Students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Hardin-Simmons University donated and customized more than 200 wheelchairs for disabled individuals in Thailand. Working in partnership with Joni and Friends Cause 4 Life and the Thailand-based RICD Wheelchair Project, students journeyed to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Students assessed the needs of individuals, prayed with them and fitted wheelchairs to their specific needs. Modifications included adding cushions, installing footrests and adjusting leg straps. In preparation, the HSU students attended seminars about the proper use of wheelchairs, volunteered as short-term missionaries at the Joni and Friends Family for people with disabilities and played wheelchair basketball with professionals.

Baylor University President Linda Livingstone officially announced the school’s plans to pursue Research 1/Tier 1 classification, setting a goal of joining the nation’s top research universities. “Baylor University’s vision affirms that the world needs a preeminent research university that is unambiguously Christian, and we are uniquely positioned to achieve this goal by building on Baylor’s historic strengths and strategically investing in new areas of research and service,” Livingstone said. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designates 130 colleges and universities in the United States as R1, which are doctoral-granting institutions with the “highest research activity.” Baylor is among the 131 schools currently classified as R2—doctoral institutions with “higher research activity.” Baylor’s Illuminate strategic plan provides the framework and commitment to investment over the next decade that will guide the institution towards becoming a top national research university, Livingstone said.

New and returning students at Howard Payne University participated in a variety of community-wide service projects as part of SWARM—Serving With A Right Motive. Students volunteered at Good Samaritan Ministries, the ARK Domestic Violence Shelter, the Brownwood Area Community Garden and Brownwood’s Lyric Theatre. SWARM was one of the Jacket Journey welcome events at HPU. Others included Chime In, a ceremony symbolizing the beginning of students’ time at the university; Campus Celebration, a worship service organized by the HPU Baptist Student Ministry; and a free lunch for students and their families at the home of HPU President Cory Hines.

Jennifer Manning, a University of Mary Hardin-Baylor trustee, was guest speaker at the university’s 174th Fall Convocation, marking the official opening of the new academic year. “I want to encourage you to strengthen yourself academically, spiritually, physically,” Manning told incoming students. She encouraged the students to seize every available opportunity to them to try something new. “Take charge and take a risk,” Manning said. “This is the perfect time in your life to step outside of your comfort zone.” Manning, who earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UMHB in 1994, is a partner in the accounting and business consulting division of Pattillo, Brown & Hill in Waco.

Hardin-Simmons University is piloting a recommended scholars admissions program in Abilene-area high schools. The modified test-optional program allows principals, teachers and counselors to recommend their students for admissions to the university. “We believe the high school academic record and the endorsement of trusted high school faculty and staff who know the student’s potential and capabilities are better predictors of college success than an ACT or SAT score,” said Vicki House, vice president for enrollment management at HSU. The university will evaluate data based on the class that participates in the pilot program to determine the viability of expanding the program to include other high schools in the future.

Anniversary

50^th for the Neighbors International program at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco. The program offers seven levels of English-as-a-Second-Language classes. It also offers free to all Waco-area foreign-born internationals courses in citizenship, driver’s manual, piano, computer, fabric arts, Spanish, painting, scrapbooking, choral music, crafts and crochet/knitting. Last year, more than 200 internationals from more than 30 countries enrolled in the program, and more than 50 people a week meet each Sunday morning for a Bible study geared toward internationals.

About 650 new students at Dallas Baptist University and 200 student leaders, faculty and staff served in 19 locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area as part of SWAT—Student Welcome and Transition. Community service projects included clean-up, distribution of goods and apartment visitation at Mission Arlington; sorting donated items at the Salvation Army’s disaster relief resource center; painting and decorating a children’s educational outreach center for Voice of Hope; and cleaning facilities and organizing English-as-a-Second-Language classrooms for refugees at Gateway of Grace. 

Texas Baptist Men volunteers served a free lunch to 1,000 students at the University of Texas at Dallas early in the fall semester. While students waited in line for fajitas, rice, beans and side dishes, Baptist Student Ministry leaders introduced themselves and engaged the students in conversation. UTD is one of fastest-growing universities in Texas with more than 28,000 students, including 8,000 international students from around the globe. “This is a beautiful mission field,” said Mark Warrington, director of the campus BSM. “College students love free food. We’re building relationships and having conversations. We’re grateful for TBM. We couldn’t do this without them.”

Students at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor celebrated a Welcome Week tradition by participating in Love CTX, working on projects to benefit the Central Texas area. Students gathered in front of Luther Memorial at the center of the UMHB campus to work on one of three projects—make dog toys out of recycled t-shirts, write thank you notes to teachers, or pack meals for area schoolchildren. UMHB donated more than 500 dogs toys to animal shelters in Belton, Temple, Killeen and Harker Heights. Students wrote 100 letters to teachers and staff members, thanking them for their service. They also packed sack lunches and backpacks for the One More Child organization, providing more than 50,000 meals for students in the Belton Independent School District.

