The 2022 Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting drew 1,261 messengers from churches and 563 guests to Waco on Nov. 13-15. They gave more than $5,100 to the Texas Hunger Offering during an offering collected at a Monday evening worship service.
Hardin-Simmons University is the first school in Texas to receive accreditation for its exercise science program. Housed in the Jesse C. and Dorothy J. Fletcher Fitness Center on the HSU campus, the program prepares students for careers in physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports medicine, chiropractic, personal training and other disciplines.
Students in Wayland Baptist University’s “Better Achievement Strategies for College” entry-level course collected more than 2,600 non-perishable food items for FISH, Plainview’s Faith in Sharing House. Julia Nelson, a freshman from Canyon City, Colo., promoted the class service project by giving an alternate meaning to the BASC acronym—“Blessing and Serving the Community.” Kassie Lane, associate dean of undergraduate programs and assistant professor of business, teaches BASC and helped with the delivery to FISH.
Biotech entrepreneur Michael Torres was keynote speaker at the annual Herbert Robbins Research Symposium on Nov. 4-5 at Dallas Baptist University. The DBU College of Natural Science and Mathematics and Beta Beta Beta Biological Society sponsored the symposium. Torres spoke on “My Journey from the Bench to Biotech Entrepreneur” and “ReCode Therapeutics: Delivering Genetic Medicines for the Treatment of Respiratory Diseases and Beyond.” Torres earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from DBU in 2006. He went on to conduct a year-long research project at the National Cancer Institute prior to earning a Ph.D. in cancer biology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He currently serves as entrepreneur-in-residence at Texas Medical Center Innovation in Houston.
East Texas Baptist University Head Football Coach Brian Mayper announced his retirement from collegiate coaching after five seasons at ETBU. Mayper’s career has included 31 years of coaching football and 24 years at the collegiate level, finishing with an overall record of 63-29 as a head coach. ETBU has named Calvin Ruzicka as the seventh head coach for Tiger football. Ruzicka has served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at ETBU since 2018. Previously, Ruzicka spent 17 years at Cedar Hill High School, where he won Texas state championships in 2006, 2013 and 2014 and was state runner-up in 2012.
South Garland Baptist Church in Garland honored two charter members, Perry and Thelma Kite, for their decades of service by naming the facility that houses its preschool and children’s ministries for them Nov. 13. The Perry and Thelma Kite Children’s Center recognizes the contributions of Thelma Kite, who taught in the church’s Mother’s Day Out program more than three and a half decades, well into her 90s, and her late husband Perry, longtime deacon and chair of numerous church committees.
San Gabriel Baptist Church in Thorndale has been granted a historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission. A dedication ceremony is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. Speakers at the event will include former and current church members, along with representatives from the Milam County Historical Commission and Milam County governmental officials. Tim Cheatham is pastor.
Anniversary
120th for Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in Spring. Darrin Moore is senior pastor.
Retirement
Joseph Tillery after seven years as pastor at First Baptist Church in Lockney and 51 years in the gospel ministry, serving as a pastor and director of missions in Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas.
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