Mission Able seeks to transform San Marcos

What started as a one-week service emphasis at First Baptist Church in San Marcos evolved into a multi-church ministry with its own nonprofit status and big goals for the future.

For Monica Followell, who oversees missions and outreach at the church, that is exactly as it should be.

Followell began her time of service at First Baptist San Marcos in 2013. Almost immediately, she jumped into planning the service week on the church’s calendar for July of that year. Early on, the effort had an inspired name that uniquely captured the heart of the matter.

“We were praying over what to call it, and the Lord laid on my heart Ephesians 3:20-21, where he is able to do far greater things, so we started to call it Mission Able,” Followell said.

“We’re using our own abilities to glorify the Lord for people who aren’t able to do those things. It was about restoring people’s dignity, working alongside people however we were able and loving on people to the glory of God.”

The first Mission Able project was confirmation of sorts. A group of 30 showed up to clean out trash from a woman’s mobile home that had been cited by the city. During the day, they learned a man was living behind the mobile home in a makeshift shelter in exchange for mowing the grass for the woman, who lived with her mother and had several children.

“We found out he was a hard worker, and he worked hard all day helping her. The guys asked him to help the rest of the week, and he agreed. They picked him up and took him to the next job site, and we asked how we could pay him. He really just wanted an outdoor shower, so we bought one and dropped it off for him,” she recalled. “His name was Abel, so that whole experience just confirmed what it was supposed to be called.”

Growing needs, expanding mission

The weeklong summer service emphasis continued for a few years, with 17 to 20 projects completed and about 100 volunteers participating. When word began getting out, more projects landed on Followell’s desk.

Volunteers with Mission Able complete 30 to 50 community service projects a year. (Courtesy Photo)

But the church soon realized urgent needs would not allow them to wait several months, and they began scheduling quarterly efforts. Eventually, they moved into their current model, which is to handle projects as they come up, with 30-50 projects completed each year. They picked up a key partner as well.

“The director of neighborhood enhancement called me four years ago and had heard about Mission Able through the Lions Club. He wanted to see how to partner with their compliance department that tickets people who often have no way to pay, which just compounds the problem,” Followell said.

“We designed an online form that people could use to notify us of a neighbor with a need. And now that city department is one of our biggest sources for project requests.”

Projects also come in from all across the church as Bible study members share about neighbors or ministries that serve low-income communities and may refer those with needs. Projects can range from simple lawn maintenance for a cancer patient to major roof repairs.

Monica said when projects involve more than just sweat and heavy lifting, Mission Able relies on church members with those skill sets, retired or active, or they contract out a skilled laborer and get a team of volunteers to assist.

Now an independent nonprofit organization

With projects increasing, the modest amount allocated from the church budget became a challenge. While Followell appreciated the ways God multiplied what the church provided financially, she also sensed she needed to pursue additional donors. So, the ministry pursued a separate 501c3 status and became an independent nonprofit organization in September of 2023.

Mission Able now has a board, bylaws and a future plan to hire an assistant to route projects. A city contract brings $400,000 in funding for projects, and additional partnerships with Texas Baptists ministries such as Bounce student disaster recovery and Texas Baptist Men add additional resources.

Ministry leaders are hopeful the new nonprofit status will open opportunities to work with state organizations to address some housing challenges in San Marcos and bring low-income homes up to livable standards.

The nonprofit has also added a microcredit program to help homeowners with higher price tag fixes. Mission Able pays the costs upfront and negotiates with the homeowner to repay a portion at no interest. That money can then be used to help the next project.

“They’re ensuring future good faith for other projects or the funds can be put to use for a neighbor, and they can even put a suggestion as to which neighbor that is. That strengthens neighborhoods because they’re not doing something just for them, but for others as well,” Followell explained.

She noted one client who received a microloan to replace part of a leaky roof who made small payments each month.

“It’s more of a relationship than him hiding, because he’s ashamed to not be a solution to a problem,” she said.

‘Jesus people’ from varied churches involved

The effort has also moved beyond First Baptist Church as it has grown.

“We have other churches on board who are building Mission Able teams—First Presbyterian Church of San Marcos, Sozo Church and Landmark Church—and are discussing with another. Our entire mission is to mobilize Jesus people to meet neighbors’ needs,” Followell said.

“The church is a response to a neighborhood need, not the city or government. If the church is doing its job, our neighborhoods would be stronger places.

