David SimmonsDAVID SIMMONS began duties Jan. 2 as pastor of Reedy River Baptist Church, North Greenville Association. His previous pastorates include Union Baptist, Defoe, Ky.; Smoaks Baptist, Smoaks; and Calvary Baptist, Lake City. He is a graduate of Samford University and Southern Baptist Seminary. He and his wife Peggy have two sons, Joshua and Caleb.
CHARLIE SWAIN began duties Dec. 16 as associate pastor for high school/college ministries at First Baptist Church, North Augusta. He was previously minister to students at Thorington Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, Ala.?MARK OWENS, former student minister,?is now associate pastor for missions and evangelism.
Mark BarnetteMARK BARNETTE is serving as interim pastor of Dalzell Baptist Church, Santee Baptist Association. A bi-vocational minister, he is a graduate of Fruitland Bible College. He served Unity Baptist Fellowship, Santee Association, for 10 years. He and his wife Doris have two adult children, Jordan and Rebecca.
NATHAN and ANDREW BAKER were licensed to the ministry on Sept. 9, 2007. Nathan, a freshman at North Greenville University, will travel with a NGU missions team to New York in March and to Greece in May. Andrew, who will attend North Greenville University this fall, plans to major in youth ministry. They are the sons of Rev. Thomas Baker and Crystal Baker of First Baptist Church, Mayo.
FRED STONE has returned as pastor of First Baptist Church, Pickens, following four months as pastor of Wellford Baptist Church. Before going to Wellford, Stone had served the Pickens congregation for 11 years. In a statement to The Baptist Courier, Stone said, “Lisa and I found Wellford Baptist to be a loving church family with a desire to reach people. They were supportive of me as pastor. However, as soon as I arrived at Wellford, I realized that my ministry at Pickens First Baptist was not finished. Thankfully, the church family of Pickens First felt the same way and called me back. God’s word assures us that ‘in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ I believe that God will use the events of the past four months to accomplish his good purpose.”