RICHMOND — On the same day, First Baptist Church of Richmond called Jim Somerville as pastor, Second Baptist Church of Richmond installed Craig Sherouse as its pastor, and First Baptist of Newport News said good-bye to its pastor, Randel Everett, who will assume his responsibilities as the executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Craig Sherouse (left) shakes hands with Ray Spence, his predecessor as pastor of Second Baptist Church in Richmond. Beverly Sherouse (at far left) chats with choir members.
Craig Sherouse, 53, officially began his duties as pastor of Second Baptist Church on the first Sunday of March and was installed as pastor the following Sunday, March 9. He and his wife, Beverly, have moved to Richmond from Griffin, Ga., where Sherouse was pastor of First Baptist Church. He has also served as pastor of churches in Kentucky and Florida. Craig and Beverly have two grown children.
Sherouse earned a master of divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., in 1978 and was awarded the doctor of philosophy degree from the same seminary in 1982.
He has continued his education through seminars at Stetson, Mercer, Furman, Emory and Princeton universities, Florida Southern College, Union Seminary, McAfee School of Theology and the University of Florida Medical School. He has also received certification in Core Curriculum Preaching from the College of Preachers, Washington National Cathedral and as a consultant with the McAfee Institute for Healthy Congregations, McAfee School of Theology (strategic planning, conflict resolution). He is completing certification as a professional and executive coach through the International Coach Federation.
While Second Baptist Church was installing its new pastor, First Baptist Church in Richmond was celebrating its call that morning to Jim Somerville, 48, to serve as the 16th senior pastor in the church's 228-year history. He will begin his pastoral responsibilities to the church on Sunday, May 11.
For the past seven years, Somerville has served as pastor of the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C. Before moving to Washington in July 2000, Somerville served as pastor of Wingate Baptist Church in Wingate, N.C., and of churches in Kentucky. He earned his masters of divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987 and 1991, respectively.
Somerville has preached on the Chicago-based 30 Good Minutes, the internationally broadcast Day 1 radio program, and was one of the featured preachers at the Festival of Homiletics at the Washington National Cathedral in 2004. His articles and sermons have been published in Christian Century, Leadership, The Upper Room, Preaching, Lectionary Homiletics, and Preaching Great Texts.
He was awarded the Clyde T. Francisco Preaching Award while a student at Southern Seminary.
Jim and Christy Somerville, who celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on New Year's Day 2008, have two daughters. Ellie is in her third year as a student at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Catherine is a junior in the School Without Walls, a D.C. magnet high school. Christy is the daughter of well-known Baptist educator Bill Treadwell, who taught Christian education and leadership/ administration at both Southern Seminary and Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary.
Randel and Sheila Everett of First Baptist Church in Newport News.
Meanwhile, also on March 9, First Baptist Church of Newport News bid farewell to its pastor of five years as Randel and Sheila Everett said their good-byes in the morning worship service. An afternoon reception provided a formal opportunity for congregation members to offer their thanks and best wishes to the couple.
When asked by the church what gift it could provide them, Everett asked only for their prayers. Accordingly, in a surprise to their pastor and his wife, members wrote their prayers, which were bound with photographs into a hard-bound book and presented at the reception. A beautiful wooden serving cart was also presented in recognition both of the hospitality the couple has provided in the past and that to be required in the future as Everett becomes executive director of the BGCT.
Randel and Sheila have two grown children — and more significantly, two grandsons in San Antonio.