Around the state
___Anniversaries
___ Graceview Church in Tomball, 20th, Jan. 13-14. David Phelps, a charter member of the church, will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He performs with the Gaither Vocal Band. Founding Pastor Bill Eaton will preach Sunday morning. A lunch will follow. For
 |
CHARLES BUSH retired Dec. 31 after more than 23 years as pastor of First Church in Devine, and more than 40 years as a Texas pastor. He and his wife, Patsy, will be honored with a retirement dinner Jan. 20 in Devine. Highlights of the evening will include presentation of a deed transferring ownership of the church parsonage to the couple as a gift from the congregation. People wishing to attend may call (830) 663-4408 for details.
|
more information, call (281) 351-4979.
___ Cornerstone Church in Plano, 10th, Jan. 14. Zig Ziglar will preach in the morning service. A box lunch and video history of the church will follow the service, along with special music. For more information, call (972) 712-4000. Jeff Nyberg is pastor.
___ First Church in Schertz, 50th, March 11. The church has served in the Randolph Air Force Base area for half a century, and so former members of the church are widely scattered. The church is seeking those members and hopes they will contact the church to announce their participation in the anniversary celebration by Feb. 1. Those planning to attend are asked to write to: Anniversary Celebration, First Baptist Church, 600 Aero Street, Schertz 78154. Don Jeffreys is pastor.
___Events
___ The women's ministry of Park Cities Church in Dallas is sponsoring a retreat, "A Journey to Know Jesus." The featured speaker will be Dee Brestin, a noted Christian author and speaker. The retreat will be Feb. 23-24 at the Crown Plaza Suites in Dallas. Ticket sales begin Jan. 14 and costs per person range from $95 to $150. Ticket sales end Feb. 4. For more information and ticket sales, call (214) 860-1526.
___Retiring
___ Irving Cook, as minister to senior adults at First Church in Greenville.
___ Marlin Felts, administrator of Heart of Texas Baptist Encampment, will retire in April.
___Deaths
___ John Schwensen, 70, Nov. 17 in Fort Worth. Schwensen was a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and while there was a member of the a cappella choir, life service band and ministerial council. He also was a cheerleader. Schwensen was pastor of First Church in Kopperl, Oakwood Church in Lubbock, Cockrell Hill Church in Dallas and two Kansas churches. Following his retirement he served Lakeside Church in Lake Whitney as interim pastor. Schwensen also helped churches raise funds for capital projects during his retirement years. He also participated in evangelistic crusades in New Zealand, Denmark, Hawaii and Brazil. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Betty; son, Stewart; daughters, Jonna Young, Joyce Schwensen, and Mandy Sobczak; six grandchildren; and brother, Swede.
___ Geraldine Lawton, 85, Dec. 9. She was asked to play the piano at Ridgecrest Baptist Encampment in Ridgecrest, N.C. While at Ridgecrest, she met Wesley Lawton, a Southern Baptist missionary to China. They married later in the year, and she accompanied him back to China. Twice they were forced to flee the country, leaving all their belongings behind. They then began to minister in the Phillipines, Hawaii, Hong Kong and Taiwan. After their return to the States following retirement, her husband served as a pastor. Following his death in 1981, she continued to minister. She was a nursing home director and later served North Dallas Church in Dallas as secretary and women's director. Lawton's twin brother, Gerald Riddell, also was an emeritus SBC missionary, serving in South America. She is survived by her son, Jim; daughter, Rebecca Robinson; step-daughter, Inabelle Sides; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
___ Meeler Markham, 86. Markham served as pastor in Carrizo Springs and Mercedes and was missions secretary of the Kansas-Nebraska Convention. He served with the Home Mission Board for 17 years in Atlanta, Ga. He retired in 1978 as director of missions of Frio River Association. Until January of last year, he had served Black Creek Church in Devine as interim pastor for 12 years. Markham also was the author of four books. He is survived by his wife, Myrtie; son, Edwin; and four grandchildren.
___ Jim Sapp, 85, Dec. 20 in Austin. He served as minister of education for 14 years in several churches including First Church in Austin and Highland Park Church in Austin. He then worked for 27 years for three Southern Baptist agencies: Brotherhood Commission, 1952-1964; Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs, 1964-1971; and the Home Mission Board, 1971-1978. A son, James, and a daughter, Eleanor, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Oletha; son, Willard; daughter, Elizabeth Burroughs; sisters, Shirley Allee and Carolyn Lambert; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
___ George Patterson, 91, Dec. 25. A pioneer in religious education, he served churches in Texas, Missouri and Louisiana. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Frances; daughters, Gloria Williams, Modena Gilley and Martha Johnson; son, George Patterson III; sister, Bobbie Hendrix; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
___Ordained
___ Travis Priddy to the ministry at Jones Chapel Church in Early.
___ Jim Woods and Country Smith as deacons at Bethany Church in Milam.
___ Jim Baum, Charles Carroll, Robert Reedy, Rick Taylor and Doug Thomas as deacons at First Church in Comanche.
___
Get printer-friendly version of this story
Send this story to a friend
Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!
|