Staff Changes
Jim Davidson, to Bethel Church, Fredericksburg, as pastor.
Nick Shaffer, to West Salem Church, Salem, as pastor.
Don Jones, to Great Fork Church, Suffolk, as full-time pastor.
Ray Allen, to Airlee Court Church, Roanoke, as interim pastor.
Rick Pinkerman, to Virginia Heights Church, Roanoke, as youth minister.
Ordination
Dan Tatum, minister of congregational life for Hampton Church, Hampton, was ordained to the gospel ministry on Feb. 19 by the church.
Suzanne Stovall Vinson, minister of Christian education at Ginter Park Church, Richmond, will be ordained to the gospel ministry on Feb. 26 by the church.
Church News
Black Creek Church, Franklin, will hold revival services March 12-15 with Jim White as guest evangelist.
Blackwater Church, Virginia Beach, will hold revival services March 19-22 with Royce Williams as guest evangelist.
Cool Spring Church, Mechanicsville, named Zane Grey Ross as pastor emeritus on Feb. 19. Ross served as pastor of Cool Spring from 1963-1982 and remains active in the ministry, serving since 1989 as minister of pastoral visitation at Hatcher Memorial Church, Richmond.
The A Capella Choir from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., will be in concert at Hatcher Memorial Church, Richmond, on March 12 at 10:50 a.m.
LaCrosse Church, LaCrosse, will hold revival March 19-22 with Charles P. Anderson Jr. guest evangelist.
McCabe Memorial Church, Martinsville, will hold revival services March 19-22 with Doug Ramsey as guest evangelist.
Orchard Drive Church, Bassett, will hold a noteburning service on March 19. The BGAV has played an important role in assisting this congregation since its beginning and former members and friends are invited for worship at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch.
Deaths
Former Virginia Baptist pastor John Linean Chafee died on Jan. 21 at the age of 74. He served pastorates at Fine Creek and May Memorial churches in Powhatan and for 36 years was pastor of Hebron Church in Afton. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Marsh Chafee; three children, Lori Weather-holtz; Mark Chafee; and Cathi Barker; and six grandchildren.
Former Virginia Baptist pastor John Paul Franklin Sr. died on Jan. 26 at the age of 89. He entered the ministry after a 20-year career as a dairy farmer. He served as pastor Yellow Branch Church, Lynchburg; Oakdale Church, Madison Heights; State Line Church, Danville; Hillcrest Church, Galax; Amissville Church, Amissville; Sumerduck Church, Sumerduck, and Northside Church, Fredericksburg. He is survived by his wife, Ruby J. Moles Franklin; four children, Sarah Elizabeth Franklin Hair, George Richard Franklin, Betty J. Franklin and John Paul Franklin, Jr.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandson. Funeral services were held Jan. 30 at Beaverdam Church, Chamblissburg, with interment in the church cemetery.
Other
In April 2006, First Church, Darlington, S.C., will celebrate its 175th anniversary. The congregation invites all former members and pastors to contact the church by calling 843-393-2874 or Barbara Crosby at 843-393-3134.