“We don’t have any qualms with what church helps as long as it’s Jesus people. These churches have heard and want to be more present and use their abilities too, and we’re happy to help mobilize those.”

While Mission Able is only a portion of Followell’s work at the church, she admits it is a highlight, primarily due to the people and connections made.

“I’ve met so many people I otherwise wouldn’t have and at their time of need,” she said. “Where Mission Able meets people is the truth: a need that can’t be met on its own and requires the community to come together, meet a need and love on people, be honest and share about what Jesus has done for us in some cases.

“And in some cases, it’s seeing people come back and want to help. It’s a cool, deeper way to connect.”

Mission Able will host a home-improvement-themed fundraising banquet called “Dine and Dime” on April 4 at First Baptist Church in San Marcos. Learn more by contacting the church at (512) 738-8454.

EDITOR’S NOTE: On Jan. 31, the City of San Marcos approved a three-year $400,000 federal grant to Mission Able to facilitate its work in mobilizing volunteers to meet community needs. 




Texas Baptists consider impact of personal evangelism

SAN ANTONIO—For Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman, it was a houseguest who invited his family to a week-long revival at the local Baptist church in Paducah, Ky.

For apologist and professor Mary Jo Sharp, it was a high school band director who knew she would encounter questions in college and gave her a Bible.

As Texas Baptists gathered at Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio Jan. 21-22 for the statewide Evangelism Conference, past acts of personal evangelism were celebrated nearly as often as future acts were exhorted.

Throughout the two-day conference, church leaders and laity were urged to share Christ and show love with an intentional focus on “the soul of the person you are with.” Texas Baptists’ Evangelism Director Leighton Flowers said.

“In the end, we are motivated by love, by relationship. That’s something that can’t be taught in a manual,” Flowers said.

God’s faithfulness and ‘the sake of the call’

Grammy Award-winning Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman presented an hour-long testimony through word and song.

Chapman recounted stories from his childhood, adolescence and throughout his storied music career, expressing appreciation for God’s faithfulness in good times and bad.

The winsome kindness of a visitor to his childhood home drew his family to a weeklong revival at a Baptist church, which led to the family making decisions to follow Christ.

“I began to taste the goodness of God’s grace and forgiveness, and it was sweet and so much better,” Chapman said. “Jesus is saying, ‘I will come in and change your life and have a relationship with you, if you will let me in.’”

Chapman spoke of meeting his wife, Mary Beth, and the growth of their family with the addition of six children, three of whom were adopted. He also alluded to the tragic accident that claimed the life of their youngest, Maria Sue.

“You’ve had your heart full and broken. … You’ve been on a great adventure. … I sure know what that feels like,” Chapman said. “God is a God who is always making all things new, and yet, we carry with us that longing and that ache.

“Here’s the hope that we have. … Our God is faithful, and he is good, even when life is not.”

Throughout his testimony, Chapman interspersed songs including “I’m Diving In,” “The Great Adventure,” “The Lord of the Dance,” “No Better Place on Earth,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” and “I Will Be Here,” a song he wrote for his wife.

Chapman closed by singing his 1990 hit “For the Sake of the Call,” immediately followed by a worshipful rendition of “I Surrender All.”

“Let us not grow weary; let us remember again how faithful our God is,” Chapman said.

Life-giving ministry of conversation

Mary Jo Sharp, assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, delivered practical guidance on communicating with people with whom one may disagree. She outlined four elements of conversational evangelism: to know, listen, question, and respond.

Mary Jo Sharp, assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, delivered practical guidance on communicating with people with whom one may disagree.

“Oftentimes, with unbelievers, the thing that’s off about their view is their erroneous belief in God,” Sharp said.

In response, Christians should know what they believe and why they believe it.

“If I don’t know it well, I’m not apt to share it on my own,” she said.

Christians should also listen for understanding and commonality, which help us to serve and hold accountable those with whom we converse.

“People are not the objects of evangelism efforts. People are the subjects of our love,” Sharp said.

Questions such as “What do you mean by that?” or “Why do you believe that?” can be helpful in clarifying what is being said, and questions such as “Where are you getting that from?” can help to determine and verify a source.

“Asking questions really helps you minister to that soul, that person right in front of you,” Sharp said.

Being ready to respond allows the conversant the opportunity to bear witness to Christ. Sharp suggested attendees be prepared to share their own story, their experience of being a Christian or a time when God did something in their own lives.

