Around the State: Yancey named professor of the year at Baylor

Baylor University recognized Gaynor Yancey as the 2019 Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year. Yancey, a Master Teacher at Baylor, is professor of social work and director of the Center for Church and Community Impact in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She also is the Lake Family Endowed Chair in Congregational and Community Health. In that capacity, she teaches and mentors students in both the School of Social Work and Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor. As this year’s professor of the year, Yancey received a $20,000 award and will present a lecture on a topic of her choosing during the next academic year. Yancey is a member of First Woodway Baptist Church in Waco, where she is a Bible study teacher for adult women.

“Preach the Word!” is the theme of the 30^th annual National Conference on Preaching, scheduled May 21-23 at The Church Without Walls (Brookhollow Baptist Church) in Houston. The conference is sponsored by Preaching magazine and Anderson University. Speakers include Ralph Douglas West, pastor of the host church and adjunct professor of preaching at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary; H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, Fla.; Stephen Rummage, pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City; Charlie E. Dates, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago; and Joel Gregory, professor of preaching at Truett Theological Seminary. For more information and registration, click here.

East Texas Baptist University recognized Katee Muckleroy of Nacogdoches during its 72^nd annual Senior Girl Call-Out, the university’s most longstanding tradition. Selected by a faculty and staff vote, the individual “called out” each year is distinguished for her exemplary Christian character, social consciousness, personal poise, academic achievement and spiritual vision. Muckleroy, a child development major, has been involved with the Titus Women’s Ministry, the ETBU Student Foundation and the women’s basketball team.

Howard Payne University’s Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team recently competed at the National Christian College Forensics Association national tournament at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas. Freshman Alek Mendoza, theatre and communication major from Bangs, won fifth place in novice dramatic interpretation. Sophomore Lucy Manning, a Guy D. Newman Honors Academy communication and social science jurisprudence major from Fort Worth, won sixth place in open persuasive speaking. More than 220 students from 21 universities from across the nation participated.

Anniversary

First Baptist Church in Hearne marked its 150^th anniversary April 14. David Hardage, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, was guest speaker, speaking from Matthew 16 on Christ as the church’s foundation. Michael T. Smith, who served the congregation during his time as a student at Baylor University, led in music and worship, along with the Living Soul Choir. Former pastor Larry Blackmon also participated in the morning worship service. Hardage presented a congratulatory certificate from the BGCT, and the church also received resolutions or proclamations from the City of Hearne and the State of Texas. Pastor James Hooper called the event “a marvelous celebration of God’s grace and faithfulness to this congregation over the past century and a half.”