STAFF CHANGES
• David Benjamin, to Winfree Memorial Church, Midlothian, as pastor.
• Bill Hardison, to May Memorial Church, Powhatan, as pastor.
• Lee McConnell, to New Hope Church, Chesterfield, as pastor.
• Garrett Sheldon,now serving as pastor of First Church, Big Stone Gap.
• Andrew Shanks, to Fontaine Church, Martinsville, as pastor.
• M. Keith Martin, to Talbot Park Church, Norfolk, as interim pastor, effective Sept. 1. Robert Carpenter will be serving a year-long military chapliancy assignment with the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
• Larry Jones, to First Church, Waynesboro, as minister of music and worship.
• Josh Cranor, to Bethlehem Church, Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, as associate pastor.
• Debbie Thompson, to Dover Church, Manakin-Sabot, as director of music.
• Kathi Hodge, resigning as director of music and creative ministries at Ivy Memorial Church, Hampton.
• Isaiah Garrett, to New Chapel Church, Rustburg, as youth director.
• Heidi Oberdick, resigning as minister of music at Talbot Park Church, Norfolk.
MISSIONS MOMENT
The youth of Mt. Zion Church in Tappahannock traveled to Greater Portmore, Jamaica, June 21-28 for a mission trip. The group raised over $4,000 to buy materials to finish a tile floor for church and also conducted revival services for the neighboring Hellshire beach community. Five people accepted Christ during the revival. Team members pictured above with area residents are: Pastor Chuck Haley, Jeff Davenport, Patrick Jeffreys, Brent Gladding, Ryan Baughan, Lindsey Davenport, Kelsi Baughan, Lee Gladding, Wayne Thompson, Jared Haley and Nancy Baughan.
ORDINATION
• Melvin Covington Jr. was ordained to the gospel ministry by Round Oak Church, Corbin, on Aug. 3.
DEATHS
• Clareece Phillips Eaton of Culpeper died Aug. 4. She is survived by her husband, Rev. J. Harold Eaton Sr.; four children, Joseph H. Jr. and Philip L. Eaton, Virginia and Melody E. Money; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother. A funeral service was held Aug. 7 at Clore-English Funeral Home.
• Former Virginia Baptist pastor James Edward Proffitt died Aug. 8. He was ordained to the gospel ministry by Bethany Place Church, Richmond, in 1981, and had served on the staff of Webber Memorial and Kingsland churches in Richmond and as pastor of Fellowship Church in Powhatan. He is survived by his wife, Jean Webb Proffitt; three children, Jamie Pittman, Joy Proffitt and Jeffrey Proffitt; four grandchildren; a great-grandson; two brothers; and two sisters. Funeral services were held Aug. 12 at Kingsland Church, Richmond.
• Rudolph Malcolm Wood died Aug 7 in Richmond at the age of 73. He and his wife Helen were appointed by the International Mission Board to the mission field in 1964. He served first as pastor of the International Baptist Church in Luxembourg and later was instrumental in establishing and pastoring the International Baptist churches in Jurbise and Brussells, Belgium. He also was pastor of the French-speaking church in Nivelles, Belgium, and served on the Home Mission Committee of the European Baptist Federation. He served as pastor of Preddy's Creek Church and Oak Chapel churches near Charlottesville; Cut Bank Church in McKenney; Rustburg Church, Rustburg; and Belmont Church, Charlottesville. He also served several interim pastorates. Survivors include his wife, Helen Siner Wood; children, Laurie Harbert, David Wood and Elizabeth Woodworth; a sister; and three grandchildren. Graveside services were held Aug. 9 at Woodland Cemetery in Chase City.
MISSIONS MOMENT
Dawn Marks, a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Lovingston, participated in a two-week mission trip to West Africa with Cross World Missions in May. The team of 12 spent two weeks teaching ESL in schools. They conducted a basketball camp, participated in medical outreach and shared the gospel through a skit perfrmed at an English festival. Three team members had the opportunity to be on a local English radio station and share the gospel to just under a million listeners. Team members also helped children sign-up for Bible studies in the local church.
CHURCH NEWS
• Branch's Church, Richmond, will host a seminar, “Into the Depths, Discovering a Deeper Life in Christ,” on Sat., Oct. 18 from 6-9 p.m. In addition to worship time, there will be small group sessions exploring the deeper spiritual life. Sessions include “Navigating the Storms of Depression” led by Grace Shortt; “Sailing from Mourning to Joy, the Journey of Grief” by Donna Grile; “Traveling the Seas of Anger” by Roberta Damon; “Following the Northern Star, Discovering the Journey of Prayer” by Mat Brown, “The Wind in My Sails, Discovering Spiritual Pathways” by Jim Hamacher and “All Hands on Deck, Cultivating Meditative Time with God” led by Dan Bagby. Cost is $12.00. For more information call the church at 804-276-5000.
• James Watson Jr., a student at Norfolk State University, and William Edmund Newsome, a student at Duke Divinity School, will bring their initial sermons in response to the call to the gospel ministry on Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. at East End Church in Suffolk.
• Surry Church, Surry, will host Tara Leigh & Noteworthy, a gospel music group, on Aug. 31 at 5 p.m.
ASSOCIATIONAL NEWS
• Portsmouth Association is partnering with HopeTree Family Services in a fundraising walk on Sept. 14 at Churchland High School track in Portsmouth. This is a regional event and will honor Ector Lee Hamrick, former PBA director of missions, who served on the HopeTree board of directors for over 30 years and is retring. For additional information contact the association office at 757-488-1162.
RECEPTION FOR PASTOR
Jonesboro Baptist Church in Blackstone hosted a reception recently for Juan Gascon and his wife. Gascon has served as a Hispanic church planter with the Southside Baptist Association, for almost 10 years. On March 11, he was involved in an automobile accident, on the way to teaching a Bible study. The accident resulted in his spending two months in the hospital; he returned home May 16. The reception was held for the community and association to visit the family. Many churches were represented, including the Hispanic church which he pastors.