Seminary dedicates Houston campus_110303

Posted: 10/31/03

Seminary dedicates Houston campus

HOUSTON (BP)–A newly remodeled center for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's programs in Houston was dedicated Oct. 13.

The location was made possible when Park Place Baptist Church of Houston deeded its property to the seminary. Southwestern previously offered extension classes at Houston Baptist University.

The congregation continues to use the campus for regular church activities, while the seminary provides for the upkeep and renovation of classrooms and office space.

Cutting the ribbon opening the new Dalton Havard Center for Theological Studies Park Place Campus in Houston.

The seminary named the facility the Dalton Havard Center for Theological Studies Park Place Campus in honor of a Houston-based evangelist. Southwestern President Paige Patterson said Havard kept “a stellar record of faithfulness in the service of God.”

Patterson likened the dedication of the facility to Solomon's dedication of the temple he built and his father, David, envisioned. Solomon said the purpose of what the Israelites had done was to honor God's name.

Patterson prayed that the Houston campus might be a place where “God would come visiting and that it might be known that he is in regular attendance … that on the campus of this school people might see God at work.”

Park Place Pastor James Clark said the newly renovated facility is an example of God's grace and the faithfulness of his congregation. The church had pursued God's will with singleness of devotion, awaiting God's command at every turn and giving selflessly, he said.

Portions of the Houston facility also are named in honor of Houston area-pastors Remus Wright and Ralph West. Wright is pastor of Fountain of Praise church. West is pastor of The Church Without Walls.

The Houston seminary's development office is named for Edwin Crawford, Southwestern's director of development under former President Robert Naylor.