Recent church staff changes, anniversaries, ordinations and deaths within the Baptist network.
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
John Carroll, to First Baptist Church, Aiken, S.C., as senior pastor, effective Dec. 1.
Mark Cress, concluding his tenure as connections pastor at Grace Baptist Church, Woodbridge, Va., effective Dec. 31, to accept a call to Kansas.
Aaron Duncan, to Woodmont Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn., as minister of music and worship.
James Ervin, to First Baptist Church, Midland, Texas, as minister to senior adults. He comes from Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, Brownswood, Texas, where he was minister of music and senior adults.
Tom Ficklin, to Woodland Heights Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as pastor.
Julie Long, concluding her tenure as associate director of Baptist Women in Ministry, effective Dec. 31.
Glenn Maddox, now serving as national missions director for the mission development team of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
Danny Russell, to Culbertson Baptist Church, New Albany, Ind., as pastor.
Amber Simpson, to Chowan University, Murfreesboro, N.C., as associate minister to the university.
Jeff Woods, to the American Baptist Churches USA, as acting general secretary. He has served in the role of associate general secretary for regional ministries with ABCUSA since 2003.
RETIREMENTS
Edward Bolen, announcing plans to retire after 23 years as senior pastor of Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, Athens, Ga., effective May 10, 2020.
Rick Jordan, retiring as church resources coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, effective Dec. 31.
Doug Keenan, retiring as minister of pastoral care at First Baptist Church, Austin, Texas, effective Dec. 31.
ORDINATIONS
Katie Baker, ordained to ministry on Nov. 17 by First Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas, where she serves as minister to preschool and children.
Damon Corn, ordained to ministry by First Baptist Church, Decatur, Ga., on Nov. 10.
James Elliott, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wildwood, N.J., ordained to ministry by the church on Nov. 17.
Walter McWilliams, ordained to ministry on Nov. 17 by First Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas, where he serves as associate pastor/minister of missions.
Adolynn Newton, ordained to ministry by First Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas, on Nov. 17.
Dan Venzin, ordained to ministry on Nov. 17 by First Baptist Church, Lufkin, Texas, where he serves as minister to students and recreation.
DEATHS
Dean Dixon, 87, died Nov. 13 in Kansas City, Mo. A minister for over 60 years, he served as minister of Christian education in Springfield, Mo.; as pastor of First Baptist Church, Highland, Ill.; pastor of First Baptist Church, Boone, Iowa; pastor of First Baptist Church, Rock Island, Ill.; and pastor of First Baptist Church, Lawrence, Kan., from where he retired. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two children, Rod Dixon and Valerie Dixon; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Daniel Rangel, 57, died Nov. 10 in Forest Hill, Texas. He was director of Texas Baptists River Ministry and Mexico Missions, faithfully serving with the missions team for 11 years. He oversaw a team of 17 River Ministry missionaries who serve along the Texas/Mexico border and into Mexico. He served as a minister of education in a church in North Texas and was pastor of three churches in South Texas. He was director of the Center for Theological and University Studies in Harlingen, representing Howard Payne University and Hardin-Simmons University. He was director of missions for Rio Grande Baptist Association. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; a daughter, Elisa; and a son, Esteban.
KUDOS
David Engleman, named as pastor emeritus of Chesterfield Baptist Church, Moseley, Va., on Nov. 10.
D.L. Lowrie, longtime Texas Baptist pastor and denominational leader, was the first recipient of the Paul Powell Award in preaching at the National Preaching Conference, held in Waco, Texas.
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In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 11-15-19
Transitions for the week of 11-1-19
Transitions for the week of 10-25-19
Transitions for the week of 10-11-19