Howard Payne University recently named Donnie Auvenshine as vice president for academic affairs and Gary Gramling as dean of the School of Christian Studies. Auvenshine served as the school’s dean from 1994 to 2003 and from 2007 to 2019. He earned his undergraduate degree from HPU and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Gramling will continue to serve as director of Christian studies graduate programs and professor of Christian studies, in addition to his new responsibilities as dean. Gramling also earned his undergraduate degree from HPU, as well as his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and his doctorate from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Center for Christianity in Business at Houston Baptist University will hold its fall 2019 Networking Luncheon and Seminar on Sept. 27. The event, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Morris Cultural Arts Center on the HBU campus, will feature guest speaker Kevin Garland, CEO of Mountaire Farms. Cost for the lunch is $10 for students and $25 for professionals. To register, click here.

Anniversary

125^th for First Baptist Church in Riesel. The anniversary celebration will begin with a worship and praise service at 10 a.m. on Sept. 15. Former pastor Kenny Burkhart, now pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Houston, will preach, and several other pastors and worship leaders will attend. Following the worship service, a barbecue lunch will be served in the church’s fellowship hall.

Johnny Shelton, chaplain for the Baltimore Ravens football team and founder of Attitudes In Motion, was guest speaker at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University Assembly on Aug. 20. UMHB’s University Assembly is an annual gathering of faculty and staff held on the eve of each year’s Move-in Day and Welcome Week. “I came all the way from Baltimore to, No. 1, remind you of the great job that you’re doing and, No. 2, thank you for answering the call,” Shelton said. “The challenge and the charge is to fulfill your ministry. God sent these children to you so that you could speak life into them.” Shelton, a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, was team chaplain for the Virginia Tech football team before joining the Ravens in 2013.

Great Value Colleges ranked Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio among the top one-third of its 100 most affordable small colleges west of the Mississippi and No. 1 in Texas. BUA ranked No. 31 in the overall listing of small colleges in the western United States. The organization made its selections and rankings based on location, student population and net price. Abraham Jaquez is president of BUA.

Hardin-Simmons University opened its new College of Health Professions on Aug. 15. While existing degree programs in several health profession fields will remain in the same physical locations, housing all the programs in one college allows for “engagement in interprofessional education and servant leadership activities,” said Janelle O’Connell, dean of the college.

The Wayland Baptist University baseball program was named the inaugural winner of the Sooner Athletic Conference’s Champions of Character Team Award. Champions of Character is the NAIA’s initiative to promote character-driven athletics by instilling five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership in student-athletes, coaches and fans. For the past two years, Head Coach Brad Bass, his staff and about 50 Pioneer baseball players have worked in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Each fall, most members of the baseball program have volunteered five days to travel eight hours from Plainview to the Houston area. In 2017, they helped with hurricane clean-up efforts, and then in 2018, they aided in the construction of residences. Bass and the team plan to make their third trip to the Houston area to lend assistance again this fall. In addition to those efforts, Pioneer baseball players have served as “Big Brothers” to local elementary students, traveling to school campuses once a week in order to provide a much-needed male role model. In past years, the baseball program participated in “Read First,” a project of the Hale County Literacy Council in which Wayland student-athletes took time to read books with local first-grade students. The Wayland baseball program also has offered free summer camps to needy kids in and around Plainview.

Four University of Mary Hardin-Baylor students and a staff sponsor completed a two-week mission trip among women in northern Africa, the first UMHB-sponsored trip to the region and the first new trip organized by the university’s director of global outreach, Tiffany Horton. Team sponsor Mary Catherine Carnes, resident director of Burt Hall, previously lived a short while in the region and had connections to some missionaries serving there. The exact location is not identified for security reasons. “We would have a lesson on baking bread or traditional dishes that they would make, and, in the process, we would get to know these women and turn the conversation to gospel things,” Carnes said. Students who participated in the mission trip are Laela Collier, Ilyanna Cuellar, Marisa Knight and Elizabeth McElroy.

The East Texas Baptist University Tiger Spirit Teams and acrobatics and tumbling student-athletes traveled to Japan as part of the Tiger Athletic Mission Experience program. Lisa Seeley, director of global education and the ETBU Great Commission Center; Ryan Erwin, vice president for athletics; and coaches Farrah Dunaway and Kyla Arbuckle led the student group. The ETBU students partnered with the International Sports Federation in evangelism and ministry surrounding Camp Buttobi and the people of Yokohama, Japan. The trip to Japan marks ETBU’s 11^th sports mission experience and the third trip with ISF. The ETBU students taught dances, cheers and stunts at Camp Buttobi, as well as serving in the kitchen. The Tiger Spirit Teams spent time with a children’s ministry during a worship service at Hongodai Church, sharing testimonies as well as their cheer, dance and acrobatic talents. During a community outreach activity at a shopping mall in Yokohama, students connected to the local community through music, games and dancing.

