Around the State_122203

Posted: 12/19/03

Young Han	Miwha Han	Helmer Jensen	Shannon Jensen	Mike Shattuck	Vicki Shattuck

Around the State

Appointments

Three Texas couples were among missionaries appointed by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention last month in Lexington, Ky.:

Young and Miwha Han will serve in the Caribbean Basin, where he will be a church starter. He is a former associate pastor of Korean First Church in Dallas.

Helmer and Shannon Jensen will serve in southern Africa in field-support roles. She is a native of Fort Worth. They have four children, Veronica, Alexandria, Gabrielle and Joslynne.

Mike and Vicki Shattuck will serve in central and eastern Europe, where he will be a strategy coordinator. He is a former director of missions for Haltom Road Church in Fort Worth, while she served the church as preschool director. She also served at North Fort Worth Church in Fort Worth and at First Church in Lewisville. He was Macintosh systems engineer at Prestonwood Church in Plano. They previously served as International Service Corps volunteers in Chile.

Children in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, appreciated the efforts of 44 Texans who traveled more than 1,200 miles in vans to lead Vacation Bible School and pass out tracts along the Malecon boardwalk there. The five VBS sites drew more than 1,000 children. Churches involved in the mission effort were Primera Hispana in Giddings, Fuente Vida in Brenham, Mission Emmanuel in Caldwell, First Church in Lexington and First Church in Caldwell. Independence Church in Brenham and First Church of Dime Box made financial contributions to the trip.

Retiring

Norman Fry, as pastor of First Church in Friendswood, after more than 50 years in the ministry, Feb. 1. He has served his present congregation for more than 36 years. He was licensed to preach at Bell Memorial Church in Decatur and ordained to the ministry at Calvary Church in Bay City. His prior pastorates were at Collegeport Church in Collegeport, Oyster Creek Church in Oyster Creek, First Church in Three Rivers and West End Church in Freeport. The church will honor him Sunday, Jan. 25, with a catered lunch and a time of recognition and appreciation. Lunch reservations need to be made in advance by calling (281) 482-7573.

Anniversaries

Gary Demmitt, 10th, as pastor of Pleasant View Church in Bridgeport.

James Cavanaugh, 25th, as pastor of New Light Church in Lubbock, Dec. 1.

Dwayne McCrary, fifth, as minister to young adults at First Church in Lubbock, Jan. 1.

Jim Gerlt, 10th, as pastor of Indiana Avenue Church in Lubbock, Jan. 16.

Deaths

Charles Cockrell, 94, Nov. 12 in Arlington. Cockrell was the pastor of several congregations, including 28 years as pastor of First Church in Garland. A Baylor University graduate, he also was moderator of Dallas Baptist Association, chairman of the board of trustees of the Southern Baptist Annuity Board, the Baptist Standard and the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board. While pastor of the Garland church, enrollment rose from 300 people to more than 2,000. He also led the church to start seven missions, which are now established churches. He also served on the Baylor board of trustees 16 years, during which four buildings were constructed at the Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and two on the Waco campus. He attended every Baylor University football game for more than 50 years. The Garland Chamber of Commerce voted him the outstanding religious leader of Garland within the last 50 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Willie Mae. He is survived by his daughters, Carol Jones and Carma McCollum; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Agnes Cavin, 79, Dec. 5 in Abilene. She was the wife of Berl Cavin, a longtime Texas pastor and director of the missions division of Dallas Association. She also was an administrative assistant for Buckner Children's Home in Dallas six years. She was a member of First Church in Abilene. She was preceded in death by her husband. She is survived by her son, Bob; daughter, Debbie Coltman; brother, Wesley Thompson; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Buddy and Beth Wells have been commissioned as Mission Service Corps volunteers. Pastor Dan Murray of First Church in Stephenville presented them with certificates recognizing them as volunteers working with churches in Erath Association. Buddy Wells served on the church's staff from 1984 until his retirement in 2000.

Paul Leath, 87, Dec. 9 in Houston. A Baylor University graduate, he was pastor of churches in Louisiana, Georgia and California in addition to First Church in Brownwood. He joined the faculty of Houston Baptist University in 1976. He was president of the California Baptist Convention. He had been a member of West University Church in Houston since 1976. He retired from the university to interim ministries in 1987 at age 71. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ann; brother, Roland; and grandson, Jason. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Maritia; daughters, Ann Leath, Louise Beard, Brooks Hauschild and Joelle Leath; stepdaughter, Hopie Campbell; stepson, Stan Allcorn; and eight grandchildren.

Joe Morman, 87, Dec. 12 in Longview. A Baylor University graduate who had his studies interrupted by a stint as a paratrooper in World War II, he was pastor of churches in Illinois, New Mexico and Chandler, Harris Creek and Hale Center. He was president of the New Mexico Baptist Convention two years. In 1974, he moved to Longview to become director of missions of Gregg-Soda Lake Baptist Area. He retired in 1981, and had been active at First Church in Longview 29 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Anita, and brother, J.O. He is survived by his wife, Lou Ann; daughters, Rebecca Bassett and Susan Wright; step-sons, Tim and Steve Marrow; sister, Bonnie Wilkinson; brother, Jack; three grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Ordained

James Hassell to the ministry at First Church in Bedford.

Events

Brentwood Church in Houston will ring in the new year with a Watch Night service Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. Pastor Joe Ratliff will deliver the message. For more information, call (713) 852-1400.

Bethel Church in Clardy will hold a dedication service Jan. 4 for a newly constructed 4,600-square-foot educational building and fellowship hall. Ron Lyles, pastor of South Main Church in Pasadena will be the guest speaker. Several men from the Pasadena church assisted in the construction. A lunch will follow the service. Carter Lyles is pastor.

Trinity River Association hold a rally at First Church in Liberty Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Paul Fregia of Vidor will preachand the Gospel Express quartet from Brenham will provide the music. For more information, call (936) 336-9232.