University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students, faculty and staff greeted 835 incoming freshman and first-time students to the Belton campus on Aug. 8 for the start of Welcome Week. Mask-wearing Crusaders met new arrivals at their vehicles, unloaded their belongings and delivered them to their rooms.
Dallas Baptist University hosted its inaugural three-day Forum broadcast with 26 Global Community school partners on July 15-17, offered virtually in lieu of a canceled on-campus conference. DBU established the Global Community last year as an international consortium, strengthening partnerships around the world with educational entities that are striving to produce the next generation of leaders. The Global Community now represents 14 countries and 34 schools with a total student population of more than 490,000. Jon Dooley, director of strategic initiatives for international admissions and immigration at DBU, led the Forum broadcast, with subtitles provided in Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Indonesian. Sessions included “Transformational Education” with President Adam C. Wright; “Biblical Integration in Curriculum” with Brent Thomason, program director of DBU’s Master of Arts in Global Leadership program; “Financial Sustainability” with Matt Murrah, vice president for financial affairs; “Modern Teaching Skills” with Karla Hagan, assistant professor of education; and “Leaving a Legacy” with Chancellor Gary Cook.
The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation recently awarded East Texas Baptist University a $1.5 million challenge grant toward the construction of its 23,500-square-foot Great Commission Center. To receive the challenge grant funds from the Mabee Foundation, the university will need to raise $6 million for the project by July 2021. ETBU already has raised $3 million. “We rejoice in the provision of God’s grace and gifting, and we give thanks to the Lord for the great things he has done for our university,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. “God has laid a vision on our hearts to transform more ETBU students and graduates into devoted Christian servant leaders and outstanding ethical business leaders. I am excited to witness how the Great Commission Center will provide a place for our faculty and staff to teach and equip ETBU business students with the tools to live out the Great Commission in their future vocations.”
Twenty of the graduates honored at the recent 2020 Baptist University of the Américas commencement ceremony in San Antonio participated in person. BUA awarded 24 certificates of study, 12 diplomas in biblical and ministry studies, three associate degrees in cross-cultural studies and 35 Bachelor of Arts degrees. Graduates represented nine countries—Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Moldova, Nigeria, Peru, South Korea, Spain and the United States.
In lieu of the traditional commencement in Pilgrim Chapel, Dallas Baptist University recognized the accomplishments of summer graduates in an online ceremony Aug. 7. The 172 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates—as well as family and friends—had the opportunity to hear their names read aloud on Facebook Live and featured on the scoreboard of the DBU baseball field. In his remarks to graduates, President Adam C. Wright acknowledged we are living in “interesting and challenging times” that have been “full of disappointments.” Still, he reminded graduates God will remain faithful to them, and they are called to remain faithful to him. Prior to graduation day, graduates received a “Graduation-In-a-Box” package in the mail filled with confetti poppers, a DBU banner, a cup and a car decal officially acknowledging their status as part of the DBU alumni family.
Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler sent $10,000 to ministry partners in Lebanon to aid in relief after the Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut. Funds will help rebuild Beirut Baptist School, Gateway Christian Bookshop and Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. Dale Pond is missions minister at Green Acres Baptist Church, and David O. Dykes is senior pastor.
Anniversary
55 years for Bob Ray as pastor of Fairy Baptist Church in Hamilton County. The church will celebrate the milepost with Ray and his wife Rosalind on Aug. 30.
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.