Around the State: Standard digital archive project continues

More than 2,315 digitized issues of the Baptist Standard—including some dating back to 1920— now are accessible online here. The digital archives project is made possible through a partnership involving Baylor University Libraries, the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Baptist Standard Publishing, and it is funded through the gift of an anonymous donor. The digital archives at this point include 15 indices, covering selected issues published between 1971 and 1994. Digitized issues include the complete set of published newspapers from 1925 to 1940, 1971 to 1978, 1981 to 1984, and 1991 to 1996, as well as some other individual years. Additional material will be added to the online archives as Baylor Libraries’ digitization and digital preservation team continues its work in cooperation with the Texas Baptist Historical Collection, which houses the only known complete run of the Baptist Standard.

STCH Ministries Family Counseling will host its fifth annual iCare Conference on Aug. 3 at Parkway Church in Victoria. The conference seeks to educate individuals on the front lines of caring for others. Educators and counselors can receive continuing education units for attending, but the event is open to any interested individual. Topics include “Behind the Screen: Social Media’s Impact on Behavior and Virtue,” “P.R.A.Y.—Reaching Out to Grievers,” “The Big Three: Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok” and “Conflict Communication Toolbox for Marriage.”  Rik Roberts will provide lunchtime entertainment. Kelly Litvak, founder and executive director of Childproof America, will teach the concluding session of the conference, “Human Trafficking—An American Pandemic.” For more information, including a full list of session topics, click here. A virtual option is available for those who cannot attend in person.

A recent study commissioned by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas revealed East Texas Baptist University is making a profound impact on the economy in its area. The economic impact report showed ETBU—one of the largest employers in Harrison County—contributes $63,185,453 to the local economy. ETBU has produced $46,232,131 in direct spending and $16,953,322 in induced spending. Direct spending includes money spent on employee salaries and benefits, capital projects, university purchases, as well as student and visitor spending in the community. Induced spending is defined as employment and expenditures provided by local industries as a result of the direct spending by ETBU. Student enrollment has grown more than 33 percent in the last six years, prompting the construction of new facilities on campus and revitalization in downtown Marshall. “ETBU shares a vision for economic development through collaborative partnerships with local and regional business, industry, and education,” President J. Blair Blackburn said. “The university invests in the area economy to advance the community forward in creating employment opportunities, developing our workforce, and retaining talented people in our city and county. We strive to ensure that our faith integrated with our work adds value to the quality of life in East Texas as we unite hearts and minds for the betterment of our citizens and our community.”

Wayland Baptist University is launching its School of Creative Arts, essentially combining the existing School of Music and School of Fine Arts. The new school will promote a mentor-apprenticeship culture, focus on artistic excellence, entrepreneurial vision and Christ-centered servant leadership, university officials said. Curriculum for the new school will focus on immersion in the artistic process, giving students a well-rounded education in all aspects of art education, with a goal of preparing students to pursue viable careers following graduation. “Faculty are excited to bring revitalized and relevant arts experiences to Wayland and the surrounding region,” said Ann Stutes, Dean of the School of Creative Arts. “Through immersion in the artistic process—from design, to creation and finally exhibition—we believe our students are equipped to embrace evolving 21st century professions while providing platforms for creative expression that inevitably enrich the human condition.”

During a July 15 luncheon, Dallas Baptist University will recognize community partners that provide DBU students places to serve. This year’s luncheon honors Voice of Hope, an organization in West Dallas that offers biblical teaching, Christian character models, life skills coaching and educational support to children in after-school and summer camp programs. Keynote speaker will be Pastor John Durham of Highland Baptist Church in Waco, who also is a DBU trustee. In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, DBU students provided 110,000 community service hours in the past year, working with more than 500 community partners. For example, during the spring semester, more than 75 students served during lunch breaks with BridgeBuilders, Buckner International and Voice of Hope, writing more than 200 cards of encouragement, packing 400 pairs of shoes for children in Kenya, and filling more than 100 activity bags for children in local communities.

Baylor University is seeking artists and foundries to create life-sized bronze statues of the university’s first Black graduates—Pastor Robert Gilbert and Barbara Walker. The statues ultimately will be placed in front of Baylor’s historic Tidwell Bible Building. To be considered, an artist must have completed no less than three works in similar size, scale and method of fabrication within the last 10 years. Qualified artists have until Aug. 13 to submit a completed request for qualifications form. Finalists will be identified Aug. 27. The recommendation to erect statues of Gilbert and Walker, who graduated from Baylor on June 2, 1967, came from Baylor’s Commission on Historic Campus Representation. “There is much work to be done as we take measures to address all historical aspects of the Baylor story and celebrate the value of all members of the Baylor Family in fulfillment of our Christian mission,” said President Linda A. Livingstone. “These statues and physical representations are a key step to help us all celebrate the strength, courage and accomplishments of two very important people—and all people of color—in our university’s history.”