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
James R. Hunter, to Peakland Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va., as senior pastor.
David Anderson, to Chestnut Level Baptist Church, Blairs, Va., as pastor. He is the former pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church, Williamston, N.C.
David Phillips, to Cradock Baptist Church, Portsmouth, Va., as senior pastor.
Jill McCroy, to Twinbrook Baptist Church, Rockville, Md., as pastor.
L. Joseph Rosas III, to University Baptist Church, Baltimore, Md., as senior pastor.
Mike McMenniman, to Sharon Baptist Church, Green Bay, Va., as pastor.
Charles Maney, to Mt. Tirzah Baptist Church, Charlotte Courthouse, Va., as pastor.
Elizabeth Evan Hagan, resigning as pastor of Washington Plaza Baptist Church, Reston, Va., to continue ministry through Feed the Children, a faith-based organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, where her husband, Kevin Hagan, serves as president and chief executive officer.
Gary Long, concluding his ministry as pastor of First Baptist Church, Gaithersburg, Md. He will be writing Christian curriculums and working on an Internet content marketing and publishing project through Baptist Standard Publishing.
Mark Beck, to Thaxton (Va.) Baptist Church, as intentional interim pastor.
Andrew H. Wakefield, to Yates Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., as interim pastor.
Bruce Queen, to First Baptist Church, Ashland, Va., as intentional interim pastor, effective March 1.
Reggie Warren, to Union Hill Baptist Church, Brookneal, Va., as interim pastor.
Coan Agee, resigning as interim pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Chase City, Va., after 10 years of ministry there.
Mark Gourley, to West Main Baptist Church, Danville, Va., as minister of music. He is the former director of music at the First Presbyterian Church, Fayetteville, N.C.
Shane Standlick, to Cool Spring Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., as children’s ministry associate.
Don Welborn, concluding his ministry as minister of music at Calvary Baptist Church, West Asheville, N.C.
Dane Jackson, concluding his ministry as minister of youth at Mechanicsville (Va.) Baptist Church.
Ross Jenkins, to Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as interim director of youth.
Emilie Morrison, to Talbot Park Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va., as youth minister.
Rob Spiers, now serving as music director at Kilmarnock (Va.) Baptist Church.
Melanie Lassiter, to Peninsula Baptist Association, as full-time church and community ministries director.
David Pace, to Peninsula Baptist Association, as part-time church planting catalyst. He will serve in a joint internship between the BGAV, Freedom Life Church and Peninsula Association, with the intention of planting a new church in that area.
DEATHS
Willie “Bill” Berry Jr. died Jan. 21 at the age of 94. He had served on the staff of Tabernacle and Pine Street Baptist churches in Richmond, Va., and was director of the Oregon Hill Baptist Center from 1968-1988. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Phillips Berry; children, Bill Berry III and Ellen Looper; and four grandchildren. A celebration of life was held Jan. 27 at Pine Street Baptist Church.
Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Walter Lee Bradley Sr. died Jan. 22 at the age of 94. He served as associate pastor at Northminster Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; Dover Baptist Church in Manakin-Sabot, Va. and Haymarket (Va.) Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Bailey Bradley; children, Terri Farmer and Kay and Lee Bradley; and three grandchildren. A funeral service was held Jan. 26 at Antioch Baptist Church, Sandston, Va.
W. Nolan Teague died Feb. 2 at the age of 83. He had served as bi-vocational pastor at Daleville (Va.) Baptist Church and Cave Rock Baptist Church in Troutville, Va. He was one of the founders of the Roanoke Valley Bi-vocational Pastors’ Association. He is survived by his wife, Royce Woodford Teague; and two daughters, Susan Seyfried and Beth Fenimore. A funeral service was held Feb. 8 at Oakey’s South Chapel in Roanoke, Va.
Kudos
RETIREMENT
Grant McIntosh, retiring as associate pastor at Virginia Hills Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va.
Allan D. McConnell Jr., retiring as senior pastor of Lael Baptist Church, Lignum, Va.
Pat McKinster, retiring as minister of music at Fieldale (Va.) Baptist Church.
David P. Shreve, retiring as associate pastor of Manly Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, Va.
5 YEARS
Larry Cheek, celebrating 5 years as pastor of First Baptist Church, Collinsville, Va.
10 YEARS
David Turner, celebrating 10 years as pastor of Central Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
20 YEARS
Ken Barnes, celebrating 20 years as pastor of Woodland Heights Baptist Church, Chesapeake, Va.
25 YEARS
Joe Northen, celebrating 25 years as minister of music at First Baptist Church, Danville, Va.
Events
SUN., FEB. 24
Community Fellowship Baptist Church, Gate City, Va.; 19th anniversary; service at 11 a.m. followed by covered-dish lunch.
SAT., MARCH 9
Belmont Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va.; concert by Jimmy Fortune at 7 p.m. $15.00 admission for adults; proceeds benefit Belmont Baptist and Stop Hunger Now.
On mission
The Joy Quilters, a First Baptist Church, Newport News, Va., women’s circle, was started about five years ago by Judy Gatlin and Mary Lynch. The group’s membership has changed, but the same ministry continues. The Joy Quilters have made approximately 50 crib-size quilts for children at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk. They have also made quilts for injured veterans. The Quilters meet weekly with some members cutting and pressing material and others sewing. They also made a signature quilt for the church’s 125th anniversary in 2008. Pictured at right are group members with quilts they have completed.
News
Scottsburg (Va.) Baptist Church burned the note on its new fellowship hall on Jan. 27. In photo at right burning the note are (left to right): former pastor Allen Mahan; Hudson Reese, deacon chair; and Bobby Hall, building and grounds chair.
The Bland (Va.) Ministry Center has announced a capital campaign to fund an expansion of its warehouse, keeping furniture and other special items to aid victims of fire and families who have lost belongings due to relocation or financial hardships. The cost will be approximately $35,000 and the center has already received $13,000 toward the project.
First Baptist Church, Raleigh, was presented a commemorative communion set in honor of its 200th anniversary by leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Pat Anderson, interim coordinator of CBF, and Larry Hovis, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, were at First Baptist Church on February 3 to participate in worship leadership and present the gift.
J. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, was inducted into the Baylor University Alumni Association Hall of Fame for his work defending religious freedom. Walker received the Abner V. McCall Religious Liberty Award which honors individuals with close ties to Baylor who have “demonstrated the courage and dedication to defend and advocate for religious liberty.”
Since 2007 Baptist Women in Ministry have encouraged Baptist churches to participate in the Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching by having a woman preach during the month of February. Martha Stearns Marshall was an well-known 18th century Separate Baptist woman. Baptist Women in Ministry remember and honor Martha Stearns Marshall by celebrating the giftedness of the women who proclaim the good news from pulpits today. The following women are preaching in Mid-Atlantic churches:
- Alice Cates, Chester (Va.) Baptist Church
- Rosemary Blankenship, Rhoadesville (Va.) Baptist Church
- Phyllis Elvington, Westwood Baptist Church, Cary, N.C.
- Susan Ferdon, First Baptist Church, Elkin, N.C.
- Marnie Fisher-Ingram, First Baptist Church, Boone, N.C.
- Elizabeth Mangham Lott, Westover Baptist Church, Richmond
- Esther Parker, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Raleigh
- Sharon Smith, University Baptist Church, Baltimore
- Twyla Turner, United Baptist Church, Annandale, Va.
- Christina Whitehouse-Suggs and Nell Green, First Baptist Church, Greenwood, N.C.
If your congregation is participating, please send the name of your church and speaker to be listed here. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 18. Email [email protected].