July 24, 2000
AT THE BAPTIST LEARNING CENTER of South Texas are Don Davidson, director of extended education for Howard Payne; students Travis Huff, Michael Brooke, Larry Dallas and Randall Spitzer; Linn Self, director of the Baptist Learning Center; and Donnie Auvenshine, dean of Howard Payne's School of Christian Studies.
First four students complete certificate of ministry
___CORPUS CHRISTI--Four Corpus Christi residents are the first to complete requirements for Howard Payne University's certificate in ministry and Christian leadership.
___Michael Brooke, Larry Dallas, Travis Huff and Randall Spitzer earned the certificate through the Baptist Learning Center of South Texas in Corpus Christi, one of eight Howard Payne extension sites. Under the direction of Linn Self, the Baptist Learning Center offers undergraduate programs through Howard Payne and graduate programs through Hardin-Simmons University.
___The certificate in ministry is designed for individuals who serve in bivocational ministry and in lay ministries.
___The program consists of 18 one-hour-credit courses in Bible, Baptist history and doctrine, missions, evangelism and ministry skills. All courses are accredited and may be applied toward a bachelor's degree in Christian studies at Howard Payne's main campus in Brownwood and at extension centers in Corpus Christi and El Paso.
___The certificate in ministry program was implemented in 1998 in response to a request by the Baptist General Convention of Texas for Baptist universities to "make theological education more accessible to ministry students in Texas," said Donnie Auvenshine, dean of Howard Payne's School of Christian Studies.
___Howard Payne also offers certificate in ministry courses in Benbrook, Brownwood, El Paso, Granbury, Harlingen, Laredo, Midland and San Angelo.
___"The goal of the certificate in ministry is to provide education that is immediately useful to ministers where they live," said Don Davidson, director of extended education at Howard Payne.
___Brooke, a former British Royal Air Force pilot from Bradford, England, moved to Corpus Christi two years ago to serve in aviation medical missions. He is preparing to return to Europe to serve in missions.
___Dallas owns a power equipment service company and assists with the television ministry of his church and with ministries in Virginia.
___Huff "traveled the alcoholic road for 37 years" before turning his life over to Christ in 1982. Since that time, he has been active in worship and ministry. He said he enrolled in the certificate in ministry program to "strengthen my walk and increase my ministry skills."
___Spitzer, a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association who has sensed a call to pastoral ministry, plans to pursue the bachelor of arts in Christian studies degree offered by Howard Payne through the Baptist Learning Center.
___The Learning Center recently awarded the bachelor of arts in Christian studies to Darin Griffiths of Kingsville and the master of divinity degree to Tony Celelli of Corpus Christi.
___A certificate of merit through Seminary Extension was awarded to Charles Engel, Gloria Rea, Victor Rea and Anita Ruiz, all residents of Alice.
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