FIRST CHURCH IN AMARILLO recently invited couples who had been married 50 years or more to a Valentine's party. The 105 couples who attended represented 5,725 years of marriage. One couple had been married 72 years. The couples were waited on by the church's staff in black tie, led by Pastor Howard Batson. The couples also renewed their wedding vows.

Around the state

JAMES & DANA GREER

Greers appointed by IMB to Africa
___A Texas couple was among the 50 people appointed by the International Mission Board during a Jan. 23 service.
___James and Dana Greer will work as missionary associates in Tanzania in Eastern Africa. They will work to create a strategy for sharing the gospel with the Makonde people. The Greers will start new churches as well as strengthen existing ones. Greer has been pastor of West Athens Church in Athens since 1990, and his wife became interim youth director there in May. The Greers also consider Barrett Church and Central Church, both in Pampa, as influences on their ministry. Both were born in Pampa.

___Retiring
___ Mary Lee Shelton after 25 years as pastor's secretary at Baptist Temple Church in San Antonio Feb. 19.
___ Mac Robinson after 23 years as pastor of First Church in Beeville Feb. 25. Robinson began his ministry in 1964 at Forsan Church in Forsan. Other pastoratesincluded Oakview Church in Fort Worth and First Church in Seagoville. He has served on numerous boards and committees of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, including the Human Welfare Coordinating Board, the Christian Education Coordinating Board, Baptist Student Ministries, and the Executive Board and Administrative Committee. He and his wife, Lorita, plan to reside near Granbury.

___Anniversaries
___ Randy Holman, 20th, as minister of adults and outreach at First Church in Lubbock Feb. 1.
___ Charles Murray, 10th, as pastor of Bacon Heights Church in Lubbock Feb. 24.

___Deaths
___ James and Alma Barnett, both 82, in San Antonio. He died Jan. 7, and she died Jan. 8. They had been married 58 years. He was ordained as minister in 1938 at First Church in Haskell. The couple met at Southwestern Seminary and married in 1942, six months before he entered military service. He served in army units that included combat infantry, training divisions, hospital units and as post chaplain. While separated by World War II, she worked in a New Orleans youth mission as a Southern Baptist Home Mission Board appointee. In 1946, they returned to Southwestern. Following graduation he re-entered the military and they served in a chaplaincy ministry. She moved with him in all his assignments except Korea, where dependents were not allowed. She supported the chapel program in women's ministries, Bible classes and as choir director and organist. Barnett served in the military for 28 years. Following his military retirement, he was pastor of several San Antonio-area churches, and also became involved with Billy Graham Evangelistic Films. They are survived by daughters, Lee Barnett, Bobbye Jane Langford, Marguerite Barnett and Doye Taylor; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brother, John.

___Events
___ Gold City will present a concert at Memorial Church in Pasadena Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13. For more information, call (281) 998-9051.
___ Cedar Heights Church in Cedar Hill will hold a wild beast feast Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. Fish, venison, turkey and bear are to be on the menu. The Southern gospel quartet the Canaan Heirs also will sing. For more information, call (972) 291-4600.
___ Ivan Parker will be in concert at First Church in Paris Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.

___Ordained
___ Wesley Burnett, Mike Gardner, Clay Moore, James Lewallen and Clint Stowe as deacons at Crescent Park Church in Odessa.

___Revivals
___ First Church, Odessa; Feb. 25; *evangelist, Freddie Gage; pastor, Earnest Easley.
___ Pecan Acres Church, Vidor; Feb. 25-28; *evangelist, Cody Moree; *music, Murlyn Keller; pastor, Paul Fregia.
___*vocational evangelist
___

The Baptist Standard