STAFF CHANGES
MISSIONS MOMENT
A team of 18 members of Bethany Baptist Church in Callo went to Tennessee last August to help families whose homes had been damaged and destroyed by a tornado to rebuild and repair. The Hope Team's trip was the church's second mission trip and they are proud of their members who give their time and talents to “let their light shine” by helping others.
• Thomas S. Larson, to Fox Hill Church, Hampton, as pastor.
• John Robertson, to Red Bank Church, Nassawadox, as pastor.
• Bill Corey, to Antioch Church, Mechanicsville as pastor. He had been serving as interim.
• Eddie Collins, to County Line Church, Java, and Halifax Church, Vernon Hill, as pastor.
• David Collyer and Colleen Swingle-Titus, to Crozet Church, Crozet, as pastors.
• Mark Hackler, resigning as pastor of Sharon Church, Danville.
• Armando DeLa Merced, to Grace Filipino Church, Woodbridge, as pastor.
• Troy Hickman, resigning as pastor of LaCrosse Church, LaCrosse.
• John S. Carpenter, to Glebe Landing Church, Laneview, as intentional interim pastor.
• Alice Cates, now serving as associate pastor for counseling and community formations at Biltmore Church, Glen Allen.
• Tyler Daniels, now serving as full-time minister of students at Indian River Church, Chesapeake.
• David Lee Franklin, resigning as minister of music at Oak Level Church, Bassett, effective the end of May.
• Amanda Johnston, resigning as associate pastor of Farmville Church, Farmville.
• Charles W. Gibson, completing an intentional interim pastorate at Kilmarnock Church, Kilmarnock.
MISSION MOMENT
The WMU of Langley Baptist Church in Hampton gathered to wrap shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse, on Oct. 14. This is the first year the ladies filled boxes with toys and other items for children around the world, but it won't be the last. The group, pictured with some of the wrapped boxes, participates in a mission project each month.
ORDINATION
• Will Baker was ordained to the gospel ministry by Tabernacle Church, Richmond, on Feb. 7.
CHURCH NEWS
• First Church, Danville, continued its year-long celebration of its 175th anniversary with Ben Newell, global mission field worker with the CBF, as guest speaker on Feb. 8.
• Elk Creek Church, Mineral, will conduct a special worship service, “Church Growth in South Africa,” on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. with guest speaker, Shadrack Monageng, reporting on The Grasslands Baptist Church, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Elk Creek contributed $5,000 toward the establishment of this church. A dinner of traditional Virginia dishes will be served following the service.
• Woodland Heights Church, Richmond, will host a jazz concert led by David Thomason on Tues., Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. This will be the first of several events to celebrate the church's 100th anniversary, which will be in April 2010. The concert is free. For more information call 804-233-2222.
Guy Webb
William Tomlinson
• First Baptist Church, Newport News, celebrated its 125th anniversary on Nov. 2. Two former pastors, Guy Webb and William Tomlinson gave messages, one at each service. Bertha Taylor Baldwin, whose father Alfred J. Dickinson, served as pastor from 1923-34 reminisced about growing up there and later returning as an adult member and leader. A DVD greeting from former pastor Jim White (1987-2002) played during both services. The church's most recent senior pastor, K. Randel Everett (2003-2008) was unable to come from Texas where he now serves as the executive director of the Texas Baptist Convention. A reception was held following the 11 a.m. service. The JOY Quilters Circle made quilt squares for all to sign. The squares will be sewn together making a Signature Memory Quilt to be placed on permanent display at the church. In addition to its usual ministries, First Baptist now offers a School of Music, an Hispanic congregation started in 2006 and houses the Hampton Roads site for the John Leland Center for Theological Studies.
DEATH
• Virginia Baptist minister John Milton Deeds III died Feb. 4 at the age of 61. During his years of ministry, he served several congregations including West Lynchburg and Sandusky churches in Lynchburg. He was chaplain at Avante in Lynchburg for several years and the director of the Central Virginia Alzheimer's Association through 2005. He is survived by his wife, Margaret W. Deeds; two daughters, Rebekah Deeds King and Angela Deeds; a sister, Leigh D. Boyd; and a niece. A celebration of life was held Feb. 7 at Rivermont Avenue Church, Lynchburg, where he was a long-time member. Interment in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Durham, N.C.