East Texas Baptist University, in cooperation with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, recently hosted the third annual Worship Summit. The gathering focused on the spiritual health of worship pastors and featured presentations on balancing responsibilities, building relationships and finding rest. “No matter where you are in life, whether you are in college or working with a church, everyone needs love and encouragement,” said Tom Tillman, music and worship specialist with the BGCT. “Positive communication is key to building healthy relationships. It can be easy for ministers to withdraw into themselves, but it is important for them to reach out and seek relationships. Consistently network with those in your field to be challenged in becoming a better minister.”
The Hendrick Medical Center board of trustees named Brad Holland as the next president and chief executive officer of Hendrick Health System. Holland succeeds Tim Lancaster, who announced his retirement plans in April. Holland becomes the fifth president of Hendrick Health System in its 94-year history. Holland has been chief executive officer of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, near Austin, since 2012. At Cedar Park, he was for developing multiple service lines, including pediatrics, interventional cardiology, neurology and stroke services. Holland, a native of San Angelo, earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Southwest Texas State University and a master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University. He was director of operations for Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla.; chief operating officer for Woodland Heights Medical Center in Lufkin; administrator and chief operating officer of River Region Health System in Vicksburg, Miss.; and chief executive officer of San Angelo Community Medical Center. In 2017, Holland received the American Hospital Association’s Grassroots Champion Award. He and his wife, Julianna, have two sons, Gardner and Griggs.
Tri-Rivers Baptist Area broke ground Nov. 4 for Boyd Chapel at Tri-Rivers Retreat Center. First Baptist Church in Lometa donated $84,000—the cost for Texas Baptist Men Builders to construct the chapel—to the project. The congregation voted to make the donation from an estate gift to the church from longtime members Charlie and Elsidean Boyd.
Music department faculty and students at Howard Payne University will present a Thanksgiving benefit concert at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15, in the university’s Mims Auditorium. The concert, “We Give Thanks,” is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted to benefit Hope Home Ministry, a Brown County faith-based transitional home for young women emerging from human trafficking, detention centers and foster care. Featured musical groups include HPU’s Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Winds of Triumph, Heritage Singers, Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Music Ensembles.
Heart of Texas Baptist Camp and Retreat Center will sponsor two Christmas Dinner Theater fund-raising events featuring Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Proceeds will enable the camp to build a new zipline tower. Cost is $25 per person, but group discounts are available. For more information, call (325) 784-5821 or click here.
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has announced plans to construct a new fieldhouse for its soccer and tennis programs. Located in the Crusader Athletics Complex, the 9,763-square-foot fieldhouse will provide space for more than 100 lockers for UMHB student athletes and coaches, as well as another 56 lockers for visiting teams and officials. It also will feature a state-of-the-art training room, laundry facilities and multipurpose rooms. UMHB officially will launch a fund-raising campaign for the project Jan. 7. For more information, click here.
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