Around the State

• Waco Regional Association will hold a basic coaching workshop Dec. 1 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco. Certified coaches will guide participants through the basic principles of coaching and practice. Anyone may register for this event. The cost is $50 and includes lunch and snacks on both days. For further information and registration details about “Empower: Basic Coach Train-ing,” email [email protected] or call (254) 753-2408.

• East Texas Baptist University will hold a preview Dec. 6-7. The event allows prospective students to spend the night in the dorm, socialize with current students, and meet professors at breakfast and in classes. Participants will join current students at a Thursday-night basketball game and another event that will follow the game. Check-in is 6 p.m. Thursday, and the event ends at 1:45 p.m. Friday. A $20 nonrefundable fee must be paid to register, but if a student submits an application during the event, the application fee will be waived. For more information, call (800) 804-3828.

• Abilene Association presented several honors at its annual meeting. David Cason, retiring pastor of Broadway Church after 37 years of service, was named pastor of the year. Loys Little, director of Abilene Social Ministries, was chosen lay person of the year. C.V. Blake, pastor for young and median adults at First Church in Abilene, was named staff member of the year. Churches of the year were Calvary Church, pastor, Michael Reed; and Clearfork Church, pastor, Larry Tarver.

• Several award winners were announced during Baylor University homecoming activities. John Eddie Williams was named alumnus of the year, and Jay Brown was tapped as young alumnus of the year. Philip Gunn received the Pro Texana Medal of Service, while Billy Graham and Steve Green each earned the Pro Ecclesia Medal of Service. Drayton McLane Jr. received the Baylor Founders Medal.

• Two longtime Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff members have announced their retirement. Myla McClinton, executive assistant to the executive director, will retire near the end of December. Lisa Walker, executive assistant to the chief financial officer, will retire Dec. 12.

• Mark Alexander and Britnee Crawford have joined the faculty of Dallas Baptist University. Alexander is assistant professor of missions, and Crawford is assistant professor of mathematics.

• Howard Payne University has promoted Sara Haley to assistant vice president for facilities and planning.

• Rick Hammer, assistant professor of biology at Hardin-Simmons University, was named outstanding extension cooperator in horticulture by the Taylor County Extension Education office for training volunteers as master gardners and master naturalists.

Anniversaries

• First Church in Corinth, 125th, Oct. 28. Bruce Larson is pastor.

• Wendell Campbell, 25th, as pastor of West Mount Moriah Church in Fort Worth.

• Leon Veazey, fifth, as pastor of First Church in Whitewright, Dec. 30.

Retiring

• Harrol Bowman, as pastor of First Church in Aubrey, Dec. 31. He has served the congregation since 1984. Prior to that, he was youth minister at Southside Church in Corpus Christi and minister to adults at Orchard Road Church in Lewisville.

Deaths

• Samuel Rodriguez, 78, Oct. 7 in Seguin. He surrendered to the ministry in 1988, and he was pastor of Westside Church in Seguin 19 years. He graduated from Baptist University of the Américas in 2011. He was preceded in death by his brother, Gabriel; and his sister, Juanita Montoya-Varela. He survived by his wife of 59 years, Rachel; sons, Samuel Jr., Jacob and Santiago; daughters, Grace Rodriguez, Orfalinda Rodriguez, Rhoda Castillo, Rachel Roa-Rodriguez and Celeste Molina; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

• Katy Piper, 93, Nov. 10 in San Antonio. Known as Miss Katy, she and her husband, Paul, were motivated toward philanthropy by a passion to help people. In 1952, they established Christ Is Our Salvation Foun-dation, its name expressing their lives’ mission. In 1984, they sold Piper Industries to the next generation and poured all their energy into the foundation. They also created Christian Mission Con-cerns of Tennessee, Texas and Colorado. Through the years, the foundations supported many ministries, mission projects and missionaries; provided scholarships; provided housing for low-income citizens; built day-care facilities and purchased a Christian camp; and provided funds for medical facilities, theological seminaries and Bible colleges. They also partnered with conventions to start and build new churches and provide support for pastors. They also provided funding for the ministries of the Baptist Standard and the establishment of FaithVillage. She was a member of Woodland Church in San Antonio. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2004, and by her son, Ronald. She is survived by her son, Paul Jr.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

• Bobbie Green, 78, Nov. 13 in Victoria. She served alongside her husband, Jack, for the 21 years he was a pastor and 25 years he was president of South Texas Children’s Home Ministries. She was a member of Northside Church in Victoria. She is survived by her husband of 58 years; sons, Glen and Forrest; daughter, Jeanene Atkinson; brothers, Howard, Steve and Kenneth; and six grandchildren.

Event

• Christian music artists Point of Grace will bring their Home for the Holidays show to The Heights Church in Richardson Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. The church’s 100-voice choir will participate during the last half of the program. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Reserved tickets, ranging in price from $10 to $25, are on sale at www.theheights.org/ pointofgrace. For more information, call (972) 238-7243.

Ordained

• Gene Spies to the ministry at First Church in Anton.

• Bill Herman and Thomas Blair as deacons at Water Valley Church in Water Valley, Oct. 21.

• John Holman to the ministry at First Church in Sandia, Oct. 28.

• Fred Hornady, to the ministry at Macedonia-Hix Church in Caldwell, Nov. 4.

• Jerry Allen Cole, to the ministry at Bedias Church in Bedias, Nov. 25. He is associate pastor of youth and children.