Craig Curry to Lubbock Area Baptist Association as director of missions effective Feb. 1, from First Baptist Church in Plano, where he was senior pastor.

Tyler Denton to First Baptist Church in Brenham as student pastor, from the North Campus of Second Baptist Church in Houston, where he was children’s sports associate pastor.

Jim Medley to Pleasant Valley Baptist Church as bivocational pastor. Medley retired in August 2025 from First Baptist Church in Lamesa, where he was pastor.

Chris Ruwaldt to Southside Baptist Church in Palestine as senior pastor, from First Baptist Church in Alva, Okla., where he was senior pastor.

Eloy Felan Jr, senior pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Lubbock, died Jan. 2, at age 80. Born June 13, 1945, in Pearsall, Pastor Felan dedicated his life to sharing God’s love. After graduating from Wayland Baptist University, he began a ministry that spanned more than 51 years. Pastor Felan is remembered for his devotion to the church and deep love he held for his family. He and his wife, Lucia Felan, were married for 62 years. A man of leadership, humility, and strength, he touched many lives beyond the walls of the church. Beyond the ministry, he enjoyed playing golf, classic cars, hunting, racquetball, and fellowship with family and friends. Pastor Felan leaves behind a legacy of faith, compassion, service, and love. He is preceded in death by his son, David Felan; his parents, Eloy and Filomena Felan Sr.; and siblings, Ruth Garcia and Yolanda Ramirez. He is survived by his children, Eddie and Tonya Felan, Lori and Michael Parker, Rick and Maelynn Felan, Lisa Felan and Michael Rogers; 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; as well as siblings, Petra Carranza, and Ysidro Felan; extended family; and dear friends.

Sergio Ramos, ministry leader and pillar of the Tyler County community, died Dec. 27 in Conroe. He was 82. He was born on March 26, 1943, in Tampico, Mexico, to Job and Ofelia Ramos. His proudest moment was becoming a U.S. citizen in 1970. Ramos, who had a passion for missions and church service, served as a deacon, choir member and missions team member and on the pastor search committee at First Baptist Church of Woodville. Ramos was also a member of the Texas Singing Men and served as music director for various churches in Tyler County for more than 40 years. For five decades, Ramos taught in the classroom and coached tennis. Ramos and his family, striving to live a life devoted to Christ, lived by a personal motto: “Remember who you are and who you represent.” Ramos was preceded in death by his brothers Homero and Juan. He is survived by his wife, Susan Ramos; daughter Stefanie Miller and her husband James; son, Stephen Ramos and his wife, Lauren; four siblings; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation with the Ramos family is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8p.m. on Jan. 2 at First Baptist Church in Woodville. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Jan. 3 at First Baptist Church in Woodville. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Woodville First Baptist Church Missions Fund, 202 S. Charlton St., Woodville, TX 75979.

CORRECTION: The date of death was corrected from Dec. 7 to Dec. 27.

Wayland Baptist University has selected Ronald Angelo Johnson, associate professor of history and Ralph & Bessie Mae Lynn Endowed Chair of History at Baylor University, as the featured speaker for the 2026 Willson Lectures scheduled Feb. 10–12 at the university’s Plainview campus. The 2026 Willson Lectures mark the 75th anniversary of two pivotal moments in Wayland’s history. In 1951, Wayland became the first four-year liberal arts college in the former Confederacy to voluntarily integrate its student body. That same year, James M. and Mavis Willson established the endowment that would become the university’s most enduring lecture series. In addition to the scheduled lectures, Johnson will speak in select Wayland classes and participate in community-related events.

Houston Christian University art faculty and Master of Fine Arts students collaborated with The Heights Church in Houston to create the Jeanette D. and Howard D. Moon Gallery. The gallery’s grand opening and dedication, as well as the opening of its first exhibition, “A New Moon Rises,” took place at The Heights Church on Dec. 4. The Moon Gallery offers an opportunity for HCU faculty and students to share their creative work with a broader community audience as an extension of the ministry of a local church with which HCU partners closely. The gallery will serve as a space for visual arts, performing arts, fellowship and community events. To learn more about the Moon Gallery and the HCU artists who contributed, please visit themoongallery.org.

Howard Payne University student Alexandria Martinez has been awarded a scholarship by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas and the Council of Independent Colleges and United Parcel Service. Martinez is a senior nursing major from Lubbock. She is a member of Delta Chi Rho, a Christian sorority on campus.