Dallas Baptist University presented Bob Burgin—a missionary, educator, administrator and pastor—with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at its summer commencement. Burgin and his wife, Tillie, served in Korea as missionaries appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention’s Foreign Mission Board. After they returned from the mission field to Arlington, he worked as assistant principal and as principal at several public schools. He joined the DBU faculty in 1999 as associate dean, director of secondary education and assistant professor in the College of Education. He was recognized as an Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year in 2007-08 and was selected by his colleagues to serve for a term as president of the Faculty Council. He has worked alongside his wife for three decades in Mission Arlington. For more than 20 years, he has been pastor of the apartment-based congregation that is now Parkview Church in Arlington. Keynote speaker at DBU commencement was Ray Martinez, president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas. Martinez served three years on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and held leadership posts in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was director of the Higher Education Committee in the Texas Senate, chancellor of WGU Texas, and he held several senior government relations positions at Rice University and Texas A&M. He completed a three-year term as a member of the board of trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, and he currently is a candidate in the Doctor of Education degree program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Light Up the Hills Regional Motorcycle Retreat is scheduled Sept. 13-14 at the Coming King Sculpture Prayer Garden in Kerrville. Daylight hours will include plenty of time for motorcycle rides through the Texas Hill Country. Christian comic Elijah Tindall will entertain on Friday evening, and Kenneth “Doc” Dennis, senior pastor of the Full Armor Fellowship biker church in Decatur, will preach on Saturday evening. The Broken Chains Praise and Blues Revue Band will lead in worship music both nights. For more information, click here.

As Baylor University prepares for the renovation of the Tidwell Bible Building, the school will hold an open house from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31. The event will allow alumni and other friends of the school to visit and reminisce in Miller Chapel—the location of hundreds of Baylor weddings over the past six decades. During the Tidwell restoration, the current Miller Chapel space will be repurposed for faculty and administrative offices—currently spread throughout the building’s 57,000 square feet—while maintaining Miller Chapel’s high ceiling and stained glass windows. A new prayer chapel will provide a view of campus from the top floors of Tidwell that will be accessible by elevator for the first time in the building’s history. The restored Tidwell Building is expected to open in 2022. The Miller Chapel open house is scheduled prior to the Baylor Bears football season-opening game at 6 p.m. at McLane Stadium. The open house is free, and no RSVP or registration is required.

The inauguration ceremony of Cory Hines as the 20^th president of Howard Payne University is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Sept. 18 in Mims Auditorium on the HPU campus. Other activities open to the public include the inaugural chapel Service at 10 a.m. on Sept. 18; the inaugural reception, following the inauguration; and the inaugural HPU Family Tailgate, scheduled for 11 a.m. on Sept. 21, preceding the HPU football game at Gordon Wood Stadium. For more details on inauguration activities, click here.

Buckner International helped 800 Rio Grande Valley children prepare for school by providing new backpacks, school supplies and shoes. The children are members of families involved with the Buckner Family Hope Center in Peñitas, where Diego Silva is director. The shoes are provided by the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls humanitarian aid project.

Members of Howard Payne University’s Concert Choir and University Singers recently performed in Austria with six other choral groups. The 23-member HPU contingent joined a mass choir, numbering almost 100 singers, and a chamber orchestra in a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem” at the historic Votivkirche. Christopher Rosborough, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, led the trip.

Daniel McAfee was named director of Baptist Student Ministries at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor effective Aug. 5. McAfee earned his undergraduate degree from the Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie in 2009. He completed his Master of Divinity degree at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary, and he is pursuing a Ph.D. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife, Meredith, and their 3-year-old son Kent are members of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco.

Baylor University President Linda Livingstone will welcome pastors and other religious leaders throughout Waco and Central Texas for an Aug. 13 community prayer breakfast on the Baylor campus. A continental breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. in the Paul and Katy Piper Great Hall at Truett Theological Seminary, followed by the community prayer service from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Powell Chapel. After a welcome by Livingstone and a call to prayer by University Chaplain Burt Burleson, prayers for students, parents, teachers, administrators, community wellbeing and community ministers will be led by René Maciel, missions pastor at First Woodway Baptist Church; Jonathan Pokluda, lead pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church; Jimmy Hunter, pastor of Toliver Chapel Missionary Baptist Church; Beth Allison Barr, associate dean for student and faculty development in the Baylor Graduate School; Glenn Robinson, president of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center–Hillcrest; and Angela Reed, associate professor of practical theology and director of spiritual formation at Truett Seminary. Ryan Richardson, associate chaplain and director of worship and chapel at Baylor, will lead the music. Camille Rybacki, a senior international studies major at Baylor, and Tyler Phillips, a master of divinity candidate at Truett Seminary, will read Scripture. Livingstone will offer closing remarks followed by the Lord’s Prayer. Parking will be available in the Dutton Avenue garage, next to the seminary at the intersection of I-35 and University Parks Drive.

Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary will mark its 25^th anniversary by returning to its birthplace, First Baptist Church in Waco, for its fall convocation on Aug. 27. The convocation begins at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch at the Baylor Club at 12:30 p.m. Cost for the lunch is $25. To register, click here.

