East Texas Baptist University recognized junior Leah Akridge from Lufkin and senior Christian Phillips from Murphy with the Bob and Gayle Riley Servant Leadership Award. Two students are selected annually for the Riley Servant Leadership Award based on their embodiment of being a Christian servant leader in their daily lives. Fellow students, professors and other members of the ETBU campus community submit nominations recognizing their dedication to pursuing a Christ-like practice of servanthood. Akridge, an English secondary education major, is a member of the ETBU softball team and has served as a Tiger Camp leader and Thrive mentor, and as a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Athlete Leadership Team and Titus Women’s Ministry. She has been an active volunteer in the community through service with the ETBU softball team and with the college ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church in Marshall. Phillips, a rehabilitative science major, has served as a Tiger Camp leader, a Thrive mentor and resident assistant, and as a member of the Baptist Student Ministry leadership team and Leadership Fellows. He also has been an active volunteer in the community through service at Mobberly Baptist Church of Marshall.
Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team claimed the top novice speaker overall and earned seventh place sweepstakes at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Hub City Swing debate tournament. HPU was the only Division III school in the top 10, winning seventh place overall. HPU freshman Marina Nichols from Bangs swept the novice division as top speaker and was a semifinalist debater. Team captain Devin Schurman, a junior from San Antonio; sophomore Landon Chenault from Denton; and sophomore novice debater Ben Sartain from San Antonio advanced to quarterfinals. Junior Rishona Raub from Celina competed and led the team in topic preparation.
Wayland Baptist University and First Baptist Church in Plainview will host Elijah Brown, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, as featured speaker for the McCoy Lecture Series on Nov. 3. Brown will speak at Wayland’s chapel service at 11 a.m. and at First Baptist Church at 5:45 p.m. The public is invited to both events.
First Baptist Church in Plano dedicated its newly opened campus on the President George Bush Turnpike frontage road, between Independence Parkway and Coit Road in Plano, on Oct. 3. “We are excited to gain enhanced visibility and accessibility so that the church can serve more people in Plano and the surrounding area,” Pastor Craig Curry said. “We have a great and storied history, and we are looking to build on our legacy. Our church body is committed to being a vital part of the community, and with our new location we are looking to expand our ministry to the community we serve.”
Anniversary
175th for First Baptist Church in Gilmer. Mike Kessler is pastor.
150th for First Baptist Church in Huffman. Mike Martin is senior pastor.
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