Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Alyssa Aldape, to First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C., as associate pastor for young adult and youth ministries, effective in November. Currently she is a Baptist Joint Committee Fellow and secretary of the Religious Liberty Council for the BJC.
Christy Butler, to First Baptist Church, Denton, Texas, as associate pastor of connections. She comes from First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, where she was minister of preschool education.
Will Brown, now serving as associate minister at University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va.
Jim Coston, to First Baptist Church, Scottsdale, Ariz., as lead pastor.
Charles L. Fuller, to First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C., as executive pastor, effective in January. He is minister for congregational life at Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark.
Amy Hamilton, to First Baptist Church, Kannapolis, N.C., as minister of preschoolers and children.
Robert “Bobby” Howell, to Orcutt Baptist Church, Newport News, Va., as associate pastor of student ministries.
Lance Newman, to First Baptist Church, Elkin, N.C., as music director.
Rachel Pierce, to First Baptist Church, Ashland, Va., as pastor of worship. She is network developer for the Spence Network, an emerging leadership arm of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
Carolyn Porterfield, named interim executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union.
Ashley Whitaker, to Hyde Park Union Church, Chicago, Ill., as senior minister. She comes from the pastorate of United Church of Mapleton, Mapleton, Minn., and as associate conference minister for the Mid-American Region of American Baptist Churches USA.
Jaron Williford, to Clarksville (Va.) Baptist Church, as contemporary worship leader.
RETIREMENT
Gary Aikens, retiring as minister of music and worship at First Baptist Church, Tifton, Ga.
ORDINATION
Libby Johnson, ordained to ministry on Oct. 8 by Winter Park Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C.
DEATHS
Thomas S. Childrey, 78, died Oct. 4 in Lawrenceville, Va. He was ordained to ministry in 2009 by Lawrenceville (Va.) Baptist Church and a year later became pastor of James Square Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, where he served until his health prevented it. He was a member of Concord Baptist Association for 13 years, serving as moderator and vice-moderator. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; and two sons, Todd and Jeff.
John C. Woods Sr., 89, died on Sept. 28 in Newport News, Va. He served as minister of music in the following churches: First Baptist, Canton, N.C.; Tabernacle Baptist, Roanoke, Va.; Orcutt Baptist, Newport News, Va.; First Baptist, Mullins, S.C., and Ivy Memorial Baptist, Hampton, Va. He directed the choir at The Chesapeake, a Virginia Baptist Homes retirement community; served as program chairman for Peninsula Baptist Association; and served on staff for Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center in Lynchburg, Va. He is predeceased by his wife, Gladys. He is survived by three children, Sheila Rogers, Sheryl Harris and John C. Wood Jr.; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Click here to learn more.
KUDOS
CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES
First Baptist Church, Bluffton, Ind.; 175 years; Oct. 16.
Overland Baptist Church, St. Louis, Mo.; 100 years; Oct. 16.
STAFF ANNIVERSARIES
Crystal R. Byrd, 5 years as children’s minister at First Baptist Church, Norman, Okla.
Perry Holleman, 15 years as minister of education at First Baptist Church, Shelby, N.C.
Larry Jones, 40 years as minister of music and worship at First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, Va.
Susan Ward, 15 years as organist and music associate at First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, N.C.
In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 10.07.16
Transitions for the week of 09.30.16