Students from Texas Baptist-affiliated universities, as well as students at state universities serving through Baptist Student Ministries and Go Now Missions, are on the state, domestic and global mission fields this summer. Others are working with recreation teams at Christian encampments. More than 230 students are serving through Go Now Missions in locations ranging from Mission Arlington in North Texas to sports camps in New York to work among indigenous people groups along the Amazon River in Brazil. Students also are part of Texas Baptist churches’ summer mission trips. Cynthia Shirley, a student at Hardin-Simmons University, served in Peru with Beltway Park Baptist Church in Abilene. In partnership with other churches, the missions team set up medical clinics for five days, caring for more than 600 patients. Team members distributed more than 400 Bibles, and more than 200 people professed faith commitments to Christ.

A Grandparenting Matters seminar is scheduled Sept. 7 at First Baptist Church in Marble Falls. Sponsored by the Legacy Coalition, the seminar is designed to equip and encourage grandparents to stay connected and involved with their grandchildren in positive, powerful ways and to pass on a legacy of faith. Sessions are open not only to grandparents, but also to pastors or adult ministries leaders who want to learn how to provide grandparents the encouragement and resources they need. The seminar begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. Cost is $25 per individual or $40 for a married couple. The fee includes a workbook for each participant, a continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and door prizes. To register, click here. For more information, contact Associate Pastor Weldon French at weldon@fbcmf.org or (830) 693-4381.

GuideStone Financial Resources is sponsoring a Church Security and Awareness seminar at Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 22. Barry Young, vice president of Strategos International will talk about recognizing physical indicators of suspicious behavior, approaching armed individuals, verbally de-escalating conflict and implementing lockdown procedures. The cost is $99 per participant. To register, click here.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor named Jason Palmer as dean of spiritual life and university chaplain. Palmer, an ordained Baptist minister, will begin working part-time on Aug.14 and will transition to full-time status on Nov. 4. He is retiring from the U.S. Army after 25 years of service. He currently serves as assistant division chaplain for 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood. He supervises 35 chaplains and 37 religious affairs specialists, providing religious support to 18,900 soldiers deployed worldwide, as well as their families. Palmer earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. He completed his Master of Divinity degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2008. Palmer and his wife Christie have been married for 20 years and have four sons: Joshua, Eli, Caleb and Nathan.

Hardin-Simmons University hosted Trauma-Informed Care training for about 60 professionals from HSU, Abilene Christian University and McMurry University on Aug. 24. Police officers, student life coordinators and counselors learned from specialists during the three-hour course. “As reporting rates increase, our campuses are realizing just how many students are impacted by trauma, either present or historical, and this offers us a specific tool to care for our students holistically,” said Nikki Rhodes, HSU director of counseling services.

Three East Texas Baptist University nursing students—Joshua Hartley, Colby Simmons and Stacie Simmons—received the Polly Cargill Nursing Scholarship on behalf of the Cargill family and Christus Good Shepherd Foundation. Jerry and Jack Cargill established the scholarship to honor their mother’s memory and in recognition of the care she received from nurses at a local hospital. Since its inception 17 years ago, the Polly Cargill Nursing Scholarship has provided financial aid to about 60 nursing students from schools across East Texas. This year, six students at ETBU, the University of Texas at Tyler, Kilgore College and the University of Texas at Arlington received the scholarship.

Stark College and Seminary in Corpus Christi signed a memorandum of understanding with B.H. Carroll Theological Institute to create an academic relationship between the two institutions. It ensures ease of transfer for Bachelor in Ministry degree graduates of Stark to enroll in one of several advanced track master’s degree programs at Carroll, using undergraduate credit hours completed at Stark toward the master-level degrees. In addition, the agreement ensures ease of transfer for Stark Master of Arts in Ministry degree students to reach Master of Divinity degree equivalency or complete a Master of Divinity degree at Carroll. It also provides an avenue for Stark students to complete additional studies and enroll in the Carroll Doctor of Ministry degree program. Students will be able to participate face-to-face in a physical classroom at one of the network teaching churches, in live video conferencing broadcasts delivered over the Internet or online courses.

Texas Baptists’ Hispanic Education Initiative sponsored a Hispanic Education Fair at East Texas Baptist University. High school participants attended workshops such as “Keeping God First in College” and “Academic and Emotional Success.” College-age participants learned about financial aid and other aspects of higher education. Eighteen students who attended the education fair received $500 scholarships from the Hispanic Education Initiative.

Retirement

Jack Staples after 60 years in music ministry, including the last 40 years as minister of music at Second Baptist Church in Abilene.

Renee Collins, professor of educational studies and associate dean of the Irvin School of Education at Hardin-Simmons University, has published a book of devotionals, Happy Thursday. The book compiles weekly devotionals Collins has written and emailed to students each Thursday for the past four years. Others asked to be added to the distribution list, which now includes about 170 people. “We all need motivation to press on,” Collins said. “The whole point of the email was to be uplifting—to encourage people with hope and remind them of the goodness of God. I love encouraging and helping people see some glimmer of a silver lining.”

Howard Payne University named Dale Meinecke as vice president for development. Meinecke,  a 1998 HPU graduate, oversees the university’s efforts in fundraising, alumni relations and other operations in the Office of Institutional Advancement. He returns to HPU from Dallas Baptist University, where he was professor of leadership and director of the Master of Arts in Leadership program. He previously served at HPU as assistant vice president for external affairs from 2012 to 2017. Earlier service at HPU includes experience on the football coaching staff and as chapel coordinator. He and his wife Christy have been married 20 years and have two daughters, Katie and Claire.

