Faith Briefs

Hamilton Baptist hires Virgil Smith

Hamilton Baptist Church, presently meeting at the International Board of Jewish Missions on Hamill Road in Hixson, has hired Virgil L. Smith as pastor.

A native of Charleston, W.Va., Smith has been in full-time Christian ministry for more than 30 years. He has pastored churches in Pennsylvania and Ohio, served as administrator of Ferguson Christian School in Indiana, Pa., taught at Manahath School of Theology near Altoona, Pa., and was executive vice president of Southern Ohio Baptist College near Cincinnati.

Smith received his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C.

He and his wife, Karen, have a daughter, Heidi.

Health

• Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1614 Bailey Ave. (Tatum Park, behind church); 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 25; community health fair offers health screenings, education information, disaster preparedness information, increased awareness of health resources and motivation for behavioral changes; 622-9195 or 296-9044.

Music

• Nonaburg House of Prayer, Highway 39 East, Englewood, Tenn.; 7 p.m. today; concert by Jim Ricketts and Crystle Elam; 775-2806; also, Canaan Baptist Church, 4318 13th Ave., 11 a.m. Sunday, and Union Avenue Baptist Church, Chattanooga, 6 p.m. Sunday.

• Oakwood Community Church, 3927 Webb Road; 6 p.m. Sunday; gospel sing features Rightpath Bluegrass of Tunnel Hill, Ga., and other groups; free but love offering received; 903-3652.

• Bethlehem Baptist Church, 130 Bethlehem Church Road, Madisonville, Tenn.; 6:30 p.m. Sunday; concert features Karen Peck and New River; free but love offering received; 423-253-7900.

• Freedom Tribe Ministries, 5926 Old Dixie Highway (John's Chapel), Spring City, Tenn.; Saturday, May 25, all-day music benefit features Jim Ricketts and Crystle Elam, Appalachian Sounds, Kelsey Matthews and other groups (plus door prizes, auction, cake walk and other activities); 775-4694.

Single mothers

• Abba's House, 5208 Hixson Pike (behind Faith Building); 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 28; church's Zadok Choir will wash cars and top off fluids on Single Moms' Car Care Day; free; 877-6462.

Women

• First Baptist Church, 401 Gateway Ave.; noon Thursday; Scenic City Women's Network monthly luncheon features the message, "Bright Lights in a Dark World," by Jean Smith, director of adult ministries at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church; reservation deadline is noon Tuesday; 698-6262 or email jeannie@scwn.org.

Youth

• Faith United Baptist Church, 1800 Mulberry St.; noon-1:30 p.m. weekdays, Tuesday, May 28-Monday, July 3; summer youth program offers healthy alternatives to gang lifestyle (plus daily lunch, snack) for children in Highland Park, Ridgedale, Oak Grove, Ferger Place, Foust, Clifton Hills and East Lake communities; 362-1297 or 521-0334.

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