Around the State_90803

Posted: 9/5/03

Around the State

Seminary extension classes will be offered on the Sweetwater campus of Texas State Technical College as a ministry of First Church in Sweetwater and the seminaries of the Southern Baptist Convention. The classes offered will be New Testament Survey Part 1 and Old Testament Survey, Part 1 with Tuesday and Thursday meeting times.

Anniversaries

Doug Holtzclaw, 25th, as pastor of First Church in Goldthwaite July 7. A luncheon and program will be held in his honor at the Mills County Civic Center at noon Sept. 21. For more information, call (325) 648-3369.

Jo Batson, fifth, as minister of family life at South Main Church in Pasadena Aug. 24.

First Church in Schulenburg held a dedication service for its new playground earlier this summer. Site preparation and assembly of the equipment for the 5,000-square-foot playground was done by church members. Pictured are Pastor Jeff Atchison; Keith Hansen, building and grounds committee; Minister of Music and Youth Kari Ginn; Carla Romine, playground committee chairperson; Robert Gall, playground committee; and Vernon Zimmermann, building and grounds committee.

Michael Blackburn, 10th, as pastor of Trinity Church in Dayton Sept. 13.

First Church in Harker Heights, 40th, Sept. 14. For more information, call (254) 699-9184. Jay Thomas is pastor.

Larry Venable, 20th, as pastor of Freeman Heights Church in Garland Sept. 14. In addition to a special recognition in both morning services, a luncheon will be held, followed by a 1:30 p.m. celebration service. He formerly was pastor of Arlington Heights Church in Fort Worth.

Liberty-Eylau Church in Texarkana, 55th, Sept. 14. A meal will be provided following the morning service. An afternoon service will include singing, recognitions and testimonies. To make reservations for the lunch, call (903) 823-7526. Dwight Lowrie is pastor.

Nolan River Road Church in Cleburne, 15th, Sept. 14. A barbecue dinner and celebration service will follow the morning service. Larry York is pastor.

Eastern Hills Church in Garland, 50th, Sept. 20-21. Homecoming festivities will begin at 4:30 p.m. with a display of church history memorabilia and fellowship. Dinner and a program featuring preacher and humorist Lou Brown will begin at 6 p.m. Former pastor Billy Joe Tate will preach in the Sunday morning service. For more information, call (972) 240-2946. David Hall is pastor.

First Church of Urbandale in Dallas, 70th, Sept. 21. A celebration service will begin at 10 a.m. in which former ministers Josh Guajardo and David Burcham will participate. A luncheon and fellowship will follow. For more information, call (214) 381-2137. Bill Lundy is pastor.

Live Oak First Church in San Antonio, 25th, Sept. 21. The celebration will include a luncheon and an afternoon program featuring a bluegrass gospel group, Blue Creek, and former staff member Steve Branson. Country gospel artist Clifton Jansky will sing and speak during the morning service. For more information, call (210) 656-8200. Donald Valenta is pastor.

Gahlen Warren, fifth, as pastor of Fellowship Missionary Church in Sherman Sept. 27.

James Collins, fifth, as music minister at First Church in Palacios.

College Heights Church in Cleburne, 50th, Oct. 12. Mark Ely is pastor.

Hayden Church in Wills Point, 125th, Oct. 18-19. Former staff and members are asked to contact the church at (903) 873-3420. Toby Irwin is pastor.

Betty Meeks and Clara Kinamon were two of many on hand for the unveiling of a historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Farmersville this summer. The church was established in 1854, but dwindled to just Meeks and Kinamon before a resurgence in recent years saw hundreds attending again. Billy Harris is pastor.

Rittenhouse Church in Houston, 50th, Oct. 18-19. Several former pastors have confirmed they will be in attendance. Former members are asked to provide contact information at (713) 695-3463 or maxine@rittenhousebc.org. Clay Bowers is pastor.

Events

Alex and Janice Powell were commissioned as Mission Service Corps volunteers at First Church in Canyon Lake.

First Church in Sugar Land held a groundbreaking and dedication service at the new property Sept. 7. Scott Rambo is pastor.

“Christ, Our Single Focus” will be the theme for a singles conference to be held from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sept. 13 at First Church in Baytown. Speakers include Don Piper, John Redmond, John Sherrill, Linda Boone, Mike Schumacher, Becky Bridges, Larry Collison, Gary Peil, Bill Sicloa, Tina Wash and Gale Yandell. Topics include “Grieving and Growing Through Divorce,” “Single Parenting,” “Dating Today” and others. The cost is $30. To register call (281) 422-3604.

