Transitions
ON THE MOVE
Bryon LePere, to Buena Vista (Va.) Baptist Church, as pastor. He previously served as pastor of Big Island (Va.) Baptist Church.
Bailey Edwards Nelson, to Flat Rock Baptist Church in Mount Airy, N.C., as pastor.
David Tillman, to Real Life Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Va., as pastor. He previously served as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Culpeper, Va.
Doug Adams, to Buckingham Baptist Church, Arvonia, Va., as pastor.
David Stratton, to Woodhaven Baptist Church, Apex, N.C., as senior pastor.
Darren and Jessica Williams, to Nomini Baptist Church, Montross, Va., as co-pastors.
Trey Gilliam, resigning as pastor of Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, Buckingham, Va., to become assistant professor of religion at Chowan University, Buies Creek, N.C.
Dan Bagby, to River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond, Va., as interim associate for pastoral care.
Robyn Boring, resigning as children’s and youth director at First Baptist Church, West Point, Va., effective July 30.
Joe Pisani, to Grace Baptist Church, Woodbridge, Va., as director of small groups and adult ministries. He was previously associate pastor at Jones Road Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.
Rebecca Anne Perkinson, to Powers Memorial Baptist Church, Hopewell, Va., as choir director.
Tiont “Tick” Williams, to Northminster Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as youth minister.
Carol McCann, resigning as minister of education and youth at West End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Va.
Alden Hicks, completing an interim pastorate at Providence Baptist Church, Red House, Va., effective Aug. 31.
Kristen Taylor, resigning as minister to youth and families at Sandston Baptist Church, Sandston, Va., to begin a residence in chaplain ministry.
RETIREMENTS
Burrell Baker has retired as pastor of Gravel Hill Baptist Church, Hardy, Va.
Gary Edwards, pastor of First Baptist Church, Ridgeway, Va., has announced his retirement, effective July 31.
Frank Feather has retired as pastor of Forest Park Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va.
Robert Hetherington has announced plans to retire as executive director of the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association in Roanoke, Va., effective Dec. 31, 2011.
DEATHS
James G. Davenport died May 13. As a minister for over 50 years, he had served as pastor of several Virginia churches, including Dinwiddie Baptist Church and McKenny Baptist Church. At the time of his death he was interim pastor of Mount Tabor Baptist Church, Arvonia, Va. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Wilson Davenport; four sons, Jerry W. and Jack G. Davenport and Jeffrey H. and Daniel L. Edwards; a daughter, Katherine D. Ingram; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A funeral service was held May 17 at Arvon Baptist Church, Arvonia, Va.
Tommy Teague, longtime pastor at North Richland Hills Baptist Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, died June 23 in his sleep while on a church trip in Israel. He was 58. He had served as senior associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va.
A celebration of life service for Phil Rodgerson, who died June 10, will be Saturday, July 30 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Events
SUN, JULY 17, 24 & 31
Emmaus Church, Poquoson, Va., will celebrate its anniversary with three Sunday nights of Holy Humor. Dennis Swansberg will be special guest on July 17. Jeanne Robertson will lead the program on July 24 and Tim Hawkins will be guest humorist on July 31. All services begin at 6 p.m.
SAT, JULY 23
A concert with Jimmy Fortune, Virginia native and former member of the Statler Brothers, at 8 p.m. at Highlands Fellowship Church, Abingdon, Va. Donation $20. The concert will benefit the tornado victims in the Glade Spring, Va., area.
SUN, JULY 24
Cobham Park Baptist Church, Warsaw, Va., revival July 24-27 with Mark Becton as evangelist. Musical guests will be The Taylors from Lillington, N.C.
SUN, JULY 31
Montague Baptist Church, King George, Va., homecoming at 11 a.m.; luncheon at 12 noon; afternoon music by Jerusalem Ridge. Revival Aug. 1-3 with James Newton as guest evangelist.
New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., will host a concert by Amy Ladd and Friends at 6 p.m. Country gospel singer Jamie Tolley will be special guest.
SUN, AUG. 7
First Baptist Church, Collinsville, Va., 70th anniversary; homecoming service at 10:30 a.m.; former member Lynwood Lavinder, speaker; fellowship meal following worship.
Lael Baptist Church, Culpeper, Va., 138th homecoming with John Farrar as guest speaker.
Mountain Baptist Church, Bluemont, Va., will celebrate homecoming at 11 a.m. followed by lunch. Revival services will begin at 2 p.m. with Mike Blitch as evangelist and will continue through Aug. 10 at 7 p.m.
New Hope Baptist Church, Mine Run, Va., homecoming 11 a.m.; revival Aug. 8-12. Bluegrass gospel group, Sonrise, will perform Aug. 8. Mike Raphael will speak on Aug. 12.
SUN, AUG. 14
Lower King and Queen Baptist Church, Dragonville, Va., revival Aug. 14-17 with Roger Roller as evangelist.
Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, Buckingham, Va., homecoming at 10:30 a.m. with former pastor Jimmy Dunn as guest speaker. Fellowship lunch following the service.
Rhoadesville Baptist Church, Rhoadesville, Va., 123rd anniversary; homecoming service at 11 a.m.; dinner on the grounds at 12:15 p.m. Revival services Aug. 15-17 with James E. Baucom Sr. as evangelist.
Welcome Grove Baptist Church, Warsaw, Va., homecoming with Clayton Custalow as speaker. Revival services Aug. 14-17.
Kudos
Bill Higgins celebrated 20 years as senior pastor of Manassas Baptist Church, Manassas, Va., on June 26. There was a lunch following the service and the Arabic and Hispanic congregations at Manassas joined the celebration.
Joseph Kendrick has celebrated his fifth anniversary at Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. He now serves as full-time associate minister of youth and pastoral care.
Wayne Nowell was ordained to the ministry on May 1 by Winfree Memorial Baptist Church, Midlothian, Va.
News
Grace Chinese Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., broke ground for a facility of its own May 1. After a decade of being hosted by Gayton, River Road and Parham Road Baptist churches in Richmond, Grace Chinese Church has secured property located 3 miles west of Centerville on Highway 250 (Broad Street) in Richmond. The congregation has grown from 40 to about 140 members, with both English and Chinese congregations, and a substantial children’s and youth ministry on Friday evenings. Pictured above are church leaders at the groundbreaking service.
Daybreak Community Church in Ashburn, Va., has decided to disband and partner with Gateway Community Church in Chantilly, Va., to more effectively reach people with the gospel. Daybreak Community held its final service on May 22 as it observed its 17th anniversary with a celebration service and look back at the ways God blessed its ministry. Its first service with Gateway Community Church was on May 29.
The student choir from First Baptist Church, Newport News, Va., a total of 45 including chaperones, made a summer tour June 24 to July 3 presenting concerts of the musical, “Made To Worship.” The choir traveled to Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Niagra Falls and Maryland before returning to Newport News for a homecoming concert. Dennis Adams, minister of music, coordinated the trip and directed the musical.