March 24, 1999

Around the State
___Events
___ Ridglea West Church in Fort Worth will present an Easter drama titled "The Prince of Peace" March 27 and 28 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Jim Ekrut, minister of music, wrote the drama and many of the musical arrangements. Complimentary tickets are available by calling (817) 732-2876. Bill Walters is intentional interim pastor.
___ Park

MARY MARGARET NORMAN of Post, a trustee of LifeWay Christian Resources, addressed trustees after receiving a plaque of appreciation from LifeWay President Jimmy Draper. She completed seven years of service as a trustee. (Photo by Jim Veneman)

Cities Church in Dallas has scheduled special services for each of the days between Palm Sunday and Easter. The Holy Week series of events is titled "8 Days in Jerusalem," and runs March 28-April 4. For more information concerning times and topics, call (214) 860-1585. Jim Denison is pastor.
___ The Plymouth Park Church choir and orchestra will present "The Choice," a dramatic musical for Easter. Performances will be April 2-4 at 7 p.m. each night. General admission tickets may be purchased for $5 by calling (972) 986-7729. Kenneth Branam is pastor.
___ First Church in Sweetwater recently honored Helen Costin as she retired after 39 years as church secretary. Joel McCoy is pastor.
___ The Leon County Church Rally will be held April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Centerville High School Arts Center. David Ring will be the evangelist, and a countywide choir will sing. A local pastor also will provide special music. This is an interdenominational event.
___ James Shields, senior professor of theology at Hardin-Simmons University, will retire in May from the Logsdon School of Theology. Shields, who is in his 15th year at HSU, was a Bible and religion professor at Howard Payne University for 18 years and served three years there as director of the Baptist Student Union. He and his wife, Corrine, are members of First Church in Abilene. A retirement celebration is planned for April 23 at the Taylor County Exposition Building. Tickets for the event, priced at $15, may be purchased by writing to Crescent Heights Baptist Church, 1902 N. Mockingbird Lane, Abilene 79603.
___ Medina River Baptist Association is seeking a director of missions who will be a "staff member of every church." Bob Schmeltekopf, the retiring director of missions, has led in the development of that philosophy during his tenure. Dave McFadden, chairman of the search committee, said, "Our new DOM will be a person who spends more time in the offices of pastors than in his own." Resumes and recommendations should be sent to Dave McFadden, 625 Washington, Kerrville 78028.

___Deaths
___ Myrtle Griffin, Feb. 5. She was the wife of retired Texas pastor Clyde Griffin. After their marriage in Beacon Hill Church in San Antonio, they served Texas churches, with her teaching all ages from preschool through adults.
___ Virgil Fielden, 91, Feb. 25. He was pastor of churches throughout Texas for 50 years, including Dallas, Beaumont, Winona, Daingerfield, Big Sandy and Fairfield. One son; two daughters; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren survive him.
___ Jimmie Asher, 85, March 3. Asher served as minister of education at First Church in Cameron, Congress Avenue Church in Austin, Calvary Church in Waco and First Church in Kilgore.
___ Bert Mattingly, 82, March 5. Mattingly was pastor of churches in Channelview, Dallas and Port Arthur. He also served as director of missions in Wichita Falls; associate pastor at Westbury Church in Houston; and chaplain at Texas Children's and St. Luke's hospitals. His wife, Gerry; two sons; one daughter; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and three brothers survive him.