B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary at East Texas Baptist University announced the establishment of its first endowed scholarship, made possible through an estate gift from longtime Texas Baptist pastor, educator and friend of the seminary, Jimmie Nelson. The Jimmie Nelson Endowed Scholarship will support students enrolled in Carroll’s Ph.D. program, continuing Nelson’s lifelong investment in ministerial education. Nelson, remembered widely for his decades of pastoral leadership, teaching ministry and dedication to theological preparation, served Texas Baptist churches more than 60 years. He pastored congregations across the state, taught future ministers, and devoted his life to strengthening the church through faithful preaching and mentoring.

Houston Christian University celebrated 325 graduates in three commencement ceremonies on Dec. 13. At the ceremonies, 181 bachelor’s, 132 master’s and 12 doctoral degrees were awarded, bringing HCU’s total degrees granted to 27,899 in its 65-year history. In addition to prayers, special music and Scripture readings led by graduates, HCU President Robert Sloan delivered a commencement sermon from Luke 2:4–14. He commissioned the graduates to remember the sense of joy and relief they experience in the celebration of their commencement and in their celebration of Christmas to prepare them for a life of joyful faithfulness in anticipating Christ’s return.

Ben W. Mieth Jr., supporter of global missions and Wayland Baptist University, died Dec. 8 in Glen Rose. He was 92. He was born on May 9, 1933, in Fort Worth to Ben and Ruth Mieth. His first experience in international missions came when he participated in a short-term, church-to-church partnership mission trip to Japan. The four teams from Baptist churches in West Texas saw 1,000 people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. Mieth was convinced the same approach would work in Mexico. So, he worked with pastors in the Ojinaga area to partner with Texas Baptists in Vacation Bible Schools and evangelistic outreach. The initial mission trip resulted in 1,500 professions of faith in Christ and led to subsequent invitations to other areas in Mexico. Mieth and others at First Baptist in Seminole established the global missions and evangelism initiative as a nonprofit organization, forming International Crusades. The organization rebranded itself as International Commission in 2000. Mieth served on the Wayland Baptist University board of trustees from 2018 to 2022. His philanthropic gifts to the university included a $2.5 million donation to Wayland’s nursing education program in San Antonio and a $1 million commitment to improvements in Wayland’s Plainview campus. “Ben Mieth was an extraordinary man whose life reflected deep faith, strong character, and servant leadership,” said WBU President Donna Hedgepath “Wayland is a better place because Ben followed the Lord’s call with boldness and obedience. We praise God for his life and the eternal impact of his ministry.” He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Glen Rose. Mieth was preceded in death by his sister, Nellie Helen Mieth Flanary, and by his wife of 71 years, Bertha Dell Mieth on April 9, 2025. He is survived by daughter Debra Cavett and her husband Rodney; daughter Miki Martin and her husband Woody; son Bennie Mieth and wife Elaine; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. Visitation with the Mieth family is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 20 at First Baptist Church in Glen Rose. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 27 at First Baptist in Glen Rose. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the First Baptist Church Glen Rose Building Fund or to the International Commission.

Texas Baptist youth gathered Dec. 5-6 on the Baptist University of the Américas campus in San Antonio for a Called to Ministry retreat.

Organizers planned the two-day event to offer a welcoming space for participants to explore, affirm and respond to God’s calling through teaching sessions, workshops and fellowship.

In her first official task as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Debbie Potter presented a $500 scholarship to prospective student John Mendoza.

Potter, children’s pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio, told retreat participants about her personal involvement with BUA.

“I’ve been teaching at BUA for 10 years on and off. My husband first started teaching here, and he would come home every Monday night and talk about the students and how incredible the students were. He was so excited about them,” Potter said.

“Several of them came and started working for me at my church and still work for me, 10 years later, at Trinity Baptist. The students on this campus and the leaders are so important, and that’s what makes the difference. And that’s what I love about the Baptist General Convention of Texas—it’s that we value education.”

‘God has a plan for you’

Potter urged attendees at the retreat to trust God’s plan for their lives, regardless of their age or past experiences:

“No matter how old you are, no matter how young you are, no matter what you have done in your life, God has a plan for you, and those plans can change,” she said. “My first calling was to education. I am an educator. I love teaching, whether children or college students. He asked me to teach, and I did it.

“So, I just want to encourage you today. Don’t let anything deter you from doing God’s plan for your life. You may not know what it is. It may take several different turns and curves. Just say ‘yes,’ and God will open the door for you.

