Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Blake Benge, to First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla., as coordinating pastor of missions and ministries. He previously served as lead pastor at Redstone Church, Birmingham, Ala.
Travis Collins, to First Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala., as senior pastor. Previously he was pastor of Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., for 12 years.
Jeremy Fox, to First Baptist Church, Kernersville, N.C., as interim minister of youth.
William J. Ireland Jr., resigning as pastor of First Baptist Church, Dalton, Ga.
Rodney G. Perry, to Central Baptist Church, Denver, Colo., as pastor.
Ruth Wakefield, now serving as director of music ministry at First Baptist Church, Marion, N.C.
RETIREMENTS
Tommy Wilson, retiring after 29 years as associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Lexington, N.C., effective May 31.
Bill Wolfe, retiring as pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.
ORDINATION
Chris Liles, ordained to ministry on Feb. 6 by Broadway Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., where he serves as minister with youth.
DEATH
David C. Hayes, 48, died Jan. 26 in Monroe, N.C. He served as senior pastor of Valley Crest Baptist, Leonard, Texas; First Baptit Church, Gowensville, S.C.; First Baptist Church, Landrum, S.C.; West Monroe (N.C.) Baptist Church; and was current executive pastor at Hopewell Baptist Church in Monroe. He is survived by his parents, Joe and Eleanor; wife, Debbie; daughter, Grace; and son, Titus.
KUDOS
STAFF ANNIVERSARY
Sabrina Thompson, 10 years as minister to preschool at First Baptist Church, Tulsa, Okla.