The Baptist Scholars International Roundtable attracted academics from as far away as Australia to its annual meeting at Oxford University, centered on the theme “Baptists and the Kingdom of God.” Laine Scales, professor of social work at Baylor University, and Beth Allison Barr, associate professor of history and associate dean in the Graduate School at Baylor, are co-directors of the roundtable. David Bebbington, the 2019 Visiting Distinguished Fellow and professor of history at the University of Stirling in Scotland, delivered the keynote address.

The Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing, a consortium of Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University, received the maximum 10-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in nursing received re-accreditation, and the postgraduate advanced practice registered nursing certificate program earned initial accreditation.

East Texas Baptist University alumna Rita Storie Turner commissioned artist Melinda Marlowe of Cimarron, N.M., to create replicas of famous renditions of Jesus’ biblical parable of the Good Samaritan. The works are displayed in the new Good Samaritan Gallery of the Marshall Grand, home to the ETBU School of Nursing. The exhibit features replicas of works by Vincent Van Gogh, Eugene Delacroix and Jean-Francios Millet, among others, spanning centuries of art history, style and technique. The gallery also includes an original work by Marlowe, The ETBU Good Samaritan, which depicts a female ETBU nursing student helping an elderly woman.

Jill Larsen resigned as treasurer and chief financial officer of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, effective at the end of July, to become chief financial officer for VisitDallas. She worked 11 years for Texas Baptists. BGCT Controller Jim Reed will serve as interim CFO at the BGCT. Kathryn Freeman resigned as director of public policy for the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, effective at the end of July, to pursue full-time studies at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. Freeman joined the CLC staff in August 2014.

First Baptist Church in Refugio will dedicate its building at a 10:30 a.m. worship service on Aug. 25. The church facility has been renovated after being damaged severely by Hurricane Harvey. After the worship service, a catered meal will be served in the fellowship hall. Reservations for the meal are requested by Aug. 1. Contact (361) 526-5301 or fbcrefugio@gmail.com. T. Wayne Price is pastor.

The Howard Payne University Woman’s Club presented its Yellow Rose Award to Tracey Carrier of Brownwood during the club’s annual scholarship luncheon. The organization presents the award annually to a woman deemed to have exhibited exemplary leadership within her sphere of influence; who demonstrated fiscal, emotional or physical support to the life of the university; and who represents Christian values and beliefs foundational to HPU. As an HPU student, Carrier was a Hatton W. Sumners Scholar and participated in Student Foundation. She was junior class president, a yell leader for two years, was on the Homecoming Court her junior and senior year, and was named Homecoming Princess and Miss HPU her senior year. Carrier currently mentors several HPU students and also serves in the youth ministry at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, where she has been a member for 30 years.

The Hardin-Simmons University Cowboy Band performed at the Texas Cowboy Reunion Rodeo in Stamford in early July, just as it has almost every year since 1935. Each year, the Cowboy Band invites new band members to play with them at the event, as well as any alumni, friends or family who are interested in joining the band for a day filled with music and laughter. The band marches in the opening day parade and performs a 20-minute concert before the rodeo begins. During the rodeo, the band plays for each contestant in the grand entry—as well as playing eight-second selections during competitive events.

Since the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor named Tiffany Horton as the school’s first director of global outreach, she has organized multiple opportunities for students to serve internationally. Previously, UMHB offered only one school-sponsored international missions/service trip. Before transitioning into her new role in January, Horton had served since 2011 as director of student organizations. Horton organized an upcoming student mission trip to North Africa this summer, and she noted student teams will serve on 10 international trips in the next year. “We are looking for this to be a discipleship program,” Horton said. “We want them to be trained and to feel like a part of the team.”

Dallas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor are among 17 Texas schools named as 2019-20 Colleges of Distinction. All three also are named as Christian Colleges of Distinction and are recognized in the areas of business, education and nursing. High school counselors and educators nominate schools, which are then evaluated based on four criteria­—engaged students, great teaching, vibrant campus communities and successful outcomes. HSU also is listed as a Career Development College of Distinction.

The East Texas Baptist University School of Nursing attained a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for the fifth consecutive year. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing recently confirmed that all ETBU Spring 2019 nursing graduates passed the licensure exam. Measured by analyzing the current and historical pass rates, the Annual RegisteredNursing.org registered nurse program state rankings recently recognized ETBU as the sixth-ranked registered nursing program in Texas out of 119 programs evaluated and 50 ranked.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor named Isaac Felan as assistant director of student leadership and engagement, effective July 15. Felan will manage a variety of campus-sponsored student activities, pageants and events. He holds an undergraduate degree from UMHB and is a former university ambassador and a member of the campus activities board leadership team. He was director of the 2018 Crusader Knights event and assistant director for 2019 Miss UMHB pageant.