“Just look around this room and think about what can happen in our state if we all say ‘yes’ to God’s calling and start working in our communities and our churches.”

Victor Rodriguez, evangelism associate and discipleship specialist with Texas Baptists, led a session focused on the question, “What does it mean to be called?”

God calls not necessarily the most qualified but the willing, Rodriguez said. God’s calling can come in any area of life—from the church to the workplace, family or business, he added.

Rodriguez encouraged participants to embrace God’s assignment with faithfulness, reminding them Scripture reflects not just tasks, but the purpose God has for each person.

Bobby Contreras, pastor of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in San Antonio, led a session on “Guarding Your Calling.” Jesse Rincones, executive director of the Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas, presented a session on “Going the Distance in Your Calling,” emphasizing perseverance and resilience.

Houston Christian University hosted a ceremony Dec. 2 marking the completion of the structural phase of the Smith Engineering Science and Nursing Building. The multidisciplinary building will expand space and learning opportunities for the next generation of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and nursing professionals. Slated to open in fall 2026, the building will be home to innovative laboratory and learning spaces for the College of Science and Engineering and the Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing. Those in attendance were invited to take part in the traditional signing of a beam to commemorate the occasion.

Baylor University has named media and brand executive and former athletics administrator Doug McNamee as the Bears’ next vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone announced. McNamee returns to Baylor after serving as president of Waco-based Magnolia, the nationally recognized lifestyle and media company founded by Baylor alumni Chip and Joanna Gaines, and most recently as president of Field & Stream. A two-time Baylor graduate, McNamee spent nearly a decade at his alma mater, rising to senior associate athletics director for external affairs before departing in 2018 for the corporate sector.

Thomas Sanders, provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced East Texas Baptist University’s Level VI accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. ETBU now has authority to award four or more doctoral degrees. ETBU awarded its first Ph.D. to Arcadis Silvera and Doctor of Ministry to Jason Horine. “Level VI is the highest designation,” Sanders said. “We are educating and training the people who will be the next graduate and undergraduate students across Christendom. In a sense, it is a bigger kingdom impact. We are training future educators who will be educating other professionals.”

The Gary Cook School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University will host a Zoom presentation on “Sabbath Rest for Leaders” on Thursday, Dec. 11, at noon. The candid conversation will include discussions on the biblical understanding of Sabbath rest and how it can be prioritized without diminishing work. Those interested can sign up online.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Arts Academy is excited to present its Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will take place inside the Sue & Frank Mayborn Performing Arts Center on the UMHB campus.

Howard Payne University surpassed this year’s Giving Tuesday goals of raising $750,000 from 400 supporters. The total on Dec. 2 was $1.2 million from 425 supporters across 21 states. Donations during the one-day giving event were provided by alumni, friends, faculty, staff and community partners. Gifts will support a wide range of student-experience initiatives, including student scholarships, academic programming, campus improvements, athletics and the Howard Payne Fund.

Raúl Josué Valerio has been named the new director of Hispanic initiatives at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. As Valerio begins this new position, he will play a vital role in advancing Truett’s ongoing commitment to serving and partnering with Hispanic ministers and ministries across Texas and beyond.

Howard Payne University will soon begin construction on a new $6 million tennis center. The new facility will replace the current clubhouse located at 301 Second St. by the McCulloch Athletic Center. The facility will include a 3,300-square-foot clubhouse with locker rooms, a team room, a coaches’ office and a study room. Eight tennis courts are included, along with additional stands for visitors and expanded parking areas.

Faculty from Houston Christian University’s School of Christian Thought and Houston Theological Seminary provided leadership at a recent International Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Evangelical Theological Society in Boston. Paul Sloan received the Paul J. Achtemeier Award for New Testament Scholarship for his paper, “Lawful Lawlessness: The Torah and Paul’s Authorized Mission in 1 Corinthians 9.” An international book launch was held for Five Views of the Gospel, co-edited by Jason Maston of HCU and Michael Bird.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will honor its 169th graduating class during a commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, in Crusader Stadium on the UMHB campus. An estimated 448 students will be awarded degrees for the fall 2025 ceremony, including 318 baccalaureate degrees, 94 master’s degrees and 36 doctoral degrees.

Anniversary

City Church Del Rio celebrates 10 years as a congregation. Larry Floyd, director of missions for El Paso Baptist Association, started the church in his living room in 2015.