“There is a growing shift away from truth and authority, from ‘Is this true?’ to ‘Does this work for my life?’” Sharp said. “Not only is [Christianity] true, but it works.”

Sharp implored Texas Baptists to practice the beauty of faithful authenticity in the “life-giving ministry of conversation.”

Packing bags, building bridges and bypassing barriers

Ralph Emerson, senior pastor at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, spoke from 1 Peter on being a holy people in a different world.

Ralph Emerson, senior pastor at Rising Star Baptist Church in Fort Worth, spoke from 1 Peter on being a holy people in a different world.

“When Jesus gets a hold of you, the old you is gone, is dead,” Emerson said.

Believers should pack their bags for the journey ahead as God’s chosen people: a toddler bag to love God directly, a tool bag to serve God correctly, and a travel bag to love God’s people correctly.

Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director Julio Guarneri challenged Texas Baptists to build bridges and bypass barriers to share the gospel.

Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Director Julio Guarneri challenged Texas Baptists to build bridges and bypass barriers to share the gospel.

Guarneri told the story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman at the well, as recorded in the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel.

“Christ commissioned the Samaritan woman to be a witness to her people. And Christ has commissioned you and me to love the people around us and share the message of Christ with them,” Guarneri said. “The nations have come to Texas, and they need Jesus.”

Guarneri noted the rapid growth of the state, which added 9 million residents over the past dozen years, and its increasing diversity.

“If we are going to claim Texas for Christ in the years to come, if we’re going to show the love of Jesus, we need commitment to be cross-cultural witnesses and cross-cultural churches,” he said.

Consider the ‘awe’ factor

Victor Rodriguez, evangelism associate and discipleship specialist in Hispanic evangelism for Texas Baptists, delivered a message from Acts 2:42-47, with an emphasis on the awe felt by believers.

Awe, Rodriguez said, means to fear the Lord, respect him and worship him. The word also makes an acrostic: Awareness, Walls and Evangelism.

Leaders should be aware of themselves, their churches and communities by pausing to assess.

“Where is your heart, pastor?” Rodriguez asked. “Is there a passion in your heart? You can never lead your church where you’ve never been before.”

Leaders should pay attention to walls and other obstacles that create opposition between the church and the community and within the church.

“Jesus said to look at the field, but we get used to seeing it,” he said. “What if someone was bold enough to do that today?”

Leaders should evangelize.

“It’s God’s plan for his church today. It only takes one,” Rodriguez said.




Obituary: Sheila Cook

Sheila Cook, former first lady of Dallas Baptist University, died Jan. 27 after a brief illness. She was 75. She was born March 6, 1948, to Oscar and Edna Raymer in Louisville, Ky. She received her undergraduate degree from Georgetown College and earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Louisville before beginning her career as a schoolteacher. She met Gary Cook, who was a student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and became minister to senior adults at her church, when he attended her Sunday school class. They were married 49 years. After he completed his studies at Southern Seminary, the couple moved to Texas, where he pursued his doctorate at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and she served 18 years as a classroom teacher. At the elementary and middle school level, she spent 14 years with learning disabled students, for two years she taught remedial reading to junior high students, and for another two years, she helped mentally challenged students at the junior high and high school levels. When she was not in her school classroom, she could be found in church, teaching Sunday school, Mission Friends classes, Vacation Bible School or young women’s auxiliary groups. She served on pastoral care committees, preschool committees and long-range planning committees, and she was an instrumental accompanist for the preschool choir. After her husband became president of DBU in 1988, she began the DBU Hospitality Committee to welcome DBU newcomers. She hosted numerous receptions, luncheons and showers in the president’s home. She also served on the DBU Women’s Auxiliary Board, and she was the chairperson of many committees and events. In her later years, she helped to develop and organize the Becoming Women of Excellence program, designed to encourage and mentor young women at DBU. In recognition for her service, DBU named her an Honorary Alumna, named one of the Colonial Village apartment buildings Sheila Cook Hall in her honor, and presented her an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. The DBU Women’s Auxiliary Board also presented her with the Ruth Award in 1994. “For many of us, Sheila Cook was so much more than just a friend. She was family,” current DBU President Adam C. Wright said. “Mrs. Cook became like a second mother to Candice and me throughout our time at DBU. She was a prayer warrior and constant support, and I know that my story is similar for thousands of others who have been touched by her grace, wisdom, generosity and kindness. So many of us would not be what we are today without having had Mrs. Sheila Cook in our lives. She truly epitomized Christ-centered servant leadership.” Sheila Cook was an active member of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, where she taught a weekly women’s Bible study. She also served as the co-leader of a Bible study at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, a ministry serving the needs in West Dallas, and was a member of the Brother Bill’s Helping Hand Women’s Council. She served on the advisory board of the Baylor School of Nursing and on the advisory board for the ministry Asha Partners. She is survived by her husband Gary; son David and his wife, Nicole; son Mark and his wife, Shannon; grandchildren Molly, Caleb and Gracie; and her brother, Elwyn Raymer. A memorial service will be held in her honor at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 in Pilgrim Chapel on the DBU campus, preceded by a reception in the Hillcrest Great Hall beginning at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Sheila Cook Endowed Scholarship Fund, Dallas Baptist University, 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.




