Posted: 11/16/07
Around the State
• N.T. Wright, the bishop of Durham Cathedral in the Church of England and a leading New Testament scholar, will be the featured speaker at a pastors and church leaders retreat at the Laity Lodge Retreat Center Nov. 25-27. Wright is the first speaker in a series made possible by a $500,000 grant from the M.D. Mathews Foundation of Houston. For more information, call (830) 792-1210.
• East Texas Baptist University will hold a “Shadow Day” for high school seniors and college transfer students Nov. 29-30. Visiting students will have the opportunity to spend the night in the dorm, socialize with current students, visit with professors and attend classes. There also will be an activity on Thursday evening. Pre-registration is required, and a $15 nonrefundable fee must be paid. For more information, call (800) 804-3828.
| First Church in Sanger held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of its family life center. The 21,000-square-foot facility also will be used for education space as well as the headquarters of a sports ministry. A full-service kitchen also is one of the building’s components, and it was used to feed 500 people at the building’s dedication banquet. The church recently called Jeff Dooley as minister of education and activities to maximize the building’s ministry capabilities. The facility cost $1.7 million. E.L. McNeal is pastor. |
• Howard Payne University will hold a “Southern Gospel Christmas” concert Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Featured guests will be the Melody Boys Quartet from Little Rock, Ark. Tickets are $10 per person. Seating is limited, so advance tickets are strongly encouraged. For more information, call (325) 649-8006.
• The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor recognized several people during homecoming activities. Kay Anderson, who taught at the university 30 years and continues to volunteer as the museum curator, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Siblings Rick, George, Cecilia and Lynda Solis received the Parker Award, given to a multimember alumni family.
• Laura Bush, wife of President George Bush, spoke at Dallas Baptist University Nov. 6 as part of a Helping America’s Youth conference.
• Trustees of Wayland Baptist University have elected officers for the year. Edgar Murphy was selected chairman; Don Jackson, vice chair; George Meriwether, secretary; and Gene Meacham as assistant secretary.
• Hunter Dunfield, a senior at San Marcos Baptist Academy, was one of 400 high school students from across the country selected to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.
Anniversaries
• Abilene Baptist Association, 50th, Oct. 15. Truman Turk is director of missions.
• Curtis Brewer, 25th, as choir/orchestra director at First Church in Odessa, Oct. 28.
• Mike Sellers, fifth, as pastor of administration at Tabernacle Church in Ennis, Nov. 1.
• Rafael Flores, fifth, as pastor of Iglesia Hispana Restauracion y Vida in Waxahachie, Nov. 2.
• First Church in Somerset, 150th, Nov. 4. Sedric Wesson is pastor.
• Alamo City Christian Fellowship, 20th, Nov. 4. David Walker, the church’s pastor, started the church, so it also was his 20th anniversary.
• Donnie Page, fifth, as minister of music at Hillcrest Church in Cedar Hill, Nov. 5.
Deaths
• June Marie White, 77, Sept. 26 in Austin. She served in ministry with her husband 44 years as he was pastor in Snyder, Coahoma, Phillips, Big Spring, El Paso and, at the time of her death, Quail Valley Church in San Angelo. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Guy; sons, Guy Jr. and Danny Earl; brother, George Dugosh; sister, Sandra Grona; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
• Bouahom Keomoung-Khoune, 54, Nov. 1 in Dallas. He was pastor of the First Church Laotian Mission in Amarillo since 1983. He died while awaiting a liver transplant. He came to the United States in 1976 and moved to Amarillo in 1977. He was a member of the Lao Southern Baptists of Texas and served as president from 2003 to 2005. He also was a member of the Lao Southern Baptist Fellowship and was vice president from 1998 until 2004. He is survived by his wife, Sing; daughters, Bonnie Keomoung-Khoune and Nickie Daraphone; son, Felix; sister, Chantom Sananikone; brothers, Praseuth, Bounkeuth and Khampouth; and two grandchildren.
• Mike Graham, 60, Nov. 4 in College Station. Graham formerly was Baptist Student Ministries director at Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University. He served the College Station students 16 years. He was killed in an automobile accident. He is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Matt and Grant; mother, Olive; and brother, Pat.
• Jeroline Baker, 75, Nov. 5 in Frankfort, Ky. She was a professor of childhood education at Southwestern Seminary 27 years. She made a lasting contribution to children’s ministry through teaching, writing and leading conferences across the country.
• Jarrell McCracken, 79, Nov. 7 in Waco. McCracken was the founder of Word, Inc., one of the world’s largest Christian entertainment companies. A one-time radio play-by-play radio announcer for Baylor Bear sports, he retained a lifelong interest in Baylor sports and was president of the Baylor University Stadium Corporation in 1972 and directed what is now the Baylor Alumni Association. He also was founder of Bentwood Farms, which managed some of the most valuable Arabian horses in the world. He was a member of Seventh and James Church in Waco throughout his life. He is survived by his wife, Judy; and children, Lisa and Tim.
Ordained
• Zack Williamson and Doug Davis as deacons at Amelia Church in Beaumont.
• Jim Conner, Steven Cooke, Glen Goodwin, George Harrell, Jeff Waits, Christopher Scott, Karl Shank, Ricky Thigpen and Mark Waters as deacons at Central Church in Livingston.
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