Staff Change
Robert “Bob” Bunn, to Holland Church, Suffolk, as full-time pastor.
Quentin T. Madden, resigning as pastor of North Riverside Church, Newport News, to accept the pastorate of First Church, St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Albert A. Peverall, to Fox Hill Road Church, Hampton, as transitional pastor.
William “Bill” Hardison, to May Memorial Church, Powhatan, as interim pastor.
Michael W. Smith, to Lake Ridge Church, Woodbridge, as minister of worship, effective June 1.
Matt Senger, to Lyndale Church, Richmond, as associate pastor/youth minister.
Joshua Sparks, to Sterling Park Church, Sterling, as youth minister.
Kerri Sisk, to Charles Town Church, Charles Town, as director of music.
Deaths
James Vernon DeFoe Sr., retired Virginia Baptist pastor, died April 10 at the age of 89. He had served as pastor of Farmville Church, Farmville; Wytheville Church, Wytheville; Rocky Mount Church, Rocky Mount; Bayside Church, Virginia Beach; and Melrose Church, Roanoke. In retirement he was associate pastor of Calvary Church, Roanoke. He is survived by his wife, Frances Copenhaver DeFoe; a son, James V. DeFoe Jr.; two daughters, Loraine D. Hughes and Jan DeFoe Jessee; six grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. A memorial service was held April 13 at Melrose Church in Roanoke.
Former Southern Baptist missionary Davis Lee Saunders died April 2. He and his wife, Mary, served in many countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya. Saunders was a pioneer in the work in East Africa and in 1972 he was called to serve as administrator for all Southern Baptist mission work in Africa. He is survived by his wife, Mary Hogg Saunders; a brother, Elwyn A. Saunders; six children, Mary Lee Thomas, Danner Saunders Neal, John Alvah Lee Saunders II, Nina Saunders Ellison, Cathy Hinson and Jeffrey Saunders; nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Ordinations
Sammy Frame and Angie Frame were ordained to the gospel ministry by Powhatan Community Church on April 8.
Church News
Cobham Park Church, Warsaw, will hold a dedication service for its newly-renovated sanctuary on April 30. John Upton, executive director of the BGAV will be guest speaker. A reception will follow the dedication service.
Peakland Church, Lynchburg, is hosting Tony Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, for its 2006 Vagt Lecture on April 29-30. There are 3 events planned during the lecture. On April 29 at 9 a.m. there is a breakfast at the Holiday Inn Select in Lynchburg. A Saturday evening session will be held at 7:30 at the Snidow Chapel at Lynchburg College. And the event will conclude at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Peakland Church. All sessions are free and open to the public. There is a charge for breakfast. Contact the church at 434-384-2031 for more information.
Sunbeam Church in Franklin will celebrate its 100th anniversary on May 7. John Upton, executive director of the BGAV, will be guest speaker at the 11 a.m. worship service.
Sterling Park Church, Sterling, will hold revival services April 30-May 3 with Dale Riddle as guest evangelist.
Other
There will be a Male and Female Spirituality Retreat led by Marie J. DiSciullo-Naples at Richmond Hill in Richmond on April 28-30. This 48-hour retreat is designed to provide a continuing education opportunity to those who wish to further examine how gender influences the spiritual formation of individuals. For more information or to register, contact Karen moore at 804-783-7957.
The Virginia Baptist Media Library Association will hold its spring conference on May 19-21 at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. The theme is “Train Up A Child” and church librarians and others interested in this ministry are invited to attend this training weekend. Ten CGSP study courses will be offered Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and afternoon led by Mitsn Mitchell, LifeWay consultant from Maryland, and different state leaders. For more details see the website: www.vachurchlibrary.org or register directly to Eagle Eyrie at 434-384-2211.