Texas Tidbits: Former Convencion president seriously ill

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Baldemar Borrego, former president of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas is “fighting for his life and his sight,” according to his family. Borrego, who suffered a severe eye infection doctors initially had trouble diagnosing, had a cornea transplant in Temple recently on his right eye. However, the transplant was unsuccessful, and it will have to be removed. He is awaiting surgery on his left eye, and surgeons anticipate better results. Iglesia Bautista Emanuel in Wichita Falls is accepting funds to help assist his family with expenses. Contributions should be designated “Baldemar Love Offering” and mailed to the church at 909 Lincoln St., Wichita Falls 76306.

Mother’s Day Offering nets $182,000 to fight hunger. The Texas Baptist Hunger Offering raised more than $182,000 through its second annual Mother’s Day emphasis, toward a $1 million goal for 2014. mothers day offering250Last year, Texas Baptists gave a record $953,000 for the offering after raising about $234,000 on Mother’s Day. The top 10 giving churches to the Mother’s Day offering were First Baptist in Midland, North Side Baptist in Weatherford, First Baptist in Kilgore, First Baptist in Plano, Wilshire Baptist in Dallas, South Main Baptist in Pasadena, Trinity Baptist in Kerrville, First Baptist in Rockport, Southland Baptist in San Angelo and First Baptist in Ballinger.

Texas food insecurity remains high. A new U.S. Department of Agriculture report shows food insecurity among Texas households remained high despite the economic recovery. In 2011-2013, 18 percent of Texas households were found to have experienced hunger or engaged in coping mechanisms to avoid it. Texas was one of just eight states confirmed to have more food insecurity than the nation as a whole during this period. In raw numbers, 1.7 million Texas households were food insecure, more than any other state except California. The state’s food insecurity rate was statistically unchanged from the prior three-year period. “What these data tell us is that low-income Texans continue to stumble on the road to economic recovery, despite the progress we have made as a state and nation,” said Celia Cole, CEO of the Texas Food Bank Network. “Clearly, the rising tide is not lifting every boat.”

ETBU dedicates Centennial Hall. East Texas Baptist University dedicated Centennial Hall, its new residential facility, in conjunction with its fall convocation and board of trustees meeting. etbu centennial hall425Construction of the 362-bed, 123,500-square-foot, four-story living-learning community began in 2013 and was completed in August for students to move in for the fall semester. Centennial Hall is located south of the Ornelas Student Center. At their meeting, trustees received the 2013-2014 audit report. The university received an “unqualified” opinion, meaning no discrepancies were found, and the financial statements fairly represent the condition of the university as of May 31, 2014. The audit also confirmed ETBU’s financial aid is in compliance with all applicable federal statutes. The board also elected as new officers for 2015 Chair Hal Cornish of Marshall, retired business executive; Vice Chair Ben Raimer of Galveston, senior vice president for health policy and legislative affairs for the University of Texas Medical Branch; and Secretary Susan Bush of Athens, business owner.

Three Texas Baptist schools named among top Christian universities. Christian Universities Online named three schools affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas to its list of the 50 best Christian universities in the United States. The independent online resource listed Baylor University at No. 5, Dallas Baptist University at No. 25 and Hardin-Simmons University at No. 28. Christian Universities Online ranks Christian schools based on the degree of personal attention as evidenced by student-to-faculty ratio, selectivity as indicated by acceptance rate, the percentage of students receiving financial aid and student satisfaction as judged by retention and graduation rates.


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