Recent church staff changes, anniversaries, ordinations and deaths within the moderate and progressive Baptist network.
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated weekly.
STAFF CHANGES
Brian Brewer, to River Oaks Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, as interim pastor.
Patrick Cardwell, to Lindley Heights Baptist Church, Greensboro, N.C., as pastor.
Gary Dalton, concluding his interim pastorate at West Main Baptist Church, Danville, Va.
LuCresia Fields, to Ridgemont Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas, as youth minister.
Debbie Fisher, to Williamsburg (Va.) Baptist Church, as family ministries coordinator.
Heather Folliard, to Jubilee Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C., as co-pastor of community and hospitality.
Kaylee Godfrey, to First Baptist Church, Clemmons, N.C., as minister of youth and outreach.
Benjamin Harlan, to First Baptist Church, Pensacola, Fla., as interim minister of music.
Dale Jackson, to Second Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas, as pastor.
Larry Jimenez, now serving as full-time associate pastor of discipleship and Spanish language ministries at Chancellor Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Va.
Steve Jolly, to Ridge Road Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C., as interim pastor.
John Thornton, to Jubilee Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, N.C., as co-pastor of missions and outreach.
Reggie Warren, to Troutville (Va.) Baptist Church, as interim pastor.
Nate Watkins, to First Baptist Church, Walton, N.Y., as pastor.
Kamau Welcher, to First Baptist Church, East Point, Ga., as pastor, effective Sept. 29.
Adam West, to Fort Lewis Baptist Church, Salem, Va., as interim pastor.
RETIREMENTS
Emmanuel L. McCall, retiring as pastor of First Baptist Church, East Point, Ga., effective Sept. 29. He was the first African American employed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board. He was pastoral founder of the Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, College Park, Ga., and The Fellowship Group Baptist Church, which in 2010 merged with the First Baptist Church. He also was an adjunct professor at McAfee School of Theology for 25 years.
Larry Sprouse, retiring as pastor of Melrose Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va.
DEATHS
William C. “Bill” Everett, 86, died Sept. 2 in Carthage, Texas. He was pastor of First Baptist Church, Longview, Texas; Fielder Road Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas; and Central Baptist Church in Carthage. Upon his retirement after serving 21 years, Fielder Road Baptist Church named him pastor emeritus. He served on executive boards in Baptist associations and conventions at the state and national level. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anita. He is survived by a son, James “Jay” Everett; a daughter, Laurie Lindloff; and three grandchildren.
Stephen C. “Steve” Harding, 54, died Sept. 9 in Greenville, N.C. At the time of his death he was minister of media and arts at Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville. He is survived by his parents, Ben and Charlene Harding; and a sister, April Childers.
KUDOS
ANNIVERSARIES
George Mason, 30 years as senior pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas.
Jerome Smith, 25 years as minister to familiar at Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.
CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES
Powers Memorial Baptist Church, Hopewell, Va.; 65 years; Oct. 6.
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In case you missed them:
Transitions for the week of 9-6-19
Transitions for the week of 8-30-19
Transitions for the week of 8-16-19
Transitions for the week of 8-2-19