Obituary: Darrell Robinson

Darrell Woner Robinson, longtime Texas Baptist pastor and evangelist, died Jan. 23 in Conroe. He was 88.  He was born Sept. 23, 1935, in Big Spring to Jesse Woner Robinson and Lillie Augusta Walker Robinson. He earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also held a doctorate from Luther Rice Seminary and honorary doctorates from Houston Baptist University and Global Korean Seminary. His many pastorates included First Baptist Church in Pasadena, First Baptist Church in Vernon, Hillcrest Baptist Church in Amarillo, Berea Baptist Church in Big Spring and Midway Baptist Church in Big Spring, as well as Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., and First Baptist Church in Liberal, Kan. He served as president of Total Church Life Ministries and as vice president of evangelism at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board. He traveled extensively, preaching and teaching evangelism to pastors in England, Scotland, Italy, Romania, Albania, Portugal, Angola, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, India, South Korea, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Guyana and Brazil. He was the author of My All For Him, Synergistic Evangelism, Incredibly Gifted, People Sharing Jesus, Doctrine of Salvation, What’s Next and Total Church Life. He was preceded in death by his first wife and high school sweetheart, Betty Jean Davis Robinson; sister Zena Kay Robinson Morse; and daughter Lori Kay Robinson. He is survived by his wife Kathleen Kyzar Robinson; son D. Duane Robinson and his wife, Connie; son D. Robin Robinson and his wife, Jody; son Loren S. Robinson and his wife, Kathryn; 16 grandchildren, including five by marriage; 13 great-grandchildren; his brother Mac Robinson; and his sister Sherilyn Robinson Gilmore.




Around the State: TBM cooks meals for shelters during winter storm

When a winter storm hit North Texas, Texas Baptist Men volunteers cooked hot meals for some of the area’s most vulnerable residents. TBM volunteers devoted 990 hours to prepare 20,865 meals local ministry partners served to homeless people in shelters. Also, when an apartment complex lost access to water, the Garland Emergency Management Office contacted TBM. Just a little more than an hour later, TBM volunteers delivered 84 cases of bottled water.

As part of its 100th anniversary celebration and in recognition of Black History Month, David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Austin will host a historical presentation on “African Christian Roots” by Frank Glover, an ordained minister and physician who has participated in medical missions throughout Africa. Glover will explore often-overlooked African connections to Christianity, dating back to the New Testament book of Acts. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in the sanctuary of David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Austin and will be livestreamed online at https://davidchapel.org/livestream-service-recordings/. Joseph C. Parker Jr. is pastor of David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Hunter Sims (center), director of athletics at Howard Payne University, is pictured with the NADIIIAA One-Time Project Category Winner award, presented to the university in recognition of community service. With Sims are Matt Tanney, director of athletics and campus wellness at Wabash College, and Angel Mason, director of athletics at Berry University.

At the NCAA Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., Howard Payne University was honored by the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators. HPU received an award in the one-time project category for its William B. Dean, M.D., Community Impact Day. At its second Community Impact Day last year, more than 400 students and university personnel served 21 nonprofit organizations in Brown County. More than half of the participants were student athletes at HPU.

Linda Dunham

Houston Christian University has renamed its nursing school the Linda Dunham School of Nursing, honoring the memory of longtime university supporter Linda Dunham, who died April 21, 2023. The nursing complex will be named the Dunham Family Nursing Center. “Linda would say that nursing should also be a ministry, because the very best nurses demonstrate patience, kindness, gentleness and love as they care for their patients,” her husband Archie Dunham said. “It will be our family’s prayer that all the nurses that graduate from the Linda Dunham School of Nursing demonstrate those attributes as they care for their patients.”