Physical therapy students from Hardin-Simmons University recently volunteered as short-term missionaries for Joni and Friends Family Retreat at Camp Allen in Navasota. Joni and Friends offers an annual retreat for families who have members with disabilities. Volunteers are paired with campers who have disabilities, and they spend the majority of the retreat together as they get to know each other, worship together, and participate in activities such as fishing, swimming and crafts. The retreat was part of the “Beyond Suffering” curriculum the physical therapy students are studying. As part of the curriculum, the students will continue working with Joni and Friends and its Wheels for the World initiative, as they travel to Thailand to help provide wheelchairs for people in need.

The East Texas Baptist University men’s and women’s tennis teams traveled to Paris, France, in June as a part of the Tiger Athletic Mission Experience program. Led by Lisa Seeley, director of the Great Commission Center and global education, Head Coach Jeff Bramlett and Assistant Coach Drew Lambert, the group partnered with the International Sports Federation and Youth with a Mission in evangelism and ministry surrounding the French Open at Roland Garros. Student athletes served the homeless, volunteered in local churches, worked at the YWAM base and attended worship services at a refugee ministry. As part of an outreach event hosted by the refugee ministry, students prepared and distributed nearly 170 meal packages and 75 children’s goodie bags on the streets of Paris. Working with various churches who hosted an outreach festival in the French Alps, the ETBU student athletes set up booths for games, face painting and other activities. They also attended the French Open and visited historical sites such as the Basilica du Sacre’ Coeur, Notre Dame, Louvre and Eiffel Tower.

Paisano Baptist Encampment will continue a century-old tradition with its annual cowboy camp meeting, July 21-26. The camp meeting begins with a Sunday evening meal and continues through lunch on Friday. Phil Christopher, pastor of First Baptist Church in Abilene, and Todd Still, dean of Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, are the camp preachers. Duane Brooks, pastor of Tallowood Baptist Church in Houston, will lead the adult Bible study. Jim Cleaveland, retired minister of music and media at First Baptist Church in El Paso, will lead worship, with Nancy Russell of Lubbock at the piano and Russell Gunstream of El Paso on the organ. Marina and Mark Sprinkle will discuss their experiences as teachers in Moscow. Kelly Barnett, a licensed marriage and family therapist, will lead the family hour, as participants examine the life of the Apostle Peter as an example of spiritual growth and emotional health. The camp meeting includes preschool, children’s and youth activities, as well as recreation and family time. Paisano Baptist Encampment is located in Paisano Pass between Alpine and Marfa in far West Texas. For more information, click here.

Anniversaries

35^th for Rodney Watson as pastor of Lytle South Baptist Church in Abilene.

10^th for Patrick Voce as pastor of Ovalo Baptist Church in Ovalo.

Nursing students from East Texas Baptist University traveled to the Philippines as a part of a Global Study and Serve program recently. Rebekah Grigsby, dean of the ETBU School of Nursing, led the 12-member team. David Crim, senior pastor of International Baptist Church in Manila, provided six hours of cross-cultural training. The group also attended five days of nursing clinicals with the students from the Mary Johnston School of Nursing at Philippines Christian University. The ETBU nursing students conducted medical missions among indigenous tribes in Maasin, Aramaywan and Quezon on the island of Palawan, treating wounds and educating tribal leaders about how to use available resources to care for infections. “The global studies course allows students a hands-on experience interacting within a different culture as they grow in their faith, depending on God’s care as they navigate through the physical, emotional and mental challenges of the trip,” Grisby said. “Students also learn that they can use their career to participate in short-term or long-term missions and that their everyday job as a nurse is a mission field of its own.”

Students at several Abilene elementary and middle schools are participating in learning experiences during Dream Catchers, an annual day camp offered at Hardin-Simmons University. The camp for elementary school students focuses on science and literacy, with the goal of students gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them. Sessions for middle school students concentrate on language arts. HSU students majoring in education help teach lessons, guide activities, and in turn they gain experience in a classroom-like setting. Renee Collins, associate dean of the Irvin School of Education at HSU, directs the Dream-Catchers summer camp. Dream Catchers camp is free to attend, thanks to financial support from the Community Foundation of Abilene, HSU alumni and local businesses in Abilene.

Jenna Stuard, a Howard Payne University student from Scurry, was named as recipient of the Yellow Rose Scholarship, given annually by the HPU Woman’s Club. This scholarship is awarded annually to a female student who will begin her junior year the upcoming fall semester and has maintained at least a 3.0 grade point average since beginning her freshman year at HPU. She is to have participated in campus extracurricular activities and exhibited leadership qualities representative of the Christian values and beliefs fundamental to HPU. Stuard, a member of women’s soccer team at HPU, has volunteered as a faith-based mentor at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correction Complex and with Fields of Faith, an annual event for area students sponsored by Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at its general assembly elected several Baptists from Texas to leadership posts. They include Keith Ethridge, a retired chaplain from Belton, named to the Council on Endorsement; Jeni Cook Furr, a retired chaplain and member of Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, selected for the Ministries Council; and Jewel London, pastoral assistant and campus minister at The Church Without Walls in Houston, elected to the CBF Governing Board. Anyra Cano, minister at Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo in Fort Worth, was elected to the board of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Anna Rader of South Main Baptist Church in Houston was recognized among 25 Young Adults to Know in CBF. CBF Texas elected Garrett Vickrey, pastor of Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio, as moderator-elect; and Amy Wilkins, associate pastor for missions at Valley Ranch Baptist Church in Coppell, as recorder. Individuals elected to the CBF Texas Governing Board are Elias Garcia from Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston; Mallory Herridge from Calvary Baptist Church in Waco; Drew Herring from Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth; and Katelyn McWilliams from First Baptist Church in Lufkin.

