Around the State_72803

Posted: 7/25/03

Vivian Dyer	Beth Larner	Tommy Larner

Around the State

Appointments

Five people with Texas were among the 70 missionaries recently appointed by the International Mission Board:

Vivian Dyer will serve in Central and Eastern Europe in community outreach and ministry. She previously served as a church planter with the North American Mission Board in Orlando, Fla., and as a program coordinator at Southwestern Seminary. She also worked in the inner-city youth program of Glenview Church in Fort Worth. She has been working in Europe as an International Service Corps volunteer with the IMB the last two years.

Tommy and Beth Larner will serve in Middle America in church leadership development. The couple served as missionaries to Ecuador and Mexico from 1981 until 2000. He has been pastor of Tye Church in Tye the last three years. Both are natives of Texas, and she is a Hardin-Simmons University graduate. They have two adult children.

Mimosa Lane Church in Mesquite recently honored retired Dallas police officer Wes Smith (center) for “faithful Christian witness” during a Crossover 1997 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention meeting held there that year. One of the people Smith shared Christ with during the evangelistic emphasis was Philip Barber (right)–self-described as being “a real mess … long hair, tattoos and drugged out.” Smith invited him to church and eventually Barber accepted Christ as his Savior and now is an ordained minister, Baptist author and a colleague of evangelist Ted Stone (left).

Anniversaries

Jerry Davis, fifth, as minister of music and activities at Immanuel Church in Paris July 5.

Toby Irwin, fifth, as pastor of Hayden Church in Wills Point July 13.

John Free, fifth, as minister to adults at First Church in Bryan July 13.

Willard Hill, 10th, as pastor of First Church in Pledger.

Al Travis, 25th, as organist of Travis Avenue Church in Fort Worth.

Risa Schneider, 10th, as pianist at First Church in San Marcos.

First Church in Bovina, 100th, Aug. 2-3. Activities will begin with a fellowship time at the church at 4:30 p.m., followed by free hamburgers at 6:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., Gary Morgan will be the guest speaker with former song leader Earl Hise bringing special music. Former pastor Virgil Goodwin also will be in attendance. Sunday morning will begin with coffee and doughnuts at 9:15, Sunday School at 10 a.m. and the morning service at 11 a.m. Former song leader Betty Hawkins will bring the special music. Gene Hawkins will be the featured speaker. A barbecue will be served at 12:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., Larry Heard will bring the sermon, and Grady and Dorthy Sorley will present a mini-concert. For more information, call (806) 251-1632. Aaron Reed is pastor.

Tabernacle Church in Gainesville, 100th, Aug. 10. A luncheon will follow the morning service.

First Church of Pleasant Grove in Dallas, 100th, Aug. 10. A complimentary lunch will be served. An afternoon program also is planned. Causey Gram is pastor.

First Church in Corpus Christi, 125th, Aug. 16-17. Saturday will feature golf and tennis tournaments. An open house will begin the evening activities, ending with a dinner. Former pastor Paul Armes will preach in the Sunday morning service. Historical presentations will be given during the Saturday dinner and Sunday morning. For more information, call (361) 883-2421.

Coastal Oaks Church in Rockport, 20th, Aug. 24. Lunch will be provided. Kevin Muilenburg in pastor.

Patillo Church in Patillo, 100th, Aug. 31. No Sunday School will be held, but the worship service will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a luncheon and program. For more information, call (940) 769-3210. Lynn Eckeberger is interim pastor.

Deaths

Bill Hamilton, 82, July 7 in Arlington. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University and Southwestern Seminary, Hamilton was pastor of Plainview Church in Colorado City, New Hope Church in Mansfield and Park Heights Church in Tyler. He also helped start Mayfield Road and Rolling Meadows churches in Arlington, serving both as pastor. He retired in 1987. He is survived by his wife, Cleta; son, Loy; and daughter, Jackie Hester.

Rick Green, 59, July 8 in Fort Worth. He was a pastor in California for 37 years prior to coming to The Church in Cityview in Fort Worth last year as pastor of pastoral ministries. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Carolyn; daughters, Sherinda Keadle and Shanna Arter; and 12 grandchildren.

Gene Greer, 80, July 12 in Dallas after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His long ministry included service to several Dallas area churches and with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He served with the BGCT from 1959 until earlier this year in a variety of capacities, primarily as associate director ot the State Missions Commission. After formally retiring in 1987, Greer volunteered at the convention. In 2001, he received the J.B. Gambrell Award, given in honor of his work of advancing Baptist distinctives. He was a member of Wilshire Church in Dallas. He was preceded in death by his sister, Helen, and granddaughter, Erin. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Elaine; sons, Bill and Andy; daughter, Virginia McBee; brother, Edward; sister, Mary Ann Camp; and four grandchildren.

Events

Friendship West Church in Dallas will hold a program emphasizing the need for organ donation among minorities Aug. 3 at 11:30 a.m.

Homecoming Aug. 3 at Joy Church in Gladewater. The church is marking 99 years of ministry. Don Davidson will preach in the morning service. Lunch will be served followed by a concert by the Crim Family. Scott Johnson is the pastor.

The trio Surrendered will sing at Kendrick Lane Church in Waco Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. An offering benefiting Friends of Hymn Hour will be taken. Greg Brumit is pastor.