Around the State: UMHB honored by BGCT, Texas Legislature

The Baptist General Convention of Texas recognized the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and its president, Randy O’Rear, on the inaugural Texas Baptists’ Institutional Legacy Day during a worship service at the historic Anderson Baptist Church, southeast of College Station. BGCT Executive Director David Hardage noted UMHB’s 174 years of service in Christian higher education. Both UMHB and Baylor University trace their beginning to a charter granted by the Republic of Texas in 1845. Baylor’s “Female Department” obtained a separate charter and its own board of trustees in 1866. Twenty years later, Baylor Female College—as UMHB was known at the time—relocated to Belton. The school piloted the first Baptist Student Union in 1920. Anderson Baptist Church is the location where five state conventions merged in 1886 to form the BGCT.

The Texas Legislature recognized the UMHB Crusaders football team as the 2018 Division III NCAA National Champions. Rep. Hugh Shine, R-Temple, introduced HR 30, which stated the team “furthered the university’s reputation as a gridiron powerhouse.” The resolution passed in the Texas House without opposition. Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, called on her colleagues in the Texas Senate to acknowledge the presence of the team, coaches and staff in the Senate gallery and to join in a round of applause for them. The Crusaders won their second national championship in three years, defeating the University of Mount Union Raiders 24-16 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

Hardin-Simmons University dedicated the Baugh Student Lounge and Baugh Seminar Room during the Jan. 24 Logsdon Seminary Spiritual Formation Colloquium. The repurposed space was made possible by the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation. Recipients of two scholarships provided by the Baugh Foundation—one for international ministry and one for women in ministry—spoke at the dedication service.

The 12th annual Heights Car Show will feature about 500 vehicles, from class sports cars to military vehicles. The charity fund-raising event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 6 at The Heights Church in Richardson. In the past 11 years, the church has raised more than $59,800 and donated 8,375 pounds of food to the Network of Community Ministries Food Pantry. The entry fee for individuals who want to exhibit a vehicle is $20 per car or 20 canned food items. The car show will award 57 trophies in 24 categories. Spectators are free to attend at no cost. For more information, click here.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos appointed Andrea Ramirez as interim executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. Ramirez has been executive director of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives at the Department of Education, and she was executive director of the Faith and Education Coalition for the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Ramirez earned an undergraduate degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Dallas Baptist University, where she later served as a trustee, and holds a doctorate from Regent University. She worked previously with GuideStone Financial Resources and was an intern at the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. She will lead a workshop at the Christian Life Commission Advocacy Day event, March 26-27, at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin.

Ordinations

Jeff Howard and Rachel Jones ordained to the gospel ministry by First Baptist Church in Plano.

William (Bill) Angell, Diane Bofferding, Chris Bryant, Anne Donaldson, Pam Ownby, Don Snowden, Julie Spitzenberger and Marc Spitzenberger ordained as deacons at First Baptist Church in Plano.

Licensed

Paul Torres licensed to the ministry by First Baptist Church in Plano, where he is a youth intern.