Texas Tidbits: FBC Austin retrofits fountain

When drought forced Austin to institute Stage 2 water restrictions in September 2012, First Baptist Church turned off its landmark fountain to comply. After upgrading its foundation with a design that conserves water, the church was set to dedicate the reworked fountain after morning worship services on Sunday, June 1. The new fountain recirculates water and reduces loss by evaporation. Earlier this year, First Baptist in Austin received a platinum certification from the city’s Green Business Leaders program. To achieve platinum status, the program scored seven areas of sustainability, including waste, transportation, water, energy, employee health and community participation. First Baptist championed recycling, implemented energy-efficient upgrades and initiated environmental education efforts on topics such as drought awareness and water conservation. Roger Paynter is pastor, and Sue Searles chairs the church’s environmental action “green team.”

Risenhoover named associate endorser for chaplains. Georgia Risenhoover of Granbury has been named associate endorser for Texas Baptist Chaplaincy Relations and state coordinator of the Hands on Ministry certification program for volunteer chaplains. Georgia RisenhooverOrdained by Agape Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Risenhoover is a Baptist General Convention of Texas-endorsed chaplain who received her clinical pastoral education certification and training at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital in Waco and Huguley Hospital of Fort Worth. In 2006, Huguley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center named Risenhoover as “Chaplain of Year.” For more than three years, she served as a hospice chaplain in Hood, Somervell and Tarrant counties. Her husband, C.C. Risenhoover, is senior pastor of The Church on Thistle Ridge in Granbury.