* First Baptist Church, 506 E. Eighth St., the oldest historically black church in the city, has called the Rev. William Terry Ladd III as its pastor.

He will be installed as the 13th pastor of the church on Sunday at 4 p.m., with the Rev. Dr. Cameron M. Alexander, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church North in the Atlanta area, serving as installing preacher. A reception will follow at the Kingdom Center of Olivet Baptist Church.

Mr. Ladd was licensed to preach in 2001 and ordained to the ministry in June 2004 at Antioch Baptist Church North. While there, he served in the church's prison ministry, as an instructor in its School of the Bible and its P.E.P. ministry and as a Sunday school teacher. He also was an instructor in the General Missionary Baptist Convention of the Georgia 5th District Congress of Christian Education.

Prior to accepting the full-time pastorate at First Baptist, he was a sixth-grade science teacher for 12 years at Wadsworth Magnet School for High Achievers in Decatur, Ga. Previously, he was employed at BellSouth Corp. as a manager.

Mr. Ladd is a 1985 graduate of Fulton High School in Knoxville, completed the United States Navy's Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training school in San Diego, received a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta and a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta.

He and his wife, Terrilyn, are the parents of one son, Aaron.

Clothing assistance

* The Echoes of Encouragement Sunday school class of Community Baptist Church, which is located at 145 Pin Oak Drive in Rock Spring, Ga., will give away clothing to families in need today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items are available for men, women, youth and children. A few school supplies also are available. To make donations of clothing or school supplies, call 423-413-0314.

Enrichment opportunities

* Precept Ministries International, 7324 Noah Reid Road, will offer a series of Bible study workshops using the Inductive Bible Study method between July 17 and Aug. 2. The workshops include Accurately Handling a Difficult Passage (July 23-25), Accurately Handling a Difficult Subject (July 30-Aug. 1), Advanced Leader Training (July 21), Basics of Precept Upon Precept (either July 20, 25, 29 or Aug. 1), Biblical Prayer (July 21 or July 27), Discover 4 Yourself How to Teach Kids To Study the Bible (either July 20, 24, 27 or 31), Finding Your Place of Service in the Church (July 23 or July 29), How To Study New Testament Epistles (July 20 or July 30), How To Study Old Testament History (July 21 or July 31), How to Study Old Testament Prophets (July 22 or Aug. 1), How To Use Logos Bible Software for Inductive Bible Study (July 20 or July 25), Precept Leader Training (either July 22, 25, 28 or Aug. 1), Structuring-Examining Text for New Insights (July 23 or July 30), Witnessing (July 22 or July 28) or Word Studies (either July 21, 24 or 29). Longer workshops include Matthew Part 2, Chapters 14-28 (July 17-24), Jeremiah Part 1, Chapters 1-24 (July 25-August 2) and Life in the Spirit (July 27-Aug. 1). A six-day package offering the Biblical Prayer, Witnessing, Finding Your Place of Service in the Church and Accurately Handling a Difficult Subject classes also is available. For information or to register, visit www.precept.org or call 888-678-5660.

Music opportunities

* The youth choir of First United Methodist Church of Jefferson City, Mo., will present the musical "Godspell" at Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road, on Sunday at 6 p.m. For information, call the church at 698-6951.

* The Dove Award nominated Marksmen Quartet will host a gospel singing on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Sand Mountain Bible Camp, 1100 Bible Camp Road, off Highway 301 near Trenton, Ga. The event, called the Marksmen's Mountain Music Singing, will feature former Inspiration member Archie Watkins, Breaking Ground and the host quartet, which is a four-time Contemporary Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year winner and four-time Country Gospel Quartet of the Year winner by the Country Gospel Music Guild. The suggestion donation is $10. Concessions will be available for sale. For information, call 678-617-7575 or 770-530-7957.

