for children also will be provided. Space for exhibitors may be available. For more information, contact 615-579-7412 or [email protected]. [Read more…]

DEATHS

Oran Creasman

D. Oran Creasman, 82, retired pastor of Riceville, died Oct. 8. He was pastor emeritus of Eastanallee Baptist Church, Riceville, which he served from 1965-2001 as music director and then as pastor. He then was interim pastor of several churches. Creasman was a member of the Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board. He also was an educator. From 1965-85 he was assistant principal and then principal of McMinn County High School. He served on a missions team in Hong Kong and was a leader of several community organizations. Creasman led prayer during a visit of President Ronald Reagan to Athens. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Virginia; four children; brother Carl of Riceville, who has been a parliamentarian of the TBC; brother Herschel of Florida; sister Ozelle of Athens; seven grandchildren; and one great grandchild. [Read more…]

DEATHS

Jim Richards

Jim Richards, 78, a longtime Southern Baptist minister, died recently in Memphis. He was a Southern Baptist missionary in the Dominican Republic and interim director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association, based in Covington, in 2016 and 2007. Richards was former interim pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Covington. He also worked for Southern Baptist organizations in Arizona and Florida. [Read more…]

DEATHS

Beth Prowse

Murl “Bud” Webb, 77, of Knoxville, died Aug. 28. He was the husband of Caroll, who is a retired North American Mission Board missionary who served at Montgomery Village Baptist Center, Knoxville, of Knox County Baptist Association.

Beth Prowse, 84, of Cookeville, died Sept. 12. She was the wife of the late Michael Prowse. They were married for 56 years. He was director of missions, Stone Baptist Association, and other associations and pastor of churches including Oak Grove Baptist Church, Springfield, and director of education, First Baptist Church, Columbia.  She was secretary and Vacation Bible School director for Stone Association; regional coordinator for Tennessee Baptist Convention Youth Bible Drills; and an active member of First Baptist Church, Cookeville. Prowse is survived by three sons, 10 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Clay Gilbreath

Mike Glenn, senior pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, recently was recognized by the church on his 25th anniversary as pastor.

Clay Gilbreath, pastor, Western Valley Baptist Church, Covington, for 10 years, was called as director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association, based in Covington, recently. He also was youth director, Smyrna Baptist Church, Burlison; Victory Baptist Church, Henning; Oak Grove Baptist Church, Covington;  and Garland Baptist Church, Covington. Then Gilbreath was associate pastor, Garland Baptist.

Gene Roberts has been called as associate pastor of worship/discipleship of a church in Leicester, N.C. He was pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, LaFollette.

DEATHS

Donald Cooper, 65, of Kenton, died Aug. 15 just about three weeks after he retired as pastor, China Grove Baptist Church, Rutherford. He formerly was pastor, Laneview Baptist Church, Kenton; and Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Cedar Grove. Cooper also did missions work in Michigan, Ohio, and Belize and was active in the denomination. He is survived by his  wife of 45 years, Connie; two children; four grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.

LEADERS

Rutledge Falls Baptist Church, Tullahoma, recently took a team of 65 people to Townsend for a fifth year where they ministered in three campgrounds. The group also saw at least one person baptized as a result of their ministry.

Bakers Gap Baptist Church, Mountain City, saw the previous year’s record broken on Vacation Bible School attendance — 127 children and youth this year, up from 125 last year. Bakers Gap Baptist draws about 65 people to Sunday morning activities. Because of his challenge for a record-breaking attendance, Dennis Peterson, pastor, preached from a tree on a Sunday morning two weeks later. Appropriately his sermon was about Zacchaeus who climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. The church also saw 21 participants make professions of faith and the second largest class attended by teens. “The church goes all out for Bible school,” said Peterson. Members use a van to pick up students and provide an evening meal. They begin planning in January for VBS. Through VBS, “we get into some homes that we can’t get into the rest of the year,” he reported.

Grace Falls Church, Fayetteville, will hold its second annual Women’s Conference Oct. 21-22. Jenny Frith will speak and Tammy Haney will lead worship. For more information, contact Haney at [email protected] or 931-625-5200.

Smyrna Baptist Church, Burlison, will hold its annual homecoming Oct. 2. Clay and Greg Gilbreath will be recognized. They are both ministers who grew up at Smyrna Baptist and were staff members. Clay is director of missions, Big Hatchie Baptist Association, based in Covington, and Greg is pastor, Madison Baptist Church, Jackson. A potluck luncheon will follow morning activities. Also, an Oct. 2-5 revival will begin. Mike Melton will preach. For more information, contact 901-476-1283 or [email protected].

First Baptist Church, Dresden, will host Ivan Parker and Josh Parker in concert on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. For more information, contact 731-364-2212 or [email protected].

Highland Park Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, will hold a Crafts on the Green event on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Space rental is $15. Fees will benefit the church’s senior adult activities. For more information contact 931-363-1876 or [email protected].

