Butch Henderson, founder of Metro Changers and longtime youth minister, dies at 71
After serving as youth minister at four First Baptist churches, Butch Henderson served as director of World Changers and as church community missions specialist for Birmingham Metro Baptist Association, then founded Metro Changers.
Longtime FBC Brewton pastor John Finklea dies at 89
For 63 years, Finklea served as a pastor, including spending 25 years at FBC Brewton. He retired in 1999, and the church named him pastor emeritus. After retirement, he served 24 more years as pastor of a small country church in Sepulga.
Longtime Woodward Avenue pastor Tom Whatley dies
Tom Whatley thought he would have a career in military, but he couldn’t resist God’s call to ministry. Over the years, he served several Alabama churches, including spending 27 years as pastor of Woodward Avenue Baptist in Muscle Shoals.
Kevin McCreless – pastor emeritus of Broadway Baptist in Rainsville – dies at 67
Kevin McCreless, longtime pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Rainsville, died Oct. 16. In February, Broadway Baptist honored McCreless and named him pastor emeritus as he retired from 33 years of ministry there.
David Smith, pastor of New Home Baptist Church in Pisgah for 25 years, dies
David Smith, pastor of New Home Baptist in Pisgah, died Sept. 7 after a cancer battle. He previously served as pastor of Calvary Baptist in Bridgeport; Bethel Baptist in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Roaches Cove Baptist in Fackler.
Stephen Brown, who served 55 years in church education ministry, dies Aug. 29
In his more than a half century of ministry, Stephen Brown served five Alabama Baptist churches in a minister of education role and served for more 40 years with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions in the office of Sunday School.
Former missionary Billie Ruth Small Moore dies at 91
Billie Ruth Small Moore, a former missionary to Tanzania and summer Bible camp director, died Aug. 18. She was 91.
Hollinger’s Island Baptist worship leader Doug Bilbrey dies
Doug Bilbrey, worship leader at Hollinger’s Island Baptist Church in Mobile, died Aug. 14. In recent weeks, Bilbrey had also led Hollinger’s Island Baptist as they searched for a new pastor.