Around the State: Samuel Rodriguez at DBU, George Foreman at UMHB

Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, challenged students at Dallas Baptist University to overcome obstacles of fear and apathy and demonstrate the light of Christ in a dark world. Rodriguez, founding pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, Calif., spoke in chapel at DBU.

The B.H. Carroll Theological Institute recently received notice from the Association for Biblical Higher Education its full accreditation has been reaffirmed for the next 10 years.  The institute also holds candidacy status with the Association of Theological Schools. The ATS board of commissioners has reviewed the school’s self-study, and it will send an evaluation team to visit March 27-30.

George Foreman Olympic gold medalist and two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman will present the 2017 McLane Lecture at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Foreman, who became an ordained minister in 1978, founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston and is pastor of The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Houston. The lecture will be held at 11 a.m. in the arena of the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center on the UMHB campus in Belton. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not necessary, and seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The McLane Lecture—made possible by Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr. of Temple—brings internationally recognized speakers to UMHB each year to share their experiences and insights about leadership, government, business and faith.

Researchers from the SoulPulse Study are recruiting churches to participate in research on the interplay between Christians’ daily activities and their awareness of God. Blake Kent, a graduate fellow and Conyers Scholar in Baylor University’s department of sociology, is working with author/pastor John Ortberg and sociologist Brad Wright of the University of Connecticut to conduct the project, funded by the Templeton Foundation. “We’re hoping this is a project that gives us important new information on spiritual experiences and everyday life, but it also should help local congregations understand themselves and their congregants better,” Kent said. Participating churches will receive an exhaustive anonymous report on their members’ responses. Pastors of churches with 50 members or more who are interested in their congregations’ participation may contact Kent at [email protected] or (360) 393-2153.

ISAAC—the Immigration Service and Aid Center, a ministry associated with the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission—will offer a 40-hour summer institute on basic immigration law June 5-9 at Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio. The training is designed for individuals who wish to apply for accreditation with the Board of Immigration Appeals, which allows nonattorney staff of nonprofit and religious organizations to offer legal services to immigrants. Experienced immigration attorneys and accredited representatives will teach the sessions, providing a comprehensive survey of immigration law and procedures. Registration cost is $495 through March 15 and $600 after that date. In addition, participants will purchase a required textbook for a discounted rate of $270 plus shipping. For more information, contact Jesus Romero at [email protected], call (210) 326-3273 or click here.

Wayland Baptist University’s Lubbock Lights Scholarship Gala will honor the life and legacy of Jon Randles, with all proceeds from the event going to endow the Jon Randles Memorial Scholarship. The gala will be at 6 p.m., April 18, at the Overton Hotel in Lubbock. Randles, a former adjunct professor of religion at Wayland, was a pastor, evangelist and director of evangelism for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He died in April 2015 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Tickets for the scholarship gala are $125, with table sponsorships starting at $1,000. For more information, contact Bobby McCloud at (806) 438-3876 or [email protected].

C. Stephen Evans, university professor of philosophy and humanities at Baylor University, will present four lectures on “God and Moral Obligations” 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., April 6, at Wayland Baptist University-San Antonio. The event, made possible by a grant from the Society of Christian Philosophers, will be held at Callaghan Tower, 8023 Vantage, Suite 300 in San Antonio.  For more information or to make reservations, email [email protected] or call (210) 590-5609.

At a dinner marking the 50th anniversary of Texas Baptist Men, the missions organization recognized three individuals who have been involved since its beginning—Bob Dixon, longtime executive director of the organization; Joe T.  Lenamon from Fort Worth; and Bryan Finley from Kerrville. The three received an award named in Dixon’s honor, the Robert E. Dixon Service Award.

Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau won the debate championship at the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association spring tournament. Team members (left to right) Sidni Kirby, Braxton Clark, Reagan Grisham, Isabelle Stahrfisher, Gabrielle McWhirter, Morgan Ashmore, Isaac Sommers, Madison Neal, Christopher Freeland, Haylee Williams, Tyler Olin, Brooklyn Britton, Erin Haley and Aimee Orozco are pictured with their coach, Julie Welker. Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team won the debate championship at the Texas Intercollegiate Forensics Association spring championship tournament, held at Blinn College in Bryan. Braxton Clark, a senior from Southlake, and Isaac Sommers, a senior from Boerne, were the top parliamentary debate team at the tournament. The HPU team won second place overall in debate sweepstakes and second place overall sweepstakes, competing against 24 schools from Texas and Louisiana.

Anniversaries

George Nelson, 20th, as pastor of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Brenham.

Retirement

Bobby Broyles as pastor of First Baptist Church in Ballinger March 5 after 14 years at that congregation and 41 years in the ministry.

Larry Davis as pastor of South Garland Baptist Church in Garland after more than 26 years at that congregation and 48 years in the ministry. His last Sunday as pastor will be Easter, April 16. A dinner honoring Larry and Marilyn Davis will be held at 5 p.m., April 9, at the church. To make a reservation, contact the church office at (972) 271-5428.