Brentwood Church in Houston will hold special services and a picnic to celebrate the church's 38 years of service to the community Sept. 21. Joe Samuel Ratliff is pastor.

Vance Greek, “The Golden Voice of Branson,” will perform in concert at First Church in Wimberley Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. Bill Jones is pastor.

New Hope Church in Cleburne will hold a camp meeting Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. A trail ride beginning at 8 a.m. will precede the morning service. Dennis Swanberg will be the guest speaker for the event and No Turning Back the guest musicians. For more information, call (817) 645-8765. David Marchbanks is pastor.

Retiring

Merle Blado, as pastor of First Church in Sealy, Aug. 31. He was the church's pastor 33 years.

Deaths

Dorothy Green, 82, Aug. 3 in Lubbock. She was the wife of retired pastor Lomer Green, who served in Louisiana, El Paso, Fort Hancock, Ashland, Big Spring, Kermit and Odessa. She is survived by her husband; brother, Joe Welzel; daughters, Beverly Vincent and Marie Vaughn; sons, Fred and L.D.; and eight grandchildren.

Era Skaggs, 97, Aug. 18 in Plainview. She was a graduate and also a biology instructor at Simmons College, now Hardin-Simmons University. The newly renovated HSU faculty-staff lounge in the Moody Student Center is dedicated to Skaggs and her sisters, Euna and Eva. Her sisters were long-time professors at HSU. A long time resident of Abilene before moving to a hospice in her last days, she was a member of First Church in Abilene. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; brothers, J.W. and John Paul Rudd; and her sisters. She is survived by her son, Skipper Skaggs; daughter, Lannie Cook; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Vivian Reagan, 79, Aug. 20 in San Angelo. A missionary to Colombia and Ecuador from 1949 to 1954, her first husband, Julius Hickerson, died in a plane crash in the Andes Mountains in 1951 on the way home from planning a new seminary in Cali, Colombia. After completing a term in Cartagena and Cali, and another in Guayaquil, Ecuador, she taught in public schools across Texas. She moved to Baptist Memorials Center upon retirement. She was preceded in death by her second husband, Jake Reagan, in 1996. She is survived by her daughter, Julianne Williams; brothers, Lindsay and J.W. Dunn; and three grandchildren.

George Sill, 56, Sept. 2 in Waxahachie. He was a member of First Church in Waxahachie. He is survived by his wife, Becky; son, George Jr.; and one grandson.

Licensed

Bill Spriggs and D. Lowrie to the ministry at Liberty-Eylau Church in Texarkana.

Ordained

David Jackson to the ministry at Lexington Church in Corpus Christi.

Terry Burnett to the ministry at Brighton Park Church in Corpus Christi.

Rayford Smith to the ministry at San Patricio Church in San Patricio.

Terry Whitmire and John Dix Jr. as deacons at Mount Sinai Church in Corpus Christi.

Andy McCormick, William Moroz and Derrell Smith as deacons at Chalk Bluff Church in Waco.

Mike Lonigro and Jason Nichols as deacons at First Church in Canyon Lake.

Randy Epps, Doyle Landers, Harlan Midriff, Ray Miller, Raymond Patton, Jim Shaw and Robert Wagoner as deacons at Holly Brook Church in Hawkins.

Colin Bailey, Philip Crawford, Newman Lloyd, Bruce Pescshel and Milton Smith as deacons at First Church in Hillsboro.

Richard Pafford and Darrel Wallace as deacons at Turnersville Church in Gatesville.

Revivals

First Church, Hughes Springs; Sept. 7-10; evangelist, Paul Burleson; music, Michael Bridges; pastor, Mickey Rorex.

Black Jack Church, Rockdale; Sept. 12-14; evangelist, Billy Don Klinglesmith; pastor, Jimmy Haile.

Indian Hills Church, Grand Prairie; Sept. 14-17; evangelist, Clark Bosher; music, Jim Cash; pastor, Doug Simon.

First Church, Harker Heights; Sept. 17-21; evangelist, Wes Massey; music, Don Thornton; pastor, Jay Thomas.

Second Church, Abilene; Sept. 17-21; evangelist, John Prim; music, Jack Staples; pastor, Joe Prim.

Ivanhoe Church, Ivanhoe; Sept. 21-24; evangelists, Cody and Laurie Deevers; pastor, Craig Ludwig.

vocational evangelist