* Robin Mark, an Irish singer, songwriter and worship leader, and his band will present a concert on Friday, July 31, at 7 p.m., at Tyner United Methodist Church, 6805 Standifer Gap Road. Tickets are $13 for adults and free for children 10 and under. They may obtained by calling the church at 892-0444, ext. 22, or visiting the church between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Vacation Bible schools

* Boynton United Methodist Church, 4246 Boynton Drive, Sunday through Thursday, 6-8:30 p.m. (dinner included), ages 3 through fifth grade, theme: "Camp E.D.G.E.: Experience & Discover God Everywhere," 706-866-2626.

* Cedar Hill Baptist Church, 60 Dyer Bridge Place, Ringgold, Ga., July 20-24, 9 a.m.-noon, theme: "Boomerang Express," 706-858-0976.

* Cloud Springs Road Baptist Church, 210 Cloud Springs Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., Wednesdays through Aug. 5, 6:30-8 p.m., ages kindergarten through fifth grade, theme: "Truth Trek," 706-866-0164.

* East Brainerd Church of Christ, 7745 East Brainerd Road, Sunday, 11:30 a.m. (kickoff party), and Monday through Wednesday, 6:30-8:20 p.m., ages 3 through fifth grade, theme: "Miracle Cruise Lines," 892-1389 or www.eastbrainerdchurch.org.

* First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, 2645 LaFayette Road (sessions at Gilbert Stephenson Park), Monday through Friday, 6:30-8:30 p.m., ages 4 through sixth grade, theme: "Truth Trek," 706-866-0232.

* Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, 4131 Ringgold Road, Sunday through Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (children ages 3 to fifth grade and youth in grades 6-12), and 7-8 p.m. (adults), theme (for children and youth): "Camp E.D.G.E.: Experience and Discover God Everywhere," 624-6073 or www.jmumc.org.

* McKendree United Methodist Church, Betsy Pack Drive at Highway 150, Jasper, Tenn., Sunday through Thursday, 5:30-8 p.m. CDT (snack supper included), ages 2 through adults, 942-3888.

* New Salem Baptist Church, 9806 Dallas Hollow Road, Soddy-Daisy, Sunday through Friday, 6-9 p.m., theme: "Boomerang Express," 842-3078, www.newsalembaptist.net.

* Northside Presbyterian Church, 923 Mississippi Ave., July 19-24, 5-7 p.m., theme: "Camp E.D.G.E.: Experience & Discover God Everywhere," 266-1766.

* One Accord Community Church, 343 Sweetland Drive, Red Bank, Monday through Friday, 6:30-9 p.m., all ages, theme: "Boomerang Express," 875-8377.

* Ooltewah Baptist Church, 5514 Main St., Sunday through Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m., ages 4 through fifth grade, theme: "Crocodile Dock: Where Fearless Kids Shine God's Light," 238-4831 or www.ooltewahbaptistchurch.org.

* Ooltewah United Methodist Church, 6131 Relocation Way, Monday through Friday, 5:30 p.m., 238-9216.

* Renaissance Presbyterian Church, 1211 Boynton Drive, July 27-31, ages 3-17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., theme: "God's Movement," 624-0724.

* Signal Crest United Methodist Church, 1005 Ridgeway Ave., Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., ages 4 through fifth grade, theme: "SonRock Kids Camp!," 886-2330 or www.signalcrestumc.org.

* Simpson United Methodist Church, 601 McFarland Ave., Rossville, Ga., July 18, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ages 4-11, theme: "Jerusalem Marketplace," (706) 866-3410.

* Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 6314 East Brainerd Road, Wednesdays through July 22, 6-8:30 p.m., 892-6446.

Youth event

* Second Missionary Baptist Church, 2305 E. Third St., will host a mime and praise dance workshop for youth and young people ages 12 to 21 today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A concert on Sunday at 5 p.m. is also part of the workshop. The facilitators are Natalie Elder and Robert Hayes, who is known as The Last Mime. The cost, including lunch today, is $10. Proceeds benefit the church's scholarship fund. For information, call the church at 624-9097.