Jeff WhaleyJEFF WHALEY began duties as pastor of Secona Baptist Church, Pickens, on May 2. He previously served as pastor of Return Baptist Church in Seneca. Whaley, a native of Piedmont, and his wife Tracy have two children, Bryson and Holly.
RICHARD THOMAS VANN JR., former pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Olanta, from 1987-1993, joined the faculty of Dallas Baptist University on July 1 as director of the chaplaincy ministry program and professor of Christian ministry. A retired U.S. Army chaplain, he served from August 2004 until June 2010 as associate professor of pastoral ministry at Southwestern Baptist Seminary. He and his wife, the former Marta Lucile Atwell of Rancho Cordova, Calif., have six children and 14 grandchildren.
TRENTON CONNELLY has retired from the full-time pastorate. He most recently served Enoree Baptist Church, Travelers Rest. Connelly will continue to reside in Taylors and plans to remain available to serve as an interim pastor or supply preacher.
David GarrickDAVID GARRICK recently was called as pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, Abbeville. He began duties on July 18.