Around the State

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Posted: 6/09/06

Around the State

• East Texas Baptist University will hold its 17th annual senior adult conference June 28-30. The theme of the conference, which attracts more than 1,000 people each year, is “Making a Difference.” Bailey Stone is the conference speaker. Bob Utley will lead the Bible study times. Bill and Catherine Cox will lead the music. A special track for senior adult leaders and professional staff has been added to this year’s program. The annual Reunion Celebration Concert June 30 will feature Sue Dodge, winner of four consecutive Dove awards. Bob and Jeannie Johnson also will perform. A senior adult matinee performance will be held at 3 p.m. and a concert open to the public will be held at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each. The conference fee for participants staying on campus is $100 per person or $180 per couple, including lodging, meals and the concert. Commuters pay $5 per day, plus meals and concert ticket. For more information, call (903) 923-2070.

East Texas Baptist University President Bob Riley was all smiles prior to the groundbreaking ceremony fo the Louise H. and Joseph Z. Ornelas Unversity Center. The center will have a 900-seat banquet hall, as well as dining services and recreation area for students. It also will seat 1,400 for a conference-style meeting. The three-story, 92,000-square-foot facility will be built west of the Ornelas Spiritual Life Center at an estimated cost of $13 million.

• Baylor University will host the Willow Creek Leadership Summit live via satellite Aug. 10-12. The training will feature leadership and communications experts Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church, author Jim Collins and James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church. While the national rate for the event is $255, a special discounted rate of $65 is available prior to July 14. For more information, call (254) 710-6274, or go to www.baylor.edu/summit2006.

• Special awards were presented to faculty and staff members at Howard Payne University’s faculty/staff recognition luncheon. Pam Bryant, assistant professor of chemistry and chair of the department of physical sciences, was named outstanding faculty member. Judy Kelley, payroll coordinator, was honored as the outstanding staff member of the year. Recognized upon their retirement were Paul Butler, professor of education; Virginia Butler, instructor of developmental studies; and Cathy Sneed, assistant professor of social work and chair of the department of criminal justice, social work and sociology. Excellence in teaching certificates were presented to Carla Hawkins, assistant professor of modern languages; Justin Murphy, professor of history; Evelyn Romig, professor of English; and Julie Welker, associate professor of communication. Staff members honored for excellence in service were Randy Weehunt, director of administrative computing, and Jeanette Copeland, secretary for the School of Christian Studies. Promotions announced included Pam Bryant and Monte Garrett to associate professor, and Kim Bryant and Diane Owens to assistant professor.

• Promotions have been announced for 10 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor faculty. They include Matt Crosby, assistant professor of music; Lisa Clement, associate professor of music; Cliffa Foster, professor of exercise and sport science; George Hogan, assistant professor of music; Amy Johnson, assistant professor of exercise and sport science; Mickey Kerr, associate professor of exercise and sport science; Janene Lewis, associate professor of English; Marty McMahone, associate professor of business; Dorothy Planas, associate professor in the library reference department; and Bill Tanner, professor of computer science.

• East Texas Baptist Univer-sity conferred degrees on 140 graduates during spring commencement ceremonies with David Mohn, retiring vice president for enrollment management and marketing, delivering the charge.

• Several Houston Baptist University faculty members have received promotions. They include Alice Rowlands, professor in mass media; Doni Wilson, associate professor in English; Kellye Brooks, assistant professor in business; Pat Thornton, associate professor in business; Allen Yan, associate professor in business; Bobby Towery, associate professor in chemistry; and Rachel Hopp, associate professor in biology.

Jon and Juanita Brawley
Justin and Catherine Kirkwood

• Two couples with Texas ties were among 95 people to receive appointments from the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Conven-tion May 23. Jon and Juanita Brawley will serve as church starters in Middle America and the Caribbean. Both are Howard Payne University graduates, and he was children’s minister at Iglesia Nueva Vida in Brownwood and youth pastor at Bluff Dale Church in Bluff Dale. They consider First Church in Benbrook their home church. Justin and Catherine Kirkwood will serve in central and eastern Europe as strategy coordinators. Both are graduates of East Texas Baptist University. He is youth/college minister at Bel Air Church in Marshall.

