LEADERS

Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, McKenzie, recently honored Gene Price on his 39th anniversary as pastor with a monetary gift.

First Baptist Church, Nashville, voted Nov. 19 to call Thomas West as senior pastor, effective Jan. 1, 2024. A native of Montgomery, Ala., West comes to Nashville from Queen’s Redeemer Church in England, where he served for the past five years. He also worked as an Equip teacher for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and provided theological consultancy while in London. He holds his master’s degree and doctorate from Southeastern. West and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children. West will be just the sixth pastor at First Baptist in the past 100 years. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Jamie Bodiford began serving Nov. 5 as pastor of First Baptist Church, Mountain City.

Ray Gilder retired Oct. 22 as pastor of First Baptist Church, Gordonsville, after eight-and-a-half years. He formerly served as bivocational ministries specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and executive director of the Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network. [Read more…]

Robert Warren

First Baptist Church, Linden, recognized Robert Warren for his 50 years of service as a deacon at First Baptist at the church’s 79th homecoming on Sept.17.

Austin Hall, youth minister at First Baptist Church, Newport, was ordained to the gospel ministry on Oct. 22 at the church.

Rome Baptist Church, Lebanon, recently ordained Levi Thommason to the gospel ministry. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Joe Bill Sloan, a 1967 Carson-Newman University alumnus and a longtime professor and dean, is a 2023 inductee to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) Hall of Fame. The organization announced that he is one of 24 inductees, each representing TICUA member institutions. Sloan also served as C-N’s interim president on one occasion. In 2022, Carson-Newman honored Sloan as a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Robert Reedy Bryan Society for his exceptional and meritorious service to Carson-Newman University.

DEATHS

Rick McAbee

Julius Franklin “Frank” Hicks, retired pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Madisonville, where he served for 38 years, died Sept. 25. He was 78. He also served as pastor of Bethel Springs Baptist Church, Calhoun, and Clear Springs Baptist Church, Athens. Hicks is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Hicks, three children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

George Richard “Rick” Curtis McAbee, pastor of Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Harriman, died Sept. 16, after a battle with cancer. He was 53. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during Operation Desert Storm. He is survived by his wife Sherry McAbee, five children and a grandchild. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Dana Fachman, senior pastor of Meridian Baptist Church, Knoxville, for the past 34-and-a-half years plans to retire at the end of this year. Current and former church members and friends are invited to attend a reception for him on Nov. 11 in the Meridian Baptist Church Fellowship Hall from 1-4 p.m.

Ronnie Smith is serving as interim pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Sale Creek.

Rick Dixon has been called as interim pastor of Ogden Baptist Church, Dayton. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Hopewell Baptist Church, Springfield, called Brad Hall as pastor in August. He preached his first sermon at Hopewell on Sept. 3.

Phillip Senn recently resigned as pastor of Enon Baptist Church, Halls. He is available for pulpit supply or interim pastorates. He can be reached at [email protected] or 731-446-9538.

DEATHS

Paul Stewart Moody, retired pastor of Erin Baptist Church, Erin, died Aug. 1, 2023. He was given the title pastor emeritus at Erin Baptist after serving the church for 30 years. He was 85. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Moody, two children and four grandchildren.

Jack James Price of Ooltewah, retired pastor of Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, Cleveland, died Aug. 16. He was 88. Following retirement, he served as interim pastor of several churches in the area. Price, who was preceded in death by his wife, is survived by his two children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Robert “Bobby” L. Kitts, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Morristown, and former longtime pastor of Agape Baptist Church,White Pine, died Aug. 9 at the age of 70. He led several churches throughout Hamblen, Jefferson, Greene and Grainger counties. Kitts was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy. He is survived by two children and eight grandchildren.

Edward G. Hamil, retired pastor of Hatchie Baptist Church, Hornsby, and many other churches throughout the country died Aug. 20 at the age of 82. Hamil is survived by his wife Aelena, six children and 31 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

LEADERS

Scott Shepherd

C. Scott Shepherd, worship and music specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board for the past six years, has resigned, effective Sept. 5, to become associate director of Renaissance at Bethel University in McKenzie. A graduate of Shorter University, Rome, Ga., and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., Shepherd earned his doctorate in worship studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. He is president of the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference and has over 30 years of experience in worship and music ministry. Currently, he is interim minister of music at Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville. For the past six years, Shepherd has directed the Tennessee Men’s Chorale and Tennessee Ladies Chorus, as well as serving as a clinician and worship leader at state, regional and national events. For several years, he traveled and performed with his musical family, The Shepherd Family. He and his wife, Traci, have four children. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Brenton Cox

First Baptist Church, Manchester, will celebrate pastor Brenton Cox’s 29 years of ministry at FBC with a retirement reception in his honor on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 3-5 p.m. in the church gymnasium. Under his leadership, First Baptist has experienced significant growth in worship and Sunday School attendance. More than 1,150 believers have been baptized during his ministry at FBC. During the last 29 years, the church has led in several fruitful outreach ministries including Oakley Ministry Center, Upward Basketball, Vacation Bible School, and the Jesus Tent at Bonnaroo.

Jack Hice

Marble Plains Baptist Church, Winchester, will hold a retirement reception for pastor Jack Hice in appreciation of 33 years of ministry and service with the congregation. Special services will begin at 10 a.m., followed by food and fellowship. For more information, contact Tina Sisk at 931-581-5321. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Steve Flippo

Steve Flippo, associational missions strategist for Lawrence County Association of Baptists, has resigned to accept the pastorate of Meadow View Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg. Flippo and his family have served as missionaries with the International Mission Board and he is a former missions and college and career pastor. He served as AMS for six years.

Neely’s Bend Baptist Church, Nashville, recently called Austin Jones as pastor. He is a May 2023 graduate of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. He and his wife, Ashton, have one daughter.

Austin Jones

Hickman Baptist Church, Hickman, has called Tommy Ferguson as pastor. He and his wife, Melanie, have four children. [Read more…]

LEADERS

Tevis Springs Baptist Church, Madisonville, recently called Sam Baines as pastor. He was ordained June 11 by South Madisonville Baptist Church, Madisonville.

Chase Sears

Paul Ellis has been called as associate pastor of Maple Springs Baptist Church, Tellico Plains. He was ordained into the ministry on July 2.

Chase Sears has been called as pastor of Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory.  He recently served as assistant professor of biblical studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to that he served at Oak Park Baptist Church in Jeffersonville, Ind., first as the family pastor and then as senior/lead pastor for seven years. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children. [Read more…]