Whitehaven Baptist Church, Memphis, will celebrate its 168th anniversary Sept. 18. Former staff members Tom Rives and Billy Appling will lead the worship service. On Sept. 11 Pastor Jim Meredith was honored on his tenure anniversary (see photo and information below). For more information, contact 901-332-4642 or [email protected].

New Hope Baptist Church, Paris, will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Oct. 2 at 10:30 a.m. Former pastors will speak. For more information, contact [email protected] or Glynn Orr, pastor, at 270-293-2329.

Thompson Creek Baptist Church, Como, celebrated its 185th anniversary on Aug. 14. Retired pastor Jerry Powell preached. Thompson Creek is the oldest church in the Weakley County Baptist Association, based in Dresden. Also the church will hold a revival Sept. 25-28. David Worley, pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, will preach. For more information, contact [email protected] or  731-642-2509.

Fosterville Baptist Church, Bell Buckle, will hold homecoming Sept. 18. Glenn Chrisman will speak at the 11 a.m. service. For more information, contact [email protected] or 615-233-5380.

Fayette Baptist Association, based in Somerville, will send a missions team to Guatemala Dec. 1-6 to support the Tennessee/Guatemala Baptist Partnership. To keep the cost down, a commitment needs to be made by Sept. 15. For more information, contact Charles Pratt at [email protected] or 901-465-8613.

CHURCHES

Oak Hill Baptist Church, Crossville, will hold homecoming on Sept. 11 with worship beginning at 10 a.m. Jim Mersereau, pastor, will preach and a luncheon will be held. For more information, contact [email protected] or 931-484-5065.

First Baptist Church, Millersville, will hold revival services Sept. 18-21. Phil Glisson, evangelist of Memphis, will preach.

First Baptist Church, Selmer, will celebrate its 125th anniversary Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. For more information, contact [email protected] or 731-645-5326.

First Baptist Church, Nashville, just served for the 10th year at Lynnwood Lynnridge Apartments in Elizabethton. The Nashville team provided Backyard Bible Clubs for children and teens and block parties. They also built a handicap ramp and did some repairs for two homeowners.

Big Springs Baptist Church, Elizabethton, will celebrate 75 years of ministry Sept. 11 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Mark Chatman, pastor, will preach and Carol Kyker and Elaine Emmert will provide special music. For more information, contact Chatman at [email protected] or 423-794-6373.

First Baptist Church, Bolivar, is holding revival activities which began Aug. 21. On Sept. 11 a solemn assembly will be held and on Sept. 18-21 revival services featuring Phil Jett, pastor emeritus, Englewood Baptist Church, Jackson; Jordan Easley, pastor, Englewood Baptist; and Bartholomew Orr, pastor, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, Miss. For more information, contact [email protected] or 731-658-5123.

The second annual river baptism of Grace Baptist Church, Springfield, drew 22 people who were baptized on Aug. 7, reported Jeff Smoak, pastoral intern. The church has seen a total of 96 people baptized this year. Last year 17 people were baptized in the river. Grace Baptist draws about 570 to Sunday morning activities.

EVENTS

Tennessee Baptist Convention Executive Board Ministries and Knox County Baptist Association will hold Rekindle — Fanning the Flames of Christian Leadership, a church revitalization workshop, Sept. 1 at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, Knoxville. Tom Cheyney, executive director of missions, Greater Orlando Baptist Association, who was with the North American Mission Board, and John Mark Clifton, church planter, church revitalizer, and missions strategist, will speak. For more information, contact Steve Holt of the TBC staff at [email protected] or Tiffany Pyron at [email protected] or 615-371-7908.

DEATHS

Fred Witty Jr., 93, retired Baptist Student Union (now Baptist Collegiate Ministry) director, died Aug. 12 in Johnson City. He was BSU director at East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, from 1956-91. He also was citywide director of Baptist Student Union work in Louisville, Ky. Witty was a member of Central Baptist Church, Johnson City. He is survived by his wife, Joy, and three children.

LEADERS

Jim Didlake was called as pastor, Saint Clair Baptist Church, Spring City.

Ken Jordan has been called as interim pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Elizabethton.

Gary Roe has been called as pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, Watauga.

Wesley Duncan has been called as pastor of Union Baptist Church, Hampton.

Norman Markland Jr., has been called as pastor of First Baptist Church, Hampton.

Bobby Sanders was called as interim pastor, Springville Baptist Church, Springville, July 20.

Don Davis has been called as pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Morristown.

Parkway Baptist Church, Morristown, has called Mike Elkins as pastor.

Kyle Hutchinson of Oklahoma has been called as minister of students/activities, First Baptist Church, Bolivar, effective Aug. 28.

Joshua Franks was called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton, effective Aug. 8. He was formerly pastor, Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Franklin. Franks is a graduate of Liberty University. Ken Zike, a retired pastor, was interim pastor.

William Hunter Hay V has resigned as pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodbury, to begin a new church in Wilson County.

First Baptist Church, Gallatin, has called Adam Correll, deacon, as interim minister to students.