Around the State_51903

Posted: 5/19/03

Jeff Burns	Kimberley Burns	Billy Creech	Ami Creech
Joe Ragan	Tom Reed	Robert Shehane	Carel Shehane

Around the State

Four Hardin-Simmons University graduates received special recognition at commencement exercises May 10. Bethany Teer of Arlington received the Julius Nelson Olsen Medal for having the highest grade average. Paul Matthies of Crawford received the George Skiles Award, and Gina Pavlicek of Shiner was the winner of the Minnie L. Anderson Award. Both awards are given for excelling in character, personal development and service to the university. Kirk Hancock of Abilene was the winner of the Hemphill Graduate Honor Award as the graduate who has excelled in academic studies, possesses character and behavior consistent with the university's purpose and exhibits potential for significant contribution in his chosen field.

Molly Hunt has joined Hardin-Simmons University as an admissions representive.

Hardin-Simmons University's faculty and staff organizations have elected their officers for the coming year. Faculty officers will remain Jaynne Middleton, president; Tina Tarrant, vice president; and Michelle Dose, secretary. Officers of the staff council will be Travis Seekins, president; Don Ashmore, vice president; and Joella Michael, secretary.

Appointments

Eight people with Texas ties were among the missionaries appointed by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention May 7 in Framingham, Mass.:

Jeff and Kimberly Burns will serve in the Western Pacific as evangelists and church planters. He formerly was a self-employed Christian comedian. He also formerly was youth minister at Sycamore Church in Fort Worth and singles minister at Harvest Church in Watauga. She is was the secretary to the president of Southwestern Seminary from 1995 to 1997. They have three sons, Hudson, Joseph and Caleb.

Billy and Ami Creech will serve in Western Europe in community outreach. He is minister of youth at Lakeshore Drive Church in Weatherford. They have two sons, Ian and Gabriel.

Joe Ragan will be an evangelist and church planter in Central and Eastern Europe. He is minister of education at Southwayside Church in Fort Worth.

Tom Reed will be a strategy coordinator in Eastern Africa. He is a former International Service Corps missionary in Africa, adjunct teacher at Criswell College and radio producer with USA Radio Network in Dallas. He is a member of First Church in Dallas.

Texas natives Robert and Carel Shehane will serve in Western Europe, where he will be a strategy coordinator. They have four grown children.

Retiring

Paul Stripling, as executive director of Waco Association for more than 21 years. A retirement reception will be held June 29 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Columbus Avenue Church in Waco. Last year, the association honored him on his 20th anniversary with a celebration banquet held at First Church of Woodway.

Anniversaries

Houston Garner, 40th, as pastor of Hebron Church in Bells.

Rob Morris, 10th, as worship pastor at Woodforest Church in Houston, May 5.

Calvary Church in Cisco, 50th, June 1. Jack Clack will preach, followed by lunch. Danny Martin is pastor.

Prairie Valley Church between Lone Oak and Campbell, 125th, June 6-8. Former pastor Ted White will preach Friday at 7 p.m. with a fellowship following. Former pastor Eddie Frazier will preach at 7 p.m. Saturday. Music will be provided by the Paul Cherry family. Former pastor Royce Litchfield will bring Sunday morning's message, followed by a luncheon. A bluegrass gospel concert will begin at 1:30 p.m. Tommy Witt is pastor.

First Church of Forest Hill in Fort Worth, 100th, June 22. Don Gates will be the guest preacher and Duane Blakely the guest musician. For lunch reservations, send $7.50 to 3430 Horton Road, Fort Worth 76119. Don Mitchell is pastor.

First Church in Olton, 100th, June 27-29. Kyle Streun is pastor.

Events

First Church in Merkel honored Edna Teaff for 65 years of teaching Sunday School April 27. At 91, she still is teaching a women's Bible study class each Sunday.

First Church in Howe commissioned Ernie and Terry McLaughlin as Mission Service Corps volunteers May 4.

Wade Daniel will be in concert at First Church in Conroe June 1 at 6 p.m.

Deaths

Algernon Swan, 80, March 5 in Andrews, N.C. Swan was the retired head of Hardin-Simmons University's research center, coming to the school in 1981 and taking the helm of the center in 1984. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jane; daughters, Mary Elizabeth Swan and Caroline Swan; and six grandchildren.

Alan Neely, 74, May 14 in Raleigh, N.C. A graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he taught missions at Southeastern Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary. He also served as a Southern Baptist missionary, teaching at International Theological Seminary in Cali, Colombia, from 1963 to 1976. He was active in the formation of the Alliance of Baptists and was a prolific writer. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Virginia; daughters, Jennifer Wilkins and Elizabeth Forsythe; son, Roger; and four grandchildren.

Licensed

Amy Dennis and Shelly Melia to the ministry at First Church in Burleson.

Revival

Garner Church, Weatherford; May 26-28; evangelist, Mark Wheeler; music, Marksman Quartet; pastor, Alan Kuykendall.