Around the State

Posted: 12/16/05

Around the State

The Christian Life Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has presented its Horizon Award to George Young, who ministers to individuals older than 60 at Trinity Church in San Antonio. The award is given to someone who exemplifies excellence in aging adult leadership.

John Baugh, founder of Sysco Corporation in Houston, was presented the Abner V. McCall Religious Liberty Award by the Baylor Alumni Association Dec. 17 during fall commencement. The award is given to Baylor alumni or friends who exemplify the dedication and commitment to religious liberty demonstrated by the former Baylor University president for whom the award is named. A Baylor regent emeritus, Baugh also is a founding trustee of Houston Baptist University and served as a director of the Baptist Foundation of Texas more than 25 years. He is the author of The Battle for Baptist Integrity. He and his wife, Eula Mae, are members of Tallowood Church in Houston.

A group of students from Howard Payne University took time from their studies for a mission trip to help flood victims in New Orleans reclaim their homes. From right to left are Shane Blackshear, Jared Renshaw, the New Orleans couple they helped, Vicente Richarte (background), Josh Houser, Joanna Brown, Aaron Brown (background), Jessica Oster and Brandon Wilson.

Virgil Grotfeldt, assistant professor in art at Houston Baptist University, has been nominated for the Hunting Art Prize. Members of Houston's art community selected nominees who have made a long-term commitment to their career and have a five-year, post-graduate exhibition record reflecting national exposure. The competition has a $50,000 first-place award.

New faculty members at Dallas Baptist University include Judy Abercrombie, assistant professor of education; Larry Ashlock, associate professor of worship; Jekabs Bikis, assistant professor of business; Bill Gilbert, associate professor of education; and Gail Wallace, associate professor of sociology and director of adult student services.

Brad Russell has been hired as director of communications at Baptist University of the Americas. Russell also will continue as pastor of The Springs Church in San Antonio.

The Student Athlete Advisory Council of East Texas Baptist University collected 603 cans and $132 in donations during its recent canned food drive. Items donated were given to Soda Lake Association to help needy families.

The Association for Recorded Sound Collections has selected Robert Darden, associate professor of journalism at Baylor University, as a winner of the award for excellence in research in recorded rhythm and blues, soul or gospel music for his book People Get Ready: A New History of Black Gospel Music.

Anniversaries

Calvary Church in Denison, 100th, Nov. 13. Greg Smith is pastor.

Marc Wilson, 25th, as minister of music at First Church in Mexia, Nov. 25.

Battetown Church in Cameron, 60th. Wayne Shuf-field is interim pastor.

Jimmie Wright, 30th, as pastor of New Mount Olive Church in Wharton.

Marcelino Gonzales, 15th, as pastor of Primera Iglesia in Rosenberg.

Scott Rambo, 10th, as pastor of The Bridge Fellowship in Sugar Land.

Keith Peteway, 10th, as pastor of Shiloh Church in Franklin.

Butch Strickland, fifth, as pastor of Independence Church in Brenham.

Retiring

Charles Morris, as pastor of Ida Church in Sherman, Oct. 31. He served the church three years and was in the ministry more than 30 years, primarily serving as a bivocational and interim pastor to churches in Grayson and Collin associations.

Ted Elmore, as associate director of the missional church center of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dec. 31. He served the convention 13 years, after previously ministering as a pastor and then vocational evangelist. He will pursue global and local ministry opportunities in the areas of prayer and leadership development through Ted Elmore Ministries, P.O. Box 1833, Grapevine 76099. He can be reached at (214) 725-1513 or tedelmore@aol.com.

Deaths

Jesse Bigbee, 85, Nov. 12 in Cottonwood. He served Texas Baptist churches almost 50 years as pastor, including Independence Church in Brenham, the oldest continuously operating Baptist church in Texas. As pastor of the church, he also conducted tours of the church and museum, and oversaw the upkeep of Old Baylor Park, the original site of Baylor University. He retired in 1985. After two years of retirement, he again took the role of pastor, this time at Mitchell Church in Cisco, serving there eight years. At the time of his death, he was a member of First Church in Cross Plains. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Hazel; sons, Butch and Randy; daughters, Melanie Clonts and Pam Polaski; 14 grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters.

Orville Roberts, 85, Dec. 3 in Wharton. He was pastor of Almeda Church in Houston more than 15 years before serving First Church in El Campo from 1960 until 1973. He was director of missions of the Coastal Plains Area from 1973 until his retirement in 1986. He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Roberts, and his brother, Aubrey. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Ruby; daughters, Glenda Stanton and Lisa Moritz; son, Darrell; sister, Ruby Brannon; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Licensed

Caleb Lain to the ministry at Paramount Church in Amarillo. He is worship leader at Johnson Ferry Church at Cedarcrest in Marietta, Ga.

Cody Lain to the ministry at Paramount Church in Amarillo. He is the youth associate at Northside Church in Weatherford.

Ordained

Dennis Whatley to the ministry at Hall Church in Jefferson. He is pastor of North Shore Church in Avinger.

J.J. Berrier, Jeff Hammett, Rebecca Rempert and Tom Winnenberg as deacons at Royal Lane Church in Dallas.

Roy Whitehurst as a deacon at Valley View Church in Longview.

Jim Gilbert, Scott Perkey and Barry Scott as deacons at Faith Church in Iowa Park.