TENNESCENE: JUN. 24

DEATHS

Longtime Tennessee Baptist pastor and director of missions Charles D. Earl Sr., 89, died June 7. He served as pastor of six Southern Baptist churches and was director of missions for Holston Valley Baptist Association, based in Rogersville. After his retirement, he served as an associate pastor at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Knoxville. He formerly served on the Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention (now Tennessee Baptist Mission Board) and served as moderator of five different Baptist associations — Knox County, Loudon, Cumberland Gap, Holston and Grainger. Earl served a total of 62 years in ministry. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Christine, in 2009, and his second wife, Joan, in 2019. He is survived by two children, two grandchildren, one great grandchild, and four stepchildren.

LEADERS

Eastland Heights Baptist Church, Springfield, called Dave Deppisch as interim pastor, effective May 24.

Epiphany Baptist Church, Springfield, has called Mark Jarrett as interim pastor, effective June 7.

ASSOCIATIONS

Fayette Baptist Association, based in Somerville,  is sponsoring a mission trip July 11-17 to share Jesus Christ with the Cherokee people in Tahlequah, Okla.

A mission team from Weakley County Baptist Association, based in Dresden, will participate in City Reach Chattanooga from July 12-17.

EVENTS

The Janet Bearden Welcome Center at Linden Valley Baptist Conference Center will be dedicated July 25 at 2 p.m. There will be a brief dedication of the new facility, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The welcome center honors Janet Bearden who served at Linden Valley many years with her husband, Tim Bearden, former senior manager of the conference centers. She died of cancer in 2013. An open house will follow the ceremony.