Recent church staff changes, anniversaries, ordinations and deaths within the moderate and progressive Baptist network.
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Joshua Barrett, to First Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C., as senior pastor, effective Sept. 3. He comes from Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, where he was pastoral associate.
Jamie Cosley, to Broadus Memorial Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., as minister of contemporary worship.
Casi Krog, concluding her tenure as children’s director at Manassas (Va.) Baptist Church.
Larry Lundstrom, to Community Baptist Church, Kodiak, Alaska, as pastor. He comes from Life Church, Austin, Texas, where he was executive pastor.
Lee Myers, to First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ark., as student pastor.
Rodney Reeves, to First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Ark., as senior pastor. Previously he was dean of the Redford School of Religion at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo.
Brittany Stillwell, to Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., as minister with students and families.
Ethan Strickler to Thaxton (Va.) Baptist Church, as youth and children’s pastor.
ORDINATIONS
Tarsha Banister, ordained to ministry on July 25 by Union Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Gwen Lamprecht Craig, ordained to ministry on July 21 by First Baptist Church, Gonzales, Texas.
Daniel Ripley, ordained to ministry on August 11 by Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
DEATHS
Lucy R. Dorr, 89, died July 26 in Petersburg, Va. A children’s minister and educator, she served Baptist churches in six states, including Bon Air Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. She is predeceased by her husband, Bartlett, and son, Raymond. She is survived by three daughters, Kathryn Dorr Steen, Jennifer Dorr Jenkin and Marie Dorr; two sons, Daniel and Thomas; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
James Bruce Lesley, 62, died August 10 in Hattiesburg, Miss. A multi-talented musician, he retired as director of choral activities at Mississippi State University and was named associate professor music emeritus and director of choral activities emeritus. During his teaching career, he additionally served for 18 years as choir master and organist at First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo, Miss., and several other churches in Mississippi and Alabama. At the time of his death, he was serving at Northside Baptist Church, Clinton, Miss. He is survived by his sister, Laura Lesley Boswell.
Frank G. Schwall, 81, died on August 11 in Richmond, Va. He was a retired Virginia Baptist minister, having served College Avenue Baptist Church, Bluefield, W. Va., and Corrottoman Baptist Church, Lancaster County, Va. He was the SBC Annuity Board (now Guidestone Financial Resources) representative for Virginia and Maryland. Following this he served as a vice president for annuitant services at Guidestone’s headquarters in Dallas. Retiring to Richmond, he once again became active in Virginia Baptist life. He served as president of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and as chair of the board of directors of the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Bette” Williams Schwall; two sons, Frank G. Schwall III and Bradman Weber Schwall; and numerous grandchildren.
KUDOS
ANNIVERSARIES
Mark Holland, 5 years as pastor of St. Stephens (Va.) Baptist Church.
Jeff Noble, 10 years as pastor of Northstar Church, Blacksburg, Va.
Elijah Zehyoue, 5 years as associate pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES
Chatham Heights Baptist Church, Martinsville, Va.; 75 years; July 18.
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In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 8-2-19
Transitions for the week of 7-26-19
Transitions for the week of 7-5-19
Transitions for the week of 6-28-19