LEADERS Derek Westmoreland is now serving as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Millington. He formerly served as senior pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah, from 2012-20. Westmoreland was licensed and ordained into the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church, Collierville. He is a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova. He earned a doctor of ministry degree in expository preaching from Union in 2014.

DEATHS Ronnie Arnold, who served as pastor of Cedar Hill Baptist Church, LaFollette, for 31 years until his retirement last year, died Dec. 20 after a battle with cancer. Arnold also served as a pastor in Arkansas. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Kathy Arnold; four children and five grandchildren. James Daniel of Bruceton died Dec. 1. He was a graduate of Union University, Jackson, and Midwestern

LEADERS Jimmy Tucker is the new manager of Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center in Linden. Tucker grew up in Lakeland, Fla., and recently worked at Camp Whispering Pines in Citronelle, Ala., as director and prior to that served as director at Pu’u Kahea Conference Center/Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. He and his wife, Ashley, have two children. Scott Manns Sr. began serving Jan. 3 as senior pastor of Dotsonville Baptist Church,Woodlawn,

Charles Pratt, director of missions for Fayette Baptist Association, based in Somerville, has recently written a new book, Back to the Beginning of a Perfect Creation. The book reinforces the Bible’s account that God created the world in six days. Pratt also founded overseas ministry called Cross Partners Ministry Inc., to assist in constructing church buildings in poor countries and has led volunteer teams on numerous trips to share their

LEADERS Clear Creek Baptist Church, Dyer, called Steve Hemann as pastor, effective Nov. 1. Chris Sumner has been called as youth pastor by White Hall Baptist Church, Trenton. Short Creek Baptist Church, Athens, has called Will Davis as pastor, effective Nov. 8. Garry Duncan began serving as pastor of South Liberty Baptist Church, Athens, on Nov. 15.

LEADERS Russ Wilkins, director of missions for Shiloh Baptist Association since 2018, will write the Explore the Bible Sunday School commentaries for the Dec.-Feb. quarter. Wilkins was born and raised in Millington, graduated from Union University, Jackson, and then worked there for four years. After serving as an admissions Counselor, he went into full-time ministry at First Baptist Church, Huntingdon, where he served the next 25 years in various roles

LEADERS Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, has called Matt Crawford as senior pastor, following the retirement of Richard Hipps who retired last year after 17 years. Crawford has served three churches in Florida, most recently as the East Campus pastor for City Church In Tallahassee. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and holds his master of divinity and doctor of philosophy degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,

LEADERS Brian Warden has been called as pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mountain City. Calvary Baptist Church, Elizabethton, recently ordained David Shankle as a deacon. Ben Styles recently resigned as pastor of Niles Ferry Baptist Church, Greenback.

LEADERS James Hickey, director of missions for Union Baptist Association, Sparta, has resigned after serving in the position for just over five years. Prior to service in Union, he served as pastor of East Commerce Baptist Church in Lewisburg for 26 years, where he retired in 2012, after 44 years in ministry.  Other Tennessee churches in which he served include First Baptist Church, Benton; Saulsbury Baptist Church, Saulsbury; and Shiloh