Around the State: TBM completes Houston flood relief; Global Women honors Babs Baugh

Texas Baptist Men volunteers completed disaster relief after flooding in the Houston area, as well as tornados in East Texas. TBM workers donated 774 volunteer days in greater Houston. They prepared 1,482 meals, distributed 3,832 boxes for residents to collect scattered possessions, cleaned out 111 flood-damaged homes, removed damaged drywall and flooring from 97 houses, and completed 121 mold remediation jobs. They provided access to 356 showers, washed 189 loads of laundry and distributed 61 Bibles in the Houston area. Workers also provided 470 volunteer days around Hawkins after a tornado hit the area north of Tyler. They prepared 1,351 meals, completed 74 chainsaw jobs, provided access to 227 showers and washed 121 loads of laundry. They also contributed 230 hours operating heavy equipment.

Babs BaughGlobal Women, a nonprofit that connects resources to the needs of vulnerable women worldwide, will present its Global Heart Award to Texas Baptist philanthropist Babs Baugh during the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s 25th anniversary general assembly in Greensboro, N.C., June 24. The Global Heart Award recognizes “an extraordinary servant leader who demonstrates commitment to our mission and to using their gifts and abilities to ignite change—for women, for good.” Baugh is president of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, founded in 1995 by Baugh’s parents to carry on their philanthropic efforts beyond their lifetimes. The foundation has supported an array of Baptist causes, including Global Women, which works in partnership to address issues such as sex trafficking, clean water, maternal health, education and economic development for women around the world.

For the first time in Baylor University’s 170-year history, three alumni representatives have been granted seats on the university’s board of regents. The three positions on the board represent part of a legal settlement that ended two years of litigation between Baylor University and the Baylor Alumni Association. New alumni representatives on the regents board are Don Chapman, Wayne Fisher and Julie Hermansen Turner. Chapman, of Dallas and Crested Butte, Colo., earned degrees from Baylor in 1966 and 1973 and is a commercial banker. Fisher, of Houston, graduated from Baylor in 1961 and is a civil trial lawyer. Turner, of Dallas, earned degrees from Baylor in 1967 and 1968, and she and her husband, Jim Turner, built up the largest privately owned bottling company in the nation.

East Texas Baptist University has adopted an “opt out, authorize in” policy in response to the state’s new campus-carry weapons law. “The ETBU president may grant authorization to a full-time faculty or staff member, who is a holder of license to carry a concealed handgun to conceal carry on the university campus, at a university-sponsored event, or within or on a university vehicle,” the school announced. To receive authorization from ETBU President Blair Blackburn, the applicants must meet the terms of a seven-point checklist, which includes completion of a psychological evaluation, bi-annual shooter proficiency and safety qualification, and annual training. After conducting discussions with faculty, staff, students, administrators and trustees, “we have collectively determined that the ‘opt out, authorize in’ provides the greatest level of safety and security to our student body and university community,” Blackburn said.