___Anniversaries
___ First Hispanic Baptist Church in Austin will celebrate its 100th anniversary March 25-28 with special services. Gregorio Gomez is interim pastor.
___ First Church of South Houston will celebrate its 90th anniversary March 27-28. J.W.L. Adams will preach the morning message. Other former pastors planning to attend are Kenneth James, Jack Carr and Robert Hughes. For more information, call (713) 946-5944.
___ Calvary Church in Bryan will celebrate its 50th anniversary March 27-28. An informal reception will be held Saturday at 6 p.m. Sunday will include a lunch following the morning service. David Murphy is pastor.
___ Iglesia Bautista de Spring in Spring will celebrate its 15th anniversary March 28. Oscar Gonzales is pastor.
___ Keith Coleman has celebrated five years as minister to youth at First Church in Granbury.
___ Southside Church in Olney will celebrate its 50th anniversary April 17-18. Saturday will include a barbeque from noon to 4 p.m. Several former pastors will speak during Sunday services beginning at 9:45 a.m. A luncheon will follow the Sunday service. Andy Graham is pastor.
___ First Church in Goliad will celebrate its 150th anniversary May 8-9. At 2 p.m. Saturday, a re-enactment will begin at the square and proceed to the Baptist Oak, where 12 people established the church in 1849. Descendants and others will portray the original members, and a historical marker will be dedicated. A gospel sing will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday. It will include special speakers, a catered luncheon and dedication of a historical marker at the church. For more information or to make lunch reservations, call (361) 645-3126 or write P.O. Box 75, Goliad 77963. Bob Watson is interim pastor.

___Ordained
___ Bill Myers, Curtis Gullett and Jeff Ellsworth as deacons at Crescent Park Church in Odessa.
___ Clair Smith, John Ivy and Chris Cherry as deacons at Muldoon Church in Muldoon.
___ Eddie Coble, Walter Cook and Adam Stone as deacons at Oak Grove Church in Elmo.
___ Glenn Harrison, Stan Tucker and Jeff Lay as deacons at First Church in Sweetwater.
___ Terry Leatherman and Alan Ford as deacons at Tolar Church in Tolar.

___Retiring
___ Lynn Pickett, pianist at South Park Church in Alvin, is retiring April 4 after 45 years of service. She has been the church's only pianist since it began in 1954. For more information, call (281) 331-3902.

___Revivals
___ Pleasant Hill Church, Tyler; March 28-31; evangelist, Jim Rust; *music, Ernie Overstreet; pastor, Mike Wyatt.
___ Woodridge Church, Kingwood; March 28-31; evangelist, Curt Dodd; pastor, Greg Wallace.
___ First Church, Diana; March 28-31; *evangelist, Jim Walsh; pastor, Gary May.
___ Wylie Church, Abilene; March 28-31; evangelist, David Becker; music, Chuck Sims; pastor, Mike Patterson.
___ Highland Park Church, Texarkana; March 28-31; evangelist, Bill Crosby; pastor, Walter Jackson.
___ Inwood Church, Houston; March 28-31; evangelist, Tom Johnson; music, Jackson Sanders; pastor, Bill Smathers.
___ Bethel Church, Nocona; March 28-31; *evangelist, John David Crow; *music, Sam Craig; pastor, Lamoin Champ.
___ Temple Church, Seagraves; March 28-31; evangelist, Tut Jones; music, Don Webster; pastor, Dale Dozier.
___ Calvary Church, Stephenville; March 28-31; *evangelist, Wayne Shuffield; *music, Don Thornton; pastor, Dale Cartwright.
___ First Church, Teague; March 28-31; *evangelist, Rick Davis; *music, The Cherrys; pastor, Darrell Beggs.
___ First Church, Buffalo Gap; March 28-31; *evangelists, Larry and Freida Sinclair; pastor, Steve Joiner.
___ Highland Park Church, Texarkana; March 28-31; evangelist, Billy Crosby; music, Ken Lasiter; pastor, Walter Jackson.
___ First Church, Elkhart; March 28-April 1; *evangelist, Herman Cramer; pastor, Floyd Peterson.
___ First Church, Premont; March 28-April 2; *evangelist, Steve Brumbelow; *music, Mike and Karen Anderson; pastor, Tobey Clements.
___ First Church, Floresville; March 29-31; *evangelist, Clifton Jansky; pastor, Lyn Means.
___*vocational evangelist ___

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