LEADERS
Roger Smith has been called as youth pastor, Ninth Street Baptist Church, Erwin.
Jamie Carver and Troy Whitson have been licensed to preach by Grace Baptist Church, Johnson City.
Charles Anderson, retired pastor who lives in Stone Baptist Association, based in Cookeville, will return on a missions trip to Brazil again this year. He has been traveling there for 18 years. For more information, contact the association at [email protected] or 931-526-4655.
Ralph Carter has been called as pastor, First Baptist Church, Ridgetop.
First Baptist Church, Kingston, has called Dale Darley as pastor effective in February. He formerly was pastor in Kentucky.
Nick Tidwell was called as executive pastor, First Baptist Church, Gallatin, Jan. 8. He holds a bachelor of business administration from Stephen Austin State University in Texas; a doctor of jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and is studying at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.
Lissa Roberson, a former missionary through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board for 12 years in East Asia who took the early retirement offer in 2015, is seeking work as a professional proofreader and/or editor. Contact her at [email protected] or 615-559-5793.
Fred Johnson, pastor emeritus, Grace Baptist Church, Nashville, was called as interim pastor, Eastland Baptist Church, Nashville, in December. Grace Baptist has a partnership with Eastland Baptist. Israel Brooks, former pastor who served for nine years, was called to a church in Princeton, Ky. Patrick Waller was ordained by Eastland as a deacon on Jan. 8.
Ryan Potts, director of missions, Polk County Baptist Association, based in Benton, has been called as interim pastor, Benton Station Baptist Church, Benton. He is still serving the association.
Bryon Beal was recently ordained by Hickory Hollow Baptist Church, Nashville, as a deacon.
Steve Radford has served as accompanist at First Baptist Church, Maryville, for 40 years.
Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Seymour, called Gabe Brown as senior pastor, effective Jan. 22.
Ron Davidson
Ron Davidson, director of missions, Shiloh Baptist Association, based in Adamsville, for 17 years, will retire March 31. He has been in ministry for 56 years. He also served as pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction; Calvary Baptist Church, Brownsville; Parkburg Baptist Church, Pinson; Henry Baptist Church, Henry; Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Bells; and Temple Baptist Church, Paris. Davidson served as a pastor from 1963-2000. He also is a graduate of Union University, Jackson. He and his wife of 51 years, Jeanenne, will retire in Adamsville.
Central Point Baptist Church, Paris, called Nick Smetak as minister of youth/music on Dec. 4.
Springville Baptist Church, Springville, has called Brian Parsons as pastor. Bobby Sanders served as interim pastor.
CHURCHES
Friendship Baptist Church, Buchanan, will dedicate its new sanctuary on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. For more information, call 731-232-8209.
Irving College Baptist Church, McMinnville, will hold revival services Feb. 19-22. Phil Glisson, evangelist of Memphis, will preach.
Rutledge Falls Baptist Church, Tullahoma, will hold one day revival services Jan. 29. Morris Anderson, evangelist of Maryville, will preach.
Fairview Baptist Church, Corryton, will hold Men’s Night Out With Hank Parker on Saturday, Feb. 25. The event will begin at 5 p.m. with dinner. Parker is a professional bass fisherman. For more information, contact [email protected] or 865-687-5648.
Second Baptist Church, Union City, will host a Men’s Conference on Friday, Feb. 17, with Jonathan Evans, chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys and former NFL fullback. For more information, go to secondbaptistuc.com or the church’s Facebook page, Second Baptist-Union City Official.
Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church, Bluff City, will hold its 2017 Spring Evangelism Conference April 5-8. D. L. Lowrie, former executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, will speak among others. For more information, contact 423-538-7814 or [email protected].
ASSOCIATIONS
Holston Baptist Association, based in Johnson City, is holding a prison ministry certification class on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m., at the association office. Also the association is offering Seminary Extension courses. From Jan. 30 – March 20 it will offer Old Testament Survey Part 2 taught by Craig Ponder and from March 27 – May 15 will be Evangelism with teacher to be announced. All classes are on Monday evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. For more information, contact 423-929-1196 or [email protected].
Jefferson County Baptist Association, based in Jefferson City, will hold its Evangelism Rally on Sunday, Jan. 29, at New Market Baptist Church, New Market, at 6 p.m. Elliot Osowitt of North Carolina, who is a Messianic Jew, will speak. For more information, contact 865-475-1453 or [email protected].
Nashville Baptist Association will hold a Youth Lock Out on Friday, Feb. 10, at 11 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Antioch. David Evans of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff will speak. For more information, contact 615-259-3034 or [email protected].
Chilhowee Baptist Association, based in Alcoa, is offering Chronological Bible Story Telling Training Jan. 23 – April 10 at the association office from 6:30-7:45 p.m. Leaders are Lee and Diana Stevenson, former missionaries to the Philippines. This will help people witness and teach in the United States and overseas. Also the association will host Don Sunshine who will offer Make a Difference training on evangelism through every day conversations on Thursday, Feb. 2, at East Maryville Baptist Church, Maryville, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected] or 865-982-0499.
Missions teams from Fayette Baptist Association, based in Somerville, are serving. A three-member team just returned from a six-day trip to Guatemala to support the Tennessee/Guatemala Baptist Partnership. The Tennessee Baptists saw 23 Guatemalans make professions of faith. Currently nine volunteers are serving on the annual trip led by Charles Pratt, director of missions, to the Philippines Jan. 24 – Feb. 7. For more information, contact [email protected] or 901-465-8613.
Big Emory Baptist Association, based in Harriman, has moved into its new offices. The new address is 1245 South Roane Street, Harriman, TN 37748, and contact information is 865-882-6446 and [email protected].
DEATHS
Reece Harris
Reece Harris, 86, retired pastor, Sinking Creek Baptist Church, Jonesborough, died Jan. 6. He served the church which was the oldest church in Tennessee, for 51 years, and it was the first and only church he served. Harris also worked as a guidance counselor for the public school system for 25 years. Jack Roddy, director of missions, Watauga Baptist Association, said Harris will be missed and that he had planned to preach within days of his death. He is survived by his wife, Paulette; three sons; and seven grandchildren.
Albertine Epps, 87, wife of Byron Epps of Cookeville, died Jan. 9 after a car accident. Byron Epps was minister of education, First Baptist Church, Cookeville, and a minister of a church in Jackson. The couple were missionaries for the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in several states. She was a former nurse who taught piano. She is survived by Byron, three children, and 12 grandchildren.
EVENTS
The Tennessee Baptist Convention and Union University will hold Ref500: A Festival Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation on Wednesday, March 8, at the university campus in Jackson. Speaking are Steve Gaines, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and senior pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova; Fred Shackelford IV, senior pastor, Ellendale Baptist Church, Bartlett; Jim Shaddix, professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C.; Eric Smith, senior pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, Savannah; and Justin Wainscott, pastor, First Baptist Church, Jackson. For more information, contact 731-661-5579 or [email protected].
SCHOOLS
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary saw some students with Tennessee ties graduate Dec. 17. They were Toby Duane Brogden of Decatur, master of divinity; David Evans of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board staff who lives in Springfield, doctor of philosophy; Erica McQueen Ho of Hendersonville, master of arts in missiology; and Nicholas Robert Earle Swarthout of Pigeon Forge, master of divinity.
Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, will hold its 2017 Winter Worship Series Feb. 7-9 featuring Joel Gregory, speaker, and Pepper Choplin, worship director. Gregory holds the George W. Truett Endowed Chair in Preaching and Evangelism at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University. For more information, contact 865-471-2000.