Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Douglas Avilesbernal, to Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches, as executive minister. Currently he is pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Norristown, Pa.
Steve Battaglia, to Concord Baptist Church, Chase City, Va., as pastor. He comes from Capron (Va.) Baptist Church, where he was pastor.
William J. Crowder, now serving as interim pastor at Glen Allen (Va.) Baptist Church.
Robert Dale and Rose Mary Stewart, to Dover Baptist Association, Ashland, Va., as intentional interim executive directors of missions.
Luke and Kristen Fisher, to Sharon Baptist Church, King William, Va., as youth directors.
Don Flowers Jr., to Port Williams United Baptist Church, Port Williams, Nova Scotia, as pastor, effective Jan. 2, 2018. He comes from the pastorate of Providence Baptist Church, Charleston, S.C.
Rafael Hernandez, to First Baptist Church, Huntersville, N.C., as Latino pastor.
Marnie Fisher-Ingram and Daniel Ingram, to River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond, Va., as associate pastor for youth and their families and minister of administration, respectively. For the past 11 years they have served with Passport Inc., in Birmingham, Ala.
Chris Jones, to Grace Community Church, Richmond, Va., as senior pastor/lead teaching elder.
Joe Kendrick, concluding his tenure as pastor of Black Creek Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.
R. Mitch Randall, to the Baptist Center for Ethics, Nashville, Tenn., as executive director, effective Jan. 1, 2018. He currently is pastor of NorthHaven Church in Norman, Okla.
Brittany Riddle, to Immanuel Baptist Church, Paducah, Ky., as associate pastor for Christian education and spiritual formation. She comes from Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church, where she served as minister of adults.
Jack Surma, to Faith Baptist Church, Goochland, Va., as pastor.
Tony Watson, to First Baptist Church, Palestine, Texas, as pastor. He comes from the pastorate of First Baptist Church, Winona, Texas.
Shawn White, to First Baptist Church, Bluefield, W. Va., as pastor.
RETIREMENTS
Randy Hyde, retiring as pastor of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., effective Dec. 31, after more than 21 years there and 45 years in ministry.
Joe Phelps, retiring as senior pastor of Highland Baptist Church, Louisville, Ky., effective Jan. 21, 2018, after 21 years as pastor of Highland and 42 years of ministry.
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Click here to learn more.
DEATH
James Bernard Lewis, 92, died Oct. 11 in Louisville, Ky. For over 40 years he was pastor of Baptist churches in Kentucky, including Clark’s Creek Baptist Church, Dry Ridge; First Baptist Church, Corbin; and Ormsby Avenue Baptist Church, Rockford Line Baptist Church and Westport Road Baptist Church, all in Louisville. He is survived by his wife, Alois; a daughter, Kathy Lynn Springs; two sons, James and Peter; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
KUDOS
STAFF ANNIVERSARIES
Bryan Dupuis, 10 years as discipleship and missions minister at Cool Spring Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.
Bruce Schwartz, 15 years as music director at Hunton Baptist Church, Glen Allen, Va.
CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES
First Baptist Church, Monroeville, Pa.; 50 years; Oct. 22.
In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 10.20.17
Transitions for the week of 10.13.17