Accepted a new call? Been ordained? Church celebrating an anniversary? Mission trip or project that you would like highlighted on the HeraldBeat page? Send info to HeraldBeat editor Barbara Francis at [email protected].
Transitions
ON THE MOVE
Ronnie Kiehm, to Farmville (Va.) Baptist Church, as pastor, effective Aug. 25.
Alan Sherouse, to First Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C., as senior pastor.
Brian Weygandt, to Immanuel Baptist Church, Newport News, Va., as pastor.
Jason Bennett, to Gravel Hill Baptist Church, Hardy, Va., as pastor.
Nate Varnier, to Fairfields Baptist Church, Burgess, Va., as pastor.
Student choir on tour |
Mike Walters, to Smyrna Baptist Church, Goochland, Va., as pastor.
Mike Collier, to First Baptist Church, Rosewood, N.C., as pastor.
Jim White, to Williamsburg (Va.) Baptist Church, as interim pastor.
Aaron Mansfield, to Catawba Valley Baptist Church, Catawba, Va., as minister to children and youth.
Mark Reon, resigning as pastor of Jackson Memorial Baptist Church, Chesapeake, Va., due to health reasons.
Joy Middleton Taylor, to Second Liberty Baptist Church, Quinton, Va., as interim pastor.
Christopher Gilliam, to St. John’s Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C., as interim director of worship and the arts.
Bill Whitaker, concluding his tenure as executive pastor at Bon Air Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Laura Rice Primm, to First Baptist Church, Elon, N.C., as minister of music and children.
Timothy Belflowers, to First Baptist Church, Monroe, N.C., as minister of music.
Taylor Vancil, to First Baptist Church, Monroe, N.C., as interim director of children and youth.
Bobby Vann, to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as associate pastor.
Kerry Johnson, to Ridge Road Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., as minister of music.
Debbie Holloway, concluding her tenure as associate pastor of children and youth at First Baptist Church, Rockingham, N.C.
Christina Ryan Perkins, to University Baptist Church, Baltimore, Md., as associate pastor.
Bringing joy to others
The Comfort and Joy Sewing Circle at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Troy, Va., makes travel-size pillowcases for church family or those in the community that are ill or homebound to bring comfort and joy and show their love and care. The Circle also completed 52 t-shirt and pillowcase dresses for a mission team from Beaver Dam Baptist to take to an orphanage in Haiti in July, along with flip flops, sandals and toys. Group members who do not sew can iron, match fabrics, cut and pin fabric and deliver the items to those in need. “We love the time we have together as women with purpose and friendship. We really have sew much fun, too,” said Elaine Rembold. |
Robin McKenzie Hardison, to Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, Cary, N.C., as minister of children and missions.
RETIREMENTS
Lawrence Biermann, retiring as pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Hampton, Va., effective Aug. 25.
Mary Buckner, retiring as associate minister at Spring Hill Baptist Church, Ruckersville, Va., effective Sept. 15, following 41 years in ministry.
David Hughes, retiring as pastor of First Baptist Church (Fifth Street), Winston-Salem, N.C. Effective Oct. 1, he will become executive director of the Transforming Center, headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois.
DEATHS
Former Virginia Baptist pastor Nathanael “Nick” Habel died July 29. He had served as pastor of Victoria (Va.) Baptist Church and Boykins (Va.) Baptist Church, and numerous churches as interim pastor. He also was the principal of two elementary schools in Amherst County. He was predeceased by his first wife, Martha Mason Habel. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Dillard Habel; her son, Dunn Dillard; and four grandchildren. A funeral service was held Aug. 1 at Rivermont Avenue Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va.
Former Virginia Baptist minister Donald A. Williams died July 30. He had served as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va., as well as other churches in Virginia and North Carolina. He is survived by his wife, Carol Matthews Williams; children, Robert Todd Williams, Kelley T. Dillenberger, Scott M. Williams, Allison W. Jacobsen and Christopher A. Williams; and 15 grandchildren. A memorial service was held Aug. 3 at Lotz Salem Chapel in Roanoke, Va.
Kudos
ORDINATIONS
Nola Boezeman, ordained to the ministry by Crabtree Valley Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., on Aug. 4.
