Around the State: Seniors gather at ETBU for Hilltop University

More than 190 senior adults participated in Hilltop University May 23-25, an annual spiritual retreat on the East Texas Baptist University campus. David Dykes, pastor emeritus of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, was keynote speaker. The conference also featured concerts featuring The Martins, a Grammy-nominated family group, and entertainment provided by comedian Anita Renfroe. Breakout session leaders included Allen Reed, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches; Pete Freeman, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church in Kilgore; and Jeph Holloway, the John L. Harris Chair of Christian Studies at ETBU. Angela Irby, associate worship leader at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, led the conference choir.

Dallas Baptist University recognized Susan Shanks, ministry coordinator at Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, and Rolando Rodriguez, senior director of Texas Baptists en Español, at the 34th annual DBU-Oak Cliff Good Samaritan Dinner, held May 10 on the DBU campus. Shanks grew up in Oak Cliff, graduating from Carter High School and earning her bachelor’s degree at DBU. She recently marked 40 years of service to Cliff Temple Baptist Church and the community. She and her husband David have two sons and six grandchildren. Rodriguez previously was pastor of Hampton Place Baptist Church and Cockrell Hill Baptist Church, both in Dallas. He has served on various Dallas Baptist Association committees and on the board of trustees at Baptist University of Américas. He completed two graduate degrees at DBU—a Master of Arts in Christian Education degree in 2005 and a Master of Arts in Global Leadership degree in 2017. He and his wife Angie have three children.

Howard Payne University recognized faculty and staff for their service at an annual personnel luncheon held recently on campus. Matthew McNiece, director of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, professor of history and government and department chair, received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award. Kyle Mize, assistant vice president for communications, received the Outstanding Staff Member Award. The university’s admissions office received the Department of the Year Award, recognizing all its members for their service. Stephen Goacher, professor of music, and Wendy Grooms, associate professor of mathematics, received certificates recognizing excellence in teaching. Renee Hull, custodian team lead, and Bobby Womack, director of technology support services, received certificates for excellence in service. Other faculty received awards recognizing their years of service, including Bobbie Price, certification coordinator and graduation assistant, for 50 years.

The East Texas Baptist University School of Christian Studies journeyed to Israel in May as a part of the Global Study and Serve program. Thomas Sanders, ETBU provost and vice president for academic affairs, led 32 students, faculty and staff as they visited sites including the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Elmin Howell, who led Texas Baptists’ River Ministry three decades, and Wilma Reed, a longtime leader of Woman’s Missionary Union of Texas who helped Howell record River Ministry’s history, recently shared their memories of ministry along the Texas/Mexico border with Naomi Taplin and Sophia Chapa Adkins. Taplin, associate director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection in Waco, is seeking to record Texas Baptist oral history. Adkins, who first served in Laredo and later at the River Ministry office in Dallas in the 1970s, is working on a book about River Ministry.

The Baptist Standard recently received three awards from Associated Church Press. Victoria McCrary, digital communications manager, won a Best of Class Award of Excellence in the social media presence category for the Baptist Standard Facebook page. The Baptist Standard  staff also received a Best of Class Honorable Mention in the independent website category. Managing Editor Ken Camp received an Award of Merit in the denominational politics/short format category for his article on the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Earlier, the Standard won four awards from the Evangelical Press association, including first place Higher Goals awards for an editorial and a news series.