Wayland Baptist University’s Alumni Association will honor several alumni and supporters at the annual Blue and Gold Banquet, scheduled at 6 p.m. Feb. 9 on the Plainview campus. Tickets for the catered dinner are $15 and can be reserved through Jan. 31 in Wayland’s alumni services office at (806) 291-3600.

Congreso Experience events are scheduled at First Baptist Church in Weslaco, Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.

Congreso Experience events are scheduled Jan. 27 at First Baptist Church in Weslaco, Feb. 3 at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Feb. 17 at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and March 2 at Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio. The events, held in partnership with Texas Baptists, are designed for Hispanic students 6th grade and older. Each all-day free event includes workshops, group activities and an evening worship rally designed to encourage Hispanic students in their education and spiritual walk. To register, click here.




Baylor conference explores ‘Racism in the World Church’

The third conference in a three-year series of events at Baylor University concerning racism and the church takes an expanded view, organizer Greg Garrett explained.

“Time to Wake Up: Racism in the World Church” is the focus and “The Truth that Will Liberate Us All” is the theme of the Feb. 15-17 conference at Baylor’s Truett Theological Seminary.

The conference, sponsored by the John and Eula Mae Baugh Foundation and Truett Seminary, will be offered both in-person and online.

Ralph West

Anthony Eddie

Anthony Reddie, professor of Black theology at the University of Oxford, and Ralph West, founding pastor of the Church Without Walls in Houston, are among the featured speakers.

“We will explore what Black theology and the Black church can teach us in terms of how we read the Bible, preach and do justice,” said Garrett, the Carole McDaniel Hanks Professor of Literature and Culture at Baylor.

Mimi Haddad

Walter Kim

Other key speakers—Mimi Haddad, president and CEO of Christians for Biblical Equality International, and Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals—will help conference participants “think about how the evangelical church needs to change and how we need to decenter white Christian males,” he added.

A panel discussion about Black worship leaders in predominantly white worship spaces features Stephen Newby, the Lev H. Prichard III Endowed Chair in the Study of Black Worship and professor of music at Baylor; Timothy Peoples, senior pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church; and Sean Palmer, teaching pastor at Ecclesia in Houston.

Others on the conference program include Beth Allison Barr, history professor at Baylor and author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood; Stephanie Boddie, associate professor of church and community ministries at Baylor; Torie Johnson, associate professor for strategic communications and initiatives at Baylor; and Truett Seminary Dean Todd Still.

To register, click here.




Obituary: Dickson Hughes Rial

Dickson Hughes Rial of Garland, longtime Texas Baptist pastor, died Jan. 11. He was 89. He was born Nov. 30, 1934, in McGehee, Ark., to Hubert Hughes and Ruby Helen Rial. His 73 years in the ministry began at age 16 when he was called to preach. He began serving as pastor of Eastside Baptist Church in Dewitt, Ark., at age 18, and the church led the local association in baptisms for three years. After he graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., he served three years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Antelope. He met Shirley Terry from Houston while they both were students at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. They married in September 1961 and served together at Stadium Drive Baptist Church in Fort Worth, until he was called as pastor of Orchard Hills Baptist Church in Garland in 1963, where he served eight years. He later served at First Baptist Church in Ada, Okla.; River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston; First Baptist Church in Benton, Ark.; and Hillcrest Baptist Church in Dallas. After nine years as a vocational evangelist, he returned to Orchard Hills Baptist Church as pastor in 2001. His denominational service included time on the executive boards of the Arkansas and Oklahoma Baptist conventions and the board of trustees for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. He was the author of five books, led tour groups to the Holy Land, and ministered in revivals in Korea, Israel, Europe, Greece and Canada. He was preceded in death by his brother Jarrell Rial. Survivors include his wife Shirley; son Randy Rial and his wife Renee; his daughter Renee Rial-Reynolds and husband Ray; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 19 in Morgan Chapel at the Ethiopian Evangelical Believers Church (formerly Orchard Hills Baptist Church) in Garland. The memorial service is scheduled at 1 p.m. on Jan. 20, also in Morgan Chapel.