Mary Beth Foust, ordained to the ministry on Aug. 4 by Central Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., where she serves as missions intern.
Katie Henry, ordained to the ministry on Aug. 11 by First Baptist Church, Huntersville, N.C.
Jason Kline, former children and middle school director at Maplewood Baptist Church, Yadkinville, N.C., will be ordained to the ministry on Aug. 18 by the church.
Leah Anderson Reed, minister with youth at First Baptist Church, Ahoskie, N.C., will be ordained to the ministry by the church on Aug. 25.
30 YEARS
Mary Merritt, celebrating 30 years as children’s music specialist at First Baptist Church, Newport News, Va.
20 YEARS
Kim Jessie, celebrating 20 years as church ministries missionary for Norfolk Baptist Association (now The Bridge Network of Churches).
Larisa Leapley, celebrating 20 years as music director of First Baptist Church, North Wilkesboro, N.C.
Richard Yates, celebrating 20 years as senior pastor of Beachlawn Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, Va.
15 YEARS
Tom Allen, celebrating 15 years as minister of Christian education and administration at First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, N.C.
5 YEARS
Jennifer Asbill, celebrating 5 years as associate pastor for discipleship at Zebulon (N.C.) Baptist Church.
David Elks, celebrating 5 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Lumberton, N.C.
Buddy Hyatt, celebrating 5 years as organist at The Memorial Church, Greenville, N.C.
Events
TUES., AUG. 13
Lakewood Manor Baptist Retirement Community, Richmond, Va.; Civil War 150 History Mobile at main entrance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The expandable 53-foot tractor trailer exhibit, an initiative of the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, draws stories of the Civil War and Emancipation from viewpoints of those who experienced it across Virginia.
SUN., AUG. 18
Bethel Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Va.; 123rd anniversary at 10:45 a.m. with former pastor Ashton Smith, guest speaker; special music by Zion Song. Lunch will follow.
HopeTree Family Services; first ever Batter Up for Hope, a softball game between Elkhardt Baptist Church and Tomahawk Baptist Church at Manchester Middle School, Richmond, Va., in support of HopeTree.
Middleburg (Va.) Baptist Church; concert of gospel music by The Spiritual Harmonizers at 4 p.m.
SUN.-WED., AUG. 18-21
Oakland Baptist Church, Gum Spring, Va.; 159th anniversary; homecoming at 11 a.m. with John Chandler, guest speaker; homecoming meal; afternoon of praise with music evangelist Smokey Wilson; revival weeknights at 7 p.m.
SUN., AUG. 25
Mount Tabor Baptist Church, Arvonia, Va.; homecoming at 11 a.m. with Jeff Whorley, guest speaker.
The Memorial Baptist Church, Greenville, N.C.; concert of worship featuring The Sorrells from First Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C., at 5 p.m.
State Line Baptist Church, Danville, Va.; homecoming at 10:45 a.m. with Glenn Crumpton, guest speaker; music by the Yarboro Family; covered-dish lunch.
SUN., SEPT. 8
Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Va.; 125th anniversary; homecoming at 10 a.m. with Rick Clore, guest speaker; followed by dinner on the grounds.
SUN.-WED., SEPT. 8-11
Beulah Baptist Church, Gloucester, Va., revival services with Roger Roller, evangelist.
SAT.-SUN., SEPT. 14-15
Covenant Baptist Church, Gastonia, N.C.; 25th anniversary homecoming celebration; with Dennis Swanberg.
OTHER TRANSITIONS
Catoctin Valley Community Church, Purcellville, Va., is now meeting at the Loudoun Valley High School. Dan Morgan serves as senior pastor of this congregation constituted in 2011.
Ocean View Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va., has voted to change its name to OV Church. Aaron Dininny is senior pastor of this congregation.
Powhatan (Va.) Community Church will launch its third campus on Sept. 8. The church is in the process of renovating a store in Bremo Bluff, Va., for its new Riverside Campus. Chauncey Starkey will serve as campus pastor. PCC’s main campus is in Powhatan and its Westchester Campus is located in Midlothian.
Building improvements at The Resource Center’s new location at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va., are nearing completion. Due to the move, their annual leadership event, Toolbox for Tomorrow, set for Sept. 14 will be rescheduled for a later date.