Around the State: Adoption information

• Dillon International will present a free informational meeting on international adoption from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. March 22 at Trinity Christian Academy in Willow Park. An overview will be given of adoption from China, Korea, Haiti, India, Ethiopia and Russia. For more information or to make a reservation, call (817) 845-9770.

• Carol Holcomb will be the keynote speaker of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Minister’s Forum March 26. She will discuss how Annie Armstrong was “the singular force behind the growth of a publishing empire that would bankroll Southern Baptist missions for nearly a century. … In the process, she assumed the role of chief development officer for Southern Baptists, devising strategies for fundraising that would contribute to the financial stability of SBC agencies throughout the 20th century.” The noon meeting will be held in Shelton Auditorium.

• Valley Baptist Health System in Harlingen will hold a crisis-response training course beginning March 26 that will equip community leaders to respond to people affected by disasters such as hurricanes. Other class dates are April 2, 16, 23 and 30. Classes will be from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Bobby Smith, state director of the National Organization of Victim Assistance and director of chaplaincy relations for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, will lead the course. The class is being offered at a 50 percent discount by the hospital and the BGCT. For more information, call (956) 389-6750.

• East Texas Baptist University will host the Central Northeast Texas Regional Restorative Justice Ministries conference March 28 at 8:30 a.m. The conference will begin with breakfast and a presentation from Judge William Hughey. Other speakers will be Jeph Holloway, professor of religion at ETBU; and Emmett Solomon, director of Restorative Justice Ministries Network. Two concurrent workshops will focus on faith-based restorative justice and interfaith ministry. Admission to the conference is $30, which includes breakfast and lunch, or $25 for lunch only. Students are admitted free with college identification, but meals are not included. For more information, e-mail r[email protected].

• The Baptist General Convention of Texas is one of the sponsors of the Father/Daughter Summit to be held March 28 at First Church in Euless. The event is open to daughters 11 years old and older, with no limit on the upper end, and their fathers. The conference normally costs $100 per pair, but sponsorships have brought the price down to $25 per pair. For more information, call (800) 593-3237.

• Kenneth Andrews has been elected chairman of the board of trustees of the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio.

• East Texas Baptist University received the U.S. Surgeon General’s Outstanding Service Award for its support in establishing a federal medical station in Keys Gymnasium during Hurricane Gustav relief efforts last September. Only two or three of the awards are presented each year, U.S. Deputy Surgeon General Robert Williams said.

• Dallas Baptist University has added six faculty members, including Jim Hutchinson, associate professor of art and communication; Mamo Ishida, acting director of the M.Ed. in higher education program and assistant professor of East Asian studies; Joanne Hix, director of the master of arts in management program and assistant professor of management; Greg Hollobaugh, adjunct professor of communication; Carolyn Spain, director of both the master of arts in teaching and Pathways programs, and assistant professor of education; and Byron Stuckey, nonprofit MBA specialist and assistant professor of business.

• Baptist University of the Americas has registered a record number of degree-seeking students for the second consecutive semester. One hundred eighty-one students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees at the school.

Anniversaries

• Roy Ford, 25th, as pastor of First Church in Hooks, Feb. 22.

• South Burleson Church in Burleson, 30th, March 8. Shawn Paschal is pastor.

• Willie Rodriguez, fifth, as pastor of Prince of Peace Church in Yantis, March 21.

• Grace Temple Church in Waco, 60th, March 29. An open house will begin at 9:30 a.m. Former Pastor David Brown will preach in the morning service, followed by a meal. Van Vowell is pastor.

• First Church in Hearne, 140th, April 18-19. A tea on Saturday at 3 p.m. will provide a time for remembrance. A memorabilia room will be set up so anyone with photographs of past church activities can display them. A music program will begin at 6 p.m. Former pastors Cliff Herrington and James Scirratt will speak in the Sunday morning service. A catered meal and words from former pastor Bill Agee will follow. Larry Blackmon is pastor.

Retiring

• Eddie Alley, as pastor of Trinity Church in Missouri City, Feb. 22. He served the church 11 years and was in ministry 43 years. He began his career as a youth minister at Alice Avenue Church (now Park Lake Drive Church) in Waco and later at Cockrell Hill Church in Dallas. He then served as a journeyman missionary in Salzburg, Austria. After his return to Texas, he was minister of youth and associate pastor at first Calvary Church in Garland and then First Church in Houston. He then was associate pastor at Garden Oaks Church in Houston and Williams Trace Church in Sugar Land. He is available for supply preaching, Bible studies, seminars and interims at (281) 980-1822.

• Gary Bradley, as associate pastor of Baptist Temple in San Antonio, March 31. He has served the church 24 years and has been in ministry 41 years. He has served the San Antonio church in a number of capacities, including as temporary pastor the past 3 1/2 years. At Highland Church and Buckner Terrace Church, both in Dallas, he was associate pastor for education and administration. He also served churches in North and South Carolina.

Anniversaries

• Imogene Mason, 90, Feb. 15 in Dallas. She was an employee of the Baptist Standard 15 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy; daughter, Peggy Sue Mason; and son, Alfred. She is survived by her sons, Ron and Jim; daughter, Brenda Mauldin; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

• Edith King, 83, Feb. 19 in Dallas. She was the daughter of former Baptist Standard Editor David Gardner. She was a member of First Church in Dallas 60 years. She taught adult Sunday school there almost 50 years and was deeply involved in the church’s music ministry. She was involved in musical pageants produced at First Baptist Church, as well as at annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention, Woman’s Missionary Union and several Baptist seminaries. As an interior designer, she did major work both at Southwestern Seminary and Southeastern Seminary. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 60 years, Ned, who died in 1995. She is survived by her son, David.

• Phil Childress, 56, Feb. 26 in Dallas. He was minister of growth and development at The Oaks Church in Grand Prairie. He recently had undergone a liver transplant. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Beth; son, Justin; daughter, Kristin Childress; mother, Vera; and sister, Phyllis Bowers.

Events

• County Line Church in Rogers will dedicate a historical marker March 14 at 2 p.m.

• The Heights Church in Richardson will hold an Easter Eggstravaganza with an egg hunt and other children’s activities at Breckinridge Park April 4 from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Admission is free, but donation of a nonperishable food item is requested.

• The Steel Magnolias, a women’s music group from First Church in San Marcos, took up Pastor Mark Newton’s challenge to become involved in Texas Hope 2010 and held a benefit concert that generated 1,300 pounds of food and $2,100 for the Hays County Food Bank.

Revival

• First Church, Baird; March 8-11; evangelists, The Anderson Family; pastor, Jimmy Hatcher.