Around the State: Baylor named to TIME’s top 100 list

TIME magazine ranked Baylor No. 40 in the nation on its inaugural list of 100 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. TIMEand Statista analyzed the resumes of 2,000 top CEOs, politicians, Nobel winners and other leaders to determine the universities that helped equip them for leadership. Baylor ranked just behind Johns Hopkins University and just ahead of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Only the University of Texas at Austin (No. 14) and Texas A&M University (No. 23) ranked higher than Baylor among Texas schools. “Baylor University produces outstanding leaders who commit themselves to a life of service in their professional fields, and we are honored by this recognition, especially as Baylor’s level of leadership and service is integrally connected to our Christian mission,” President Linda Livingstone said. “We are proud of and grateful for our Baylor alumni, who were transformed by opportunities at the university to cultivate habits and virtues that orient their leadership toward human flourishing and a vision to change the world.”

HPU students who completed Spanish for Healthcare Professionals are shown with their certificates. Pictured are (left to right, back row) Krysta Bunch, Skyler Wells, Axel Kehrein and Abigail Zamora (front row) university nurse Martha Brunette, Victoria Ramos, Amada Menchaca, Yesenia Brunette, Isabel Clevenger and instructor Danny Brunette-López. (HPU Photo)

Howard Payne University recognized eight students who completed the Spanish for Healthcare Professionals program. The course gives students real-world language instruction for effective communication with limited English-speaking or non-English speaking Hispanic patients in healthcare settings. The students are Yesenia Brunette, a sophomore from Early; Krysta Bunch, a senior from Haskell; Isabel Clevenger, a senior from Brownwood; Axel Kehrein, a senior from Walla Walla, Wash.; Amada Menchaca, a senior from Blanket; Victoria Ramos, a junior from Brownwood;Skyler Wells, a senior from Brownwood; and Abigail Zamora, a sophomore from Forney. Danny Brunette-López, professor of Spanish and chair of the Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies at HPU, taught the course.

Brent Leatherwood

Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, will deliver the Veritas Lecture at Dallas Baptist University. The lecture, sponsored by DBU’s Institute for Global Engagement, will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 in the Great Hall of the Mahler Student Center. Leatherwood will discuss how Christians can engage culture and the public square faithfully while maintaining a winsome witness. Tickets are $5.

East Texas Baptist University will host its Good Samaritan Award and ETBU Scholarship Banquet at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Great Commission Center. The Thomas Whitfield Davidson Foundation will be recognized as the Good Samaritan Award recipient, and Rodney Gilstrap, chair of the foundation, will deliver the keynote address.

Wayland Baptist University reported planned giving is up 47 percent for the current fiscal year. “We are thrilled to witness such a remarkable increase in planned giving,” President Bobby Hall said. “This surge is a testament to the deep connection established with our alumni and friends, as well as the communities we serve. These legacy commitments will have a transformative impact on future generations of students.”

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor held commencement services last month for more than 400 summer and fall graduates. Last summer, UMHB confirmed 82 graduates, and 319 more were added to the number for the fall semester.

Pablo Juarez

Pablo Arnoldo Juarez of Kaufman has been appointed director of the Hispanic Leadership Network at the Hispanic Access Foundation. In this role, he will lead the network to provide support to Latino pastors serving high-need rural and urban congregations across the United States and in Puerto Rico. He will continue to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church Kaufman en Español.

Anniversary

20th for Pastor Fred Hobbs at Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Victoria.




On the Move: Malone

Andrew Malone to First Baptist Church in Bonham as senior pastor from Northview Baptist Church in Lewisville, where he was associate pastor of discipleship and students.




Obituary: Alicia Havens Curry

Alicia Havens Curry, the wife of one Texas Baptist minister and mother of another, died Jan. 10 in Arlington. She was 68. She was born in Quanah on Feb. 28, 1955, and grew up in Lubbock. On June 1, 1974, she married Danny (Dan) Curry, and she spent her life serving alongside him in ministry. She graduated from Wayland Baptist University and, after many years serving as an educator, earned a master’s degree in school counseling from Dallas Baptist University.  She served 15 years as a guidance counselor to students at Juan Seguin High School in Arlington. She supported her husband through more than 48 years of pastoral ministry, regularly teaching Bible studies and serving in discipleship ministries. She loved music and was deeply involved in music ministry as a part of worship teams, playing piano, and singing in choirs and ensembles. She was preceded in death by her parents, J.A. and Ruth Havens of Lubbock. She is survived by her husband, Dan Curry; son Robin Curry and his wife Jill of Tulsa, Okla.; son Craig Curry and his wife Fallon of Plano; daughter Crystal Williamson and husband Tommy of Mansfield; 10 grandchildren; and her siblings Tommy Havens of North Little Rock, Ark., and Alana Anderson of Belton. Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 18 at Fielder Church South Oaks Campus in Arlington. A celebration of life service is scheduled at 1 p.m. on Jan. 19 at Fielder Church South Oaks Campus. Memorials may be made in her honor to Texas Baptists, designated to the Center for Ministerial Health.




