tidbits_92203

Posted: 9/25/03

Texas Tidbits

Hispanic School sets record. Fall enrollment at Hispanic Baptist Theological School is the highest in its 56-year history—206 students from 15 countries speaking five languages.

HBTS offers Spanish training. Hispanic Baptist Theological School's Center for Cultural Language Studies will offer beginner and intermediate conversational Spanish at the school's San Antonio campus Oct. 13-17. Students also will learn about the Hispanic culture and ministry and will write their Christian testimony in Spanish and practice sharing it with others. Tuition is $100, but members of BGCT-affiliated congregations receive full scholarships provided by the Mary Hill Davis Offering for Texas missions. For more information, contact Val Martinez at (800) 721-1396 or [email protected].

Russian children available for adoption. Several children living in Russian orphanages are available for adoption by Christian families and singles through Buckner International Adoption Services. Among them is this boy, age 4 to 6, who recently was identified as adoptable by Russian authorities.

Russian orphans are in need of adoptive families.

While Russian orphan children are identified as candidates for adoption, there is no guarantee that a specific child will remain available to Buckner for adoption for long.

More information on international adoption through Buckner is available by contacting Buckner International Adoption Services at (866) 236-7823 or www.bucknerinternationaladoption.org. Buckner also will host international adoption orientation meetings this fall, including Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 9 p.m.; and Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. The orientations, held at 4830 Samuell Blvd. in Dallas, allow families to gather more information about the adoption process and specific children available for adoption. Reservation for the orientations should be made with Jean Barnes at (866) 236-7823.

Youth ministers to gather. The Youth Ministry Conclave, a training and networking event for youth ministers, is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 at the Arlington Convention Center. Dove Award-winning band MercyMe will perform Oct. 13. Featured speakers include Voddie Baucham, Chris Seay, J.R. Vassar, and worship leader Michael John Clement. The event will include a discussion about the impact of media on teenagers. Gary Cogill, an award-winning Dallas film critic, and Bob Sturm, host of a sports talk-radio show in Dallas, will share their thoughts and answer questions. A concurrent conference for wives of youth ministers will feature Nancy Pannel, author of "Being A Minister's Wife … and Being Yourself."

ETBU to host Tiger Day. East Texas Baptist University will host Tiger Day for prospective students and their families Sept. 27. Activities include campus tours, parent and student question-and-answer sessions, a financial aid seminar, lunch, and a football game. Sarge, ETBU's live tiger mascot, will be in attendance at the football game. All events are free. For more information or to register, visit www.etbu.edu or call (800) 804-ETBU.

UMHB receives $1 million. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has received a $1 million grant from the Meyer Family Foundation of Waco and Jane and Paul Meyer. The gift is designated for construction of a new Christian Life Center, which will be named in honor of Jane and Paul Meyer. The facility will be dedicated for faculty offices and classrooms required for the School of Christian Studies established this summer.

Hispanic Convocation of Laity scheduled. The Hispanic Baptist Convocation of the Laity is set for Oct. 17-18 at Highland Lakes Camp and Convention Center near Austin. The schedule includes an evangelistic challenge, church development emphasis and ministerial training for men. The event features various Texas Baptist leaders. For more information, contact Eli Rodriguez at (214) 341-9435.

HSU reports second-highest enrollment. Hardin-Simmons University's 2003 fall enrollment of 2,333 is the second-highest in the school's history. Full-time enrollment is up 3 percent. Total student count is up nearly 2 percent. University officials also reported an all-time high enrollment in graduate students and a 7 percent increase in new students. Retention this fall also is 5 percent higher than last year.

DBU grows in North Dallas. Dallas Baptist University, whose main campus is located in southwest Dallas, has recorded a 45 percent growth in enrollment at its North Dallas Center this fall, with 522 students. The North Dallas Center offers evening and mini-term classes that can be applied toward the completion of a number of master's and bachelor's degrees. Overall enrollment at DBU this fall increased 2.7 percent, to 4,538, a gain of 121 students. This marks the 16th consecutive year of enrollment increases at DBU.

UMHB enrollment up and down. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor welcomed its second-largest freshman class in recent history this fall, with 507 freshmen, up from 474 last fall. The largest freshman class, 511, entered the university in 1998. Overall enrollment is down 29 students, or 1 percent, this fall, to 2,627, compared to 2,656 last fall. President Jerry Bawcom said holding steady in the face of state budget cuts is a positive sign. "We are only down 29 students in spite of huge state budget cuts in financial aid," he explained. "State scholarships to students were reduced by more than $700,000 this year, and that makes a difference. A student may have lost as much as $2,000 that they would have received in years past."

Ellis named associate dean. Bob Ellis has been named the first associate dean for graduate studies at Hardin-Simmons University's Logsdon School of Theology. Ellis, who will continue as professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, will provide administrative oversight and counseling to graduate students who are working on the master of divinity or master of arts degrees.

Wayland reports enrollment gain. Fall enrollment within the Wayland Baptist University system is up 7.5 percent, with 6,211 students studying on 13 campuses. Fall enrollment at the main campus in Plainview is 1,036, a 3.6 percent gain. The Plainview numbers were bolstered by a 13 percent increase in the freshman class size and a 7 percent increase in the retention rate for returning students. This fall, Wayland has 485 students living in dormitories. The men's dorms are filled to capacity, and the women's dorms are 86 percent full. Ten years ago, the university had only 279 students living on campus.

Ethics symposium offered. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will present its fifth annual Ethics Symposium through the School of Business from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24. The symposium is free and open to the public. The first session, on health-care administration, will be conducted by Jerry Pickle, senior corporate counsel for Scott & White Hospital. Session two, on self-regulation in accounting, will be led by Karen Turner, accounting professor at UMHB, and Steve Bostick, a CPA and partner in the firm Patillo, Brown & Hill. The final session, conducted by Ralf Evangelous, chief of the Temple Police Department, will address domestic terrorism, homeland security and individual liberties.

Baylor Health, Powell honored. Baylor Health Care System was recognized for 100 years of healing ministry by the Baptist Distinctives Committee/Texas Baptist Heritage Center at its annual awards banquet. Also at the banquet, Paul Powell, dean of Baylor University's Truett Seminary, was recognized for his book of sermons compiled at the request of the Baptist Distinctives Committee, "Back to Bedrock."

UMHB promotes McPherson. Keith McPherson has been named assistant vice president for finance and controller for the business office at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He has served as controller since 1984.

Senior Saints Day planned. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor plans its first Senior Saints Day Oct. 2. The one-day conference for adults 55 and older will begin at 9 a.m. in Walton Chapel on campus. Cost is $20, which includes lunch. Guest preacher is Frank Pollard, former longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss., and preacher for the "Baptist Hour" program. University trustee Ron Lemon will lead a seminar on how to cope with change and find success in life. To register or for more information, contact the church relations office at (254) 295-4620.

Middle East exhibit coming. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Townsend Memorial Library will host a three-week exhibit, "Legacy of the Middle East," beginning Oct. 6. The exhibit, on loan from the Texas Council for the Humanities, tells the story of the cultural debt owed to the Middle East. It focuses on the birthplace of agriculture, first cities and states, the invention of the wheel, origins of counting, writing and the invention of the alphabet. The exhibition is free and open to the public Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.