• Thirty-two students who claim Texas as their home state graduated from Southwestern Theological Seminary this spring. They were among 264 students who earned degrees, presented at Travis Avenue Church in Fort Worth.

• Dallas Baptist University has announced a dual enrollment program for Frisco Independent School District high school students. The program allows high school students to enroll in university courses, earn university credit, and study with university professors at DBU-North, a regional academic center in Frisco.

• Hispanic Baptists of the Panhandle held their annual Escuela de Profetas at Wayland Baptist University, May 13. Johnny Musquiz, Baldemar Borrego, and Jessie and Brenda Rincones spoke to the 100 people who registered for the event. Officers elected for the coming year were Pablo Garcia, president; Jose Luis Moncayo, vice president; and Glen Godsey, treasurer.

• Albert Reyes, president of Baptist University of the Americas, has been named to the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference board of directors.

• Four students from Texas were among the 186 spring graduates of New Orleans Theological Seminary. They were Karen Parker, Scott Kay, Carla Clements and Tendai Nyatsunga.

Howard Payne University recently presented the Nat Tracy Servant Leader Award to four individuals. Christy Meinecke, a 1998 Tracy Servant Leader award recipient, was the speaker for the awards ceremony. Pictured are student award recipients Richard Mayberry and Katherine Ellwood; Meinecke; HPU President Lanny Hall; award recipient Carol Spurlock, a university dining hall cashier; and award recipient Frankie Rainey, professor of Christian studies.

Anniversaries

• Gary Morgan, fifth, as pastor of Cowboy Church of Ellis County, June 1.

• Stanley Adams, fifth, as pastor of New Deliverance Church in Waco, June 11.

• First Church in Falfurrias, 100th, July 23. A time of celebration will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a complimentary catered luncheon. The afternoon will be a time of music and remembrance. For more information, call (361) 325-2616. Jerry Barker is pastor.

• Wayne Kirk, fifth, as pastor of Marlow Church in Cameron.

Death

• Marah Dillard, 75, May 28 in Dallas. Dillard led a cooking class 22 years for First Church in Richardson’s internationals’ ministry. Her husband, Doug, was cartoonist for the Baptist Standard many years. She is survived by her husband of 53 years; daughters, Debbie Manns and Donna Pool; son, David; brother, Lewis Martin; sisters, Sarah Scanlon and Becky Martin; six grandchildren; and mother-in-law, Aleene Dillard.

Retiring

• Walter Knight, as pastor of First Church in Rockport, May 14. He served the church as pastor almost nine years. He was in the ministry 21 years. He also served Crescent Heights Church in Abilene and First Church in Kingsland as pastor.

Event

• A gospel music concert will be held at First Church in Devers June 24 at 6 p.m. Featured performers will be The Original McDaniels, The New McDaniels and The Rileys. For more information, call (936) 549-7653. Harry McDaniel is pastor.


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Licensed

• Mark Berry, Brad Stewart and Sarah Stewart to the ministry at First Church in Rosebud.

Ordained

• Randy Rinehart to the ministry at Central Church in Wichita Falls.

• Justin Dunn to the ministry at Lytle South Church in Abilene.

• Wes Keyes to the ministry at First Church in Farmers Branch.

• Elizabeth Fortenberry to the ministry at Calvary Church in Waco.

• Kathleen McKown to the ministry at Calvary Church in Waco.

• Casey Lewis to the ministry at Richland Hills Church in Fort Worth.

• Ronald Green and Jimmy Lyle as deacons at Second Church in Lampasas.

Revivals

• New Life Church, Greenville; June 18-21; evangelist, Herman Cramer; music, Paul and Christy Newberry.

• New Hope Church, Lone Oak; June 18-22; evangelist, Paul Cherry; music, The Cherrys.

• Prairie Valley Church, Campbell; June 25-30; evangelist, Paul Cherry; music, The Cherrys; pastor, Tommy Witt.


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