Around the State: Evans and Hardage at Howard Payne

Pastor Michael Evans of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Mansfield, president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and David Hardage, executive director of the BGCT, spoke recently at Howard Payne University about the need for Christians to listen to and seek good for others. Their message was a continuation of a series of recorded discussions the two had earlier in 2020 regarding the role of Christians in race relations. The discussion was held as part of HPU’s weekly chapel services this semester, which have the overarching theme of “Love One Another,” based on John 13:34-35.

Baylor University’s religion department has established the Robert L. Gilbert Scholar in Religion Graduate Stipend, named in honor of Baylor’s first African American graduate. Robert L. Gilbert—an influential educator, pastor and civil rights leader in the Waco area—graduated from Baylor in 1967 with an undergraduate degree in history. In 1970, he became the first African American to enroll in Baylor’s graduate program in the department of religion. During his time in that program, he became assistant director of the university’s Upward Bound program, which helps high school students from low-income families prepare for college. In 1976, Gilbert became the first African American elected to the Waco Independent School District Board. He was pastor of Carver Park Baptist Church in Waco, as well as other congregations. The Gilbert Scholar in Religion will receive an annually enhanced stipend of $6,000 above the base stipend of $20,000, with full tuition remission for up to five years—a package of about $250,000 over that period. The application process will open this fall, and the successful candidate will begin graduate studies at Baylor in fall 2021. The submission deadline for the Robert L. Gilbert Scholar in Religion Graduate Stipend is Dec. 15. For more information, email [email protected] or call (254) 710-3742.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas will present the 2020 Legacy Award to Charles R. “Chuck” Dooley, former church planter for Texas Baptists, and D.L. Lowrie, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Lubbock. Texas Baptists’ Legacy Award is presented annually at the historic Independence Baptist Church in recognition of lifelong Christian service. Typically, the service is held the first Sunday in June. This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the awards will be presented to each individual and their families in private ceremonies at the Independence Baptist Church on Oct. 11. Dooley’s ministry includes six full-time pastorates, 23 intentional interim pastorates, 10 years of ministry with the North American Mission Board and 21 years as a church planter with the BGCT. He is the founding pastor of Alamo Heights Baptist Church, formerly Westside, in Port Lavaca; Fellowship of Champions in Spring; Sawdust Road Baptist Church in The Woodlands; and West Conroe Baptist Church. Lowrie has served as a pastor, denominational leader and professor during more than 60 years of ministry. He was pastor of eight churches, one in Tennessee and seven in Texas, including 15 years of ministry at First Baptist Church of Lubbock. He was the BGCT president from 1981 to 1983, and he also served as chairman of the BGCT Executive Board. He was executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention from 1989 to 1992.

Texas Baptist Men named David Wells as interim director of disaster relief. He has served TBM as associate director of disaster relief since last year and has been involved with Baptist disaster relief since 1994—first in Wyoming and later in Missouri. He succeeds Dwain Carter, who resigned to follow what he senses is a calling to return to the pastorate.

Baylor University announced a $5 million gift from William E. (Ed) and Denise Crenshaw of Lakeland, Fla., in support of the university’s Give Light campaign and Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. A portion of the gift qualifies for the Baylor Academic Challenge program, creating two endowed faculty positions within the Hankamer School of Business that will receive dollar-for-dollar matching funds as well as support for the school’s dean. The gift also will establish an endowed scholarship fund within Baylor’s Student Foundation.

Retirement

R.E. (Mickey) Moriarty from Community Baptist Church in Ferris, where he has been pastor the past 17 years, effective Sept. 27. He has been in ministry more than 40 years, serving previously at Bear Creek Baptist Church in Glenn Heights, Grace Temple Baptist Church in Dallas and First Baptist Church in Lancaster.