Around the State: Literacy Conference

The 2013 Metroplex Literacy Conference will be held March 2 at Dallas Baptist University. Breakout sessions will include topics dealing with adult education, English as a Second Language, citizenship classes and home literacy. Register here. 

Houston Baptist University’s graduate program will hold an information reception for prospective students Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Hinton Center on campus. Registration is available online. 

East Texas Baptist University will hold Tiger Day March 2. The free event enables prospective students and their families to tour the campus, meet faculty and students, receive admissions and financial aid information, and visit academic departments. More information is available here. 

Drayton McLane Jr. received the Founders Medallion from Baylor University. He is a regent emeritus of the school and a Baylor alumnus. The Founders Medallion was established in 1969 to recognize men and women whose service and contributions to the university have been unusually significant.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor held a dedication ceremony for the Isabelle Rutherford Meyer Nursing Education Center Feb. 8. It will be the site of the Scott & White College of Nursing. The facility includes a simulation hospital wing that includes an emergency room, nursing station, and labor and delivery unit. The 77,000-square-foot nursing education center is more than five times larger than the nursing program’s previous facilities.

Dave Rozeboom has been appointed vice president for student development at Hardin-Simmons University.

Dallas Baptist University professor David Naugle recently wrote Philosophy: A Student’s Guide, part of the Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition collection by Crossway Publishing. He joined the DBU faculty in 1990. He is a member of Connect Baptist Church in Arlington.

Anniversaries

Jack Ables, 20th, as pastor of Eastridge Baptist Church in Red Oak, Dec. 27.

Darren Donaldson, 15th, as pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Brenham.

Events

First Baptist Church in Dallas will open its 500,000-square-foot, $130 million facilities First Baptist Church in Dallas will open its 500,000-square-foot, $130 million facilities Easter Sunday, March 31.Easter Sunday, March 31. It is reportedly the largest church building project in modern history. The 3,000-seat worship center includes a 150-foot-wide viewing screen. Connected to the worship center by a glass sky bridge, the Horner Family Center features children’s and youth classrooms, a gymnasium, three indoor playgrounds and a seven-story parking garage. Robert Jeffress is pastor.

First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City will hold special music events during March. March 3, the sanctuary choir, along with Dove-award winning vocalist Bruce Greer, will present “Hymns: Ancient and Modern” during the 10:30 a.m. service. At 6 p.m. March 10, “Voices in Prayer” will be the emphasis. “Celebrate Life: The Musical” will be presented by Cynthia Clawson, Ragan Courtney and the drama team Come during the 10:30 a.m. service March 17. At 6 p.m. that evening, Clawson, accompanied by Greer, will present a concert. At 4 p.m. March 24, organist Steven McConnell will play classical and sacred selections on the church’s 103-rank Casavant pipe organ. “The Last Supper: A Musical” will be presented March 28 at 7 p.m.

VocalEssence, a renowned choral ensemble, will present a concert at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas March 14. The group has made multiple appearances on the national radio program “Prairie Home Companion” and has performed in concert halls around the world. The program will be titled “Music of the Americas: North and South of the Rio Grande.” Cost will be $20 for general admission and $10 for students with valid student identification. To reserve seats, call (214) 452-3170.

Ordained

Roger Ginnett, Lyall Kirton and Jon Mathers as deacons at Central Baptist Church in Italy.

Mark Hansen as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Rosharon.