Around the state
___Events
___ First Church of Wake Village recently dedicated a 7,800-square-foot preschool ministries building. Wayne Norvell is pastor.

LATRICE DAVIS was honored for 55 years of service to East Fourth Church in Big Spring. A reception was held to honor the church secretary upon her retirement Nov. 12. Davis, who first reported for work on May 21, 1945, served 15 pastors and at least six interims during her tenure. She was presented a plaque by Pastor Dudley Mullins.

___ First Church of Bellaire will release a full-length compact disc and cassette that will contain some of the most beloved anthems, hymns and worship choruses during a worship service Dec. 3. The CD includes almost a full hour of music. For more information, call (713) 668-0655.
___ Corinth Church in Cisco will dedicate its new sanctuary Dec. 10 in conjunction with the commemoration of the church's 112th anniversary. A noon meal will be served. Benny Hagan is pastor.
___ The 12th annual Conroe Area Bible Conference will be held Jan. 10-12 at Mims Church in Conroe. Speakers will include Cliff Palmer, Jerry Spencer and Bill Stafford. Music will be led by the Specks, the Jim Bob Griffin Family and the Mims Baptist Church adult choir and orchestra. The conference will include 7 p.m. meetings each evening as well as 9:30 a.m. and noon meetings on Thursday and Friday. The noon meetings will include a catered lunch.

___Anniversaries
___ Roy Canada, 50th in the ministry, Dec. 16. A reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at First Church in Vernon. He has been pastor of churches in Oklahoma and Colorado as well as Texas churches in Chillicothe, Sunray, Springhill and Nash. He has served five churches as interim pastor, as he currently does in Chillicothe.

___Retiring
___ Doyle Combs, Dec. 31, as pastor of First Church in Lometa.
___ Charles Grossman, Dec. 31, as pastor of First Church in Hico.

___Deaths
___ Laura O'Neill, Sept. 30. She served with her husband, M.E., in Home Mission Board pastorates for 47 years. All were Hispanic congregations, except for one Chinese congregation in El Paso. The couple spent 10 years in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona and led Texas churches the other 37 years.
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The Baptist Standard