Hardin-Simmons University hosted a blood drive with Hendrick Regional Blood Center on March 26, allowing Abilene-area residents the opportunity to donate blood. Donors gave 21 units. Nationally, the American Red Cross has reported a critical need for blood donations, after 9,000 blood drives were canceled around the country due to COVID-19 fears. All donors had their vital signs taken and were subject to screening. Hendrick personnel followed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and endeavored to maintain social distancing.
The Mayborn College of Health Sciences at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor donated thousands of personal protective equipment items to the Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital to help address the national shortage created by the coronavirus crisis. Colin Wilborn, executive dean, delivered about 2,000 masks, 350 gowns, 75 boxes of gloves and three cases of hand sanitizer to the hospital. “UMHB is grateful for the strong partnership we enjoy with Baylor Scott & White, and we were glad we could assist the frontline health care providers as they work to keep us all safe,” Wilborn said.
Tom Tillman, Texas Baptists’ director of music and worship, and other state worship consultants have teamed up to provide pastors and worship leaders with timely resources related to worship in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Resources are available here.
BaptistWay Press is making available Bible study resources for Easter at no cost to Texas Baptists. Sunday school classes and other small-group Bible study groups that may have transitioned to online delivery or video-conferences can access the “Because He Lives” lesson and supporting material here.
In early March, prior to restrictions on group gatherings due to the spread of novel coronavirus, Hardin-Simmons University hosted the Christian University Theatre Festival. Five area schools—Howard Payne University, Lubbock Christian University, McMurry University, Abilene Christian University and Wayland Baptist University—performed during the three-day festival.
When social distancing restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic forced the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to move all its classes to online-only delivery, the school also decided to use the same approach for its spring revival. March 30-April 1, UMHB hosted three days of online revival services here. “Pursued” was the revival theme. Brian Rayburn, pastor to students at Encounter Church in Ventura, Calif., was the featured speaker, and Revenant Worship from Dallas led praise and worship. The revival steering committee also created small-group meetings using the Zoom video-conference platform.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.