STAFF CHANGES
• Derek Hamby, to Randolph Memorial Church, Madison Heights, as pastor, effective Aug. 1.
• Jeff Schaloff, to Fox Hill Road Church, Hampton, as pastor.
• Jim Vaught, to Ferry Farm Church, Fredericksburg, as pastor, effective Aug. 1.
• John Carey, to Antioch Church, Haymarket, as pastor.
• John Ippolito, resigning as pastor of Gloucester Point Church, Gloucester Point.
• Bill Melton, to Ivy Memorial Church, Hampton, as minister of education.
• Debbie Lester and Elizabeth Sweet, to Oakland Church, Roanoke, as co-interim ministers of music.
• Cecil McKinney, resigning as pastor of discipleship training and pastoral care at Massaponax Church, Fredericksburg, to serve as a VBMB Venturer in Slovakia.
• Joey Lear, resigning as associate pastor of youth/children at Crewe Church, Crewe, to accept a pastorate in Pennsylvania.
• Kathi Traficanti, resigning as minister of education at Mount Vernon Church, Glen Allen.
• R. Brandon Ives, to Cornerstone Christian Church, Richmond, as outreach and youth pastor.
• Clint Fortune, to Glade Hill Church, Glade Hill, as youth minister and assistant to the pastor.
• Gene Burrus, to Black Creek Church, Mechanicsville, as minister of music and worship.
• Susan Price, resigning as associate pastor for youth and children's ministries at Huguenot Road Church, Richmond.
• Morgan J. Day, to North Run Church, Richmond, as interim minister of music.
RETIREMENT
• Gene Burris, pastor of First Church, Chase City, has announced plans to retire at the end of 2007.
ORDINATIONS
• Randy Cooksey was ordained to the gospel ministry on May 20 by Mathews Church, Hudgins.
• Tom Lynch, team leader of emergent leaders & collegiate ministries for NorthStar Network, was ordained to the gospel ministry by Memorial Church, Arlington, on June 10.
• Mario Ramirez, was recently ordained to the gospel ministry by Greenbrier Church, Arlington. He has been involved with the Hispanic ministries at Warrenton Church, Warrenton, and First Church, Winchester.
PEOPLE
• Bob Dale, retired Virginia Baptist leader, was recognized by Oklahoma Baptist University with a profiles in excellence article in the alumni magazine. Dale, a graduate of OBU, retired in 2006 as assistant executive director for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and director of the Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership.
DEATH
• Bill Arnold Atkins died in Collinsville on July 7 at the age of 77. He was an active layman in Virginia Baptist life. He served as a member of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and served several terms on the board for the Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services (now HopeTree Family Services). He was a trustee for Henry County Association and served on the development committee for the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. He had served as moderator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia and he founded and was past president of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. He is survived by his wife, Irene Minter Adkins; one daughter, Shirley A. Craven; four sons, Stanley, Dennis, Bruce and Ken Adkins; a sister; two brothers; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were held July 9 at Starling Avenue Church in Martinsville.
• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor George M. Kissinger III of Gloucester, died on July 4 at the age of 94. He was pastor of Union Church, Hayes, from 1949-1960 and served as director of missions for Peninsula Association from 1960-1985. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peggy” Kissinger; two sons, George M. Kissinger IV and John Kissinger; a daughter, Judy; and a grandson, Jason. Funeral services were held July 11 at Union Church, Hayes.
CHURCH EVENTS
• Chatham Church, Chatham, is celebrating its sesquicentennial with a special service on July 29. Guest speaker will be John Upton, executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
• Cool Spring Church, Mechanicsville, will be hosting a gospel concert with the Living Praise Gospel Group from Lynchburg on July 29 at 6 p.m.
• First Church, Coeburn, will celebrate homecoming Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. Former pastor Lee Kidd will be guest speaker.
• Indian View Church, King William, will hold its annual homecoming on Aug 5 at 11 a.m. followed by dinner on the grounds. Revival will be Aug. 6-8. Special music will be provided by the Custalow Brothers and choirs from Rappahannock, Samaria and Tsena Commocko churches.
• Jerusalem Church, Emmerton, will celebrate its 175th anniversary with homecoming on Aug. 5. Guest speaker at the 11 a.m. service will be Fred Anderson. A fellowship dinner and musical will follow the service.
• Rhoadesville Church, Rhoadesville, will celebrate its 119th anniversary with homecoming at 11 a.m. on Aug. 12. Revival services will be held Aug. 13-15 with Lytle Buckingham, Susan Morris and Tim Jones, as guest evangelists.
• Victoria Church, Victoria, celebrated its centennial on July 22. Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, was guest speaker.
• Zion Church, Skippers, will celebrate homecoming Aug 12 at 11 a.m. with lunch following. Revival services will be held Aug. 13-15 with Ronnie Eason as guest evangelist.
MISSION MOMENT
First Baptist Church, Radford
During spring break students from Radford University, sponsored by First Baptist Church, Radford, made a mission trip to Port Sulphur, Louisiana, and spent a week there constructing storage sheds. Members of the team included: Lana Hall, Jon Hirst, Mike Hirst, Morgan McMullin, Lauren Russell, Rick Sparks and Paul Lane, FBC pastor.