Hardin-Simmons University named Michael Monhollon to a full-time role in university administration as chief data officer and accreditation officer, as well as associate provost. He has worked the past year as associate provost and liaison with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges while also serving as dean of the Kelley College of Business, a post he held 16 years. Robert Tucker, dean of the College of Fine Arts at HSU, will assume additional responsibilities as interim dean of the Kelley College of Business until the university finds Monhollon’s successor in that role.

Howard Payne University recognized six students for servant leadership. Seniors Jessica Catlett of Alleyton and Caleb Kostreva of Clifton, Colo., each received the Nat Tracy Servant Leader Award. HPU established the award in 1998 to honor the late Nat Tracy, a faculty member in the School of Christian Studies from 1950 to 1975. HPU presented the Servant Leadership Award to juniors Abi Fraser of Wylie, Justin Hughes of Llano, Hannah Williams of May and Anastasia Willis of Katy. The HPU Servant Leadership Award recognizes student excellence in the areas of leadership and service. A $1,000 scholarship is provided to each recipient of the award, and each student designates $250 of the scholarship award to be given to his or her chosen charity. Nominations for both the Nat Tracy Servant Leader Award and the HPU Servant Leadership Award are solicited each spring from HPU staff, faculty and students. HPU also recently recognized faculty and staff for their service. Kristen Hutchins, associate professor of biology, received the Outstanding Faculty Member award and Nikki Donathan, cashier and staff accountant, was presented the Outstanding Staff Member award for the 2018-19 academic year.

Hardin-Simmons University will wrap up its two-week Health Sciences Summer Enrichment Program for high school upperclassmen and incoming college freshmen on June 28. The two-week summer camp focuses on a variety of health fields and skills through a combination of lectures, labs and interactive sessions with professionals and their workplaces. Biology, math, and chemistry are the main subjects. To be eligible for the program, students must be planning to pursue a health-related career, considering HSU as a possible choice for college and have a 3.00 minimum GPA.

Anniversary

50^th for Toby Irwin in vocational Christian ministry. He is pastor of Belmore Baptist Church in San Angelo.

Students from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor College of Christian Studies led worship and served in a variety of settings during a trip to the Cayman Islands. Ten students and two faculty from the UMHB College of Christian Studies traveled to the Cayman Islands for a weeklong trip that involved students preaching, serving and leading worship in seven churches and schools. Student participants were Kaitlin Anderson of Cibolo, Rozzell Barber-Harris of Houston, Sammy Castaneda of Mesquite, Jacob Chesser of Boerne, Rebekah Graff of Dripping Springs, Cory Joe Martin of Manvel, Hannah Murray of Arlington, Audrey Smith of Harker Heights, Zach Welch of Flower Mound and Don Williams of New Orleans.

Six representatives from the Howard Payne University Baptist Student Ministry recently traveled to New York City to serve with churches in the city. During the 10-day trip, the team spent three days at Graffiti Church helping with the church’s afterschool program and served meals to people in local parks through the Free Lunch in the Park program. They attended a Sunday worship service at First Polish Baptist Church and helped clean around the church building. They also visited Maranatha Romanian Baptist Church. Tyler Dingle, a junior from Bellville, preached at both churches. Other HPU students were Ryan McCord, a sophomore from Round Rock; Destiny Ramirez, a senior from Odessa; TJ Shands, a freshman from Stanton; and Madison Zardiackas, a sophomore from Lockhart. BSM Director Keith Platte led the student group.

Priscilla Selvaraj, associate professor of psychology and counseling at Hardin-Simmons University, led six students to India to study the family structures of a different culture. She also wanted to introduce students to her home country. “I wanted them to experience cultural learning in a place that is new and uncomfortable with a new language, different customs, traditions and family values,” she said. As the group toured the slums in Chennai, several students were affected by the level of poverty they saw among the Indian people. One student, Jenny Shaw, said she initially questioned how God could allow such suffering until a friend reminded her of biblical admonitions to “defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9) and to provide for the vulnerable.

A student group from the East Texas Baptist University Fred Hale School of Business and department of history and political science traveled to Vietnam as a part of the university’s Global Study and Serve Program. Barry Evans, dean and professor of business administration at East Texas Baptist University, and Jenny Hoover, assistant professor of history, led the group. Students earned academic credit as they studied and served in cities across Vietnam, including Hanoi, Dien Bien Phu, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. From ministering at a Christian orphanage and teaching English at an interdenominational church to visiting historical sites and museums, students learned about local history and culture while sharing their faith with the people of Vietnam. In Hanoi, the ETBU group also worshipped with women at Naomi’s House, a ministry focused on helping women overcome drug addictions.

