Texas Tidbits: Garlands of Baylor awarded grant

Garlands of Baylor awarded grant. David and Diana Garland, husband and wife deans at Baylor University, have been awarded a $300,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to educate and equip indigenous church leaders for effective, holistic ministry in their home cultures. David Garland, dean of Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary, and Diana Garland, dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work, said the grant will help enable the academic units they lead to develop global leaders for missions and ministries and influence the vision and effective of churches for worldwide ministry. Students in the program will obtain a dual master’s degree in social work and theological studies. The initiative also provides a unique opportunity for individual churches to partner with Baylor School of Social Work and Truett Seminary to cover costs for an international student. The School of Social Work will seek a director of global mission leadership, who will examine the school’s curricula and guide the faculty’s infusion of cross-cultural content throughout the dual-degree courses of study.

Doctoral program partnership launched. The Texas Baptist Universities Scholars program has been established at Baylor University’s Graduate School, in partnership with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and eight related schools—Baptist University of the Americas, Dallas Baptist University, East Texas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Houston Baptist University, Howard Payne University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wayland Baptist University. Through the program, Texas Baptist universities will identify promising undergraduate or graduate scholars for doctoral studies in multiple disciplines offered through Baylor. The program is designed to retain the best doctoral students in Texas Baptist universities as students and—subsequently—faculty. The BGCT will provide $1,000 per scholar, the sponsoring college or seminary will contribute $1,000, and Baylor’s Graduate School will provide the balance of tuition and a stipend for each student. Currently, Baylor has 24 doctoral students from BGCT partner schools.

Foundation grants scholarships. Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio awarded a $109,248 scholarship grant for summer school students at Baptist Health System School of Health Professions. The grant will assist 94 summer school students enrolled in nursing and allied health educational programs at the school. Earlier this year, the foundation granted $162,900 to 154 School of Health Professions’ students enrolled in the spring semester. Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio funds not-for-profit health care services throughout Bexar County and contiguous counties in South Texas and healthcare-related scholarships at institutions selected by the foundation trustees.

Bivocational/small-church conference slated. “It Begins with Me” is the theme of the 22nd annual statewide Texas Baptist Bivocational and Smaller Church Ministers’ and Spouses’ Conference, July 11-13 on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor campus in Belton. Featured speakers include Tom Echols, pastor of Eagle’s Wing Baptist Church in Crowley, and Randel Everett, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. For more information, call (214) 828-5387 or (956) 371-4782.