Staff Changes
Adam Meisberger, to Bethel Church, Reva, as pastor. He had been serving as interim pastor.
Wes Moore, resigning as pastor of Liberty Church, Hopewell.
Ray Goude Sr., to Faith Church, Hampton, as interim pastor.
Bob Carter, to Temple Church, Newport News, as interim pastor.
Ronald E. Farrar, to North Riverside Church, Newport News, as intentional interim pastor.
Tom Lovorn, to Liberty Church, Hopewell, as interim pastor.
Starlit Knight, to Covington Church, Covington, as part-time music director.
Wendi Martin, to Northminster Church, Richmond, as interim children's coordinator.
Darren Mooney, resigning as minister to students at First Church, Springfield.
35 years of music ministry
Sandy Ridge Church, Rocky
Mount, recently recognized
Eleanor Gray Bailey for 35 years of music ministry. She has played the organ and piano for the
church and was given roses by the choir and a plaque and monetary gift by the congregation.
Kenneth Lantz, to River Road Church, Richmond, as church administrator.
Dwight Hutchins, to Elk Creek Church, Mineral, as associate pastor for youth ministry and contemporary worship.
Sylvia Nelson Cooper, resigning as minister of music at Webber Memorial Church, Richmond, to accept a similar position at Shady Grove United Methodist Church, Glen Allen.
Koy and Carole Griffin, resigning as youth directors at Buffalo Church, Buffalo Junction.
Ordinations
Joe Vitek was ordained to the gospel ministry on Jan. 28 by Derbyshire Church, Richmond.
Monty Raney was ordained to the gospel ministry by Lawrenceville Church, Lawrenceville, on Dec. 10. He serves as associate pastor there.
Anthony Wall, minister of students at Olive Branch Church, Black Ridge, was ordained to the gospel ministry by the church on Jan. 7.
Earl Stanley, pastor of Ephesus Church, South Hill, was ordained to the gospel ministry by the church on Jan. 28.
Mike Wells will be ordained to the gospel ministry by Shenandoah Heights Church, Waynesboro, on Feb. 11.
Church News
James Square Church, Lawrenceville, will celebrate WMU Focus Week with guest speaker Carolyn Carter from Concord Association on Feb. 11 at 11 a.m.
Deaths
Former Virginia Baptist pastor Tom W. McMillan died January 21. Tom and the late Marilyn Jones McMillan served as Southern Baptist missonaries in Kenya and Tanzania from 1959-1983. He was the founding pastor of South Run Church, Springfield. He is survived by his wife, Linda Gaylor McMillan; son, Tom McMillan Jr., two daughters, Melody Misu and Deborah Pillow; step-sons, Jason, Travis and Erin Mustian; and three grandchildren. A memorial service was held Jan. 27 at South Run Church.
Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Clarence James Word died Jan. 31. He was called to serve as pastor of East End Church, Suffolk, in 1939 and served faithfully until his retirement in 1982. Upon retirement, the church named him pastor emeritus. He was past president of the Suffolk Ministers Council and founder and first president of the Nansemond Credit Union. He is survived by his wife, Addie Moore Word; a daughter, Shirley Word-Kimbrough; and two grandchildren. A celebration of life was held Feb. 3 at East End Church, Suffolk.
Other
John, executive director of the BGAV, and his wife, Deborah, are celebrating the birth of a granddaughter, Virginia Grace Upton, born on Feb. 1.