Obituary: Rosalind Idalia Ray

Rosalind Idalia Ray, worship leader and pastor’s wife, died Jan. 1 at her home in Fairy, near Hico. She was 83. She was born Dec. 3, 1940, in Vinita, Okla., to Vernon and Isy Weaver. She and Bob Ray married on Dec. 22, 1960, in Wichita, Kan. She faithfully served Fairy Baptist Church 58 years as worship leader alongside her pastor-husband. She loved sharing the love of Christ with everyone, especially children, and leading worship each Sunday with the church choir and directing both Easter and Christmas cantatas. She often said she felt blessed to teach her women’s Bible class each Sunday. She and her husband served the Texas Baptist Bivocational Small Church Minister and Spouse Association more than 35 years, ministering to small-church pastors and their families to encourage and equip them in ministry. She worked seven years for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She served on the Burleson City Council seven years before moving to Fairy in 2001. She was preceded in death by a sister, Marilyn Mueller. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bob; sons Bob Ray III and wife Johanna of Fairy, Richard Ray and wife Monica of Fairy, and Matt Ray and wife Tiffany of Cleburne; brothers Vernon Weaver of Wichita, Kan., and Bob Weaver of Las Cruces, N.M.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts can be made to Fairy Baptist Church.




Around the State: Petraeus speaks at DBU event

Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.), offered leadership insights from his 37-year military career and his time as director of the Central Intelligence Agency when he spoke at Dallas Baptist University in December. DBU’s Institute for Global Engagement and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth jointly sponsored the event. Global economist Meredith M. Walker moderated the discussion, in which Petraeus offered his first-hand perspectives on commanding the U.S. campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his thoughts about the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in Israel. He is co-author, with historian Andrew Roberts, of Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.

Kathryn A. Osteen

Baylor University named Kathryn A. Osteen as associate dean for the pre-licensure program and clinical associate professor in the Louise Herrington School of Nursing. She will serve alongside Lisa Jones, also an associate dean for the pre-licensure program, over all three bachelor’s degree tracks—Traditional, Distance Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing and FastBacc, a 12-month accelerated program for students who hold an undergraduate degree in a non-nursing discipline. Osteen worked 28 years in an adult cardiac intensive care unit. She joined the School of Nursing in 2002. After earning both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Baylor University, she received her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Students and teachers from Cross Classical Academy in Brownwood joined in a belated observance of Texas Arbor Day in December at Howard Payne University. (HPU Photo)

Students and teachers from Cross Classical Academy in Brownwood joined in a belated observance of Texas Arbor Day in December at Howard Payne University. Third, fourth, fifth and sixth grade students participated in the planting of a Shumard red oak tree near the Thompson Academic Complex and the English building on the HPU campus. Aaron Diaz, HPU’s grounds supervisor, organized and led the event.

Faith Howard

Faith Howard, age 16, of Retama Park Baptist Church in Kingsville has been named to the 2024 National Acteens Panel. She will serve along with Sarah Elizabeth Shelton from First Baptist Church in Columbiana, Ala., and Gracie Stamey of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Hudson, N.C. They will participate in the Woman’s Missionary Union Missions Celebration and annual meeting in Indianapolis in June, prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. The panelists also will blog for wmu.com/students and be given leadership and speaking opportunities throughout the year. Faith has served with a rodeo ministry in Wyoming, with church planters in Ohio and with a migrant ministry in Brownsville. She also volunteers at a local pregnancy resource center. Her sister, Hannah, who was named a National Acteens Panelist in 2020, helped lead her to faith in Christ as a child.

Retirement

Elton Musick from Grace Baptist Church in Lufkin after 21 years as pastor there and four decades in the gospel ministry. A retirement celebration is scheduled Jan. 14.