Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Adam Bock, to First Baptist Church, Magnolia, Texas, as senior pastor. He comes from Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles, La., where he was teaching pastor.
Sharon Felton, to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, as congregational advocacy manager. She comes from Faith Baptist Church, Georgetown, Ky., where she was associate pastor for students.
Shannon Hall, concluding her tenure as associate pastor of music at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Jennifer Hawks, to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, as director of advocacy. She comes from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, where she was associate general counsel.
Josh King, to First Baptist Church, Lewisville, Texas, as senior pastor.
Ariel Merivil, to Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, as minister of music. He comes from First-Plymouth Congregational Church, Lincoln, Neb., where he was associate minister of music.
Justin Moser, to First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, Va., as senior pastor. He comes from First Baptist Church, Saint Simons Island, Ga., where he was associate and youth minister.
Allen Reaves, to Community Baptist Church, Kodiak, Alaska, as interim pastor.
Lydia Tatum, to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, as Welcome Network director. She comes from Trinity Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., where she was associate pastor of missions and ministry.
Bob Vineyard, concluding his tenure as senior lead pastor of Spirit and Word Fellowship, St. Stephens, Va., to work full-time with Bob Vineyard Ministries.
RETIREMENTS
Glenn Akins, retiring after 20 years as assistant executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
David Freeman, retiring after 24 years as senior pastor of Weatherly Heights Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala.
Clarke Hawkins, retiring after 13 years as senior pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.
Jimmy Rogers, retiring as minister of music, worship and administration for Viewmont Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C.
ORDINATIONS
David Cote, ordained to ministry on Dec. 3 by First Baptist Church, Sturbridge, Mass.
Zach Jackson, ordained to ministry on Nov. 12 by First Baptist Church on Fifth, Winston-Salem, N.C., where he serves as pastoral resident.
Victoria Pena, ordained to ministry on Dec. 17 by Messiah Baptist Church, Brockton, Mass.
Temjennaro “Naro” Pongen, ordained to ministry on Dec. 17 by Old Cambridge Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass.
DEATHS
Ray W. Benfield, 94, died Dec. 10 in Winston-Salem, N.C. He was the founding pastor of Peace Haven Baptist Chapel in Winston-Salem in 1957. Following that he became pastor of First Baptist Church, Carthage, N.C. In 1973 he was called to Lindley Park Baptist Church in Greensboro, N.C. He and his wife, Evelyn, accepted a missionary associate’s position with the SBC Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) and served the International Church of Salzburg, Germany; Trinity Baptist Church in Athens, Greece; and Kristuskirchen Church in Copenhagen, Denmark, until retirement. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; sons, Kamron and Kent; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Richard “Jack” Causey, 88, died Nov. 28 in Statesville, N.C. He served as associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C.; then as senior pastor at First Baptist Church, Gaffney, S.C.; Pendleton Street Baptist Church, Greenville, S.C., and First Baptist Church, Statesville, N.C., where he retired and was named pastor emeritus. After his retirement from pastoral ministry, he served as ministerial transitions coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lib. He is survived by a daughter, Kim Ray; a son, Richey; and three grandsons.
Anson R. Nash Jr., 83, died Dec. 11 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He served as music minister, youth director or associate pastor for several Texas Baptist churches, including Padre Island Baptist Church and Lexington Baptist Church. He was executive director of Corpus Christi Area Baptist Association for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Rhonda Tumlinson; and a grandson.
Roscoe C. Robison, 100, died Dec. 17 in Worcester, Mass. His ministry spanned many years and included pastoral leadership at First Baptist Church, Grafton, Ma.; First Baptist Church, Medford, Mass.; Central Square Baptist Church, Portland, Maine; and Calvary Baptist Church, Providence, R.I. He served as the executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts for 15 years. He is preceded in death by his wife, Nina. He is survived by his daughter, Christyn Billinsky; son, Curtis; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
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In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 12-1-23
Transitions for the week of 11-17-23
Transitions for the week of 11-3-23
Transitions for the week of 10-20-23