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].
Highland Park Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, will provide a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 4:30-6 p.m. For more information, contact 931-762-2104 or [email protected].
Leoma Baptist Church, Leoma, members will deliver Thanksgiving meals to homes on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24. For more information, contact 931-852-2904 by Sunday, Nov. 20.
Brinkley Heights Ministries, which includes Brinkley Heights Baptist Church, Memphis, will hold its Christmas Toy Store Dec. 5-9 at the Brinkley Heights Ministry Center. For more information, contact Sam Wilson at 901-491-6822 or [email protected].
Birds Creek Baptist Church, Paris, and New Hope Baptist Church, Paris, have funded a fresh water system in the village of Cacao Sakonac, Guatemala. For more information, contact New Hope Baptist at 731-644-1088.
Puryear Baptist Church, Puryear, will hold its Live Nativity Dec. 12-16 from 6-8 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected] or 731-247-3782.
First Baptist Church, Jacksboro, will hold a Nov. 12 conference led by Out of Ashes Ministries on helping women who are struggling. For more information, contact the church at [email protected] or 423-562-5168.
First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, will participate in Jefferson City Christmas by offering a craft activity and friends to visit with. The event is Saturday, Dec. 10, downtown. For more information, 865-475-3826 or [email protected].
The Sportsmen’s Ministry of First Baptist Church, Gallatin, will hold a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day. For more information, contact 615-452-5715 or [email protected].
First Baptist Church, Adamsville, will hold revival services Nov. 9-13. Ray Newcomb, former pastor, First Baptist Church, Millington, and former president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, will speak. Also on Nov. 13 the church will hold a Connect>1 celebration. For more information, contact 731-632-3787 or [email protected].
For the 13th year, Parkway Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, will offer Upward Basketball and Cheerleading beginning Nov. 28. The church expects about 500 children and their families to participate. For more information, contact [email protected] or 615-865-2325.
LEADERS
Pat McGill, who has been administrative assistant, Big Emory Baptist Association, based in Harriman, for 16 years, will retire Dec. 31. She served with the following directors of missions, David Acres, Mason Goodman, and Randy Roper. McGill also was church secretary, South Harriman Baptist Church, Harriman, for 30 years.
Jim Norman, pastor, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mountain City, for 15 years, was called as pastor, Highland Baptist Church, Tullahoma, effective Oct. 30. He has been vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and is a member of the TBC Executive Board.
Billy Levengood, pastor, Encounter Life Church, Manchester, has resigned to serve as a church planter with the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board in Oxford, Pa., effective Nov. 27. Encounter Life has called Adam Cutshaw as pastor.
Cal Hampton
Cal Hampton, pastor, Green River Baptist Church, Waynesboro, has resigned after serving the church for 19 years, effective Dec. 26. He also is chair-elect, Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Hampton and his family will move to Clarksville to start a new church there.
Harrill Millsaps, pastor, First Baptist Church, Charleston, resigned after serving five years, effective Oct. 30. Phil Taylor, director of missions, CrossNet Baptist Network (formerly Bradley Baptist Association), based in Cleveland, will serve as interim pastor.
Liberty Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Loretto, called Ronnie Galloway as associate pastor on Oct. 16. Jeff Putman is pastor.
Lisa Yates was honored recently by First Baptist Church, Clinton. She has been a staff member doing administrative work and community ministries for 20 years.
Chris Downing has been called as pastor, New Harmony Baptist Church, Paris.
Eddie Holmes has resigned as pastor, Northside Baptist Church, Milan.
Jerry McDivitt has resigned as pastor, Fruitland Baptist Church, Humboldt.
DEATHS
Albert Jones
Albert “Bert” Jones, 77, retired associate pastor, Red Bank Baptist Church, Red Bank, Chattanooga, died Oct. 19. Jones served on the staff of Red Bank Baptist for 25 years; Westwood Baptist Church, Cleveland; First Baptist Church, Laurel, Miss.; and First Baptist Church, Troy, Ala., for a total of 44 years. Jones also was an electrical and aerospace engineer who worked with NASA, the United States Air Force, and the U.S. Army Missile Command. He was one of the founders of the Honduras Baptist Medical/Dental/Evangelism Mission. He also was president of the association for religious educators in Mississippi and Tennessee, chair of the Committee on Boards of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, member of the TBC Executive Board, and a trainer for LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville. Jones is survived by his wife of 56 years, Peggy; daughter; and son.
ASSOCIATIONS
The Lawrence County Association of Baptists, based in Leoma, will hold International Missions Family Night Out on Thursday, Dec. 8, at Immanuel Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg. Shirley Farley, former missionary through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board to Burkina Faso, Africa, will speak. For more information, contact [email protected] or 931-852-4700.
The Nashville Baptist Association will hold its annual Toy Store Dec. 5-8 at Shelby Avenue Baptist Church, Nashville. For more information, contact 615-259-3034 or [email protected].
Bledsoe Baptist Association, based in Gallatin, will hold its annual Toy Store Dec. 1-2 at First Baptist Church, Gallatin. For more information, contact [email protected] or 615-451-3241.
Gibson Baptist Association, based in Trenton, will send a team to Brazil Nov. 28 – Dec. 6 to assist a local church planter in the city of Curitiba. Another team will serve March 13-21, 2017. Additionally, a missions team is serving in Romania Nov. 3-13. Kevin and Lisa Kail, former missionaries to Romania through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board now of First Baptist Church, Humboldt, are serving on that team being led by Andy Rice, pastor, Walnut Grove Baptist Church, Kenton. For more information, contact 731-855-1202 or [email protected].