Around the state
___Retiring
___ Ben Welmaker, Dec. 1, as minister of senior adults and pastor at Central Church in Livingston. Welmaker and his wife, Janis, were missionaries with the Foreign Mission Board for 30 years in Colombia, where he was president of Cali Colombia Theological Seminary, which later was renamed Welmaker Theological Seminary. They returned to the U.S. in 1979, when he worked to start and pastor Blanchard Church and Beacon Bay Church, both in Livingston. He also served as senior adult ministry director for Unity Association.
___ Mike Herrington, Dec. 31, after more than 23 years as pastor of First Church in Freer and more than 40 years in the ministry. He will be available for supply, interims and revivals at (361) 394-6702.
___ Walter Goodnight, Dec. 31, as pastor of Shadow Hills Church in Lubbock. He will be available for interims and supply preaching.
___Events
___ A Christmas service for people who have lost a loved one by death will be held Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. in Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Church in Dallas. Jim Hightower, director of the pastoral counseling division of the McFarland Institute in New Orleans, La., will be the guest speaker. For more information, call (214) 860-1657.
___ First Church in Plano will dedicate the Travis and Bernice Berry building Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
___Deaths
___ Evelyn Hampton, 79, Nov. 21. She was an emeritus International Mission Board missionary to South Africa. She and her late husband, Charles, were appointed to the African nation in 1977. She helped her husband with church development, but spent most of her time with Christian education. A graduate of Southwestern Seminary, she taught in public schools in Arkansas, Texas, Illinois and California prior to her appointment. She is survived by her sons, Larry, Allen and Rick; daughter, Charlyn Thompson; and six grandchildren.
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