Pastors for Texas Children presented its Heroes of Children Award to Don Rogers, who has announced his retirement as executive director of the Texas Rural Education Association. Rogers served 17 years as superintendent of the Eanes Independent School District. Charles Foster Johnson, executive director of Pastors for Texas Children, presented the award to Rogers during a luncheon at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas.

Janelle and Dennis O’Connell, professors of physical therapy at Hardin-Simmons University, received the Humanitarian Award from the American Physical Therapy Association. The national association presents the award to members “who exemplify the compassionate nature of the physical therapy profession by actively expressing a commitment to humanity and exhibiting admirable degrees of selflessness in addressing key health concerns.” The O’Connells started the HSU physical therapy ministries in 1999. In addition to engaging students in service locally and around the state, they have led student mission trips to Mexico, Guatemala, South Texas, Haiti, Peru and Thailand.

Rachel Myers from Buffalo Gap, a senior at Howard Payne University majoring in cross-cultural studies, was named the inaugural recipient of the Robert G. and Cheryl Mangrum Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship was created by the Mangrums to assist HPU students from Dallas or Taylor counties or who are history or music majors. Both Robert and Cheryl Mangrum have served more than 30 years in numerous capacities at HPU. He holds the Coley Chair of History and is both university historian and sponsor of HPU’s chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity. For 13 years, he was the director of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy. He has served as associate dean of the School of Humanities and chair of the history department. She is associate director of admissions. She was named an honorary band alumna and member of HPU’s chapters of national honorary band sorority Tau Beta Sigma and of Kappa Kappa Psi. She was recognized as the university’s Outstanding Staff Member for the 1999-2000 academic year.

East Texas Baptist University entered a Christian Education Partnership Agreement with Hawaii Baptist Academy. This agreement, signed by ETBU President Blair Blackburn and HBA President Ron Shiira, ensures a smooth transition for HBA students to pursue higher education at ETBU. Hawaii Baptist Academy is a Christian college-preparatory school in Honolulu. Established in 1949 by Southern Baptist missionaries, the academy now has more than 1,000 students enrolled. “An education with a biblical foundation is the best gift a child can receive,” Shiira said. “Through this partnership with ETBU, we are pleased that our students will continue to have their values and world views shaped by Christian educators, which will ultimately impact the next generation of leaders of his kingdom.”

Hardin-Simmons University will offer two sessions of Threshold, its summer program designed to provide “challenge and enrichment” to advanced and gifted learners, July 8-12 and July 15-19. A three-hour half-day program is offered for students entering kindergarten through the fifth grade. A full-day program, with lunch provided, serves students in the sixth through tenth grades. For more information, click here.

Students in the East Texas Baptist University School of Natural and Social Sciences traveled to China as a part of the Global Study and Serve Program. Roy Darville, biology professor and chair of the department of biology and chemistry, led the group as they visited Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing. The ETBU students taught English to Chinese students and served at orphanages. They earned academic credit for hands-on training at a panda bear base in Wolong, and they visited city parks, botanical gardens, zoos and the Great Wall of China. The group also met several former students and teachers who had participated in an exchange program at ETBU—many of whom became Christians through the program.

Howard Payne University recognized Kaitlyn Bush of Brownwood as outstanding student in practical theology and outstanding student in Christian studies, Matthew Davis of Canyon Country, Calif., as outstanding student in Christian education, Cecily McIlwain of Dayton as outstanding student in cross-cultural studies and outstanding student in Christian studies, Eli Williams of May as outstanding student in biblical languages and Rachel Carpenter of Rowlett as outstanding student in Bible. They were among 61 students recognized at the university’s academic awards convocation at the end of the spring semester.

Students in Hardin-Simmons University’s physician assistants program were one of only 36 teams from throughout the United States—and the only team from Texas—that advanced to compete at the 29^th annual National Medical Challenge Bowl in Denver, Colo. The National Medical Challenge Bowl—held during the American Academy of Physician Assistants annual conference—allows students around the country to gather and answer questions that test their knowledge of topics within the medical profession.

Children At Heart Ministries named Maynard Phillips vice president for mission advancement. In his new role, Phillips is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive mission advancement programs, increasing community engagement, building corporate and foundation relationships, growing endowment and planned gifts, and initiating positive fundraising outcomes for Children At Heart Ministries. Phillips spent the past seven years as vice president for development at Rogers State University in Oklahoma. Prior to that, he served as a senior principal and resident campaign manager for Jerold Panas, Linzy & Partners, a Chicago-based fund-raising firm. He also has been executive director of the Eastern Oklahoma State College Development Foundation and executive director of development at Lubbock Christian University.  Maynard and his wife Debra have five children and six grandchildren.

Anniversary

20^th for Bradley Maybin as minister to students at First Baptist Church in Amarillo.

10^th for James Booth as minister of recreation at First Baptist Church in Amarillo.

Fifth for Manassee Ngendahayo as pastor of Rest for the Nations Baptist Church in Abilene.