The Daily Alaska Empire

PETTY ARRIVES FOR BAPTIST PASTORATE: PLAN YOUTH NIGHTS

With plans for a Youth Night innovation similar to the Youth for Christ programs, William A. Petty has come from Anchorage to assume the pastorate of the First Baptist Church until a permanent pastor is secured.

Petty, with his wife and their two young sons, arrived Tuesday by Pacific Northern Airlines. Their flight included a three-day stop-over at Whitehorse, Y. T., awaiting favorable weather-quite an experience for all, especially Peter Van, who was less than two weeks old. He was born December 29, and has a brother Billy, age 5.

In Juneau, Petty temporarily succeeds the Rev. L. L. Richardson who went outside in December, and has taken a pastorate in Texas.

"Youth Night," said Petty, "will start with tomorrow evening's 7:30 o'clock program, and there will be one every Saturday. We plan gospel singing, games, fun, fellowship, motion pictures and refreshments. Everyone is invited every Saturday."

From Kentucky, the Pettys went in 1944 to Anchorage, where Petty then edited the "Alaska Baptist Messenger" for three years. He was pastor of the First Baptist Church there until he resigned so that he and Mrs. Petty could establish a Bible School.

Petty is a native of Little Rock, Ark. He went to school at Ouachita College at Arkadelphia, Ark., and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.